TheGoodJoe:


Nice news coming from Watford and it seems his doctors know what they are doing. Success needs to work on his weight. He is too heavy and still moves fast. The news shows the doctors are working on it and I hope they sort it out. Apart from Success being a Bundle of Muscles, He is a Bundle of Talent. The tip of the left side of the League Of Extra-Ordinary Hitmen.

Glad he is close to putting his injuries behind him but he should stay clear of Zabaleta. Zabaleta is not Success Mate. Success should learn to respect his elders.

TheSuperNerd:
One of the hallmarks of a very talented young player out on the field is "Self-Confidence" and that knack to "not respect ya elders" when taking them on.......

So.... Success, more of that please!!! Zabaleta and Bailly have collected their own.... Next up are John Stones, Laurent Koscielny, Ashley Williams and even Wes Morgan...

TheSuperNerd:
Good one there Sir Terzurum5....

Remember I spoke about this on the previous Super Eagles thread before we started this Dawn of a new era thread.

I said we will witness different metamorphosis stages of our darling team as Post-Russia 2018 will lead to Afcon 2019, Afcon 2021 and Qatar 2022 and beyond (and each event must have their unique threads so that we keep things about out team well organised and well documented in this section for future references for upcoming generations).

I think we have two options:

1). Modify the topic slightly to include "Afcon 2019" as the afcon 2019 journey begins soon this year with the qualifiers

After which, post-Russia we create a brand new thread for the Afcon 2019 exclusively. After which more threads follow.

2). Create the Afcon 2019 thread "now" strictly for just nations cup news with respect to the Super Eagles as Russia 2018 marks our super eagles new generation "baptism of fire" on the international stage while Afcon 2019 which comes after Russia 2018 represents how far the team have matured in its quest to rule Africa for the next couple of years.


Either way, we must be out to organise the archival threads here on NL sports. That should be our goal so as not to cluster the information all into just one place.

As usual the final decisions rest with the elders and Super OPs::::


Cc: Sirs Tbaba1234, Icon4s, Joseph1013, Terzurum5, Orkpekyandega, TheGoodJoe BascoVanVeli, Chrisooblog, Napoleaon55, Icon79, AIG07, Mikron, Blackalbino06, NLban, Justiz5, Goldfish80, Kog45, LazyErudite, Chriskels, Mickael2, Edi287, Komekn, Forgiveness, etc....

Madams Safarigirl, Confun et al....

Over to you all...

TheGoodJoe:


___________________Nacho____________________
____Iwobi______________________V. Moses_____
___________________Mikel_____________________
__________Etebo___________Ndidi______________
__Echiejile________________________M. Mohammed
______________Balogun______Ekong______________
___________________Ikeme_______________________

With Etebo in the squad, Mikel takes the ten role while Iwobi plays from the left. The only challenge is, Iwobi does not fit my pacy forwards preference.

forgiveness:



Well, it's good we have many options for our team. Unlike before we had problems with quantity and quality players.

However, we should choose players based on current form because it will increase competition.


If I have to choose my first 11, I will drop some players in your list.


................................ Ikeme.............


...... Idowu ....... Ekong...... Otigba ....... Ebuehi

..................... Ndidi
................................... Etebor

.
Iwobi.................... Mikel.............. Victor

........................ Ideye

These are the ones playing regularly and in form.


But if we want to select based on sentiment then..



........................... Ikeme

.... Idowu..... Ekong...... Balogun...... Echiejile


................. Onazi
................................... Etebor

... Simon............ Mikel............ Victor


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

TheGoodJoe:


I doubt Ighalo should lead the line after Iheanacho's performance against Algeria. We can not sacrifice all that pace, work rate and pressing for a player who will not offer that because he plays regularly. Even in the games Iheanacho played lately for City, he showed the same brilliant work rate up front. That is key to our success, not just who is playing regularly.

With Nacho upfront, we keep the defenders busy and their concentration on him. This will create room for the others to operate and give Mikel options to wreck havoc with his brilliant vision.

forgiveness:



If the formation is still 4-2-3-1, I don't see Iheanacho leading the line because that position upfront is designated for a striker in this formation. A striker who is physically built, good at ball control, dribble on one on one, good with the head, hold unto the ball etc. I am sorry to say, Iheanacho doesn't have all these attributes. It was glaring against Algeria. Iheanacho is another Kanu Nwankwo, a second striker and to some extent a playmaker. Let us not be deceived by his ability to score goals.


He is better to lead the line in a 4-3-3 formation as a false 9.

TheSuperNerd:
Super Eagles Legend Odemwingie Advises
Celtic Target Onyekuru , Blast Eupen Over Striker’s Future



Former Nigeria forward Peter Osaze Odemwingie has hit out at the way Belgian side Eupen are treating 19 year old Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru, who is wanted by Scottish side Celtic.

Onyekuru was spotted playing in Nigeria and was brought to the Aspire Academy in Senegal before linking up with Eupen who are owned by the Aspire Zone Foundation, in the summer of 2015.

Onyekuru has been a revelation for Eupen since his arrival in Belgium helping them win promotion to the top flight in his first season and he has continued to flourish this season.

The teenage talent has spoken to one of Nigeria’s most successful players Peter Odemwingie to ask for his advice on what should be his next move in his career.


“I have spoken to Henry as he phoned me for
advice and I said to him just think of yourself as
Aspire did not think of the hundreds of kids
discarded by Aspire and who now find themselves back in Nigeria,” Odemwingie told ESPN FC.

“The interest in Henry is great news for Henry,
but I am disappointed about the other boys who went to the Aspire Academy and now find
themselves on the streets of Lagos.”


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/01/26/super-eagles-legend-odemwingie-advises-celtic-target-onyekuru-blast-eupen-over-strikers-future/

forgiveness:



Well, it's good we have many options for our team. Unlike before we had problems with quantity and quality players.

However, we should choose players based on current form because it will increase competition.


If I have to choose my first 11, I will drop some players in your list.


................................ Ikeme.............


...... Idowu ....... Ekong...... Otigba ....... Ebuehi

..................... Ndidi
................................... Etebor

.
Iwobi.................... Mikel.............. Victor

........................ Ideye

These are the ones playing regularly and in form.


But if we want to select based on sentiment then..



........................... Ikeme

.... Idowu..... Ekong...... Balogun...... Echiejile


................. Onazi
................................... Etebor

... Simon............ Mikel............ Victor


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

Henry Onyekuru © dailyrecord.co.uk

TheSuperNerd:
Onyekuru goes AWOL in Belgium





Nigerian striker, Henry Onyekuru was left out of
KAS Eupen's league clash with Standard Liege on Thursday night with the striker having gone
AWOL.

Eupen’s manager Jordi Condom Auli dropped the forward, who is reportedly attracting interest from a host of European clubs, from the starting eleven, and suggested his mind wasn't focused on the match.


Belgian media outlet, rtbf claims Eupen does not know of the player’s whereabouts.

Scottish club Celtic have had a bid knocked back for him and he has also been linked with as RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim and Fenerbahce.

Auli said the Nigerian was not fully focused on the club’s cause, hence his decision to drop him for Thursday’s clash with Standard Liege which
finished 2-2.

"The transfer window confuses some players. Me, I need guys who are 500 per cent involved in the project of the club.

“When you are under contract with a club, what matters is the team,” the trainer said.

Onyekuru has scored 10 goals for Eupen this
season.


Source: http://mobi.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/170127/Onyekuru_goes_AWOL_in_Belgium

Onyekuru in action for Belgian club AS Eupen

"I am interested in joining Celtic because their offer is good, but also I am more convinced to join them after I got advice from ‘senior man’ Osaze Odemwingie, who told me Celtic will be the best for me now considering my style of play and securing work permit,” he exclusively revealed.

TheGoodJoe:


Are you saying Firmino, Suarez or Torres can not play in a 4-2-3-1 formation? I think the case of a big man upfront relies on the strategy. If a team wants to play in a conservative manner, a big man seems the opinion. In a defensive approach, they maintain a compact unit and throw to the big man upfront.

In the strategies employed by Rohr in recent games, we are not a side scared to attack. We play in a brave pattern and cause our opponents to sit back. In such scenario, we are not playing long balls to a big man upfront or relying on a big man to fight his way through the opposition. We attack in numbers and a fast, pacy and energetic forward suits this system. This is something Nacho suits ideally to.

So in an offensive 4-2-3-1 formation, Nacho suits it more than Ighalo or Ideye.

TheSuperNerd:
Finally! Gotten the salary details.... is Obaje now the highest paid player in NPFL history?? It looks like he is...
......................................................................

Obaje Agrees 3-year deal with FCIU, Striker
will earn ₦500k a-week



FC Ifeanyi Ubah have completed the signing of
last season’s Nigerian Professional Football League top scorer Godwin Obaje from Wikki
Tourists.

Obaje’s 18 goals propelled Wikki Tourist to
a third spot finish last season and help them
secure a Confederation Cup ticket. He sort a move away from the Bauchi-based club in the current transfer window, but after two failed attempts, he returned to NPFL.

He agreed a deal with FCIU on a 3-year deal per
FCIU media Officer, Iyke Nwokedi.

It is reported the Striker will now earn ₦500,000 weekly.

Obaje is also said to have been placed on a monthly salary of ₦2million [about $6,500], which would make him the highest paid player in the league.

Courtesy: Jide Alaka [fc naija].


Source: http://footballlive.ng/footballnews/npl-clubs/obaje-agrees-3-year-deal-with-fciu-striker-will-earn-500k-a-week/

chrisooblog:
oga forgiveness you have come again o how is leon balogun a sentimental choice? a regular for mainz and our best defender for now. i thought ebuehi was primarily a RB and was just a makeshift LB? anyhow if he will give echejiele good competition then no wahala. ighalo has already been dropped long time ago by rohr. i like ideye too in your initial team line up but sentiments aside iheanacho conversion rate for super eagles is better

TheSuperNerd:
Hahahahahaha.... This is funny....

Still on Henry Onyekuru's transfer palava...
......................................................................

Amusing Belgian rant against Celtic over
Onyekuru: Loch Ness Monster and bagpipes
get a mention

[img]http://embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/photos/celtic-fans-raise-their-scarves-in-the-crowd-during-the-uefa-league-picture-id625347988?k=6&m=625347988&s=594x594&w=0&h=CyCIhyprUSJMharI2JF_OiYIN3mtxVo57rYuErZQ4iY=&Expires=1485565200&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJZZHJ4LGWQENK3OQ&Signature=keQRws716~80Oka0bvy1~u5Dwqhc9nJ1tjrP3WKqgdg7aibw7TiyTnqChE6wllsIXAhql6aov6CesmRxmjbtjyQMYGKLn2NFQs6dz8APV~qTdj8GXWr9N8j4wCxX05vVq9moGkZuB9gZV5jh9yQ2R8KIrUyNRhemMaq-SQdWd0EeFRg69nlj60rIwVPvIzRqIar-8Z74saMa7ik0t3ryUjEjAXSbaHLvpFSrT9L~D0poHUeVHhtEmqm9pU5AFmwlA2zMBAaHgkJINYO6Q0BpkkYncyi7N5ShxM7CEukM73EFg~ygrco4WHverRn~ssKOe8IGZ6kctw7ghSfHx0klXA__ [/img]


A Belgian football website has had a bit of a rant at Celtic, and it may even serve to annoy Rangers fans as the country’s football league is pretty much dismissed.


Celtic and Rangers have been in the world media a lot over the past few months, with world football fans happy to see the return of the Old Firm and watch, or read about, Brendan Rodgers and Mark Warburton sending their teams into battle.

Yet, Celtic moving for Henry Onyekuru, and
specifically the player trying to force the move to Glasgow, has caused some annoyance in Belgium.

Anderlecht online have published an opinion
piece querying why Onyekuru would want to
leave Belgium, where he currently plays for
Eupen, for Celtic.

‘We are the last to minimise the record and the
history of the Green-Whites, but the truth has its place. Celtic stands 45th in the UEFA club
ranking. Anderlecht 37th. Scotland’s league is
23rd in the UEFA ranking. Israel (22) and Norway (24) ahead, Belgium stands at nine.

‘Why would Onyekuru like to go to Scotland? For their sunny climate? Unless the Nigerian is a big fan of bagpipe music or the Loch Ness Monster, he just wants to Celtic because they are the only ones who showed an interest.’

Harsh, and whilst there’s no arguments over
rankings, there are other things which make
Celtic attractive. The battle with Rangers may not be what it once was, but is still considered one of the world’s biggest matches, and is covered in the world media as such.

When Moussa Dembele scored a hat-trick as Celtic beat Rangers 5-1, it got the young talent
coverage everywhere, and brought him to the
attention of many clubs.

Celtic’s average attendance is just over 55,000,
and the closest in the Belgian league, Club
Brugge, doesn’t even reach half of that. Indeed,
10 of the Jupiler League’s 16 teams don’t break
10,000 as an average, and Onyekuru’s current
club Eupen have an average of little over 3,000.

Rangers are pushing on 50,000, but it’s fair to
say that, like in Belgium, it drops off a cliff after
that, however, Onyekuru would be looking to play every other week in front of the Celtic Park
faithful. It’s a huge pull.

Then there’s the great European nights, with
Celtic excitedly welcomed around Europe, and
the odd result to hawk back to glory days.

Brendan Rodgers is also an attraction for young
players, and Moussa Dembele has praised him
repeatedly, which won’t have been lost on
Onyekuru.

It’s fair enough that Anderlecht Online want
young footballers to stay in Belgium, but to paint Celtic are some sort of dreadful destination is simply wrong.


Source: http://sportwitness.co.uk/amusing-belgian-rant-celtic-onyekuru-loch-ness-monster-bagpipes-get-mention/