Dannyxy:
Meanwhile, Nigeria created the best chances in games yesterday, Nigerian team is class way above the Ghanaians, Nigeria played badly but the class the tiny moment they put things together was obvious.

Ghana is no match for Nigeria right now.

And Nigeria loosing to Ghana on Tuesday, yes it can happen, but that will denying African one of thier most talented team on the world stage, Nigeria just needs to play basic on tuesday.


Ghana's play will be simple, sit back and counter. They will keep a player on ekong and balogun, they will sit back, expect our wingers to keep dribbling thier way from oniitsha to idumota, win the ball, pass to partey, and immediately Jordan and arena pick up pace running at our defense, this will be thier tactics, and they can sneak a goal or two, Abuja pitch is perfect for all kind of football.
Their tactics would over work sef and they will beat us or drags us to penalty if egwaveon doesn't change tactics, and one or two personnel, tweak his style too.

Nigeria will thrash Ghana if we can control play, yes thrash.
What do we do?
Two formation can be adopted.
3 4 3 or a 4 3 3
343 will see us have
Ekong semi balogun as the back 3, with balogun playing a sweeper role and also moving in to midfield when we are in possession, aina rwb and simon lwb.

Aribo and onyeka as cm and d.m collectively, with one of them not moving past the centre circle and the other roaming around the center circle and the box.

Give me me a front 3 of iheanacho Dennis and osimhen. With them interchangeably changing positions through out the game.
Let me see Ghana counter this.

Second formation, a 4 3 3.
This is pretty basic, gives us control of the game
through midfield steel.
Same back line as the game yesterday.

Aribo, onyeka and bonke. Bonke the sitting 4, onyeka c.m, Aribo an 8/10 always close to the strikers and roaming into the box.
Front of simon, osimhen and Dennis, if Simon plays rubbish, yank him off and bring in lookman, also moving osimhen to a wing and bringing in an ighalo can be a lethal.

Enough said, there is a lot we can try with our players without going foo faraway from basic and totally changing philosophy, so much unpredictability in our play can come, and its annoying we are this predictable to read.

Ae should sit up... I like him, he should sit up. The whole coaching team, need to start to thinking in and outside the box pre and during game play biko.

You have the players!

semid4lyfe:


Good observation.

I noticed Etebo was dropping deep to collect the ball from the back 4. Etebo played as the DM yesterday while Onyeka played as CDM/Box-to-Box midfielder.

I believe it's better if they swap playing positions for Onyeka to play DM while Etebo plays box-to-box in the return leg simply because Onyeka is better defensively.

If Onyeka is given strict instructions to sit and provide cover for the back four, he will.

Subzero47:


3-4-3 will present the same problem as 4-4-2, 2 central midfielders if we are to beat Ghana we have to outnumber them or atleast match them in midfield

TheGoodJoe:
Whoever decided to drop Uzoho from the number one spot deserves to be dragged to the National stadium in Abuja, stripped naked and thrashed a hundred strokes.

Men, that guy is a solid Goalkeeper. Not running Okoye down. I have never felt so much at ease during corners.

What is happening to Alampasu and by the way, who was the Goalkeeper trainer for Iheanacho's U17 team?

cheche35:
I see many people criticising Iheanacho here, the only chance of the game was created by Iheanacho. Same at the AFCON, He scored a goal vs Egypt and also created an assist. Iheanacho may not be very fast in the eyes, but he is very effective. If any player will create a goal out of nothing it is Iheanacho. There is a reason SiaSia, Rhor and now AE all played him. My advice is for the coach to played him instead of Chukwueze, let him be drifting to the SS role while the RB provide the width. Then find a way to compensate for the RB.
But you can not afford to not play your most dangerous and clinical player

Samueltemi337:
Football doesn't work that way

12large1:
How come did man utd and Arsenal Golden generation excelled in a 424 formation while we look absolutely clueless on that formation?

TheGoodJoe:
Whoever decided to drop Uzoho from the number one spot deserves to be dragged to the National stadium in Abuja, stripped naked and thrashed a hundred strokes.

Men, that guy is a solid Goalkeeper. Not running Okoye down. I have never felt so much at ease during corners.

What is happening to Alampasu and by the way, who was the Goalkeeper trainer for Iheanacho's U17 team?

Arizoner:
we dont have a team

Subzero47:


Nobody grabs a stinger with his hands, stop lying!

TFLASHOGEE:
blue font welcome to the vawulence community infact that person should be tied to ghanian plane and he should be the one to hold the rope for ghanian players to jump down from their plane and should be package as a gift for Dem after we beat Dem, for the first time our goal post looks secured with no Shaolin temple jump or unnecessary hypertensive drop of the ball or praying while we are defending

Subzero47:
When Eguavoen was talking about his 1900s team I thought he admired their hunger and determination, I didn't know he actually wanted to take us back there.

Arizoner:
The SE has to be wary of away goal as a score draw would ensure the black stars go through

Dannyxy:
Meanwhile, Nigeria created the best chances in games yesterday, Nigerian team is class way above the Ghanaians, Nigeria played badly but the class the tiny moment they put things together was obvious.

Ghana is no match for Nigeria right now.

And Nigeria loosing to Ghana on Tuesday, yes it can happen, but that will denying African one of thier most talented team on the world stage, Nigeria just needs to play basic on tuesday.


Ghana's play will be simple, sit back and counter. They will keep a player on ekong and balogun, they will sit back, expect our wingers to keep dribbling thier way from oniitsha to idumota, win the ball, pass to partey, and immediately Jordan and arena pick up pace running at our defense, this will be thier tactics, and they can sneak a goal or two, Abuja pitch is perfect for all kind of football.
Their tactics would over work sef and they will beat us or drags us to penalty if egwaveon doesn't change tactics, and one or two personnel, tweak his style too.

Nigeria will thrash Ghana if we can control play, yes thrash.
What do we do?
Two formation can be adopted.
3 4 3 or a 4 3 3
343 will see us have
Ekong semi balogun as the back 3, with balogun playing a sweeper role and also moving in to midfield when we are in possession, aina rwb and simon lwb.

Aribo and onyeka as cm and d.m collectively, with one of them not moving past the centre circle and the other roaming around the center circle and the box.

Give me me a front 3 of iheanacho Dennis and osimhen. With them interchangeably changing positions through out the game.
Let me see Ghana counter this.

Second formation, a 4 3 3.
This is pretty basic, gives us control of the game
through midfield steel.
Same back line as the game yesterday.

Aribo, onyeka and bonke. Bonke the sitting 4, onyeka c.m, Aribo an 8/10 always close to the strikers and roaming into the box.
Front of simon, osimhen and Dennis, if Simon plays rubbish, yank him off and bring in lookman, also moving osimhen to a wing and bringing in an ighalo can be a lethal.

Enough said, there is a lot we can try with our players without going foo faraway from basic and totally changing philosophy, so much unpredictability in our play can come, and its annoying we are this predictable to read.

Ae should sit up... I like him, he should sit up. The whole coaching team, need to start to thinking in and outside the box pre and during game play biko.

You have the players!

comodo:

I guess I watched another game. Balogun was the reason why the defence didn't collapse. Ekong was error prone in that game. Yes he might have lost some pace but his positioning and ability to disposess ball off attackers is still up there. Watch the game again bro, you ill see that Ekong was the weak link.

TheGoodJoe:
Sound Possession Principles Bests Individual Brilliance

---

Addo showed yesterday that it is not the amount of star players you have that helps you dominate the game but the amount of players that can play to a sound tactical plan.

Yesterday, they repeatedly nullified the individual stars of the Super Eagles with sound tactical approaches.

Cocking:

What do we have sir if I may ask

caprikon:


Said it earlier but I am seeing a lot of chest beating here.

These knockout games can be cruel. This team struggles against sides playing defensively. In Abuja, expect Ghana to defend with 10 men and look to hit us on the counter. If Ghana manages to get a fluke goal in Abuja then eye go clear.

TheGoodJoe:


So 4-4-2 is not the problem but it being implemented the wrong way by the manager. There is no guarantee they will get the right tactical balance if they switch to a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 or 3-5-2.

As from my perspective, we are getting the basics of the modern game wrong.

joelsteron:
I will play Amoo in place Chukwueze in next game ahead of Dennis. Don't ask me why.

semid4lyfe:
I am. disappointed.

The 0 - 0 scoreline feels like a loss to me and it's advantage Ghana on Tuesday in Abuja.

Observations / random thoughts

1. Eguavoen as a coach is below par.

2. Eguavoen's formation, tactical set up and reading of matches is poor.

3. Eguaveon doesn't know his best players and the roles best suited for them

4. Despite the good performance of Leon Balogun today, he's lost some inches of pace, has poor balance, is leggy and uncomfortable with the ball at his feet.

Seriously, he shouldn't be starting our games. Semi Ajayi, Chidozie Awaziem & Olisah Ndah (both not in the squad) are better ball playing defenders.

5. Innocent Bonke is a carpenter. He may play regularly for Lorient but in no planet is he a good defensive midfielder.

6. Iheanacho brings only clinical finishing to the table but he'll only score if he gets the chance. His clinicality is not enough for midfield solidity, work rate, mobility upfront & channel runnings to be sacrificed in our game. Aribo should be playing the advanced midfield/support striker role behind Osimhen.

7. Chukwueze is not it. He's too predictable, is easily shoved off the ball, misplaces passes and losses possession a lot. Furthermore, playing him puts a huge burden on his wing back. Dennis or Lookman should be starting ahead of him.

8. Frank Onyeka is a baller. He and Etebo's inclusion brought some steel & solidity, better ball rotation and retention to the team. He also appears to be comfortable with ball at feet and driving forward.

He won the free kick taken by Iheanacho and also sold that dummy that took out two ghanaian players towards the end of the game. For me, Frank has cemented a starting shirt with his performance.

caprikon:


Said it earlier but I am seeing a lot of chest beating here.

These knockout games can be cruel. This team struggles against sides playing defensively. In Abuja, expect Ghana to defend with 10 men and look to hit us on the counter. If Ghana manages to get a fluke goal in Abuja then eye go clear.

Stormtrooper11:


See how the heat map is divided like the colours of the Nigerian flag.

I didn't believe Eguavoen would play a 424. I released a squad here, I thought we had learnt our lessons with Tunisia and play something like the 433. Atleast,a formation with 3 midfielders to avoid being overrun. If we played against Egypt yesterday, we'll had lost. Yes, cos we were repeating the same thing.
Someone should tell Moses Simon he ain't Messi. He's a great player but he needs to have a timing. Know when to pass, cross, dribble and score. He made a school boy error that cost us a goal,reasons why I say our team ain't technical. That shot directly to the keeper could had been avoided. He has issues with first touch just like most of our players.
Nigeria wingers should cross the damn ball. It's not about running and ballooning the ball. Dribbles don't win games. Goals do.

I can assure you all that if you want a winger that will cross, Dennis and Lookman won't do the job for you. We claim to rely on wing play but all our wingers seem to enjoy sprinting and not winning the game. Our players, especially wingers should take advantages of set pieces. We can't keep ballooning the corners and FKs.
Nigerians on this thread have criticized Napoli wingers for not passing to Osimhen but the fact is that the Super eagles wingers are not any different.

Midfield control is key to remove us from this debacle. It's the panacea to the problem. Move Aribo closer to Osimhen, bench Iheanacho. Personally, I rather have Semi Ajayi than Etebo in the midfield. Etebo is not in form . Start Onyeka.

Nigeria shall triumph.

kellycute:
una don start yeye again. So nor be lone striker he dey do for napoli and score lot of goal? Una don start una yeye again.