Napoleon55:
then in place of who? as DM,CM or AM? NDIDI,ONAZI,or MIKEL?
is he going to play as a wing forward,compare him with MOSES and IWOBI. from these 5 mentioned players, who is he going to bench if he must start?

Joebie:
By demonstrating excellence in a few games Enyeama will easily get the nod ahead of Ezenwa.

Joebie:
LOST SUPER EAGLE INFO:

Ekigho Ehiosun --> FK Gabala (Premya Liqasi, Azerbaijan)

elyte89:
Infact dis is d list going to world cup if we qualify and barring no injuries to dem
Keepers
(1) Vincent enyeama(if he gets a club b4 world cup)
(2) Daniel apkeyi
(3) Ezenwa/alampasu
Defenders
(4) troost ekong
(5) Leon balogun
(6) Aina
(7) shehu abdullahi
( elderson echiejile(weda u like it or not,he's going)
(9) any good local player dt proofs his worth at chan and also gets playing regularly mite go(will act ad back up to echiejile,d name I dont knw.
(10) chidozie awaziem/omeruo(if he starts playing scintillating football at his club in turkey
Midfielder
11...john obi Mikel
12....eddy onazi
13...Wilfred ndidi
14 john ogu/Joel obi/alhassan Ibrahim
15 O.Etebo
Strikers
16..Iwobi Alex
17...Moses simon
18...Vic moses
19....odion ighalo
20...Ahmed musa(weda u like it or not)
21...iheanacho
22..Tammy Abraham if he switches
23 Anthony/onyekuru will battle d last spot

Napoleon55:
Obi,to b honest,i have not watched him play recently because he is always injured,but i have watched him several times in the past,i've watched him in nigeria's colours,so i know him. we will not hoping on that type of player if we want to win anything,or win any serious match
the earlier we start grooming KELECHI NWAKALI to take over from Mikel the better for us

Joebie:
Good agent don't guarantee this. See below:

Modified:
Did somebody say he is a bad passer of the ball. Let me add John Ogu's (not even considering the leagues they play)

Icon79:
Not really, but I still can't get over all his exploits in Rio


O pari

Joebie:
You like arguing in circles. I've already made my point with stats. Barring injuries, only can Mikel can be considered above Joel Obi in AM/CM. Of course the coach decides who starts regardless.

tbaba1234:


Olympics is still an age group competition

Agu and Azubuike play in the same league and these are their stats

Tackles
Agu averages 3.7 tackles per game
Azubuike averages 2.3 tackles per game

Interceptions
Azubuike averages 3.2
Agu averages 1.8

Fouls
Azubuike averages 2
Agu averages 2.7

Clearances
Azubuike averages 0.5
Agu averages 2.7

Dribbles
Azubuike averages 2
Agu averages 0.8

Blocks
Azubuike averages 0.2
Agu averages 0.5

Overall rating
Agu: 7.02
Azubuike: 6.89

For tenacity, clearances and tackling, Agu is your man.
For dribbles and reading the game, Azubuike is your man.

From a defensive standpoint, Agu is a better choice.

Overall, Agu has had the better start to the season so far from available stats.

Icon4s:


And of course we have said it here repeatedly that stats do not tell the full story.

Some players contribute more when they are with the national team than at club. All the times Azubuike has worn the green and white jerseys he was excellent including the AFCON qualifiers against Egypt.

Meanwhile Mikel Agu, from the two occasions we have seen him play for the national team, seems not to be the kind of player we initially thought he is.

Consider also that Azubuike is just 20.

Dedebanky85:
You're one of the few realists on this forum. I score the list a vey high 93%. I would remove Tammy cos he ain't playing for Naija. The mess caused may lead to some kinda animosity btw he and NFF handlers.
Also, I would not even put Joel Obi near that list, he may injure while the team is in the plane to Russia. Lol
No loki is going. So I'd confidently give his slot to Ebuehi...
Tammy's position would be btw Success and Kayode...
But overall, almost accurate list.
But to me,d Tammy Abraham issue will av a clearer picture after d game against Zambia,cos I bilieve every sane player wants to go to d world cup and Tammy knws dt he has a greater chance with Nigeria Now Dan England even in 8years time cos even if England qualifies now, dey would always pick an half fit harry Kane,J vardy,and Marcus rashford let alone of wen dis three guys re fully fit b4 dey consider Tammy

And who says again dt after 2018 world cup,d likes of harry Kane and Marcus rashford would still want to b at Qatar 2022,and b4 den,dey would av discovered another full blown British striker,making d scenario diff for Tammy to even go to Qatar 2022,and by dt time,age would av catch up with Tammy
So with dis few points of mine,I av been able to convince and not to confuse u dt if Nigeria qualify for d 2018 mundial,with d above realistically points I av started earlier,A Sane Tammy Abraham would find it difficult to turn down d opportunity of playing for Nigeria at d world cup now or never.

Icon4s:


You mean if Joel Obi is fit he will be considered ahead of Mikel?

kingphilip:
don't forget he was in Serie A's best 11 in the month of August o


Joebie hope I'm correct

Icon4s:


And of course we have said it here repeatedly that stats do not tell the full story.

Some players contribute more when they are with the national team than at club. All the times Azubuike has worn the green and white jerseys he was excellent including the AFCON qualifiers against Egypt.

Meanwhile Mikel Agu, from the two occasions we have seen him play for the national team, seems not to be the kind of player we initially thought he is.

Consider also that Azubuike is just 20.

tbaba1234:


Olympics is still an age group competition

Agu and Azubuike play in the same league and these are their stats

Tackles
Agu averages 3.7 tackles per game
Azubuike averages 2.3 tackles per game

Interceptions
Azubuike averages 3.2
Agu averages 1.8

Fouls
Azubuike averages 2
Agu averages 2.7

Clearances
Azubuike averages 0.5
Agu averages 2.7

Dribbles
Azubuike averages 2
Agu averages 0.8

Blocks
Azubuike averages 0.2
Agu averages 0.5

Overall rating
Agu: 7.02
Azubuike: 6.89

For tenacity, clearances and tackling, Agu is your man.
For dribbles and reading the game, Azubuike is your man.

From a defensive standpoint, Agu is a better choice.

Overall, Agu has had the better start to the season so far from available stats.

kennysville:



Honestly, I think we should review this issue of stats. Truth is stats do not really reflect the ability of a player. It only reveals the activities of a player in his club and not his abilities. Have we tried considering the fact that a player may be played out of position in his club? On paper it might seem Agu is beta. But in reality, Azubuike is worlds apart. That guy can really boss a midfield. His control is exceptional. As for me, that dude is an asset.

Like someone mentioned earlier, at the u23 nations cup quarter finals, (if i am correct) he got carded and missed the semi final. That match, Nigeria struggled really hard without him. He was back in the final and things went back to normalcy.

The same played out at the Olympics. We missed him against the Germans. The rest is history. The only grouse I have with him is his affinity for getting carded. But if you are looking for someone to neutralize an opponents attack, with good passing ability while mikel Obi is upfront, then Azubuike is your man

I saw Mikel Agu come in our matches against Cameroon. First leg, he was ok. 2nd leg was in my opinion, not good enough. You can blame it on nerves or whatever. I would want to say this at this time. I am not doing player marketing here neither am I being biased. I respect every player that has been called into the super eagles. But when it comes to objectivity and productivity, I just feel we need to be an attacking team and not sitting ducks. As the old saying goes.... the best form of defence is attack.

tbaba1234:


Olympics is still an age group competition

Agu and Azubuike play in the same league and these are their stats

Tackles
Agu averages 3.7 tackles per game
Azubuike averages 2.3 tackles per game

Interceptions
Azubuike averages 3.2
Agu averages 1.8

Fouls
Azubuike averages 2
Agu averages 2.7

Clearances
Azubuike averages 0.5
Agu averages 2.7

Dribbles
Azubuike averages 2
Agu averages 0.8

Blocks
Azubuike averages 0.2
Agu averages 0.5

Overall rating
Agu: 7.02
Azubuike: 6.89

For tenacity, clearances and tackling, Agu is your man.
For dribbles and reading the game, Azubuike is your man.

From a defensive standpoint, Agu is a better choice.

Overall, Agu has had the better start to the season so far from available stats.

tbaba1234:


In the first leg, Agu played decently in my opinion. He got unfair flak for the second leg. If not for Ezenwa's error, we had the second leg won.

He was never the creative player to hold on to the ball and make play happen.

Stats are useful in this case because both players are playing at the same level so a better comparison can be made.

Azubuike is one for the future and he will get his time. Many have not seen him since the Olympics. U-23 football is not national team football.

Mickael2:


the best form of defence isn't always attack oo. If you meet a team with speedy wingers and you go and attack them bumper to bumper you will only get yourself killed.


To the point you made, I totally agree. We have seen that sometimes Rohr favours a long ball approach and Onazi is not equal to a good passer by any stretch of the imagination and his hopeless long balls have led to numerous turnovers by the opposing team which could well be punished by a better opposition. Somehow on the sidelines you have Azubuike and Ogu, guys who thrive on long passes with brilliant passing stats but Onazi still starts, the spanish coach was quick to bench Xavi at the 2014 world cup because younger and better guys were coming through.


Also on the sidelines(potentially) we have Joel Obi(If he stays injury free). He is one of the players who can play the CMF/AMF role. He isn't world-class but he is very good. A midfield combo of Mikel-Joel-Ndidi will achieve a lot of things. First, Ndidi will have to fall back as an out and out DMF and we all know the guy can make those long passes to perfection and his shots from deep would also be an asset. Then sitting beside him as a pseudo-Dmf/Cmf would be Joel, but in actual reality we would have a dynamic system where Mikel can fall back into the Dmf/Cmf role when the pressure on us gets too much allowing Joel to go a little bit further where his speed will aid potential counter-attacks and the rest is history. A fully-fit Joel Obi is totally better than everything we can offer in the CMF role, he is better than Ndidi in a Cmf role, Onazi? Not even close

Kog45:
Pls where is Raheem Lawal, I remember this guy pushed Onazi to RB in one our Afcon qualifying match under Keshi.

Icon4s:


Azubuike has featured at senior level asides Olympics. Go and watch the Nigeria vs Egypt game. He IMO is one of the most underrated youngsters we have. While some others are being over-hyped Azubuike is being underrated.

I personally rate him slightly lower than Etebo.

I wonder who his representatives are.

I am sure you know i am not in the habit of hyping or projecting young players unnecessarily but if I see one that has the quality I project.

I am not Rohr but I will take him in my squad ahead of Mikel Agu.

Joebie:
Osmanlispor. Same club as Aminu Umar.

Modifield
Could also be because of lack of good options at RB

Napoleon55:
Obi,to b honest,i have not watched him play recently because he is always injured,but i have watched him several times in the past,i've watched him in nigeria's colours,so i know him. we will not hoping on that type of player if we want to win anything,or win any serious match
the earlier we start grooming KELECHI NWAKALI to take over from Mikel the better for us

Napoleon55:
then in place of who? as DM,CM or AM? NDIDI,ONAZI,or MIKEL?
is he going to play as a wing forward,compare him with MOSES and IWOBI. from these 5 mentioned players, who is he going to bench if he must start?

Kog45:
No,we had a terrible match in one away that later affected our qualification,in d next match Keshi need to change d team,bringing in Raheem Lawal and Juwon Oshaniwa in place of Efe Ambrose and Echiejele respectively.Onazi was moved to RB and Lawal played DM,honestly d guy was superb.

elyte89:
Infact dis is d list going to world cup if we qualify and barring no injuries to dem
Keepers
(1) Vincent enyeama(if he gets a club b4 world cup)
(2) Daniel apkeyi
(3) Ezenwa/alampasu
Defenders
(4) troost ekong
(5) Leon balogun
(6) Aina
(7) shehu abdullahi
( elderson echiejile(weda u like it or not,he's going)
(9) any good local player dt proofs his worth at chan and also gets playing regularly mite go(will act ad back up to echiejile,d name I dont knw.
(10) chidozie awaziem/omeruo(if he starts playing scintillating football at his club in turkey
Midfielder
11...john obi Mikel
12....eddy onazi
13...Wilfred ndidi
14 john ogu/Joel obi/alhassan Ibrahim
15 O.Etebo
Strikers
16..Iwobi Alex
17...Moses simon
18...Vic moses
19....odion ighalo
20...Ahmed musa(weda u like it or not)
21...iheanacho
22..Tammy Abraham if he switches
23 Anthony/onyekuru will battle d last spot

Joebie:
You know, the Rio olympics afforded Rorh an opportunity to look at some of our players at that level. Shehu and Troost-Ekong were the beneficiaries. Rohr also spoke highly of Etebo at the time, but I think Etebo was injured so he didnt get an immediate call up. Did Rohr not see Azubuike enough? -- I can't say. But one thing I believe, Okechukwu will have a long spell with SE in future. Let's see how our bench fare against Algeria, then we can have more discussion about the options we still have out there.

Joebie:
I can only remember Onazi playing as RB in one of the matches at AFCON 2013. But let me confirm that.