Joebie:
Who are the three big natural forwards, and what's the guarantee any of them will start?

Joebie:
The coach is not always right in decisions not limited to player positions, substitutions, invitations/signings... Which is why coaches are fired and hired. But a coach's job must not be compromised, because he get's the credits for victory and the knocks for failure.

Torino Coach Pushes Assistants For Refusing To Substitute Nigerian Midfielder Obi
Published: August 28, 2017
Torino Coach Pushes Assistants For Refusing To Substitute Nigerian Midfielder ObiTorino manager Sinisa Mihajlovic was angry with his assistants Attilio Lombardo and Luca Castellazzi for refusing to substitute Nigeria midfielder Joel Obi in his team's 3-0 win over Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday evening.

Mihajlovic had instructed the coaches to take off Obi, but they went ahead to substitute the wrong player, taking off Tomas Rincon instead of the Nigerian midfielder.

Under the glare of television cameras, the Lazio and Sampdoria legend reacted by pushing his two assistants, but he later apologized to the two coaches in his post match comments.

With ten minutes left on the clock, Torino were leading 1-0 and the opponents were threatening to equalize, and Obi was his choice to leave the pitch because he is more attack-minded.

Obi, who was supposed to be on the bench, netted Torino's third goal in the 88th minute.

Igho Kingsley

komekn:


I am making the presumption of a 4-3-3.

In that regard I would be looking for Ola Aina to recreate the club and personal understanding that he has with Victor Moses. Therefore Shehu does not start for me.

I am concerned about the mobility of Ogu in a fast paced match. Ogu has good composure and I think a better passing range than Ndidi. But Ndidi is more Mobil, has better recovery if the ball is lost, can turn defence into attack a lot quicker than Ogu. So I would drop Ogu and choose Ndidi, because pace is going to be an issue in this match.

Add to that Mikel has zero pace and will not backtrack to help the defence effectively enough for me. But in reality we need Mikel to play offensive and open up Cameroon. Ndidi covering for him enables us to be more offensive through Mikel picking out the right passes and through balls.

Otherwise I can't disagree with much else considering players invited.

Icon4s:

He is not worth up to 1/5 of that amount paid on his head.
Any way thanks to Chelsea.
Good riddance.

EEGA:
There’s More To Cameroon Than Just Brute Strength
completesportsnigeria.com Aug 28, 2017 11:16 AM
The focus as the key Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers approach seems to be all on Cameroon’s physical attributes.
Pretty much every Nigerian football expert who has spoken or written about the double header between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions has highlighted Cameroon’s power and the need for Nigeria to match them physically.
But there is more to these current Lions than just their bulging muscles and ‘jam body’ football’. There’s a whole lot more.
Of course, the Cameroonians are physical specimens to behold, bulging biceps peeking out of their too tight shirts and their intimidating six-packs straining against the tops.
But, beyond their raw strength, these Cameroonians can play. Dem sabi football.
They were not even remotely the favourites to win the last Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon but they defied the odds, in spite of a squad shorn of almost all their big-name stars, to win the continent’s biggest football trophy.
And they did not rely on their much-vaunted physicality alone.
The Lions AFCON team played vibrant, sometimes exhilarating football. They were quick, incisive, skilful, clinical. They had power, but it was not one of their chief attributes.
They had a coach, the Belgian Hugo Broos, who trusted in youth and kept faith with the 21-year-old Fabrice Ondoa in goal along with several young players in key positions.
They had searing pace down the flanks, especially in Christian Bassogog, the left-footed right winger who was voted Player of the Tournament.
They had guile and aerial threat in attack in Vincent Aboubakar, who is extremely comfortable on the ball for one so big, and captain Benjamin Moukandjo.
They also had composure and penetration in midfield in Sebastian Siani and Arnaud Djoum.
Cameroon still have all these players – and Broos, of course – as well as all these qualities.
So, the Super Eagles should be concerned about much more than the Lions’ power.
How does Gernot Rohr deal with Bassogog’s electric pace? Can Elderson Echiejile stop the speedstar? Who will mark Aboubakar without giving away silly fouls in dangerous positions? Do Rohr and his men know if Cameroun are dangerous at set-pieces?
How do the Eagles win the midfield battle? Should Rohr go with the combination of Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi that offers experience and power but little else? Or should Oghenekaro Etebo be included for his direct running and eye for goal that can unsettle the Lions? What about Wilfred Ndidi and his calm approach?
These are some of the things we should be worried about, other than just Cameroon’s raw power. ‘Power for power’ is not always the answer, even if we insist that Cameroon are all about brute strength (they are not).
Not too many years ago, we all watched in awe as a Barcelona team made up mostly of magical gnomes ran rings around giants. Lionel Messi, Andrea Iniesta and Xavi standing on each other would probably not be taller than Rio Ferdinand alone, but it was Messi who scored a header against Rio and another giant centre-back Nemanja Vidic in the 2009 Champions League final.
Messi did not need to outjump them or outmuscle them – he could not anyway. All he needed was the perfect delivery and to be clever in his movement to find space.
That Barca side that won almost everything on offer between 2008 and 2012, and again between 2013 and 2015, showed that a team should most of the time play to its own strengths.
The top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League is a wee fella up against Iroko tree-like defenders week in, week out but their superior power hasn’t stopped the MFM FC striker from scoring 17 goals. Mfon Udoh scored 23 in the same league in one season. He is not exactly a hulk too.
By all means scout the opposition to know their strengths, but counter them by pitting your best attributes against theirs.
If the Super Eagles’ best players are Victor Moses with his speed and dribbling skills, Kelechi Iheanacho with his clever movement and clinical finishing, and Moses Simon with his darting runs, then they should all start against Cameroon.
We should not all be caught up in the ‘brute strength’ talk because Cameroon are much more than that.
A team of lightweights with skills, guile, organisation and confidence will anyway be a match for a team of giants who only rely on their power to bully the opposition.
Didn’t David defeat Goliath? David certainly didn’t have to have Terry Crews’ chest to win that battle.

Joebie:
Joel Obi makes Whoscored's best VI in Italy

EEGA:
There’s More To Cameroon Than Just Brute Strength
completesportsnigeria.com Aug 28, 2017 11:16 AM
The focus as the key Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers approach seems to be all on Cameroon’s physical attributes.
Pretty much every Nigerian football expert who has spoken or written about the double header between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions has highlighted Cameroon’s power and the need for Nigeria to match them physically.
But there is more to these current Lions than just their bulging muscles and ‘jam body’ football’. There’s a whole lot more.
Of course, the Cameroonians are physical specimens to behold, bulging biceps peeking out of their too tight shirts and their intimidating six-packs straining against the tops.
But, beyond their raw strength, these Cameroonians can play. Dem sabi football.
They were not even remotely the favourites to win the last Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon but they defied the odds, in spite of a squad shorn of almost all their big-name stars, to win the continent’s biggest football trophy.
And they did not rely on their much-vaunted physicality alone.
The Lions AFCON team played vibrant, sometimes exhilarating football. They were quick, incisive, skilful, clinical. They had power, but it was not one of their chief attributes.
They had a coach, the Belgian Hugo Broos, who trusted in youth and kept faith with the 21-year-old Fabrice Ondoa in goal along with several young players in key positions.
They had searing pace down the flanks, especially in Christian Bassogog, the left-footed right winger who was voted Player of the Tournament.
They had guile and aerial threat in attack in Vincent Aboubakar, who is extremely comfortable on the ball for one so big, and captain Benjamin Moukandjo.
They also had composure and penetration in midfield in Sebastian Siani and Arnaud Djoum.
Cameroon still have all these players – and Broos, of course – as well as all these qualities.
So, the Super Eagles should be concerned about much more than the Lions’ power.
How does Gernot Rohr deal with Bassogog’s electric pace? Can Elderson Echiejile stop the speedstar? Who will mark Aboubakar without giving away silly fouls in dangerous positions? Do Rohr and his men know if Cameroun are dangerous at set-pieces?
How do the Eagles win the midfield battle? Should Rohr go with the combination of Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi that offers experience and power but little else? Or should Oghenekaro Etebo be included for his direct running and eye for goal that can unsettle the Lions? What about Wilfred Ndidi and his calm approach?
These are some of the things we should be worried about, other than just Cameroon’s raw power. ‘Power for power’ is not always the answer, even if we insist that Cameroon are all about brute strength (they are not).
Not too many years ago, we all watched in awe as a Barcelona team made up mostly of magical gnomes ran rings around giants. Lionel Messi, Andrea Iniesta and Xavi standing on each other would probably not be taller than Rio Ferdinand alone, but it was Messi who scored a header against Rio and another giant centre-back Nemanja Vidic in the 2009 Champions League final.
Messi did not need to outjump them or outmuscle them – he could not anyway. All he needed was the perfect delivery and to be clever in his movement to find space.
That Barca side that won almost everything on offer between 2008 and 2012, and again between 2013 and 2015, showed that a team should most of the time play to its own strengths.
The top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League is a wee fella up against Iroko tree-like defenders week in, week out but their superior power hasn’t stopped the MFM FC striker from scoring 17 goals. Mfon Udoh scored 23 in the same league in one season. He is not exactly a hulk too.
By all means scout the opposition to know their strengths, but counter them by pitting your best attributes against theirs.
If the Super Eagles’ best players are Victor Moses with his speed and dribbling skills, Kelechi Iheanacho with his clever movement and clinical finishing, and Moses Simon with his darting runs, then they should all start against Cameroon.
We should not all be caught up in the ‘brute strength’ talk because Cameroon are much more than that.
A team of lightweights with skills, guile, organisation and confidence will anyway be a match for a team of giants who only rely on their power to bully the opposition.
Didn’t David defeat Goliath? David certainly didn’t have to have Terry Crews’ chest to win that battle.

Joebie:
Joel Obi makes Whoscored's best XI in Italy

Joebie:
Joel Obi makes Whoscored's best XI in Italy

Nigerdeltaboi:
Colin Udoh, KweséESPN Regional Editor 13h

Samuel recall is good news for Super Eagles

Fortune sometimes finds its own unsolicited way of rearranging the pieces on the board, and Nigeria striker Aaron Samuel is the latest benefactor in that regard.
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has moved CSKA Moscow forward Samuel up from the standby list to the main squad, in the wake of Arsenal's Alex Iwobi being forced to withdraw with a leg injury.
Under normal circumstances, losing a first team player would be a weakness, a blow to the squad, especially as they are facing African champions Cameroon in a set of 2018 World Cup qualifiers this coming week.
But these circumstances are not normal, and this small piece of misfortune could well turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Nigerians.
Make no mistake, Iwobi is a fine, tidy, skilled, and cerebral football player. There is a reason he plays for Arsenal, after all. But games between Nigeria and Cameroon have historically not been about finesse.
Intelligence, yes. Nwankwo Kanu's visionary pass to find John Utaka for the winner at Afcon 2006, for example. Skill, perhaps. Here, that sublime Samuel Eto'o finish in Lagos in the 2000 Afcon Final comes to mind.
There are numerous other examples where brilliance, skill, and intelligence have decided the games. But they have, for the most part, happened after brutally physical skirmishes with no quarters asked and none given.
While polished Iwobi would certainly have been an asset, 6ft2in Samuel's style appears better suited to this particular opposition, and in light of what is at stake, this particular set of games.
The CSKA man is big, burly, and quick, and would sooner stop breathing than shy away from a scuffle. Putting himself in harm's way in search of goals comes as second nature, and it's how he got his first of only two goals for Nigeria.
Against Sudan in 2014, he found himself amidst a sea of bodies and instinctively threw out his favoured left peg into the fray to stab home a close range rebound.
He would be the perfect muscle foil or substitute for any of the starting forwards, whether it is Odion Ighalo or Kelechi Iheanacho. It would not be at all inconceivable to see him as a starter.
Samuel is not lacking in the skills department, and can match almost any of the other forwards for speed of foot and thought. But where he takes the edge is in his ability to get into, and come out on top of, a good scrap.
It is a characteristic the Super Eagles missed against South Africa in June, and it is one they will sorely need against the Indomitable Lions on 1 and 4 September .

Joebie:
Who are the three big natural forwards, and what's the guarantee any of them will start?

goldfish80:


So Colin observed that we missed a physical presence against South Africa when some people wanted to make us believe the balls were not coming for the wonder boy to tap it in
Why is nobody talking about going for speed and skills while shying away from the physical challenge the Camerounians will bring to the table? I guess it has become old story since reality have finally set in.

I believe it was a blessing to have lost that game against SA. If we hadn't lost the game, I trust Rohr to invite Osimhen and probably leave out Ighalo and Aaron. What a sight it would have been watching Oshimhen warm up on the sidelines to rescue the team in Yaounde

safarigirl:
forget starting, I want to know the 3 big natural forwards to begin with. And they all better be BIG.

Off the top of my head, only Nwakaeme fits the bill for those two qualities....okay, add the recently invited Aaron Samuel

tbaba1234:
Seen Aaron Samuel recently, He looks far away from his 2014 form. Either way, his physicality could be an asset.

goldfish80:

A glance at his dashboard tells me he was the highest rated midfielder in the Seria A last week.
I hope he has finally gotten over his injury worries. He possess a well educated left foot.

Nigerdeltaboi:
Colin Udoh, KweséESPN Regional Editor 13h

Samuel recall is good news for Super Eagles

Fortune sometimes finds its own unsolicited way of rearranging the pieces on the board, and Nigeria striker Aaron Samuel is the latest benefactor in that regard.
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has moved CSKA Moscow forward Samuel up from the standby list to the main squad, in the wake of Arsenal's Alex Iwobi being forced to withdraw with a leg injury.
Under normal circumstances, losing a first team player would be a weakness, a blow to the squad, especially as they are facing African champions Cameroon in a set of 2018 World Cup qualifiers this coming week.
But these circumstances are not normal, and this small piece of misfortune could well turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Nigerians.
Make no mistake, Iwobi is a fine, tidy, skilled, and cerebral football player. There is a reason he plays for Arsenal, after all. But games between Nigeria and Cameroon have historically not been about finesse.
Intelligence, yes. Nwankwo Kanu's visionary pass to find John Utaka for the winner at Afcon 2006, for example. Skill, perhaps. Here, that sublime Samuel Eto'o finish in Lagos in the 2000 Afcon Final comes to mind.
There are numerous other examples where brilliance, skill, and intelligence have decided the games. But they have, for the most part, happened after brutally physical skirmishes with no quarters asked and none given.
While polished Iwobi would certainly have been an asset, 6ft2in Samuel's style appears better suited to this particular opposition, and in light of what is at stake, this particular set of games.
The CSKA man is big, burly, and quick, and would sooner stop breathing than shy away from a scuffle. Putting himself in harm's way in search of goals comes as second nature, and it's how he got his first of only two goals for Nigeria.
Against Sudan in 2014, he found himself amidst a sea of bodies and instinctively threw out his favoured left peg into the fray to stab home a close range rebound.
He would be the perfect muscle foil or substitute for any of the starting forwards, whether it is Odion Ighalo or Kelechi Iheanacho. It would not be at all inconceivable to see him as a starter.
Samuel is not lacking in the skills department, and can match almost any of the other forwards for speed of foot and thought. But where he takes the edge is in his ability to get into, and come out on top of, a good scrap.
It is a characteristic the Super Eagles missed against South Africa in June, and it is one they will sorely need against the Indomitable Lions on 1 and 4 September.

Joebie:
Well, I was responding to "one of them starting", and Iheanacho as SF..

safarigirl:
let him tell is the three big strikers, then we will see which of them is 'startable'....certainly not Aaron Samuel or Nwakaeme

Kog45:
I remember u got it right on Awaziem but d guy had a bad day against SA,hope he bounce back and better coz age is on his side and Rohr already rate him than Omeruo meaning in d absence of Balogun,he is a sure starter.

On Alampasu can Rohr take d risk against Cameroon,i always rate Akpeyi ahead of Ezenwa and Alampasu but to be sincere am not comfortable with him likewise Ezenwa but Alampasu to me a risk against Cameroon not that he is not good but d exposure just like it affect Awaziem against SA.

EEGA:
There’s More To Cameroon Than Just Brute Strength
completesportsnigeria.com Aug 28, 2017 11:16 AM
The focus as the key Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers approach seems to be all on Cameroon’s physical attributes.
Pretty much every Nigerian football expert who has spoken or written about the double header between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions has highlighted Cameroon’s power and the need for Nigeria to match them physically.
But there is more to these current Lions than just their bulging muscles and ‘jam body’ football’. There’s a whole lot more.
Of course, the Cameroonians are physical specimens to behold, bulging biceps peeking out of their too tight shirts and their intimidating six-packs straining against the tops.
But, beyond their raw strength, these Cameroonians can play. Dem sabi football.
They were not even remotely the favourites to win the last Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon but they defied the odds, in spite of a squad shorn of almost all their big-name stars, to win the continent’s biggest football trophy.
And they did not rely on their much-vaunted physicality alone.
The Lions AFCON team played vibrant, sometimes exhilarating football. They were quick, incisive, skilful, clinical. They had power, but it was not one of their chief attributes.
They had a coach, the Belgian Hugo Broos, who trusted in youth and kept faith with the 21-year-old Fabrice Ondoa in goal along with several young players in key positions.
They had searing pace down the flanks, especially in Christian Bassogog, the left-footed right winger who was voted Player of the Tournament.
They had guile and aerial threat in attack in Vincent Aboubakar, who is extremely comfortable on the ball for one so big, and captain Benjamin Moukandjo.
They also had composure and penetration in midfield in Sebastian Siani and Arnaud Djoum.
Cameroon still have all these players – and Broos, of course – as well as all these qualities.
So, the Super Eagles should be concerned about much more than the Lions’ power.
How does Gernot Rohr deal with Bassogog’s electric pace? Can Elderson Echiejile stop the speedstar? Who will mark Aboubakar without giving away silly fouls in dangerous positions? Do Rohr and his men know if Cameroun are dangerous at set-pieces?
How do the Eagles win the midfield battle? Should Rohr go with the combination of Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi that offers experience and power but little else? Or should Oghenekaro Etebo be included for his direct running and eye for goal that can unsettle the Lions? What about Wilfred Ndidi and his calm approach?
These are some of the things we should be worried about, other than just Cameroon’s raw power. ‘Power for power’ is not always the answer, even if we insist that Cameroon are all about brute strength (they are not).
Not too many years ago, we all watched in awe as a Barcelona team made up mostly of magical gnomes ran rings around giants. Lionel Messi, Andrea Iniesta and Xavi standing on each other would probably not be taller than Rio Ferdinand alone, but it was Messi who scored a header against Rio and another giant centre-back Nemanja Vidic in the 2009 Champions League final.
Messi did not need to outjump them or outmuscle them – he could not anyway. All he needed was the perfect delivery and to be clever in his movement to find space.
That Barca side that won almost everything on offer between 2008 and 2012, and again between 2013 and 2015, showed that a team should most of the time play to its own strengths.
The top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League is a wee fella up against Iroko tree-like defenders week in, week out but their superior power hasn’t stopped the MFM FC striker from scoring 17 goals. Mfon Udoh scored 23 in the same league in one season. He is not exactly a hulk too.
By all means scout the opposition to know their strengths, but counter them by pitting your best attributes against theirs.
If the Super Eagles’ best players are Victor Moses with his speed and dribbling skills, Kelechi Iheanacho with his clever movement and clinical finishing, and Moses Simon with his darting runs, then they should all start against Cameroon.
We should not all be caught up in the ‘brute strength’ talk because Cameroon are much more than that.
A team of lightweights with skills, guile, organisation and confidence will anyway be a match for a team of giants who only rely on their power to bully the opposition.
Didn’t David defeat Goliath? David certainly didn’t have to have Terry Crews’ chest to win that battle.

Joebie:
J.Obi as our future attacking midfielder.. of course on that condition

goldfish80:


So Colin observed that we missed a physical presence against South Africa when some people wanted to make us believe the balls were not coming for the wonder boy to tap it in
Why is nobody talking about going for speed and skills while shying away from the physical challenge the Camerounians will bring to the table? I guess it has become old story since reality have finally set in.

I believe it was a blessing to have lost that game against SA. If we hadn't lost the game, I trust Rohr to invite Osimhen and probably leave out Ighalo and Aaron. What a sight it would have been watching Oshimhen warm up on the sidelines to rescue the team in Yaounde

Nigerdeltaboi:
you nailed it 100%, the South Africa game was a big lesson and I am glad the coaching crew took notes too.

TheGoodJoe:


Which big lesson? Our tactics was spot on in the fist half. We controlled the game and would have skinned them alive if we had better final passes.

TheGoodJoe:


I wonder why people continue showing pure ignorance to a clear fact. You have watched the replay of the match. You have seen repeatedly the clearly over hit passes and seen Nacho made fine runs. Baffling you have decided to toe the line of ignorance.

You can not change the fact. When we brought in Kayode who had more physical presence, there was literally no improvement. Our best chance to win the game was in that first half. Unfortunately, we overhit the passes.