goldfish80:

I disagree with this assertion. It will be sheer arrogance not take into account what the opposition brings to the table. Football is a contact sports,you can't take this out of the game. I wonder why you would want to play non physical players who will be bullied all over the pitch, is that what you call playing with intelligence and quick passes?
This is Africa. We need to match them physically and outwit them with intelligence. You make it sound like we don't have a strong players who are intelligent.

If we play physically weak players who shy away from getting physical when the need arises, we will loose home and away without scoring a goal. Please quote me on this.

TheGoodJoe:


We play to our strength. It is as simple as that. Not play to the strength of the Camerounians. If you play players who are physical, the Camerounians will have the opportunity to bully them because that is their strength.

If we go with speed and invention, the Camerounians will not have the chance to bully the players.

goldfish80:

Are we still taking about real football or play station football?

goldfish80:

Are we still taking about real football or play station football?

TheGoodJoe:


To start with, you are totally mistaken if you think Ndidi can pass like Kante. Ndidi passes well but not in the class of Kante. Also, keep in mind that Chelsea last season had David Luiz behind the two defensive/central midfielders who also did lots of dictating of plays with his passing too.

We have good midfield players but we lack quality passing. It was very obvious in our game against South Africa. We need Mikel for now until we get a player of such class.

Mickael2:



in Chelsea Kante keeps it simple, if you think Ndidi cannot keep it simple then I don't think you know Ndidi at all. besides I don't think that Balogun is such a bad passer anyways so I don't think we have an issue there. Ekong too isn't bad, watch the Olympics. I know both if them are not on the same level with Luiz but together they can reach something close to that level which is a plus.

TheGoodJoe:


Mikel will cut it in an attack midfield role in a top team. His intelligence is enough to tell you that. We are talking of a man who reinvented himself into a quality long-serving defensive midfielder.

What does he lack to make it? His brilliant passing and intelligence is key. Mikel is also strong on the ball, retains it with confidence and is quick in finding gaps to pass into.

After his performance against Spain, it is impossible to accept a claim that Mikel would not have done well in the attack midfield role.

Also, the reason you are saying that we should change formation is because deep in your heart, you know we lack a midfielder with the class of Mikel.

TheGoodJoe:


Are you saying you do not know where the strength of our team lies in respect of Power or skill?

Cameroun - Power
Nigeria - Skill/Speed

We should play to our strength.

TheGoodJoe:


Kante keeps it simple but also pulls some brilliant long balls too. Ndidi also can pass long but can nit bring it together in the form of Kante. He needs time to develop that aspect of his game.

Balogun and Ekong are also good passers but not in the class of Luiz.

We need Mikel. He is an asset. A big one.

edi287:

Chelsea have Luiz who builds up from deep. That's why Conte wanted Koulibaly last season and Van Dijk this one. They now have Christensen who is also a good ball playing CB.
We don't have a ball playing CB at the back.. I haven't watched Awaziem so I don't know how much of a good passer he is, but with no great ball playing CBs, it was simply atrocious to play a midfield of Onazi - Ndidi - Etebo especially with Nacho as a 9.

Mickael2:



Kante does not have long shots like Ndidi has. this is a matter of tweaking here and there, in Chelsea Kante hardly plays the long passes anyways so can Ndidi replicate Kante's form? probably not but he can get close to that level and that is good enough.

let me ask you, what if Mikel comes to the world cup and starts playing like he did at the 2014 world cup? So what will we do without a plan B?

goldfish80:


I see the problem now. You actually think our strength lies in skills and speed. You're dead wrong on this.

Countries who want to face Nigeria always prepare their teams for a physical challenge. Almost all European countries who played our teams have complained how physical we are. Even down to our underage teams and female teams.

You think Rashidi, Amokachi and Siasia were bunch of sissies?

Get real my friend. How do you think we have been beating the South Africans over the years? They always complain they cannot match our physicality each time they play us.
Please wake up, Nigeria is not Barcelona. This is not club football, this is proper national team footie with a world cup place at stake, if we experiment and joke around, it will be bye bye to Baghdad.

TheGoodJoe:


Are you saying you do not know where the strength of our team lies in respect of Power or skill?

Cameroun - Power
Nigeria - Skill/Speed

We should play to our strength.

TheGoodJoe:


Is it Yekini, Amokachi and Siasia that will play Cameroun? This is coming from the person saying Get Real.

TheGoodJoe:


Unfortunately, I did not watch the CHAN match and so, I can not comment on his quality. I will try to catch his next game. I will be honest. I have exhausted my patience with Echiejile. You can not keep making the same mistake for years. If he can not learn to cover his back, then the coaching crew must work hard to unearth someone who can.

goldfish80:


I see the problem now. You actually think our strength lies in skills and speed. You're dead wrong on this.

Countries who want to face Nigeria always prepare their teams for a physical challenge. Almost all European countries who played our teams have complained how physical we are. Even down to our underage teams and female teams.

You think Rashidi, Amokachi and Siasia were bunch of sissies?

Get real my friend. How do you think we have been beating the South Africans over the years? They always complain they cannot match our physicality each time they play us.
Please wake up, Nigeria is not Barcelona. This is not club football, this is proper national team footie with a world cup place at stake, if we experiment and joke around, it will be bye bye to Baghdad.

goldfish80:

I disagree with this assertion. It will be sheer arrogance not take into account what the opposition brings to the table. Football is a contact sports,you can't take this out of the game. I wonder why you would want to play non physical players who will be bullied all over the pitch, is that what you call playing with intelligence and quick passes?
This is Africa. We need to match them physically and outwit them with intelligence. You make it sound like we don't have strong players who are intelligent.

If we play physically weak players who shy away from getting physical when the need arises, we will loose home and away without scoring a goal. Please quote me on this.

TheGoodJoe:


In recent years, we were coached by Keshi who liked mostly a physical side. That is why we had Ameobi, Emenike, Ideye etc in the squad over the likes of Uche, Osaze, Martins.

Today our quality players are more skill than power.

AndreTAyodeji:
Exactlly sir,all Nigerian coaches want is winning and not putting into account who had a bad game in the win.For example,look at Chelsea`s pursuit of Alex Sandro even with the good performances of Marcos Alonso.All we have is abundance of wingers,DMF`s and Strikers while there is No quality in our defence except Balogun and Ekong who has a lot of potential and he is even playing in Turkey talkless of depth or quantity.I think the NFF should get their acts together and get a special scouting team for defenders,bring them to camp and pick the best for each defensive positions.Even if NFF can`t do it, Rohr can get his team together headed by his video analyst and scout for good defenders but as i said ealier he seem to me like a coach who is contended with winning and doesnt give a F about who puts on a shitty performace in the win.

TheGoodJoe:


Nice input. I am not saying we can not manage or cope without Mikel. I am saying Mikel's presence is a big asset to the team and this makes him a key player.

Nice addition and I hope the best for Joel Obi.

AndreTAyodeji:
Exactlly sir,all Nigerian coaches want is winning and not putting into account who had a bad game in the win.For example,look at Chelsea`s pursuit of Alex Sandro even with the good performances of Marcos Alonso.All we have is abundance of wingers,DMF`s and Strikers while there is No quality in our defence except Balogun and Ekong who has a lot of potential and he is even playing in Turkey talkless of depth or quantity.I think the NFF should get their acts together and get a special scouting team for defenders,bring them to camp and pick the best for each defensive positions.Even if NFF can`t do it, Rohr can get his team together headed by his video analyst and scout for good defenders but as i said ealier he seem to me like a coach who is contended with winning and doesnt give a F about who puts on a shitty performace in the win.

goldfish80:

Please list those skilful players in this present Super Eagles team.

pyrex23:

if so den y hasnt african team used their *gra gra* to win d world cup.....am with Goodjoe on this 1....he didnt say we should u field weak players all he said was how we should play...
If u field d young German squad dat beat chile against cameroun whole do u think will win?

pyrex23:

how good is he from shooting outside d box......

Icon4s:


I don't know why these guys keep hammering on strength and power.

Nigeria is not also short in strength and power.
With the current crop we can match them for strength. Especially with the return of Mikel, Moses and Balogun and a rugged player like Onazi in the CM.
But we need to go beyond that and beat them for speed and with skills.

This is not Nigeria's first meeting with Cameroon for heaven's sakes.

goldfish80:


You think those "young Germans" aren't physical? Do you know what Germans are reputed for? Germans are very tough people my friend.
Please let's not live in a non existing euthopia.

TheGoodJoe:


Going with physical players against Cameroun is a suicide mission because we will play to the advantage of the Camerounians. You can not expect to beat them at their own game. We need to go with creativity, speed and invention. Run them riot coupled with intelligent and quick passes.

That is the best approach.

Mickael2:



do you think Mikel will cut it as an AMF in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Germany, Frannce? these are the top teams. Mikael can cut it as a DMF in these teams for sure but as an AMF absolutely not. I am not arguing that he could have done well, the point is presently he won't cut it as an AMF in a top team.

it's as if you didn't hear what I just said, I said we should play to our strengths, of course I did agree that we lack midfielders that have an eye for a pass hence the need to change formation

TheGoodJoe:


List the powerful players in the current Super Eagles team.

goldfish80:

I know why I asked you to list those skilful players in the Super Eagles because at a push I don't see more than 3 really skillful player there.
About 90% of this present team are physically handy.

TheGoodJoe:


That young German team is more intelligence and creativity than physicality. Is there anyone apart from you that will tag that team a physical side?