Page 1 of 2
Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:22 pm
by Otitokoro
The fact is, I fully concur with JJ on this, as this is basically the exact same thing a few of us said prior to the WC.
Link:
Complete Sports Nigeria
Okocha Blames Rohr For Super Eagles Defeat To Croatia
By Johnny Edward:
Former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha has slammed Gernot Rohr for his poor tactical approach in Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat to Croatia in their opening game at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.
Got something to say? The let your voice be heard! Back Pass *Sport related topics only*
An own goal from Oghenekaro Eteno and a penalty from Luka Modric extended Nigeria’s winless streak in opening World Cup game to four.
Okocha who starred for Nigeria in three FIFA World Cups in 1994, 1998 and 2002 also faulted the team’s poor defending which led to the two goals conceded in each half.
“It was a decent first half but maturity was the edge the Croatian team had over the Nigerian team,” Okocha said on SuperSport, where he was a guest analyst, after the game.
“The Super Eagles got done by the movements of the Croatian team in their box. The Super Eagles midfielders were not doing their best both in defending and in attack.
“Eagles didn’t geg the best out of Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses because the manager was trying to accommodate Mikel Obi in the team.
“The manager didn’t earn his money today. We were not a threat in the first half and I was expecting him to play three at the back, five players in the midfield and two strikers to the team a chance to get back into the game.
“It is sad because I know we can do better than this. Of course there is still hope but we have to do it the hard way now.
“These (Croatians) are world class players who know how to win by exploiting little details.”
Okocha also blamed Rohr for deploying Mikel in the creative role.
“We didn’t have a creative player today,” the former Nigeria No.10 added. “Mikel has been a good servant to the national team. His best position is playing in front of the defence. We saw what he did playing for Chelsea where he had a glorious career.
“The most creative player in that team is Alex Iwobi but he was played on the flanks. He (Iwobi) can play on the flanks at Arsenal because they had better players in that role like Mesut Ozil.
“The reason why we lost was because we played our best players out of their positions.
“Playing Mikel in that position didn’t help Moses and Iwobi on the flanks.”
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:32 pm
by maceo4
Cellular how far with all ya football nous, come collect some gbosas immediately
Professionals have to tell you the OBVIOUS!
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:34 pm
by fledy
And what did Mr. Okocha do when he played in those WC?
Please dude go sit
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:36 pm
by maceo4
fledy wrote:And what did Mr. Okocha do when he played in those WC?
Please dude go sit
Oh boy, completely missing the point...Ohhhh Africa
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:46 pm
by zee
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:50 pm
by Synopsis
Okocha is right that Mikel can not play the 10 role. I would place him at CM.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:59 pm
by Cellular
maceo4 wrote:Cellular how far with all ya football nous, come collect some gbosas immediately
Professionals have to tell you the OBVIOUS!
Hahahahaha desperation to turn to Okocha for a technical report of the game?
Iwobi was wasted out wide. I wouldn't drop Mikel for Iwobi. Rather if I must start Iwobi I will play 3-5-2 to accommodate him.
The game needed us to be able to operate from both flanks.
We also needed the experience of Mikel... the engine of Etebo and Ndidi.
So Okocha would've done what exactly? Dropped Mikel deep to take the place of?
You are here where most pundits are saying we were done by lack of experience and you want to either drop Mikel or play him in a role he doesn't have the legs to cover the distance you want out of that position.
Okocha is talking like someone who hasn't watched the games this team has played without Mikel... and with Iwobi playing the so-called 10 role.
This game was even in spite of the questionable tactics and strategy deployed by Rohr. That is why folks are pissed off at him. If we were played off the park, it is one thing. But to deploy a tactics and strategy that didn't play to our strengths is downright disgraceful.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:08 am
by The YeyeMan
Cellular wrote:
So Okocha would've done what exactly? Dropped Mikel deep to take the place of?
Etebo.
Don't let your dislike of Okocha blind you to the realities of what he's saying.
I'd expected Nigeria to come out fighting and aggressively press the Croatian back line. Then I saw Mikel right behind Ighalo and I knew the jig was up.
What was the game plan? Football is a simple game; put players in their best positions to optimise your chances of winning. It's time for Rohr and Mikel to quit their delusion.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:14 am
by Synopsis
Mikel still has dreams of becoming our next Okocha. He needs to give it up.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:14 am
by zee
The YeyeMan wrote:Cellular wrote:
So Okocha would've done what exactly? Dropped Mikel deep to take the place of?
Etebo.
Don't let your dislike of Okocha blind you to the realities of what he's saying.
I'd expected Nigeria to come out fighting and aggressively press the Croatian back line. Then I saw Mikel right behind Ighalo and I knew the jig was up.
What was the game plan? Football is a simple game; put players in their best positions to optimise your chances of winning. It's time for Rohr and Mikel to quit their delusion.
Kpom....................I thought we will be making runs and using our unconventional dribbling skills on them, but the boneheaded German just set us up like a 1950s german team.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:15 am
by Otitokoro
Cellular wrote:So Okocha would've done what exactly? Dropped Mikel deep to take the place of?
Have Mikel play alongside Ndidi as defensive cover for the back 4. He is an expert at that position. Etebo could then push up further, while Iwobi play more centrally. This would give better balance to the team, instead of having 2 slowpokers as your striker (Ighalo) and AM (Mikel).
Cellular wrote:You are here where most pundits are saying we were done by lack of experience and you want to either drop Mikel or play him in a role he doesn't have the legs to cover the distance you want out of that position.
He and Ndidi will both share the DM responsibilities in the 4-2-3-1 formation played. He has the stamina to play as one of the 2 DMs.
Cellular wrote:Okocha is talking like someone who hasn't watched the games this team has played without Mikel... and with Iwobi playing the so-called 10 role.
You mean like the friendly game against Argentina, where Nigeria took them apart? Puhlease! The team has more attacking punch and bit without Mikel playing as AM. Much more!.
Cellular wrote:This game was even in spite of the questionable tactics and strategy deployed by Rohr. That is why folks are pissed off at him. If we were played off the park, it is one thing. But to deploy a tactics and strategy that didn't play to our st
rengths is downright disgraceful.
. Part of the problem is Rohr's unwillingness to have Mikel play as cover for the back 4. He seems to be risk averse, which cost us dear during this game. Playing Ighalo for 75 mins was a complete waste, when Iheanacho could have had more time to settle into the game and done some damage up front.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:17 am
by oscar52
Play the team that got you to the worldcup:
Ezenwa
Ebuehi Ekong Balogun Echiejile
Ndidi Onazi Mikel
Iheanacho Iwobi Moses
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:34 am
by maceo4
Cellular wrote:maceo4 wrote:Cellular how far with all ya football nous, come collect some gbosas immediately
Professionals have to tell you the OBVIOUS!
Hahahahaha desperation to turn to Okocha for a technical report of the game?
Iwobi was wasted out wide. I wouldn't drop Mikel for Iwobi. Rather if I must start Iwobi I will play 3-5-2 to accommodate him.
The game needed us to be able to operate from both flanks.
We also needed the experience of Mikel... the engine of Etebo and Ndidi.
So Okocha would've done what exactly? Dropped Mikel deep to take the place of?
You are here where most pundits are saying we were done by lack of experience and you want to either drop Mikel or play him in a role he doesn't have the legs to cover the distance you want out of that position.
Okocha is talking like someone who hasn't watched the games this team has played without Mikel... and with Iwobi playing the so-called 10 role.
This game was even in spite of the questionable tactics and strategy deployed by Rohr. That is why folks are pissed off at him. If we were played off the park, it is one thing. But to deploy a tactics and strategy that didn't play to our strengths is downright disgraceful.
I'm not saying drop him, my only issue is with playing him as an AM and JJ is right that Rohr is 'accommodating' him in that role, and its to the detriment of the team. But Rohr is very stubborn and will continue with Mikel there or even use Iwobi in place of Etebo just so that Mikel can be 'accommodated'. Its frustrating to watch.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:35 am
by maceo4
oscar52 wrote:Play the team that got you to the worldcup:
Ezenwa
Ebuehi Ekong Balogun Echiejile
Ndidi Onazi Mikel
Iheanacho Iwobi Moses
Onazi again? And thats not the team that got us to the world cup, if you want to play that you will have to include Moses Simon, plus Ebuehi didn't play any WCQ games...
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:43 am
by oscar52
maceo4 wrote:oscar52 wrote:Play the team that got you to the worldcup:
Ezenwa
Ebuehi Ekong Balogun Echiejile
Ndidi Onazi Mikel
Iheanacho Iwobi Moses
Onazi again? And thats not the team that got us to the world cup, if you want to play that you will have to include Moses Simon, plus Ebuehi didn't play any WCQ games...
Simon is not on the team. So plug in Iheanacho that can do good in the role, another option is Etebo. Shehu struggled in the RB role during qualifiers so not surprised he is struggling now. Others that played in the RB role during qualifiers are Ndidi and Omeruo but Ebuehi will do just fine but Shehu is not good in the RB and his body language shows that he is not comfortable playing the role.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:45 am
by 9jaMan
You dey mind the mugu maga
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:46 am
by 9jaMan
oscar52 wrote:maceo4 wrote:oscar52 wrote:Play the team that got you to the worldcup:
Ezenwa
Ebuehi Ekong Balogun Echiejile
Ndidi Onazi Mikel
Iheanacho Iwobi Moses
Onazi again? And thats not the team that got us to the world cup, if you want to play that you will have to include Moses Simon, plus Ebuehi didn't play any WCQ games...
Simon is not on the team. So plug in Iheanacho that can do good in the role, another option is Etebo. Shehu struggled in the RB role during qualifiers so not surprised he is struggling now. Others that played in the RB role during qualifiers are Ndidi and Omeruo but Ebuehi will do just fine but Shehu is not good in the RB and his body language shows that he is not comfortable playing the role.
But Rohr believes shehu is the best RB since Cafu
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:12 am
by jette1
why isn't Okocha coaching the SE or even in the technical team
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:15 am
by niyi
Rohr is the only person in the world who doesn't see whay seems to be obvious to everyone else. Iheanacho should strike and Iwobi should play the advanced midfield role behind him. 3 friendlies and he never implemented this
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:33 am
by The YeyeMan
niyi wrote:Rohr is the only person in the world who doesn't see whay seems to be obvious to everyone else. Iheanacho should strike and Iwobi should play the advanced midfield role behind him. 3 friendlies and he never implemented this
We're there to learn.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:54 am
by maceo4
The YeyeMan wrote:niyi wrote:Rohr is the only person in the world who doesn't see whay seems to be obvious to everyone else. Iheanacho should strike and Iwobi should play the advanced midfield role behind him. 3 friendlies and he never implemented this
We're there to learn.
Oh boy I just have to
I mean who picked the young team? No be the coach? Why does he keep using that as an excuse?
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:56 am
by The YeyeMan
maceo4 wrote:The YeyeMan wrote:niyi wrote:Rohr is the only person in the world who doesn't see whay seems to be obvious to everyone else. Iheanacho should strike and Iwobi should play the advanced midfield role behind him. 3 friendlies and he never implemented this
We're there to learn.
Oh boy I just have to
I mean who picked the young team? No be the coach? Why does he keep using that as an excuse?
Because he has no confidence in his own abilities and probably little in the team's ability.
His position will become untenable at this rate.
Re: Okocha - Mikel should have been played as DM
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:58 am
by Dr. Sabinus Okoro Phd
fledy wrote:And what did Mr. Okocha do when he played in those WC?
Please dude go sit
Really!! how old are you?
