Chidozie Awaziem at CB

[john12]

The boy is the most comfortable on the Ball and fastest among our Defenders. Who else will like to see him at CB?

[EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA]

The boy is the most comfortable on the Ball and fastest among our Defenders. Who else will like to see him at CB?

He's a beast at CB. He's also the best a defending crosses, i expect him to bench one of troost or omeruo by the end of this year.

[1naija]

The boy is the most comfortable on the Ball and fastest among our Defenders. Who else will like to see him at CB?

He's a beast at CB. He's also the best a defending crosses, i expect him to bench one of troost or omeruo by the end of this year.

Every up and coming defender has benched Omeruo by mouth until game day. I think our midfield and defense is set. We just need someone to step up and grab the no. 9 spot.

[Tobi17]

The boy is the most comfortable on the Ball and fastest among our Defenders. Who else will like to see him at CB?

He's a beast at CB. He's also the best a defending crosses, i expect him to bench one of troost or omeruo by the end of this year.

Every up and coming defender has benched Omeruo by mouth until game day. I think our midfield and defense is set. We just need someone to step up and grab the no. 9 spot.

We've got pretty much only Ndidi and Etebo on midfield, how exactly is it set?

[maceo4]

All I know is if Keshi was still coach (RIP), he would be his prototypical type of CD, not the Ekongs and Baloguns who are not comfortable with the ball at their feet. He preferred Omeruo and Oboabona because of this attribute even though Yobo might have been the better overall defender, but our transition from defense to attack suffers with the likes of Yobo who either hoof or pass back to the keeper being that they are mistake prone when they try to do more. You can see Ekong trying to concentrate hard and work on the distribution part of his game, but its just not natural to him esp when his first touch fails him, while it just seems effortless for Awaziem as his first touch is really good giving him more time to pick a pass and he has a better passing range. But Ekong is better defensively than Awaziem so I can see why Rohr prefers him and he works his socks off to improve.

[Siddonlook11]

All I know is if Keshi was still coach (RIP), he would be his prototypical type of CD, not the Ekongs and Baloguns who are not comfortable with the ball at their feet. He preferred Omeruo and Oboabona because of this attribute even though Yobo might have been the better overall defender, but our transition from defense to attack suffers with the likes of Yobo who either hoof or pass back to the keeper being that they are mistake prone when they try to do more. You can see Ekong trying to concentrate hard and work on the distribution part of his game, but its just not natural to him esp when his first touch fails him, while it just seems effortless for Awaziem as his first touch is really good giving him more time to pick a pass and he has a better passing range. But Ekong is better defensively than Awaziem so I can see why Rohr prefers him and he works his socks off to improve.

Spot on - the big thing for me in your post and his play is that Ekong TRIES very hard and you can see the frustration when he gets it wrong but he keeps trying, he did get like 3 or 4 long balls out to musa , very nice diagonals, he also had a few flat on the ground balls to Etebo and Ndidi few Ndidi promptly wasted. Omeruo no try at all he was huffing balls or trying to dribble out ( which funny enough he did well in tunis game , had like 4 dribbles )

[Bell]

The boy is the most comfortable on the Ball and fastest among our Defenders. Who else will like to see him at CB?

IN RECENT DAYS...


…how many times have heard me make the same suggestion?
Bell

[Damunk]

I really got to like Awaziem in this tournament.
I think of all the players, it was his stature that grew the most.

[Bigpokey24]

You people are funny...a defense that let in 7 goals ...the worst in our history...smh ....all those defenders wont win anything.....open una eyes...we had the worst defense in Afcon and only Tanzania let in more goals

[Dammy]

Awaziem used to be a midfielder, that's how he perfected his range of passing. To move to the next level, he needs to start with one of Ekong/Balogun/Omeruo. He has more experience than Omeruo and Oboabona when they were thrown in. Hopefully his club future is about to be sorted out as Nantes are currently negotiating to buy him from Porto. My only worry is Herr Rohr, a man who is unwilling to make the right decisions.
To those who say Ekong and Omeruo are better defenders, stats from AFCON says otherwise, despite playing out of position, Awaziem was not dribbled past by any attacker, not once was he beaten by a dribble. That's awesome!

[Tobi17]

You people are funny...a defense that let in 7 goals ...the worst in our history...smh ....all those defenders wont win anything.....open una eyes...we had the worst defense in Afcon and only Tanzania let in more goals

The thread is about Awaziems performance in the AFCON, not sure how he was culpable for us letting in 7 goals.

[ANC]

You people are funny...a defense that let in 7 goals ...the worst in our history...smh ....all those defenders wont win anything.....open una eyes...we had the worst defense in Afcon and only Tanzania let in more goals

It was the coach. No one can withstand that level of assault. Best form of defense is not usually parking the bus.

[ANC]

I really got to like Awaziem in this tournament.
I think of all the players, it was his stature that grew the most.

First time I saw him play, I knew he had the ball in him. I was amazed that some wanted him dropped pre-tournament. I am not sure about his central defense pairing with the current central defenders, but he certainly belongs there.

[Tobi17]

An Awaziem/Omeruo pairing is definitely one to build on.

[ANC]

An Awaziem/Omeruo pairing is definitely one to build on.

We don't know that, West and Uche were great individually, but playing together apparently didn't bring the best out of both. I tell you I didn't like Balogun, because I felt he was "flat footed" (no speed), but I have become a fan after this Afcon. He is a steading force in the back. Troost I am no longer show about, Awziem should start ahead of him perhaps.

[Tobi17]

An Awaziem/Omeruo pairing is definitely one to build on.

We don't know that, West and Uche were great individually, but playing together apparently didn't bring the best out of both. I tell you I didn't like Balogun, because I felt he was "flat footed" (no speed), but I have become a fan after this Afcon. He is a steading force in the back. Troost I am no longer show about, Awziem should start ahead of him perhaps.

Ekong for me is behind Awaziem and Omeruo, but our top 3 currently in particular order are Omeruo, Awaziem, Ekong, and Balogun (still very solid and efficient, but age and form isn't on his good side)... so whomever will be coach, will definitely be searching for one or two quality defenders to add to depth. But we are generally ok in the defense, our most worrying position is definitely that midfield...with Mikel retired, we are left with only Ndidi who is world class enough to step to that leadership role, and Etebo. Hopefully the likes of Azubuike, Joe Aribo, Mikel Agu, Esiti etc will come good, the upcoming Olympics will sure be a foundation to utilize such opportunity.

[theYemster]

You people are funny...a defense that let in 7 goals ...the worst in our history...smh ....all those defenders wont win anything.....open una eyes...we had the worst defense in Afcon and only Tanzania let in more goals

To be fair I wouldn't count the two goals conceded against Madagascar.

[goldenera94]

Omeruo is too soft and mistake prone. And very slow

An Awaziem/Omeruo pairing is definitely one to build on.

[Enugu II]

I really got to like Awaziem in this tournament.
I think of all the players, it was his stature that grew the most.

First time I saw him play, I knew he had the ball in him. I was amazed that some wanted him dropped pre-tournament. I am not sure about his central defense pairing with the current central defenders, but he certainly belongs there.

ANC

Good point. I always thought he was better than any of our Cs going back to his first few games for Nigeria. Unfortunately, he was pilloried here on CE as responsible for the goals SE gave up against South Africa. He isn't free of mistakes but his attribute is his technical ability which is better than what Omeruo, Balogun, or Ekong have. He harkens back to the old era when Nigerian cornerbacks were technical guys. We have missed those types since I believe the period of Uche and West. Many may argue that West was not technical but he certainly developed into that type of player.

[Dammy]

I don't see Rohr making the adjustment. He's still trying to get Ighalo to change his mind. I can't believe I'm saying this but Rohr could be the biggest impediment to the SE's progress.

[The YeyeMan]

I don't see Rohr making the adjustment. He's still trying to get Ighalo to change his mind. I can't believe I'm saying this but Rohr could be the biggest impediment to the SE's progress.

Believe it.

We have a small group of young players with potential and it'll be to their and our detriment if they're reared by Rohr - a coach who simply doesn't know how to get the best out of them.

[Dammy]

I don't see Rohr making the adjustment. He's still trying to get Ighalo to change his mind. I can't believe I'm saying this but Rohr could be the biggest impediment to the SE's progress.

Believe it.

We have a small group of young players with potential and it'll be to their and our detriment if they're reared by Rohr - a coach who simply doesn't know how to get the best out of them.

Rohr has reached his ceiling, the problem is who takes over without losing the progress made?

[airwolex]

The guy is a baller