Cybereagles

ogiso wrote:Bigpokey go poke you o!

No doubt, Kali is already in trouble. If Bigpokey24 catach-ma today, na him (Kali) sabi.

Bigpokey24 wrote:

born2win wrote:100% agree Mikel should start from bench.

Etebo starting

human excreta dey talk

So he's human excreta because he disagrees with you?

metalalloy wrote:

platinum wrote:

Enyi wrote:

platinum wrote:

Enyi wrote:Kali might have a half point.....I won't drop Mikel but then don't play Iwobi as a deep lying playmaker when u have Mikel doing that role further forward.....just wey too many cooks

I think you'll see in the game thread that almost everyone wondered why Iwobi was dropping so deep.

I really noticed it in that Serbia game and thought he had just abandoned his instructions and was dropping deep to create since Nigeria was doing nothing as far as that went however I now have to assume going by the games we've seen since then that he wasn't actually freelancing and was doing what he was told to do.

When you have Ndidi, Mikel, and Ogu/Etebo or whoever in midfield, you have guys who're all comfortable with the ball. Iwobi shouldn't be having to drop so deep to retrieve AND carry the ball. He hugs it too much too. He needs to be in the last third otherwise there's just way too much traffic to go thru to influence the game.The fluidity is good though. The SE can literally confuse the heck out of the opponent because aparrt from Ighalo, the others in the attack and midfield can pop up virtually anywhere.

Which is why I think you should play Moses and Iwobi as wingers.....like in Arsenal, I know we did not do well in the league but then again we do not have Ndidi +/- Ogu in the Team

I'd agree with VM playing wide and cutting into the center IF the fullback on his wing helps stretch the hole he leaves. Iwobi? I'm not so sure about his wing ability. Simon was no great shakes but he showed a better ability to mirror VM on the other side. Iwobi is more comfortable playing in the middle (deep or behind the forwards).

Looking at the squad, we have a lot around the middle and the play will be really narrow if the left and right back dont play as wingbacks. I think this is why the 3-5-1-1 has been somewhat more effective.
Someone (true talk I think) mentioned we'd miss Simon and I agree. Also this is where Onyekuru should have let his play talk more instead of his yapper.

The wingbacks absolutely have to bomb forward or we will really struggle to create.

Wasn't he yapping because he was not given an opportunity to let his play talk? Leaving that aside, im not sure he was/is the solution if there is any truth to the accusations of the anderletch coach regarding his defensive shortcomings. the left CB in a back 3 would be left exposed.

metal, when he played for the SE, I didnt see anything that said....this boy must see more time. I mean, the competition for wingers in the Eagles isn't exactly the same as the central midfield were we have heavyweights punching it out.

At Anderlecht, who knows wetin happen there. He has four years to become the truth though.

We are relying on a 30 year old Chinese league retiree as our playmaker and savior, that alone pretty much sums it up... somewhere in the peripheral of my fantasy imagination... I'm envisaging and salivating at what attacking line up with Nwakali and Iwobi would have looked like in Russia... with Ndidi and Mikel anchoring the rear, imaginations imaginations imaginations...

kali wrote:Mikel is past it. This is not U-23 or African teams. He offers little in defence and little in attack. He slows down the attack.

Rohr will figure it out but let's hope it's before it's too late. We need someone like Etebo starting in his position :

Uzoho

Ebuehi Ekong Balogun Omeruo Moses
Ndidi Etebo Ogu
Iwobi Iheanacho

YOU ARE A CERTIFIED BUFFOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

vancity eagle wrote:

platinum wrote:

Enyi wrote:

platinum wrote:

Enyi wrote:
The wingbacks absolutely have to bomb forward or we will really struggle to create.

and this clown coach took Echijele over Aina.

To further compound his stupidity he seems to prefer Shehu over Ebuehi.

Is he watching different matches from the ones we are watching ?

Yes, I dont agree with the Uwa callup. I think that's likely based on seniority and the need for 'leadership', it's definitely not based on ability.

I was one who thought Shehu offered more defensively than Ebuehi and at least as much going forward. I really thought Tyronne's main upside was his speed. I have seen enough now to reassess my position. Ebuehi will make mistakes in DEFENSE but I think now that he offers more going forward and we will need that. Also, I think he's a bit more aggressive which we will need. There was a play early today when Shehu was fouled and while getting up, he was trying to shake the hands of the Czech attacker who had kicked him down, and that one ignored him. It may be neither here nor there but I think the Czechs laid an early benchmark with their kicks and Shehu wasn't ready for that. Again, may be neither here nor there.

The last few games have not done Shehu favors BUT it's important to note that the outlet balls to him have also been lacking. I can count several occasions today where VM or Mikel just failed to play the right pass into the space behind the defense for him to run onto. One way or the other Ebuehi is stretching the field where Shehu hasn't and it's vital that we stretch the field.

Tobi17 wrote:We are relying on a 30 year old Chinese league retiree as our playmaker and savior, that alone pretty much sums it up... somewhere in the peripheral of my fantasy imagination... I'm envisaging and salivating at what attacking line up with Nwakali and Iwobi would have looked like in Russia... with Ndidi and Mikel anchoring the rear, imaginations imaginations imaginations...

Congrats, you have made the list of Football Know-nothings! © The Great Zee

platinum wrote:

vancity eagle wrote:

platinum wrote:

Enyi wrote:

platinum wrote:

Enyi wrote:
The wingbacks absolutely have to bomb forward or we will really struggle to create.

and this clown coach took Echijele over Aina.

To further compound his stupidity he seems to prefer Shehu over Ebuehi.

Is he watching different matches from the ones we are watching ?

Yes, I dont agree with the Uwa callup. I think that's likely based on seniority and the need for 'leadership', it's definitely not based on ability.

I was one who thought Shehu offered more defensively than Ebuehi and at least as much going forward. I really thought Tyronne's main upside was his speed. I have seen enough now to reassess my position. Ebuehi will make mistakes in DEFENSE but I think now that he offers more going forward and we will need that. Also, I think he's a bit more aggressive which we will need. There was a play early today when Shehu was fouled and while getting up, he was trying to shake the hands of the Czech attacker who had kicked him down, and that one ignored him. It may be neither here nor there but I think the Czechs laid an early benchmark with their kicks and Shehu wasn't ready for that. Again, may be neither here nor there.

The last few games have not done Shehu favors BUT it's important to note that the outlet balls to him have also been lacking. I can count several occasions today where VM or Mikel just failed to play the right pass into the space behind the defense for him to run onto. One way or the other Ebuehi is stretching the field where Shehu hasn't and it's vital that we stretch the field.

His speed is definitely his advantage. His recovery rate was very impressive today and he at leasts positions himself to slow down counter attackers. He definitely allows us to stretch play better than Shehu as he shows an inclination to go forward a bit more. That at least keeps the opposing winger and full back occupied.

I agree that Shehu has been ignored on multiple occassions when he overlapped.

platinum wrote:
The last few games have not done Shehu favors BUT it's important to note that the outlet balls to him have also been lacking. I can count several occasions today where VM or Mikel just failed to play the right pass into the space behind the defense for him to run onto. One way or the other Ebuehi is stretching the field where Shehu hasn't and it's vital that we stretch the field.

Part of why was lacking (outlet balls to Shehu) is because his positioning was off (I noted this in the game thread). He's not quite where he needs to be or not knowing which spaces to take up. The switch to 352 was actually made in the middle of the first half. His role changed but his positioning didn't conform. Thanks to Conte, I've been fed a steady dose of wing back play the last 2 years non stop so I know exactly where to expect a wingback to be defensively and offensively. Sometimes, he's required to arrive at the half space between the midfield and their fullback. He's not always expected to fly down the wing and 'outrun' his support. When you are too far or too back, you will be bypassed for a better option. That partly explains why he appeared to be out of sync with his midfield support.

For me, if we're going with 3 at the back, Moses should play his CFC role for us.

green4life wrote:

platinum wrote:
The last few games have not done Shehu favors BUT it's important to note that the outlet balls to him have also been lacking. I can count several occasions today where VM or Mikel just failed to play the right pass into the space behind the defense for him to run onto. One way or the other Ebuehi is stretching the field where Shehu hasn't and it's vital that we stretch the field.

Part of why was lacking (outlet balls to Shehu) is because his positioning was off (I noted this in the game thread). He's not quite where he needs to be or not knowing which spaces to take up. The switch to 352 was actually made in the middle of the first half. His role changed but his positioning didn't conform. Thanks to Conte, I've been fed a steady dose of wing back play the last 2 years non stop so I know exactly where to expect a wingback to be defensively and offensively. Sometimes, he's required to arrive at the half space between the midfield and their fullback. He's not always expected to fly down the wing and 'outrun' his support. When you are too far or too back, you will be bypassed for a better option. That partly explains why he appeared to be out of sync with his midfield support.

For me, if we're going with 3 at the back, Moses should play his CFC role for us.

Great point on the positioning. My issue with VM playing RWB is that if he is moved away from the 'Hazard' role he currently plays, who do you replace him with there? We need two attacking players AND a forward right? So if Ighalo is that #9, and Iwobi is one of the attackers (he really should be this instead of dropping into the #4 role every now and then), who's the second attacker?

I have said this on couple of occasions and I will say it again: Any team parading Mikel as the main 10 is in trouble.

platinum wrote: Great point on the positioning. My issue with VM playing RWB is that if he is moved away from the 'Hazard' role he currently plays, who do you replace him with there? We need two attacking players AND a forward right? So if Ighalo is that #9, and Iwobi is one of the attackers (he really should be this instead of dropping into the #4 role every now and then), who's the second attacker?

This is a helluva a point you've noted because the same crossed my mind as well. But the reality is he's playing the 'hazard role' but he's nowhere near the technical level of Hazard (apologies to Kajifu in advance ). So it's a wasted position playing him there especially when you have a perfect and natural supporting striker, Kelechi, rotting on the bench. Why? I don't get it. If you are using one striker, fine, I get it but not when your formation accommodates 2 strikers. Kelechi should start or get subbed in when the situation calls for a second striker (in this case by HT at the latest).

Enugu II wrote:

metalalloy wrote:Every game, a new player should be benched.. CE.

Next game, another name. Na real wahala ooo! Today, na Aina for save us. Never mind that he did diddly against Argentina and Congo. Tomorrow, we will also call for Onazi's return or for Ezenwa's return. The best player is always the one that did not play.

We are who they say we are and frankly it is a shame, a damn shame if you ask me...smh

Obviously he shouldn't be dropped but the pretensions he and Rohr have that the guy can play higher up the field should be put to bed. He's not about that game.

Was I not right? Westerlo had the courage to bench 32 year old captain stephen Keshi in 1994. We are here saying Mikel must play.

Go back and revisit the 1994 team. We played a very simple central midfield. They held the center and sprayed passes forward. Adepoju was 24, Oliseh was 19. Finidi and Amunike ran every team ragged. Amokachi played support striker. There was no playmaker. We had three fast, attacking players.

We don't need Mikel to playmaker. He can be replaced by Ogu or he should sit back and hold the midfield and spray passes on time. Victor Moses should play wing back.



Uzo

I'm sorry, but until Nigeria play a good football game without Mikel on the field - this is no time for experiments. And we don't have a Finidi and Amunike to run teams ragged.

mikel should come on 70 min to protect a lead. Otherwise in 3-5-2 he is not needed. We have an explosive box to box midfielder Etebo, a good tackler, we have two solid wing backs Ebuehi and Moses. We have two fast forwards Iwobi and Iheanacho.

Courtesy of Nairaland

kali wrote:Mikel is past it. This is not U-23 or African teams. He offers little in defence and little in attack. He slows down the attack.

Rohr will figure it out but let's hope it's before it's too late. We need someone like Etebo starting in his position :

Uzoho

Ebuehi Ekong Balogun Omeruo Moses
Ndidi Etebo Ogu
Iwobi Iheanacho

I have to disagree with your statement.

This will shock our resident CE Mikel 4 Life yes even with his sideways passing

JMO is important to the Super Eagles as the skipper. his natural role is best as served as a DM in front of the back four. JMO can make some nice passes and long ball. However he is not a traditional #10.

Our coach I blame the NFA for their greed and hiring a coach who is not qualified for the job. Even if he was not the first choice, what was their list of possible candidates.

2drama wrote:

kali wrote:Mikel is past it. This is not U-23 or African teams. He offers little in defence and little in attack. He slows down the attack.

Rohr will figure it out but let's hope it's before it's too late. We need someone like Etebo starting in his position :

Uzoho

Ebuehi Ekong Balogun Omeruo Moses
Ndidi Etebo Ogu
Iwobi Iheanacho

I have to disagree with your statement.

This will shock our resident CE Mikel 4 Life yes even with his sideways passing

JMO is important to the Super Eagles as the skipper. his natural role is best as served as a DM in front of the back four. JMO can make some nice passes and long ball. However he is not a traditional #10.

Our coach I blame the NFA for their greed and hiring a coach who is not qualified for the job. Even if he was not the first choice, what was their list of possible candidates.

I guess Zola was wrong too:

“The midfield was flat there was no creativity and Mikel didn’t do much to help the team. He (Mikel) should leave for a player with more energy to help out. Considering the calibre of players they (Croatia) have,”

marutimon wrote:I'm sorry, but until Nigeria play a good football game without Mikel on the field - this is no time for experiments. And we don't have a Finidi and Amunike to run teams ragged.

I guess the argentina game doesn't count.

kolinzo wrote:I have said this on couple of occasions and I will say it again: Any team parading Mikel as the main 10 is in trouble.

Funny enough, Zola agrees with this POV.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=289256

Might be too late, our China love is killing us. How could boyz on pension in China be leading any attack of a serious team? Mikel should start from the bench if he can't play DM. Keshi was captain, but didn't play any game in 1994. Send that old man to the bench and let Iwobi lead.