₦airaland Forum

Icon4s:
I should be asking you that.

You said you have a number 10 that can replace Mikel.

Who is that number 10?

TheGoodJoe:
You make it sound as if Pogba shields the defence. He does not do that and he does not know how to do it. Mourinho could play Mikel Obi ad his defensive midfielder but will find it difficult to play Pogba there.


Read this excerpt of Jamie Carragher's take on Pogba in the first Manchester derby last season.

“For a central midfielder in a game of that magnitude, I think for the first 40 minutes it was one of the most ill-disciplined performances you will see.

“The only way to describe it was like watching the best player in the schoolyard that runs where he wants and does what he wants.

“Five minutes into a Manchester derby, when you know the centre of the pitch is so important to stopping Man City, he finds himself in a left-wing role trying to receive the ball.

“I never thought I’d say this, but I felt so sorry for Fellaini. He was left on his own in the centre of the pitch and there was so much space.

“Pogba has cost what he has cost and he has done what he has done, he’s not a kid. He is 23. You find yourself looking at situations where Man Utd are leaving acres of space in the most important part of the pitch against a Pep Guardiola team.

“His job, when you are playing in a two in midfield, is to be disciplined, especially against Silva and De Bruyne. It is either he has got it wrong or Mourinho has given him licence to do what he wants and that is wrong.”

You might praise Pogba for his flamboyancy and driven shots but as Carragher explained, sometimes his play lacks discipline and looks like a schoolboy in the pitch. He lacks a key ingredient Mikel Obi has, discipline.

edi287:
Reports suggest United, whom Pogba left in 2012 for a compensation fee of £800,000, will break the world transfer record to re-sign Pogba, with the fee predicted to rise to a staggering €120million, depending on bonuses.

But Mourinho believes the 23-year-old boasts a rare combination of qualities possessed by such Premier League greats as Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Scholes, who retired after United's last title triumph in 2013.

"We have number 10s, we don't have what I call a [color=#990000]second midfield player, who is strong enough, powerful enough, but has creativity and scores goals," he told BT Sport.

"Lampard, Scholes, Gerrrard - the second player who sometimes scores more than the number 10 but defends like a number six. They're difficult to find. These three unbelievable players represent that."
[/color]

I remember Jose said he wanted Mikel to develop both sides of the game (can't find that article anywhere). Funny thing is he started only 10 of the 24 games in his first season as a DM.

Icon4s:
I should be asking you that.

You said you have a number 10 that can replace Mikel.

Who is that number 10?

Humility017:

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

good interview wit pinnick..

TheGoodJoe:
I doubt Mikel started as a ten. Keep in mind there was Lampard in the team. I think Mikel played more in a double pivot system.

Mourinho saying Pogba can defend and also play a creative midfield role is not a certification that Pogba can play as a defensive midfielder with discipline. What Carragher highlighted in his words and you can find the video on youtube shows that Pogba does not possess a high level of discipline in his game.

This is one of the top qualities of Mikel that kept him at Chelsea for a long time.

Note also, when Pogba plays, he either has Herrera or Fellaini to shield. Very risky throwing Pogba in the midfield to carry the burden of organization.

MetalJigsaw:
COMEBACK KIDS:
5 Players Who Could Crash Super Eagles World Cup Party.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia may still be six months away, but Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr will already be looking for potential members of his 23-man squad.

Completesportsnigeria.com ‘s JAMES AGBEREBI wonders if these FIVE experienced players could work their way back into the Super Eagles squad in time for next year’s showpiece…


VINCENT ENYEAMA

Vincent Enyeama, 35, retired from international football after falling out with former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh in 2015, but there have been serious calls for the goalkeeper to return for the 2018 World Cup.
In his absence, Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme took over and impressed with his performances.
Unfortunately, all the talk of finally finding a reliable goalkeeper was shattered after Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukemia in July this year.
Ikeme’s unfortunate illness led to the emergence of the likes of Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi who have failed to impress, which has led to clamours in some quarters for Enyeama’s return to the Eagles.
And after over seven months out due to injury, Enyeama made a return to action for the first time for Lille’s U-18s in their 3-1 win over Croix in the French fourth tier last Saturday.


OBAFEMI MARTINS

Obafemi Martins’ last game for the Super Eagles was coming on as a 74th minute substitute for Ahmed Musa in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 home win against Swaziland in the second leg, second 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in November 15, 2015.
Since then he has not been considered for invitation by the Super Eagles coaching crew.
But back in his Chinese Super League club, Shanghai Shenshua, Martins was impressive as he scored seven goals in 13 league appearances last season.
And in the 2017 Chinese FA Cup final against Shaghai SIPG, 33-year-old Martins was instrumental as the club clinched their fourth cup win.
He scored a goal each in both legs of the Cup final which ended 3-3 on aggregate (Shanghai Shenhua won the first leg 1-0 and lost the reverse fixture 3-2).
Also, Martins was the highest goal scorer of this year’s Chinese FA Cup with six goals.


BARTHOLOMEW OGBECHE

Bartholomew Ogbeche made his debut for the Super Eagles in a 1-1 friendly game against Paraguay en route to the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The highlight of the friendly against Paraguay was Ogbeche’s spectacular bicycle kick which cemented his place in the squad for the World Cup.
Unfortunately, Ogbeche could not replicate his pre-World Cup performances as the Eagles crashed out in the group stage.
Ogbeche played for the Eagles up to 2004 but has been in international wilderness since then.
But there is a possibility that Ogbeche, now 33, could make a remarkable return due to his impressive goal scoring run in the Dutch top flight with Willem II Tilburg.
He has scored eight goals in seven league games this season and currently lies joint third in the Eredivisie top scorers chart, just two goals adrift of the top scorer.


EFE AMBROSE

Since departing Scottish champions Celtic for Hibernian in the summer of 2017, Efe Ambrose has become like a player reborn as he is currently enjoying his football.
Ambrose, 29, is ever present in the Hibernian team as he has played in all of their 18 league games this season.
He scored his first league goal of the season against his former club Celtic, starting the comeback in the game which saw Hibernian come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.
As reward of his impressive performances for Hibernian so far this season, on Tuesday, Ambrose was included in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) Team of the
Week.


SONE ALUKo

After impressing for Fulham in just one season, Sone Aluko moved to fellow Championship club Reading in the summer of 2017 and has continued from where he left off with the London club.

He has made 16 appearances out of Reading’s 21 English second-tier games so far this season, scoring two goals from his midfield position.

Aluko, 28, made his Super Eagles debut in 2009 in a 1-1 friendly draw against Republic of Ireland.

His last appearance for the Eagles was against South Africa in a 2015 AFCON qualifier in 2014 which ended 2-2 in Uyo.
Aluko scored the Eagles’ two goals but it was not enough to secure qualification for the Eagles.

Featuring regularly and impressing for Reading week in, week out could see Aluko get a surprise recall to the Super Eagles ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

nelszx:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAD_j8a8qh0
Part 1 of the interview

M7even:
reading the pages here, and discovered too many fallacies of false equivalence in our analysis.

komekn:
I have said this several times.

Consider Taribo West playing non stop first man on the team sheet for Inter-milan. Without doubt considered one of the best defenders in Europe.

To this day Yekini who was a top goal scorer in the Portuguese league is still recognised.

We had attacking players who were among the cream of the top clubs in Europe.

Unity and supposed team spirit can not substitute quality.

Danielnino00:
This is cool...


That reminds me,who the hell is in charge of the NFF official Facebook page??
It has been neglected for far too long and the updates are made once in a week or month...
They may be doing a goof job with the IG and twitter pages but Facebook remains the most popular social media today.. I often visit d Facebook pages of national teams like Germany, England, South Africa and even Zambia and they are always keeping their fans up to date with their activities...

TheGoodJoe:
I doubt Mikel started as a ten. Keep in mind there was Lampard in the team. I think Mikel played more in a double pivot system.

Mourinho saying Pogba can defend and also play a creative midfield role is not a certification that Pogba can play as a defensive midfielder with discipline. What Carragher highlighted in his words and you can find the video on youtube shows that Pogba does not possess a high level of discipline in his game.

This is one of the top qualities of Mikel that kept him at Chelsea for a long time.

Note also, when Pogba plays, he either has Herrera or Fellaini to shield. Very risky throwing Pogba in the midfield to carry the burden of organization.

BascoVanVeli:
Nigeria's Uche Agbo defends actions after racist abuse


By Oluwashina Okeleji
BBC Sport, Nigeria
29 December 2017


Nigeria international Uche Agbo has defended his reaction to the racial abuse hurled at him as he was sent off while playing in Belgium.

His club, Standard Liege, have reported the "unacceptable" racist abuse aimed at the midfielder on Wednesday by fans of rivals KV Kortrijk to the Belgian authorities.

The abuse began just before half-time of Liege's 2-1 loss, when the 22-year-old initially refused to leave the pitch after receiving his second yellow card.

As he left the pitch Agbo made obscene gestures to the Kortrijk fans, who pelted him with beer cups and other objects.

"I understand that I showed my emotions but racism of any form is completely unacceptable," Agbo told BBC Sport.

"Our club intends to question the governing bodies so that the community, racist and xenophobic songs are definitely banned from our stadiums.


Standard Liege statement

"No matter how hard you try, it is difficult to overlook it and accept such a bad treatment during a football match.

"My club is handling the situation now and I thank our officials, my teammates and the fans for their incredible support so far."

His coach Sa Pinto defended the Nigerian, saying he was within his rights to respond the way he did because his dismissal was not justified.

"His reaction was legitimate given the abuse against him," he said.

Standard Liege captain Sebastien Pocognolli also said the behaviour of the fans must not go unpunished.

"I have never experienced any like this in Belgium," he told local media.

"The game ought to have been stopped because of that. Something like this has to be punished.

"I can certainly understand the reaction of my player (Uche Agbo) especially after everything he has to listen to."

Agbo has also received support on social media from fellow Standard Liege midfielder and DR Congo international Paul-José M'Poku.

His club also spoke out against the opposition supporters,

"Standard de Liège strongly condemns the attitude of those individuals whose intolerable behaviour is totally contrary to the values defended by our club and the Jupiler Pro League," a Standard Liege statement read.

"Uche and other members of our club were deeply shocked by these serious incidents as well as the passivity of the referee body against them.

"Our club intends to question the governing bodies so that the community, racist and xenophobic songs are definitely banned from our stadiums."

Agbo, who played for Nigeria at the 2013 Fifa Under-20 World Cup and made his senior debut against Togo in June, only joined Standard Liege from English side Watford in July.

He was on the bench for the country's last four 2018 World Cup fixtures home and away against Cameroon, the ties against Zambia and Algeria.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42511031

soetanoreoluwa:
Alot of people have been complaining about the FB page... Still no improvement they are more active on IG and twitter...

Whereas alot of millions view FB Daily...

kennysville:
I bet he is tryin to sell Kingsley Sokari

safarigirl:
comeback 'kids'? What an irony! I can't find one 'kid' on this list, it should be comeback grandpas

MetalJigsaw:
No..no You guys are getting me all wrong! I'm not the type that is attached to any particular player. I have no Idea of what you're talking about. What am I to do with Sokari. ..please

soetanoreoluwa:
Check this out...

MetalJigsaw:
BREAKING NEWS:


Mikel Injured!

MetalJigsaw:
BREAKING NEWS:


Mikel Injured!

nelszx:
Obi or Agu?

I guess the latter cos the former can't be injured while on holiday with family.

MetalJigsaw:
Obi

gbosaa:
Source??

MetalJigsaw:
My PS3

nelszx:
I'm sure it's Blaszcykovski that got him injured

Danielnino00:
Blasacykovski still plays for Poland?