TheGoodJoe:


You totally avoided the point. We are creating chances. That is not the problem. A super striker will have chances to score in our team.

Remember Awoniyi and his multiple misses? Keshi saying he is happy we are creating chances?

With our current team, we can create chances. We need a Striker to bury these chances.

zoboizee:
@TheGoodjoe. To create is different from converting. Ronaldo, Mahrez, Sallah, Messi & co, operates from the wings and scored lots of goals. What counts is the finishing of our wingers. Our wingers are wasteful and yes, we don't play to the strengths of our strikers, we play to the strengths our wingers, that's how SE operates. They get the opportunities to create & score more than any player on the pitch. Infact, Our national teams rely mostly on wingers because that is how we play. we are Eagles & our wings count a lot. We dont rely on free kicks nor corner kicks. because we hardly convert them. Check our Olympics stats, we wasted so many.
To me, although iheanacho has the poacher's instincts & good at tap in, he will struggle a lot as a top 9 for Nigeria. Judging by our wingers will to do it alone rather than play with the striker, his skill set when facing a player is low, poor first touch, weak stamina against tall & rough African defenders. These are reasons why ighalo & co always struggle to perform. Iheanacho should be given the freedom to move around, to receive & to pass, & shoot or tap in when necessary. That's where he would strive for the eagles. And if he is to top strike, then he needs a skillful bully to play with it in attack.

TheGoodJoe:


Before Nacho went to Manchester City, we were excited that he was going to become an understudy to Silva and Nasri.

He would work under Pellegrini who worked with the likes of Carzola, Isco and Riquelme.

When he arrived City, there assessment showed, HIS BEST TALENT IS FINISHING.

Just like Messi is an excellent passer, excellent crosser and can link the midfield to the attack, he is most deadly as a finisher.

Messi in his hay days, was unbelievable going at goal. He was best up there and the Ballon d’Or showed it.

Since Suarez became the man up front, it has reduced. Messi is not looking invincible as he used to.

So it seems playing Nacho up front will waste his vision, skills, passes and crosses. However, his best talent, finishing will waste if he is in not up front.

BascoVanVeli:
Sep 7, 2016

What Nigeria and Gernot Rohr can learn from the U.S. national team




Gernot Rohr and Nigeria are readying for World Cup qualification and must find the right player mix.

Something old, something new. Both combined to give the United States a 4-0 statement win against Trinidad and Tobago to the rest of the CONCACAF field ahead of their Hexagonal round of qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Over the course of two games against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, two players came in and showed how a team can make huge progress based on the foundations of team selection, individual merit and well-defined strategy.

On Tuesday night, Christian Pulisic became the youngest starter for the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier -- and what a display he put up to go with it.

Seen as a prodigious talent, the 17-year-old, who was only recently promoted to Borussia Dortmund's first team, had been on the fringes of the starting team, but he showed a real cutting edge when he came on against St. Vincent. Admittedly, it was against weak opposition, but still, two goals and one assist told only a small part of the full story.

It was no surprise then when -- despite all of his hedging on his XI in the lead up to the game -- Jurgen Klinsmann handed the youngster a start.

And again, Pulisic delivered. He tore past defenders, created chances, hit the post (twice with one shot), forced a point-blank save and set up an easy goal for teammate Jozy Altidore. He doesn't look to be leaving the squad any time soon despite his lack of experience.

At the other end of the spectrum is Sacha Kljestan. Frozen out of the squad for the last two years, the midfielder kept working at his game. He's evolved into one of the best central midfielders in Major League Soccer this season.

All this for Kljestan despite little assurance of an international recall until an injury to Gyasi Zardes opened the door for him. Kljestan came in knowing he had one chance to force his way into reckoning. And boy, did he take it, scoring two goals and adding three assists in two games.


Jurgen Klinsmann benefitted from playing the hot hands of Christian Pulisic and Sacha Kljestan.

"He helped his case big time," Klinsmann said of Kljestan "That's what happens in soccer all the time. Some players come in for whatever reason, if it's suspensions, if it's injuries. Other ones get their call and we always tell them, no matter if you were gone for two years, this is your chance now. Don't worry, the door is always open.

"[Kljestan] understood that from the first second on," Klinsmann added. "From the first training session on he was on fire in this camp. Sacha absolutely took advantage of his opportunity."

So what can the Nigerian national team learn from this dual coming of age and return to form in the Americans' team? Everything.

For too long, there has been little discernible rhyme or reason to Super Eagles player selection, and especially to the starting XI. Players always appear to get picked on the basis of their names and clubs they played for rather than form. Odion Ighalo, despite a relatively superior goals haul while at Granada, never got called up. Neither did Imoh Ezekiel during his time in Belgium.

Instead, established players who suffered prolonged dips in form continued to get starting spots at the expense of blazing hot alternatives.

Against Chad in Kaduna, William Troost-Ekong, Anderson Esiti and Kingsley Madu were handed Nigeria debuts and all three finished with superb reviews. Despite that, Esiti has not been called up since. Madu has featured just once since. Only Troost-Ekong has gone on to become a regular, and even at that, he was left out for a spell.

Kelechi Iheanacho was overlooked for a long spell until media and fan outcry made it impossible to do so. His instinctive, volley rebounded for Nigeria's goal against Egypt, in an ultimately fatal 1-1 home draw where he was one of the shining lights.

In the return leg, which Nigeria lost 1-0, he did not even see a minute of action. If a player comes in, works hard, earns his spot on the field and then goes on to justify that spot, only to get dropped for the very next game, what incentive is there to give everything?

Every new coach comes in and claims to be rebooting the national team: rebuilding is the usual word. As Gernot Rohr begins his tenure, that can no longer be an acceptable easy cop out. There is more than enough young talent to populate the Super Eagles and make it a feared force. With an average age of 23, that is a team with a long future.

However, players must have a clear, unambiguous understanding of what it means to win and keep a starting spot. World Cup qualifiers are upon us and Zambia awaits in the very first game. Rohr has no margin for error and could learn a lesson or two from the success of Pulisic and Kljestan in the U.S. team.

lakesidepapa:


If I were guadiola, I'll train and develop him as one of the best attacking mid fielders and supporting S in the world. Finishing is not the problem of Mancity, they have the likes of Aguero, Kevin and Gabriel is also coming.

All in all, I agreed with you.

forgiveness:


GK Ikechukwu Ezenwa vs Alampasu
GK Carl Ikeme
GK Emmanuel Daniel
DF Elderson Echiéjilé
DF Shehu Abdullahi vs Tyrone Ebuechi
DF Leon Balogun
DF William Troost-Ekong
DF Jamiu Alimi vs Kenneth Otigba
DF Kingsley Madu
DF Musa Muhammed vs Daniel Adejo
DF Chidozie Awaziem vs Brian Idowu
MF John Obi Mikel (Captain) vs Ramon Azeez
MF Ogenyi Onazi Vs John Ogu
MF Nosa Igiebor vs Raheem Lawal
MF Wilfred Ndidi Vs Anderson Esiti
FW Ahmed Musa
FW Brown Ideye vs Kayode Olanrewaju
FW Victor Moses vs Sone Aluko
FW Moses Simon vs Isaac Success
FW Odion Ighalo vs Anthony Ujah
FW Alex Iwobi vs Rabiu Ibrahim vs Abdul Ajagun
FW Kelechi Iheanacho
FW Imoh Ezekiel vs Seyi Ojo

goldfish80:

All the chances we create fall to the Strikers?

If the eagles rely only on one man to get the goals, I dont think we will smell even second in this group.
I expect goals from the wings, midfield and the odd goals from the defenders durring set pieces.

forgiveness:



Now, after putting them side by side, I want to reshuffle the team to choose my own starting eleven and substitutes.


.............................. Carl Ikeme (if Vincent returns, he is sure banker)


.......... Musa........ Balogun........ Ekong......... Echiejile

........................... Anderson Esiti

................................................ Raheem Lawal


............................... Mikel Obi


Victor.................. Iheanacho...................... Imoh


.................................................... Ighalo

4-2-1-3-1


Sub; Daniel, Alampasu,

Defence; Kenneth Otigba, Brain Idowu, Kingsley Madu,

DM; Ndidi,

CM; John Ogu, Ogenyi-onazi

Attacking midfielder: Alex Iwobi, Abdul Ajagun

Striker; Anthony Ujah, Ahmed Musa,

These are my own best players for now.

TheGoodJoe:


Remove one in your formation. You have 11 outfield players. It is ten outfield plus a goal keeper to make eleven.

TheSuperNerd:
@Zoboizee...... Everything you have written about Ighalo and Nacho, I am well aware of.

You don't have to be a football fanatic to have good knowledge about the game....

And tap-ins is not the only way for a no.9 to score when playing with his in-form wingers!!!!! So stop stressing on tap-ins... Haba!!!

As if Tap-ins are even that easy.....

zoboizee:
@TheGoodjoe. To create is different from converting. Ronaldo, Mahrez, Sallah, Messi & co, operates from the wings and scored lots of goals. What counts is the finishing of our wingers. Our wingers are wasteful and yes, we don't play to the strengths of our strikers, we play to the strengths our wingers, that's how SE operates. They get the opportunities to create & score more than any player on the pitch. Infact, Our national teams rely mostly on wingers because that is how we play. we are Eagles & our wings count a lot. We dont rely on free kicks nor corner kicks. because we hardly convert them. Check our Olympics stats, we wasted so many.
To me, although iheanacho has the poacher's instincts & good at tap in, he will struggle a lot as a top 9 for Nigeria. Judging by our wingers will to do it alone rather than play with the striker, his skill set when facing a player is low, poor first touch, weak stamina against tall & rough African defenders. These are reasons why ighalo & co always struggle to perform. Iheanacho should be given the freedom to move around, to receive & to pass, & shoot or tap in when necessary. That's where he would strive for the eagles. And if he is to top strike, then he needs a skillful bully to play with it in attack.

zicky:
Does the fifa ranking has something to do with the countries coach, cause this recent climbing up the ranking ladder is not clear to me.

TheSuperNerd:
Nacho's Speedy conversion rate is what stands him out in Europe.

Finishing wasn't Barca's problem either when Messi came on the scene. They had SAMUEL ETO'O FILS AND RONALDINHO.....

So Nacho's is a similar rise to Messi's at Barca...

Him playing as a 9 won't limit his Vision or passing abilities. It won't also limit his ability to play and cut in from the wings (especially the right wing). It won't limit his ability to operate in the hole behind a top striker or as a Support Striker...

Look at Messi.... Does he not still maintain his creativity despite playing "false 9" for the Guardiola Era at Barca?


Nacho has natural Vision. That can't ever be lost....

He's still a striker/AMF super-hybrid to me.... We shouldn't limit him.

safarigirl:
The counter for both the 2nd and 3rd goals were simply beautiful

Sterling, KDB and Kelechi were brilliant today, looked quite as good as MSN...they destroyed Bournemouth's defence

PS: It was Ibe's misplaced pass that fell at Kelechi's feet and started the counter for the second goal ....even in Bournemouth, nigga still sucks

TheSuperNerd:
Alex Iwobi... 1 goal and 1 "super" assist..

Iwobi is a creative monster... Chaiiii...


Kelechi "Alien kid" just can't stop scoring and assisting.... 3 goals and 3 assists in less than 200mins of football... Nacho na goals beast


Slimani scored a brace for Leicester today and Mahrez was at his devastating best.... WE ARE NOT AFRAID!!!! LOLLL

Whatever the Algerians bring our way, we got answers to them from various directions.... Hehehehe.... Bring it on!!! Beginning with The Zambians....

TheSuperNerd:
Alex Iwobi... 1 goal and 1 "super" assist..

Iwobi is a creative monster... Chaiiii...


Kelechi "Alien kid" just can't stop scoring and assisting.... 3 goals and 3 assists in less than 200mins of football... Nacho na goals beast


Slimani scored a brace for Leicester today and Mahrez was at his devastating best.... WE ARE NOT AFRAID!!!! LOLLL

Whatever the Algerians bring our way, we got answers to them from various directions.... Hehehehe.... Bring it on!!! Beginning with The Zambians....

enomakos:
i think alexis sanchez score the first goal for arsenal today

TheSuperNerd:
**extracted from twitter**
@OptaJoe
10 - Kelechi Iheanacho has now scored 10 goals in the Premier League, despite only attempting 14 shots on target in the competition. Prodigy..

BascoVanVeli:

The first goal wasn't his, it was credited to Sanchez.

TheSuperNerd:
Don't mind that "bloody" deflection.... Lolll...

All Join shaa... Iwobi involved in 3goals today sef...