Chidera Ejuke: "The thing you dey find go Sokoto..."

[Damunk]

Any new thoughts?

[EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA]

Ejuke stats in Russia according to whoscored

#10 ranked player in the league
2 goals and 2 assists top of league is 8 goals and 4 assists
#1 for dribbles per match
#64 for key passes per match

The stats tell the full story. Most telling Stat is his league ranking even though Russia is not a top league. No 10 ranking is still very good.

[vancity eagle]

Love or hate him, what a player! A winger/forward of the authentic Nigerian wingplay DNA. A disruptive player to the opposing and to some extent his own team.

Yes, the defense was tiring when he came on but he still did his job,they had no answers for him. His game is obviously not polished yet at 23yrs old but what he is now is a world class dribbler who needs to learn how to use his bag of tricks. Once he does, the boy will be a Barca,PSG, Mac City type talent. He could also be avpius Ikeda if he doesn't.

I'm happy we have him.

Not been able to watch the match yet but I’ve been a fan and agree with everything you say.
I started a thread on him last week, asking whether he could be converted to a central playmaker over time.

All the criticisms of him were probably levelled at Okocha at the same stage of his career.
He just needs a coach to harness and channel his skills, like you say.

The boy is special. I think we should play 2 DM behind him and let him be the No 10. It's a high risk high reward proposition, of he delivers we'll have world class AM. Limiting his to the wings is not the best way to allow him to thrive. He needs the free role.

I think Iwobi may trump him overall. Iwobi isn't bad at driving forward, but is much better at picking out passes, and he can dribble too.

Depends on our opponent tbh.

If we play minnows who bunker I would definately want Ejuke on the pitch, but against stronger teams I think I'd prefer Iwobi with Ejuke being an impact sub.

Could they play together, interchanging in central and wide roles. This of course would be in a 433. I wouldn't trust EJuke as a wingback in a 352

[amafolas]

good size, excellent balance, great dribbling technique, questionable decision-making and team play. 10/10 will play Iwobi ahead of him. But i like his exciting play, old school Naija dribbler that has not been overcoached by European robotic coaches.

[Tobi17]

Ejuke will definitely excel as a CAM if we play him through the middle in that 352 formation, but on the basis of decision making and better delivery of key passes... Iwobi remains ahead of him in that creative role.

[Tobi17]

Any new thoughts?

Play him as a CAM through the middle, he and Iwobi are our natural play-makers right now... but Chidera needs to improve on his decision making cause he has all the right tools we need to unlock teams that will play the low block against us.

[vancity eagle]

His best position is LW plain and simple....

WRONG.

[vancity eagle]

Ejuke will definitely excel as a CAM if we play him through the middle in that 352 formation, but on the basis of decision making and better delivery of key passes... Iwobi remains ahead of him in that creative role.

He is a must in our 23

He can be backup to Iwobi at #10 but also a wing option, whether starting or on the bench.

Against Cape Verde he showed that he put in the defensive workrate

[oscar52]

He runs with the ball until he is gassed. Not sure that kind of game will age well. You got to use your teammates more. 1 - 2 football more efficient. If no road, it's oK to to pull back until your teammates join in. Ability to take on three players yourself is a great skill to have but one that should only be used as last option possible. His type of current game will create alot of disjointed team play and makes his team vulnerable to a counter. Strategic ball possession is an important part of the game.

[Sunset]

His best position is LW plain and simple....

WRONG.

Indeed

[green4life]

He has to learn when to stop dribbling and try to find a pass or shot. It’s quite frustrating watching him beat one and two and still try for 3 and 4 without even looking up to see if there is anybody free to pass to.

Lol. He still hasn’t changed one bit though in fairness, your post was 1 month ago. But I tire for am.

[joao]

Sure, Ejuke is another Okocha in the making, but holding on the the ball too long
is not beneficial to team play. Also he may be courting injury if playing against the likes of Rudiger.
Did anyone notice how his dribbling runs end into a cul-de-sac? If this lad ever learn to
play mostly 'one-touch' football, he will be sought after by every big club.

[green4life]

Any new thoughts?

His best position is a free role supporting (behind) a lone striker almost like Madison plays for Leicester City. He needs freedom and his energy is useful defensively.

[Bigpokey24]

Why are you people so bent on his dribbling? No one cries when Neymar, Messi, Mbape, Salah all dribbles. You have a skillful player and you folks are crying about his best assets. The guy came in and took a load off the SE...we need ball carriers that can help against park the bus teams. This guy can only get better

[Bigpokey24]

Any new thoughts?

His best position is a free role supporting (behind) a lone striker almost like Madison plays for Leicester City. He needs freedom and his energy is useful defensively.

Yeap he looks very good there. Playing him behind Vic or kele

[DIMKA76]

Any new thoughts?

Absolutely agreed you the first time, todays game confirms your pov. I always toyed with the idea. Ejuke just needs to add the element of bringing others into play especially in those advance positions.

[DIMKA76]

Why are you people so bent on his dribbling? No one cries when Neymar, Messi, Mbape, Salah all dribbles. You have a skillful player and you folks are crying about his best assets. The guy came in and took a load off the SE...we need ball carriers that can help against park the bus teams. This guy can only get better

[Enugu II]

Any new thoughts?

Absolutely agreed you the first time, todays game confirms your pov. I always toyed with the idea. Ejuke just needs to add the element of bringing others into play especially in those advance positions.

I KPOM this statement!!!!

[Lolly]

I would like to see more of him. His selfish play can be counter productive.

[Tobi17]

So when Chukwueze returns to fitness and the likes of Iwobi, Ndidi, Etebo also return...will Rohr drill adopt the 352 for the next two games? I really want to see Chukwueze or Ejuke been tried in that CAM role.

[txj]

Any new thoughts?

His best position is a free role supporting (behind) a lone striker almost like Madison plays for Leicester City. He needs freedom and his energy is useful defensively.

I very seriously doubt it. He does not have the game intelligence to play there.

He's not a player who puts his technical abilities in service of the team game; does not have the head's up vision to see movement around him or the decision making to time his runs and his releases appropriately.

He's best in the wide role coming centrally, esp as a change of pace option from the bench...

[DIMKA76]

Any new thoughts?

Absolutely agreed you the first time, todays game confirms your pov. I always toyed with the idea. Ejuke just needs to add the element of bringing others into play especially in those advance positions.

I KPOM this statement!!!!

Good to hear from like minded formers.
With regard to Ejuke. What Ejuke likes and the role he plays in the SE are two different things. People need to understand that at this stage in his career, he needs a manager who sets out his brief clearly before each game and debriefs him after every game. Soon he'll imbibe these qualities to make him the rounded player we hope he becomes.

[vancity eagle]

So when Chukwueze returns to fitness and the likes of Iwobi, Ndidi, Etebo also return...will Rohr drill adopt the 352 for the next two games? I really want to see Chukwueze or Ejuke been tried in that CAM role.

The conundrum is this

443 or 352

443 we can utilize our AM (Iwobi or EJuke) while also using the good wing forwards we have like Chukwueze, Ejuke, Kalu (hopefully Lookman) but here we dont use a second striker (Iheanacho)

with the 352 we can utilize a second striker but we get less play from our wing forwards.

I think the formation should depend on who is available and the opponents we play. Now that our best wing forward (chukwueze) is injured it makes sense to go with 352

I just never want to see 442 again. We have never really played well with this formation .