Joebie:
Mahrez relies a lot on his left foot just like Iheanacho. If only Iheanacho could be as foxy.

kennysville:


If its coming from someone else, I would engage. But you? No i wont. You have your reasons, i have mine! Enjoy

ChrisKels:
How come nobody talks about Sarenren Bazee no more? I thought he came back from injury two weeks ago, why hasn't he been playing? Isn't he match fit yet?

Tbaba1234, Joebie et al

forgiveness:


I think it was not long I point out the @bolded as regards Iheanacho.

forgiveness:


It maybe because he rejected initially hence the reciprocal.

TheGoodJoe:
From the way Puel talks, it seems he does not have Iheanacho in his mind. I think Nacho should work towards a loan move January. Look for a club that plays free flowing attacking football and work with them. A loan move with an option to buy.

This should serve as a lesson to agents who are just eager to seal a big deal without considering the quality of their player and whether the style of play will suit their player.

Wish Nacho the best.

ChrisKels:
How come nobody talks about Sarenren Bazee no more? I thought he came back from injury two weeks ago, why hasn't he been playing? Isn't he match fit yet?

Tbaba1234, Joebie et al

Humility017:

let's pray NFF secure another friendly.

let all the prospects be tried....
especially onyekuru, kayode and success....
alhassan, Joel obi...those who have been sitting on the bench for sometime now...should play one of the match just to get a clue of their qualifies and who to add to the team...

Kog45:
Very detailed and good for him to recognize that we are having issues in our goalkeeping dept.

Ezenwa has CHAN to make WC team any bad performance he is out.Hope Ajiboye would give him serous competition so that he can raise his game.

Uzoho has WC slot under his belt just need another similar performance just as he did against Argentina to get the nod.

Akpeyi might nick it if Ezenwa didn't measure up but need a good psychologist to overcome his nervousness in national team. Hope he get another chance.

Ajiboye w be waiting for his chance at CHAN if Ezenwa put another similar performance like he did against Algeria

Alampasu hope lie on Uzoho performance, another good outing from Uzoho will gives Alampasu a chance cos Rohr would be more convince that better to give another young lad a chance.

As Rohr said goalkeeping is the major challenge now .

elyte89:




If victor starts playing by January,maybe on loan to anoda club, I can bet u he will b on d plane to Russia... 100percent sure

komekn:


He never rejected, AT ALL He needed to sort out his long term future which would be easier as a potential future England full international. When considering potential clubs.

He Explained he would commit when he turns 23. That never changed what changed is the NFF and it's lack of transparency and integrity.

When Omeruo was near anonymous at Middlesbrough Iorfa a teenager was winning MOTM and best young player awards in the same league and in the same season. Somehow there has not been any competition
for the CB position in the SE. Not sure why

I will leave it at that you can guess the rest.

tbaba1234:
Rohr's recent interview with a french paper. He is playing Poland for Croatia. Talks about find a keeper that satisfies them fully.

CC: Icon4s, joebie, komekn, Mujtahida, Joseph1013, Kog45, certitude, humility017, safarigirl, forgiveness,

NIGERIA / GERNOT ROHR: "A SUCCESS AT THE WORLD CUP WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL" [EXCLUDING 365]
POSTED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H10 - UPDATED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H19 PATRICK JUILLARD

Gernot Rohr, hot after the draw for the World Cup, you said "It's going to be a physical challenge against the Icelanders, a technical challenge against the Croatians, and a challenge to the Argentineans." Can you detail? What is your opinion on these 3 opponents?

Rohr: This draw is a difficult draw, with three good teams. Our first opponent will be Croatia. The match will take place in Kaliningrad, an eccentric place with a bit of jet lag and a former German city that I already know a bit. Croatia is capable of great things with a team of stars playing in the biggest clubs. They are able to beat the biggest, but also to be surprised by less prestigious teams. It will be up to us to question them. Their technical qualities are huge but we also have a quality game. This is the most important match, and we hope to prepare it, against opponents similar to Croatia. So we will play Poland at home on March 23rd.


Iceland remains more difficult to define ...

Rohr: Iceland has worked hard for ten or twelve years with extraordinary structures to play football all year long despite the harsh weather conditions. Domes of football, where you can play at any time have been installed, with a dozen per region. Work is done from an early age. Today, it is a team that knows how to play football but who remains very physical and supportive. It is expected for this match that takes place in Volgograd to a very difficult game. Supporters will come in large numbers in charters to win their team. It will be an unprecedented match in the history of the World Cup, which adds spice. In this group, it is amusing to see that the four teams know each other very well in pairs: Croatia knows Iceland well,


Nigeria will meet Argentina for the fifth time in the finals, a record. How to finally take points against this opponent?

We will not make the mistake of thinking that we already know them. We beat them in friendly Krasnodar last month, but Argentina played without Lionel Messi. And Argentina without Messiit's not the same team. They have four goals, they may not have changed much defensively, but offensively they can change everything. Argentina is still vice-champion of the world, and had not passed away from the coronation in 2014. This team is perhaps at the end of the cycle, but it can make it all the more formidable, with players eager to prove that they can win. I met Jorge Burruchaga in the draw. He told me "we are coming to win the World Cup. They have chosen a magnificent base camp and will put the package to make it happen.

Do you have an idea of ​​the ideal preparation program?

We chose a base camp that we visited in southern Russia, between Sochi and Volgograd, in the countryside, in a region of mineral and spa baths. We will be far from everything, with opportunities for care and excellent conditions of recovery between games. At 500 meters altitude, it will not be too hot.

On which points do you think you can make the most progress by June?

I think we can always progress on all levels: technical, but also tactical and physical. Tactically, we must be able to adapt according to our opponents. For example, we tried against Argentina, we tried a defense to three, which can turn into a defense to five. We can still do more. Physically, we will be ready. We will take a second physical trainer, in this case Bernard Ginès, I had in my staff in Nice, between 2002 and 2005. We will receive FieldWiz, which are GPS to work better in detail. We will have to progress in the detection of our own players so as not to be mistaken on the list of 30, then that of 23. We will strengthen the scouting team.

What about mental preparation?

We have already shown that we are mentally tough, but it will be even more for the World Cup. We already have a mental trainer with Nabil Trabelsi. Do not flood the group with too many foreign faces. We are not sick, we do not need psychiatrists (laughs).

Does Nigeria have the means to become the first African team semi-finalist of a World Cup?
It's a dream, it's a wish. To think we can do it would be pretentious. We will first try to pass the chickens. Then, it is another pair of sleeves, we will advise from match to match depending on the opponents. Nigeria today has the youngest team in the World Cup with 24.9 years of average age. The figure may be even lower in Russia, as we spotted a 19-year-old goalkeeper in La Coruna . We also come to learn: the life of Nigerian football does not stop after the World Cup. I sincerely believe that we have players who share my ambition to go very far and who have the technical means.

As a technician, is participating in a World Cup the best challenge of your career?

Yes, it's for me the most beautiful. It has been fantastic to qualify in this difficult group with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia. To have a shot at the World Cup would be exceptional. I prepare myself as best as I can, personally. Every detail counts in the preparation and the choice of the players. We found young people at certain positions. The last challenge is to find a goalkeeper who satisfies us fully. We are working with my guardian coach, Enrico Pionetti. CHAN will be important to take stock. Ikechukwu Ezenwa will participate, under the direction of my assistant Salisu Yusuf. I will follow things closely.

On a personal level, several media announced your extension to the position of coach. What is it really ?

The verbal agreement was reinforced by an official handshake. We met in Moscow with representatives of the executive committee of the Federation. We agreed on a two-year extension. I thank my leaders for this trust. Beyond the World Cup, the goal is CAN 2019. We want to come back and win.

http://www.football365.fr/nigeria-gernot-rohr-reussir-coup-a-coupe-monde-serait-exceptionnel-exclu365-7021852.html

Taliban:


Fantastic what Iorfa was doing when Omeruo was in boro a couple of years back, so what is he doing now sir. Motm that hasn't taken him out of the EFL.

realpoacher:


Then at what point do you stop trying new/fringe players for the world cup?

If we are talking about post world cup its OK but discussing about the team we are fielding at the world,?.. Then they will be a problem if we keep testing every dick and harry.

I will keep saying it, the players that have featured for is so far are OK. We need to work on our cohesiveness, stability and plans. 4 friendly matches to the world cup is not enough to keep trying fringe players.

Working on team mental strength and tactics or strategy executions should be our major priority now.

Total number of players who executed the qualifiers are probably up to 35 so far, these should be at our camp from where the final 23 will be selected.

Success, Joel Obi, Alhassan as it is should be far away from this team.




With all due respect sir, I think you all should stop involving Akpeyi name in our Goalkeeper discussion henceforth!... Isn't glaring to the blind and audible to the deaf that Akpeyi is a total flop in Eagles jeysey?

Of what use has he been to us that you guys want to take him to the world cup?... Oh! You want he him to fully disgrace us in the eyes of the world right?... Honestly I am disturbed when you guys keep mentioning his name.

Before Olympics, he was a flop for the SE. ...at the Olympics, even as one of the overage players, he was a flop

Nations cup qualifiers against Egypt, he was a flop.... Against South Africa he was a big flop

He even went as far as taking his incompetence to Krasnodar against Argentina and displayed his biggest flop of all... Yet you guys keep mentioning his name here. Its baffling.!!

To me, I will forever call his name Akpeyi basket

If Akpeyi will man our post in the world cup, I will rather we play without a keeper.

He transfers his jittery and lack of confidence to the team

Let him stay far away from our team else he will get the Escobar's treatment!!.. We don't want him..

I suspect that you guys calling his name here wants the downfall of this team.

My goalkeepers are

Uzoho
Ezenwa
Ajiboye
Alampasu

Heck, anyone else apart from Akpeyi

komekn:


He never rejected, AT ALL He needed to sort out his long term future which would be easier as a potential future England full international. When considering potential clubs.

He Explained he would commit when he turns 23. That never changed what changed is the NFF and it's lack of transparency and integrity.

When Omeruo was near anonymous at Middlesbrough Iorfa a teenager was winning MOTM and best young player awards in the same league and in the same season. Somehow there has not been any competition
for the CB position in the SE. Not sure why

I will leave it at that you can guess the rest.

ChrisKels:
Vincent Enyeama played his first match today, though for the U23s. Expect him with the main team soonest.

My choices remain Enyeama, ikeme and uzoho. It will never change. I will never give up on Ikeme

realpoacher:


Then at what point do you stop trying new/fringe players for the world cup?

If we are talking about post world cup its OK but discussing about the team we are fielding at the world,?.. Then they will be a problem if we keep testing every dick and harry.

I will keep saying it, the players that have featured for is so far are OK. We need to work on our cohesiveness, stability and plans. 4 friendly matches to the world cup is not enough to keep trying fringe players.

Working on team mental strength and tactics or strategy executions should be our major priority now.

Total number of players who executed the qualifiers are probably up to 35 so far, these should be at our camp from where the final 23 will be selected.

Success, Joel Obi, Alhassan as it is should be far away from this team.




With all due respect sir, I think you all should stop involving Akpeyi name in our Goalkeeper discussion henceforth!... Isn't glaring to the blind and audible to the deaf that Akpeyi is a total flop in Eagles jeysey?

Of what use has he been to us that you guys want to take him to the world cup?... Oh! You want he him to fully disgrace us in the eyes of the world right?... Honestly I am disturbed when you guys keep mentioning his name.

Before Olympics, he was a flop for the SE. ...at the Olympics, even as one of the overage players, he was a flop

Nations cup qualifiers against Egypt, he was a flop.... Against South Africa he was a big flop

He even went as far as taking his incompetence to Krasnodar against Argentina and displayed his biggest flop of all... Yet you guys keep mentioning his name here. Its baffling.!!

To me, I will forever call his name Akpeyi basket

If Akpeyi will man our post in the world cup, I will rather we play without a keeper.

He transfers his jittery and lack of confidence to the team

Let him stay far away from our team else he will get the Escobar's treatment!!.. We don't want him..

I suspect that you guys calling his name here wants the downfall of this team.

My goalkeepers are

Uzoho
Ezenwa
Ajiboye
Alampasu

Heck, anyone else apart from Akpeyi

komekn:


He never rejected, AT ALL He needed to sort out his long term future which would be easier as a potential future England full international. When considering potential clubs.

He Explained he would commit when he turns 23. That never changed what changed is the NFF and it's lack of transparency and integrity.

When Omeruo was near anonymous at Middlesbrough Iorfa a teenager was winning MOTM and best young player awards in the same league and in the same season. Somehow there has not been any competition
for the CB position in the SE. Not sure why

I will leave it at that you can guess the rest.

ChrisKels:
Vincent Enyeama played his first match today, though for the U23s. Expect him with the main team soonest.

My choices remain Enyeama, ikeme and uzoho. It will never change. I will never give up on Ikeme

komekn:


Stick to the subject matter with objectivity.

Contend with my view if you like educate me. I may indeed appreciate your position and change mine. But convince me and even others with a well thought out rational and an objective disposition.

But please don't hide behind pre-conceived negative and unfounded notions of bias. You may please some who lack depth in thier understanding and gain a few ticks. But you are not furthering the informative quality of this particular discourse.

I could say a lot more about what I know about Leicester. But I feel there is no need.

TheGoodJoe:
Nigeria today has the youngest team in the World Cup with 24.9 years of average age. The figure may be even lower in Russia, as we spotted a 19-year-old goalkeeper in La Coruna.. Gernot Rohr

Call Martins crew, this is for you.

mazimee:
Leicester City Boss Refuses To Rule Out Selling Kelechi Iheanacho In January
Published: December 09, 2017


Leicester City boss Claude Puel has refused to rule out the possibility of selling Nigeria star Kelechi Iheanacho four weeks before the winter transfer market opens for business.

The Foxes have six strikers in the first team consisting of Iheanacho, Vardy, Ahmed Musa, Slimani, Okazaki and Ulloa, and the former Man City starlet has found game time hard to come by after making only two starts in the Premier League from a possible fifteen.
''Kelechi had an injury and after, for the moment, we have competition,'' Puel was quoted as saying by Leicester Mercury


''I am happy with Jamie for example. Kelechi or other players cannot play on the side.
''It’s difficult for them, but for me also to manage all these players because we have six strikers so there is no place for all the players.''

Puel added :: ''I try to respect them. Kelechi arrived this season and we will see. With all these games in this busy period, we will see.

''Time will tell. The window is not open, we will see. For the moment, we just look at all these games. We need all the players.''
Iheanacho penned a five-year contract with Leicester City in the summer for a fee in the region of 25 million pounds.

tbaba1234:
Rohr's recent interview with a french paper. He is playing Poland for Croatia. Talks about find a keeper that satisfies them fully.

CC: Icon4s, joebie, komekn, Mujtahida, Joseph1013, Kog45, certitude, humility017, safarigirl, forgiveness,

NIGERIA / GERNOT ROHR: "A SUCCESS AT THE WORLD CUP WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL" [EXCLUDING 365]
POSTED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H10 - UPDATED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H19 PATRICK JUILLARD

Gernot Rohr, hot after the draw for the World Cup, you said "It's going to be a physical challenge against the Icelanders, a technical challenge against the Croatians, and a challenge to the Argentineans." Can you detail? What is your opinion on these 3 opponents?

Rohr: This draw is a difficult draw, with three good teams. Our first opponent will be Croatia. The match will take place in Kaliningrad, an eccentric place with a bit of jet lag and a former German city that I already know a bit. Croatia is capable of great things with a team of stars playing in the biggest clubs. They are able to beat the biggest, but also to be surprised by less prestigious teams. It will be up to us to question them. Their technical qualities are huge but we also have a quality game. This is the most important match, and we hope to prepare it, against opponents similar to Croatia. So we will play Poland at home on March 23rd.


Iceland remains more difficult to define ...

Rohr: Iceland has worked hard for ten or twelve years with extraordinary structures to play football all year long despite the harsh weather conditions. Domes of football, where you can play at any time have been installed, with a dozen per region. Work is done from an early age. Today, it is a team that knows how to play football but who remains very physical and supportive. It is expected for this match that takes place in Volgograd to a very difficult game. Supporters will come in large numbers in charters to win their team. It will be an unprecedented match in the history of the World Cup, which adds spice. In this group, it is amusing to see that the four teams know each other very well in pairs: Croatia knows Iceland well,


Nigeria will meet Argentina for the fifth time in the finals, a record. How to finally take points against this opponent?

We will not make the mistake of thinking that we already know them. We beat them in friendly Krasnodar last month, but Argentina played without Lionel Messi. And Argentina without Messiit's not the same team. They have four goals, they may not have changed much defensively, but offensively they can change everything. Argentina is still vice-champion of the world, and had not passed away from the coronation in 2014. This team is perhaps at the end of the cycle, but it can make it all the more formidable, with players eager to prove that they can win. I met Jorge Burruchaga in the draw. He told me "we are coming to win the World Cup. They have chosen a magnificent base camp and will put the package to make it happen.

Do you have an idea of ​​the ideal preparation program?

We chose a base camp that we visited in southern Russia, between Sochi and Volgograd, in the countryside, in a region of mineral and spa baths. We will be far from everything, with opportunities for care and excellent conditions of recovery between games. At 500 meters altitude, it will not be too hot.

On which points do you think you can make the most progress by June?

I think we can always progress on all levels: technical, but also tactical and physical. Tactically, we must be able to adapt according to our opponents. For example, we tried against Argentina, we tried a defense to three, which can turn into a defense to five. We can still do more. Physically, we will be ready. We will take a second physical trainer, in this case Bernard Ginès, I had in my staff in Nice, between 2002 and 2005. We will receive FieldWiz, which are GPS to work better in detail. We will have to progress in the detection of our own players so as not to be mistaken on the list of 30, then that of 23. We will strengthen the scouting team.

What about mental preparation?

We have already shown that we are mentally tough, but it will be even more for the World Cup. We already have a mental trainer with Nabil Trabelsi. Do not flood the group with too many foreign faces. We are not sick, we do not need psychiatrists (laughs).

Does Nigeria have the means to become the first African team semi-finalist of a World Cup?
It's a dream, it's a wish. To think we can do it would be pretentious. We will first try to pass the chickens. Then, it is another pair of sleeves, we will advise from match to match depending on the opponents. Nigeria today has the youngest team in the World Cup with 24.9 years of average age. The figure may be even lower in Russia, as we spotted a 19-year-old goalkeeper in La Coruna . We also come to learn: the life of Nigerian football does not stop after the World Cup. I sincerely believe that we have players who share my ambition to go very far and who have the technical means.

As a technician, is participating in a World Cup the best challenge of your career?

Yes, it's for me the most beautiful. It has been fantastic to qualify in this difficult group with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia. To have a shot at the World Cup would be exceptional. I prepare myself as best as I can, personally. Every detail counts in the preparation and the choice of the players. We found young people at certain positions. The last challenge is to find a goalkeeper who satisfies us fully. We are working with my guardian coach, Enrico Pionetti. CHAN will be important to take stock. Ikechukwu Ezenwa will participate, under the direction of my assistant Salisu Yusuf. I will follow things closely.

On a personal level, several media announced your extension to the position of coach. What is it really ?

The verbal agreement was reinforced by an official handshake. We met in Moscow with representatives of the executive committee of the Federation. We agreed on a two-year extension. I thank my leaders for this trust. Beyond the World Cup, the goal is CAN 2019. We want to come back and win.

http://www.football365.fr/nigeria-gernot-rohr-reussir-coup-a-coupe-monde-serait-exceptionnel-exclu365-7021852.html

komekn:


The population of Iceland as a whole is 300,000 not up to one local government area In Lagos.

TheGoodJoe:
From the way Puel talks, it seems he does not have Iheanacho in his mind. I think Nacho should work towards a loan move January. Look for a club that plays free flowing attacking football and work with them. A loan move with an option to buy.

This should serve as a lesson to agents who are just eager to seal a big deal without considering the quality of their player and whether the style of play will suit their player.

Wish Nacho the best.