Martz101:


you are soak into the hype, he was not better than finidi George

forgiveness:


First of all, from what I deduced from your write up, is that, the reason Europe has won more world cup has to do with the fact that global football is tailored to suit the style, the character and the nature of the Europeans, and that Africans have to break away from this European model of football, if at all we want to win the trophy.

If this is so, I will agree with you on the fact that football has been tailored to suit the style of the European but I don't agree that this style has failed us because this same European style won us the Olympics, the AFCON, took us to the finals of the U20 and even recently won us the U17 World cup twice (Manu Garba & Amuneke tiki taka football).

The reason African have not really done well using Nigeria as a case study has to do with lack of winning mentality, ego among players, biased selection of players, consistency (which has to do life span of Nigerian players), disunity and the fact that Nigerian players are not in the best clubs in the world.


Although, a template for a style of play can be created and adopted before it is passed down on players at a very tender age but to achieve this, we mus have a functional and well equipt age grade academies that must be run by every clubsides that want to operate in any of our tier leagues.

These clubs and League must also be bouyant enough to attract and retain players from all over third World countries or other countries interested. And players from this league must be able to work straight into any of the top 5 leagues in Europe.

My point is that the financial aspect of it must be able to allow players stay for long to master this adopted style of play, so that even if these players go abroad to learn another style, they can quickly adapt to our style once they are assembled together. Else, anything short of this will not work and we will be forced to play only according to the European style.

However, Each European has different style of play. The Italians adopted park the motor and counter attack style of football and it won them the 2006 World cup if I am correct. In 2010, Spain adopted Cruff tiki taka football to win the world cup while the Germans subdued the world with their compact fast counter attack football and technology.

These styles of play didn't start yesterday, they ran it for years in their academy and even mastered it playing together in the league.


For me to win the world cup, we must either use the method that won us the Olympics, U17 etc or we develop our league and adopt a style of play.

Martz101:


when you are talking about Africa players forget age, the struggle to get to Europe is not easy.

For skillful players, do you know who Etim essien is?? what of sam okwaraji...etim essien was as good as jay jay...the media then were talking about Gascoigne and basten.

olu98:
but d pig also predicted Brazil as 2014 champions

forgiveness:


First of all, from what I deduced from your write up, is that, the reason Europe has won more world cup has to do with the fact that global football is tailored to suit the style, the character and the nature of the Europeans, and that Africans have to break away from this European model of football, if at all we want to win the trophy.

If this is so, I will agree with you on the fact that football has been tailored to suit the style of the European but I don't agree that this style has failed us because this same European style won us the Olympics, the AFCON, took us to the finals of the U20 and even recently won us the U17 World cup twice (Manu Garba & Amuneke tiki taka football).

The reason African have not really done well using Nigeria as a case study has to do with lack of winning mentality, ego among players, biased selection of players, consistency (which has to do life span of Nigerian players), disunity and the fact that Nigerian players are not in the best clubs in the world.


Although, a template for a style of play can be created and adopted before it is passed down on players at a very tender age but to achieve this, we mus have a functional and well equipt age grade academies that must be run by every clubsides that want to operate in any of our tier leagues.

These clubs and League must also be bouyant enough to attract and retain players from all over third World countries or other countries interested. And players from this league must be able to work straight into any of the top 5 leagues in Europe.

My point is that the financial aspect of it must be able to allow players stay for long to master this adopted style of play, so that even if these players go abroad to learn another style, they can quickly adapt to our style once they are assembled together. Else, anything short of this will not work and we will be forced to play only according to the European style.

However, Each European has different style of play. The Italians adopted park the motor and counter attack style of football and it won them the 2006 World cup if I am correct. In 2010, Spain adopted Cruff tiki taka football to win the world cup while the Germans subdued the world with their compact fast counter attack football and technology.

These styles of play didn't start yesterday, they ran it for years in their academy and even mastered it playing together in the league.


For me to win the world cup, we must either use the method that won us the Olympics, U17 etc or we develop our league and adopt a style of play.

daveP:



I'm glad you actually raised those hindsights in the post you tagged us all.


Lemme first say this.... of we Africans don't take up the idea of Studying Football Science as a course, philosophy or a career endeavor, then we may well remain where we currently are, I.e licking their butts.


It's a green field with 22players and studying alot from in play to off play to build up play to team strength and weaknesses... etc. all these is why Europeans are having their own philosophy of football now.


South Africa have one of their universities having Football science, it's a science meaning that we can apply the scientific method to develop something that will fit our psyche.




It will shock you that based on the availability of such career opportunity in any naija university, we would have a solid foundation that would ensure coaching upgrade on its own self. no more random local old men doing jobs that require flair or talent.


Obviously it's one of the terms the Europeans coined to sooth their bruised ego@Talent isn't enough.


I like Brazil, theyve adapted so well to alot that they are still the official Jack of all trades.


Next is the way we take cadet football.


Nigeria's feel patriotic with the style we display and it gives us success. Ghanaian analysts were so shocked at the kind of play we displayed in UAE. why cos it's too sophisticated for cadet football. But they were brushed aside that things are evolving.


Now imagine all academies just take that u17 as case study and use it to groom talents. In 7years, we won't need to be finding who to blend with who cos almost all of the guys picked would be already imbibed with the style.


That's what we need


I hate it when all Europeans foremostly say that African sides are physical. it's like a mentality and it's more like sacarsm to me. We may just do stuff that would shock them. besides these Europeans sit on a comfortable WC slot of 13. If they are given 5 like Africa, trust me, they would have only 1 team in the quarterfinals.



Well I feel a national philosophical approach can be reached to do exactly all academies to churn out some iota of different talents with a style that suits us. it's with time and not hard to adapt to

TheSuperNerd:
Super Eagles Camp update


Mikel Obi, Super Eagles Captain and Midfield Marshal speaks


Mikel, who spoke during a press conference in Essentuki before the Super Eagles departure for Kaliningrad where they will face Croatia on Saturday, warned that the Super Eagles should not be judged by their poor results in their pre-World Cup friendlies.

“It’s a good time to try all of that. We know how we play. We know what we can give. We just need to focus more on the tournament,” Mikel began.
“We want to be Nigeria,we want to play our way and obviously we want to do that on Saturday. Now is the business time and we have to switch.
“I think we want to start from the blast of the whistle. We want to go in for every tackle and win every balls and dictate and control the game.
“This is how we play. We don’t want to wait for the second half. This is something we have spoken about and we want to improve on it. We can do better from from the first half of the game and we hope that we can start well in this tournament.”

On Saturday’s game against Croatia, Mikel admitted that they are a good team and it won’t be easy going against the fantastic players in the Vatreni side.

“There’s no easy team in this world Cup. We know that. Croatia is a team with fantastic players.
“Its going to be a difficult game. It’s going to be a game of tactics. But we have to make sure we control the game.
“It’s going to be tough we know how we play and we will carry on playing that way.”

The captain also added that the Super Eagles will benefit well from the reputation of the two Nigerian players plying their trade in the Russian League.
Ahmed Musa and Bryan Idowu are the two players in the Super Eagles squad playing in Russia Premier League with CSKA Moscow and Amkar Perm.

“Musa has been playing here for a long time and he’s back. For him (Musa) he needs the playing time. It was good for him to return to Russia.
“Now he’s back and playing regularly and he’s scoring goals.
“He’s in better form and better shape and that will help us a lot. We are happy that the players playing in Russia will help us a lot.
“Maybe we can have more fans to support us. Everything is a plus for us and we hope to capitalize on those pluses.
He also praised Gernot Rohr for his great impact on the team since he was appointed two years ago.
“No disrespect to other coaches that have been there. The difference is clear. People can see the togetherness in the team, the unity.
“He (Rohr) brought in a lot of discipline and you can see the friendliness in the team. I think we lacked a bit of it.
“We have to be together and stick together and maybe we can achieve something together.


The 31-year old had time for some wisecracks when asked
which teams are the favourites for the World Cup.

“Nigeria of course are among the favorites,” Mikel laughed.

“We are underdogs and we believe that will motivate us to do well in Russia.

“All we need to do is to continue to be together in good or bad times. Football is not all about winning. Hopefully we can achieve something great in the tournament.

And he praised Argentine captain Lionel Messi who he considers to be from outer space because of his prodigious talent.

“I think every team is favourites (to win) but obviously if you have to say there’s one footballer who is not from this planet. I love to give credit to whom it’s due.
“Messi is one of the greatest players in the world so Argentina with him are one of the favourites.”


Source: CSN

realpoacher:


My stand is "consistent" winnings not "accidental" winnings

Hope you catch my drift?

mowah:

Lol, this ain't gonna happen , when you study the world cup tree very well, you will realize that it's not possible for 4 of them to qualify for the semis , only 3 of them can make it at the same time. It's Just one of those fake funny news

realpoacher:


Now i see why you talk down on our present team so much

Initially i thought it was hate... I thought you were just a naturally vile critic, an agent who just wished us badluck because your favorite player didn't make the team.

But now i know better, you so much love Nigerian football and by extension African football too

You want us to grow beyond this level, to dominate and rule the world in football especially considering how far we have come

Unfortunately, things have not turned out the way you expected. We are still mediocre at best, and to make matters worse, we as fans are celebrating this mediocrity... Lolz..

So it annoys you... It gets you riled up so bad that the team you love so much can't give you the kind of performance you desire from them... Therefore You can't even sit to watch them play.... Seeing them running around like headless chickens in direct contrast to how you expect them to play or perform is a pain in your ass!

You have lovingly criticized them so much without change or results that now you resent them. They dashed all hope of yours. It pains you so much that you can't watch them play 'cos its gonna be the same old story. Now they have ruined your Saturday evenings

Anyways, i believe you have wished in your silent corner for the day our results will change. You probably longed for such a day.

So let me tell you this bro

Look no further as soon enough, the tides will change and our boiz will in a not distant time from now give you the results or display you seek for.

I so much in believe that

Martz101:


you are soak into the hype, he was not better than finidi George

Icon79:
Safari, I can tell you right now that the so called psychic pig would be wrong. I pray and hope that Nigeria and Argentina makes it to the semi finals, but I don't see Uruguay and Belgium making it past the quarter finals.

Go write it down .... we'll revisit this post at the appropriate time.


O pari

asha80:
reminds me of a commentary of Nigeria vs Argentina in Atlanta 96.. at a point in the second half at 2-2 Nigeria was launching lots of attacks against Argentina and the commentator who from his voice was obviously a foreigner (commenting in English though ) said ' the Nigerians look like the Latins of old'

realpoacher:
It is an honor to be alive today inorder to witness yet another world cup. Glory be to God the most high.

While the players were getting ready, me too was running round the clock to get prepared for this tournament.

I subscribed to bounty data, i got our Gen set fixed and filled it up with fuel already... No time for stories..

Now i will say


LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!....... ......... (in Shang Shaung voice)

TheGoodJoe:


How can you even make such statement. Bergkamp was good in his controls and finishing but Beckham added more to the Success Of the team. From his accurate long balls from deep to free strikers, to his accurate crosses, he was one of the best free kick takers ever. And then deadly with corner-kicks.

Bergkamp can not come close to David Beckham in any way.

andrew444:


Its seems you are looking down on uruguay,You dont know the calibre of players uruguay have if you know the calibre of players i doubt you will say anything about them you will just watch and see what might happens.

Let me give you small clue.

Central defence pair....... Diego Godin and Jimenez......Both plays for ATM and they are both starters in ATM defence,Martin caceres of Lazio might play right back and Maxi Perriera of porto is left back,uruguay most capped player with 125 appearance.

Midfield...... Lucas Torriera plays for sampdoria,he is about to join arsenal..... Mathias Vecino plays for Inter millan and he is a starter there.

Striker...Luis suarez and cavani.....Chritian stuani,but stuani will be benched because they will be playing a 4-4-2,Cavani suarez and stuani add their goals together this season its better than any other strikers together.

I am not telling you uruguay will make it to the semi or win the world cup...A good football analyst will never tell you uruguay will be out till they see it happens.

If super eagles have the calibre of players uruguay have i think we will be dreaming to win the world cup and not quarter final achievement.

somehow:

Who are the latins of old?

Mujtahida:
MY THOUGHTS ON THE EVE OF THE WC
since 2002 no country apart from european countries has won the WC(and more european countries have won the WC than any other country from other continents since the inception of the FIFA WC in 1930. while it can be argued that this is because europeans have proportionately more teams than other continents -could there be other causes?) could this be as a result of the fact that global football is tailored to suit the style, the nature and character of Europeans?
take this issue of pressing that has almost become the alfa tactics employed by most teams for example. it is about choking and pressuring the opposition when they(the opposition) have the ball. now i think this is what happened: europeans eliminated the dribble(yes dribbling is almost dead) because i do not see how pressing can be effective when you have a team of good ball dribblers. can you press maradona, or okocha or any team with a good number of dribblers like Brazil 82 team? they will just dribble themselves out of the choke and pass the ball to a team mate who is free from the press. just a moment of sheer individual brilliance, a sweet turn, a flick and dance with the ball and the whole press will collapse.but you see what europeans have done: they eliminated the dribble, clamped down on individual displays and erected a temple to the god of passing, passing, passing and laid more emphasis on team game.
europeans thrive on organization and efficiency: they hate anything disorganized which is how they regard anything free flowing(meanwhile africans want expressiveness and flair). check out classical european music, opera and the ballet dance. everything is timed and organized. the world of music was cold until africans and south americans(and it was still africans if you know your history)with the their toms toms, sense of natural rhythm and free flowing dance brought in the blues, jazz and pop culture was born. for the life of me i have tried to enjoy mozart, bach, handel and others but omo i still prefer the sound of the gong, ekwe, beaded gourd and talking drum. to the european ear african music is disorganized but as africans we know theres a method to that seeming "disorganization". our music is all about rhythm and improvisation.

my point is we must break away from this european model of playing football: we cannot beat them when it comes to an organized approached to football. no wonder xavi said that they understand football as a space-time concept. this is nothing but the scientific european mind speaking. the black man has no such concept. (thats why he cannot operate by the 24 hour clock). africans understand football as a dance, as rhythm, as beat, as robustness and vigour.
this is how we must play our football. we must play football according to our soul. we are africans and its not a matter of race- its a matter of an outlook on life which we can perfect and use to define our game.

my brothers i would appreciate your thoughts on this issue
cc
Icobn4s
asha80
bascovanveli
goldfish80
tbaba1234
safarigirl
servik
kennysville
oasis07
thesupernerd
goodjoe
joebie
chriskels
davep
AIG
mikael2
kog45
forgiveness
soetanoluwa
martz07
charlesemeka
and every other esteemed poster on this great thread

TheGoodJoe:


How can you even make such statement. Bergkamp was good in his controls and finishing but Beckham added more to the Success Of the team. From his accurate long balls from deep to free strikers, to his accurate crosses, he was one of the best free kick takers ever. And then deadly with corner-kicks.

Bergkamp can not come close to David Beckham in any way.

Mujtahida:

Beckham was excellent. What with his curlers, swingers, free kicks and pin point crosses.

I do not agree with your last sentence except if you mean to say that Beckham and Bergkamp cannot be compared cos they played in different positions and had different skill sets but in terms of overall football intelligence the iceman trumps Beckham

TheSuperNerd:
You even forgot to mention another midfield super talent of theirs, Rodrigo Bentacur. This Juventus lad is bound for great things. A true central midfield pearl in Uruguay's jewel collection.



Glad you mentioned Lucas Torreira already who is a 1.67m or so short-man workhouse who plays DM with so much energy and creativity. He started out as an AM but got turned to a DM and has since flourished. He can function like a kind of deeplying playmaker too.
He's even linked to Arsenal as some of you already know.

asha80:
south Americans of 60s and 70s I guess

andrew444:


Thank you,I am just trying to give him a small clue Rodrigo Bentacur of juventus we know what he can cause in the Midfield.

Nobody will tell you Uruguay cant make the semi,they will just watch and see,As far as am concerned Brazil dont have much quality players than Uruguay.

Some people call brazil world cup favorite but who is the striker there?

If we can call brazil world cup favorite then uruguay should also be called,As far as i am concerned luis suarez is the best striker in the WORLD.

As far as i am concerned Gabriel jesus is still an average player,is he because he plays for mancity and pep trust him alot? can we compare a gabriel jesus and a suarez or cavani? Aside neymar coutinho uruguay will match with brazil.

Thiago silva is not a better defender than Diego godin. Brazil edge them out in midfield but they edge brazil out in defence and attack.

TheGoodJoe:


Impossible because Beckham's crosses, curlers and long ball had to do a lot with brilliance, reading the game, movements of his players and opposing players. This made his overall intelligence well above Bergkamp because Beckham had more influence in overall teamplay than Beckham.

somehow:


I thought latin was a coded italian language.

asha80:
Jesus plays well for Brazil.. his goal per game ratio is good

TheGoodJoe:


How can you even make such statement. Bergkamp was good in his controls and finishing but Beckham added more to the Success Of the team. From his accurate long balls from deep to free strikers, to his accurate crosses, he was one of the best free kick takers ever. And then deadly with corner-kicks.

Bergkamp can not come close to David Beckham in any way.

TheGoodJoe:
Fill your eyes before describing Beckham as thrash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QJMcaksnH0