₦airaland Forum

Tinneh:
As much as we are well stacked in the right back position, I hope Eric Chelle sees the need to scout for quality players at left back position....
Zaidu and Onyemachi have not really been convincing at all,,

If Bruno were to play the RB, only Aina has what it takes to sideline him.
As far as the defensive phases of football in the Super Eagles is concerned, He has outperformed every fullback including Aina.

Clint02:
I've noticed that the goals Okoye concede on gwg are mostly worldies. Very sweet and insane goals.
Maybe our opponents like attempting such against him.

We wouldn't have gotten to the semi finals and finals of the AFCON with him in between the sticks.

His positioning can make it look like worldies, when you ignore stats.

elyte89:
Dt Akpan guy is decent defensively but Abdullahs better offensively

Actually Bewene is better in both departments.

My major take in this game is how limited we are in the midfield..
The Portuguese, swarmed us, pressed us into submission and blocked passing lanes..
Iwobi couldn't find any line breaking passes today..
Even our goal came from route 1 Football.. Okoye to Akor
Same thing with the chance that Chukwueze squandered
The search for players must continue..
Let's prioritize LBs and technically adept midfielders abeg..

This midfield cannot take us to the next level
Portugal showed us that next level and we folded
That we still remained competitive is a testament to the good work Chelle has done on this team

After Chelle rang the changes in the second half, we seemed to up the tempo a bit, we were pressing, forcing Portugal to make errors and even seemed fluid in our passing..
But that's as good as it got..

Portugal responded by stepping it up even higher..
Started swarming our players, pressing the life out of us, suddenly we couldn't string 4-5 passes without losing the ball
We dropped deeper and deeper into our half and I knew the second goal was just a matter of time..

Very big lesson learned today..
How Chelle responds will tell me how far he can truly take this team..

Clearly Portugal and Poland are not mates..

Then again, if Bewene had started, we might not have conceded that first goal, another mistake I think Chelle made, Starting Akpan in this game..

My main worry now is that there is no certainty NFF have any plans to renew Chelle's contract, after the September games for the AFCON qualifiers, it won't be far above NFF to pull a shocker and frustrate Chelle out of the job...those idiots are very predictable.

..

SymphonyRad:
My main worry now is that there is no certainty NFF have any plans to renew Chelle's contract, after the September games for the AFCON qualifiers, it won't be far above NFF to pull a shocker and frustrate Chelle out of the job...those idiots are very predictable.

At this point, they can do what they like
They have a choice.. to continue to grow with the team and Chelle, or to fall back into the doldrums of mediocrity and irrelevance..

The choice is theirs

Chukwueze messed up this chance with his first 2 touches. He was meant to knock the ball forward with his 1st touch and away from the last defender (relying on his pace) or play Moffi in with his very first 2 touches.

Decisions and moments. Should be 2-2. But it is fine. We move.

Clint02:
Just look at this bro.

EElopa:
I like Alhassan, but he is not a ball carrier, he does not have the passing range, and he is not a tempo-dictating midfielder. That is the profile that we desperately need.

All these facts about Alhassan Yusuf are not true, especially his passing range.
His passes are good both in the short and long range.

Clint02:
Just look at this bro.

Even me that's not a professional, I know to just pass the ball in front of the defender for Moffi to run to and be one on one with the keeper

Chukwueze is too frustrating and hasn't grown over the years

Meliforme:
If Bruno were to play the RB, only Aina has what it takes to sideline him.
As far as the defensive phases of football in the Super Eagles is concerned, He has outperformed every fullback including Aina.

Bruno even played CB for around 15-20 minutes today and was flawless
Intercepted balls to Ronaldo I think twice ..

Dude is an elite defender..
No one is benching him in that LB position

Meliforme:
All these facts about Alhassan Yusuf are not true, especially his passing range.
His passes are good both in the short and long range.

We even still need like 3-4 more midfielders

Thank you. Someone who reallly watched Alhassan in Belgium especially will find those assertions untrue.

Meliforme:
All these facts about Alhassan Yusuf are not true, especially his passing range.
His passes are good both in the short and long range.

Joebie:
I will say this was a great test. Shows we still have work to do fortifying this team.

It's actually the highest test if you ask me. Portugal is a strong contender for the WC trophy. They've got Mendes, Vitinha, Neves, all current Champions League winners. Plus other elite talent in all departments. And they started their best against us.

Any other African country would have conceded more than 2 without scoring any. In fact, only few European countries can survive this current Portugal.

WarHammer2000:
It's actually the highest test if you ask me. Portugal is a strong contender for the WC trophy. They've got Mendes, Vitinha, Neves, all current Champions League winners. Plus other elite talent in all departments. And they started their best against us.

Any other African country would have conceded more than 2 without scoring any. In fact, only few European countries can survive this current Portugal.

If Portugal don't get to the semis, the whole world will see it as an upset
They are that good..
That's a potential WC winning side and we remained competitive throughout

lbrichman2:
Bruno even played CB for around 15-20 minutes today and was flawless
Intercepted balls to Ronaldo I think twice ..

Dude is an elite defender..
No one is benching him in that LB position

Bruno is good.
If he can work more on his crosses.

TheSuperNerd:
Thank you. Someone who reallly watched Alhassan in Belgium especially will find those assertions untrue.

Thank you TheSuperNerd.

Match Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuQ9nVg47UQ

lbrichman2:
We even still need like 3-4 more midfielders

.

Yes, we need midfielders who can not only win the ball, but can create chances.

Meliforme:
.

Yes, we need midfielders who can not only win the ball, but can create chances.

Simple

Regarding his midfield selections, Eric Chelle could have done better.
Featuring FDB and Iwobi at the same time, is a bad recipe especially during phases that involves breaking up opposition play through making and winning tackles, defensive duels, and loose ball situations.

I cannot recall a single defensive duel that Iwobi and FDB won in the match against Portugal. They were always beaten.
This poor mix of players is not new. I pointed it out during the AFCON.

Why not include an extra midfielder who can help break up play and win possession. FDB does not help defensively. Ademola Lookman in FDB's position contributes far more defensively, the same as Samuel Chukwueze.

Ajayi
Zaidu
Simon Moses

All need to go, even Onyedika and FDB are too average so they can go as well, let's stick to the midfield we used at the unity cup under the leadership of Ndidi and Iwobi till they retire after the next AFCON.

SymphonyRad:
Ajayi
Zaidu
Simon Moses

All need to go, even Onyedika and FDB are too average so they can go as well, let's stick to the midfield we used at the unity cup under the leadership of Ndidi and Iwobi till they retire after the next AFCON.

FDB to me is a very good player. I heard Man United is looking at him.

well said. And we were missing some key players. Aina, Osimhen and Lookman.

WarHammer2000:
It's actually the highest test if you ask me. Portugal is a strong contender for the WC trophy. They've got Mendes, Vitinha, Neves, all current Champions League winners. Plus other elite talent in all departments. And they started their best against us.

Any other African country would have conceded more than 2 without scoring any. In fact, only few European countries can survive this current Portugal.

TheSuperNerd:
Chukwueze messed up this chance with his first 2 touches. He was meant to knock the ball forward with his 1st touch and away from the last defender (relying on his pace) or play Moffi in with his very first 2 touches.

Decisions and moments. Should be 2-2. But it is fine. We move.

I think Chukwueze's main problem is that he's indecisive - thinks of doing too many things with the ball at once.

EEGA:
We wouldn't have gotten to the semi finals and finals of the AFCON with him in between the sticks.

His positioning can make it look like worldies, when you ignore stats.

I have no idea why some of you love to blame goalkeepers, did you see the amount of saves he made in this game.

Instead of people to be proud that the SE has 3 excellent goalkeepers now, they are busy with meaningless comparisons.

Bassey plays like a Generalissimo. Since the day he single handedly stood like the wall of Gibraltar against Morocco na im I fear that boy. Kai Kai. He plays with swagger, finesse,speed and courage.

Bewene is good oo. He has confidence. I like him.

Clint02:
Just look at this bro.

Chukwueze is gradually losing that spark…he is threading the form of Iheanacho that made coach to discard from selection

Meliforme:
Regarding his midfield selections, Eric Chelle could have done better.
Featuring FDB and Iwobi at the same time, is a bad recipe especially during phases that involves breaking up opposition play through making and winning tackles, defensive duels, and loose ball situations.

I cannot recall a single defensive duel that Iwobi and FDB won in the match against Portugal. They were always beaten.
This poor mix of players is not new. I pointed it out during the AFCON.

Why not include an extra midfielder who can help break up play and win possession. FDB does not help defensively. Ademola Lookman in FDB's position contributes far more defensively, the same as Samuel Chukwueze.

You know book
Fisayo was almost useless in this game

Karlovich:
I have no idea why some of you love to blame goalkeepers, did you see the amount of saves he made in this game.

Instead of people to be proud that the SE has 3 excellent goalkeepers now, they are busy with meaningless comparisons.

Word