TheSuperNerd:
WC Opponents Watch

Lionel Messi meets with FA president as Argentina finalise World Cup plans

Lionel Messi received a visit from Argentina Football Federation (AFA) president Claudio Tapia at his Barcelona home as Argentina finalise their World Cup preparations.

The Albiceleste will use Barcelona's training facilities from June 1 until they travel to Russia on June 8.

Tapia posted a photograph on Twitter of himself sitting alongside the Barcelona superstar, writing: "A beautiful morning chatting, having [caffeine drinks] and with a few presents for our captain of our national team."

The AFA is considering playing a friendly against Catalonia in Barcelona in early June before their World Cup group-stage opener against Iceland on June 16.
Tapia also met with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Monday.

The AFA chief recently spoke of his hope that Messi would play less for Barcelona the remainder of the season so the 30-year-old would arrive at the World Cup in top condition.

Messi has a La Liga-high 22 goals and has set up 12 more in 25 league appearances -- with all but one start -- for the league leaders.

Barca, seven points clear of Atletico Madrid, will face Las Palmas away on Thursday before squaring off against Atletico on Sunday at the Camp Nou.
"It's difficult to imagine this Barca losing four or five games, honestly," Atletico's Uruguay defender Diego Godin told Cadena Ser radio. "Barcelona are in spectacular form. We just have to win our games. Messi really does what he wants and when he wants. When you have a player like him in a team, it's very difficult to stop him."


Source: http://kwese.espn.com/football/argentina/story/3399957/lionel-messi-meets-with-fa-president-as-argentina-finalise-world-cup-plans?device=featurephone

Russia 2018 WC Countdown: 106 days 14 hours to go

tbaba1234:
Sarenren Bazee back in full team training..

somehow:
He's got a foreign GK trainer at his club na. psychology is what he needs.

Kog45:
....don't let Alloy Agu hear this(we only have one real goalkeeper trainer)but another coach is being sent to monitor Maduka?are they saying better to be keeping in youth team than be in main team as a youth player,this is unfair to Dele Alampasu.

Modified..... Just heard that Enrico would visit Alampasu too.

Icon79:
So the Argies will use Barcelona's training facilities for their preparation? Wow, this is what you call clout!!

Seriously, Argentina would win this World Cup, if the AFA can get their acts together and if the other Argentine super stars show (Dybala, Di Maria, Aguero, Higuin, et al.) show up. But it ain't gonna work if they leave it all for Messi to carry. No one can do it by himself, no one has ever done it by himself ... it takes 11 players.


O pari

krattoss:
please eehh..I kinda feel bemused when people from the comfort of their home predicts who and what rohr likes and dislikes... like are you his personal adviser??

that was how thegoodjoe insinuated that he didn't forsee rohr inviting Joel obi with reasons like rohr likes multipurpose players, and that rohr likes his midfielders been able to play anywhere mildfield..
But rohr has extended invitation to him against all odds..

nobody here should state authoritatively who rohr likes rates and dislikes because u can never be so sure and u 're surely gonna get dissapointed .

andrew444:


My broda God bless you for what you just said,everybody here dey do like coach while the way dem dey talk about player dey some how,once dem see player wey dem like dem go being mention say rohr rates that person highly,I wonder if they are the personal adviser to rohr

edi287:

Imagine having the luxury to leave out a striker as talented as Icardi. If we had Icardi, we'd easily make quarter finals. That guy is deadly. Needs to leave Inter

Oasis007:
The Return of Joel is a good and welcome Development. I pray he's injury free and fit enough to be in the starting XI for the Eagles at the Mundial.

I wouldn't mind the Trio of Ndidi, Joel and Mikel Combo at all. Ndidi can be the base, shielding the Defense as a No. 6, doing the Tacklings and dirty Jobs. Joel Obi can play efficiently and effectively as Box2Box Midfielder, simply plays as a No. 8, while Mikel plays a free Role as a No. 10.

The Truth is; I was never sold on Etebo as an AM. I prefer him to be played as a Box2Box Midfielder than a No. 10. He simply can be a backup for Joel, while Onazi also serves as a backup for Ndidi. However, who possibly can be a backup for Mikel?!

Super Eagles should opt for a 3-Man Midfield Combo regardless to the Formation; whether 4 - 3 - 3 or 3 - 5 - 2. Also I prefer Idowu as the first Team LB and Ebuehi as the first Team RB, with Shehu and Aina as Backups respectively - meaning Echiejile is honorably dropped.

On the Goalkeeping Crisis. I think Rohr should have sent Trainers to both Akpeyi and Ezenwa instead of the Rookies. Akpeyi ain't a bad Keeper - for his Club he's superb, hence he should be psyched to get the Confidence of replicating Club forms in GWG.

Joebie:
Rohr is now being unfair to Alampasu. KOG45 u are beginning to talk like forgiveness o. U of all people lol

Modified

Ehen thanks for the modification hahaha

TheGoodJoe:


Stick to BBC.

Go to forums and see fans proposing players they want their clubs to sign. It is called analysis. That is what we do here. Analyze.

TheSuperNerd:
Please ehn.... History also says that Argentina played Israel as their last friendly before their '86 and '90 WC finals proper campaigns began. They won in '86 and were finalists in '90. Abeg, you sabi who dem play last for friendly before 2014 WC? because Argentina, according to some news reports don fix Israel again as last friendly before Russia 2018. Football mystery, superstition or just mere whatever....? *shrugs*.

This is linked to your prediction in Argentina being your no.1 for the WC title in Russia.


Note: Argentina won those friendlies 7-1 and 2-1 in '86 and '90 respectively. Now they fix another with same Israel just before Russia 2018. Abeg who dem play last before Brazil 2014? Lol

mazimee:



Agu isn't that good , would you pick an Agu over a fit and injury free Joel?

Icon79:
Good post with a couple of caveats:

Has anyone explored the option of Mikel returning back to his old Chelsea role, as a DM destroyer? That would free Ndidi to play the box2box role, and then Iwobi can play in his favorite position - AM. I am making this suggestion based on a few facts:
1. With our style of play - a fast attacking football - Mikel might be a tad too slow to be our offensive linchpin.
2. Our goalkeeping crisis reinforces the need to solidify our defensive end. Mikel can provide a defensive cushion for the back 4 (back 3 whatever).
3. Considering the countries we're up against (Argentina and Croatia in particular), we gonna need a strong defense line to keep them at bay.

On the goalkeeping crisis, I think you guys are mixing up a few things. Rohr did NOT send a personal trainer for Maduka. All he did was to send an assistant to monitor him so they can decide whether Maduka has any potential and deserves an invite.


O pari

Icon4s:


Fatau Dauda is a Ghanaian national team goalie naa.

You said you stopped watching youth football but it seems as if you stopped Watching national team football generally.

At least you should remember him from the 2013 AFCON if nothing else.

edi287:

Imagine having the luxury to leave out a striker as talented as Icardi. If we had Icardi, we'd easily make quarter finals. That guy is deadly. Needs to leave Inter

andrew444:


I feel for icardi,it's just that issue with the wife of fellow argentine Maxi Lopez wife

krattoss:
please eehh..I kinda feel bemused when people from the comfort of their home predicts who and what rohr likes and dislikes... like are you his personal adviser??

that was how thegoodjoe insinuated that he didn't forsee rohr inviting Joel obi with reasons like rohr likes multipurpose players, and that rohr likes his midfielders been able to play anywhere mildfield..
But rohr has extended invitation to him against all odds..

nobody here should state authoritatively who rohr likes rates and dislikes because u can never be so sure and u 're surely gonna get dissapointed .

Danielnino00:



I don't think Icardi has been invited to d Argentina national team for 3 years now... Rumour has it that Messi is behind it.. Cus Icardi dated Maxi Lopez's ex girlfriend...

Oasis007:


Honestly I would have suggested Mikel to play as a DM, perhaps deep-lying Playmaker at the Mundial, but I'm scared of being roasted alive....LOL!

Ndidi can't thrive as a B2B Midfielder at the moment. His style of Play makes him a Destroyer not an Ochestrator. Joel Obi is simply the best we've got for the Role for now. He's mobile, skillful and decisive.

Danielnino00:



I don't think Icardi has been invited to d Argentina national team for 3 years now... Rumour has it that Messi is behind it.. Cus Icardi dated Maxi Lopez's ex girlfriend...

Icon79:
Amin o. Amin o, my broad!

I don't give a rat a$$ about Argentina, but Messi deserves a World Cup win. Let's keep praying and keep our fingers crossed.


O pari

Icon79:
So the Argies will use Barcelona's training facilities for their preparation? Wow, this is what you call clout!!

Seriously, Argentina would win this World Cup, if the AFA can get their acts together and if the other Argentine super stars show (Dybala, Di Maria, Aguero, Higuin, et al.) show up. But it ain't gonna work if they leave it all for Messi to carry. No one can do it by himself, no one has ever done it by himself ... it takes 11 players.


O pari

Icon79:
Amin o. Amin o, my broad!

I don't give a rat a$$ about Argentina, but Messi deserves a World Cup win. Let's keep praying and keep our fingers crossed.


O pari

asha80:
garrincha 1962 and maradona 1986 say hi...well seriously these two players largely won the world cup by themselves.

Daejoyoung:

football then was different, attackers dribbled defenders easily on a more consistent basis.

Icon79:
KPOM! Let's keep pushing the theory. I think that's what gives us the strongest line up, especially if Onazi is going to start on the bench. Another good news is that Alex Iwobi is improving his energy level and he fit well in AM role. This team is definitely coming together at the right time. I have not been this excited about the World Cup since 1994!


O pari

Icon79:
Good post with a couple of caveats:

Has anyone explored the option of Mikel returning back to his old Chelsea role, as a DM destroyer? That would free Ndidi to play the box2box role, and then Iwobi can play in his favorite position - AM. I am making this suggestion based on a few facts:
1. With our style of play - a fast attacking football - Mikel might be a tad too slow to be our offensive linchpin.
2. Our goalkeeping crisis reinforces the need to solidify our defensive end. Mikel can provide a defensive cushion for the back 4 (back 3 whatever).
3. Considering the countries we're up against (Argentina and Croatia in particular), we gonna need a strong defense line to keep them at bay.

On the goalkeeping crisis, I think you guys are mixing up a few things. Rohr did NOT send a personal trainer for Maduka. All he did was to send an assistant to monitor him so they can decide whether Maduka has any potential and deserves an invite. So the man has done anything wrong.

And by the way, I am sticking with my recommendation that the man deserves a lifetime contract. Oya, Kog45 come bite me


O pari

maidaboi:
Please who knows the exact date which this match take place INDIA 99 - 1 NIGERIA ?

TheSuperNerd:
Only on Mikel and this fast counter attack talk....

You saw the fast/Super quick passing that led to the Super Eagles' third goal against Argentina abi? You know it was from Ndidi to Iheanacho then to Mikel who found Iwobi, who then found Iheanacho (again) before his last touch rolled into Idowu's path....

Just take a look at that movement. Free flowing quick counter attacking football and it was not just about the movement but about letting the ball do the running too. IT WAS ABOUT THE QUICK PASSING EXCHANGES.

Mikel don't have to run much during a counter attack... All he needs to do is quickly release the ball into the Path OR feet of his younger attacking team mates like Iwobi, Moses, Nacho etc... Mikel is the orchestrator and for him, his role in this team's attacking style is not about his running but about his quick creative passing.

Another example is his quick creative pass to Ighalo to set him on the run for that first goal against Cameroun. Mikel didn't even have to turn and look at Ighalo. He already knew where he was. That is the quickness and speed I speak of. Speed in his brains and not in his feet.


Mikel's genius is key in this system and he has been at the center of it all when Nigeria blew teams away with the system so why semd him to the DM role? Why send our most intelligent and most creative midfield genius to the DM role? Unless you want him to operate as a regista akin to Pirlo? A deep-lying playmaker with a box-to-box partner and then with another partner in the CM role? Well unless that, biko hapu Mikel as the team's CAM... Having him there makes our attacking third delightful to watch and even more fearsome to contain.

somehow:
1692 in Nineveh, Costa rica.