Ekong & Balogun...

[Shownoja]

Remind me of Eboigbe and Omokaro. Those boys don't take crap

[Bigpokey24]

They both have serious speed.. I could go on to say if they both keep it up the could reach the levels of Keshi, Yobo, Chukwu, Lucas Radebe, Nurideen Naibet, West, Sammy Kuffour, and some African greats

[naijaguy]

Problem is Balogun is 28. In 2-3 years time now, he may not be playing the way he does now.

[Bigpokey24]

Problem is Balogun is 28. In 2-3 years time now, he may not be playing the way he does now.

Cbs, do last longer and bobo is actually really 28

[ogasir]

Defenders tend to get better in their 30s

[Cellular]

They both could do with playing more "set" (monkey post)... I get nervous when they have to play the ball or pass...

Defensively, they are solid.

[mystic]

They both could do with playing more "set" (monkey post)... I get nervous when they have to play the ball or pass...

Defensively, they are solid.

Passing the ball out of the back is a major weakness in Ekong's game. Balogun is just fine.

[Enugu II]

They both could do with playing more "set" (monkey post)... I get nervous when they have to play the ball or pass...

Defensively, they are solid.

Passing the ball out of the back is a major weakness in Ekong's game. Balogun is just fine.

Finally, people are noticing the weakness in his game that I had long pointed out.

[Enugu II]

They both could do with playing more "set" (monkey post)... I get nervous when they have to play the ball or pass...

Defensively, they are solid.

Passing the ball out of the back is a major weakness in Ekong's game. Balogun is just fine.

Finally, people are noticing the weakness in his game that I had long pointed out. Balogun is better at that but not by much. However, Balogun makes it up in other phases. When these guys are harassed they will turn the ball over or boot it out as far away as possible.

[Tbite]

BTW why is Balogun ALWAYS covering for Echiejile like Echiejile doesn't exist?

[Tobi17]

BTW why is Balogun ALWAYS covering for Echiejile like Echiejile doesn't exist?

cause he is a weak link, and I'm sure the players all know this and politely do the double work of covering his lapses.

[Sir V]

They both could do with playing more "set" (monkey post)... I get nervous when they have to play the ball or pass...

Defensively, they are solid.

kpom

[Shownoja]

They both could do with playing more "set" (monkey post)... I get nervous when they have to play the ball or pass...

Defensively, they are solid.

kpom

The more they play with these set of players, they will develop these skills. Balogun is showing better ball skills already and Ekong will follow suit, but to be honest, we need them to be no nonsense defenders first before ball carriers. On that score, they are more than solid.

[truetalk]

They've both been great.

Balogun is better than Ekong, and I'll settle for Ekong just booting the ball forward and not trying fancy passes out of the back.

Ekong has been good though, so I won't knock him too much.

Even Echiejile was better in this series. The fact that he is now playing regular football in Turkey and he stayed back throughout the series (to instructions I think) helped. He was atrocious against Bafana. Shehu was doing most of the overlapping from the back & Moses Simon and Victor Moses switched wings a lot to misx things up.

[Damunk]

Balogun was awesome with his defensive headers and even carried the ball out of the heart of defence on a few occasions, drawing fouls in the process

[Cellular]

They both could do with playing more "set" (monkey post)... I get nervous when they have to play the ball or pass...

Defensively, they are solid.

kpom

The more they play with these set of players, they will develop these skills. Balogun is showing better ball skills already and Ekong will follow suit, but to be honest, we need them to be no nonsense defenders first before ball carriers. On that score, they are more than solid.

Agreed! Was pointing out aspects of their game they need to work on to improve.

If me way dey couch fit see am, other pipul with beta ball sense go see am too... and will find ways to take advantage of it.

Moreover, I want them to improve so that they can get better opportunities. Yobo used to be a ball playing CD before he went to England and adopted the police game... it served him well though.

I realize not everyone can be like Keshi or Sofolowe.

[oloye]

BTW why is Balogun ALWAYS covering for Echiejile like Echiejile doesn't exist?

He does not exist....

[airwolex]

Balogun is a lot better than I thought. Quick, strong and aware. He is also comfortable with the ball at his feet. Ekong on the other hand should be limited to booting the ball. He is a strong defender but his passing in Yaounde was terrible.

[oloye]

Balogun's ball handling is way better than Ekong and ok for a CB. But Ekong whoa! His passing play is attrocious, he could barely make a 10 yard pass. During the Olympics i thought it was just a nerve thing, i thought it was because he was nervous so i gave him a pass. But over these two legs i observed he was never comfortable with the ball,he relishes the opportunity to send a long one away rsther than a simple pass. Yesterday was even worse,on two occassions he blatantly passed the ball to cameroon players ,in dangerous places as well..in what ought to have been a simple pass.

Such would be punished against better oppositions.

[Shownoja]

Balogun's ball handling is way better than Ekong and ok for a CB. But Ekong whoa! His passing play is attrocious, he could barely make a 10 yard pass. During the Olympics i thought it was just a nerve thing, i thought it was because he was nervous so i gave him a pass. But over these two legs i observed he was never comfortable with the ball,he relishes the opportunity to send a long one away rsther than a simple pass. Yesterday was even worse,on two occassions he blatantly passed the ball to cameroon players ,in dangerous places as well..in what ought to have been a simple pass.

Such would be punished against better oppositions.

In that case, he should just be encouraged to boot it anywhere belle face style especially when we're under pressure. What I like about their pairing is that they can hold their own against the physical type players. In fact, early in the second half, Ekong recovered absolutely beautifully to cover for Balogun and force a corner in what could have been very dangerous play for Cameroon. They really brought memories of Omokaro and Eboigbe flooding back. Those guys were raw defenders first and foremost.

[Mr Shows]

While Balogun has the better vision, tackling ability and positioning sense, I think Ekong with all his shortcomings has pace and agility and complements him well. The sum of their whole is surely greater than the sum of their parts. They are building a strong partnership and it will definitely get better.

Ekongs primary responsibility is to defend and he is slightly above average at that. We have enough personnel on the pitch to take the ball off him to do the necessary..

[Cellular]

Balogun's ball handling is way better than Ekong and ok for a CB. But Ekong whoa! His passing play is attrocious, he could barely make a 10 yard pass. During the Olympics i thought it was just a nerve thing, i thought it was because he was nervous so i gave him a pass. But over these two legs i observed he was never comfortable with the ball,he relishes the opportunity to send a long one away rsther than a simple pass. Yesterday was even worse,on two occassions he blatantly passed the ball to cameroon players ,in dangerous places as well..in what ought to have been a simple pass.

Such would be punished against better oppositions.

[Odas]

BTW why is Balogun ALWAYS covering for Echiejile like Echiejile doesn't exist?

... because games - like many things in life - is a "team work."