TheGoodJoe:


Same thing that came to my mind. Maybe because I said I value those in the spine of the defence more than pure offensive players, they want to talk dazzling.

If we want to talk dazzling, then Moses takes it hands down.

I remember Oliseh not allowing anyone hear anything in Super Sports studio. He kept pointing out how Moses gave us repeated entrance into the opponents defence.

It was a great tournament for Nigerian football. A lot of awesome players including Mba.

TheGoodJoe:


Nothing here shows Pitroipa was a better player than Mikel. Do not make things up. Pitroipa was not sent off because of he was a threat. He was through on goal and a Ghanaian player brought him down. A penalty meant Ghana was out.

The referee opted to send Pitroipa off to keep Ghana in the game. It was daylight robbery and a mar to the very interesting tournament. The referee booked him for diving with a second yellow.

It was late, no threat.

No one said Pitroipa was not dazzling. No one said Pitroipa was not good. He was not the best player of the competition.

How can you call Diego Forlan's performance in 2010 to Pitroipa? That has to be a hilarious joke.

Diego Forlan was joint highest goal scorer of the competition, had Assists and scored some of the best goals in World Cup history. Very weak point.

Mikel had three assists in the knock out stage. He had the highest pass completion rate. When he met the top teams, he came out on top. All these things you are writing is story.

goldfish80:

In one breath you agree Pitroipa was one of the players of the tournament, in another you say his displays were not dazzling enough. Come on, you have to be consistent!
Either you come out and say Pitroipa was shiit and no way does he deserve the accolade he got or you acknowledge the guy had a breathtaking tourney powering a minor like Burkina to the afcon finals.
You can't have it both ways.
Mikel did his job for Nigeria while Pitroipa did his job for Burkina Faso.

I hate the way Nigerians tried to bully everyone else into believing the wrong man was chosen to be player of the tournament. Totally ignoring what Pitroipa achieved with his tiny nation.

goldfish80:

In one breath you agree Pitroipa was one of the players of the tournament, in another you say his displays were not dazzling enough. Come on, you have to be consistent!
Either you come out and say Pitroipa was shiit and no way does he deserve the accolade he got or you acknowledge the guy had a breathtaking tourney powering a minor like Burkina to the afcon finals.
You can't have it both ways.
Mikel did his job for Nigeria while Pitroipa did his job for Burkina Faso.

I hate the way Nigerians tried to bully everyone else into believing the wrong man was chosen to be player of the tournament. Totally ignoring what Pitroipa achieved with his tiny nation.

joseph1013:
Leon Balogun in Bundesliga Team of the Week

TheGoodJoe:


I guess you skipped the article I posted. Let me summarize.

The AFCON had many stars and PITROIPA was certainly among them. But Mikel was a supernova. And when he shone the stars (like Pitroipa) disappeared.

No one says Pitroipa was not good. He was not better than Mikel.

goldfish80:

Mikel was not even the best player on the Nigerian side. I wonder why you think mikel put in more shift than Moses,Emenike, Enyeama and Mba.

Am not hating on Mikel like some people are suggesting on the other page, we are from even the same local government. Am just basing my arguments devoid of sentiments.
Had Pitroipa come from a bigger football nation like Ghana, ivory coast or Egypt am sure alot of people who didn't notice him would have noticed him.
But he comes from Ouagadougou,so let's beat him down!

TheGoodJoe:


You like me repeating myself.

THREE MAN OF THE MATCH.

MAN OF THE MATCH AGAINST THE FAVORITES, COTE D’IVOIRE.

MAN OF THE MATCH IN THE FINAL, AGAINST THE PITROIPA'S TEAM.

MOST PASSES COMPLETED IN THE COMPETITION.

HIGHEST ASSISTS IN THE COMPETITION.

THREE OF THE ASSISTS IN THE KNOCKOUT STAGES.

With all these points laid out, I hope my learned friend sees why Mikel was the best player at AFCON 2013.

Thank you, moderator.

Mybettingtips:
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS



Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah)



Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Paul Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (Standard Liege, Belgium), Kingsley Madu (SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium)



Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Anderson Esiti (KAA Gent, Belgium)



Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England)

goldfish80:

I hope there is a supplementary list to cover for injuries and other unforseen. Moses Simon, I understand has a ligament damage,that completely rules him out.

goldfish80:

I hope there is a supplementary list to cover for injuries and other unforseen. Moses Simon, I understand has a ligament damage,that completely rules him out.

goldfish80:


Oh statistics have started flying please tell me, how many tackles did Mikel win? What about ariel battles? What was exactly his pass completed %? How many goals did he score? How many shots did he have at goal? How many dribbles did he comeple? What about take on's? Clearances?
Give me the entire statistics bit by bit and I will hands off this argument. Oya am waiting....

TheGoodJoe:
Very impressive list. May God give Ighalo the strength to bear the loss in this painful time. Our hearts are with him.

Formation Loading...

TheGoodJoe:


Which one did you give? LOL. I will send Yara Yara to break into TheSuperNerd's lab and find Mikel's blood group and type.

I beg you leave me.

Danycrusoe:
I don't know y just seeing d names of d clubs most of our players now play for makes me smile.
Back den our players were playing for some virtually unknown club sides in mid Europe (and dey were always seating on d bench), d only stand-out was Mikel(Chelsea) and Yobo.
Thank God Success finally gets d call up. I hope d achievements of sum of d 2013 u17 stars with d various national teams will make ppl realize dat age cheating in our football has finally reduced.
Good job to d Babas n d mama on the thread: Icon4s, Thesupernerd, Thegoodjoe, Joseph, forgiveness, terzerum, confun, Safarigirl and the rest, I hail u all.

goldfish80:

Mikel was not even the best player on the Nigerian side. I wonder why you think mikel put in more shift than Moses,Emenike, Enyeama and Mba.

Am not hating on Mikel like some people are suggesting on the other page, we are from even the same local government. Am just basing my arguments devoid of sentiments.
Had Pitroipa come from a bigger football nation like Ghana, ivory coast or Egypt am sure alot of people who didn't notice him would have noticed him.
But he comes from Ouagadougou,so let's beat him down!

TheGoodJoe:
I propose we go with a 4-3-3 formation. An attacking line up with three forwards.

----------------------------------Carl Ikeme(GK)----------------------------------------
---------------------Ekong(CB)----------------Balogun(CB)------------------
M. Mohammed(RB)----------------------------------------------------Echiejile(LB)
----------------------------------------Onazi(DMF)----------------------------------------------
-------------------Iwobi(CMF/AMF)-------------Mikel(CMF/AMF)-----------------
---------------V. Moses(SS)-------------------------------------------Success(SS)
-------------------------------------------Iheanacho(CF)----------------------------------

Left back is a challenge for me because I do not trust Echiejile's crosses and tracking back. I put his name there because of his experience and I have not watched much of Madu's defending.

A lot of us hurled criticism at V. Moses because of his stingy play. However, he can become an asset with more license to attack. Instead of sticking to the flanks to cross and pass, a combination of three skillful strikers will bring out the best in Moses. We will see them exchange brilliantly close to goal and cause Zambia problems.

Mikel and Iwobi have the duty of disciplined play and key passes to unlock the opponents defence.

Onazi must stick to his disciplined play as he did against Tanzania. The setup is offensive and a stable defensive midfielder is crucial to prevent counter attacks.

Rohr should reduce the forward play of Echiejile to reduce the work he does to track back. Onazi should fill gaps.

cc: Icon4s, tbaba1234, TheSuperNerd, lakesidepapa, safarigirl, Joseph1013, confun, goldfish80, Mickael2, forgiveness, chrisooblog, lexyman, amagunnerfan, zicky, HZwriters, bigblangston etc.

Napoleon55:


Take Mikel out of that squad,the best we would have gotten is quarterfinals,there is no way we would have won CIV without Mikel. Mikel was truly the best performer followed by Moses and Pitroipa respectively.

TheGoodJoe:
I propose we go with a 4-3-3 formation. An attacking line up with three forwards.

----------------------------------Carl Ikeme(GK)----------------------------------------
---------------------Ekong(CB)----------------Balogun(CB)------------------
M. Mohammed(RB)----------------------------------------------------Echiejile(LB)
----------------------------------------Onazi(DMF)----------------------------------------------
-------------------Iwobi(CMF/AMF)-------------Mikel(CMF/AMF)-----------------
---------------V. Moses(SS)-------------------------------------------Success(SS)
-------------------------------------------Iheanacho(CF)----------------------------------

Left back is a challenge for me because I do not trust Echiejile's crosses and tracking back. I put his name there because of his experience and I have not watched much of Madu's defending.

A lot of us hurled criticism at V. Moses because of his stingy play. However, he can become an asset with more license to attack. Instead of sticking to the flanks to cross and pass, a combination of three skillful strikers will bring out the best in Moses. We will see them exchange brilliantly close to goal and cause Zambia problems.

Mikel and Iwobi have the duty of disciplined play and key passes to unlock the opponents defence.

Onazi must stick to his disciplined play as he did against Tanzania. The setup is offensive and a stable defensive midfielder is crucial to prevent counter attacks.

Rohr should reduce the forward play of Echiejile to reduce the work he does to track back. Onazi should fill gaps.

cc: Icon4s, tbaba1234, TheSuperNerd, lakesidepapa, safarigirl, Joseph1013, confun, goldfish80, Mickael2, forgiveness, chrisooblog, lexyman, amagunnerfan, zicky, HZwriters, bigblangston etc.

TheGoodJoe:
I propose we go with a 4-3-3 formation. An attacking line up with three forwards.

----------------------------------Carl Ikeme(GK)----------------------------------------
---------------------Ekong(CB)----------------Balogun(CB)------------------
M. Mohammed(RB)----------------------------------------------------Echiejile(LB)
----------------------------------------Onazi(DMF)----------------------------------------------
-------------------Iwobi(CMF/AMF)-------------Mikel(CMF/AMF)-----------------
---------------V. Moses(SS)-------------------------------------------Success(SS)
-------------------------------------------Iheanacho(CF)----------------------------------

Left back is a challenge for me because I do not trust Echiejile's crosses and tracking back. I put his name there because of his experience and I have not watched much of Madu's defending.

A lot of us hurled criticism at V. Moses because of his stingy play. However, he can become an asset with more license to attack. Instead of sticking to the flanks to cross and pass, a combination of three skillful strikers will bring out the best in Moses. We will see them exchange brilliantly close to goal and cause Zambia problems.

Mikel and Iwobi have the duty of disciplined play and key passes to unlock the opponents defence.

Onazi must stick to his disciplined play as he did against Tanzania. The setup is offensive and a stable defensive midfielder is crucial to prevent counter attacks.

Rohr should reduce the forward play of Echiejile to reduce the work he does to track back. Onazi should fill gaps.

cc: Icon4s, tbaba1234, TheSuperNerd, lakesidepapa, safarigirl, Joseph1013, confun, goldfish80, Mickael2, forgiveness, chrisooblog, lexyman, amagunnerfan, zicky, HZwriters, bigblangston etc.

Sportsration:
Imoh Friday, Kelechi Iheanacho and Leon Balogun were on the winning sides in mid-week actions across Europe but Abdul Ajagun, Taiwo Awoniyi, Uche Agbo were unlucky as their clubs suffered defeats.

About five Nigerian were in action for their clubs in the Netherlands – KNVB Beker and only Imoh Friday was lucky to be on the winning side.

Here is the report card of Nigerian players across Europe in Wednesday’s mid-week actions.

ENGLAND

Manchester City

Kelechi Iheanacho failed to score in Manchester City’s 2-1 victory of Swansea in the League cup but the Nigerian will be pleased with his display on the night.

Swansea City v Manchester City - Barclays Premier League

SPAIN

Granada

Uche Henry Agbo played for the entire duration as Granada lost at home to Athletic club 2-1. The Watford loanee shone again in his side’s defeat.
CHECK OUT THE COMPLETE LIST HERE https://sportsration.com/21624-2errt/

Mybettingtips:
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS



Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah)



Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Paul Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (Standard Liege, Belgium), Kingsley Madu (SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium)



Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Anderson Esiti (KAA Gent, Belgium)



Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England)