HOME STRETCH TO THE SE FINAL 23
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 5:02 pm
This thread is a strategic look to how the final 23 for Russia should be chosen. No sentiments or feelings, just 100% what is best for us to do as well as possible in Nigeria.
Now I would say that there should be 2 spots for each position on the field, but with 3 goalies of course. You basically have your first 11, your second 11, and an extra keeper.
However due to the fact that we have numerous players who can fill a variety of positions, (Aina LB or RB, Shehu RB or DM, Iwobi W or AM) this gives us a little flexibility and I think it is best that we do not have 2 players for each position in every case but can use an extra spot on a forward or wide player.
GOALKEEPER
As far as I am concerned Enyeama must be called to the 35 man camp, and if the coaches feel he has something to offer, he goes to Russia. Goalkeeper is one of the positions where you need the most experience, and the WC is not for kids. Uzoho is definitely for the future, but I will feel safer with Enyeama. Ezenwa is injured for how long ? Akpeyi is just garbage. Can Aiyenugba make a late push. I would say we go with the following.
ENYEAMA, UZOHO, EZENWA but perhaps Aiyenugba can prove himself better than Ezenwa.
DEFENCE
The defence pretty much picks itself, unless we get a later German recruit which seems very unlikely at this point. Barring injury at CB it is
BALOGUN, TROOST, AWAZIEM, OMERUO. Nothing else to discuss here.
the wingbacks. IMO barring injury there is no argument here. Echiejele should be the odd man out here for 2 reasons. He is playing at the lowest level, and also does not give us the versatility of Aina who can play both LB and RB or Shehu RB or DM, and he is just not as good as Idowu, who is not only playing at a much higher level, but is also at home in Russia, and can serve as the team translator in Russia. THis is key. I am sorry but Elderson is the easy man out here. It is not even worth thinking about.
SHEHU, EBUEHI, IDOWU, AINA
MIDFIELD
Usually I would say we need to take 6 midfielders, however I think we may be able to get away with taking 5 because we have SHehu which will make our total to 6 anyways, and we also have Iwobi who can play as an AM. So if we take 5 out and out midfielders we will still have 7 players who can play midfield roles. I feel this is necessary as we can afford an extra striker/wide forward player.
Midfields spots will be hard to budge as we have guaranteed locks in
MIKEL, NDIDI, ONAZI, ETEBO
fighting for one spot is Joel, Ogu, Mikel Agu, Azuibikwe Okechukwu,
Shehu is starting in midfield ahead of Mikel agu at Buraspor. Agu is a definite no. IMO Joel Obi makes the cut, the only question is his injury record. I am also a little torn to drop Ogu, but I feel we could use an extra attacker instead, especially if Onyekuru makes a return. So for me it is
MIKEL, NDIDI, ONAZI, ETEBO, JOEL with SHEHU and IWOBI also taking up other squad positions able to play in midfield
WIDE FORWARDS
4 players to choose here with a possible extra spot made possible by taking 5 midfield positions
IWOBI, MOSES, SIMON are untouchable at this point. I am not a fan of Musa but he has a few things in his favour.
1. He plays and is comfortable in Russia
2. He is fit and many wide players are unfit or barely coming back to fitness (Bazee, Success, Onyekuru)
3. He has been a part of the squad for some time
4. He offers blistering pace, however both Moses Simon and Onyekuru do offer the same plus more upside.
As it stands now I think Musa goes to Russia, unless in camp a player can clearly prove that he belongs in his place. Remember that according to my plan we will have an extra spot for either a striker or wide player.
So the challengers to Musa are
Success - I think he is just not in shape and will have to wait for ANC 19
Bazee - Have watched him on as a sub on 2 occasions and does not seem fully fit
Onyekuru - we are all rooting for him, but how will his fitness be
Ezekiel Imo - looks allright but isn't playing much. Really don't know if I would choose him over Musa
to be honest I would invite all 4 of these players to camp to access. I would give them all maximum playing time (1 half each) against DR Congo If any one of these players can prove their fitness and show that they will give SE more than Musa, then I will drop Musa, but as of now its
IWOBI, MOSES, SIMON, MUSA with a watchful eye on Oneykuru's recovery
STRIKERS
With two spots there is really no discussion.
KELECHI, IGHALO
EXTRA SPOT
If we do decide to drop a midfielder (John Ogu) I would suggest we look at Sadiq Umar who is on a hot streak scoring goals in the dutch league. Also if Onyekuru gets healthy and back to form, or if Bazee or someone else can prove his worth we could take an extra wide player.
So its either SADIQ UMAR, or one of MUSA, ONYEKURU, BAZEE
FINAL 23
1. ENYEAMA
2. UZOHO
3. EZENWA
4. EBUEHI
5. SHEHU
6. AINA
7. IDOWU
8. TROOST
9. BALOGUN
10. AWAZIEM
11. OMERUO
12. MIKEL
13. NDIDI
14. ONAZI
15. ETEBO
16. JOEL OBI
17. VICTOR MOSES
18. SIMON MOSES
19. IWOBI
20. MUSA/ONYEKURU
21. IGHALO
22. IHEANACHO
23. SADIQ UMAR
Now I would say that there should be 2 spots for each position on the field, but with 3 goalies of course. You basically have your first 11, your second 11, and an extra keeper.
However due to the fact that we have numerous players who can fill a variety of positions, (Aina LB or RB, Shehu RB or DM, Iwobi W or AM) this gives us a little flexibility and I think it is best that we do not have 2 players for each position in every case but can use an extra spot on a forward or wide player.
GOALKEEPER
As far as I am concerned Enyeama must be called to the 35 man camp, and if the coaches feel he has something to offer, he goes to Russia. Goalkeeper is one of the positions where you need the most experience, and the WC is not for kids. Uzoho is definitely for the future, but I will feel safer with Enyeama. Ezenwa is injured for how long ? Akpeyi is just garbage. Can Aiyenugba make a late push. I would say we go with the following.
ENYEAMA, UZOHO, EZENWA but perhaps Aiyenugba can prove himself better than Ezenwa.
DEFENCE
The defence pretty much picks itself, unless we get a later German recruit which seems very unlikely at this point. Barring injury at CB it is
BALOGUN, TROOST, AWAZIEM, OMERUO. Nothing else to discuss here.
the wingbacks. IMO barring injury there is no argument here. Echiejele should be the odd man out here for 2 reasons. He is playing at the lowest level, and also does not give us the versatility of Aina who can play both LB and RB or Shehu RB or DM, and he is just not as good as Idowu, who is not only playing at a much higher level, but is also at home in Russia, and can serve as the team translator in Russia. THis is key. I am sorry but Elderson is the easy man out here. It is not even worth thinking about.
SHEHU, EBUEHI, IDOWU, AINA
MIDFIELD
Usually I would say we need to take 6 midfielders, however I think we may be able to get away with taking 5 because we have SHehu which will make our total to 6 anyways, and we also have Iwobi who can play as an AM. So if we take 5 out and out midfielders we will still have 7 players who can play midfield roles. I feel this is necessary as we can afford an extra striker/wide forward player.
Midfields spots will be hard to budge as we have guaranteed locks in
MIKEL, NDIDI, ONAZI, ETEBO
fighting for one spot is Joel, Ogu, Mikel Agu, Azuibikwe Okechukwu,
Shehu is starting in midfield ahead of Mikel agu at Buraspor. Agu is a definite no. IMO Joel Obi makes the cut, the only question is his injury record. I am also a little torn to drop Ogu, but I feel we could use an extra attacker instead, especially if Onyekuru makes a return. So for me it is
MIKEL, NDIDI, ONAZI, ETEBO, JOEL with SHEHU and IWOBI also taking up other squad positions able to play in midfield
WIDE FORWARDS
4 players to choose here with a possible extra spot made possible by taking 5 midfield positions
IWOBI, MOSES, SIMON are untouchable at this point. I am not a fan of Musa but he has a few things in his favour.
1. He plays and is comfortable in Russia
2. He is fit and many wide players are unfit or barely coming back to fitness (Bazee, Success, Onyekuru)
3. He has been a part of the squad for some time
4. He offers blistering pace, however both Moses Simon and Onyekuru do offer the same plus more upside.
As it stands now I think Musa goes to Russia, unless in camp a player can clearly prove that he belongs in his place. Remember that according to my plan we will have an extra spot for either a striker or wide player.
So the challengers to Musa are
Success - I think he is just not in shape and will have to wait for ANC 19
Bazee - Have watched him on as a sub on 2 occasions and does not seem fully fit
Onyekuru - we are all rooting for him, but how will his fitness be
Ezekiel Imo - looks allright but isn't playing much. Really don't know if I would choose him over Musa
to be honest I would invite all 4 of these players to camp to access. I would give them all maximum playing time (1 half each) against DR Congo If any one of these players can prove their fitness and show that they will give SE more than Musa, then I will drop Musa, but as of now its
IWOBI, MOSES, SIMON, MUSA with a watchful eye on Oneykuru's recovery
STRIKERS
With two spots there is really no discussion.
KELECHI, IGHALO
EXTRA SPOT
If we do decide to drop a midfielder (John Ogu) I would suggest we look at Sadiq Umar who is on a hot streak scoring goals in the dutch league. Also if Onyekuru gets healthy and back to form, or if Bazee or someone else can prove his worth we could take an extra wide player.
So its either SADIQ UMAR, or one of MUSA, ONYEKURU, BAZEE
FINAL 23
1. ENYEAMA
2. UZOHO
3. EZENWA
4. EBUEHI
5. SHEHU
6. AINA
7. IDOWU
8. TROOST
9. BALOGUN
10. AWAZIEM
11. OMERUO
12. MIKEL
13. NDIDI
14. ONAZI
15. ETEBO
16. JOEL OBI
17. VICTOR MOSES
18. SIMON MOSES
19. IWOBI
20. MUSA/ONYEKURU
21. IGHALO
22. IHEANACHO
23. SADIQ UMAR