We need to recognize the inputs of the Amaju P. led NFF, they have done a wonderful job. If we had not qualified for the World Cup. Criticisms would have been flying left and right.
chrisooblog: if they were well timed like you claim he should have aleast connected with one
The runs were well timed because he was not offside when he made them. However, the balls were too poor to reach them. If Nacho was caged, he would not have room to make the runs.
Joebie: Talking about pressing Ighalo does that a lot. Coaches instruct players to try to win the ball back. it's pretty basic to me.
Pretty basic but Mikel Obi did lots of the pressing in the last game. Which would not happen if Iheanacho was the one up front. Ighalo is not as mobile as Iheanacho.
Joebie: I would love to see KC (considering final balls) at the wings as opposed to Moses Simon, but the problem is he cannot cover defensively. The full backs will need that sometimes. I prefer Iwobi as an AM. Iwobi was once described as similar to Edgar Davids, meaning he also has some defensive attributes. But as an AM Iwobi would have a wider angle than either of the wings, spreading passes forward, left or right.
Definitely, Iwobi will be good in AMF. Nacho gets my pick because I prefer an offensive ten and the midfield staying compact than a conservative ten who will join in defensive duties.
I've been in support of Pinnick most of the time. But for his handling of Tammy's issue, most of the time he has been on point with his decisions. Today, we are a force to recon with in CAF -- many thinks to Pinnick. However he's been blamed for Nations Cup miss. He has time to right a few wrongs and even surpass his predecessors' achievements. Pinnick should get credits for getting it right with the choice of Rohr. Rohr should get credits for taking us on one of our best world cup qualifying journeys. And he too should get credits for great player management skills, and tactics (YES).
Modified Oh and the way he's building the SE brand, with lots of sponsorship, and less reliance on FG. Shehu Dikko gets some credits too
terzurum5: We need to recognize the inputs of the Amaju P. led NFF, they have done a wonderful job. If we had not qualified for the World Cup. Criticisms would have been flying left and right.
that goal we scored, did you see how Moses ran into that Zambian player as if he wasn't there? Definition? Headless chicken move
Rohr should also correct Victor Moses. In the first minute of the clip, there were two players in position to score but V. Moses chose to shoot from a tighter angle. The team needs sorting out because a lot of times it looks like we are playing choosing.
Joebie: I've been in support of Pinnick most of the time. But for his handling of Tammy's issue, most of the time he has been on point with his decisions. Today, we are a force to recon with in CAF -- many thinks to Pinnick. However he's been blamed for Nations Cup miss. He has time to right a few wrongs and even surpass his predecessors' achievements. Pinnick should get credits for getting it right with the choice of Rohr. Rohr should get credits for taking us on one of our best world cup qualifying journeys. And he too should get credits for great player management skills, and tactics (YES).
I think the whole Giwa-Pinnick fiasco contributed to missing the nations cup. The nff is more settled now.
AIG07: laughing. They won't listen to you and if they do they won't agree.
Rohr is a good coach with some great managerial skills but lacking tactical wise. He therefore needs assistance which Salisu Yusuf may not be to render..
The earlier we admits this the better for us. Na siddon look mode I de now. I no go talk this matter again. Iwobi's goal did save us some blushes.
What would have happened if we were unable to get that goal after Iwobi's substitution or better still we went down by a goal immediately he was brought on?
Simple, we are here arguing the truth instead of looking for things to do about it before the world cup proper.
For all the members of team Tactical Rohr could y'all please answer this question- is/was Siasia a better tactical manager than Rohr?
Cc Joebie, Mujtahida, MilitaryControl, Chrismario, Icon4s
Rohr should also correct Victor Moses. In the first minute of the clip, there were two players in position to score but V. Moses chose to shoot from a tighter angle. The team needs sorting out because a lot of times it looks like we are playing choosing.
if I say this now they will say I am highly critical and that VicMo was playing to instructions by not passing the ball, sure beats me
that goal we scored, did you see how Moses ran into that Zambian player as if he wasn't there? Definition? Headless chicken move
please cut him some slack, I play as a winger and understand sometimes its difficult to look up and anticipate another player while trying to run at a fast pace with the ball on your feet. the guy nor be robot na
We've seen so much of Siasia, than Rohr, who is barely 14 months at the job. I still maintain that Rohr maintained a conservative approach during the qualifiers because what we had was working for us. We have been winning and was always on top of our group. Much is yet to be seen about Rohr in other situations. Did he say something like we will be shopping for a lot of new players? I'm not sure. I want to believe he sees the World Cup challenge as a whole different ball game.
Siasia has made some bad decisions tactically. I like his all attack playing philosophy but that does not always guarantee victory. Siasia has proven himself more at the junior levels.
Although I had opined that Moses is our best player since 2016, I've given him a fare good number of criticisms here. Go back and read my Half-time and Full-time analysis of the Zambia match in Uyo.
However, nobody can take anything away from him. Even Rohr himself said VicMo was his best player in the qualifiers.. Someone is talking about headless chicken. You can take whatever you want and run with it. it's always a choice.
Joebie: Kennysville, at the time I wanted to tackle this your post I discovered that I had already served some hours of my ban on NL, which I believe lasts for 24 hours. Well, now here I come. My first thought was that you probably had some personal negative experience dealing with whites maybe in the UK, hence your sentiments-filled opinion. Granted, everyone is entitled to theirs. However on these TAMMY matters and many others for that matter, sound opinions can only be given when sentiments are not attached. Let me take you as well as others who gladly clicked “like” to your post to the reality of the world as it were, and even till this day.
Responding to your paragraphs one at a time:
Paragraph 1: I have heard that common saying times without number here in Nigeria -- “a country of over 200 million CANNOT…. “ Let me put that question to you.. why don’t we SEEM to have the best doctors, engineers etc. as well IN NIGERIA despite our population? The first and paramount reason is Brain Drain, which is caused by we ourselves failing to create the environment for ourselves to thrive here in Nigeria. The effect, many intelligent ones go abroad and become experts. Or many go to schools there and become professionals. Many of these would love to come back but for the reason that the situation still hasn’t changed. Even those who go abroad to take on menial jobs bring up children there who become experts in their field. And you expect those parents to tell them sweet sweet stories about Nigeria in nostalgia, and ask them to return.. FUNNY. Go to the Uk, US, Canada etc., they would always give preference for experts and promising talents from Nigeria etc. when considering them for Work Visas. Now let me take you back to football, and yes we are still talking human resources. The situation is somewhat the same. You can choose to live in caves if you want, but the reality of the world since the past till this very day is, advanced nations stay ahead because they know how to use the talents of other countries to advance themselves further in almost every field for that matter. Yes, their policy is if their indigenous population cannot fill a NEED then they must fill that vacuum with talents from another country. Of course this policy enforced strictly, since the government policy does not hold in many companies, some of which are also foreign-owned. Most of the time these countries will not only give chances to any person that they are confident will add value to their country, but they will also provide the environment for these foreign nationals to grow in their system. And I don’t want to make a generalization because racism does exist. But you are taking it way too far.
Do we still have textile industries in Nigeria? Our local shoes made in Aba, would you rather buy them? It’s easy to talk. The things that you own, are they locally made or made abroad? Most of the things we think are locally made are actually made in China haha
Over to Kanu Nwankwo. He and many others were a product of our U17 team. A system we have maintained till today. Over the years we have over-relied on our cadet teams to supply talents for the future. That is a failed youth developmental system, because when our junior teams miss out of the world cup it always spelled danger for us. Looking back and insinuating that was a period of excellence, is highly misleading. We’ve never had it right in this regard. But all of a sudden some people are speaking ill about the quest for foreign-breds to fill a need here, as if that’s the reason why we have not developed our own. That reasoning is misplaced.
The big sin many of us are committing is misdirecting our anger. I will be the first person to call for the Pinnick-led NFF to take steps to building a solid developmental youth football structure here in Nigeria. However, showing interest in foreign-bred players will in no way affect our developmental agenda should we have one -- Apples and Oranges.
Countries that are far more advanced in football compared to Nigeria have all used several foreign-born or foreign-bred players when these players have demonstrated they can add value to their teams. If you want me to name names I will. It is misleading to single out England. Even Germany, Spain, Italy are noteworthy examples. And I’m talking heavyweights in world football. I asked a question about Ejaria, and only komekn dared take a stab on it, although his answer was not satisfying to me. Let me bring it up again. Ejaria had long shown his interest playing for Nigeria. He even trained with our U17. Why did UK make a move for him, knowing that he wants to play for Nigeria? NOBODY called it begging. Why did Ejaria accept the offer to play for their U20? Yet NOBODY insinuated he made a U-turn. Ejaria still keeping up with the Super Eagles. But we are here trying to crucify Abraham because the 19 year old said he was still available for the England U21s, in the midst of a possible PR nightmare.
I became convinced when I read your more recent post about conspiracy stuff. I’m going to tackle that post here as well. I’m not surprised by your remark. I had already sensed it. I’m even more convinced now that your opinions are borne out of sentiments, and even more so, your conspiracy beliefs. Nigeria won the Olympics in 1996. And here you are believing that the white countries/coaches have all ganged up to prevent that from happening for a second time, as if that will stifle our progress at the senior level. Let me clear you on this. Rio 2016 facts: Fifa had released an official statement in September 2015 that Rio Olympics was not in the FIFA calendar but appealed to clubs to release players. “The event is not part of the international match calendar,” FIFA said in a press release. “However, FIFA is asking for support from the clubs to allow players who are called up by their national teams to be given the chance to be part of the Olympic experience.” http://olympics.nbcsports.com/2015/09/25/fifa-olympics-release-players-clubs-soccer-rio-2016-qatar-2022-world-cup/ The prior Olympics? “In 2012, FIFA ordered club teams to allow under-23 players to compete in the Olympics. In 2008, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Barcelona did not have to release Lionel Messi to compete in the Olympics, though Messi did end up winning gold with Argentina anyway.” – same source.
So please can you tell us, was FIFA targeting Nigeria in their 2015 release as well? Did FIFA conspire with the European club coaches as well? Did other countries not miss out from fielding some notable players? Even at the U20 stages, countries like Germany are not represented by their best players in that category. Especially players already established in their clubs. Was that also an attempt by the coaches to hijack the football development of their respective countries? Will you be balanced now in your reasoning?
In fact, Infantino said this when he visited Nigeria, “It is difficult to include the Olympics in the FIFA programme because the international match calendar is already congested and the start of the of the season clashes with the Olympics. This is why clubs insist in having their players, leaving the players with the dilemma of choosing between club and country. “We are discussing with the clubs to allow the players to serve their nations at the Olympics. In fact for some players once they miss one opportunity they may not get it again to play at that big stage and this is not good,”
I can’t wrap my head around the idea that clubs would conspire against Nigeria, not considering their need for the players. Let’s give Pep etc. the benefit of the doubt. They wanted to see as much of their players during preseason. If you can come up with names of players from other countries these coaches released for Rio, name them. Who did Pep etc. release instead? Hmmmm
I think my earlier analogy fits you perfectly well. One I gave safarigirl –- coincidentally. But I will modify it. It goes like this: One very bright sunny morning a boy called Tunde (lol) approached a beautiful sexy girl he had known for a while and asked her to marry him, holding a ring. He had his friend shoot, and other passersby also joined in shooting while he popped the question in that beautiful moment. Behold! although the setting looked perfect this girl blatantly said no in a very very rude way. In fact, she hissed and walked away.. that video went viral.. Since that day Tunde has been suffering from a very very low self esteem, he would take any girls every body language and remark to mean rejection. The story of Onuora statement vs. other England-bred players’ comes to mind in this analogy.. For those of you who tow this line of reasoning, that no clear statement in favor of Nigeria means rejection, I hope you get the analogy. You don’t have to be in the shoes of tbaba1234 , komekn etc. or myself to relate or understand the situation of these foreign-breds. It only calls for deep thinking and consideration to have sound judgments like Mujtahida ‘s and a few others’. Yes, It is left for the player to decide where his allegiance lies. Either way it should be respected without hard feelings. It is a professional decision. Many of you, in their shoes, WILL even do worse.
To your next paragraph, it’s illusory of you to think that anyone is suggesting that they, foreign-breds are “the best thing that has happened to our football”. Side note: I like to use the term foreign-bred because as a matter of fact, a handful of these players we refer to were actually born in Nigeria. Even Komekn who I must admit seem extreme sometimes, I have to concede with him anytime he is able to prove that any of those foreign-breds he mentions are better than what we have right now in terms of position of play. Let’s think straight and be progressive in our approach to discussing these matters. Every country wants excellence and wants the best.. Sentiments removes from excellence – just as “rotation” does. If you can argue for a player or two who are home-grown and can prove that they are better than these foreign-breds make your arguments without sentiments, and I will concede. These players are all known to us.. We can check the facts. Videos can demonstrate their strengths.. If your desire is to hit back at whites for treating you in any specific way don’t take it on foreign-bred who happen to be biracial sometimes. IF YOUR CLAIM IS TRUE , that they are only second fiddle in that country, then why do you want to also treat them as such here. If you were in their shoes will you cherish being caught at the middle that way? Ekong said Oliseh said oyibo are soft (something like that), if that similar remark was said by a foreign coach to a black player abroad won’t we shout racist remark? And somebody said Ekong should forget the past. Haha. But he never forgot because he is human too. Please someone correct me if I’m reading your intentions wrongly.
As regards England, England is a special case. But one thing is sure, they have now won the U20 because of us—yes I see them as us. And we have NEVER won that tournament. They are doing better at the junior levels because of us. Not like we --Nigeria—who are so so blessed, but have done great at the senior level either. Those Nigerian players they capped and “shoved aside”, how were their club careers at the time? Which coach will dump an ourstanding player just because he wants to prove a point with so called white English players? It happens most times here in Nigeria with our tribalistic “rotation” mindset. Ameobi’s case is that special one. Because he did do well at some point even after insisting on playing for England. I would rather blame the England coach at the time, than blame the country. (Let me chip in although I didn’t want to earlier, 50% of my immediate family are UK citizens and are doing well in their fields. And we even extend to Australia, so I have a world view in some of these matters).
Back to what I was saying before I digressed, as long as Dele Alli and Ross Barkley stay outstanding they will always get the nod at the senior level (Check Barklay’s form now). Understandably, any player that hits a rough patch does not deserve an invite in any national team for that matter. You don’t use National teams to fix player’s careers. It’s not done that way. That’s bringing sentiments in where excellence should be the watchword. You want to invite the best at all times. John Fashanu, only 2 games for England. He played roughly 90 Premier league matches his entire career, and scored just about 20-something. I think his number of England caps is commensurate with his club performance. Victor Moses especially will be an England international today if not for his switch – going by his recent performances. How has Jordan Ibe been performing? Hahaha England national coaches are hawks but they are not as sentimental as most of our indigineous coaches.
And lastly, to your last paragraph, “They need Nigeria more than Nigeria needs them” ,. The fact actually is, the need is mutual. If Fashanu had played for Nigeria, I’m sure many of us would have loved it for him to run our FA?.. A section of us wouldn’t for some obvious sentimental reasons. You see where I am going?
What we have today in Nigeria is a result of years and years of incompetence at all levels of leadership. We can be sentimental for all we want, but that will not fix the problem even for our unborn children.
Wow! Bravo!! I must commend your efforts at trying to school me but errr..... it is your opinion. I mentioned sometime ago about a system we are used to in Nigeria. And I cant remember who it was, but the dude tackled me like I committed sacriledge. I am not going to go over that again. Nairaland is a sensitive place and so I dont have the need to respond to every point you made so we dont get derailed from speaking about football.
That said, time will tell if I am right or wrong. But just to pick on one of your points, who are the people in court of arbitration for sports that you mentioned? Exactly my point. If you dont sense conspiracy, then its cool.
Most of the stuff you commented on are stuffs that require a face to face chat and not typing cos that practically requires me being articulate, taking things point by point which unfortunately, I dont actually have the time for.
Lemme fire a parting shot. Fifa makes a rule that No government should interfere with the runnings of their football associations but when there is cash crunch, these FA are quick to run to the govt. You do the math.. . . .
And the ball just flew by itself towards Shehu's path.. Ironically, he played a huge part in that build up. He was aware of Shehu's presence he two players on him but manage to roll the ball forward. His reaction after the collision is a proof. He looked straight to Shehu as the latter delivered the cross. That shows awareness. Look at the 6th second.. You have to look at the situation from different camera angles. Spectator side view does not tell the story.
Do you mean he is no longer first choice at his club side or the German national team? Cos last I heard if- it's the club-he's still the first choice oo
Pretty basic but Mikel Obi did lots of the pressing in the last game. Which would not happen if Iheanacho was the one up front. Ighalo is not as mobile as Iheanacho.
Neither of the two has the quality of a good CF in a lone striker formation.As we wait for Nacho to start scoring goals for Leicester,we have to try others who are available.
The trio of Ighalo,Nacho and Kayode presently lack the quality of a CF for a team as good as ours.
I had this discussion with you sometime ago but you still do not get it.
The EPL is unlike any other league across Europe. It is a completely international league in which English players have become the minority.
When you look at the top 6 on a lot of occasions they may field a first 11, with no more than 1-3 English players in the team. On some occasions not a single English player. That will never happen in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, France etc.
So although the EPL us the most competitive league in the World you it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO LARGELY with national team prominence and or dominance.
On the other hand there is no top 5 ranked nation by FIFA that will not have at least a number of thier highest performing and or top playing in the EPL.
I ask you directly. Can you say that of the Turkish, Belgium, Austrian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Swiss, Ukrainian, leagues, etc to name a few.
The comparison that you make is not substantively underpinned just mere sentiment.
Shehu is an exception and far very far from the general trend. Better players play in top leagues full stop and the best in the best teams and best leagues.
but from your comment earlier... you talked about the best being in the epl and championship... at least that should serve England...being that all their players play in the epl....even though it may not be among top 6 place teams... but still in the epl...you believed to be the best league in the world...
EEGA: Neither of the two has the quality of a good CF in a lone striker formation.As we wait for Nacho to start scoring goals for Leicester,we have to try others who are available.
The trio of Ighalo,Nacho and Kayode presently lack the quality of a CF for a team as good as ours.
Why wait for their coaches to give them opportunity? Why not screen and select the best available. That is what baffles me.
no one gets angry sir...it's just your opinion... It only draw my attention whenever epl or championship league is being used as a yardstick to judge SE players...because England that have been using same league players since ages have not won any world cup for years....the only one they've won was in 1966 during the time men still wear pants to play football..a tournament of just 8 teams...
so let England thrive wit those players first in the world cup, Euro nations cup... beat Brazil,Spain,France and Germany... then I we all can join in canvassing how good the championship is....
moreover....take a look at all the winning teams in the world cup and Euro nations cup....their players are scattered all around Europe they have those playing abroad...and lots more...e.g France...I think a player from the MLS was invited last time during their Euro quest...and they beat hell out of the lowly Iceland that whipped England.
lastly if shehu playing in backwater league...could develop so much guts some he displayed in the last olympics and presently in the colours of the SE...then the epl and it's kind Should never be used to judge our players.... moreover this boys potentials are never in doubt...but just that not everyone got the opportunities those borough players enjoyed... well trained, groomed and cultured and happen to play in an organised league unlike here in Nigeria...I can tell you talents abound in Nigeria...should Nigeria have a league as organised as the south Africa or Algerian league.....we will likely win the world cup..
despite the organised league England has...at their disposal all they could get from it....in senior men's football is world cup qualification and nothing more.
Bro even the British media have been coming to terms that the league x made interesting by foreign players not majorly English players, Harry Kane x the only English shinning light in that league then just Rashford, Ali and a couple of young goalkeepers the rest are just dere. their squad x mediocre and just average or a bit above at best. apart from Kane Dele Alli, the rest are just bunch of players enjoying prominence and popularity because of the EPL image nothing spectacular about them, Chamberlain, Theo Walcott even Stones are a good example of how mediocre their players are. Remove foreign players making waves from the league and what u v is a Scottish league. Komekn bias x based on his long stay over there and because he has seen a lot about the players and football in England which I don't blame him tho everyone has one bias or the other but komekn should know that the world doesn't start and end in the Epl and championship
On the contrary Sir I admire perfection, that cup should be filled with water and not a single drop should touch the floor, that for me is proper planning, everything has to be perfect atleast to a certain capacity.
On the contrary, none of our goals that I can recall went the way of one touch two go(or one touch football). This goal against Zambia, VicMo was not going to pass that ball, God knows he was trying to beat his man and ran straight into him(perfect definition of a headless chicken to me), thank God for Shehu and there was no one touch football about it. The goal against Cameroon, first goal? Not one touch, second goal? Corner kick, third goal? No, it was only the fourth goal that looked like a quasi-one touch football in the build up so our one touch football is not that great. Like someone pointed out though, maybe it's the African terrain and I will put that into consideration which is why someone like forgiveness said he won't take the team serious until we play a grade A friendly on a good pitch, let's leave it there for now.
Meanwhile I clearly said he is a good man manager. He has imbibed that competitive spirit in the team, in fact it was more evident in the game against cameroon when we were 4 goals up but we kept on chasing them down even till the last minute, I have always praised him for that(you said I hardly praise people right? Count that as number one). Everyone in the team is now hungry for success which is what Rohr brings to the team
In another post you mentioned Siasia: well I never followed Siasia's time with the Eagles for many reasons I cannot now say.
Being a perfectionists (a streak which I have too) - doesn't at least to me-mean things have to be clean clean all the time. In fact I'd get bored if it's always like that(that's why I detest tiki taka but love jupp Hyncknes Bayern). And I realise - like we pointed out using Leow of Germany - that perfection takes time. Good effort + time= perfection. Look at the whole picture and give the man some time.
I think my understanding of one touch, two go passes differs from yours. Crisp passes from Balogun Mikel controls and lops for Ighalo. Ighalo turns his marker and buries the ball. If that is not one touch, two go then I'd like to know what is.
Nigerdeltaboi: please cut him some slack, I play as a winger and understand sometimes its difficult to look up and anticipate another player while trying to run at a fast pace with the ball on your feet. the guy nor be robot na
that is what differentiates a good winger from a great winger
Joebie: We've seen so much of Siasia, than Rohr, who is barely 14 months at the job. I still maintain that Rohr maintained a conservative approach during the qualifiers because what we had was working for us. We have been winning and was always on top of our group. Much is yet to be seen about Rohr in other situations. Did he say something like we will be shopping for a lot of new players? I'm not sure. I want to believe he sees the World Cup challenge as a whole different ball game.
Siasia has made some bad decisions tactically. I like his all attack playing philosophy but that does not always guarantee victory. Siasia has proven himself more at the junior levels.
Bro even the British media have been coming to terms that the league x made interesting by foreign players not majorly English players, Harry Kane x the only English shinning light in that league then just Rashford, Ali and a couple of young goalkeepers the rest are just dere. their squad x mediocre and just average or a bit above at best. apart from Kane Dele Alli, the rest are just bunch of players enjoying prominence and popularity because of the EPL image nothing spectacular about them, Chamberlain, Theo Walcott even Stones are a good example of how mediocre their players are. Remove foreign players making waves from the league and what u v is a Scottish league. Komekn bias x based on his long stay over there and because he has seen a lot about the players and football in England which I don't blame him tho everyone has one bias or the other but komekn should know that the world doesn't start and end in the Epl and championship
I think your last sentence sums it all.... he envisaged the best players are found in the epl and championship reason for my long epistle.......
Certitude: Sir Mickael2 just dey try run down d coach... My prayer is that the Super Eagles never get a tactical genius as coach... They all v been useless
at least....onazi will be allowed to rest for a while.... now it is rohr's turn
. Can you say that of the Turkish, Belgium, Austrian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Swiss, Ukrainian, leagues, etc to name a few.