₦airaland Forum

I dont have to provide tactical analysis because the Croatia game said it all. The reason i single my fellow Igbo man was that his position stops the team from flowing. If those comments by Okocha are truly his then i fully back them. He said the same thing i said but with more tact. The manager messed up by trying to perhaps aim for a draw but he has hsed Obi in that postion in the friendlies and it does not work.

His asset is offensive but iwobi and others should be relied upon to make things happen. He can be deadly in attack around the box but during play hes to slow to offer offensive play. He holds the ball trying to magic his way thru 3 players and then falls down. That football does not help us cause we are dangerous when we are attacking. When we are not attacking we are hustling for the ball not playing that crap zoneal ball that my team Arsenal plays

How you accommodate Mikel i really dont know. If Nigeria cannot play with out him then this team should just club and forgot the wc

phreakabit:
I'd wait for people that actually understands and know football to come with credible argument based on tactical analysis, not just ramblings.
Mikel played in what possition during Brazil 2014? What position did he play in the Nations Cup we won? What position did he play in qualifiers?
Blame your coach for playing his footballers out of place..
"Mikel is the problem fullstop."

Mikel is the problem. Fullstop. If he wanted to play atm then he should have gone to manu instead of chelsea. At Chelsea he ends up as a defending midfield player. That was his choice. Now after playing all those years in that position he now wants to command a ATM in SE at the WC. Mikel is ineffective. We want a younger hungrier player. Any body but him. Mimel position disjoints the team. Put in defence if he can be trusted since he likes to gold on to the ball far to much wbich makes him a liability. I cant see Nigeria progressing unless we become fearless like Senegal and take calculated risks and put faith in the other players.

phreakabit:
No, but does he owe you money ?
A team of 11 players and you want to blame 1 player for the coaches tactical blunder? Please tell me have you rewatched the match? A general rule is to always rewatch the match when your nerves are calm to properly analyse the game. Who was Mikel suppose to pass to? Ighalo? Did he or did he not pass to Ighalo who always lost possession as a LONE striker. Or Victor Moses, who was more concerned with feeling the texture of the grass on his face? So why blame Mikel, when Leon Balogun was just as bad also and Ndidi hardly got a tackle in? The only good players that day were Iwobi and Etebo, Ekong to a certain degree. As I stated before, show me a player who has the composure, ball control, physical balance, and ball passing ability in the team who you think can bench Mikel, the closest thing we have is Iwobi and he lacks greatly in physicality and composure( you might not have noticed, but there is a hastiness about his play).

Senegal leading the way while Nigeria flounders

Looking at the way Tunisia are playing Nigeria has no business playing at this WC. Yes Tunisia should be losing right now based on the 1st half performance but this 2nd half has been far better

And why didnt he play with these players before. This guy is experimenting at best. If the report is true then yes its a good selection but the opportunity was there in the first game.

Joebie:
Rohr to tweak Eagles’ formation against Iceland
By Ayo Olu Ibidapo - June 17, 2018 1919 0

https://aoifootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/WhatsApp-Image-2018-06-16-at-20.29.16.jpeg

Super Eagles’ Coach Gernot Rohr intends to respond to his team’s 2-0 loss to a superior Croatian side as latest reports from the camp of the Eagles indicate he will tweak their formation and playing personnel against Iceland.

Reports gathered by AOIFootball.com’s correspondent who is in Russia show that the Franco-German tactician will pull the strings and rest some of the players he has kept faith with since the World Cup qualifiers and the friendly matches.

Players like Simeon Nwankwo may be given the nod over Odion Ighalo who has been Rohr’s preferred choice in the striking role, and the manager may also rest captain Mikel John Obi and give either John Ogu or Joel Obi the chance to pair with the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo. Ogenyi Onazi may also be given a look- in.

One of Ahmed Musa or Kelechi Iheanacho may also be picked to start ahead of Victor Moses who is yet to find his rhythm in the past 3 games he has featured for the team.

Abdullahi Shehu and Bryan Idowu may keep their places but will be under pressure as Tyronne Ebuehi and Elderson Echiejile are breathing down their necks to return to the starting lineup.

AoiFootball

No hes not. Hes on tried at the level. Ive seen of him but dont think hes all that. I want to be wrong here. I hope he has some Kanu in him

Meliforme:
Simy is our best striking option.

I feel you bro cause my WC died to. If they lost but played like they did in the qualifiers then i would stil be optimistic but they threw the game. Since qualjfying and beating Argentina they have regressed. Its almost as if they were BRIBED to throw thr game

toluxdmj:
Someone said the players played like they don't want to win. It's not about wanting to win. It's about being serious. Please, just look at how SaudiArabia played. They lost but at least they showed that they are ready. Nigeria is not at all. I think it's a curse. We played 3years of qualifiers from a group of death, qualified 8months ago, we beat Argentina.

And we played like that!!!!!

It's as if we qualified as a wild card. No body should tell me that those guys practiced at all. I have seriously lost interest in this world cup with that unbelievable performance. The team is just a disgrace to the world. FYI, I love that Ghanian world cup energy, they should be here not us.

Im throwing this out there. After the Mikel Obi interview i think theres more to the lost tha meets the eye. After watching the way we qualified and the match against Croatia who were so average i beleive that Nigeria threw the match.

The real problem is that Ighalo is not very good and Mikel should not be playing as an attacking midfield player. The teams formation did not lend itself to an attacking formation at all. The zone system we played meant that Nigeria did not pick up players when defending but allowed them room to pass the ball at ease. No one Nigeria player tried to change things up in midfield. We lack leaders or players who are willing to put themselves on the line.

This world cup looks alot like when that Swedish guy managed us. Its history repeating itself again.

TheGoodJoe:
Watch the first shot Nacho had and watch his movement to the ball. As long as you have an attacker with movement, the midfield has chances. Ighalo did not offer that all game. Also, Ighalo was too lazy to press all game, causing Mikel to aid in the pressing.

I hammered on this before. If Mikel has to do the pressing, you have a problem. Mikel was all over the pitch working hard and that can not be a description of poor performance. Simple we were not mobile enough and that was basically what nullified us.

So why were we not mobile.

Simple.

Shehu and Ighalo.

No we did not play well. The game was the worst game so far. The Nigerians made it boring. We are going home early. The first game mattered and if we had lost but played well then I'd be optimistic however we played baddddd. These Croatians are not good but they played very cautiously whereas Nigeria played with fear and no imagination at all

Icon4s:
Honestly speaking, overall the boys played well.

Our midfield did excellently well to match the Croats.

The own goal was unfortunate. No fault of either Etebor or Uzoho. It was just bad luck.

Ekong's foul is what I would not accept for a player in a tournament like the World Cup.

I hope Rohr does not start Ighalo again.

Iceland are very beatable. They will come out to claim 3 points against us and may get exposed.

Somebody should tell the boys that the fashion parade is over, and that the World Cup has started.

One tackle and cross by Mikel is not enough. Mikel is slow and does not play well as AM. It's a position he wants to play in and I believe he has the ear of the the coach hence why he does not start on the bench.

The team formation was questioned even by the pundits on ITV before the game started. These guys don't follow Nigerian football yet they saw that the formation was not good for our style of play

TheGoodJoe:
What about the time Mikel battled a Croatian at the corner won the ball and gave a cross. The young man worked hard. I wonder why the criticism is on someone who gave his all for the team. Mikel was not the problem but movement upfront.

He would not have changed anything. The teams shape was in a total mess. Even the British commentators said that the formation the coach picked was wrong. They knew it was the same formation used against England in the first half.

The coach messed up because
1. he got no balls and won't drop Mikel to the bench. 2. Attack was dry just like in the friendlies because the midfield offer nothing with Mikel at 34 playing as a AM
3. The zonal strategy does not work for Nigerian football we need to hustle at every opportunity
4. Our defenders appear out of there depth here
5. We football needs flare

TOPCRUISE:
Now I feel Moses Simon's absense in the world cup

Are you serious a pig is what you will bank your hope in?

Jokovic1:
where is that useless pig that predicted that Nigeria would reach the semi final �

Yep we are religious which means that we love our idols and hate God which shows in the fruit we produce from our lives. We don't want what God wants but what self wants hence why we blaspheme God daily by our actions.

Our religiosity is a facade for "let me live how I want and be self deceived that God (who ever he might be ) will bless it.

trexglox:
Nigeria failure country.. I hate this country with passion.. Nothing works here and yet we are extremely religious.. I hv given up on nigeria

Never thought this team would go out on a whimper. They are terrible. Those friendlies did nothing for Nigeria. This coach is terrible really really terrible. To much tinkering.

What was ekong doing. Heckkkkkk

Kaaiiiiiiiiii. Roy Keane is giving it to us mannnnnnnn!!!! Our shoot the shame. Anyway I've seen enough to know that our problem is that we have selected the wrong players for this WC. We don't have players man

I'm listening to the pundits on ITV it's so embarrassing.

Mikel outstanding..... If he is we are in for a rough night. Our players are playing with fear. The defenders are unsure of themselves hence booting the ball to Igahlo. The teams structure is weak and the players are not comfortable with it.


We need that Nigerian arrogance and that samba samba play. It's very anaemic right now and it looks like Nigeria will fail if they don't step up

oshe11:
The ONLY outstanding player we have in the match is Mikel and possibly ETEBO, yes ETEBO!!!





IWOBI JUST LOST

ABI HE STILL DEY DRESSING ROOM?

Stage fright is not Nigerian at all. Glad I didn't buy a shirt

Goke7:
but why? this is the only reason we may not go far- stage fright and am surprised it's coming from players who play every week in the epl

This is the wrong game for Mikel and Igahlo you need kelechi cause he is ice cold. He's not fazed by big occasions

The lone striker is flawwwwwwed.

Also there are players that look like they should not be here. Mikel is one

Igahlo also. The formation is all wrong. Attack is non existent. Oh well new manager is needed cause this is a step back from qualifiers

Unlimited22:
Abdullahi Shehu is the problem!!!!

Formation of the SE is wrong - its not playing to our attacking strengths - build ups are few and far - needs more life in midfield

Argentina are a mess right now- the manager or coach is relying on Messi - he doesnt realize that WC players will not give 2 hoots about La Liga - I dont think that they will qualifier - i have said Nigeria can win this group but i am 50 50 right now. Ive seen Croatia play and they are solid but succumb to teams who play attacking football with quick recovery when defending. well we will see

This guy here is pretty cool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPVjSTj3Yb4

BascoVanVeli:
I didn't rule them out. I am just not ruling out a first round exit.

Read my previous comments I said that Nigeria can top this group and that Iceland will be this group's touch team.

I was telling my children that Australia are no push overs. Every sport they participate in they always show good preparation and dedication.

Here's why I'm saying that this Nigeria side will shock folks

Bolowolowo:
Ladies and gentlemen, football has changed. Here we a mighty French team struggling to put one in against Australia in the first half.


The game has truly changed.

No Nigeria will top the group.

Neimar:
Nigeria to lose or draw tomorrow
watch out

It's simple they are playing a European style of football. Where is the Africa in thier football. It's no longer there. Watch Algeria in 82 Wc and tell me their football was not different.

You can't play their game you have to switch and change from one style to the other. Look at Nigeria in 94, Cameroon in 90 and Ghana in 2012.

Why are they insistent on crossing the ball only and not ping ping tap thru defence. Annoying

you know Nigeria are very good at upsetting odds

god2good:
Croatia are ready to beat Nigeria just beat history
the history say Croatia are always been beaten in there first game in world cup tournament

I understand where he's coming from - he simply saying that Nigeria should play as if they life depends on it - not just show up and satisfy the many who simply want a fairy tale CW but do not except success. Hes 100% correct and folks here have misinterpreted what he said to mean that Nigeria will win it. He's looking at it from a Mentality point of view. I remember when Ghana completed in the 2014 WC when they drew with Germany and Ghanians were jubilant rather than seeing it as a lost opportunity. I found it quite slavish and gringgy. Its that mentality that MUST change.

We hope

goldfish80:
Spain have not managed to create even a half chance while Tunisia have created 4 solid chances.
From the African perspective, Tunisia is playing a solid vertical game, allowing Spain have the ball in less threatening areas while they get the ball with super sonic speed to the Spanish defence.
Hopefully the Nigeria team is paying attention to this game.