₦airaland Forum

safarigirl:
things will change when Pinnick and Dalung get out.

NFF most times is useless, and sometimes the Sports Ministry is useless, but this has to be the first time both the NFF and Ministry of Sports have collaborated in the art of uselessness.

Say what you want, but if GEJ was still President, someone would have paid those girls by now. Buhari is just a useless eediot who doesn't even value women to begin with, so, how will he wade into such a tussle? I bet he doesn't even know what is going on

Ok ok, let's not bring in politics here. This GEJ and Buhari ish is just going to lead us down the dark path again

tbaba1234:
Sadiq was not poor, not in the least.. He scored a fair number of goals. He had one bad game but was not poor.

If Sadiq was poor, what will you say of Awoniyi and Ajayi who could not score for months?

Most of the new players in the team were regulars ... Ndidi would have improved Siasia's team. End of...

What was Sincere Seth doing at CB? Ekong had to work overtime to save us.

if you think that Sincere Seth was poor but Sadiq wasn't poor then that's double standards. Seth was ok, more than okay, but Ekong was better than him, that's just that. Sadiq was puss poor in the third place match and the semi-final, that's two important games, don't let the goals fool you. Ndidi might have improved our Olympic team but it might have affected his development at his club, that's my point

tbaba1234:
Which team chemistry? If we were looking for team chemistry then Awoniyi and others who were with the team for a long time should have been taken along.

If not for the new additions like Sadiq Umar, Mikel, Shehu Abdullahi and Ekong,

The team would have been disgraced.

didn't you notice how poor Sadiq was? lack of team chemistry, the team played to Mikel's strength so he as the chemistry teacher there. anyways, you need more chemistry your midfield than in any other part of your team. I am.glad he left Ndidi behind if not Ndidi's career might have stagnated dramatically

Kog45:
Noted

plus the penalties he won for us then

Kog45:
If I get u right with Mikel in d starting line up,player like Ndidi w find it difficult as DM coz of Mikel defensive inabilities.

Pls i w want u to explain more on what u mean by Mikel defensive inabilities.

during the Olympics, Mikel played more as a second striker, hardly falling back to defend, the stats are there if you need then, so in such a case you need at least one combative midfielder not necessarily two midfielders who create from the back, Azubuike is such a player and Ndidi isn't really such and neither is Usman so the presence of Azubuike was vital. back to what you asked if Ndidi was there it would have forced Mikel to come back and join the defence a lot more than he did then thus depriving Sadiq Umar of any meaningful partnership up top and we all know how good Sadiq was against Germany when he had to play up top alone because of the absence of Azubuike. still confused?

tbaba1234:
He would have done a better job plus, he could have replaced Usman Muhammad as well. He does it every week at club level and in the Europa cup. He has the highest number of successful interceptions and tackles in the Europa cup this season.

Plus he could have played CB instead of sincere seth.

The last olympics had no benefit for the super eagles because we used players that were not yet at the level to play for the senior team.

team chemistry is important. I don't think he could have done a better job than Azubuike as at then, maybe he could have replaced Usman but playing him as a CB was a no go area, he may be versatile but it is not his best position and he might not have gelled well with Azubyuike if he replaced Usman. all in all I don't think it was a horrible decision by Siasia at all

tbaba1234:
Ndidi was already a super regular at his team before the Olympics. The club's condition for releasing him was that he played regularly at the olympics. That's understandable. We did not have better players at the Olympics anyway.

As at then, do you think that Ndidi would have done a better job than Azubuike as our primary destroyer? Do you think that Ndidi could have covered totally for Mikel's defensive inabilities?

tbaba1234:
The same Olympics that Ndifreke was our first sub, someone that was not even supposed to be there. That guy is one of the worst players to represent Nigeria in the Olympics.

We has Sincere Seth playing centre back and he dropped Ekpolo and did not even invite Ndidi.

I have no doubt that we will be having the same kind of curious selections if Sia1 was coach.

Do you think that Ndidi would have cemented a place at his club if he went to the Olympics? There are a lot of backroom politics that you do not know about

TheGoodJoe:

I posted the picture on this thread and that page had an article on this.

he is not getting your point which is vividly clear. When you watch a game on tv, you only see what the camera wants you to see, if as a leftback you are told to study Alba for example and on the day in question most of barcelona's attacking moves starts flowing through the right, the camera will focus on the right side so you won't be able to monitor his movements off the ball, I believe that's why they were there, to perfect their pressing system. It is easy to understand

tbaba1234:
Efe Ambrose has not played football in a while but i am almost certain that he would have played the qualifiers against Zambia and Algeria if Siasia was the coach.

this is your assumption, not the fact on ground. If you rush in to perform a kidney transplant with the assumption that a suitable kidney donor will be found ASAP, that is pure death for the patient, don't assume, Siasia isn't here anymore and if I remember well at the Olympics, he did bench some of his supposed 'boys'

joseph1013:
At that time, Yekini was no longer the player he was. He was getting old. We had better strikers had that point. The Prince of Monaco and the great Papilo were the deal. It's not a surprise he was no longer a starter.

I am not disputing that. That's why I didn't include him in my combined team of the 98 world cup and this present team. Obviously he is the best out and out striker we have of all time

joseph1013:
Did you watch AFCON 2013? Who was Nigeria's best player in that tournament?

debatable, some would say it's Mikel, some Moses.

enomakos:
which match?

Against Denmark

joseph1013:
Chai...una don start o. Do you know when the internet was invented? If Finidi was ever the world's best winger between 1995 and 1998, it will be recorded somewhere. So how come we have documented strides of George Weah?

That's how they said India beat Nigeria 99 - 0.

follow this link and read what they posted there.

m.goal.com/s/en-ng/news/4082/comment/2012/05/09/3091015/nwankwo-kanu-finidi-george-the-five-best-nigerian-performers

joseph1013:
Babangida did not do for Nigeria in those two tournaments what Victor Moses did not do in the AFCON triumph in 2013. Have you forgotten his impact in the tournament?

This is funny

joseph1013:
Are you sure you watched the Tanzanian match? Moses does not play like Ikedia please. Moses is direct. He beats his markers, sprays passes, crosses or shoots. Unlike Ikedia, he doesn't hug the touchline.

Hugging the touchline is actually not a bad thing. That's what people mean when they say you shoud add 'width' to your game, it means instruct your wingers to hug the touchline, funny aint it? Rashford hugs the touchline for Manu, trying to provide width there, so I don't see anything bad with that.

Your main criticism is that he doesn't make penetrating runs and that he does not cross well and all that, agreed Moses made penetrating runs against Tanzania, but his crosses were absurd hence my comparison, or his crosses were on point that day?

joseph1013:
Then you missed my point. I said Mikel is top 3 in Nigeria's best ever players. If you pick the highlight of both Mikel and Oliseh in club and country, Mikel wins.

Highlight as in football highlights or trophy highlights? Because I am not sure Mikel has any individual highlight that is close to Oliseh's rocket against Spain. If you mean the number of trophies won, then no doubt, Mikel, but when it comes to football, on the pitch matter, kai! Oliseh was in a period when we used to dominate every single african team, home and away. Mikel is good, but Oliseh is better

joseph1013:
Personally, this is the most absurd thing I've heard today. Yekini will not make a combined two world cup team. Oga, Yekini will make the first eleven of Nigeria from 1960 to 2016. Don't let people hear this football heresy abeg.

i don't even understand what you are saying again. I thought I made it clear that I am choosing squarely from the two teams in question, the first is the team that represented us at the 98 world cup and our present team. How many games did Yekini play at the 98 world cup?

joseph1013:
A list that does not have Yekini is not a credible list. Yours is a laughable list. Cele where Yekini does not feature?

1. Kanu
2. Okocha
3. Mikel

That's Eagles top 3. You obviously underestimate the impact and influence of Mikel in his generation in the Super Eagles. Mikel is the most decorated Nigerian player (behind Kanu?)

Like I said, if I were to choose BASED ENTIRELY ON TOP FORM AT THAT MOMENT. Haba I mentioned it there na, I told you I was going to choose from the two teams, the one we have presently and the one we had then, didn't you get that?

joseph1013:
Babangida is a mere upgraded Pius Ikedia. Take ball, run with it with the head looking at the ground to the corner flag, and cross hoping for the best.

He's got nothing on Victor Moses.

Ok, you didn't watch Babangida well enough. Wait sef, against Tanzania what was Moses doing? Exactly what you just explained now! Take the ball, focus your face on the ground and run to wherever you want with it. Like Icon4s mentioned, let him be consistent enough

joseph1013:
A list that does not have Yekini is not a credible list. Yours is a laughable list. Cele where Yekini does not feature?

1. Kanu
2. Okocha
3. Mikel

That's Eagles top 3. You obviously underestimate the impact and influence of Mikel in his generation in the Super Eagles. Mikel is the most decorated Nigerian player (behind Kanu?)

I guess you didn't understand what I aptly pointed out. I said the two generations, or rather the two world cup teams. Let me ask, do you know why Yekini did not start that match?

joseph1013:
Bros, no start with the lies na. Oliseh won the league only once with Dortmund. 2001-2002.

So by your submission, Vardy is better than Aguero because he won the EPL last year as top scorer?

You never saw Mikel churn out consistent performances over the years at Chelsea? Plays very well as a DM for Chelsea, and between the months plays as AM for the Eagles. E easy?

My mistake, I didn't 'browse' it so it came straight off my head. But do you think it was easy? How many league titles has Chelsea won with Mikel as the starting DMF?! Bros, DMF is different from forward please, that comparison is absurd. Kante is obviously better than Matic, Essien and a host of other players who have won the champions league as regulars, how many league titles has he won? Just one! To show you the essential nature of a DMF. You might not win a game if your striker does not show up, but once your DMF is in the game you cannot lose

joseph1013:
Tell me your top 10. Let's compare notes.

thank you, top 10 not top3.

If I were to choose the best players from the two generations under review, it would be Okocha, Kanu, Enyeama, Finidi, OLISEH, Moses, Mikel, Babayaro and Okechukwu. Mind you, I mean if I were to choose them when they are in top form, I mean their possible best conditions, I am not considering what they have achieved or their longetivity just who has the best abilities in top form.

joseph1013:
Of course I did. I'm telling you that I'm taking this rejuvenated Moses over Finidi. This Moses is a machine. That performance against Man City is beyond incredible.

And like I said, I can use both of them in our matches.

I also watched Mikel in his greatest matches, including a most world-class man of the match performance in the Champions league final. I will take Mikel over Oliseh.

Oliseh was in the Borrusia team that wrestled the Bundesliga from Bayern twice! Do you think an outsider winning the bundesliga is easy? This isn't the champions league where you play one match in two months, he consistently maintained the same performance for an entire season!

joseph1013:
Left to me, I will take Moses over Finito. But against Spain, I can accommodate the two of them. I will just take out Garba Lawal or Mutiu Adepoju.

Mikel will replace Oliseh not Okocha.

Garba lawal was more of a utility player, that's a bench piece more or less. Let me ask you sincerely, what do you know about Finidi George?

joseph1013:
Nigeria's greatest ever players, Mikel is in top 3. Oliseh is not in top 7. That says alot.

come again? Who put Mikel in the top 3? Nna eh

Icon4s:
DID YOU EVER SEE GEORGE FINIDI PLAY?

Mikel replace Oliseh?

In the current set up it is Onazi vs Oliseh and Mikel vs Okocha.

he absolutely did not. Finidi had everything, from speed to making the right decision to tracking back perfectly well. You can't be rated higher than Figo then if you aren't outstanding. I can't even believe this, or na Babaginda he go bench? The guy was a speed demon, you think Moses knows how to run at defenders? Watch Babangida, the guy's speed and build will even make you fall down when he is coming

Icon4s:
I like your dream.

Some1 like me has experienced so many heart breaks mostly because of the recklessness and inefficiencies of our FA officials.

Even the Legendary Pele predicted that an African team would win the World Cup before the end of last century but... we ourselves proved him wrong.

What did Pele see? Emergence of West African countries at youth level from the mid 1980s. His calculation was that about 10 years from 1985 to 1990 those boys would have graduated into Super Stars. The arithmetic probably was "if we can beat u in 1985 as 17years olds we should be able to beat you in 1995 as 27years olds".

But both we and Pele did not know about the "AFRICAN FACTOR".

Remember my argument with you last year about that CHEMICAL REAGENT? That is the African factor which includes both players attitude and Football administrators.

After our exploits at the 1994 World Cup, we hard and emergence of a crop of younger players. Graduates of the 1993 U17 and U20 and 1996 Olympics. Mennn they were better than their predecessors of the 1994 World cup.

Babayaro replaced Iroha
Taribo replaced a retiring Keshi
Tijani Babangida had joined the Team, adding to our wings fire power
Oliseh had gotten more matured and co-ordinated
Okocha was about the most skillful player in the world.
What of Kanu Nwankwo? He was one of the most dreaded young forwards in Europe
Victor Ikpeba was at his peak, Yekini was winding down his career.
Garba Lawal, one of the most efficient utility players we've ever had had also joined the team.
Some1 like Mutiu Adepoju was also in that team.
What of Finidi George? He was about the best winger in the world then. Filled with plenty of experience.
Daniel Amokachi, Wilson Oruma, Austine Eguavoen were also part that squad.

Just imagine a back line of:

Eguavoen..Okechukwu..Taribo..Babayaro..
This na wall of Gilbralter defence! Mixture of youth and experience.

THE FRANCE 1998 TEAM WAS BETTER THAN THE USA 1994 TEAM.

We thought that was the year we could go all the way to at least the semis haven assembled a better, more dynamic and more flamboyant team.

Imagine starting the tourney with a win over Spain! And securing qualification with 1 match to go after beating a highly rated Bulgarian team that finished 4th at USA 94!

But what went wrong?
Only Bonfere Jo and those players will tell us why they were already thinking about playing Brazil in the quarter final when they first had to beat Denmark. 4-1 Defeat! I was not my self for many days.

There after I lost hope in any Super Eagles Team.

As I said, I like your dream but.... I hope you wont suffer heart break like I did.

you said it perfectly well! The level of confidence nigerians had prior to that game against Denmark was insane. I can even remember that match well enough, my mom came into the parlour when the match was about to start and was like 'who are we playing today?', even before my junior bro could finish pronouncing Denmark she said 'mtchw, I will only watch the game against Brazil'. She totally rubbished Denmark, what happened then I'd never know I swear, since then she doesn't watch our games anymore, sad sad story

princesuko:
Do you watch La-liga or are one of those EPL fans who have single minded zeal.
I Can name at least 20 defenders trained in Spain better than their english counterparts.
Pique, Ramos, Puyol , Alba, Baily, Godin, Carvajal,Bartra,Juanfran,Alves,Nacho,Marcelo,Inigo Martinez,salgado,Gaya,Bernat,Azpi,Bellerin,Javi Martinez thats off my head. Don't say that again o

you even missed one sef. The only CB that Guardiola is trying to lure to Man city now, the one from Athletic Bilbao, Laporte. Presently, I think the FIFA11 list is made up of mainly players from the spanish league even the defence section too

safarigirl:
Got my account back!

Big shout out to thegoodjoe for calling on the powers that be and to semid4lyfe for responding appropriately. I appreciate your efforts

@Icon4s, I no watch the match o, I dey school. Just saw two red cards on live scores, I come dey wonder which kain gbege happen. Aguero take style no get sense sha, just dey collect unnecessary red card. As for Kelechi, like I said, moment of madness. Heard twas Pep that pulled him out of the fray? (Before dem red him two forwards ). He doesn't come off as someone with a temper or anything like that, so hopefully, he assessed his behaviour later in the day and realised his error.

@kentAire, yes o, na me be that

I think he is easily frustrated sha. There was this thing he did during our match with Egypt, I think the ref blew for a foul and he threw the ball away, a yellow card offence all day long but he got away with it. He needs to work on that.

By the way, which university?

bigblangston:
Dr Mikael and Joseph1013!!! Even though I really wanna take this guy and his cohorts to the cleaners but your timely intervention has doused the fire in me. Even though I planned to leave what I was doing just to unleash my online sword at him but you had to intervene at a time my rebuttal was ready which prompted me to clear the condescending words I have packaged just for this purpose... @ Thesupernerd! Even though it is difficult to do this right now but with the words of reasoning up there I will have to swallow my pride. I'm sorry for the derisive,derogatory remark I aimed at you...

such a fine man, excellent. Oya case settled, group hug and group selfie(I will be standing beside Safarigirl for the group hug and selfie ooh)

safarigirl:
So called men, bitching like women upandan on top their age mates because of common football

I wonder how much you guys make from such show of stewpidity and blind pride.

Some of you will condemn someone on one hand and then mirror the same action you condemned thinking you're in the right.Having been a recipient of such stinking hypocrisy, I know well and good what that is like.

Lemme say once and for all that Lukaku is no more than a LOCAL CHAMPION, there is no stat that can make him world class, playing in the EPL has NEVER and will NEVER make anyone world class. You need to post numbers on the continental stage, not just bossing in your backyard before you can be world class. Even Ndidi sef is more world class than Lukaku, at least his Europa stats are pumping his CV, Lukaku sabi road road to Europa?


Now that we've established that, can we all just pretend we have some semblance of home training for the duration we are on this thread opened for the sole purpose of UNIFYING fans of the Super Eagles?

This is not an EPL thread, so shove any talks of non-SE players in a box, we need not linger on anyone that will never don the green-white-green jersey mbok

well, seems like you are a culprit yourself. I don't need to tell you that what you just typed is going to start off a chain reaction which would most likely turn into another meltdown of order. I beg of you, please modify this your comment and remove that Lukaku part please, let's just agree to disagree, please!!!