So Mikel is no longer a 90 minute player

[Ayo Akinfe]

[1] We have problems in midfield ladies and gentlemen
[2] Rohr obviously knew what he was doing when he replaced Mikel in both games
[3] I for one wondered why Mikel was taken off so early in Yaounde but if you watch the game again, you can see he was knackered
[4] By the 60th minute, Mikel was out of gas and giving the ball away easily
[5] Cameroon's strategy was to close him down whenever he had the ball and he kept losing possession in the second half whenever they did
[6] For me, the tragedy is that we did not have anyone of that quality and class on the bench to replace him
[7] For me, the only player of such quality we have in central midfield is Kelechi Nwakali
[8] Like it or not, Kelechi Nwakali has to play in the next two games, even if as a sub. He needs to be groomed for the World Cup
[9] I do not buy this argument about club action. Leon Balogun has not played one match for Mainz this season
[10] For me, the areas in the team where we are desperately short are the two fullback positions, playmaker and in goal. Rohr needs to step up his search.

[pajimoh]

[1] We have problems in midfield ladies and gentlemen
[2] Rohr obviously knew what he was doing when he replaced Mikel in both games
[3] I for one wondered why Mikel was taken off so early in Yaounde but if you watch the game again, you can see he was knackered
[4] By the 60th minute, Mikel was out of gas and giving the ball away easily
[5] Cameroon's strategy was to close him down whenever he had the ball and he kept losing possession in the second half whenever they did
[6] For me, the tragedy is that we did not have anyone of that quality and class on the bench to replace him
[7] For me, the only player of such quality we have in central midfield is Kelechi Nwakali
[8] Like it or not, Kelechi Nwakali has to play in the next two games, even if as a sub. He needs to be groomed for the World Cup
[9] I do not buy this argument about club action. Leon Balogun has not played one match for Mainz this season
[10] For me, the areas in the team where we are desperately short are the two fullback positions, playmaker and in goal. Rohr needs to step up his search.

Mikel is returning from injury and has hardly played about 3 full-time club games since his return. Please don't start

[Mr Shows]

Mikel had to burn more energy than usual being played in an advanced position behind Ighalo. Rohr's plan was to use him to defend from the front and dictate the play from the centre which he did quite well. In the first leg he laid the pass that set up Ighalo's goal and scored himself and he was colossal in keeping the shape and dictating the play. Coming into the game a few weeks post surgery and on the back of limited playing time, it's even a miracle he held up for that long...

[Ayo Akinfe]

Mikel had to burn more energy than usual being played in an advanced position behind Ighalo. Rohr's plan was to use him to defend from the front and dictate the play from the centre which he did quite well. In the first leg he laid the pass that set up Ighalo's goal and scored himself and he was colossal in keeping the shape and dictating the play. Coming into the game a few weeks post surgery and on the back of limited playing time, it's even a miracle he held up for that long...

In the first leg, Mikel did not burn out that easily. Yesterday, he was done by half time.

[oloye]

When was he a 90 mins player for naija....most of his matches when asked to do more than defending,he is done by 70mins.

[Mr Shows]

Mikel had to burn more energy than usual being played in an advanced position behind Ighalo. Rohr's plan was to use him to defend from the front and dictate the play from the centre which he did quite well. In the first leg he laid the pass that set up Ighalo's goal and scored himself and he was colossal in keeping the shape and dictating the play. Coming into the game a few weeks post surgery and on the back of limited playing time, it's even a miracle he held up for that long...

In the first leg, Mikel did not burn out that easily. Yesterday, he was done by half time.

We are talking back to back games against WWE wrestlers ... Anyway, as Oloye noted Mikel has never had bags of stamina. Folks don't seem to realise how mentally and physically demanding this encounter was. The entire team was knackered by the 80 min mark.

[zoro]

How was the game after Mikel left??????????

[Shownoja]

The problem is not that Mikel didn't last the full 90, the issue is that in each game when he left, on field leadership left with him. That's where the search should focus. Who is the guy who when Mikel leaves will start talking to the team ON THE FIELD. In the first game, Onazi focused on his own game a bit more when Mikel left and you can't blame him. The whole team was on such a high anyway, so little damage was done and Cameroon where already down.

Yesterday, as soon as he left, communication in the middle went away. Agu and Ndidi seemed to be in the same space all the time, therefore opening gaps for Cameroon in midfield. Also, there seemed no one capable of talking the little excesses out of VicMo as soon as the skipper left and he started losing possession due in the main to the showboating he was not exhibiting when Mikel was on. Ihenacho came on and didn't seem to know what runs to make and we just lost our shape.

What was missing in the real sense was on field leadership. Someone needs to start talking. If I were in a position to choose, I will make VicMo the vice captain simply because I believe that responsibility will make him more aware of carrying others along. Onazi is too action focussed to look up, Elderson seems to quite, and Balogun (who will be a constant for years barring injuries) is not fully immersed in the culture to command respect.

[EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA]

Playing 180in in 3 days is a heavy load for anybody,even Moses, a wb that plays weekly was tired. China is not Cameroon, non of china based played 90mins in both games.

[Odas]

Mikel had to burn more energy than usual being played in an advanced position behind Ighalo. Rohr's plan was to use him to defend from the front and dictate the play from the centre which he did quite well. In the first leg he laid the pass that set up Ighalo's goal and scored himself and he was colossal in keeping the shape and dictating the play. Coming into the game a few weeks post surgery and on the back of limited playing time, it's even a miracle he held up for that long...

In the first leg, Mikel did not burn out that easily. Yesterday, he was done by half time.

We are talking back to back games against WWE wrestlers ... Anyway, as Oloye noted Mikel has never had bags of stamina. Folks don't seem to realise how mentally and physically demanding this encounter was. The entire team was knackered by the 80 min mark.

... players who commit fouls with impunity, yet get's away with it in many cases

[Bigpokey24]

Some of you aren't intelligent this was Mikel's 4th game after being out of football since March/ April after having surgery and only returned 3 weeks ago...and you people expect him to play 180 mins in 2 days...pathetic....

[100%Naija]

Some of you aren't intelligent this was Mikel's 4th game after being out of football since March/ April after having surgery and only returned 3 weeks ago...and you people expect him to play 180 mins in 2 days...pathetic....

Chairman, i trust you to come to hubby's defense with serious force and you no disappoint. Wer done sah

[oloye]

Let us not allow emotions run riot(BigP) , Mikel has never been a box to box ,not at this level anyway. Look at the stats for SE from when he broke into the team, he is usually done at circa 70mins. This is not an attempt to bash him.

The truth is he is the magnet that holds the middle together, and yes over the two legs as soon as he goes out the middle collapses.

If i were Rohr, if Mikel goes out,i will bring Moses into the middle, you need someone with intelligence to do what Mikel does in the middle. Mikel is the starch that helps cement garri molecules together....but the truth is he does not have the lungs to do that over 90minutes. Rather than get angry let us look at his stats for SE , only a daft coach would remove the mainstay of his team without any good reason.

[oloye]

Fatigue was bound to play a factor in this game, because of the proximity of the previous match and the incovenience of having to travel. But then this is not different from being in a WC or ANC group match, either way an experienced player's body knows how to adjust yo these conditions.

Strange how your body recovers quickly when it knows you have another match in 48 hrs, yet the aame body would take almost 3 days to recover when it is receives the message that the next match is not due until a week's time.

These are professionals paid to do what they are doing.

[Tobi17]

I'm surprised we are overlooking Alhassan...that tall lanky young man is the most cerebral player I have seen play...skilfull, intelligent,and has very deft touches...watched his CHAN games recently and was very impressed...why are we overlooking him? because he is a home based player? If Ezenwa can be so impressive as an home based,then it won't hurt to try Alhassan...we desperately need a playmaker cause Mikel is at best a 65mins player.

[Eaglezbeak]

Some of you aren't intelligent this was Mikel's 4th game after being out of football since March/ April after having surgery and only returned 3 weeks ago...and you people expect him to play 180 mins in 2 days...pathetic....

Chairman, i trust you to come to hubby's defense with serious force and you no disappoint. Wer done sah

He has a point and it's expected of him to know this!

[Ayo Akinfe]

Playing 180in in 3 days is a heavy load for anybody,even Moses, a wb that plays weekly was tired. China is not Cameroon, non of china based played 90mins in both games.

Is this any different from playing in the World Cup or Nations Cup? Even in the leagues, team's play Premiership games on Saturday and Champions League matches on Wednesday.

Are you saying that our players cannot handle a competition? Besides, was it not the same for the Cameroonians?

[Ayo Akinfe]

Fatigue was bound to play a factor in this game, because of the proximity of the previous match and the incovenience of having to travel. But then this is not different from being in a WC or ANC group match, either way an experienced player's body knows how to adjust yo these conditions.

Strange how your body recovers quickly when it knows you have another match in 48 hrs, yet the aame body would take almost 3 days to recover when it is receives the message that the next match is not due until a week's time.

These are professionals paid to do what they are doing.

Mikel is 30. We simply cannot remain so dependent on him. We need another midfield general who can pull the strings. For now, the only person I can think of is Kelechi Nwakali. I do not know of anyone else with that vision, intelligence, range of passing and ability to control the game.

[anikulapo]

Let us not allow emotions run riot(BigP) , Mikel has never been a box to box ,not at this level anyway. Look at the stats for SE from when he broke into the team, he is usually done at circa 70mins. This is not an attempt to bash him.

The truth is he is the magnet that holds the middle together, and yes over the two legs as soon as he goes out the middle collapses.

If i were Rohr, if Mikel goes out,i will bring Moses into the middle, you need someone with intelligence to do what Mikel does in the middle. Mikel is the starch that helps cement garri molecules together....but the truth is he does not have the lungs to do that over 90minutes. Rather than get angry let us look at his stats for SE , only a daft coach would remove the mainstay of his team without any good reason.

Oloye biko you are doing what other coaches have done that has nearly wrecked Vic MO's career ... again I repeat the man is a wide player PERIOD!!

He cannot play on the inside or as a #10.

The player that should be developed is Iwobi. Hopefully he can escape Arsenal on loan and allowed to flourish in his nature role as a roving play maker

[pajimoh]

Playing 180in in 3 days is a heavy load for anybody,even Moses, a wb that plays weekly was tired. China is not Cameroon, non of china based played 90mins in both games.

Is this any different from playing in the World Cup or Nations Cup? Even in the leagues, team's play Premiership games on Saturday and Champions League matches on Wednesday.

Are you saying that our players cannot handle a competition? Besides, was it not the same for the Cameroonians?

Did Mikel have pre season games? NO. Has Mikel played all the games for his club this season? No. Is Mikel fully fit and match fit? No.
We needed him and he answered the call.
Obviously he's getting on in years and might not be able to play a full 90 minutes if we play a high tempo game. But for now he needs to get match fit and get over the psychological impact of his injury

[Chriskendo43]

This team is useless without Mikel

[Chriskendo43]

We need capable replacement

[oloye]

Let us not allow emotions run riot(BigP) , Mikel has never been a box to box ,not at this level anyway. Look at the stats for SE from when he broke into the team, he is usually done at circa 70mins. This is not an attempt to bash him.

The truth is he is the magnet that holds the middle together, and yes over the two legs as soon as he goes out the middle collapses.

If i were Rohr, if Mikel goes out,i will bring Moses into the middle, you need someone with intelligence to do what Mikel does in the middle. Mikel is the starch that helps cement garri molecules together....but the truth is he does not have the lungs to do that over 90minutes. Rather than get angry let us look at his stats for SE , only a daft coach would remove the mainstay of his team without any good reason.

Oloye biko you are doing what other coaches have done that has nearly wrecked Vic MO's career ... again I repeat the man is a wide player PERIOD!!

He cannot play on the inside or as a #10.

The player that should be developed is Iwobi. Hopefully he can escape Arsenal on loan and allowed to flourish in his nature role as a roving play maker

Well Iwobi was not available yesterday was he?