safarigirl:
you want to add Henry and Kayode and drop who?

safarigirl:
you are contradicting yourself.

Mujtahida said Nwakaeme should be given another opportunity. You said no time for trial and error because coaches are working on formations

Then you are now saying no new players till after World Cup. Is Nwakaeme a new player?

TheGoodJoe:
Kovacic, Modric and Rakitic is sure a deadly combination for us to face due to their intense work rate in the midfield. They might not offer the right defensive balance but their overall work rate is certainly a problem for us to face.

Icon4s:


They are not as efficient on the wings while our attack is more efficient from the wings.Rohr also needs to explore the weaknesses in their full back positions.
We may exploit this advantage you know.

As for the midfield challenge we need to crowd our midfield to be able to put up a challenge. A 4-5-1(particularly a 4-2-3-1) would suit this play.

TheGoodJoe:


Not sure of one of the full backs but Srna is good. He is the captain and a key player for years at Sharkhtar Donetsk. Never seen him as weak defensively. Offensively, he is good and he is good taking free kicks.

I also thought of a crowded midfield approach. I feel that is the best way the nullify their fluid midfield.

forgiveness:
FORWARD

The forward (10, red) is past the defence (16, white) and is about to take a shot at the goal. The goalkeeper will attempt to stop the forward from scoring a goal by preventing the ball from passing the goal line.
Forwards are the players on an association football team who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore most responsible for scoring goals.

Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players.

Modern team formations generally include one to three forwards; for example, the common 4–2–3–1 formation includes one forward.[1] Unconventional formations may include more than three forwards, or none.[2][3]


Centre-forward

The traditional role of a centre-forward is to score the majority of goals on behalf of the team. The player may also be used to win long balls or receive passes and retain possession of the ball with their back to goal as teammates advance, in order to provide depth for their team or help teammates score by providing a pass ('through ball' into the box); the latter variation usually requiring quicker pace and good movement. Most modern centre-forwards operate in front of the second strikers or central attacking midfielders, and do the majority of the ball handling outside the box. The present role of centre-forward is sometimes interchangeable with that of an attacking midfielder, especially in the 4–3–1–2 or 4–1–2–1–2 formations. The term "target man" is often used to describe a particular type of striker whose main role is to win high balls in the air and create chances for other members of the team (not necessarily scoring many goals themselves).[4] These players are usually tall and physically strong, being adept at heading the ball. The term centre-forward is taken from the early football playing formation in which there were five forward players: two outside forwards, two inside forwards, and one centre-forward.

When numbers were introduced in the 1933 English FA Cup final, one of the two centre-forwards that day wore the number nine – Everton's Dixie Dean a strong, powerful forward who had set the record for the most goals scored in a season in English football during the 1927–28 season. The number would then become synonymous with the centre-forward position (only worn that day because one team was numbered 1–11 whilst the other was numbered 12–22).[5]

Striker


United States women's national football team striker Alex Morgan
The role of a striker is rather different from that of a traditional centre-forward, although the terms centre-forward and striker are used interchangeably at times, as both play further up the field than other players, while tall, heavy and technical players, like Zlatan Ibrahimović, have qualities which are suited to both positions.[6] Like the centre-forward, the traditional role of a striker is to score goals; strikers are therefore known for their ability to peel off defenders and to run into space via the blind side of the defender and to receive the ball in a good goalscoring position, as typified by Ronaldo.[7] They are typically fast players with good ball control and dribbling abilities. More agile strikers like Michael Owen have an advantage over taller defenders due to their short bursts of speed. A good striker should be able to shoot confidently with either foot, possess great power and accuracy, and have the ability to link-up with teammates and pass the ball under pressure in breakaway situations. While many strikers also wear the number 9 shirt, the position is also associated with the number 10, which is frequently worn by more creative deep-lying forwards such as Pele, and occasionally with numbers 7 and 11, which are often associated with wingers.[5]

Second striker Edit

Deep-lying forwards have a long history in the game, but the terminology to describe their playing activity has varied over the years. Originally such players were termed inside forwards, creative or deep-lying centre-forwards. More recently, two more variations of this old type of player have developed: the second, or shadow, or support, or auxiliary striker and, in what is in fact a distinct position unto its own, the number 10,[8] exemplified by Diego Maradona, who is often described as an attacking midfielder or the playmaker.

The second striker position is a loosely defined and most often misapplied description of a player positioned somewhere between the out-and-out striker, whether he is a "target-man" or more of a "poacher", and the Number 10 or attacking midfielder, while possibly showing some of the characteristics of both. In fact, a coined term, the "nine-and-a-half", has been an attempt to become a standard in defining the position.[9] Conceivably, a Number 10 can alternate as a second-striker provided that he or she is also a prolific goalscorer; otherwise, a mobile forward with good technical ability (dribbling skills and ball control) and link-up play, who can both score and create opportunities for a less versatile centre-forward, is more suited. Second or support strikers do not tend to get as involved in the orchestration of attacks as the Number 10, nor do they bring as many other players into play, since they do not share the burden of responsibility, functioning predominantly as assist providers.[10] In Italy, this role is known as a "rifinitore" or "seconda punta",[11] whereas in Brazil, it is known as "segundo atacante"[12] or "ponta-de-lança".[13]

https://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_(association_football)&ved=0ahUKEwjqj4nlwPfXAhUD0xoKHZK7APkQFghdMBA&usg=AOvVaw2TX80Cdfxcj-52ZnsrbLE1


@bolded 1, Made it clear that modern football of today needs and still uses CF in a 4-2-3-1 formation which we largely used during our qualification to the WC. But all the players we used in that position did not measure up to the requirements this formation was created for. Players like Iheanacho and Ighalo failed woefully in this position. Na Onyekuru wey no sabi play CF go come do magic?



@bolded 2, what is the responsibility of a CF in our 4-2-3-1 formation?
As we can all see, it is to score majority of the goals but in our case Ighalo and Iheanacho could oonly score 1 goal each in 5 and 4 games respectively when played as a CF in our 4-2-3-1 formation.

These explains why our CFs are not the highest goal scorers.

@bolded 3, this shows how a CF could achieve his goals when played as a CF in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
If Iheanacho can't control ball and can't deft touch, how can he even hold the ball?
We have seen him struggled several times in both the national team and club with ball control and in the CF role.

Na onyekuru wey no sabi how to position and hold unto ball na em go come play CF for us in our 4-2-3-1formation?

Ighalo can play the role well but he is not prolific enough else he should have scored 3 goals in five matches and that could have made him the highest goal scorer in our team as expected of a CF but he is far from it.


@ 4&5 suggested that if we need a striker who can dribble, find space, fast, shot accurately with both legs and prolific at scoring goals, it is not Iheanacho and Onyekuru because they simply don't have all these attributes, and, therefore, do not fit into our 4-2-3-1 formation. They are SS and LW respectively.

Rohr has seen it all hence the need to try Iheanacho as a RW and later tried to see if he could gel in another formation.

Icon4s:


I don't know that Srna guy. Well thanks for the intro.

We need real work horses with high levels of discipline and composure especially in the DM and CM positions. And as I said before we may even present 2 DMs to stem the expected waves of attacks from the middle.

Icon4s:


I don't know that Srna guy. Well thanks for the intro.

We need real work horses with high levels of discipline and composure especially in the DM and CM positions. And as I said before we may even present 2 DMs to stem the expected waves of attacks from the middle.

Icon4s:


I don't know that Srna guy. Well thanks for the intro.

We need real work horses with high levels of discipline and composure especially in the DM and CM positions. And as I said before we may even present 2 DMs to stem the expected waves of attacks from the middle.

TheGoodJoe:


Very nice and well written article. However, I do not think Rohr will flash his search light on Joel Obi even if he keeps himself fit from now until the World Cup. My reason is, I feel Rohr prefers midfielders who can play the defensive midfield role or have high defensive attributes. That is why my call for Sone Aluko reduced. The likes of Aluko, Joel Obi and Ifeanyi Matthew might evade the list of the German Tactician simply because their Limited defensive attributes.

TheGoodJoe:


Wiki page says Srna is retired from International football.

edi287:

We need more creativity in the team. Can't rely solely on Mikel as a source of creativity in the middle

tbaba1234:
Corluka and Loveren, both slow..

TheGoodJoe:


You do not need a whole encyclopedia to explain your point. Pick excerpts and Paste the link.
However, the game is changing and the traditional point man role is fading off. Yes, we still have center forwards in the Modern game but their role or the job they are required to do is different from the way it was played in the past.

A good example is Luis Suárez and Neymar. There were a lot of times, you find Suarez who is the CF, crossing from the wings for Neymar who is the side forward.

This goes as far as Alanta 96 where Crespo drifted to the right wing and laid a brilliant cross for Claudio Lopez who buried the goal against Nigeria in the final. Keep in mind Crespo in his earlier days played as an attacking midfielder.

Just like Gabriel Jesus who can play multiple roles or Iheanacho who played on the right us against Argentina and on the left as a sub in one of the recent games of Leicester City. He has also played the nine role in a game for Leicester City.

The game today requires forwards than a traditional number nine with a Primary goal of just converting chances.

forgiveness:


Did you read 'traditional or Modern' in the whole encyclopedia?

I am referring to modern day football and not traditional point man. Or is that not what you read up there?

My point still remains the same.

However, do you want deny the the CF plays depends on the formation and tactics of a team?
We are not talking about how Barcelona or Man city here or the versatility, we are talking about the Nigerian national team and the way we play.

Based on this, Iheanacho has been found wanting on that role for the national team and even Man city who plays modern day CF under Guardiola has also found him wanting else Gabriel Jesus would not have been necessary buy if Guardiola thinks the available Iheanacho is capable for the so called Modern day CF but unfortunately Guardiola sold him off.

So, on both front iheanacho doesn't fit into both the traditional and Modern day CF.

That explains why dey are trying to play him on the flanks which I also think will backfire because he does not seems to have the skills and other needed ability to play wide.

Now, did you get my points?

safarigirl:
how many CFs did Spain use on their road to the World Cup in 2010?

I think the problem most people insisting on two CFs are having is that they have not left football of the 90's and they still think football teams need CFs.

They are called Forwards these days...and the term is all encompassing for whoever is in front. So, whether it's a winger, a striker or a false 9....they are forwards and their job is to score goals.

We have Iwobi, Iheanacho, Moses x2, Ighalo, Musa in that role already. We have one CF and he does not even have the goal scoring records of the none CFs, so, what is all this noise about?

Even the Croatian coach in that news article stated clearly that our attack is VERY VERY dangerous....without the CFs you people are insisting on. Is that not what we need?

What will ANOTHER CF bring that we don't already have?

Humility017:


hope ademola lukman makes the 3 lions world cup sqaud....
valauable...I can relate in the sense that he is English but talent wise you've got to be kidding....

he could not even gatecrash their last friendly games.....despite the massive injuries their key players suffered.

goldfish80:
This can't be right. Never knew things have gotten this bad for Kelechi.
Under twenty what?

forgiveness:


If Ademola Lukeman is not talented, why was he nominated for EPL young player of the year even ahead of Iheanacho and Ndid?

Do you rate Onyekuru highly than Iheanacho and Ndidi?

Do you want to compare the talents available for selection in the English team with Nigeria?

How many Kane, Dele Ali, Rashford, etc do you have?

Most of our players might likely not make England team D.

If Ademola comes to the national team now, he might likely bench some players.

TheGoodJoe:


Why is that bad? It should be encouraged. As long as he is playing. Also gives his manager a chance to study him.

goldfish80:
This can't be right. Never knew things have gotten this bad for Kelechi.
Under twenty what?

goldfish80:

How many of our group rivals have their top striker playing U21 league football ?

TheGoodJoe:


With the right movement in the midfield from Rakitic, Modric and Kovacic, a slow defence can cope with the right positioning. The midfield can make up for the speed by doing the tracking and winning balls. While the defence intercepts.

goldfish80:
This can't be right. Never knew things have gotten this bad for Kelechi.
Under twenty what?

MetalJigsaw:
Even Iwobi is a CF in disguise. Because he has some if the basic abailties if a striker. He's very incisive player.

*Superb positioning in the box
*Direct and accurate shots

tbaba1234:


I feel that Nigeria's best strategy for this game is quick incisive counters. We do not need to control possession, just make every turnover count.

TheGoodJoe:


You are more interested in attacking than debating the point.

The game today is more about forwards than a center forward. Raheem Sterling played as a lead striker for Liverpool. Dries Mertens who used to play on the wings, spearheads the attack of Napoli.

Guardiola opted for Gabriel Jesus over Iheanacho and to some extent Aguero because of the point you are trying to argue against. Gabriel Jesus offers more attributes. Yesterday, he missed a chance created by Brahim Diaz and missed another chance, a one on one created by Phil Foden. I pointed that out to some people. Nacho might finish those chances better than Gabriel Jesus but Guardiola wants Gabriel Jesus all round play over converting chances.

Among our forwards today, including Onyekuru and Kayode, what they can do is play multiple roles. This also allows switching of roles during tactical play as Iheanacho and Iwobi drifted to the middle during play. Or when the Anderlecht coach switched Onyekuru to play the striking role.

Some teams play with the traditional striking method but a lot of coaches are switching to a more modern way.

tbaba1234:


I feel that Nigeria's best strategy for this game is quick incisive counters. We do not need to control possession, just make every turnover count.

Icon4s:


That Iwobi-Iheanacho with Mikel behind the duo front line against Argentina na killer o.

I think we need to switch to a 4-4-2 in one of our friendlies so we try that combo again. Omo! the fluency and efficiency of that attack too sweet. Iwobi and Iheanacho upfront with Mikel providing the passes. And V.Moses doing his own damage from one of the wings and Simon/Onyekuru doing the other.