TheGoodJoe:
First, let us get the notion that the Europeans do not produce good dribblers.

Off the top of my head, Figo, Brian and Michael Laudrup, Gascoigne, Joe Cole, Ryan Giggs, Overmars, Seedorf, Johann Cruyff, Dugarry, Djorkaeff and a host of others.

Today, in dribbling talents, which Africans would we put above the likes of Hazard, Dembele, Isco, Thiago Alcantara, Bernardo Silva, Sane etc.

I doubt we should think we edge the Europeans in individual creativity.

This should be the concern of the South Americans. Not us.

cc: Mujtahida, Martz101.

joseph1013:

We need to find a way to play Kelechi in our team. We're assured of scoring goals, that much is certain.

It is the work of the coach to maximize a team's potential. Let's hope Rohr pull it off.

somehow:


You are talking about Balogun right?

Btw, can you try watching the second half between Nigeria England? Watch the defensive candidates on the field for us and tell me what you notice from their performance individually and collectivel2?

Martz101:


This i will disagree with you, most good European dribblers are hyped by the media, but african players with such quality don't have that media attention.

No one knows how much Okocha was good with the ball untill Italy match. the commentator keep saying Okocha is one of the best players in the tournerment, same okocha that started just the Italy match, alot of dribble star like finidi,siasia, Amokachi and Amunike and even more but the media never cared to take note that was why it came as a surprise to them.

Even now so many people even Nigerians don't know an Ighalo is full of skills, a simon step overs could send you to the Bush and even a henry onyekuru ball movement could get one lost.

European media hype there own, if i didn't see Beckham play i would have thought he was way better than kanu and okocha put together.

and this media makes our player inferior and it affect our game, African players and team need to be Brave to win the worldcup

goldfish80:

Of course they are better than Argentina who they beat blue black not so long ago in a friendly. Having a talisman in a bad team can only get you further so much but you begin to look world conquering when you have a good team and a talisman.
Although, comparing this team with the golden age class of 2008-2012 is stretching it a bit. Must be said.

Martz101:


This i will disagree with you, most good European dribblers are hyped by the media, but african players with such quality don't have that media attention.

No one knows how much Okocha was good with the ball untill Italy match. the commentator keep saying Okocha is one of the best players in the tournerment, same okocha that started just the Italy match, alot of dribble star like finidi,siasia, Amokachi and Amunike and even more but the media never cared to take note that was why it came as a surprise to them.

Even now so many people even Nigerians don't know an Ighalo is full of skills, a simon step overs could send you to the Bush and even a henry onyekuru ball movement could get one lost.

European media hype there own, if i didn't see Beckham play i would have thought he was way better than kanu and okocha put together.

and this media makes our player inferior and it affect our game, African players and team need to be Brave to win the worldcup

komekn:


Firstly Abbey played for Macclesfield Town first.

My diction was clear George Abbey played well during the period he played for the SE. There is no comparison with Echiejile.

What I did say and or imply, Echiejile is shadow of his former self you can not progress forward on the basis of past glories.

Currently Echiejile is the weak link he is even failing at club football. Unable to make way in Turkey he us playing 2nd division in Belgium.

somehow:
Photoshoot

TheGoodJoe:


Enough of the distractions. Photoshoot for what again. I tire.

wayodude:


They told you that? You have any Moroccan friends?

BOOMnaija:
Awon backbone...

Mujtahida:

you have said it better than i ever could have said and i am happy that you are in a position to influence things. kudos bro cos you have awareness and that alone counts for something. we must incorporate the best of the European style with the natural flair and expressiveness of the african. thank you for dropping your thoughts

somehow:


Its normal na.. All pariticipants will have one.

TheGoodJoe:


We need to finalize tactics and study opponents. They have been taking pictures since.

TheGoodJoe:


I am saying contrary to the belief, the dribbling game favors the Europeans because they are better at it. Thinking we need more dribbling in our team as the solution does not cut it. We need to work with the current trend and create our own path from it. Just as the Chileans did.

At the end, it comes to us having our own set-up and apply most of the modern models of the game.

somehow:
Photoshoot

Martz101:


yea our game change from the defense department to the midfield and then attack.

it was not balogun fault maybe that's what you are suspecting

komekn:


The accuracy of the MRI test is not in question.

However, the baseline data used to make the deductions is. I suggest you do some research on that first, several published scientific journals are readily available.

What MRI gives is near 100% certainty of what age range a person can not be in. That deduction is made from the test results married to the baseline data.

That means it's indicative and far more relevant to the U17 set where bone fusion should not have set in. All things being equal. That's why it's effectiveness at U21 level is open to question.

Add the variable of nutrition, environment, and race and absolute becomes impossible but indicative a very big YES.

Add to all those variables the penchant for sharp practices within our officialdom. Then the case of a Nigerian origin player born in the USA failing the MRI scan becomes feasible. Particularly when they the NFF refused to hand over the test results for scrutiny.

As a society age cheating is not unique to football but pervades every aspect of our life from police army service to government bodies and ministries indeed there are men married to women older than them without knowing.

So I now bury the matter it's no longer relevant.

Indeed this problem was birthed by European football associations in thier obsession with youth. As if youth was the only component for football quality and excellence.

You get to 21 and you are almost dismissed as being over the hill if you have no pedigree. The association with youth and top football performance is absurd.

If you are good age is irrelevant in my opinion.

chrisooblog:
hopefully this formation helps us get out of the blocks faster and fingers crossed do damage before the croats can settle. the likes of kovacic, modric and rakitic will want to control the tempo that's why i think it's imperative to use our relative youth to our advantage to run the croats ragged this is where ndidi will be so crucial. i also think adding etebo will be that extra running engine in midfield.

somehow:
I pray we don't end up coming home after 3 games just to be remembered for the runway activities we put up in russia

Martz101:


nice writeup bros

kentebemoney:


Ur head is there bro!!!

Anytime the head coach is not around , I let dem play three touch football and allow more touches only to blow foul if the end product is bad.
Every other day strictly 2touch with lots of off the ball runs.
I love my midfielders extremely confident on the ball.

chrisooblog:
thanks I think mujtahida deserves more kudos we really need deep introspection on how to turn our national teams from mere also fans to actual cup contenders at world tourneys

somehow:
I pray we don't end up coming home after 3 games just to be remembered for the runway activities we put up in russia

TheGoodJoe:
I am so shocked with the drama going on in Spain and feel disappointed with Lopetegui negotiating and entering an agreement with Real Madrid few days to a top World Cup game. Astonishing when you look at the fact he gained most of his experience working with the Spanish FA. The FA supported him and showed faith in him until he became a Manager of the Spanish team.

Today he is a top quality coach but I feel he should have paid back the Spanish FA with his loyalty.

Wish him the best.

Triniti:
This looks like pictures they took before the England game, considering the numbers on their jerseys. Omeruo wears the number 4 now not ndidi

chrisooblog:
yes a strong league would be a start but you also need good competition to sharpen your players skills can that be gotten alone from facing enyimba, kano pillars, mamelodi sundowns, tp mazembe, al haly?

i think forward thinking exceptional local coaches will be our redemption. look at south america top argentine coaches like simeone, pelligrini, pochentino. brazil as well produce exceptional coaches.

some how the nff will have to start grooming coaches same way we do for our cadet teams. by the time we identify and train these exceptional local coaches who understand the philosophy of how we play we then ensure most clubs in the land employ these people. we should also put in place a fair system of genuine competition which ensures that the best succeeds. it's from this same pool of top coaches who did well nationally and intercontinental that national team handlers will be picked from

chrisooblog:
thanks I think mujtahida deserves more kudos we really need deep introspection on how to turn our national teams from mere also fans to actual cup contenders at world tourneys