Cybereagles

No doubt, we got most of our tactics right in the group stages. However, today, there was hardly any pivot to counter the Tunisian compact strategy.
What was even more concerning is that after the goal, Egu's response with his substitutions did not make any logical sense.
Super Eagles, we've got a problem!

We have to find s middle ground between being pragmatic, like Rohr, or more expansive like Eguaveon. It is a real conundrum. There are no real easy answers

Yes we have a problem.

Should've known when Egu started demonstrating how Nigeria plays on a table when he mentioned Temile and Nwosu.

airwolex wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:29 pm We have to find s middle ground between being pragmatic, like Rohr, or more expansive like Eguaveon. It is a real conundrum. There are no real easy answers

Today's game was less about expansiveness and more to do with reading the game and making the necessary adjustments. It was obvious to everyone that our wing play was ineffective, yet we did little from the middle. Iwobi was subbed on, he got a red card...then, we start throwing in subs that made little sense. Egu panicked big time.

To be fair to Eguavoen, I think bringing on Iwobi was the right call because he probably wanted to play through the middle more using Iwobi. It was unfortunate tho that Iwobi got a harsh red card. Bringing on Olayinka was strange.

Tunisia's strategy was to clog both wings. It didn't help that Simon was holding on to the ball too long and that Chuwkueze is predictable since he is always looking to cut in. Eguavoen's attempt to switch patterns was foiled by the red card. The Olayinka substitution didn't help matters.

EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:32 pm Should've known when Egu started demonstrating how Nigeria plays on a table when he mentioned Temile and Nwosu.

when?

Iwobi was the right substitution given that Nacho was sitting on a yellow card. Sadiq should have started the game.

Riche007 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:25 pm No doubt, we got most of our tactics right in the group stages. However, today, there was hardly any pivot to counter the Tunisian compact strategy.
What was even more concerning is that after the goal, Egu's response with his substitutions did not make any logical sense.
Super Eagles, we've got a problem!

olu wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:57 pm To be fair to Eguavoen, I think bringing on Iwobi was the right call because he probably wanted to play through the middle more using Iwobi. It was unfortunate tho that Iwobi got a harsh red card. Bringing on Olayinka was strange.

Tunisia's strategy was to clog both wings. It didn't help that Simon was holding on to the ball too long and that Chuwkueze is predictable since he is always looking to cut in. Eguavoen's attempt to switch patterns was foiled by the red card. The Olayinka substitution didn't help matters.

That's the point...Iwobi gets a red card within a few mins of coming on, then he panics.

Eff it let me just let it out……

Sudan came with the exact same game plan as Tunisia. Luckily we scored an early goal but Egu noticed the ineffectiveness of Samu once teams loaded up on the wings and brought on Iwobi who completely changed d dynamic of our attack and balanced the game especially once Nwakali joined d fray.

I expected the same response at half time today.

For some reason we came out the exact same way in the exact same shape with the exact same attacking patterns when it was obvious it wasn’t working. It’s like both coaches were waiting for each other. Which is very ironic considering Eguavoen did not wait against Sudan.

Iwobi needed to come in but for Samu not Kelechi.

Kelechi substitution I can very much understand it. The yellow card and the stamp on him few mins before the sub meant he had to come off. But Iwobi should have been on earlier for Samu. If Kelechi had to come off maybe Henry could have come on since Ejuke was not on the bench.

Olayinka for Awoniyi was a head scratcher. Eguavoen was thinking it was a personnel issue not a tactical one. That was very poor reading of the game.

At 10 men, our adjustments were not cohesive. We just Dey play with no direction. It showed a coach who didn’t really know his players. He was just throwing everything.

Egu faced some adversity today and flopped. Flopped badly too.

airwolex wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:29 pm We have to find s middle ground between being pragmatic, like Rohr, or more expansive like Eguaveon. It is a real conundrum. There are no real easy answers

It's not just about being pragmatic or expansive. It's also about being able to adjust and counter what your opponents are doing on the day.

That being said we only have a coaching problem if Peseiro isn't the right man for the job. It's a shame that he wasn't at Afcon.

In truth we only really played with good organization in the first half against Egypt.

Our next two games produced good results but not much by way of good organization or fluidity in developing our play, relying more and more on individual play.

Today we could not find solutions to the Tunisian organization.

And after the red card, it was all free form. I found that to be quite troubling.

I would not recommend Eguavoen for coach.

But he needs to be commended for his efforts under very untenable circumstances.

olu wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:57 pm To be fair to Eguavoen, I think bringing on Iwobi was the right call because he probably wanted to play through the middle more using Iwobi. It was unfortunate tho that Iwobi got a harsh red card. Bringing on Olayinka was strange.

Tunisia's strategy was to clog both wings. It didn't help that Simon was holding on to the ball too long and that Chuwkueze is predictable since he is always looking to cut in. Eguavoen's attempt to switch patterns was foiled by the red card. The Olayinka substitution didn't help matters.

Same Olayinka that created our best chance of the game with the cross to Moses that beat out the entire Tunisian defense and left him one v one with the keeper. Crosses that we had been screaming about all tournament long that we need to do better with them? But sure his substitution didn't help matters...ok o...

txj wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 2:29 am In truth we only really played with good organization in the first half against Egypt.

Our next two games produced good results but not much by way of good organization or fluidity in developing our play, relying more and more on individual play.

Today we could not find solutions to the Tunisian organization.

And after the red card, it was all free form. I found that to be quite troubling.

I would not recommend Eguavoen for coach.

But he needs to be commended for his efforts under very untenable circumstances.

Agreed...

Perhaps after this we might learn to give a little more respect for planning , hard work and good decision-making.

The idea that you can be successful out of chaos is frankly the most stupid thing i ever heard

Maceo4 the flip-flopper

txj wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 2:29 am In truth we only really played with good organization in the first half against Egypt.

Our next two games produced good results but not much by way of good organization or fluidity in developing our play, relying more and more on individual play.

Today we could not find solutions to the Tunisian organization.

And after the red card, it was all free form. I found that to be quite troubling.

I would not recommend Eguavoen for coach.

But he needs to be commended for his efforts under very untenable circumstances.

I agree. We never really improved as the tournament went on which isn't a good sign. I was hoping that we wouldn't get found out until the Semis. But it wasn't meant to be.

EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:32 pm Should've known when Egu started demonstrating how Nigeria plays on a table when he mentioned Temile and Nwosu.

should have known when he insisted on 442.

He had me fooled, he made us think it could work after 3 matches.

But like I had said, it will be found out against better opponents. Tunisia studied and packed the midfield and crowded out Simon.

If Egu was a top coach he would have switched to a 433 before the end of the first half. When the second half started and I saw he made no changes, I knew we were done.

We overloaded the team with wingers and fwds and yet very few midfielders, Ndidi was once again overplayed as the lone DM...

txj wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 2:34 am Perhaps after this we might learn to give a little more respect for planning , hard work and good decision-making.

The idea that you can be successful out of chaos is frankly the most stupid thing i ever heard

It's a Nigerian thing unfortunately. And the fact that we've occasionally succeeded in spite of getting in our own way means that we never learn.

vancity eagle wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 2:36 am

EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:32 pm Should've known when Egu started demonstrating how Nigeria plays on a table when he mentioned Temile and Nwosu.

should have known when he insisted on 442.

He had me fooled, he made us think it could work after 3 matches.

But like I had said, it will be found out against better opponents. Tunisia studied and packed the midfield and crowded out Simon.

If Egu was a top coach he would have switched to a 433 before the end of the first half. When the second half started and I saw he made no changes, I knew we were done.

It's not about formations

Tobi17 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 2:38 am We overloaded the team with wingers and fwds and yet very few midfielders, Ndidi was once again overplayed as the lone DM...

We had two central midfielders, Aribo and Ndidi

txj wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 2:40 am

Tobi17 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 2:38 am We overloaded the team with wingers and fwds and yet very few midfielders, Ndidi was once again overplayed as the lone DM...

We had two central midfielders, Aribo and Ndidi

Which still proves my point, we're absolutely nullified when the Tunisians crowded out that midfield.