tbaba1234:
In camp at 8.30pm Monday.
Muhammed, Onazi, Akpeyi, Ighalo, Iheanacho, Iwobi, Ezenwa, Balogun, Omeruo, Ndidi

Only 10 players in Camp..

tbaba1234:


I don't agree that our failures to qualify was just because of Mikel-Onazi combo.. I believe that it is a combo that can work well. Onazi is not that terrible a passer. He has better passing stats than Ndidi.

Mickael2:


point of correction. Khedira is not a limited passer at all, he had an average passing percentage of 87.2% in the Euros. I agree with what you said about the tactical part but even in such a system the runner is never a limited passer. In the semifinal, Can who played that role had a passing percentage of more than 80 as well, Onazi is getting closer to 70 not 80 and that is a major problem. You are making it sound as if Ndidi cannot pressure high up the field? If we really want somebody who can do what Khedira does then it has to be Ogu, if we want someone who can do what Kroos does then we have to play Ndidi. Mikel should be playing the Ozil role with little defensive responsibilities, even if Mikel has to start as the deep lying playmaker, Onazi still isn't the best runner we have, his passing stats are just too poor

lakesidepapa:



Sir Goldfish, Don't mind these people. If u continue to speak the gospel truth from today till eternity, they won't hear. Abeg save ur energy for something else.

goldfish80:

LOL.. Passing is not one of Sammi's greatest assets. His stats could be up to such percentages because of the team he plays for.
Real Madrid got rid of him because of this limitation which was exposed in the el classico and got Toni Kroos after that dreadful game Barca beat them 5=0...

Ndidi can press but not as good as Onazi. Remember Ndidi is a CB by trade who was converted by Genk to a DM.
His energy levels can't be compared with Onazi who was trained as a CM...
Am sure you will understand my point.

TheGoodJoe:


Did you watch Khedira at the World Cup? Most especially, that Brazilian game.

”After a great result on Saturday for Chelsea now it’s time to focus on #Nigeria. Can’t wait for the game against Algeria this Saturday”. He posted.

goldfish80:

Onazi gets alot of unfair criticism by alot of people here, I feel he is an easy target because he is not a flashy player.
Most people don't know it was a choice between him and Emre Can when Liverpool wanted to beef up their midfield.
Liverpool offered Lazio Fabio Borini in exchange for Onazi, the deal didn't work out in the end.
If he was as bad as people believe he won't be highly thought of by such a big club.

goldfish80:

I watched the game. He had a stunning game. However, He didn't control game with his passing... TONI KROSS and Shweinstiger controlled the game in midfield while Khedira terrorised the Brazilians with his energy and pressing.
The Brazilians couldn't cope with his running all game long.
I repeat, khedira is not a passer rather he's a runner.

goldfish80:

Onazi gets alot of unfair criticism by alot of people here, I feel he is an easy target because he is not a flashy player.
Most people don't know it was a choice between him and Emre Can when Liverpool wanted to beef up their midfield.
Liverpool offered Lazio Fabio Borini in exchange for Onazi, the deal didn't work out in the end.
If he was as bad as people believe he won't be highly thought of by such a big club.

goldfish80:

I watched the game. He had a stunning game. However, He didn't control game with his passing... TONI KROSS and Shweinstiger controlled the game in midfield while Khedira terrorised the Brazilians with his energy and pressing.
The Brazilians couldn't cope with his running all game long.
I repeat, khedira is not a passer rather he's a runner.

lakesidepapa:


Abi. The same Onazi that got the knock of his life from Mutuidi as he was schooling the french in the mid field. As far as complete baller and DM is concern, Onazi is better than Ndidi. That's my Own.

TheGoodJoe:


In what aspect? That is what we are discussing. A holistic passing approach. A player who will complement the passing abilities of Mikel, Iwobi and Iheanacho.

Do you see Onazi as that type of player?

tbaba1234:
Against France, immediately Onazi went off, the midfield collapsed... He is important to our set-up and does a lot of harassing of opponents. Reuben Gabriel was a disaster.

I believe Ndidi and Onazi together will solidify the midfield and give mikel more room.

Icon4s:


I dnt judge players based on club performance alone.

What u guys are doing is comparing d two players based on their league performances.
The Greek league is no where near the EPL.

When Ideye moved to WBA u all saw how he flopped big time.

I had also mentioned here that Ighalo is a flash in the pan kind of player. But Ideye had never flashed any pan. The likelihood of Ighalo showing flashes again is higher that of Ideye that has never shown any flashes.

Ideye usually lacks confidence each time he wears the green and white jersey and Ighalo is usually under pressure to prove to Nigerians that his exploits at Watford are no flukes.

However, based on what each player can bring to the table, I will recommend Ighalo.

Ighalo has not been impressive in our colours but Ideye is no any better.

Ideye never took a single shot even off target against Zambia something Ighalo is nt known for. Ighalo is more aggressive and takes on defenders. The talk of Ideye being involved in build up play to Iheanacho's goal, Who says Ighalo cannot be involved in build up plays too?

Ighalo's capabilities IMO puts him ahead of Ideye.
However, Rohr has the final say.

Isaac Success should rise to the occassion. His time has come. He is better than Ighalo presently IMO.

lakesidepapa:


I thought someone showed the stats on how Onazi passing completion per % outclassed that of Ndidi, what are we arguing on here sir?

tbaba1234:
Against France, immediately Onazi went off, the midfield collapsed... He is important to our set-up and does a lot of harassing of opponents. Reuben Gabriel was a disaster.

I believe Ndidi and Onazi together will solidify the midfield and give mikel more room.

TheSuperNerd:
Official: Former Barcelona Teen Prospect
Godswill Elohor Joins English Side





English League One side Fleetwood Town FC have confirmed the signing of former Barcelona youth team captain Godswill Elohor Ekpolor.


The club announced his capture and subsequently unveiled him on their official
website, with the 21 year old Nigerian given the
jersey number 29 shirt.


Fleetwood Town also confirmed that the Nigerian could feature in tonight’s Emirates FA Cup First Round tie against Southport.


He spent 11 years at Barcelona before he was
released by the club this summer without a single first team appearance to his name.


Comfortable as a full back, centre back or right
winger, he missed out on a chance of representing Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympics,
where Nigeria won bronze.


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/11/07/official-former-barcelona-teen-prospect-godswill-elohor-joins-english-side/

TheSuperNerd:
Even Maradona was angry. He termed it a conspiracy.

The french knew Onazi was their problem in midfield and they did what all desperate war generals trying to win a war will do.... "TAKE OUT THE THREAT ANYHOW!"

Matuidi was given the task and viola!!! Onazi was out... Matuidi went for him the first time but Onazi escaped.

At the second time of asking, Matuidi nailed it!!!!

Chaiiiii... Onazi's absence made our midfield an expressway that day and Mikel wasn't on form himself... Thus giving the French victory.

Each time I remember that game, I remember the "importance" of Onazi.

Reuben Gabriel was an catastrophe.....

Meanwhile, if we play both Onazi and Ndidi in midfield, what formation are we looking at?

Coz in a 4-2-3-1, that means Mikel roams as the no.10 and also does some CMF duty while being flanked by the mercurial Iwobi (who can also play 10) and Victor Moses..... Leaving someone like Nacho to lead the attack.

Hmmm......

TheGoodJoe:


In that game, Khedira's passing was amazing. His intelligence was off the chain. There is no way, Onazi can deliver such passing performance.

goldfish80:

Onazi posted 86% pass completion percentage against France. He broke up play, recycled that ball, was fearless in possession.
He basically dominated Pogba and Matuidi in that midfield master class.
Yes Onazi was that good.
You can post Khedira's stats in that game but he was not the controller in midfield for Germany.
Germany played a formation of 4-3-3 on the day with Kross and Shweinstiger at the Base while khedira pushed up with to stop the Brazilians from playing in their own half.
Ozil and Muller started from the flanks.
Khedira has never been a midfield controller. Maybe you haven't watched him enough.

TheGoodJoe:


Come on, Onazi played behind Mikel against France. Khedira was not the shield of the defence. Stop making it look like they played the same role. You tried to make it look as if Khedira was not a passing genius in that match. He was.

Certitude:
TheSuperNerd, how are you and Yara Yara reacting to Moses' tweet?

TheGoodJoe:


I am talking of someone putting Onazi as a Khedira kind of player. By the way, this is the pass completion of Onazi. I do not think that is the passing rate of the midfielder we need.

goldfish80:

If you don't know Khedira and Onazi play the same kind of football then there is mo point discussing this further.
They both have the same engine, they love the midfield battle, they both are highly mobile and they both have the same pass limitations over a distance.
Khedira and Onazi needs are midfield controller beside them.
Khedira had Alonso and Modric at Madrid and now Miralem Pjanic at Juve.
On his own, he cannot be tasked to give defense splitting passes. That's not what he's good at. Michael2 even confirmed this.

TheGoodJoe:


No one argues Onazi's defensive ability. In the game against France, he broke down their attacks. I think the Zambian game is a good representation because it is recent. Onazi was also exceptional. However, just like the Schweinsteiger/Khedira analogy. A holistic passing team needs a passing defensive midfielder.

BascoVanVeli:


Chai! This is somebody that needed the olympics, i don see, from barca to league one. First class to second class lower lalala lol.

goldfish80:

If you call him a passing genius, I wonder what you will call Shweinstiger and Toni.
Toni Kross and Sebastian were taxed to launch quick counters with their passing range to set up attacks from deep. It was a master class of Jochim Loew's 8 seconds counter attacking football.
Infact Khedira's whoscored stats show he has limited passing range. I can't stress this enough.