Kog45:
God bless u,honestly sometimes am always surprised with d way some always try to shield some players from blame.

Agu made us to have better 2nd half?u know that assertion is damn funny.This is a player that find it too difficult to replace Onazi perfectly.

At d break time coaches realized that d substitution was a vital mistake and Ndidi was instructed to play in front of him in d 2nd half to salvage d situation.

A radical coach would have remove him in d same 1st half,just too obvious he wasn't prepared for d match and it would have been worst if he continue in that position.

We should thank Alex Iwobi for good 2nd half performance, nothing more.He came into d game and brought d best out of our players,everything come into shape d moment Iwobi entered and good he had a goal that w be remember for life in d history of Nigeria football.

Apt, concise and on point.

TheGoodJoe:


Stability. We were stable and more controlled at the back in the second half. Something I have not seen in a long time in our team. When Balogun runs to spaces to help cover, Mikel Agu would run to Balogun's position to cover.

This is a genuine concern, not an attack.

I get you, I was merely pointing out the amount of stick and criticism dished him on this thread is unfair.

forgiveness:


Scoring goals at 18/19.

Iheanacho has been scoring goals even before 18/19. What else

forgiveness:






let us not deceive ourselves, Tammy is good.

What has he done that any of our current strikers can't or have not done before?

TheGoodJoe:


Honestly, Onazi playing that way and keeping his shirt is something I find baffling. I would have said may be that is what the coach wants but Mikel Obi scolding Onazi on the field in the friendly game against USA showed it is not just following coaches instructions.

When Mikel Agu got it right, the Zambians lost gaps to mount a credible attack. We were more solid at back compared to when the defence had no shield.

We need to sort it out if we are to make an impact in the World Cup.

We keep attacking Onazi unnecessarily here. The whole team was jittery earlier in the match not just Onazi, even Balogun was exposed for his lack of pace on 2 occasions.

If you watch the Cameroon match in uyo again you will notice, we also did not start well but settled down as the game progressed. We ended up defeating them comfortably.

So forget, our improved performance in the second half was not down to anything special from Agu.

Those guys are just insecure, they just jealous.

Abeyjide:
rip. but truly, was that goal offside?

We talking death, you're talking offside.

Are you for real

BTW, R.I.P to the young girl. May God grant him the fortitude to bear the loss.

greenhulk:


U said he ignored and was spot on.. that is different from ignoring and being wrong. My point linesmen are in better position to pick offsides. If the referee ignores the linesman flag and goes ahead and give a goal then he risk getting fine if after the match replays show he was wrong and linesman was right. but if linesman flags for wrong offside and ref obliges the ref doesn't get fined if after the game replay shows linesman was wrong because linesman is in a better position to pick offsides. In general offsides are the hardest decisions to make in a game because they get to see it only once and make decision within seconds.

Your initial position was that he can't ignore an offside call from his assistant and that is the point I was arguing. Anyway, no need to argue this any further since we're on same page now.

greenhulk:


Nope, a ref will never get fined when he follows linesman's offside flag.. its the other way round, if he disregards a linesman's offside flag and after the game evidence shows linesman was right and ref gave a goal that shouldn't have stood.. then the ref stands to be questioned for disobeying the linesman who was in a better position to spot offside. And there's no way a ref will ever be in a better position to spot offside than the linesman.

Disobey the assistant referee Can a boss be fined for disobeying a subordinate?

@bolded, I've cited examples where the referee ignored the linesman offside flag and he was spot on. Did you visit the link I sent you at all?

greenhulk:


Bro, u are also right. I have never said referees decision are not the final.. of course their decisions are always final and they can decide to rule out a linesman's decision but they do so at their own risk. If a linesman raise his flag for offside and the referee decides to go against it even when the linesman is in a better position... the referee's decision will stand but at the end of the game when the game is reviewed and evidence shows referee was wrong, he might end up being sanctioned for going against the linesman who was in a better position to spot offside.

The pictures below are from official FIFA rules Pdf

I downloaded a copy of of the book 2hrs ago. And yes I understand where you're coming from. There was a time I too would have argued on your side.

An incident happened a while back which changed my perspective. The linesman signalled his flag and the referee ignored it, I can't recall the match precisely, I was stunned. I felt like he had disrespected the assistant referee, but a proper research changed my perspective.

greenhulk:


My friend stop saying what u don't know and try make ur research. refs have no business at catching offside (except when he is in a better position and 95% of the times they are never in a better position, the ones that track the offside line are the linesmen ) if ref thinks linesman made a wrong call concerning offside he will walk to the linesman to discuss it and if the linesman and discuss. Yes Referee has the final say but he also knows linesmen are in better position to track offside. If linesman raises his flag for offside and referee thinks otherwise and gives the goal even when he is not in a better position then he risks getting fined at the end of the game if evidence shows that linesman was right. This is why most of the times referees have to go with the linesmen decision on offsides.

Even if he goes with the linesman's decisions he can still be fined if it was a wrong call and he was in a position to see it.

SmartyPants:


My friend, the linesman can never dictate anything to the ref. Do your research and stop being stubborn over somethign you don't know about. Its very irritating.

http://www.asktheref.com/Soccer%20Rules/Question/27946/

"The proper name for the 'side ref' is 'Assistant Referee'. That describes their job - to assist the referee. Every time they raise their flag they are simply offering an opinion to the referee, and the referee has the final say on whether to act. So yes, the referee can always overrule the AR."

GBAM!!!

Cc: greenhulk

greenhulk:


Correct. The referee cannot be watching strikers trying to make a run behind defenders, referees are always in the middle and have eyes on the ball.. that is why catching offside can never be their job. It is the linesman that stays in line with the last defender and a striker trying to break and that is why it is their job to catch offside. How do u expect someone who have eyes on the ball to be catching offside? Even if the ref was watching Dzeko he can never tell if he was offside or not since he is not on the same line with him and the last defender.

You're right, but I want you to know that it's his call to make. And I've seen incidents where the linesman raised his offline flag and the referee waved play on, heaven did not fall.

greenhulk:


For example in the picture below.. this was Edin Dzeko clean goal against Nigeria in 2014 world cup that was ruled out for offside. As u can see he was clearly on side and the ref was in a good position but since linesman raised his flag ref gave it because he was not in the best position to decide if he was offside or not. But if thi happened against Nigeria u people would be screaming foul play.

Ref maybe properly positioned but he wasn't watching dzeko, rather he was watching the player that made the pass, so he relied on his linesman. But he can chose to ignore him if he was sure.

Of course its foul play, and the people of Bosnia complained. That doesn't make the Zambian onside though

greenhulk:


Dude it's the same thing I was saying. Ramsey was in an offside position, Sanchez scored. That was why the referee had to go to the linesman and they both came to agreement that the goal should stand. If the linesman had disagrees then the goal would not stand. Or why did the ref go discuss with the linesman in the first place? Since he has final decision he would have just ignored the linesman and give the goal na.

He can chose not to discuss with the linesman and he won't be breaking any law.

greenhulk:


No it doesn't happen. If the referee thinks linesman decision is not correct he will walk to him and talk to him. If they come to agreement with the referee then ref decision will stand, but if linesman is sure about his decision concerning offside then ref will have to change hi decision because offside is linesman's job not referee. This is why goalscorers look for the linesman whenever they score a goal. And when a goal is ruled out for offside players confront the linesman. Why don't they confront referee since he's the one that blew the whistle? Because they know decision was made by linesman.

A little research would not hurt.
https://www.google.com.ng/amp/www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/confusing-alexis-sanchez-fa-cup-10512935.amp
A linesman job is to signal, he doesn't decide. It's the referee that decides, with the help of the assistant of course but he can chose to ignore their counsel and he won't be breaking any law.

greenhulk:


U r the one embarrassing urself. Linesmen are the ones that watch for offsides, referees don't have business with offsides because they are not the ones running with the last player. It is the linesmen that run with the last player on at the back of defence and in a better position to spot offside. How can a ref on the halfway line spot an offside. Bros u sef reason am.

You claimed offside was 100% the decision of the linesman. I told you the referee can chose to ignore the linesman's offside flag. It has happened time and time again.

domiron:



The referee can over rule, but then , that will be at his discretion. How often do we see that happen?. He did not over rule his lines man in this instant, hence, it was an offside, before the goal was scored.

But you did not agree before. You were absolving him, that is why I wanted you to know the decision rests squarely on his shoulders.

Once the referee sounds his whistle, play is supposed to stop until he whistles for play to continue, which is why our defenders stopped chasing except echiejile. The Zambian attacker thought he was smart and continued play, he should have gotten a yellow card for causing confusion.

If the ref had not sounded his whistle, I doubt he'll find himself in such a comfortable position to even play the ball.

greenhulk:


U got to be kidding me. I don't know how long u have been watching football but I've been into football for more than 2 decades. Referees have no business with offside, that job is 100% the linesmen. Why do u think when players score the first person they look for is the linesman to see if flag is raised for offside because if that flag is raised ref will pull the goal back.

Linesmen are in better position to spot offside. Is it referee that is running to catch up with with plsyers that will catch offside. There may be some rare occasions when ref may think otherwise but he has to consult the linesman. Referee will never make offside decision without the linesman agreeing with him.

You've been watching football for 2decades and don't know that the centre referee is the boss and his decision overrules the linesman's decisions?

A simple Google search will save you all these embarrassment. Better yet follow this link to get better enlightenment https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060623162512AAyGWYW

greenhulk:


Bro referee never ignores linesman flag when it comes to offside. In fact offside call is 100% the job of the linesman because they are the ones running behind the last player.

Bro, no be today I start to watch match. I've seen a referee ignore the linesman time and time again when it comes to offside.

greenhulk:


That's because u don't need any line to see that ekong kept him on side. Check the position of echiejile and balogun. Now check the position of shewu and ekong.

I'm looking at the picture and he seem to be ahead of ekong or at worst inline.

Just post a link to a video with proper view.

greenhulk:


Stop talking like that. It's the linesman job to pick offside, never referees decision. So even if a goal was offside and linesman doesn't raise his flag then ref will count it as a goal. In this situation linesman made the blunder not the ref.

Offside is the hardest decision to make in football because those officials don't get to see the replay like we do so they are bound to make mistakes.

Haven't you ever seen a ref ignore the linesman flag? The onus lie on the referee to make a call whether the linesman raises his flag or not. And he can chose to ignore if he had a proper view of the situation.

Mind you, a linesman does not only pick offside. Fouls, corners, throw in etc.

greenhulk:


Below is a screenshot I took from YouTube and even the replay was paused to show he was inside.

Look at it critically. The goalscorer was behind echiejile and balogun (offside) but then look at shehu's position, he was on the same line with the Zambia striker but the one that actually kept him onside was ekong who was a few inches behind.

WTF

Your line is even more bias than the OPs own.

striker07:
Thank you,the people saying it was offside,its either they don't know offside rule or they watched a different game or they are just saying that based on sentiment

Yea, yea, the referees too don't know the rules. In fact they don't know their job, they have no business going to a football field.

greenhulk:


U getting me wrong bro. I didn't say the match should be replayed or the goal should stand. And for the record referee blew the whistle late when the player was already through on goal. But let's call a spade a spade, it was on side though a very close one.

And I'm not judging from mere pics, I've watched it on YouTube from multiple angles, he was never offside. But then this is football, sometimes some decisions go ur way, sometimes it doesn't go ur way and it will continue to be so until video assisted ref is fully adopted. Shebi mkhitaryan of man utd scored an offside scorpion kick goal last season and it stood and Mata scored a legitimate goal that was ruled out for offside. That is football. CASE CLOSED. But we got to call a spade a spade.

I'm calling a spade a spade, it was an offside, from my own view and refs anyway. I've watched several YouTube videos of the match and all of them have the same view which is same with the TV view when I was watching in real-time. Maybe you should post links to the videos of the different angles you saw.

greenhulk:


I never said Zambia had any argument, the game is done and dusted. But the goal should have stood as it wasn't an offside. Ekong (or is it balogun, difficult to know which is which from that distance) kept the player on side. If that happened to super eagles I'm sure u all will be here saying it was on side.

On what basis are you saying the goal should have stood? Are you trying to say a player can ignore the referee's whistle and go ahead to score even if it was a wrong call and the goal will stand?

Ekong played closer to shehu, it's balogun that played close to echiejile. And for the record, you're judging from a picture that does not even have the right angle to decide if it's offside or not.

The man whose job it is to decide if it's offside has decided. CASE CLOSED.

If it happened to super eagles We have had our own share of bad officiating in the past and didn't cry to FIFA. Mind you I don't consider this incident bad officiating, it was an offside. This Same Zambia were given a non existent penalty against Nigeria in afcon2013 group stage.

greenhulk:


Bros do not be deceived. That picture posted up there was made to make it look like it was an offside, look closely u will see the line is not even straight. Look I'm a Nigerian I'm happy we qualified, but that goal was not offside,. Check the picture below.

Do I blame the ref? NO. Linesman raised his flag. Do I blame the linesman? NO. Because it was a very close call. This is why pitches used for premier league etc have horizontal lines so linesmen can easily spot when a player is offside. Our own field does not have lines so more difficult for officials to spot. Do I think the match should be replayed? DEFINITELY NO. We have seen far worse referee decisions and this won't be the last.

So according to you, this particular picture is enough to claim Mulenga was onside? Without the line it is even more difficult to judge. But it definitely looks offside to me.

Look at the players body positioning with respect to Ekong. Even if they are in line, he already appears to be taking off which can cause some parts of his body to be ahead of the defender.

Zambia has no argument. Besides the call had already come long before he scored. Any play after the referees whistle is invalid.

victorazyvictor:


FIFA no help us by cancelling that 1st goal.

I don't understand why people keep saying cancelled goal when there was no goal to be cancelled in the first place.

The linesman raised his flag and the ref had blown his whistle long before the ball got to the net. There was no goal to begin with.

That Zambian player should have been shown a yellow for continuing play when the whistle had already been blown

safarigirl:
more nonsense. So, it is Cyriel that is not a good striker?

All of Cyril's goals are flukes abi? How many goals does Tammy have this season sef?

All this nonsense beggi beggi attitude dey turn pesin belle. After the way that guy embarrassed Nigerians, I am ashamed of anyone still campaigning for his inclusion this early. If anyone does that to your country, the ideal thing is to keep talks of him away until after the World Cup, not keep talking about him as if we are that obsessed boyfriend that can't get over their ex.

Tammy is not the only forward at our disposal and I dare say, he is not better than those who have expressed interest to play for us.

If he is still interested after the world cup, we can go for him, but for now, let him remain at his U21 level that he chose for himself

I no why, but this comment just dey sweet my belle.

Congratulations Super Eagles of Nigeria!!

Russia here we come!!!

zicky:

I believe you did not see the comment of others comparing CR7 with Inzaghi as hate or as going low

I'm not talking about comparisons here. I'm only concerned about his orgasmic feeling at the prospect of messi missing the world cup.

What is the essence of having a world cup if we cannot get to see the best players on the planet or would you rather see some ragtag team?

krattoss:
Argentina is going down...

Their finishing is below average..messi is going down...

I expect him to cry me an ocean after they must have missed out on the mundial proper

Hating on the greatest player of his generation? That's low