Mujtahida:

The confidence of the Zambians is instructive. If they can be so confident in a side that is really untested then I see no reason why we shouldn't be. In fact we've been quiet and restrained about our expectations perhaps because of the diceyness of the upcoming encounter while the Zambians have been so raucous to the extent of invading our page on Facebook. I really want Nigeria to win them at least 3-0. Although 1-0 will still be good enough.

Kog45:
Sergio Busquets scoring his first goal since 2014?

TheGoodJoe:


You said the role is reserved for less technical players. I pointed Yaya and Mikel. They are gifted with creative abilities but sacrificed those for the team. Even players like Wanyanma and Busquets have brilliant creative abilities. However, due to their high intelligence, understanding of the game and sacrificial spirits, they are ready to play for the team to make the team florish.

Those that look down on the role do not consider the other importance of the role. They might laugh when you say those guys are good and deserve praise because they lack understanding.

Just like the SlObi crew who laughed at Mikel until Hiddink explained Mikel's style they criticised and called slow was beautiful.

safarigirl:
is it athleticism our team does not have?

You need to see Zambians crying about the assembly of kids their coach is gathering to battle men.

Their team is just youth, ours is a combo of youth and experience, I get that some people here want us to tread with caution and all, but there is no need to make it look like we will be fielding hungry geriatrics against Zambia.

There is nothing they have that we don't and then some

Mickael2:



wait oo you wan use the goal cast my guy? I told you goals alone don't matter

goldfish80:


Perhaps you know more than Cantona who described this role as thus

(Eric Cantona once famously described the role of Didier Deschamp in the French national team as that of a ‘water-carrier’, the impish implication being that he toiled to win the ball and pass it on to more skillful players, such as Cantona himself, so they could weave their magic).


This is the stereotype about DMs. They simply win the ball and give to more talented teammates. That is why a DM will never win the Ballon d'Or.

Playing that role for years at Chelsea killed Mikel's creative game. You said it yourself some pages ago when we played Cameroun, perhaps for argument sake you want to drag this.

forgiveness:


Na Echiejile get athletism ba? Abi na Shehu Abdullahi and Mikel Obi get athletism, ba?

Don't let those Zambians deceive you because those same set of kids brought them up to where they are now.

In football anything can happen with bad choice of players and tactics. As Conte take do against the kwatankwa playing Manchester City.

Kog45:
Castigate ke! Busquets na my man o but i just want u to say something on it coz I remember then a lot castigate Mikel for not scoring for Chelsea.

TheGoodJoe:


Fear God. Fluke to thrash Mali and beat Cote d'Ivoire, the favorites and the hottest talents in the competition.

By the way Keshi failed to qualify for one Nations Cup. Not two. The other was Oliseh that failed.

safarigirl:
Moses Simon get athleticism, Leon Balogun and especially Victor Moses he athleticism.

Mikel does not need athleticism, he will decimate those kids with ease, I have confidence in that.

I hate reading anything you post and even more, I hate conversing with you because you aggravate me.

You can think whatever you like, but it dies not change the fact that our team is better than Zambia's just like Manchester City had a better team than Chelsea.

God! I hate talking to you

safarigirl:
Moses Simon get athleticism, Leon Balogun and especially Victor Moses he athleticism.

Mikel does not need athleticism, he will decimate those kids with ease, I have confidence in that.

I hate reading anything you post and even more, I hate conversing with you because you aggravate me.

You can think whatever you like, but it dies not change the fact that our team is better than Zambia's just like Manchester City had a better team than Chelsea.

God! I hate talking to you

Mickael2:



I think Busquets has scored quite a few goals. I can remember his winner against Valencia sometime ago.

However, do you know why Iniesta keeps on making the FIFA XI? Why he won the UEFA man of the match in the 2015 Ucl final despite not scoring or even making an assist? Because he controls the game. Me I don't care if Busquets doesn't score or if he scores as often as Santa visits my place so long as he does his job perfectly well. Same goes for Mikel too

tglobal:
@TheGoodjoe and @goldfish, your views on the role aren't different from each other (from what I have been reading at least, or am I missing something?). Take a step back and see that you are both essentially saying the same thing about the DM role and in no way denigrating the players who play in it.

@Mikael2 and others, Mikael's view that Hierro isn't a legend indicates that he has a different definition of the word than most people here (particularly with regard to longevity). Hence that is the fundamental point of disagreement . I was surprised anyone could ever suggest Hierro isnt a real madrid or spanish legend. It is not the case however that he hates Mikel or something like that. If we take time to read and understand what people with opposing views write sometimes, we might be able to skip some unnecessary arguments

I must say I learn a lot from this thread and the healthy discussions devoid of personal insults are commendable! Thumbs up!

Mickael2:



slow down.

You know these our players play week in week out, high intensity games but the Zambians(the home-based ones) have been camping for two weeks or more, resting and preparing for the game. They might be able to last longer than we would.


Hwever I totally agree that we have a better team but slow down and don't attack

Kog45:
Correct u made my day

forgiveness:


Prior to those two matches, what happened?

Apart from those two games, did we even dominate in the finals?

Keshi hand no dey the second failure to qualify for the nations cup?

KevinDein:
The Zambians are so boastful it's unbelievable. They're delusional, almost bordering on psychosis. Below is a comment from their forum zamfoot which I found utterly ridiculous and amusing
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Mtembo says:
September 28, 2017 at 7:31 pm
Chipolopolo should win in Nigeria convincingly. The Nigerian players are old and immobile and can’t stand the heat for 90 minutes. Mikel, Onazi and Moses are past their prime and i doubt their real age. I expect Stopilla and Sinkala to crush the eagles. Zambia hardly loses when there is qualification as stake. Head to head also favours Zambia. I hope Nigerians will be here after we have embarrassed them in Uyo.

Reply
.

Noticed where this dude said Moses is past his prime; and that Zambia hardly loses if qualification is at stake even though they've never qualified for the World Cup.
They don't seem to know what they are talking about.

Mickael2:



this conversation dragged me to a site managingmadrid.com which is a broad blog for Madridstas from all over the world and I asked that same question and most of them agreed that he was a great player for them but when you talk about legends....well not so much. I mean people here think a particular team can have like 50legends, for me it doesn't work that work. If 20 persons have done what you managed to do then you are displaced as a legend for me(and well for most of the members at managingmadrid.com) but I didn't want to drag the argument and I don't want to do that now either. Just made the point because you approached in a very very awesome manner

KevinDein:
The Zambians are so boastful it's unbelievable. They're delusional, almost bordering on psychosis. Below is a comment from their forum zamfoot which I found utterly ridiculous and amusing
.
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Mtembo says:
September 28, 2017 at 7:31 pm
Chipolopolo should win in Nigeria convincingly. The Nigerian players are old and immobile and can’t stand the heat for 90 minutes. Mikel, Onazi and Moses are past their prime and i doubt their real age. I expect Stopilla and Sinkala to crush the eagles. Zambia hardly loses when there is qualification as stake. Head to head also favours Zambia. I hope Nigerians will be here after we have embarrassed them in Uyo.

Reply
.

Noticed where this dude said Moses is past his prime. They don't seem to know what they are talking about.

Mickael2:



I am thinking that he is talking about Moses Simon

TheGoodJoe:


Stereotype is a widely held idea but not generally true. What you quoted up there is saying what I am saying. Due to the Stereotype, the great and key roles of the defensive midfielders get overlooked. Just like Cantona.

Understand what you are quoting.

TheGoodJoe:


Go and check past FIFA and PES games where you have World and European Legends. You will see Hierro listed there as European Legend. It is not even a debate. Any Madrid fan that says Hierro is not a Legend should stick to watching Nadal play Tennis.

Mickael2:



you wan corner me abi, I don dey age small small since I was able to figure out what my Oga wanted to do to me

goldfish80:


It's not about stereotypes. The fact is that the game is all about creativity and goals. That is why players who score hattricks go home with the match balls. I am yet to see a player with the most defensive clearance or tackle go home with the match ball.

safarigirl:
Moses Simon that is younger than Victor Moses?

Mickael2:
Ok do you know that many Argentines consider some players that played with Maradona as legends(me I don't even know the name of those players anymore) but in recent times all you hear is that Maradona won the World Cup single-handedly which means his teammates were average at best. Do you know why? Because those players, despite how good they are, did not do something we haven't seen before. Legendary status changes with generation, maybe for you, you watched Hierro well enough(I watchd him too although not so much because then I was in boarding school) but from some of the matches we have watched that he played, he didn't really do something that I haven't seen past Real players doing and that reduces that legendary status for me

Mickael2:



but you will agree that SM was a better player three years ago(I think that is why he is doubting his age)