LieDetector:
I see it as Joel's last opportunity to show us what he's got up his sleeves

him starting that match shows Rohr trust him, he has started all our friendly since he came back

Mujtahida:

He merit am? The way that guy has underperformed is so fat. Bar Akpeyi Etebo ranks number one followed by Aina in terms of underperformance.

i can't remember the last time Etebo had a good game for Nigeria

Mujtahida:

That Joel is rough ooo.

yea,I'm seeing the reason he get injured frequently, his always putting his leg on the line.

we need to start seeing him as a different player not the mikel replacement

Kog45:
Muj i will not deceive you,so far am not impressed with Joel,Etebo,Agu,Echiejile,Aina,and Akpeyi.

These are the guys that would determine our performance not the likes of Mikel and Moses cos a good bench tells the depths of a team.

Hope to see them shake things up before WC.

My impression of Joel is that he too rough. As for Agu I don't think he has underperformed as such. At least you see him but Etebo disappears. When he appears his play is wooly. I feel Rohr is confused on how to use him. Echiejile has not underperformed. We are only asking for me but he cannot give us that 'more' cos dust is gathering on his legs. Akpeyi is the prisoners. Poisons the team and the fans with fear.

We are fans. We speak from what we see on match days. Based on that, Ogu is clearly ahead.

safarigirl:
Ogu is the choice of any reasonable person.

There is no sensible reason why he should be dropped for any of those three. So, all these Team Joel, Team Etebo and the two people in Team Agu, should know that none of those three are better than Ogu currently

Martz101:


i can't remember the last time Etebo had a good game for Nigeria

His underperformance is annoying. I think his so called versatility is his problem. He doesn't quite fit anywhere.

Martz101:


him starting that match shows Rohr trust him, he has started all our friendly since he came back

Yes Rohr trust him and am seeing him making the 23 man list but so far he has not really imposed himself.

I think his pedigree is going for him among fans not his performance.

I want Joel that would complement Mikel in the middle and Ndidi doing it with them but so far he hasn't,may be with Mikel in the team we see better Joel tomorrow.

andrew444:


I am not criticizing him trust me,I am trying to say this is not the onazi of 2014.

Forget Congo game,onazi hardy give accurate pass this days.

why do you need me to forget our last game which is congo??

The last time we saw a good game from Etebo was against Algeria in Uyo. All the players you mentioned have been average at best.

Mujtahida:

My impression of Joel is that he too rough. As for Agu I don't think he has underperformed as such. You see him. Etebo disappears. When he appears his play is wooly. I feel Rohr is confused on how to use him. Echiejile has not underperformed. We are only asking for me but he cannot give us that 'more' cos dust is gathering on his legs. Akpeyi is the prisoners. Poisons the team and the fans with fear.

Mujtahida:

Yes. What is contradicting there. Mind you I'm drawing from your exposition that arsenal uses false wingers (as you called them) who interchange and move into the center(if I understand you correctly). I'm saying it should be the other way round. Iwobi needs space in his head to play in a flow. The lines restricts him even if he has to drift to the middle.

what you said is contradicting because if an iwobi can play right and drift to the center and can easily drift from center to the right too, why then do you have a problem with him playing right or center when you know at some point in the match he will drift to the other side

Icon4s:


Who doesn't know he is better from the middle?

But Mikel is there at the middle so what becomes of Iwobi? Relegate him to the bench?

I don't know if you have read Matz101's analysis of how Arsenal plays the 4-2-3-1 with Iwobi, Ozil, Mikhi

I have and responded.

Martz101:


why do you need me to forget our last game which is congo??

So you will judge a player with only Congo game ?

The Congo game I watch was boring and irritating in the eyes,correct me if I am wrong

GBAM
many of us act like we will not be making subs in the mundial. I care about our bench as much as the starting 11

Kog45:
Muj i will not deceive you,so far am not impressed with Joel,Etebo,Agu,Echiejile,Aina,and Akpeyi.

These are the guys that would determine our performance not the likes of Mikel and Moses cos a good bench tells the depths of a team.

Hope to see them shake things up before WC.

Martz101:


i can't remember the last time Etebo had a good game for Nigeria

Nigeria vs Egypt. Siasia as coach. Nigeria vs Japan u23 Siasia as coach... Under Rohr can't remember any.

safarigirl:
If Rohr drops Ogu for Agu, Etebo or Joel, me, I will shout nepotism here.

None of those three has done anything spectacular enough to unseat Ogu, if we are all looking at things reasonable.

Whether in club or National team, Ogu trumps all three players, so, all this talk of Rohr likes this one, that one is a golden boy, this one is a workhorse is rubbish


None of them is better than Ogu by any stretch.

Who u Wan shout for kwanu

Because sometimes we would really need to exploit from the wings because of a weakness in the opposition. Iwobi doesn’t give u that option in terms of crosses. You want unpredictable forwards — one who can cross as well. As an opponent trying to stop Iwobi, i’d expect him to pass the ball or cut in almost all the time.

Martz101:


what you said is contradicting because if an iwobi can play right and drift to the center and can easily drift from center to the right too, why then do you have a problem with him playing right or center when you know at some point in the match he will drift to the other side

andrew444:


So you will judge a player with only Congo game ?

The Congo game I watch was boring and irritating in the eyes,correct me if I am wrong

never i don't want to use older matches because from your world you said onazi is not the Onazi of 2014, during the worldcup qualifier he was one of the top performer, against Cameroon he had one of his best games with super eagles.

infact when he was substituted for Agu against zambia our midfield crumbled.

remember you said onazi can not give accurate pass this days hence I'm pressing on the congo match because is our last match...abi which days are you talking about??

Mujtahida:

And when Mikel is tired and subbed be ready for a midfield collapse because even bringing in Musa and Iwobi drifting into the middle will not save us cos Iwobi go don tire.

All this tired tired talk, na you want make them tire? Hahaha.

Oga, these boys are professionals.

Kog45:
Yes Rohr trust him and am seeing him making the 23 man list but so far he has not really imposed himself.

I think his pedigree is going for him among fans not his performance.

I want Joel that would complement Mikel in the middle and Ndidi doing it with them but so far he hasn't,may be with Mikel in the team we see better Joel tomorrow.

in all fairness Agu should be dropped

I really can't get it, why Iwobi can't start from the Bench?! Is he more effective on the Wing than Ahmed Musa/Simon Moses or what?!

We all have agreed Mikel is the most creative Player in the Team, follow by Iwobi; then why putting our finest Eggs in the same Basket?!

We should know tactically it's gonna be a disaster in waiting, coz we all saw what happened to Liverpool after Salah's Injury. Had Liverpool got another talented Winger on the Bench, perhaps they would have won the Match.

Zizou didn't start Bale for tactical Reason, but it paid off in the End. He came in so fresh and bagged a Brace which won the Club the 3rd UCL Trophy in a Row.

I won't stop saying it, both Iwobi and Iheanacho are better off playing from Bench than starting a Match. They would be more effective coming from the Bench tactically.

Mujtahida:

His underperformance is annoying. I think his so called versatility is his problem. He doesn't quite fit anywhere.

i still don't understand why his playing in the midfield, i watched him under siasia, he played the Africa tournerment before Olympic, he was a very much forward player

My pocket, my family first.. country can die. That na our mentality o

Kog45:
The NFF guys are real typical Nigeria politicians.

Do you think they care about eagles or Nigeria football than we do.

My man they don't care.

Martz101:

and if Mikel refuse to get tired then he remains on the bench lol

Na so o

tbaba1234:


Fading players... Taribo was no longer the same, babayaro was not the same, Adepoju was not the same. It was a fading team. After 2002, how many more games did these players play? The present team has up and coming players, youthful enthusiasm. The winner of such a match is not a foregone conclusion.

The 2002 WC team was more dependent on Okocha because we left out some big names than our present team is dependent on Mikel.

Nigeria


No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Club
1 GK Ike Shorunmu 16 October 1967 (aged 34) 34 Switzerland Lucerne
2 DF Joseph Yobo 6 September 1980 (aged 21) 14 France Marseille
3 DF Celestine Babayaro 29 August 1978 (aged 23) 24 England Chelsea
4 FW Nwankwo Kanu 1 August 1976 (aged 25) 33 England Arsenal
5 DF Isaac Okoronkwo 1 May 1978 (aged 24) 12 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk
6 DF Taribo West 26 March 1974 (aged 28) 38 Germany 1. FC Kaiserslautern
7 MF Pius Ikedia 11 July 1980 (aged 21) 9 Netherlands Ajax
8 MF Mutiu Adepoju 22 December 1970 (aged 31) 49 Spain Salamanca
9 FW Bartholomew Ogbeche 1 October 1984 (aged 17) 4 France Paris Saint-Germain
10 MF Jay-Jay Okocha (c) 14 August 1973 (aged 28) 56 France Paris Saint-Germain
11 MF Garba Lawal 22 May 1974 (aged 28) 34 Netherlands Roda JC
12 GK Austin Ejide 8 April 1984 (aged 18) 3 Nigeria Gabros International
13 DF Rabiu Afolabi 18 April 1980 (aged 22) 5 Belgium Standard Liège
14 DF Ifeanyi Udeze 21 July 1980 (aged 21) 15 Greece PAOK
15 MF Justice Christopher 24 December 1981 (aged 20) 7 Belgium Royal Antwerp
16 DF Efe Sodje 5 October 1972 (aged 29) 7 England Crewe Alexandra
17 FW Julius Aghahowa 12 February 1982 (aged 20) 17 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk
18 FW Benedict Akwuegbu 3 November 1974 (aged 27) 16 China Shenyang Haishi
19 DF Eric Ejiofor 21 July 1979 (aged 22) 12 Israel Maccabi Haifa
20 MF James Obiorah 24 August 1978 (aged 23) 2 Russia Lokomotiv Moscow
21 MF John Utaka 8 January 1982 (aged 20) 4 Qatar Al-Sadd
22 GK Vincent Enyeama 29 August 1982 (aged 19) 2 Nigeria Enyimba
23 MF Femi Opabunmi 3 March 1985 (aged 17) 2 Nigeria Ibadan
Sweden


Looking at this team, How many are fading players?

How many up and coming players did you count on that list that turned out be the bomb in their clubs and National team?

How many big names did you see on that list?

You mean Kanu is no longer a legend?

Do you mean Celestine Babayaro who played 28 matches in all competition including Europe should have been droped because he was fading?

My friend, you are not being truthful with the truth.

eterisan:
Nigeria vs Egypt. Siasia as coach. Nigeria vs Japan u23 Siasia as coach... Under Rohr can't remember any.

yea i know,he doesn't not play as a midfielder under Siasia

TheGoodJoe:


You are just being evasive. The point is simple. The ratio of innit boys in top academies compared to Nigerian youth Internationals is dwarfing by the innit boys and it is the same all over Europe.

You want to sell a false point.

You have not addressed my question bruv.

Look at the specifics and address the two questions to qualify your answer, otherwise your making assumption based on nothingness your personal presumption based on what

For instance I have probably been to every EPL academy at one time or the other and at least 70% of Championship academies.

As well as qute a lot of League 1,2 and even non league youth academies. So I'm speaking from firsthand observation. Not hearsay.

Add to that a good number of European football academies. I have friends and associates who coach in European football even in the backwaters of Norway.

The term "innit boys" is in direct reference to boys in England of Nigerian origin let's be clear please.

daveP:
i do wish to see a 442 formation at one point in either of the two friendlies.


Why?
When last did we score from cross and nod? Shivering.


Yeah times have changed, but imagine the thrill of getting that right!!

We are used to 4-4-1-1.

Let see who will play the wings and Rohr's tactics.

Joebie:
Because sometimes we would really need to exploit from the wings because of a weakness in the opposition. Iwobi doesn’t give u that option in terms of crosses. You want unpredictable forwards — one who can cross as well. As an opponent trying to stop Iwobi, i’d expect him to pass the ball or cut in almost all the time.

same can be said of forward players like willian, hazard and mata they hardly give a cross but cut in or make a pass, football has envolved, most regular crosses are always done by the right back and left back or else in rare occasion.

forgiveness:

Nigeria


No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Club
1 GK Ike Shorunmu 16 October 1967 (aged 34) 34 Switzerland Lucerne
2 DF Joseph Yobo 6 September 1980 (aged 21) 14 France Marseille
3 DF Celestine Babayaro 29 August 1978 (aged 23) 24 England Chelsea
4 FW Nwankwo Kanu 1 August 1976 (aged 25) 33 England Arsenal
5 DF Isaac Okoronkwo 1 May 1978 (aged 24) 12 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk
6 DF Taribo West 26 March 1974 (aged 28) 38 Germany 1. FC Kaiserslautern
7 MF Pius Ikedia 11 July 1980 (aged 21) 9 Netherlands Ajax
8 MF Mutiu Adepoju 22 December 1970 (aged 31) 49 Spain Salamanca
9 FW Bartholomew Ogbeche 1 October 1984 (aged 17) 4 France Paris Saint-Germain
10 MF Jay-Jay Okocha (c) 14 August 1973 (aged 28) 56 France Paris Saint-Germain
11 MF Garba Lawal 22 May 1974 (aged 28) 34 Netherlands Roda JC
12 GK Austin Ejide 8 April 1984 (aged 18) 3 Nigeria Gabros International
13 DF Rabiu Afolabi 18 April 1980 (aged 22) 5 Belgium Standard Liège
14 DF Ifeanyi Udeze 21 July 1980 (aged 21) 15 Greece PAOK
15 MF Justice Christopher 24 December 1981 (aged 20) 7 Belgium Royal Antwerp
16 DF Efe Sodje 5 October 1972 (aged 29) 7 England Crewe Alexandra
17 FW Julius Aghahowa 12 February 1982 (aged 20) 17 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk
18 FW Benedict Akwuegbu 3 November 1974 (aged 27) 16 China Shenyang Haishi
19 DF Eric Ejiofor 21 July 1979 (aged 22) 12 Israel Maccabi Haifa
20 MF James Obiorah 24 August 1978 (aged 23) 2 Russia Lokomotiv Moscow
21 MF John Utaka 8 January 1982 (aged 20) 4 Qatar Al-Sadd
22 GK Vincent Enyeama 29 August 1982 (aged 19) 2 Nigeria Enyimba
23 MF Femi Opabunmi 3 March 1985 (aged 17) 2 Nigeria Ibadan
Sweden


Looking at this team, How many are fading players?

How many up and coming players did you count on that list that turned out be the bomb in their clubs and National team?

How many big names did you see on that list?

You mean Kanu is no longer a legend?

Do mean Celestine Babayaro who played 28 matches in all competition including Europe should have been droped because he was fading?

My friend, you are not being truthful with the truth.

There are only two moi moi players in that list that did not deserve call up.

Efe and Opabunmi.

Everyone else was playing either top leagues level ot close to it. Meanwhile this was a time when Dutch football was among the top elite of European football.

Martz101:


what you said is contradicting because if an iwobi can play right and drift to the center and can easily drift from center to the right too, why then do you have a problem with him playing right or center when you know at some point in the match he will drift to the other side

That's the rub. It's not in the least contradictory. When you are positioned to play centrally with liberty to drift to the flanks it's not the same thing as being deployed on the wings with liberty to move into the center. They are different but not contradictory. I can slap from left to right does not contradict slap from right to left. Gerrit? Yet one of those slaps will be more effective than the other depending on the ability of the slapper.

eterisan:
chaiiii...... Finally..... Phew..... It took a lot to get this out of you....

Ovie plays for England youth team.... Ruled out.
Same as tega...... And ojo..... All ruled out for now... They cannot be invited at this moment...they are not interested in us sef o.. And they even play for lower division teams o.

Nawa for you o bros. Small time u go tell us say their league rate pass Holland division 2 . We agree.... So them be special talent too....

Finally... We dr end up with aluko and ajagun..... So you and forgiveness nor de tire....

How is aluko competing with nwakali.... Is he a future prospect.... Aluko is competing with Mikel, ogu, and Joel or even Agu.... Currently he is not part of the team so how do you expect him to be in the world cup...... Besides what special thing has he done this season to warrant a call ahead of established team members.....

Do you now see that your argument is flawed. You criticism of nwakali has no basis cos simply there is no future prospect better and available right now... Gerrit

BTW nor de call yourself made in Warri cos you have no idea what it means.... Abeg.... We fit liv one or two for ur sclero.... Jus kponkpi.....

The world cup is not for prospect, rather it is for the best players in each country to showcases who has the best team and players in the world hence the reason prospect players are inconsequential to this discus. Thanks

Besides, when Sone was a prospect nominated for awards, how many chances was he given?

When he was nominated for the best player in the Championship or whatever, was he consider for a mere friendly?

Food for thought.

eterisan:
Yes Boss. I eagerly await this game. Has always been a fantasy for me. Nigeria vs England. Between Joel, Agu, and Ogu whoever performs well in this game is on the way to Russia. I feel one may miss out on the plane. We have to wait and see.

Put Etebo there unless Pinnick has his ass already.