₦airaland Forum

OdenigboAroli:
And what's with Siasia knowing fully well we have no bench and have qualified for the second round still went ahead and fielded Etebo,Mikel and Azubuike in the last group game?
I know he has his football philosophy but in this case you have no bench and its only wise to rest your best players when they don't need to be playing.

chrisooblog:
bro i understand your frustration with the teams performance but let's be fair patriotism aside did we really expect to beat the germans? man for man most of their players are better than ours and like goodjoe said the strategy the germans employed completely nullified our threat. even if we had a plan B we don't have the players available to have executed such a plan. truth be told considering how jumbled our preparations were with siasia's head scratching player selections plus NFF/dalung show of shame it's even a mini miracle that we are in a position to play for a bronze. let's just continue to support the boys to win the bronze because sadly the way things are going in rio that may be the only medal nigeria brings back.

bros you are too harsh on sadiq yes he had a poor game yesterday but how much supply did he get yesterday? plus he has been running himself ragged leading the line. not to forget in the absence of etebo the high line pressing responsibilities that have fallen on his young shoulders. also note that he doesn't have many years of professional football under his belt so he can still improve. at least he even made an effort what about the walking statue impersonator ajayi? honestly we would have been better off going to the amazon forest to cut down a tree and station it upfront atleast the branches on the tree would make some movement.

your opinion on the rest of the guys you mentioned is spot on.

will give my final verdict on the team after the olympics ends.

TheGoodJoe:


Gundogan has always been above the Bender Twins. The guys vision, hold up play, link up play is legendary. He sees things others will not.

As for Xhaka, his competition at Monchengladbach is not on par with the competition at Dortmund or Leverkusen.

It is not a case of deteriorating. It is a case of the Germans grooming brilliant midfield machines.

Kimmich is special. I have not watched much of Kramer but Kimmich is top class. He is unbelievable and would bench most top midfielders in the EPL.

Do you think for a second, Udo, Usman Mohammed, Etebo and Azubuike will get a starting spot in Germany over the Bender twins?

Look at all the clearances in tight situations. Look at their aerial duels. The competition in Germany is high. Not that the twins are not brilliant. What we saw yesterday was a regular Bender Twins performance.

As for Xhaka, I doubt he would go to Dortmund and keep a starting place. Did you watch how Jurgen Kloop's Liverpool players over ran him?

goldfish80:
We make out this German team we played like they are juggernauts which they are not atleast individually.

Serge Gnabry : This boy has played little or no football over the last 2 seasons,due to injury. Last season, his cumulative minutes while on loan at West Bromwich Albion was 90 minutes.
He was grossly over weight and Tony Pulis binned him. Upon his recall by arsenal in January, he made no appearances for Arsenal.

I have talked about the Bender twins previously.

Their captain Max mayer didn't exactly rip the bundesliga up last season. He was expected to step up for Schalke when they sold Julian Draxler to wolvesburg but he didn't really do that. It was rather the rookie Leroy Sane who came into the team from their academy and made a huge impact,earning him a call up to the Euros and a big money move to Manchester City.
Make no mistake, Max mayer is a top prospect but that's just were it is at the moment.

Mathias Ginter, another prospect. At freiburg he was highly rated but since his move to Dortmond, he has been inconsistent. Papadopulous and Hummels are the choice paring for Tuchel. They have already bought Matt Bartra from Barcelona so he would not be getting much playing time this season either.

One of their scorers on the night Pedersen is a one sharp striker. I rate him highly, I. Can't believe he is still at Freiburg, although he is yet to be capped by the national team at 27yrs.
This is a German team that has a semi retired Podolski and Mario Gomez,a retired Klose. Yet he is yet to get a look in, that should tell you they Germans don't rate him as much as I do.

To be quite honest, I have not watched Julian Brandt closely to make a judgement.

The rest of the boys we played are youth team players and liga 2 players.

My point is that we did not really face really world class players if you thoroughly analysie the Germans player for player.
Let's stop making it out like we faced some juggernauts who Wed should not even stand a chance against.

goldfish80:
Xhaka was the captain at borussia Monchenglabach, he is just 23 and he is not German. That should tell you something.
He was the engine room of the Broussia team that qualified for the Champions league. Remember the game against Man city, they played the English side off the pitch till Aguero intervened.
Up until Switzerland were eliminated at the Euros he made the tournaments best line up every single match day. You can verify.

He made his debut as a sub in an erratic game against Liverpool in a new surrounding. He will definitely come good.

By the way, he was the juggernaut in midfield that played us off the pack when the Swiss boys beat us to the U17 gold right there in front of our president in Abuja 2009.

TheGoodJoe:
I did not say Xhaka is not a good player. He is good. Let us keep that aside.

He would not be the top man of Borussia Dortmund if he was there. Same goes to Bayern Munich.

Also, I rate players who contribute more defensively than those that play more creatively.

As people celebrate Silva at City, I feel Fernandinho.

People loved Xabi Alonso at Liverpool, Mascherano was my man. I feel they are the most important.

That is why I pointed out Bender Twins as the main German threat.

I see Xhaka more as a Luka Modric. I will take Veratti over him.

goldfish80:
Oh no no no no.... It seems you haven't watched Xhaka play. Xhaka is like a left footed and more athletic Xabi Alonso.
It may interest you to know Pep Guadiola wanted him at Man city but Arsenal were quicker to do a deal.

You will do well to check this link and see what a player that guy is
. Don't belittle him by comparing him with any of the Bender boys.

http://www.punditarena.com/football/jmurphy/arsenals-granit-xhaka-even-insane-stats-france-match/

goldfish80:
Oh no no no no.... It seems you haven't watched Xhaka play. Xhaka is like a left footed and more athletic Xabi Alonso.
It may interest you to know Pep Guadiola wanted him at Man city but Arsenal were quicker to do a deal.

You will do well to check this link and see what a player that guy is
. Don't belittle him by comparing him with any of the Bender boys.

http://www.punditarena.com/football/jmurphy/arsenals-granit-xhaka-even-insane-stats-france-match/

chrisooblog:
and i'm also saying that our players are poor in comparison to these germans you mentioned

Ekong our best defender plays in norway. only this season has his defensive game improved

amuzie plays for one division two portugese club like that

sincere seth national league player not even NPFL

shehu aminu plays in turkey and is not a natural rightback

usman mohammed recent NPFL player who just moved to rosenborg in norway

azubuike plays for a division two club in turkey

aminu umar plays for a mid-table club in turkey

imoh ezekiel played on loan for a club in belgium signed to a qatari club

sadiq umar who did his best leading the line AS roma youth team player. played a handful of seria a games last season has only just been called up to the first team proper for upcoming campaign for roma

even mikel that is our talisman is not assured of a first team place in chelsea

so my brother khaki no be leather as much the players we faced are not the elite of german football most of the ones we paraded are still far from their level. you can not compare competition in the bundesliga to ones in turkey, norway NPFL etc

goldfish80:
Oh no no no no.... It seems you haven't watched Xhaka play. Xhaka is like a left footed and more athletic Xabi Alonso.
It may interest you to know Pep Guadiola wanted him at Man city but Arsenal were quicker to do a deal.

You will do well to check this link and see what a player that guy is
. Don't belittle him by comparing him with any of the Bender boys.

http://www.punditarena.com/football/jmurphy/arsenals-granit-xhaka-even-insane-stats-france-match/

goldfish80:
It's not a new thing. Our players have always played in European backwater leagues.
Even our celebrated 94 squad. Almost all of them bar 3-4 played in what you can consider a top European team. Yet they competed at the level they did against the Italians, Bulgarians and Argentina.
Someone like Eguavoen was even clubless at that time.

Amunike was playing in Zamalek.

Okechukwu was playing in Turkey.

Yekini at Asec. Even Victoria Setubal he later transferred to was a yo-yo team in Portugal.

Peter Rufai was not even the first choice at Go ahead eagles.

Thomson oliha was at Africa sports in Ivory coast

Emeka Ezeugo was playing somewhere in Eastern Europe.

These guys competed and made us proud against world class opposition.
Personally, there is no way we can explain away the shambolic performance we put up that night. There's simply no excuse.

TheGoodJoe:

I have watched Xhaka play. Are you saying he is more defensive than the Bender Twins?

TheGoodJoe:


Very easy to explain. The German crew set up their players to dominate us and we had no response to their tactical superiority. Just as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool put four passed Barcelona.

They were better prepared than us and read every detail of our game plan.

goldfish80:
It's not a new thing. Our players have always played in European backwater leagues.
Even our celebrated 94 squad. Almost all of them bar 3-4 played in what you can consider a top European team. Yet they competed at the level they did against the Italians, Bulgarians and Argentina.
Someone like Eguavoen was even clubless at that time.

Amunike was playing in Zamalek.

Okechukwu was playing in Turkey.

Yekini at Asec. Even Victoria Setubal he later transferred to was a yo-yo team in Portugal.

Peter Rufai was not even the first choice at Go ahead eagles.

Thomson oliha was at Africa sports in Ivory coast

Emeka Ezeugo was playing somewhere in Eastern Europe.

These guys competed and made us proud against world class opposition.
Personally, there is no way we can explain away the shambolic performance we put up that night. There's simply no excuse.

goldfish80:
He is a deep-lying playmaker just like Xabi alonso, Guondogan and Pirlo.
He is a Morden day defensive midfielder not like the old school DFM like Roy Keane or Didier Deschamps.

TheGoodJoe:

Most of the stats in your link has to do with passes completed. Before passing, I rate someone who shields and protect the defence. Before Andrea Pirlo shines, he needed a Gatusso to shield him.

What makes the Bender Twins brilliant is that apart from being brilliant in shielding the defence, they also pass well.

I still repeat, Xhaka would not be the top man in Borussia Dortmund or Bayern. The competitions in these clubs are fierce.

I rate Modric over Xhaka.

goldfish80:
This is what I have been arguing all day. Their so called tactical superiority cannot explain the many unforced errors our players were making all over the pitch.

goldfish80:
It appears you love the stereotype type old school DFM with little or no footballing brains, whose stuck in trade is to kick lumps out of the opposite players because they want to shield their defence.
Players like Didier Deschamps, Roy Keane, Conte, Eric Ejiofor, Azubuike Olishe etc...

DFM these days are judged by interception and their passing stats. And Xhaka owned both Pogba and Cabaye when they faced off at the Euros. Pogba had to tear his shirt at a point.
Am not sure Dortmond can afford him at £34m. He will certainly get games at Bayern since Xabi is on the wane and Pep already converted Martinez to a defender.

goldfish80:
It appears you love the stereotype type old school DFM with little or no footballing brains, whose stuck in trade is to kick lumps out of the opposite players because they want to shield their defence.
Players like Didier Deschamps, Roy Keane, Conte, Eric Ejiofor, Azubuike Olishe etc...

DFM these days are judged by interception and their passing stats. And Xhaka owned both Pogba and Cabaye when they faced off at the Euros. Pogba had to tear his shirt at a point.
Am not sure Dortmond can afford him at £34m. He will certainly get games at Bayern since Xabi is on the wane and Pep already converted Martinez to a defender.

TheGoodJoe:
The tactical Superiority explained the unforced errors. It looks unforced but there is something like distraction in plans. For instance, if Amuzie is on the run and wants to whip in a cross, if a right back is hot on his tail, his concentration in whipping in the cross will not be on the same level as when a right back is not close to him.

Also, if the person he is to cross to is closely marked, crossing will also be distracted. Couple the two, you get horrendous crosses.

Look at the mistake the German Goalie, Horn made. It was the pressing of Sadiq Umar that led to that mistake. So imagine our players under the aggressive pressure from the Germans, you get many errors.

chrisooblog:
bros abeg don't insult deschamps and roy keane those two gentlemen were ballers and not brainless meatheads you are making them out to be. without roy keane man united may never have won the treble plus deschamps was an integral part of the dominant french team of the late 90s and 2000s

TheGoodJoe:

What is stereotype when I am talking Fernandinho? I say I do not rate Xhaka over the Bender Twins because there is more to midfield play than controlling, passing and intercepting.

We still need a shield to cover the defence from attack. Whether it is 1960 or 2017, we need a shield.

That is why Man City has Fernando and Fernandinho. That is why Arsenal has Coquelin. That is why Arsenal were weak without Coquelin and the gunners cried for a defensive midfielder for too long.

I wonder where you will class someone like Thiago Motta of PSG. Old school or modern. Are you saying Oliseh had little footballing brain? Oliseh was a genius. He had the eye of an eagle. From in front of the defence, on many occasions, Oliseh found the wingers with long balls.

What will you call Busquets? No brain, lump the ball?

I value Creative brilliant deep-lying playmakers. However, They need a good defensive midfielder to sit back and bring out ye best in them.

goldfish80:
Let's not go into individual assessment. Forget about what the teams they played in won.

Cantona once described Deschamps as a rather talentless "water carrier" whose job was just to win the ball back and pass to better players.

Roy Keane was just a thug. Sorry

goldfish80:
Looks like you were in a haste to read my previous post. I said Azubuike Olishe not Sunday.
The guy Bonfere took to Sydney Olympics.

chrisooblog:
cantona that failed to qualify france for usa94? sorry his opinion doesn't hold water for me. a 'talentless water carrier'' would never have played for top clubs like marseille or juventus or lasted so long in a very talented french team that had players like patrick veira, emmanuel petit.

roy keane just a thug? i doubt you watched him play in his prime

TheGoodJoe:

What is stereotype when I am talking Fernandinho? I say I do not rate Xhaka over the Bender Twins because there is more to midfield play than controlling, passing and intercepting.

We still need a shield to cover the defence from attack. Whether it is 1960 or 2017, we need a shield.

That is why Man City has Fernando and Fernandinho. That is why Arsenal has Coquelin. That is why Arsenal were weak without Coquelin and the gunners cried for a defensive midfielder for too long.

I wonder where you will class someone like Thiago Motta of PSG. Old school or modern. Are you saying Oliseh had little footballing brain? Oliseh was a genius. He had the eye of an eagle. From in front of the defence, on many occasions, Oliseh found the wingers with long balls.

What will you call Busquets? No brain, lump the ball?

I value Creative brilliant deep-lying playmakers. However, They need a good defensive midfielder to sit back and bring out ye best in them.

goldfish80:
Looks like you were in a haste to read my previous post. I said Azubuike Olishe not Sunday.
The guy Bonfere took to Sydney Olympics.

goldfish80:
Thiago Mottta, I rate him. But I will take Verrati over him everyday of the week.

Ricardo Montolivo and Verrati will always get into the Azzuri line up first before him when fit.

Thiago is a cut between the old/new school DFM.

chrisooblog:
cantona that failed to qualify france for usa94? sorry his opinion doesn't hold water for me. a 'talentless water carrier'' would never have played for top clubs like marseille or juventus or lasted so long in a very talented french team that had players like patrick veira, emmanuel petit.

roy keane just a thug? i doubt you watched him play in his prime

goldfish80:
I don't really think the Germans pressed us to death. We still managed to carve out chances of our own.

You will do much more to convince me that the German press caused Udoh not to be able to find Shehu who is within 5yards of him.

Even when not under pressure, Amuzie's free kick went straight into the bushes.

Sadiq with his 6.5ft frame could not win ariel duels against a shorter player like Ginter.

Our players just didn't show up. That much we should admit

goldfish80:
The French team of 1994 was not all about Cantona. David Ginola who I rate just below Romario as the best striker in Europe was also in that team.

I don't like bringing up clubs players played in to judge them.
Over the years we have seen below average players turn out forthe best teams in Europe.

Remember a certain Thomas Gravesone when he was signed by Real Madrid?
How about Pascal Cygan at Arsenal. Bebe and Luke Chadwick at Man utd.
Yaya Sanogo would not get into my street team but he is earning a living playing for Arsenal.

Take away hard tackling from Roy keane's game, you will see a below average footballer.

goldfish80:
The French team of 1994 was not all about Cantona. David Ginola who I rate just below Romario as the best striker in Europe was also in that team.

I don't like bringing up clubs players played in to judge them.
Over the years we have seen below average players turn out forthe best teams in Europe.

Remember a certain Thomas Gravesone when he was signed by Real Madrid?
How about Pascal Cygan at Arsenal. Bebe and Luke Chadwick at Man utd.
Yaya Sanogo would not get into my street team but he is earning a living playing for Arsenal.

Take away hard tackling from Roy keane's game, you will see a below average footballer.