tbaba1234:


The proof is one round of matches??

Omeruo's team has suffered some heavy defeats in recent weeks.

Against Fenerbache, they conceeded 4 barely 2 weeks ago. 3 against Trabzonspor a few days later... that is 7 goals in less than a week this december.

Ekong's led defence in Bursaspor has been far better.

In terms of consistent performances, Ekong and probably Awaziem have been better.

Not just one game. I just pulled a quick sample.
Check out Omeruo's instagram handle, you will see highlights of his games,even against Trabzonspur.
Look beyond score line if you want to scout a player.

Kenneth have been monster

[quote author=Icon79 post=63517336]I agree that the Argies are frontloaded. I also agree that their defenders are aging and error prone. And I even agree that the Argentina has not played as a team so far ... they struggled thru the South American qualifiers. But you are forgetting three important points in your analysis:

a. Argentina would've qualified easily, if they were not unfairly penalized and points deducted from them in the qualifiers.
b. For the past 10 years (starting with Diego Maradona's coaching stint), Argentina has not had a good coach. The team has literally been carried by the players, especially one Leo Messi But now they have a pretty decent coach who would have about 2 months to tinker and meld the team before the big dance.
c. Any team with Messi should be considered one of the favorites. No one gave them much chance in Brazil 2014, but Messi carried them all the way to the finals and were brutally unlucky not to win it all. Hence, Argentina may be a one man team but when that one man is Leo Messi then there's always a chance. After all, the current Barcelona team is a one man team (Suarez is having the worst slump of his career. Iniesta is not the player he once was. Busquests has slowed down tremendously. So who do they have left - Leo Messi).

Finally, the only way Argentina would play with full strength against us in the final game is if they need to win that match to win the group. Other than, they can present their B side ... if they have already won the group, that is. It's only you naija fans who take these friendly matches serious, Argentina don't care. They don't see any rivalry with Nigeria .... Nigeria is yet to beat Argentina in a competitive match, besides age grade competitions. So there's no rivalry here.


O pari

[/quoteI should have made bold of some of your statement I totly don't agree on but I actually don't know how to.

So you believe Argentina won't mind us beating them again?

goldfish80:

Not just one game. I just pulled a quick sample.
Check out Omeruo's instagram handle, you will see highlights of his games,even against Trabzonspur.
Look beyond score line if you want to scout a player.

Kenneth have been monster

I watch his highlights and actual game highlights. He has not been this monster.

In terms of consistently good performances, Ekong is head and shoulders above any Nigerian now.

Omeruo has been decent but monstrous is pushing it too far. His team hardly keeps clean sheets and there are times that i have felt, he was at fault for goals conceeded.

Claude Puel wants Kelechi Iheanacho improvement but will show patience with Leicester City striker

Nigerian is yet to live up to £25m price tag, scoring just once since summer move from Manchester City

Leicester City manager Claude Puel is willing to be patient to see the best of striker Kelechi Iheanacho, but insists he must improve.

The Nigerian is yet to live up to his £25m price tag, scoring just once since arriving from Manchester City in the summer.

Iheanacho was afforded a real chance to impress, against his former club, in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, leading the line with Shinji Okazaki doing the donkey work behind. However, Leicester threatened more when the 21-year-old was replaced by Jamie Vardy in the second half.

But Puel praised Iheanacho’s display and, citing his youthfulness, believes he has the potential to improve.

Puel said: “(Iheanacho) tried, he shoot on target. He had a good opportunity in the first half. He gave his best.

“He’s a young player, he needs to continue to work to improve.

“It was important to see him, to give him game-time. It was a good opportunity for him and other players.

“I was happy with the squad because it was a good level of quality on the pitch and it was a good response after our game against Crystal Palace.”

Although Iheanacho’s goalscoring record at Leicester (one goal in 393 minutes) is some way shy of his Manchester City average (one goal every 100 minutes), he appears to be third in Claude Puel’s striking pecking order.

Jamie Vardy, Leicester’s talisman and top scorer, is the undisputed number one striker at the club, with Shinji Okazaki second thanks to his ability to drop deep and help the midfield.

Despite Leo Ulloa’s return to prominence of late, it was Iheanacho who was selected to start in the Carabao Cup, with Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa out of favour.

Leicester are expected to try to offload attackers in January with Puel regularly referencing the number of strikers he has to accommodate.

For the time being, Puel believes the most important thing for his strikers to do is to maintain their optimism.

“I have a good feeling with the squad,” said Puel. “Kele, like others players, like Slimani, like Musa, they are different players. It’s important for them and for the squad.

“We have a lot of players sometimes in the same position and it’s difficult to manage this. It’s important to keep the positive attitude, for Kele it’s the same thing.”

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/claude-puel-wants-kelechi-iheanacho-962143

tbaba1234:


I watch his highlights and actual game highlights. He has not been this monster.

In terms of consistently good performances, Ekong is head and shoulders above any Nigerian now.

Omeruo has been decent but monstrous is pushing it too far. His team hardly keeps clean sheets and there are times that i have felt, he was at fault for goals conceeded.

Let's not push this. Omeruo's general whoscored stats reads 7.05 while Ekong's stands at 6.90.
I wonder how 6.90 is head and shoulders above 7.05

junnyjake:


Well, all Nigerian players in Europe at the moment are average at best. Painful truth.

Gbagam! Tomorrow now somebody will start wailing and complaining how CAF has ganged up against Nigerian players to not win the APOTY...Knowing fully well we have not produced a single outstanding player since Okocha and Kanu era.

I have finally come to the conclusion that Iheanacho's horrible first touches, which again, sadly, let to the goal scored by Man City is something that will take sometime for him to perfect.
Just like when I was teaching my wife how to drive and she was having trouble keeping the vehicle in a straight line but my frustration got the better of me. Today, she is an excellent driver. Its on this premise that I believe that this Iheanacho's shortcomings will not last forever...He will get better with hard work and time.

Mujtahida:

Omeruo should make the cut at his present form. I don't know why Rohr is looking over his head running after those German boys when Omeruo still has it in him. Abi Rohr is obsessed with this youngest team at the WC tag ni?

Omeruo again ? To be honest , I rather play Awaziem in pair with Ekong until Balogun returns to form.

goldfish80:



Let's not push this. Omeruo's general whoscored stats reads 7.05 while Ekong's stands at 6.90.
I wonder how 6.90 is head and shoulders above 7.05

Neither does it portray Omeruo as a monster.

I did not base my opinions on stats but from what i have seen.

Mujtahida:

Omeruo should make the cut at his present form. I don't know why Rohr is looking over his head running after those German boys when Omeruo still has it in him. Abi Rohr is obsessed with this youngest team at the WC tag ni?

Omeruo is still omeruo. Excellent on his day. I think Rohr is looking for better players.

darkelf:


But bros, why is Echiejile guaranteed a spot on the team

Don't you think e should consider current form.

Or is he hot at the moment?

One of the things that will make his slot probably sure is cos of his experience in super eagles...

The only tested but not too trusted we have recently....

safarigirl:
thank you o.

Some people are already dashing Argentina automatic qualification, same team that needed a result at the final round of qualifiers, sane team that has been struggling since.

And if you ask them why, they will start reeling out all the useless names that were on the team when they were struggling against the likes of Ecuador and Venezuela.

Argentina struggled because South American qualifying series is way more competitive that the CAF qualifiers.
The likes of Ecuador and Venezuela would be regular semifinalists at the AFCON, and would not fail to qualify for the WC if they were in Africa.

Besides, recent history shows that even when the likes of Brazil, Argentina or Germany struggle to qualify (in 2002, 2010 and 2002 respectively) they always turn up at the main tournament.

So, I won’t treat la Albiceleste with kid gloves; although I expect a tight game between the Super Eagles and Argentina.

Icon79:
I agree that the Argies are frontloaded. I also agree that their defenders are aging and error prone. And I even agree that the Argentina has not played as a team so far ... they struggled thru the South American qualifiers. But you are forgetting three important points in your analysis:

a. Argentina would've qualified easily, if they were not unfairly penalized and points deducted from them in the qualifiers.
b. For the past 10 years (starting with Diego Maradona's coaching stint), Argentina has not had a good coach. The team has literally been carried by the players, especially one Leo Messi But now they have a pretty decent coach who would have about 2 months to tinker and meld the team before the big dance.
c. Any team with Messi should be considered one of the favorites. No one gave them much chance in Brazil 2014, but Messi carried them all the way to the finals and were brutally unlucky not to win it all. Hence, Argentina may be a one man team but when that one man is Leo Messi then there's always a chance. After all, the current Barcelona team is a one man team (Suarez is having the worst slump of his career. Iniesta is not the player he once was. Busquests has slowed down tremendously. So who do they have left - Leo Messi).

Finally, the only way Argentina would play with full strength against us in the final game is if they need to win that match to win the group. Other than, they can present their B side ... if they have already won the group, that is. It's only you naija fans who take these friendly matches serious, Argentina don't care. They don't see any rivalry with Nigeria .... Nigeria is yet to beat Argentina in a competitive match, besides age grade competitions. So there's no rivalry here.


O pari

#And you think Argentina wouldn't mind another trouncing from Nigeria?? So because we haven't beaten Argentina in a competitive match and they've already qualified (if they actually do) They will rest all their best players against us? And if they do you don't see us beating them?

Guy you have no point!

And it looks like you don't know how to quote either. Bia, MetalJigsaw, did someone steal your handle?
But to answer your question. No, it means that the current Argie team can beat us when they need to.


O pari

[quote author=MetalJigsaw post=63518377][/quote]

Bla bla bla.. how do we change our way of doing things? Hopefully it will be another blessing in disguise?

terzurum5:
The Nigeria Football Federation is left disappointed as coach rejects women's job

By Oluwashina Okeleji


Randy Waldrum previously managed Trinidad and Tobago's national women's team.


The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed its disappointment that Randy Waldrum has rejected the chance to become coach of the women's national team.


Waldrum and the NFF failed to agree terms for the American to succeed Florence Omagbemi in the role, despite an announcement from the federation in October.


Earlier this week the 61-year-old opted to accept a new role as the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh women's team.


"I'm quite disappointed that Randy Waldrum was appointed and he decided not to come," top NFF official Chris Green told BBC Sport on Thursday.


"I'm actually disappointed in the fact that I thought we had a good coach in him."


Green explained why Waldrum had changed his mind and admitted some of the blame must lie with the NFF.


"He said in his letter [to us] that from when the [NFF] president gave him the job, they did not do anything or contact him any further," Green added.


It doesn't speak well of Nigerian football that after the Paul Le Guen saga this one is happening again, it doesn't tell well, but what can we do? We just have to learn and move on.


NFF official Chris Green
"There are other things that are required like signing the contract itself, working conditions and all the basics that parties have to agree to - nothing was done.


"He was left in limbo and said he has to feed his family, but (we're) extremely disappointed that we've lost out on another coach."


It is the second time in 18 months that a foreign manager has rejected a coaching offer from the NFF, after Frenchman Paul Le Guen rebuffed the chance to handle the Super Eagles in July 2016.


This latest setback comes as a big blow to the Super Falcons, Africa's reigning champions ,who have not played or trained since lifting the Women's Africa Cup of Nations a year ago.


But Green apologised and admitted shortcomings by the federation as they have failed their women's team - Africa's most successful national side - once again.


"Nigeria is a great country with abundant talent for anyone to want to coach, but on our own part [as administrators] there are many things we should have done that are left undone," he admitted.


"Administratively, that is not how to get things to work out for an organisation like the NFF or in football generally because things are changing in football with new dynamics.


"It doesn't speak well of Nigerian football that after the Paul Le Guen saga, this one is happening again - it doesn't tell well, but what can we do? We just have to learn and move on."


Green's comments about the women's game in Nigeria come just a few weeks after NFF president Amaju Pinnick told BBC Sport the federation's focus would now switch to the women's team.


Nigeria are the only African team to have played in all of the Women's World Cup tournaments since 1991.


But they have failed to translate their continental dominance on the world stage, as their best performance came in the USA in 1999 when they reached the quarter-finals.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42439016

And add to the fact that they unjustly deducted points from Argentina. Then include the fact that they unjustly suspended Messi for "insulting the referee", even when the so called insult was not included in the ref's match report.


O pari

PDPGuy:


Argentina struggled because South American qualifying series is way more competitive that the CAF qualifiers.
The likes of Ecuador and Venezuela would be regular semifinalists at the AFCON, and would not fail to qualify for the WC if they were in Africa.

Besides, recent history shows that even when the likes of Brazil, Argentina or Germany struggle to qualify (in 2002, 2010 and 2002 respectively) they always turn up at the main tournament.

So, I won’t treat la Albiceleste with kid gloves; although I expect a tight game between the Super Eagles and Argentina.

tbaba1234:


Neither does it portray Omeruo as a monster.

I did not base my opinions on stats but from what i have seen.

My initial post was that he was the most inform Nigerian CB. Atleast the numbers agree with that. Monstrous was just an adjective to describe how impressive he have been.

This your comment made me remember TheSuperNerd
Bro u sabi vex oh.. so Naija don qualify and have been grouped, I expected ur excitement and love for SE will make u come back to the thread. Why u dey do like Enyeama? Na wa for u..

Mujtahida:

Hahahaha hahahaha hahahaha oga Kog45. Life is funny oo. I remember well when some monikers here were lambasting Rohr for being 'tactically timid'. Now he wants to be bold and try something new and Kog45 has doubts (justifiably so Sir). My point is that one cannot satisfy people.

I appreciate ChrisKels for bringing us this juicy snippet of information but Kog45 remember the interview Rohr granted to 365 magazine which was posted here for our reading. Remember he said that the nature of the opposition would determine the tactics we use and that he needs about four more players. While I understand your reservations I want to ask would you rather we stick to our tested tactical formations for all the teams we would play against than adopt tactics based on the opposition we meet?

I too I'm concerned about having our backline filled by inexperienced defenders although I see them as good backups. Let us not forget the SA loss and the lesson it taught us. Secondly I hope that if we secure this guys their commitment to the Gwg will stretch beyond the WC. We want Super Eagles players not WC players.

soetanoreoluwa:


One of the things that will make his slot probably sure is cos of his experience in super eagles...

The only tested but not too trusted we have recently....

Pls forget Echiejele experience,let him come back to form coz we did not missed him in 2014 WC,so he should brace up for challenges ahead,his mate Mikel,Moses are making the team not solely on experience.

Icon79:
And it looks like you don't know how to quote either. Bia, MetalJigsaw, did someone steal your handle?
But to answer your question. No, it means that the current Argie team can beat us when they need to.


O pari

So what are you insinuating? That the Argentines didn't want to beat us in the previous meeting.?

Football can be funny. Balogun was easily the best defender in the Cameroon double header and even before then, but his form dropped since Cameroon. We shouldn’t guarantee him a starting place unless he picks up. Let the German trios come. Competition will motivate all to raise their game.

darkelf:


Abi oo. I wanted to say so but was scared of some forum members coming for my little head.

Joebie:
This your comment made me remember TheSuperNerd
Bro u sabi vex oh.. so Naija don qualify and have been grouped, I expected ur excitement and love for SE will make u come back to the thread. Why u dey do like Enyeama? Na wa for u..

U think say na only Enyeama sabi vex? U neva see anything O!

No, I am insinuating that they didn't NEED to beat us in the last game. It was a mere friendly. And they can beat us in Russia if they need to beat us to qualify.

What am trying to say, we should hang our qualification hope on beating Argentina. They are totally a better team than us. Even with all the troubles they had in the SA qualifications, they are still ranked #4 team in the world. Why am I saying all these, I just don't want Nigeria to take Argentina for granted based solely on a meaningless friendly match. Argentina is still a top top team, they are the 3rd country I didn't wanna play - after Brazil and Germany.


O pari

MetalJigsaw:
So what are you insinuating? That the Argentines didn't want to beat us in the previous meeting.?

Kog45:
Pls forget Echiejele experience,let him come back to form coz we did not missed him in 2014 WC,so he should brace up for challenges ahead,his mate Mikel,Moses are making the team not solely on experience.

2 bottles of stout for you.

safarigirl:
but we wan carry am go world cup to help his career as good people wey we be. E be like say NFF na charity organisation

Torunigha Jordan had 12 appearance last season mostly from bench and this season is even worst and guys are clamouring for his invitation then why not Stanley Amuzie if we need natural left back

Dominic Irofa jnr always on the bench at Ipswich in the same championship Aina is playing week in week out and a lot expect him to walk straight into the team.

Kevin Akpoguma came into the team due to injury to a player,not that spectacular but normal defender that i will never rate above Awaziem or Omeruo but if he pledges his allegiance meaning straight to WC.

Kevin Uduokhai honestly i rate this guy cos he is a decent defender but i doubt his readiness better for Rohr to concentrate on what is on ground and bring the best out of them before WC.

darkelf:


Abi oo. I wanted to say so but was scared of some forum members coming for my little head.

As good as he is Omeruo makes at least one costly mistake per game. In the last 5 or so games he has feature. A hand ball in the box against Argentina in the recent friendly was ignored by the referee. We cannot afford to take risks at the WC.

I honestly wish that Kelechi had stay at ManCity. First he would be getting more playing time. Secondly, he would be playing with some of the best players on the planet and getting drillings from one of the best coaches in the business.


O pari

BascoVanVeli:
Claude Puel wants Kelechi Iheanacho improvement but will show patience with Leicester City striker

Nigerian is yet to live up to £25m price tag, scoring just once since summer move from Manchester City

Leicester City manager Claude Puel is willing to be patient to see the best of striker Kelechi Iheanacho, but insists he must improve.

The Nigerian is yet to live up to his £25m price tag, scoring just once since arriving from Manchester City in the summer.

Iheanacho was afforded a real chance to impress, against his former club, in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, leading the line with Shinji Okazaki doing the donkey work behind. However, Leicester threatened more when the 21-year-old was replaced by Jamie Vardy in the second half.

But Puel praised Iheanacho’s display and, citing his youthfulness, believes he has the potential to improve.

Puel said: “(Iheanacho) tried, he shoot on target. He had a good opportunity in the first half. He gave his best.

“He’s a young player, he needs to continue to work to improve.

“It was important to see him, to give him game-time. It was a good opportunity for him and other players.

“I was happy with the squad because it was a good level of quality on the pitch and it was a good response after our game against Crystal Palace.”

Although Iheanacho’s goalscoring record at Leicester (one goal in 393 minutes) is some way shy of his Manchester City average (one goal every 100 minutes), he appears to be third in Claude Puel’s striking pecking order.

Jamie Vardy, Leicester’s talisman and top scorer, is the undisputed number one striker at the club, with Shinji Okazaki second thanks to his ability to drop deep and help the midfield.

Despite Leo Ulloa’s return to prominence of late, it was Iheanacho who was selected to start in the Carabao Cup, with Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa out of favour.

Leicester are expected to try to offload attackers in January with Puel regularly referencing the number of strikers he has to accommodate.

For the time being, Puel believes the most important thing for his strikers to do is to maintain their optimism.

“I have a good feeling with the squad,” said Puel. “Kele, like others players, like Slimani, like Musa, they are different players. It’s important for them and for the squad.

“We have a lot of players sometimes in the same position and it’s difficult to manage this. It’s important to keep the positive attitude, for Kele it’s the same thing.”

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/claude-puel-wants-kelechi-iheanacho-962143

Fikayo Tomori will play for Nigeria. Check out Aina's IG it's so so obvious but we don't need him now guess Qatar 2022.

Humility017:

there will be lot of happenings prior then...
I am just happy for this sokari guy....pray he gets a european league move preferably France..... aleast we will get either of him or Joel obi....to release the burden of mikel sometimes

Sokari to relieve Mikel? I don't get it. We seem to underestimate Mikel's role in the team.

The closest player to Mikel is JOEL OBI. It's either we look for a tactic(s) or strategy that will fit/suit the team in the absence of Mikel.

Kenneth Omeruo is a great player. He's just one of those who were at the wrong place and the wrong time. There's no reason why he shouldn't be playing for Chelsea after the monster tournament he had at AFCON 2013. But Jose Mourinho sent him away on loan while retaining someone like Gary Cahill. I said it that time that Omeruo is a far better CB than Cahill!

I think that all those loan moves affected his game. It doesn't help your game when you're totally unsettled.


O pari

goldfish80:



Let's not push this. Omeruo's general whoscored stats reads 7.05 while Ekong's stands at 6.90.
I wonder how 6.90 is head and shoulders above 7.05

Icon79:
No, I am insinuating that they didn't NEED to beat us in the last game. It was a mere friendly. And they can beat us in Russia if they need to beat us to qualify.

What am trying to say, we should hang our qualification hope on beating Argentina. They are totally a better team than us. Even with all the troubles they had in the SA qualifications, they are still ranked #4 team in the world. Why am I saying all these, I just don't want Nigeria to take Argentina for granted based solely on a meaningless friendly match. Argentina is still a top top team, they are the 3rd country I didn't wanna play - after Brazil and Germany.


O pari

What are you saying? If they had beaten us in that "just friendly" I'm sure you'll bash our dear team so bitter and never give them any credit or chance going to the WC.

* So you're one of those who take that FIFa rankings seriously. Tell me your reason for this I can mention for you a large number of teams that xan not match the current Super Eagles squad and playeras being place way ahead of us in the useless and very controversial FIFA ranking .

* You said Argentina are ranked 4th. Why couldn't they beat us without Messi to prove their superiority?

Some countries that may be Under-rated at the World Cup:

1 Nigeria (in fact a African countries). A the African countries that qualified truly deserved their place. Who knows, we might just see 2 African countries in the Semis;

2 Iceland; They topped a group which had Croatia and Ukraine. We a remember how they defeated England in the last Euros (although it can be argued that the English National Team has always been over-hyped by the media)

3 Japan: I dey fear them. Most of their players that ply their trade in Europe are currently on form. It will be foolhardy to under-rate them

4 Peru: Qualified over the USA. Anytime I remember Costa-rica in 2014, I shudder at the thought of what surprises they might spring up

Please feel free to correct and/or add yours

Thanks