bengine:


Yea that is true, too be honest, I don't want the coach to set up a formation that would limit Ndidi..the guys work rate could unbalance any opposition..popping up in every areas that need personnel..

In fact against some opposition that might even just sit deep and not really attack through the centre, I would suggest a double pivot of Mikel and Ndidi...mikel sits deep and dictates the pace of the game, Ndidi roams as usual and Iwobi or Iheanacho does his thing has an amf or ss...but I don't think Odogwu would wanna play dmf..he has been enjoying that amf so much, its hard to take it from him..

*smiles*
Mikel don de enjoy the romance with him attackers. You go even see am for im face. The guy go de use one kind style de smile de ball most especially when he has Iwobi and Nacho in his front.

Baba Ibeji too like sweet things. He go para if dem deploy am back to DMF.

bengine:


Have you ever wondered probably one just need to take that defensive positional responsibility instead of roaming...looking at Ogu's last 2 games, he seems to have a better passing range than Onazi, i think that's what make the team look like it has better chemistry and balance with the ogu-Ndidi combination...

There might be games the Onazi-Ndidi might work better depending on the opposition...well we are glad to at least have this kind of headache unlike the last world cup where after the first 11, no real quality sub!!

True talk. At least we'd have one of our best DMs on the bench if Rohr decides to withdraw Onazi to the bench.

The question is has Rohr actually acknowledged the incompatibility between both players?

bengine:


Yea that is true, too be honest, I don't want the coach to set up a formation that would limit Ndidi..the guys work rate could unbalance any opposition..popping up in every areas that need personnel..

In fact against some opposition that might even just sit deep and not really attack through the centre, I would suggest a double pivot of Mikel and Ndidi...mikel sits deep and dictates the pace of the game, Ndidi roams as usual and Iwobi or Iheanacho does his thing has an amf or ss...but I don't think Odogwu would wanna play dmf..he has been enjoying that amf so much, its hard to take it from him..

....meaning Onazi is a problem and Ogu is a solution to Ndidi level of performance on the field but national team is not a place where one player determine the functionality of other player.

They are professionals and no matter what they must be solid irrespective of whom they are paired with,so the issue of Onazi - Ndidi combo is becoming over flog and we need to take it cool on these guys especially Onazi.

Ndidi had a slow start in eagles and Onazi is not the issue,no need to blame any player for others,even in Leicester we are seeing greatly improved Ndidi,let's see what would come out of upcoming friendlies,then Rohr would decide on his team but for now it's Ndidi - Onazi combo.

bengine:


Have you ever wondered probably one just need to take that defensive positional responsibility instead of roaming...looking at Ogu's last 2 games, he seems to have a better passing range than Onazi, i think that's what make the team look like it has better chemistry and balance with the ogu-Ndidi combination...

There might be games the Onazi-Ndidi might work better depending on the opposition...well we are glad to at least have this kind of headache unlike the last world cup where after the first 11, no real quality sub!!

Yeah, for certain games it would work especially one where we want to apply a choke hold to the opposition's midfield.

Mujtahida:

Over the five friendlies and the camping period Rohr should see what works.

Onazi impedes Ndidi or rather perhaps when Onazi plays Ndidi has to play in a position that limits him.

In that friendly against Argentina I really appreciated the guy's game. We must look for a way to maximise this tackling machine we've got.

Ndidi has obviously drifted ahead of Onazi in the DM position in terms of abilities. So I think he should be the first choic ewhile Onazi chills on the bench. It's pointless drafting any of them to a different role/ position.

Joebie:
I’ve been preaching J.Obi since last year, and many have been countering “injury prone”.
Make we siddon look

Everytime the guy walks straight back into his club's first eleven. That's a testament to his quality. A fit Joel Obi should make the cut.

AIG07:
that's the painful truth.

For the sake of balance of play, I don't see their combo working. I see one been drop to the bench(this is hard for me to admit).

Both players are great tacklers and fighters. They are predominantly right footed and tends to drift to the same side of the pitch therefore leaving gaps for opponents to exploit.

But for this to happen, we will need to have a more better and quality DMF/CM who is good on both feet.

Ogu is good and thumps Onazi when it comes to passing but he isn't mobile enough(I don't think he can cover large area in small time lapse like Onazi).

Make I siddon de look as time unfold things...

A fit Joel Obi would balance the LMF

AIG07:
*smiles*
Mikel don de enjoy the romance with him attackers. You go even see am for im face. The guy go de use one kind style de smile de ball most especially when he has Iwobi and Nacho in his front.

Baba Ibeji too like sweet things. He go para if dem deploy am back to DMF.

True true, he enjoys it.

Turkish team of the week.. Troost Ekong made it

Mujtahida:

Everytime the guy walks straight back into his club's first eleven. That's a testament to his quality. A fit Joel Obi should make the cut.

Torino have learnt to manage Joel Obi properly. He rarely plays 90 minutes.

bengine:


Yea that is true, too be honest, I don't want the coach to set up a formation that would limit Ndidi..the guys work rate could unbalance any opposition..popping up in every areas that need personnel..

In fact against some opposition that might even just sit deep and not really attack through the centre, I would suggest a double pivot of Mikel and Ndidi...mikel sits deep and dictates the pace of the game, Ndidi roams as usual and Iwobi or Iheanacho does his thing has an amf or ss...but I don't think Odogwu would wanna play dmf..he has been enjoying that amf so much, its hard to take it from him..

True talk. And I equally doubt if Rohr would ever move Mikel away from the AM role. He's simply the best AM in the team at the moment, with experience on is side. Kelechi and Iwobi aren't ripe for such responsibility yet. They have very little ability to hold the ball.

AIG07:
*smiles*
Mikel don de enjoy the romance with him attackers. You go even see am for im face. The guy go de use one kind style de smile de ball most especially when he has Iwobi and Nacho in his front.

Baba Ibeji too like sweet things. He go para if dem deploy am back to DMF.

I know man..you can see it in his play, he truly enjoys that position..the only thing I can say, he never had a manager throughout his club career that would trust him with that position..what surprises me the most is the fact that Mikel can finish now.

Kog45:
....meaning Onazi is a problem and Ogu is a solution to Ndidi level of performance on the field but national team is not a place where one player determine the functionality of other player.

They are professionals and no matter what they must be solid irrespective of whom they are paired with,so the issue of Onazi - Ndidi combo is becoming over flog and we need to take it cool on these guys especially Onazi.

Ndidi had a slow start in eagles and Onazi is not the issue,no need to blame any player for others,even in Leicester we are seeing greatly improved Ndidi,let's see what would come out of upcoming friendlies,then Rohr would decide on his team but for now it's Ndidi - Onazi combo.

My brother, I'm not blaming Onazi..I really love Onazi's work rate...too be honest I would rather us have this kind of headache..this issue truly shows how competitive our national team is getting..

My brother, 2 years ago, would we ever argue who fits in the midfield..we already know say naa mikel-Onazi..
Now we have headache and I rejoice we have this..

In fact I'm sure the coach is having more headache than us..

Kog45:
....meaning Onazi is a problem and Ogu is a solution to Ndidi level of performance on the field but[b] national team is not a place where one player determine the functionality of other player.[/b]

They are professionals and no matter what they must be solid irrespective of whom they are paired with,so the issue of Onazi - Ndidi combo is becoming over flog and we need to take it cool on these guys especially Onazi.

Ndidi had a slow start in eagles and Onazi is not the issue,no need to blame any player for others,even in Leicester we are seeing greatly improved Ndidi,let's see what would come out of upcoming friendlies,then Rohr would decide on his team but for now it's Ndidi - Onazi combo.

actually it happens often in some countries..in brazil now there is a debate on desirability of pairing casemrio and fernandinho..let us not also forget the lampard gerrard debates when they were at their peaks.

Kog45:
....meaning Onazi is a problem and Ogu is a solution to Ndidi level of performance on the field but national team is not a place where one player determine the functionality of other player.

They are professionals and no matter what they must be solid irrespective of whom they are paired with,so the issue of Onazi - Ndidi combo is becoming over flog and we need to take it cool on these guys especially Onazi.

Ndidi had a slow start in eagles and Onazi is not the issue,no need to blame any player for others,even in Leicester we are seeing greatly improved Ndidi,let's see what would come out of upcoming friendlies,then Rohr would decide on his team but for now it's Ndidi - Onazi combo.

Being professional does not mean a player can play just about everywhere or that a player doesn't have a position that brings out his best.

I disagree too that Ndidi has had a slow start. He flourishes when he is allowed to rove. And incidentally that's the same position Onazi plays. How can Ndidi be the tackling machines if he sits to cover the defence?

I deliberately raised the Ndidi/Onazi debate cos the thread was threadbare as if we are on holiday. We are just rubbing minds. Nothing much was up for discussion so I raised this up.

I don't think anyone's blaming Onazi. It's clear to see that that combination doesn't gell. Recall in the friendly against Senegal. Ndidi came alive when Onazi was injured and Ogu came in. Again in the friendly against Argentina he really posted a superb play. In fact I used to be like this Ndidi is holding back his Leicester game when he plays for the Eagles but in that game I saw how good he is. I am not by this blaming Onazi or saying he should make way for Ndidi. It's about having the best combination for each opponent and it's been opined here that for some games Ndidi-Onazi combination might be the best.

This is not a for Ndidi or against Onazi debate. It's a debate about our best midfield combination. To look at it from that angle of blaming Onazi is to give an entirely different cast to our discussion.

MetalJigsaw:
True talk. At least we'd have one of our best DMs on the bench if Rohr decides to withdraw Onazi to the bench.

The question is has Rohr actually acknowledged the incompatibility between both players?

Trust me bro, if we can see this, the coach definitely sees more than us..they have more info than we would ever have..

I think he would go for the best after playing a lot of European opposition during the friendlies..if any of those guys go to the bench, we know say naa quality we get for bench..

Mujtahida:

Being professional does not mean a player can play just about everywhere or that a player doesn't have a position that brings out his best.

I disagree too that Ndidi has had a slow start. He flourishes when he is allowed to rove. And incidentally that's the same position Onazi plays. How can Ndidi be the tackling machines if he sits to cover the defence?

I deliberately raised the Ndidi/Onazi debate cos the thread was threadbare as if we are on holiday. We are just robbing minds.

I don't think anyone's blaming Onazi. It's clear to see that that combination doesn't gell. Recall in the friendly against Senegal. Ndidi came alive when Onazi was injured and Ogu came in. Again in the friendly against Argentina he really posted a superb play. In fact I used to be like this Ndidi is holding back his Leicester game when he plays for the Eagles but in that game I saw how good he is. I am not by this blaming Onazi or saying he should make way for Ndidi. It's about having the best combination for each opponent and it's been opined here that for some games Ndidi-Onazi combination might be the best.

This is not a for Ndidi or aga Onazi debate. It's a debate about our best midfield combination.

My man there is nothing like having best combination for each opponent,your first eleven must be able to withstand any opponent,so no need to distort team just based on opposition,it's not done that way though sometimes it might be necessary,just like joker.

Mujtahida:

Everytime the guy walks straight back into his club's first eleven. That's a testament to his quality. A fit Joel Obi should make the cut.

But sadly, his injury woes seem to get even worse.

Mujtahida:

Being professional does not mean a player can play just about everywhere or that a player doesn't have a position that brings out his best.

I disagree too that Ndidi has had a slow start. He flourishes when he is allowed to rove. And incidentally that's the same position Onazi plays. How can Ndidi be the tackling machines if he sits to cover the defence?

I deliberately raised the Ndidi/Onazi debate cos the thread was threadbare as if we are on holiday. We are just robbing minds.

I don't think anyone's blaming Onazi. It's clear to see that that combination doesn't gell. Recall in the friendly against Senegal. Ndidi came alive when Onazi was injured and Ogu came in. Again in the friendly against Argentina he really posted a superb play. In fact I used to be like this Ndidi is holding back his Leicester game when he plays for the Eagles but in that game I saw how good he is. I am not by this blaming Onazi or saying he should make way for Ndidi. It's about having the best combination for each opponent and it's been opined here that for some games Ndidi-Onazi combination might be the best.

This is not a for Ndidi or against Onazi debate. It's a debate about our best midfield combination. To look at it from that angle of blaming Onazi is to give an entirely different cast to our discussion.

You just nailed it bro..no one is blaming any player..we are all just robbing minds about our best midfield combo

Kog45:
....meaning Onazi is a problem and Ogu is a solution to Ndidi level of performance on the field but national team is not a place where one player determine the functionality of other player.

They are professionals and no matter what they must be solid irrespective of whom they are paired with,so the issue of Onazi - Ndidi combo is becoming over flog and we need to take it cool on these guys especially Onazi.

Ndidi had a slow start in eagles and Onazi is not the issue,no need to blame any player for others,even in Leicester we are seeing greatly improved Ndidi,let's see what would come out of upcoming friendlies,then Rohr would decide on his team but for now it's Ndidi - Onazi combo.

Its true they are professionals but there is team chemistry also..some players just play better with some set of players around them..sometimes its difficult to point out why but some combinations always make the team better and balanced..

Kog45:
My man there is nothing like having best combination for each opponent,your first eleven must be able to withstand any opponent,so no need to distort team just based on opposition,it's not done that way though sometimes it might be necessary,just like joker.

Do you know how many players Italy used in 2006? They used all abi almost all the players in the squad. Do you know how many players Brazil used in 94?
I think first eleven means you use SUBSTANTIALLY the same set of players in every game. It doesn't mean you MUST use the same set of players for every game.

Modern day football is about dynamism. If you stick to one tactics, one set of players, one approach all the time for every game you'd be easily nailed. It's about having a balance between dynamism and stability.

Why does Fabregas play in some games and in some he doesn't play?

bengine:


I know man..you can see it in his play, he truly enjoys that position..the only thing I can say, he never had a manager throughout his club career that would trust him with that position..what surprises me the most is the fact that Mikel can finish now.

He had been a goal threat right from his youthful days before working under Mourinho. I'm not very surprised.

MetalJigsaw:
True talk. And I equally doubt if Rohr would ever move Mikel away from the AM role. He's simply the best AM in the team at the moment, with experience on is side. Kelechi and Iwobi aren't ripe for such responsibility yet. They have very little ability to hold the ball.

You are 100% correct, iwobi and nacho not fully matured enough to play that amf..that's why I said a team that just wants to sit back and not really attack...

The only thing that nacho and iwobi would excel better at in the amf role than mikel would be their movements and finishing ability..but we all know that is not all that is required for that and role..

I am a Barcelona fan but some things are just too funny.

Mujtahida:

Yeah, for certain games it would work especially one where we want to apply a choke hold to the opposition's midfield.

You get it bro..having 2 engines like that would make it difficult for teams that play in the middle..

Too be honest I haven't watched Croatia recently but I suspect they are a team that would like to play from the middle looking at their top talents..

tbaba1234:


Torino have learnt to manage Joel Obi properly. He rarely plays 90 minutes.

That's true. Guy looks great and has good quality to add to our team. He's playing at a high level. His injury concerns are real but then I think the guy is worth the risk.

Mujtahida:


A fit Joel Obi would balance the LMF

that'll be a dream come through only if he can stay FIT.

His reccuring injury has always been his bane. I hope he get's over it once and for all. It won't be bad if he can get himself a personal Physio.

Mujtahida:

That's true. Guy looks great and has good quality to add to our team. He's playing at a high level. His injury concerns are real but then I think the guy is worth the risk.

who do you intend dropping for him?

bengine:


You just nailed it bro..no one is blaming any player..we are all just robbing minds about our best midfield combo

Toh, it has to be said if not it would look like we are for Ndidi and against Onazi. I am for whatever brings out the best in both players.

AIG07:
who do you intend dropping for him?

Agu

Kog45:
My man there is nothing like having best combination for each opponent,your first eleven must be able to withstand any opponent,so no need to distort team just based on opposition,it's not done that way though sometimes it might be necessary,just like joker.

I disagree sir..In a world cup that is a tournament, there is always best combination to neutralize your opposition..and that's also part of the unpredictability in a team..

If your team is really good, you can only have probably 90% sure bankers for first 11..one or two players can be injected for tactical reasons..this is how u know a good team..

That is the reason why I'm really hopeful for this team because of the competition in the team

Mujtahida:

Agu

I'll do the same.

One player I still want to see play is Uche Agbo.