OdenigboAroli:


That's the competition we have been longing for,because some guys are beginning to get complacent. We need these competition to bring out the best in them.
Even for Mikel,if he keep sitting in the bench ain't no telling what will become of his place in the Super Eagles starting line up. There is new Sherrif in town.


How do you see this line up. I will have Iheanacho playing as a false 9.Iwobi attcking MD. Ndidi will sit deep and soak up the pressure while Okechukwu enforces the Midfield.

..............................................Ikeme......................................
MM........................Ekong....Balogun......................Echiejile

................................Ndidi....Okechukwu..............................

............................................Iwobi..........................................


Isaac...............................Iheanacho..........................Moses

Napoleon55:

And Nwakali jnr, he needs to develop faster also,to take over Mikel's role,possiibly play behind Iwobi,or any other role in the more suitable in midfield.

safarigirl:
if Mikel is not on the field of play, more often than not, things fall apart and the centre doesn't hold.

You don't get to drop a player of Mikel's calibre especially when he hasn't done anything to deserve such a drop.

Maybe Yobo was dispensable because he kept flopping in the national team, but until Mikel flops for us, he can't be exempted from the team because one ignorant coach in England can't see past his own nose

safarigirl:
if Mikel is not on the field of play, more often than not, things fall apart and the centre doesn't hold.

You don't get to drop a player of Mikel's calibre especially when he hasn't done anything to deserve such a drop.

Maybe Yobo was dispensable because he kept flopping in the national team, but until Mikel flops for us, he can't be exempted from the team because one ignorant coach in England can't see past his own nose

Lordabas:

Hahaha
Chelsea doesn't need a snail right now. Matic and fabregas already are so slow. The earlier you realise Mikels days at chelsea is over the better. He should take his asset to a league that can contain his slow legs not epl!

BascoVanVeli:
In front of our eyes the boy is becoming a star.

Lordabas:
Finally Ahmed Musa has been found out in the EPL..all pace no brain

I worry for the super eagles our captain can't even make the chelsea bench nowadays, our vice captain now a bench warmer at leicester!

OdenigboAroli:


You know when they signed that guy I was asking myself how he is going to cope with his disorganized play and inconsistency. The only two things Musa knows is to kick the ball,run as fast as he can and shoot,period. Nothing more.
Dude came straight from the mediocre Nigerian league,so,what do you expect. His didn't have a good development and you can see it in his game.

TheGoodJoe:


Sometimes, just a little positioning changes the effect of a player. Ranieri needs to put Ahmed Musa in a position where he can shoot the post and run at the goal.

If you look at how garbage Sterling was last season and how improved this season, you will get it.

How Ranieri can not see that Musa does not need a creative role beats me. Let him run at goal and shoot, simple.

Players like Oboabona and Mba came from the league you called mediocre and helped us win the Nations Cup.

OdenigboAroli:


And where is Oboabona and Mba today?
You have to understand that most of these guys got picked up from the streets and as so didn't go through a sound development program to learn the rudiments of the game and you can see the results by how of our league boys have made it in top clubs in Europe.

TheGoodJoe:


That does not take away the fact Oboabona and Mba achieved what players with the sound development of the game you claim, failed to achieve. They put up good performances against recognized European club players.

Ahmed Musa is not good for build-up plays. He hardly played that way for CSKA Moscow and believe CSKA Moscow is huge.

His threat was running at the defence and shooting. Unfortunately, Ranieri chose King who will not offer the kind of pace and shot power Musa will bring.

If Ranieri can bring Musa to attack for his side, he will see a different player.

safarigirl:
Ranieri does not know how to use a fast player like Musa

Football isn't always about fancy footwork and flashy dribbling, sometimes, you just need a pacy winger. Such players are best for counterattacks. Look what Pep achieved with KDB, Kelechi and Sterling, beautiful counter, no time for fancy footwork or dribbling.

The sooner Ranieri realises that, the better for Leicester

Posh:



Musa is just pacy, but no brain. No wonder, he has started warming the bench at leicester. The sooner he improves on his vision and decision making, the better for him...cos soon youngsters like iwobi, success and oshiemhen will condemn him to the bench in super eagles.

Posh:



Musa is just pacy, but no brain. No wonder, he has started warming the bench at leicester. The sooner he improves on his vision and decision making, the better for him...cos soon youngsters like iwobi, success and oshiemhen will condemn him to the bench in super eagles.

goldfish80:
In my opinion, there will be no significant drop in quality if Omeruo should be replacing Leon Balogoun.

Frankly speaking, Leon balogoun's ball playing abilities is a myth. Atleast statistics don't exactly stand him out as a ball playing centre back like most people believe.

According to his stats, his pass completion % is just 75%. That's pretty average for a centre back who is not obliged to make vertical passes as he passes just about 5yards to his Dm and sideways to his fullbacks/his partner. To be in the elite category of ball playing CB,a player should be averaging atleast 85%+ pass completion %.

Omeruo is not that great either, as his pass % is just 70%. (Ekong's is just slightly better than both with 78%)

But comparing thier defensive dashboard, Omeruo looks a better defender than Leon. He averages more blocks, more defensive clearances, more interceptions. However, Leon edges him out on ariel duels won.

In general, my motive is not to compare both players, but I want to dispel the fears we are loosing too much with Leon's absence. In Omeruo, we are in good hands. Judging by his big game experience down the years at Afcon and the world cup.
He can take care of himself in Ndola

goldfish80:
In my opinion, there will be no significant drop in quality if Omeruo should be replacing Leon Balogoun.

Frankly speaking, Leon balogoun's ball playing abilities is a myth. Atleast statistics don't exactly stand him out as a ball playing centre back like most people believe.

According to his stats, his pass completion % is just 75%. That's pretty average for a centre back who is not obliged to make vertical passes as he passes just about 5yards to his Dm and sideways to his fullbacks/his partner. To be in the elite category of ball playing CB,a player should be averaging atleast 85%+ pass completion %.

Omeruo is not that great either, as his pass % is just 70%. (Ekong's is just slightly better than both with 78%)

But comparing thier defensive dashboard, Omeruo looks a better defender than Leon. He averages more blocks, more defensive clearances, more interceptions. However, Leon edges him out on ariel duels won.

In general, my motive is not to compare both players, but I want to dispel the fears we are loosing too much with Leon's absence. In Omeruo, we are in good hands. Judging by his big game experience down the years at Afcon and the world cup.
He can take care of himself in Ndola

TheGoodJoe:


Squawka Football
@Squawka 8 months

Aleksandar Kolarov's first half by numbers:

56% pass accuracy
0 crosses completed
0 interceptions
0 aerial duels

This was one of Kolarov's stats 8 months ago. I guess with that, you will say Kolarov Is not a great ball playing defender. Meanwhile he is a brilliant one.

You can not pull out a stat and say he is not a great ball playing defender.

When we talk of ball playing, it is not just about passes but comfort with the ball. The ability to express with the ball and making incisive runs to help build up play.

In the Tanzania match, Leon Balogun was exceptional with the ball. I have not seen a defensive pair that good on the ball since I started watching Nigeria. (Sir Icon4s do not attack me, I did not watch the late eighties flying eagles)

You can not say Leon Balogun's ball playing ability is myth. He plays comfortably as a right back.

TheGoodJoe:


Balogun shone in the recent defeat to Hoffenheim, leading the game in ball recoveries (seven) and interceptions (four), while also being Mainz’s second most prolific passer. It was a majestic performance, even more impressive in the absence of regular partner Bell.

http://m.goal.com/s/en-ng/news/4079/features/2016/03/01/20663052/leon-balogun-nigerias-new-defensive-leader?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fm%3Fq%3Dnigeria%2Btanzania%2Bleon%2Bbalogun%2Bstats

If you consider his dribbling ability, you will notice we have a ball playing defensive gem in Balogun.

BlackAlbino6:
[color=#0000][b][size=14pt]
Exclusive: Ikeme Remains Super Eagles No. 1 Goalkeeper - Agu
[/size]
By Augustine Akhilomen

Ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia, Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu has thrown his weight behind the team's goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme despite reports of a possible recall of Vincent Enyeama to the squad.


The senior national team have been relying on Ikeme since making an impressive appearance in his debut match against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2015 under former boss, Sunday Oliseh.


Enyeama who was regarded as one of Nigeria's best goalkeepers, retired from the round leather game due to an unfriendly relationships with Oliseh. The former captain was in goal as Nigeria won their third Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and also part of the team to the 2014 World Cup where the team lost to France 2-0 in the round of 16.


Although there have been rumours of a possible return to the Super Eagles by the technical adviser of the team, Genort Rohr in a bid to beef up the goalkeeper department, however, Agu told Soccernet.com.ng that Ikeme still remains the choice of the technical crew ahead of the their World Cup qualifying clash against Zambia in Lusaka on October 9.


"There is no argument that Vincent Enyeama is a quality goalkeeper anytime and anyday.


During his time with the team he was always at his best. However, our attention is focused on Carl Ikeme who has done a good job since the retirement of Enyeama," Agu told Soccernet.com.ng.


"It will be unfair to start comparing the two goalkeepers because I don't think that's necessary. What's paramount at this level is that Ikeme still remains the safest hands of the Super Eagles and I can assure you that barring any unforeseen circumstances, he'll be in goal against Zambia in the World Cup qualifier on October 9."

www.soccernet.com.ng/2016/09/exclusive-ikeme-remains-super-eagles-no.html
[/b][/color]

BlackAlbino6:
[color=#0000][b][size=14pt]
BAD NEWS: Nigeria Loses Key Player Leon Balogun To Injury Ahead Of Zambia Clash
[/size]
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to take on Zambia without key central defender Leon Balogun who pulled out injured early during Mainz 05 clash against Bayern Leverkusen.


Regarded as the back bone of the newly assembled defence of new coach Gernot Rohr, his absence will no doubt create a huge vacuum in the Nigerian defence.


Balogun went off injured in the 9th minute with what looked like a suspected hamstring injury which will keep the dependable defender out for at least two weeks.


He is one of the leaders in the Nigeria defence, initially filling in at right back before being converted to a centre back where he distinguished himself in Nigeria’s last game against Tanzania.


Nigeria will on October 9 begin their campaign to be at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a tie against Zambia in Ndola, in a group that also has Cameroun and Algeria.
owngoalnigeria.com/2016/09/24/bad-news-nigeria-loses-key-player-leon-balogun-to-injury-ahead-of-zambia-clash/
[/b][/color]

Orkpekyandega:


Who should fill L. Balogun's shoes
CC: Forgivess food don don
Let the blame game begin. Lol

goldfish80:

Maybe against Hoffeinham he had a great game while Hoffeinham were poor and put up a lacklustre performance applying little or no pressure on him just like Tanzania.
However, the summary of his dashboard suggests he had only completed 75%of his passes this season.
Numbers don't lie.
Compare his numbers with the best in the business, you begin to see a huge difference.

Balogoun has his best qualities,which are winning ariel duels with his 1.90m frame, good tackling, good speed for a man of his height etc etc however, passing over a distance isn't his thing. For takers, Omeruo averages more dribbles per game than Leon.

forgiveness:


Na wetin I dey tell be dis wey dem no wan hear. So, na Ali go sidon 4 substitute for Ekong and Omerue dem?

What about if one of them get injury or receive red card, who will replace dem?


Well, I just dey observe.

goldfish80:

First of all, numbers don't lie. I wasn't the one who out up the stats. Whoscored is a reputable website to get accurate statistics.
If that's what his statistics suggests, then it's what it is.

If that was Kolarov's numbers, then that pretty sums it up that's he had a sh!t season. No wonder clichy was ahead of him last season.
You can't be posting such numbers and expect people to believe you that you're a ball playing centre back.

ChrisKels:


Alright bro. Nice to meet here again after the closure of kickoffnigeria.

I was one of the warlords fighting SAs, Ghanaians and some Ethiopian wannabes. It really was nasty but fun then. Oh! How badly I miss those days. Collynzo2 and I even took it as far as Ghanasoccernet.com bashing Ghanaians when Iheanacho and Co were dismantling teams enroute the UAE.

BascoVanVeli:


Simple the coach will call a replacement. Now talk ur own, who do u want?

BascoVanVeli:


Well have fun collecting goals from the net.

forgiveness:


Na wetin I dey tell be dis wey dem no wan hear. So, na Ali go sidon 4 substitute for Ekong and Omerue dem?

What about if one of them get injury or receive red card, who will replace dem?


Well, I just dey observe.

goldfish80:

Maybe against Hoffeinham he had a great game while Hoffeinham were poor and put up a lacklustre performance applying little or no pressure on him just like Tanzania.
However, the summary of his dashboard suggests he had only completed 75%of his passes this season.
Numbers don't lie.
Compare his numbers with the best in the business, you begin to see a huge difference.

Balogoun has his best qualities,which are winning ariel duels with his 1.90m frame, good tackling, good speed for a man of his height etc etc however, passing over a distance isn't his thing. For takers, Omeruo averages more dribbles per game than Leon.

BascoVanVeli:
Iwobi was awarded the man of the match and he didn't even finish the game.