Joebie:
Very good analysis Sir TheSuperNerd.

Now the question.. who to start against Cameroon? Let's focus on the midfield.
The 4-2-3-1 formation gives room for two defensive midfielders if i'm not mistaking. But one of them would still be more dedicated to being a holding midfielder

Optioni 1: Mikel is a sure starter for his experience, and we expect him to rise up to this kind of opposition any day anytime. He has a lot of top games under his belt. Can't take that away from him. It is most certain he will get his AMF role although I prefer Mikel in the number 4 role, but with the absence of a creative midfielder, Mikel is the closest and the only option we have, until we allow Iwobi show us his stuff in that position. That takes us back to your question. Who gets the number 4 role? Onazi, Ndidi, Ogu? I think I will make a case for Esiti ONLY based on his recent exploits with Gent. The number 4 is one of, if not the most important position in a team. In fact it is the player that GUARANTEES control of the midfield. And i'm beginning to think this is why we lost to SA. We will need that holding midfielder, who may not necessarily play as such for most part of the match considering the physical Cameroon. But we will need that role every now and then, I think especially for the Cameroon tie Esiti looks well suited for it, and can hardly be destroyed force versus force. It is not for no reason he is nicknamed The Rock in Belgium. But can he rise up to that occasion?

In CMF, we know Onazi for his tackles which frustrates can frustrate any team. But he has to do more of short passes because his long passes are awful. Should Onazi play as a CMF then? How about Ndidi? This take us to another option.

Option 2: Should iwobi be given the chance, and should our forwards know just how to position themselves to take advantage of Iwobi's fast and splitting passes, I believe the lad will excel as he wouldn't have to come against the Cameroonians physically much.

Then we can have Mikel do what he did for Chelsea for about a decade. It is indeed very true that the player with the #4 shirt can sometimes go under-appreciated by fans because he is rarely the one who scores the crucial goal or makes the last ditch tackles. We can expect Mikel to be clever as well not to be out-muscled by the Cameroonians and create more cover for our center backs very well.

This option opens room for the question, who plays as the CMF? Clearly, Ndidi for his excellent vision and ball distribution.

in all this we are trying to take a more scientific approach in our arguments, instead of choosing a player over another just simply because we like them or we have seen them play well in other situations.

The Super Eagles are yet to announce the squad for the qualifiers, but the assistant coach claims there is no cause for worries

TheSuperNerd:
West Ham Insider – Talks Are Back On With Iheanacho After Man City Lowered Fee For Buy-Back



A highly placed sourced in the camp of West Ham has revealed talks with Manchester City Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho is back on after City lowered their demands.

Known and respected for having inside knowledge about West Ham transfer stories, and issues about the club @ExWHUemployee told Man City Watch, that West Ham resumed talks with the 20 year old after City lowered their fee for the buy back.

Iheanacho’s proposed move to West Ham has dragged on for months despite the speed at which talks progressed at the initial stage, which Man City insistence on a buy back clause said to be holding the deal.


Q : What’s the status on Kelechi Iheanacho to West Ham? A few weeks ago it looked a dead cert, now Leicester are odds-on at the bookies and things have gone a little quiet. I understand City’s demand for a buy-back clause could be causing problems?


Answer – The problem with Iheanacho, like you say, is that City have demanded a buy-back clause to be part of the deal.
The player himself doesn’t want to leave and this is also seen as a way of appeasing the transfer. The buy-back clause is said to be quite low and with Kelechi making it clear he only really wants to stay in Britain so he can obtain citizenship – and this has made us rethink our offer. A bid has been made and we are still keen but further negotiations are still required.



Q – West Ham are also keen on Olivier Giroud of Arsenal. Would it be the end of your interest in Kelechi if you sign him up or is Bilic after multiple strikers?

Answer – I think Bilic would like to sign both Giroud and Iheanacho. We struggled massively last season for not having enough forward options throughout the campaign, with first choice Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho spending more time on the treatment table than the pitch! If both forwards could be obtained for around £20m-£25m then I think we would sign both seeing as we offered £35m for one forward last year.


**Ade Emmanuel


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/06/21/west-ham-insider-talks-are-back-on-with-iheanacho-after-man-city-lowered-fee-for-buy-back/

Joebie:
A fantastic/world class etc player can be rendered ineffective by the opposition on a specific match day. That does not make the player less special. An average player can have a very bad game. That does not mean the player is useless. We can't judge a player by one-match performance. All our players have earned their rights to be in the team . However, roles they play, the opposition they come against, the tactics the coach employs and other many factors will determine their "shineability" on matchday

komekn:


Consider your bold highlighted text.

I would disagree strongly with the ALL.

Kelechi Iheanacho is available and Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare is keen CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

Carl Ikeme

TheSuperNerd:
Leicester Entice Man City Iheanacho With Favourite Role After £25m Bid




Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to land Manchester City Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

Already a bid of £25m has been lodged for the forward, who has been told he can leave the club but only if a replacement is signed as the club need three strikers for next season.

However City are keen on inserting a buy back clause in any deal for the 20 year old, who was close to joining West Ham few weeks ago before talks stalled over the fee for the buy-back.

Although talks are back on with West Ham, Leicester City are now odds on favourite to sign Iheanacho as aside offering City a decent fee, they have also promised him a new role just behind the striker.

Leicester City already have Jamie Vardy and Islam Slimani as top strikers, Shakespeare will hand Iheanacho his favourite role behind the striker, if he agrees to join the club, a move which could make him force his move away from Manchester City.

The Nigerian although boast of a fantastic goal scoring record, he isn’t entirely at home playing as a lone striker, as he prefers playing just behind the main striker where his late runs into the box often go unsighted.


**Daniel Martins.

Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/06/22/leicester-entice-man-city-iheanacho-with-favourite-role-after-25m-bid/

Joebie:
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder they say. In this case the beholder is Rohr. Hence whether they have earned it in camp, during friendlies or in club matches, they all have earned their right to be in the team.

TheSuperNerd:
Otigba Names Ex-Arsenal, Real Madrid Stars As Toughest Opponents He Faced In Turkey




New Ferencvárosi TC central defender Kenneth Otigba has revealed the toughest opponents he faced while in Turkey.

The former Hungary youth-team skipper, who has committed his international future to Nigeria, was on loan at Kasimpasa last season, and scored three goals in 20 appearances in all competitions.

''It was a good move to go to Kasimpasa because I learned a lot,'' Otigba told Nemzeti Sport.

''Before that I was one of the strongest players in the championship, but in Turkey I faced a number of strong and fast footballers.''

Quizzed on the toughest opponents he faced in the Super Lig, Otigba replied : ''Robin van Persie, Samuel Eto'o or Vágner Love are skillful, but the hardest part was against Galatasaray, Lukas Podolski and Wesley Sneijder.''

The 24-year-old Otigba was approached by Premier League side Liverpool before he signed for Heerenveen in 2008.


**Igho Kingsley


Source: http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=23496

forgiveness:



Na wa ooooooo. This guy still dey but they ignored him for division two players.

I have no doubt that the National team is now a cult.

forgiveness:



Na wa ooooooo. This guy still dey but they ignored him for division two players.

I have no doubt that the National team is now a cult.

forgiveness:



What are you waiting for? The best of the best deal ever made so far.