tbaba1234:
For a 4 man defence, I will play Aina on the left and Ebuehi on the right. Idowu is better as a wing back than a full back.

Ebuehi trumps Shehu in almost every aspect. Pace, positioning and defensive IQ. I hope he gets a full game against Serbia for us to see what i am talking about.

I want to see us play again without Mikel but this time with a three man midfield.. Joel, Onazi, Ndidi...

Aina has not really proven him self in eagle shirt, he has 3 caps, I won't play Aina when I have an Idowu that plays in the left back every weekend.

daveP:
UCL duties for him, Modric, Rakitic, and Silva...

that is why we shouldn't read too much in these friendlies results..

forgiveness:



Answer those plain questions and save it from literary meaning wey no dey dere.

Abi, na Bible bi Rohr's word wey we go dey look for spiritual meaning?

My friend, answer questions or keep mute. Thanks in advance, sir.

I'd keep mute not because I can't answer your boring yes or no poser but no need continuing the convo since you obviously can't grab simple nuances. Boring, too boring. Oya continue yapping yes or no, yes or no, Mr yes or no. . I'm done here. Aint I? Answer yes or no. Bwahahahahaha Bwahahahahaha.

Martz101:


we can loose him to holland, getting him to come was not smooth if you can remember, he doesn't have that strong tiles to Nigeria like Aina and iwobi

Too late for Holland. He is ours-heart and soul

darkelf:


Bro, we need to learn how to play without Mikel.

In fact, I'm in support of him not starting in our next match.

Doing so successfully will further cement the fact that we are a complete team not totally dependent on any individual.

I also was tinkering with an idea; our ex-internationals that were known to be very creative and good passers (Okocha, Kanu, Oliseh et Al) can organize a workshop for our midfielders and train with them. At the very least, to give them pointers and inspire confidence .

on playing without mikel, we have no choice. It's definitely gonna take time before the players get used to it. It's a good thing mikel isn't an injury prone kinda player else eyes would be raised. We are just spineless without him. Just like chelsea without hazard.

realpoacher:


Bros abeg tell them....

Rookie this, rookie that,.....

This same Rookie kept Lewandoski at bay yet they are still finding faults. This same Lewandoski many here said that will score a dozen against us. Abi they are disappointed we were not decimated ni? because honestly me I no understand again o!

It was hard to imagine Lewandowski or even the whole Polish team being unable to score a goal against a "rookie" despite all the chances they had

Where did I say we had false nines yesterday?

forgiveness:



There was no false 9 in that game yesterday because Ahmed Musa rightly played the striker role.

Martz101:


some people notice his gloomy face, every player want to feel wanted, I'm sure he will be wondering if he made the right choice, Holland are building a new team and won't mind having an option

this kind of says otherwise but i agree it does not remove the danger of holland trying to lure him back if he does not play competitive football for us in russia.

https://twitter.com/acl_sports/status/977146010131750912

Martz101:


Aina has not really proven him self in eagle shirt, he has 3 caps, I won't play Aina when I have an Idowu that plays in the left back every weekend.

Idowu plays wing back every weekend, he is better at that.

Martz101:


The national team is not just your normal village christmas match were John must play all set piece because he scored the last, before nacho played that Argentina free-kick do you know he can do that, everyteam have an assign set piece taker and that person in Nigeria team is Moses.

iheanacho can't be taking all the free-kick is a friendly, you need to have option on such duty, that troost free-kick was a training plan, I'm sure Nacho would have taking another free-kick if well position... stop crying over nothing

it will be good you learn how to write politely...just because you have access to a keyboard...shouldn't make you loose respect in your words.

from your response...I have since know nancho to be a good set piece taker for a player who could shot accurately from afar into the opponent net..I have never doubted his dead balls prowess...

leaving Moses to keep taking free kicks...is like doing samething same way over and over again and expect a different results...

there is always room for flexibility...severally i remember how okocha dead balls proved decisively for us....
Moses is not a player who could comfortably shot from outside the team yard box and expect a goal....he thrives better in the opponent yard box...

I already talked about that in another post yesterday.

pyrex23:

dis agree with joel obi.. Was probably playing to instruction as he was play A Cmf role..

asha80:
that is why we shouldn't read too much in these friendlies results..

If you say so, but it becomes part of why total commitment to national team is just average these days. It's this mentality that Argentina and Brazil had when we met them at Atlanta 96. We also have careful players too now.

BascoVanVeli:


Those were completely different saves.

no sir. Messi's two goals against courtous came in between courtous' legs. Lewa wanted to do same against uzoho but uzoho was quick to close his legs. Check it again

LieDetector:
on playing without mikel, we have no choice. It's definitely gonna take time before the players get used to it. It's a good thing mikel isn't an injury prone kinda player else eyes would be raised. We are just spineless without him. Just like chelsea without hazard.

With less that three months to the WC. I think the most important thing is for Rohr to provide the best formations and tactics for the team and create good team cohesion and understanding between the players.

MetalJigsaw:
That's what we need in that team aside Mikel, instead of recruiting multiple DMs

you make do with what you have, Spain national team was at some point without a recognise striker, though I think European football are shortchanging us.

Most of our attacking midfielders go to Europe and are turn to defensive midfielder, most white see everything black as physical, not just Nigeria but Africa

Ebuehi. Most of our foreign born kids will feel the same way too if they gave it a chance... the spirit in that team is amazing...The boy has blended so well with the team..

Mujtahida:

Actually Lewandowski wasn't going to play the full match. I read in one of the sports dailies yesterday even before the match that Bayern has an understanding with the Polish FA that he not play full 90 minutes. Before then I'd read that in most friendlies sef he doesn't even play.

Was that the reason he didn’t score last night? Was that the reason he didn’t click last night? What a lame excuse.

What if he had scored the one that hit the bar or his one on one with Uzoho?

He was marked, dispossessed of the balls and incapacitated by more determined group of boys. Simple.

daveP:
If you say so, but it becomes part of why total commitment to national team is just average these days. It's this mentality that Argentina and Brazil had when we met them at Atlanta 96. We also have careful players too now.

i disagree with you here..those were tournaments not friendlies..are you suggesting that is the reason we beat them then?right from time players(especially top ones) generally do not give their best in friendlies..what about messi defying barca to represent argentina in 2008 olympics?

Mujtahida:

Actually Lewandowski wasn't going to play the full match. I read in one of the sports dailies yesterday even before the match that Bayern has an understanding with the Polish FA that he not play full 90 minutes. Before then I'd read that in most friendlies sef he doesn't even play.

But he was left dejected as he or anyone never expected him to struggle in that game.

tbaba1234:


I asked because you have said severally how you had no confidence in him because of a couple of below average games. Now that he is playing regularly at club level, the sharpness is better.

Ebuehi saved Omeruo's blushes yesterday when Omeruo missed a ball under little pressure.

Balogun's performance yesterday was better than his last three games. But Omeruo too should be given a chance of at least starting in the friendlies. You have to test even your supposed 'weak' options.
In that defence the only player I am stuck on in terms of performance is Ekong. He is always stable and consistent. Balogun is like a yoyo. Ebuehi- I just have personal affection for him.

asha80:
i disagree with you here..those were tournaments not friendlies..are you suggesting that is the reason we beat them then?right from time players(especially top ones) generally do not give their best in friendlies..what about messi defying barca to represent argentina in 2008 olympics?

Players play to win friendlies these days... Poland certainly wanted to win in front of their home fans..

AllforJesus7:


Man you were right.
Poland showed us they were not just dashed that 6th position on FIFA ranking. They earned it.

They were good

Now imagine if Moses, Ndidi did not start that game

I hope u meant European groomed. Ok

joseph1013:

There were many loose balls during the crosses to the box, some of them were free headers. We were lucky not to concede.

We need to work on dealing with crosses.

But I'm very happy we were defensively disciplined. You would think it was an European defense, and indeed it was. Balogun, Ekong, Idowu, Ebuehi. All Europeans.

gbosaa:


Was that the reason he didn’t score last night? Was that the reason he didn’t click last night? What a lame excuse.

What if he had scored the one that hit the bar or his one on one with Uzoho?

He was marked, dispossessed of the balls and incapacitated by more determined group of boys. Simple.

Jesus Christ! How do you read? Omo where did I justify his performance with what I wrote. MetalJigsaw sounded like it was because of the difficulty of the match that was why he was subbed. I just chipped in that regardless of the difficulty of the match it's already agreed between the Polish FA and Bayern that he should not play 90 minutes and here you are going off on a tangent. Abeg understand my point because you clearly don't.

tbaba1234:


Players play to win friendlies these days... Poland certainly wanted to win in front of their home fans..

i disgree to an extent..top players whose teams are still involved in cup competitions tend to hold back a bit in friendlies of these nature...it is just natural

MetalJigsaw:
Bro no one is denying the fact that Uzoho is a rookie and still has a lot to learn. But for Christ's sake this "rookie" kept one of the world's finest finishers at bay. He denied Lewandowski a goal in a one-on-one situation. He was able to stand his ground with a clean sheet against the toughest opposition he's ever confronted in his career as a rookie.

Not many people watching that match all over the world would expect Lewandowski to be subbed off so early in the second half without a goal to his name (Lewandowski was simply frustrated!) if at all he would be subbed,- Making one if the world's finest goal poachers look somewhat ordinary when he was supposed to have a field day against a rookie goalkeeper.

When that one-on-one chance between Uzoho and Lewy popped up. I myself never imagined Uzoho would block that shot that was heading between his legs.

Yes Uzoho was jittery in the early stages of the match but What else do you expect from a rookie playing against in a high tension game away to Poland with Lewandowski?

Bro what else do you want from a "rookie" that survived and kept a clean sheet against one of the world's elite forwards??

.

congo4ka:
I sight you baba

Ma me sight you pass, bro

Mujtahida:

Balogun's performance yesterday was better than his last three games. But Omeruo too should be given a chance of at least starting in the friendlies. You have to test even your supposed 'weak' options.
In that defence the only player I am stuck on in terms of performance is Ekong. He is always stable and consistent. Balogun is like a yoyo. Ebuehi- I just have personal affection for him.

Balogun is not like a yoyo... He was out of the Mainz team and he struggled for fitness/sharpness. Now that he is playing regularly, the sharpness is better. Even in the games, where he started slow, he got better as the games progressed.

Omeruo is a good defender but will give you a few mistakes per game.. That routine missed clearance on another day will let the striker in. Fortunately, Ebuehi was quick to get back.

MetalJigsaw:
Bro no one is denying the fact that Uzoho is a rookie and still has a lot to learn. But for Christ's sake this "rookie" kept one of the world's finest finishers at bay. He denied Lewandowski a goal in a one-on-one situation. He was able to stand his ground with a clean sheet against the toughest opposition he's ever confronted in his career as a rookie.

Not many people watching that match all over the world would expect Lewandowski to be subbed off so early in the second half without a goal to his name (Lewandowski was simply frustrated!) if at all he would be subbed,- Making one if the world's finest goal poachers look somewhat ordinary when he was supposed to have a field day against a rookie goalkeeper.

When that one-on-one chance between Uzoho and Lewy popped up. I myself never imagined Uzoho would block that shot that was heading between his legs.

Yes Uzoho was jittery in the early stages of the match but What else do you expect from a rookie playing against in a high tension game away to Poland with Lewandowski?

Bro what else do you want from a "rookie" that survived and kept a clean sheet against one of the world's elite forwards??

Pls go and read my rating on Uzoho.

I acknowledged his bravery on Lewandowski one on one situation and also canvass for more matches for him to build his confidence.

Did i hammer the poor boy?or condemned him,pls am not a roforofo analyst.

Mujtahida:

Too late for Holland. He is ours-heart and soul

Diego Costa, thiago motta,l and chadli all represented another team during friendly but are currently playing for a different team

Martz101:


you make do with what you have, Spain national team was at some point without a recognise striker, though I think European football are shortchanging us.

Most of our attacking midfielders go to Europe and are turn to defensive midfielder, most white see everything black as physical, not just Nigeria but Africa

What do you mean by you make do of what you have? Our problem in that team apart from the Gk is creativity which only Mikel can boast of. An your talking about making do with DMs. Can agu play as AM?

And you'll say someone else doesn't know about football. We don't need Agu... all the DMs in the team are better than him.

tbaba1234:


Idowu plays wing back every weekend, he is better at that.

boss a player that plays wing back won't have problem playing left back, playing wing back is actually more tasking, having an average game yesterday don't make bad for the LB position