Icon4s:


Akpeyi, Ezenwa, Alampasu, Daniel not good enough So now which other goalies can you recommend. Whether home or foreign based?

Humility017:
. if I hear...how is it better?

kennysville:



Hmm ... the day Omeruo will fluff his lines again, u will still come back and say he is no good. Frankly, I am not sold on Omeruo. That dude fidgets a lot at the back. Dont worry, cameroun game is next. We will see how his expereience plays out. Experience. Experience, how did Echiejile fair in that game? Would u honestly beat your chest and say he had a good game?

I think we still dont get it. We lost the game from our midfield. Talking about rookie defender or whatever the case is , is practically immaterial. We have seen good midfielders make defenders look soooo gorgeous. And when all that is not in place,
Same defenders get jittery. And thats just exactly what happened. We lost the game from wrong tactics and bad midfield combo. PERIOD!
Anyone but omeruo please

Icon4s:


Why is Onazi being blamed for the second goal?

Which Players are supposed to be the last backline when you are on the offensive? The CBs or the DM?

Nobody is even blaming Simon for losing the ball in such a cheap manner that led to the counter attack.

goldfish80:

You're putting me right on the spot. But if I'm to make a case for anybody in the absence of Enyeama and Ikeme, I will choose Dele Aiyenugba and David Nwokolor.

Dele Aiyenugba had a good season in the Israeli top division. He emased 2,790 minutes for his club which totalled about 31 games. In the relegation play off, he had a shot out in 2 games out of 7, conceeding only 5times in 7 games.
For me, he's an upgrade on anything we have at the moment.
Lets not forget he's 1yr younger than Vincent.

David Nwokolor on his part had a decent season in Bosnia. Played a total of 23 games, emasing about 2300+ minutes. Definitely one for the future. A massive upgrade on Alampasu who couldn't hold a place in the Portuguese 3rd div.

At the home front, I will go for Nwabulu, Okeimute Odah and the Enyimba keeper, his name eludes me.

enomakos:
we have better players at home

Icon4s:


All just because Alampasu didn't make match day squad. Haha haha

The truth is there are no good goalkeepers in Africa any more. I mentioned this fact months ago.

If I look into the NPFL for instance I can't even think of any goalie that is credible enough to face Cameroon in the absence of Ikeme.

No just mention Alampasu o bc that game go be like horror movie. I no go watch.

I don't even know why Emmanuel Daniel is being ignored. I have more confidence in him than Alampasu.

Let us see the goalies Rohr will invite against Cameroon.

enomakos:
the enyimba goal keeper name is theopilus aifelokhai

TheGoodJoe:



I think a lot of people are trying to gloss the true problem with the Super Eagles. For long, I have complained about the defensive midfield role and I think Rohr's mistake was doubting his instincts.

First of all, Kayode starting that game would not make any difference. Anyone thinking that missed the true picture of that game. Our problem came with ineffective killer passes. That I agree with Odegbami. His highlighting about the attack midfield but neglecting a Standing four letter in his solution misses a clear problem.

Let me illustrate with the Chelsea set up.

_________Azpilicueta (CB)___________Cahill (CB)
________________________Luiz (CB)
___________Kante (DMF)___________Matic (DMF)

What Conte did here was actually enforcing roles than just changing formation.

Look at the same position from the Super Eagles against South Africa

_________Ekong (CB)______________Awaziem (CB)
______________________Onazi (DMF)
___________Ndidi (DMF)_____________Etebor (CMF)

If you look at it from this context, you will understand why Rohr played three physical midfielders in the midfield. Imagine our team playing with the defensive set up of Chelsea, that is Onazi deep with the defenders most of the time, giving Ndidi and Etebo a bit of freedom.

Imagine Luiz leaving that back three, that is a catastrophe waiting to happen. This problem has gone on for years. I highlighted once about Mikel shouting at Onazi, I think in the friendly game against the United States and leaving the ball, causing Keshi to sub Mikel. This problem has lasted for long and certainly caused us the last AFCON.

The first thing we must solve is having a standing four. Someone will keep it simple. Remember Hope Akpan was not what we will call experience in the context of the Super Eagles when he steadied the ship.

The idea of a Rookie defender is what I find baffling. That was not the problem. Omeruo in the context of the Super Eagles was a Rookie when he pulled off mean feats against the likes of Drogba in the AFCON.

During the qualifiers, with a more experienced team, Sudan and Congo beat us. In a more steady scenario, we outplayed and beat them. We need to sort out that four role. We also need to sort out the left back role. These areas to me are our most critical positions and the are held by in the Super Eagles context, EXPERIENCE PLAYERS.

I have written and screamed for years about this and I hope Rohr sorts it out.

Joebie:
Omeruo have been solid for us over the years, but you lose lots of points from fans if your mistake lead to goals. That's exactly his situation. We share the same opinion on the rest points. Onazi is very good in his own right. But roles must be clearly defined and we need midfielders to bring out the best in forwards as well as reduce the deficiencies in at the back line

minfelix:
uyo should b 4 wcq..porthacourt shld b 4 afcon qualifiers

TheGoodJoe:


I agree. At the end it falls back to set up we plan to approach the game and screening for the best. From the keeper, backline to offence.

And please can someone sack Alloy Agu. It seems the man is not serious with his job. Get a coach who can invite the best crop of keepers to camp and screen out the best two to cover for Ikeme.

We should not interest ourselves with names or history but the best for the job.

Thanks for your insightful contributions. Really well thought. Also props to Humility017.

TheGoodJoe:


I agree. At the end it falls back to set up we plan to approach the game and screening for the best. From the keeper, backline to offence.

And please can someone sack Alloy Agu. It seems the man is not serious with his job. Get a coach who can invite the best crop of keepers to camp and screen out the best two to cover for Ikeme.

We should not interest ourselves with names or history but the best for the job.

Thanks for your insightful contributions. Really well thought. Also props to Humility017.

Joebie:
I've said it before that out GK coaches are lazy. We need a fresh GK coach. As long as out league continue to do badly in Africa, we will hardly have our keepers go to Europe

Thanks for your great contributions.

Icon4s:


A nice piece you have here.

I am particularly about the issue of being in a haste to always offload our older players.

I have spoken against it over and over, back and forth. We need the experienced players in the team.
They are so quick to want to offload Omeruo, Onazi, Echiejile and Shehu. I know how some even bad mouthed Mikel here until Mikel shut them up against Zambia and Algeria.

They want to turn the Super Eagles to an U21 team. Mba nu. That lack of experience will surely show las-las. Just like the SA game and Ajax against Manchester United at Europa league.

We lost to SA due to the gross inexperience in the team. Even the Onazi himself that was the captain that was supposed to drive the troupe how experienced is he?

Talking about Obaobona. He suffered same fate with Ambrose here. They were so bad mouthed and every goal we conceded were credited to them. Just like they are doing for Akpeyi and Onazi now.

Someone even said here that we(they) will soon send out Omeruo just as they did for his partner, Obaobona. Just because of the love for Awaziem.

Talking about the goalies, I don't think calling back Ejide And Ayenugba is a good idea.

Humility017:

I fear for the upcoming chan competition should agu and Yusuf be left to do the Job...
both coaches are just good man managers but poor in tactics and lazy scouting players and reading games.....
to be true....these awka united coach would have been better or someone like siasia to handle upcoming chan

Joebie:
Here are players listed with Central Midfield as their main position and first nationality, Nigerian by Transfermarkt.com:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/detailsuche/spielerdetail/suche/5962954

TheSuperNerd:

Good Archive of midfield options there from transfer market players advanced search.... but I noticed one name was missing...

Anderson Esiti....

ofcos... there are a couple more... but Esiti stands out as Wow! why isn't he on the search list?

Joebie:
Because I searched those who are listed with Central Midfield as their main position. Esiti is listed as DM only.

Modified
HEre is the list for those listed with DM as main position.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/detailsuche/spielerdetail/suche/5963361

Mickael2:


the guy used to be my best player between 2013 and 2014, his complete capitulation is the reason why I just can't trust him again

TheSuperNerd:
Just as I predicted.... the thread went into a bashing tone just because of one loss....

I could easily predict who will bash who....

Sir TheGoodJoe... thank you for your invaluable analyses. You tried to be objective and you were to a great extent.... but when it came to Akpeyi. Lemme say this.... That guy is a nightmare... yeah... but he is better than an Agbim at least. "Slightly Better"... lol. That first goal have beaten a good number goalies I know and have seen on TV in top leagues. Besides... there is the saying that a "Header on target is 9 out of 10 times a goal".... that saying was back in the days when I was a junior forward in secondary school. I just recoined it...


And On Awaziem... wow! I remember being among the first to say His partnership with Ekong will likely feature against South Africa. I said so after the Togo game.... honestly when I saw him in the line-up, Initially I was happy... lad is good quality no doubt. But well... the occasion was too much for him and yes he had a game he wouldn't wanna remember but I wouldn't blame him entirely. Our Midfield was the problem >>>>> MIGHTY TRUTH... IF NO ONE HAMMERS ON THIS, THEN THAT PERSON IS TALKING ABSOLUTE TRASH.

I remember when I dropped a post here warning that that game will be lost and won in the midfield. I listed Furman and even a Zungu as men to be wary of but also said if our midfield three of Onazi, Ndidi and Etebo clicks.. then it would not be an issue. But On Saturday I saw The New Revelation of St. Eagles....

It seems Onazi and Ndidi cannot play together... On paper that midfield three looks really good and solid... but when played out... what did we see?? too many overhit passes to the forward line especially the center forward line... Iheanacho suffered Majorly from poor service and too many over hit passes and through balls... Up to about four or five times in that first half, My Goodness, Had it been Mikel or lemme say An Ajagun (WHERE IS FORGIVENESS?? He hasn't even taken advantage to make case for Ajagun since Etebo as a 10 just didn't click...), Iheanacho would have gotten those balls well hit to him and he will do the rest... and wreck those Southies.... but it was not to be..... Even a few minds who saw the game with me were always asking "Plsss, who is the person in that midfield hitting these rockets to outer space when the no.9 is just there and have opened up??" smh...

... But Hey Iheanacho also didn't have a great game.. he was simply below par but ofcos the best Eagles Chance of the first half was created by Him... Etebo flunked it!!! if Nacho had missed that we will be seeing new tones from the prosecuting attorney of Sir Goldfish80 and Sir Mickael2 pointing it out with the "I told you so" and "Nacho is not top quality" sticks.... loollll

Well... they both have been doing a good job of it lately. Kudos to their "Attorneyship"


It is amazing how Iheanacho became the center of the blame here when the midfield was the Eagles' problem all game!!! All the players were poor.... most especially all the midfielders.... Onazi (love him when he tries to make amends but in doing so some times, he ends up scattering our midfield organization), Ndidi (my favorite MF in the team after Mikel... lad was all over the place and no where at all... lol), and Etebo (our beloved workhorse.... was just confused as the guys watching and wondering who the hell is hitting those poor balls from the CMF/AMF positions to Kentucky when Nacho was in Baltimore) were all poor....... buuuutttt Simon Moses gave me the best response I expected from the other players when we went one nil down.

Simon moses showcased the fight and hunger in him with his daring plays...... but ofcos his end product is still lacking but at least we saw the fight in the lad.

I didn't see this fight in Iheanacho.... sorry... I Love him but he should have taken the bull by the horn also... seeing how scattered our midfielders were... Nacho should have talked to Etebo and Onazi (captain on the day and one of two most experienced players on the field that day)..... boned the tactics that were not working and simply taken matters into his hands... Like Dropping deep and allowing Etebo take up advanced positions upfront while he Nacho under chameleon effect takes over the No.10 role... he is still good at that (the no 10 role) God Dammit!!!!!

That way Ndidi and Onazi will adjust and Maybe.. just maybe we would have salvaged a draw.... who knows?

NOW THIS IS ME TALKING FROM A PERSONAL ANALYTICAL STANDPOINT... BUT STILL, HE IS NOT TO BLAME... His primary duty as the no.9 was well defined and he stuck to it... but the passes from midfield were always Overhit and "overcooked" (Mind if I borrow that word Sir BascoVanVeli... thank you )

So in all.... I could go on and on.... But let me commend Sir Joebie for trying to bring back that science of the game talk.... gosh! our team really needs to be looked at and let us decide on the one formation that suits us... and the players best for that formation... Even if it means Iheanacho benches... then so be it mehn! I just Want the Super Eagles to grow into world class competitive level... but you see a player like Nacho?

I see him occupying a big role in this team's future.... we have to be fair when analysing the lad. The act he pulled when dragging his feet and being almost non-challant to the sub situation he found himself didn't actually mean Disrespect...... nooo... Nacho was not disrespecting anyone... neither was he just being Stupid.

Truth is this... from a keen psychological point of view... I have it on good authority that Nacho's attitude that day was the reaction you see from " Winners" or "Players with winners' attitude".... Champions beat and blame themselves even when the bulk of blame is not theirs to bear...

Nacho sees himself as one of the team's saviors when it matters most and HE JUST DIDN'T COME TO THE PARTY. He was just BELOW PAR. Yes we can talk on and on about the Over hit passes but truth is... Champions make the best out of any situation they find themselves and Nacho knew within himself that he didn't do enough. So he was right to shoulder the blame.. because that, right there, is what Champions (or players with champions attitude) do.




Teaser: Do you know that The June 10 historical loss to South Africa was Iheanacho's First Loss as A Super Eagles player when on the pitch?? He has only known Victories and draws... He was not even involved in the 1-0 loss in Alexandria, Egypt under Siasia...

That should tell you more of the psychological wave of guilt that swept through Nacho's mind when he saw himself being substituted... Imagine when you are nicknamed " Goals" and the coach takes you "Goals" out.... loolll... that is game over for you and for the team. Nacho knew that and he was indeed Below par in that game. Case Closed on Nacho. He will bounce back stronger I am sure... but let the best and most suitable start against Cameoroun... if august comes and it is still Nacho... then fellas... sorry... Nacho must play. Gbam!



Lemme end it here....
or should I?

From now, let's move on forward... one loss cannot suddenly rubbish the fact that we indeed have a golden generation on our hands....

We just have to get things right and utilise the very best we have... NOT BASED ON WHO PLAYS FOR THE BIG CLUBS... NOPE! BUT ON WHO IS TOP QUALITY EAGLES MATERIALS....

Sir JOEBIE DROPPED A LIST OF THE CAMEROONIAN TEAM THAT CONQUERED AFRICA... I remember Sir Goldfish80 talking about the quality of that team... he was right about them and we saw how they roared to the title...

It is not in glamorous clubs that we must base our analysis of the team's Line-up....... it is in actual top talents and what these players can bring to the team...

When I talk for Iheanacho for instance, it is because I know what that lad brings and we all here know it too... we know his talents and his growing reputation... IT IS NOT because HE IS IN MANCHESTER CITY.... NOPE!!!

It is because Kelechi is truly a class-Act.

When I called Mikel World class... people said I was stupid... and just crazily sentimental... you see now that he is the one world class quality that would have won us that game against South Africa and even made Awaziem's debut look so good sef... I bet you that had Mikel been on that pitch leading that team... we would have won and Awaziem will be hailed as Omeruo's quick super replacement...

Mikel's quality alone covered for the team's loop holes... but many didn't know... yet Some time ago... some of you wanted Mikel out... it is okay... sebi I am still mad to call him World class...See as i just dey look all of una....

The only invasion the thread ever experienced was becos I called Mikel World class... Some even termed him useless and a non-entity.... chaiiii... Now guys are saying... Ohhh Mikel is so important to the team... he was greatly missed. Shut up joor! Na now some people dey know... Loolll










Bottomline:

We need to move forward and do so wisely... WE MUST NOT BE OVERLY REACTIONARY because OF ONE LOSS... Like Sir Jospeh1013, I too am not bothered we lost... To be honest I kinda saw it coming after seeing Baxter's last batch of technical interviews before the game. He got our team spot on and knew we wouldn't be fielding a Mikel or moses or balogun or Ikeme... he played on our subtle weaknesses and exposed them... and that was my biggest silent fear... and our midfield made matters worse than worst....

I just didn't wanna be seen as suddenly "Pessimistic" which is why I stayed away long before the game began but coincidentally I also fell sick (wasn't feeling too good in the week leading up to the game)... so I'm back... and it is for us to move forward...

Enough of the bashings... Let's move forward...

Enough of "Experience vs Youth..."

Truth is Both failed us that day... But we have the chance to make things right.

We still have a new golden generation on our hands people... this is the gospel truth... let us not blow it.... we can see this through...

come on now... let's do this okay... come on y'all...

Let's make a come back...

Joebie:
We play politics in everything. Why cant a proven scout/national coach be saddled with monitoring NPFL/NNL players with the purpose of maintaining a pool of the best players in the country? A pool of players from which that Rohr can pull from whenever he needs. We should have a CHAN team always just as we have an SE team.

Napoleon55:
1- ENYEAMA/IKEME

2- BALOGUN

3- MIKEL

4- VICTOR MOSES

5- IDEYE

6- OMERUO


I STRONGLY believe that with the above listed experience players back in the team,the SE will surely bounce back and beat Cameroon,or draw them at least, add just few players from the team that played SA,
Add these players to ones listed above
1-NDIDI,ETEBO,2-IHEANACHO ,3- IWOBI 4- EKONG. that left back position need to be replaced by another experience player. Or we can just manage ECHIEJILE for now.

With SUCCESS ,SIMON ,KAYODE, OGU, on the bench, there is no way we are going to lose.

I hope 95% of these players I mentioned be on our XI.