Nigeria's JMO-Sized Tactical Conundrum

[txj]

While he is the major glue that holds the team together on and off the field, his powers have waned significantly compared to his Chelsea days, and in his current role on the field, he presents some serious problems...

I concur. I now think unless he plays/starts in a deeper role then his presence could prove detrimental to the team's shape and structure.

The national team isn't the place for him to try and revisit his youth and what might have been.

Conceptually its not a bad idea. But I think it can be executed better. Its not however helped by his physical conditioning...

[The YeyeMan]

While he is the major glue that holds the team together on and off the field, his powers have waned significantly compared to his Chelsea days, and in his current role on the field, he presents some serious problems...

I concur. I now think unless he plays/starts in a deeper role then his presence could prove detrimental to the team's shape and structure.

The national team isn't the place for him to try and revisit his youth and what might have been.

Conceptually its not a bad idea. But I think it can be executed better. Its not however helped by his physical conditioning...

I'm no longer convinced it's a good idea.... he's a player I'm in two minds about. I think where does he best serve the team considering his skill set and those of other players; then again his versatility could prove a blessing, but Rohr will need to try him in a deeper role which I don't think he's considered before.

[Bigpokey24]

these same jokers are still losing sleep and crying about Mikel..lmao..yall should focus on Onazi and Joel..nah Mikel una dey constant lose sleep about... smh..Your strikers haven't scored a single goal since that friendly vs Argentina

[okuns]

My gripe with Mikel he seems to hold on to the ball just a tad too long. I often wonder why he doesn't release the ball quickly, and when he does the defense have recovered.

[metalalloy]

My gripe with Mikel he seems to hold on to the ball just a tad too long. I often wonder why he doesn't release the ball quickly, and when he does the defense have recovered.

We are a countering team, and there has to be someone available for him to release the ball. Several times this past weekend, Ighalo drifted off side when mikel was positioned to pass the ball to him. People need to make off the ball runs or show up for him to pass it immediately. In the second half, he had several 1 touch passes with Etebo and other players that played closer to him. Mikel is not a player that ignores obvious passes, in fact one of the knocks on him all his career is his refusal to take responsibility and quick passes to other players.

[The YeyeMan]

People need to make off the ball runs or show up for him to pass it immediately..

The movement from the forwards was largely non-existent.

[niyi]

My gripe with Mikel he seems to hold on to the ball just a tad too long. I often wonder why he doesn't release the ball quickly, and when he does the defense have recovered.

We are a countering team, and there has to be someone available for him to release the ball. Several times this past weekend, Ighalo drifted off side when mikel was positioned to pass the ball to him. People need to make off the ball runs or show up for him to pass it immediately. In the second half, he had several 1 touch passes with Etebo and other players that played closer to him. Mikel is not a player that ignores obvious passes, in fact one of the knocks on him all his career is his refusal to take responsibility and quick passes to other players.

Then he gets dispossessed. Luckily the other players don't throw up their hands and start walking around like he does....

[Kabalega]

Mikel is done!
On the green grass he is a huge liability. His value to the team might be in the locker room or elsewhere but footie wise, he will hurt the team big time.

His instinct is still to play it back. Example, look at how 3 England MFs accosted him in the 2nd half Mikel still tried to go back before Delph forced him to dribble forward. At the WC they would put legs in and snuff him out.

The Croatians will turn him into a turnover machine. Iceland will lay traps and pounce. Argentina will just take him out for good. It's the World Cup!

BUFFOON.

Quite articulate!

I don't know why MODs keep enabling this behavior.
This is what destroyed Ghanaweb and will CE.

[txj]

While he is the major glue that holds the team together on and off the field, his powers have waned significantly compared to his Chelsea days, and in his current role on the field, he presents some serious problems...

I concur. I now think unless he plays/starts in a deeper role then his presence could prove detrimental to the team's shape and structure.

The national team isn't the place for him to try and revisit his youth and what might have been.

Conceptually its not a bad idea. But I think it can be executed better. Its not however helped by his physical conditioning...

I'm no longer convinced it's a good idea.... he's a player I'm in two minds about. I think where does he best serve the team considering his skill set and those of other players; then again his versatility could prove a blessing, but Rohr will need to try him in a deeper role which I don't think he's considered before.

We are clearly better with him in a deeper position.

[smartbrother]

Contrary to what had become an established role at the heart of central midfield, Siasia would field John Mikel Obi (JMO) higher upfield, behind Sadiq Umar, the central striker, but in front of the two central midfielders, Azubuike and Etebo

get basic facts right if you want to be taken seriously
Siasia played mikel in front of Azubuike and Usman.
Azu was the anchorman/holding midfielder.
Usman the box to box and Mikel the AM

[smartbrother]

Rohr refused to give Azubuike an opportunity
or look for a replacement Holding midfielder to fill the gap vacacted by Mikel when he got moved into the AM role
Instead he wasted friendlies trying out different variations of the same player - Onazi, Agu, Ogu, Joel Obi, Ndidi etc
i.e.. box to box midfield enforcer types

As a result MIkel is the only holding midfielder in our entire squad.
He HAS to be played deeper in midfield if we are to have any chance of keeping possession , building attacks methodically and playing in a way that doesnt rely on hopeless long balls.

I am still shocked Rohr thought a central midfield partnership of Onazi and Obi would work.
i expected that from ignorant fans but not a national team coach.
Hopefully he has learnt his lesson

[txj]

Contrary to what had become an established role at the heart of central midfield, Siasia would field John Mikel Obi (JMO) higher upfield, behind Sadiq Umar, the central striker, but in front of the two central midfielders, Azubuike and Etebo

get basic facts right if you want to be taken seriously
Siasia played mikel in front of Azubuike and Usman.
Azu was the anchorman/holding midfielder.
Usman the box to box and Mikel the AM

Yes, Muhammed. But the overall point remains.

[TonyTheTigerKiller]

Classic txj; indulging, once again, in delusions of grandeur


Cheers

[metalalloy]

My gripe with Mikel he seems to hold on to the ball just a tad too long. I often wonder why he doesn't release the ball quickly, and when he does the defense have recovered.

We are a countering team, and there has to be someone available for him to release the ball. Several times this past weekend, Ighalo drifted off side when mikel was positioned to pass the ball to him. People need to make off the ball runs or show up for him to pass it immediately. In the second half, he had several 1 touch passes with Etebo and other players that played closer to him. Mikel is not a player that ignores obvious passes, in fact one of the knocks on him all his career is his refusal to take responsibility and quick passes to other players.

Then he gets dispossessed. Luckily the other players don't throw up their hands and start walking around like he does....

wouldn't that frustrate you too?

[TheHitman47]

People need to make off the ball runs or show up for him to pass it immediately..

The movement from the forwards was largely non-existent.

That is my biggest problem with this team. Very similar issue man united have as well. We have too many forward players that expect the ball to be fed right at their feet and if not they barely make the effort to run to them. The wingbacks try to run to the balls at least.

But that's the problem with having forwards that are primarily poachers.

[Goldleaf]

While he is the major glue that holds the team together on and off the field, his powers have waned significantly compared to his Chelsea days, and in his current role on the field, he presents some serious problems...

I concur. I now think unless he plays/starts in a deeper role then his presence could prove detrimental to the team's shape and structure.

The national team isn't the place for him to try and revisit his youth and what might have been.

In the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, JMO's role was so deep that he was the man collecting the ball from GK Enyeama. Remember those square passes back and forth that did little offensively for Keshi's team? The qualifiers showed us just as in the Confederations Cup in Brazil (which Keshi saw but ignored at the WC proper) that JMO is most dangerous in SE as an AM. Coach Gernot Rohr understands this clearly. The beauty about Mikel is that when he gets a goalscoring opportunity (even a from a disputed offside position against Algeria - our 2nd goal), he rarely loses concentration. We will need that strong quality in Russia.

[Goldleaf]

While he is the major glue that holds the team together on and off the field, his powers have waned significantly compared to his Chelsea days, and in his current role on the field, he presents some serious problems...

I concur. I now think unless he plays/starts in a deeper role then his presence could prove detrimental to the team's shape and structure.

The national team isn't the place for him to try and revisit his youth and what might have been.

Without Mikel, all the teams will tear us a new ONE at the WC.
Mikel is not only our KEY PLAYER...... He is our only World class player.

I am surprised folks cannot see that.

[Goldleaf]

While he is the major glue that holds the team together on and off the field, his powers have waned significantly compared to his Chelsea days, and in his current role on the field, he presents some serious problems...

I concur. I now think unless he plays/starts in a deeper role then his presence could prove detrimental to the team's shape and structure.

The national team isn't the place for him to try and revisit his youth and what might have been.

Conceptually its not a bad idea. But I think it can be executed better. Its not however helped by his physical conditioning...

I'm no longer convinced it's a good idea.... he's a player I'm in two minds about. I think where does he best serve the team considering his skill set and those of other players; then again his versatility could prove a blessing, but Rohr will need to try him in a deeper role which I don't think he's considered before.

We are clearly better with him in a deeper position.

[/video]

When JMO gets a chance in his advanced position, it is a goal. He is the ONLY ONE IN OUR SQUAD that carries that asssurance.

[Ebyboy]

Thanks txj. I think this is one of the more important tactical
decisions the coach must make.

The Mikel I observed at Wembley was a bit jaded and off form.
He did give a good account of himself. His distribution, control
possession and ability to drive forward are at a high level. He
will be sharper and fitter at the WC.

However, one could observe that age is catching up with him.
He is a bit leggy and less elusive than he used to be. He does
not have the brute strength to hold the ball and hold off multiple
opponents like he used to. Back then 'Boy Wonder' was a marvel
of possession. You HAD TO FOUL HIM to get a sniff of the ball.
He could shield the ball and hold off two to three opponents
and still pull of a smart forward pass.

I suppose that with a fit and zesty Ndidi playing/ sitting behind
him, we could revisit the Mikel of ANC '13 and the Confederations
Cup of 2014. I would like to have that Mikel back at the WC. I
think it is a tactical imperative.

[The YeyeMan]

Mikel has to play in centre midfield, in front of the defence and make the play from there.

He's of little value to the team playing behind the striker.

If he and Rohr can't see this then they should both be put out to pasture.

[Eaglezbeak]

Mikel can’t produce his best anymore (not outside China anyway) but Nigeria once again have not prepared well and thus Mikel was the best in that position too long without competition,the Eagles basically base their game around a man that is no way a number 10 and hardly makes impact his position.

[DIMKA76]

Mikel was instrumental in the only goal Nigeria scored against England. a looping pass to Igalo, which the latter crashed against the post for Iwobi to finish off. Mikel's speed has never been his strong point but even now it is now a significant negative factor.

[vancity eagle]

Mikel was instrumental in the only goal Nigeria scored against England. a looping pass to Igalo, which the latter crashed against the post for Iwobi to finish off. Mikel's speed has never been his strong point but even now it is now a significant negative factor.

I thought it was Iwobi who made that pass.