TheSuperNerd:
Rohr had the balls to bench Onazi abi and start Etebo and we saw it justified!

Now let him take it a bit further to bench Ighalo and Shehu. It is a no brainer. What Ighalo failed to do all game, Iheanacho came in and brought some life into that attack having a half-chance shot taken and even created a fine chance for Musa. We looked more dangerous with Iheanacho after his intro and also with Musa.

As for Shehu, that lad is scared to cross and to open up as an outlet for more attacking plays. Ebuehi trumps him all round. Shehu dulled us on the right going forward even though he did make a few defensive clearances. We need to be more adventurous and daring and sadly Shehu is not! Ebuehi should come in.

How can we have more than two occasions on which an overlap and cross-in from Shehu would have caused mayhem in the Croatian box only for Shehu to act all timid when Moses wants him to open up and he chooses to turn and pass backwards. It is criminal. He should be benched. His dullness is the reason Moses was always covering for him too and playing too deep down that right. Moses could not link up as he wants with Mikel upfront and Ighalo further up because of Shehu. Frustrating!


Rohr must be brave and start our very best. Enough of accomodating "players because they played the WCQs bla bla bla."

This is the time for Mad Action with the very best we have. For once we actually had a better bench than what we had on field and Rohr didn't react well enough. Sad. We must do it right against Iceland from the word go because that game ehn..... That is the realest war of them all.

Odunayaw:
Where was this during the qualifiers?

ChrisKels:


A wise coach is flexible and understands that it is different stroke for different folks.

He had a plan that worked against the Africans, but tweaking now that the stage is a step higher, to get results, he showed he ain't as astute as earlier thought.

Did u see Portugal versus Belgium in the pre tournament friendly? Compare that Portugal side to the one that matched the Espanas, then u will see the different.

goldfish80:


Mikel played the no 10 role. If you struggle to create chances, the number 10 is usually held responsible.

goldfi.sh80:
'We're not just professional on set-pieces' - Gernot Rohr defends tactics, Mikel in Croatia loss



The Super Eagles were punished for their lack of coordination while defending set-pieces, according to the German gaffer

Nigeria's only undoing against Croatia was defending set-pieces and not the tactical approach, according to coach Gernot Rohr.

The Super Eagles failed to break their World Cup opening game jinx with an own goal from Oghenekaro Etebo and a Luka Modric penalty, both coming off mistakes from corner kicks, condemning them to a 2-0 defeat at the Kaliningrad Stadium.

The west African side have now failed to win their first games at the quadrennial tourney since the 1998 edition when they won Spain 3-1. Also, the goals conceded were the third and fourth off corner kick situations in their previous three encounters.

Rohr's choice of tactics was questioned by fans and pundit alike . But the German handler has defended the urge not to revert to a back-three, stating they did well in countering Zlatko Dalic's approach and, however, only missed being 'professional' from set-piece situations.

[b]"I think the organisation was okay. We didn't concede from normal play, we conceded from set-pieces," Rohr said after the game.

"Our system was okay. We cannot play with three when there is only one centre-forward, so we played with four because Croatia had three strikers. What we were missing today was to be more professional on set-pieces. Each game is different, we will see for the next game. We know we can play with three centre-backs but today was not that day.

Rohr also jumped to the defence of team captain John Obi Mikel - subbed off in the closing stages of the game after failing to exert his influence, and particularly failing to link effectively with striker Odion Ighalo.

"We play all the time with Mikel in this role of offensive midfield. It's was going well, we qualified and the team built behind them.

"I know he plays before in defensive midfield, in China he plays offensive and defensive. When we don't have the ball, everyone is defensive. Obi Mikel tried his best, it's not easy when you have to play against Modric and Rakitic when you see the clubs where they play and then the clubs where our players play.

On Alex Iwobi, he said: "Iwobi deserved to start the game, he had big work to do defensively against the right-back, he did it well, he had to work a lot, perhaps he was missing the energy for his offensive game.

"He did well, it was not his fault we lost the game."

Rohr still harbours hope that Nigeria can qualify from Group D, believing his side can muster four points off Iceland and Argentina - who played a 1-1 draw at the Spartak Stadium, earlier on Saturday .


"It's important to make at least four points to qualify. All is in our hands. Let's be positive and believe we can do it.

"We have the youngest team at the World Cup. Let them learn from this match and do better. We saw Iceland they are a strong team and they can do very well, but we know we can also do better."[/b]

Nigeria, rooted to the bottom of Group D with no point, face World Cup debutant Iceland on June 22.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/were-not-just-professional-on-set-pieces-gernot-rohr-defends/1mc95khwa4tg01an0gabopzqtm

goldfish80:

Those pass completion didn't reflect on chances created and he was the most advanced midfielder.
Were you not the one who claimed the absence of Mikel was the reason Kelechi didn't get service against South Africa? Why didn't the presence of Mikel create chances last night?

Oasis007:




Also seem you didn't pay Attention to several Posts I've made cautioning Forgiveness for over-grinding Matters?!

TheGoodJoe:


We collapsed yesterday when Mikel left the field. He is a glue that holds us together. Mikel worked hard but he needs passing options. I hope Rohr does the right thing and start Iheanacho upfront and give Ebuehi the nod. With the forward movements of these guys, we will disorganize the opposition and create spaces to exploit.

somehow:


Even you? No amount of crosses would have made us score as long as it was Ighalo that was in that box.

You are playing a one man striker who is not known to be great with his head and you think lack of crosses was why we didnt score? I won't say more than that.

The few crosses we connected to where from balogun and only one weak heading from ighalo.

somehow:
You keep repeating this, which collapse did we collapse? Did we not concede 2 goals when he was on the field of play, how many did we concede after he left?

Collapse ko, calipso no. This is what happens when we support the eagles because of some certain players, we get blinded to their fault abd twist facts in their favor.

ChrisKels:


Its a lie, thats just like saying Chriskels was the first guy that started clamoring for the German guys.

We all clamored for Tyrone, Aina, Odubajo and Ehizibue when we had a problematic RB. No one did it first or alone because that problem was obvious and we needed urgent solution to it.

ChrisKels:


Hahaha so u dey laf abi?? Next time surf ur Internet for more information. Dats by d way, how are u and ur household, I hope Jehovah bu Eze?

Ur boy (Ebuehi) seem to have been called up. Rohr must have been reading ur posts here secretly oo.

Keep it up sir but easy with arguments, na Dat one dey annoy me lol.

What do u make of Ogu's invitation (if he was truly invited) ? I think Rohr wanna see if he could do better as a left full back because I don't see him displacing any of our midfielders. A healthy Joel Obi would have been a better option IMO.

ChrisKels:


Used past tense verbs. He "was" an ardent supporter... Not he "is" an ardent supporter.

ersonleads:

We can only win our next match playing 352
Was thinking he was gonna adapt to it in d second half. He should henceforth play omerou, ekong & balogun as 3 @ d back. Ndidi Mikel & iwobi @ d midfield (iwobi as ten, Mikel should support ndidi at blocking 4 to protect d back 3). Y ebuehi plays right wing back & moses plays left wing back. Nwankwo & iheanacho should play alternately upfront like dey did against Argentina in d friendly.

ChrisKels:


A wise coach is flexible and understands that it is different stroke for different folks.

He had a plan that worked against the Africans, but tweaking now that the stage is a step higher, to get results, he showed he ain't as astute as earlier thought.

Did u see Portugal versus Belgium in the pre tournament friendly? Compare that Portugal side to the one that matched the Espanas, then u will see the different.

Oasis007:








The Above was a Response to one of Forgiveness' Posts.

ChrisKels:


Chai Joe, if we dont stand for our team, who will?

In my hood I am called the fake Barca fan just because I root for any team parading a Nigerian footballer whenever they are pitched against my darling FCB. People know me too well as a staunch Eagles fan and they really dealt with me yesterday. Even people I bought drink to enjoy my team yesterday begin laugh me because I was clad in our new Jersey. I regret not sticking my ass home to see the match alone, my enthusiasm for the team and game sold me out. I drove off in anger and the guys had to board a taxi back to the estate. Come see yeye messages from my none Nigerian friends especially the Ghanaians and SA.

Now to flex Jersey wey I buy with my money na wahala all because of one stubborn coach. I want Rohr fired. This time I mean it.

I haven't been this sad for many years.

Oasis007:




I was never an ardent Supporter of him. I noticed the past Tense, but chose to correct the Impression.

The Key Words; Did not. - you didn't pay Attention, not you don't pay Attention.

TheGoodJoe:


Classic case of totally missing the point.

Against South Africa, Iheanacho made repeated runs to space to take advantage of the wide gaps created by the South Africans. Unfortunately, we did not have the midfielder to take advantage of Iheanacho's runs. With Mikel, we would have torn the South Africans to shreds.

In this case, the runs and movement were not made by Ighalo, so Mikel did not have the opportunity to using his passing range to our advantage.

Gerrit?

It’s a disappointing result and performance, and we only had one effort on goal which was a looping header.

“Mikel needs to play deeper in the role he is used to with Chelsea and Iwobi needs to play in the middle.”....... Osaze

BascoVanVeli:


Call a spade a spade. Etebo covered even more grass as an AMF and we all said that was not enough because his primary job was to create for the team so lets not say Mikel covered grass so he must be exempt from being our source of creativity.

ChrisKels:


What has that got to do with him being the first and only one that clamored for him?

Yes Ebuehi is his boy as much as Awaziem and Uzoho are my boys but I will never credit myself as the person who forced the hand of the NFF over their invitations respectively.

LMAO...... Guess you know the same Tyrone you preferred over Shehu as a RB was first suggested by Forgiveness?!

somehow:


Even you? No amount of crosses would have made us score as long as it was Ighalo that was in that box.

You are playing a one man striker who is not known to be great with his head and you think lack of crosses was why we didnt score? I won't say more than that.

The few crosses we connected to were from balogun and only one weak heading from ighalo.

What was done with our 5 to 6 corners?

goldfish80:

You will always find one excuse to give no matter what. After the South African game, you claimed Mikel was the missing link for kelechi. Now Mikel is here, you switch to Kelechi. The same Kelechi who have proved time and time again his inability to play as a single striker. Infact it was after his stinker against SA that he lost the starting spot in the Super Eagles till date.


That's another quote from an ex international, pointing at Mike's failings. Do you know football more than Okocha and Osaze? Did you ever play for Super Eagles? If these guys are pointing finger at Mikel, who are you to suggest they are all wrong and you're right?

Oasis007:






You need to take a Break Bro. Did I say he had a Hand in his Invitation?!

Odunayaw:
I remember saying the same where I watched that match. Why the crosses when we are playing a tall team, no lay ups, nothing. The long ranging is why I watch the Zambians

soetanoreoluwa:
Nairaland 23 Man Squad with Technical crew

---

Goalkeepers

1.Bascovanveli
2. edi287
3. Danielninono

Defenders

4.Lexyman
5.Napeleon55
6.Taliban
7.AIG07
8.Komekn
9.davep
10. maidaboi
11. omanbala

Midfielders

12. Certitude
13. Humility
14. Safarigirl
15. darkelf
16. bolowolowo
17.solonnachi

Strikers

18.Metaljigsaw
19.icon79
20.Realpoacher
21.Goke7
22.klexycole
23.Krattoss

Technical crew

Coach
Icon4s

Assistant Coach 1

Kog45

Assistant coach 11

TheGoodjoe

Assistant coach 111

TheSuperNerd

Goalkeeper Trainer

Tbaba1234

Medical Team

Michael2
Dr kclever

Fitness Trainers

Captainstephen
Andrew444
goldenfish80

Team Psychologists

Mujtahida
Congo4ka

Video Analysts

Joebie
Oasis

Team scouts

Chriskels
Forgiveness
Charlesemeka

Logistics and protocols

Elyte
Loogan

media Officer

soetanoreoluwa

Incase you are not selected keep working hard AFCOn 2019 is fast approaching

If you like shout corruption and Wayo Wayo...

Incase you are doubting the selection kindly ask questions

Technical crew should set up the game plan.

Just hope the team will be able to work together to bring the cup home

2 days to World Cup... I can't wait

etebefia:
Sorry to say this but this might be the worst world cup outing for the super eagles, I don't see them scoring a single goal at the tournament.

Yomiwayne80:
How a foreign TV channel described the Eagles

TheGoodJoe:


I have told you people the same thing over and over again but you guys have continued with your false doctrine.

Iheanancho was good in the game against South Africa but the midfield failed in taking advantage of his runs. Yet you people want to blame Iheanacho for the midfield not finding him.

Now Ighalo offered little movement upfront and now you people want to blame Mikel for our conservative style.

Playing Mikel deeper means you guys want Iwobi or Iheanacho in attack midfield to support Ighalo because he is not capable of causing defenders problem.

It might work but it kills our three man midfield combos who can contribute defensively and keep us compact in the Middle. To take advantage of this, we need movement upfront. This was our problem, not Mikel.

When Iheanacho entered, with Mikel in the side, we were deadlier. It is so easy to see. Look at the window when Iheanacho attacked and tell me we would not have cause the Croatians more problems.