NewStats: 3,265,444 , 8,186,770 topics. Date: Sunday, 15 June 2025 at 02:19 AM 6s4749

This is part of why I miss you on this thread. Your relational/juxtaposition approach to any football matter finding a way to bring it homewards to what can make our Eagles better.

You are right. Rodri's absence at CDM and KDB's fitness issues which leaves Man City a bit less dreaded offensively are the two biggest factors affecting this City side.

There are others like the structure of their rest defence.... but it is still tied to Rodri.

And indeed like Man City currently, the Super Eagles are missing that balance that can truly get our team going and firing on all cylinders consistently. Until we get in the right personnel, we would keep on trying and failing.

Joebie:
if the absence of Rodri and the fitness of KDB has been the concern for Man City, it only goes to tell you how important a player or two can be to a team. Which is why we need to get our combinations right, or maybe we are missing an invite of one or more players that would just make the difference in the SE. Else, we would keep laboring and trying to find a solution where there is none with the current set up.

What has Sadiq Umar done since before the last nations cup to deserve an invite. We are not serious. We still have the likes of Arokodare who may not be better, but how do you know if you don't give them a chance.

TheGoodJoe:


You are cracking me up.

Well, we have a very huge game and Ake who was providing a good cover was taking off to rest.

Gundogan who had picked up fine, playing a fluid double pivot with Rico Lewis when he inverts was taking off too.

I would have shifted Nunes to the pivot role but he seems not too concerned with defending deep and we fell apart.

All these shalaye no come too much?, it won’t stop Liverpool from shifting una pants on Sunday 😂😂😂

Mattheus Nunes. When I saw his name on the teamsheet today, I was like Pep finally recognises that someone gotta truly fill in for Rodri but naahh... brother was playing another role. I hit my head saying, "Pep not again! Take Nunes to 6 and leave him there!!"

Anyway, Pep knows more than me for sure. Undeniably true. But this Rodri absence really exposes City's true depth of quality same way Breasts.. sorry I mean brest got exposed tonight at Barca 😁😁

TheGoodJoe:


You a[sub][/sub]re cracking me up.

Well, we have a very huge game and Ake who was providing a good cover was taking off to rest.

Gundogan who had picked up fine, playing a fluid double pivot with Rico Lewis when he inverts was taking off too.

I would have shifted Nunes to the pivot role but he seems not too concerned with defending deep and we fell apart.

Thank you. I had to look up the Chrisantus guy from your recommendation, and I have been doing research on him lately. I think his directness. his ball carrying ability the way he penetrates spaces is something we are missing from the middle. How he is able to feed the forwards, is still something I would like to see though I have not watched his full games. Iwobi is not that kind of player. Iwobi's strengths is his vision. Fisayo I think is that player who should come in when we need that goal badly.. his shooting is top notch.

TheSuperNerd:
This is part of why I miss you on this thread. Your relational/juxtaposition approach to any football matter finding a way to bring it homewards to what can make our Eagles better.

You are right. Rodri's absence at CDM and KDB's fitness issues which leaves Man City a bit less dreaded offensively are the two biggest factors affecting this City side.

There are others like the structure of their rest defence.... but it is still tied to Rodri.

And indeed like Man City currently, the Super Eagles are missing that balance that can truly get our team going and firing on all cylinders consistently. Until we get in the right personnel, we would keep on trying and failing.

TheSuperNerd:
Mattheus Nunes. When I saw his name on the teamsheet today, I was like Pep finally recognises that someone gotta truly fill in for Rodri but naahh... brother was playing another role. I hit my head saying, "Pep not again! Take Nunes to 6 and leave him there!!"

Anyway, Pep knows more than me for sure. Undeniably true. But this Rodri absence really exposes City's true depth of quality same way Breasts.. sorry I mean brest got exposed tonight at Barca 😁😁

Guardiola likes a slim squad but I think the games are now too much and needs a bigger squad. This will help keep the team fresh too. Rodri was overworked.

I think Nunes was exceptional on the right wing. Best I have seen him but I believe he can play the Rodri role. Nunes is too caught up with the excitement of offensive play. If he can sit and shield, he will excel.

Another person is Kevin De Bruyne but he is todo caught with the assist stuff. He would make a great deep lying playmaker if he agrees to play the role.

TheSuperNerd:
Mattheus Nunes. When I saw his name on the teamsheet today, I was like Pep finally recognises that someone gotta truly fill in for Rodri but naahh... brother was playing another role. I hit my head saying, "Pep not again! Take Nunes to 6 and leave him there!!"

Anyway, Pep knows more than me for sure. Undeniably true. But this Rodri absence really exposes City's true depth of quality same way Breasts.. sorry I mean brest got exposed tonight at Barca 😁😁

Another thing we suffered today was the misses. We were really unlucky in front of goal today.

As long as we keep playing well, we will be okay.

Yes, Christantus. Please keep on him. I assure you there is something there. I might be exaggerative but we have a Yaya profile in that lad.

And just imagine such a profile playing in tandem with an iwobi-visionary profile (either at CAM or Right AM) and having a bona-fide CDM in Onyedika sitting deep and connecting the transition plays from defence to attack through the middle.

The craziest thing is... with all 3, we could still have one more slot for a creative head if we push Iwobi to the right to act as a wide creator (right AM) same way he operates at Fulham.

The Super Eagles haven't been lined up according to its true talent pool strength from a balanced personnel perspective.

Options abound but picking them right and knowing who to bench and bring it at strategic times and for tactical situations is just the problem.

Onyeka, Alhassan, Fisayo, Ndidi, Ojediran, Onyedika, Iwobi, Christantus, Aribo, etc etc.. are all solid materials for the Super Eagles midfield. But among them, few are bona-fide starter materials coz they bring the right balance to our middle game plays based on analytics and their attributes while the rest are Solid but important bench materials who can become starters in some games depending on Opposition strength and tactical need.

Joebie:
Thank you. I had to look up the Chrisantus guy from your recommendation, and I have been doing research on him lately. I think his directness. his ball carrying ability the way he penetrates spaces is something we are missing from the middle. How he is able to feed the forwards, is still something I would like to see though I have not watched his full games. Iwobi is not that kind of player. Iwobi's strengths is his vision. Fisayo I think is that player who should come in when we need that goal badly.. his shooting is top notch.

Safe to say no City fan will be ordering Pizza from Domino's anytime soon. Three days ago or so, it was stay humble delivery package for City... now They have come again after tonight's crumble from 3-0. 😭😭😭

TheGoodJoe:


Another thing we suffered today was the misses. We were really unlucky in front of goal today.

As long as we keep playing well, we will be okay.

You will be okay vs Liverpool next?? Time will tell.

Better PRAY Madrid knock them out of momentum tomorrow before your game.

In short, hold my hands...

Things aren't tiki-takaing anymore at the moment, TheGoodJoe. 6 games, no wins now and new negative records keep popping up.

Boniface was not in the match day squad.

TheSuperNerd:
Safe to say no City fan will be ordering Pizza from Domino's anytime soon. Three days ago or so, it was stay humble delivery package for City... now They have come again after tonight's crumble from 3-0. 😭😭😭

I'm sure Mujtahida has already ordered a dozen of that pizza....

TheSuperNerd:
Things aren't tiki-takaing anymore at the moment, TheGoodJoe. 6 games, no wins now and new negative records keep popping up.

On Sunday, we will make it 7...

Mujtahida has become their biggest customer.😭😭😭

Danielnino00:


I'm sure Mujtahida has already ordered a dozen of that pizza....

For me the conundrum is both Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman being starters. We can't have Iwobi in wide positions, in that event, unless we are playing a 3-4-3, but that will be asking too much from Iwobi. Another option is to play Simon as an impact player from the bench like Fisayo. I have experimented various combinations in midfield and upfront, and I think to get the best out of this team, we will need to be dynamic in our formations during the run of play depending on the opposition as you insinuated. Some formations are best suited for certain players and will render others ineffective.

Modified
And yes it would be nice to experiment having the trio play in the midfield. We still lack that creative spark at the middle of the pack like you pointed out. We have a forward profile that needs to be fed again and again. If we can get this aspect right we will be world beaters.

TheSuperNerd:
Yes, Christantus. Please keep on him. I assure you there is something there. I might be exaggerative but we have a Yaya profile in that lad.

And just imagine such a profile playing in tandem with an iwobi-visionary profile (either at CAM or Right AM) and having a bona-fide CDM in Onyedika sitting deep and connecting the transition plays from defence to attack through the middle.

The craziest thing is... with all 3, we could still have one more slot for a creative head if we push Iwobi to the right to act as a wide creator (right AM) same way he operates at Fulham.

The Super Eagles haven't been lined up according to its true talent pool strength from a balanced personnel perspective.

Options abound but picking them right and knowing who to bench and bring it at strategic times and for tactical situations is just the problem.

Onyeka, Alhassan, Fisayo, Ndidi, Ojediran, Onyedika, Iwobi, Christantus, Aribo, etc etc.. are all solid materials for the Super Eagles midfield. But among them, few are bona-fide starter materials coz they bring the right balance to our middle game plays based on analytics and their attributes while the rest are Solid but important bench materials who can become starters in some games depending on Opposition strength and tactical need.

Gift Orban is wanted by Stuttgart, Trabzonspor and Galatasaray.


(Source: Sky Sport DE)

I agree on one of Lookman or Simon starting and truly if we nail our picks right across all positions, Lookman gets the starting nod everytime. Simon is an impact player who comes into a game and does his crossing and takeons to devastating effect.

And having Iwobi wide is actually not traditional wide. He won't operate as a touchline wide operator. He would act as a wide creator that inverts centrally allowing his corresponding fullback to overlap and eat up the space close to the touchlines.

The idea of Iwobi wide like we see at Fulham is likely to take advantage of his Vision and between-the-lines operation in the half spaces in the final third.

Joebie:
For me the conundrum is both Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman being starters. We can't have Iwobi in wide positions, in that event, unless we are playing a 3-4-3, but that will be asking too much from Iwobi. Another option is to play Simon as an impact player from the bench like Fisayo. I have experimented various combinations in midfield and upfront, and I think to get the best out of this team, we will need to be dynamic in our formations during the run of play depending on the opposition as you insinuated. Some formations are best suited for certain players and will render others ineffective.

TheSuperNerd:
Things aren't tiki-takaing anymore at the moment, TheGoodJoe. 6 games, no wins now and new negative records keep popping up.

How can you say that? We outplayed Feyenord hands down. What killed us was our finishing again. Not the style of play.

@thegoodjoe see your manager. The man is going through a lot. He must have stood in front of a mirror after a game and gave himself good head smack and scratches. Things are not going well right now for Pep. I hope he bounces back quickly

Mybettingtips:
@thegoodjoe see your manager. The man is going through a lot. He must have stood in front of a mirror after a game and gave himself good head smack and scratches. Things are not going well right now for Pep. I hope he bounces back quickly

As soon as we get our players back and probably sign a defensive midfielder in the winter transfer market, we will be okay.

TheSuperNerd:
Yes, Christantus. Please keep on him. I assure you there is something there. I might be exaggerative but we have a Yaya profile in that lad.

And just imagine such a profile playing in tandem with an iwobi-visionary profile (either at CAM or Right AM) and having a bona-fide CDM in Onyedika sitting deep and connecting the transition plays from defence to attack through the middle.

The craziest thing is... with all 3, we could still have one more slot for a creative head if we push Iwobi to the right to act as a wide creator (right AM) same way he operates at Fulham.

The Super Eagles haven't been lined up according to its true talent pool strength from a balanced personnel perspective.

Options abound but picking them right and knowing who to bench and bring it at strategic times and for tactical situations is just the problem.

Onyeka, Alhassan, Fisayo, Ndidi, Ojediran, Onyedika, Iwobi, Christantus, Aribo, etc etc.. are all solid materials for the Super Eagles midfield. But among them, few are bona-fide starter materials coz they bring the right balance to our middle game plays based on analytics and their attributes while the rest are Solid but important bench materials who can become starters in some games depending on Opposition strength and tactical need.

I have a weird feeling chrisantus uche may go to Man city. With Man city rebuilding un the summer guardiola may take a chance in hum. I'm just being funny but football is a funny game. Anyway how good us he. I have not really watched him play

Clint02:
Boniface was not in the match day squad.

injured against rwanda. Won't play till next year

Mybettingtips:
@thegoodjoe see your manager. The man is going through a lot. He must have stood in front of a mirror after a game and gave himself good head smack and scratches. Things are not going well right now for Pep. I hope he bounces back quickly

Are you sure this guy is not a psycho, he was hurting himself to ease the pain of drawing that match.

Mybettingtips:
@thegoodjoe see your manager. The man is going through a lot. He must have stood in front of a mirror after a game and gave himself good head smack and scratches. Things are not going well right now for Pep. I hope he bounces back quickly

The guy should calm down.... Everyday is not Christmas; when he was beating everyone blue-black and shattering klopp's hopes every season... Na genius we dey call am
Now it's his turn to feel little of how he has been making other coaches feel for years, he wan kill himself? He should go ahead

I agree on Iwobi, but thinking 4-2-3-1, who will be on the other side of the flank? Lookman, Moses? And who will be the AM?

This is 4-2-3-1 (a), and 4-1-4-1

TheSuperNerd:
I agree on one of Lookman or Simon starting and truly if we nail our picks right across all positions, Lookman gets the starting nod everytime. Simon is an impact player who comes into a game and does his crossing and takeons to devastating effect.

And having Iwobi wide is actually not traditional wide. He won't operate as a touchline wide operator. He would act as a wide creator that inverts centrally allowing his corresponding fullback to overlap and eat up the space close to the touchlines.

The idea of Iwobi wide like we see at Fulham is likely to take advantage of his Vision and between-the-lines operation in the half spaces in the final third.

Joebie:
I agree on Iwobi, but thinking 4-2-3-1, who will be on the other side of the flank? Lookman, Moses? And who will be the AM?

This is 4-2-3-1 (a), and 4-1-4-1

Your first line-up will bring out the best of our forwards.

“My favorite position is defensive midfield, When I started playing as a number nine in Getafe, it was against Real Oviedo in preseason. In the first half, I played in midfield.

“In the second half, the coach said to me, ‘Uche, can you play as a center forward?’ I didn’t hesitate, I just said okay. From there on, I started playing as a number nine.”

“In the game against Bilbao, the coach told me I was going to continue to play as a number nine. Again, I didn’t hesitate because I know what I can do, and as long as it is football, I can play anywhere.”

--Christantus

Lookman on the left obviously. Corresponding LB will be Bruno thanks to his crosses and due to Zaidu's long absence (Zaidu can also cross).

The AM is the conundrum in this setup with Iwobi on the right but I have a few candidates in mind. Will throw in Akinsanmiro or will throw all caution to the wind and throw in Nwakali. Why? because either lads can easily combine with Iwobi's wide but inverted creative approach in the half spaces and even interchange from right to central and vice versa.

Uche Christantus is a workhorse alongside his ball carrying and technical skills so we are covered in ball winnings alongside Onyedika's CDM profile and Nwakali's improved defensive shift.

But Akinsanmiro is my number 1 pick for the AM role for now before a rejuvenated Nwakali because he is the perfect blend of CAM and Mezzala (a side creative MF). Nwakali is a CAM/CAM/DLP profile but not a mezzala hybrid profile like Akinsanmiro.

Joebie:
I agree on Iwobi, but thinking 4-2-3-1, who will be on the other side of the flank? Lookman, Moses? And who will be the AM?

This is 4-2-3-1 (a), and 4-1-4-1

Not picking Fisayo as the AM in this setup because I need an AM who can also hold the ball and combine effectively with a wide creator like Iwobi.

In ball striking, Akinsanmiro and Nwakali are just as good. Ball striking is not the only thing I need from an AM.

Joebie:
I agree on Iwobi, but thinking 4-2-3-1, who will be on the other side of the flank? Lookman, Moses? And who will be the AM?

This is 4-2-3-1 (a), and 4-1-4-1

His days at Moralo saw people really recognise his super versatility. Dude can play from front to back. But his specialist roles will always be CM/CDM. His ball carrying, close control and off-the-ball work alone make him a proper CM profile. Won't want him stuck as a MF anchor. Onyedika can do that.

Joebie:
“My favorite position is defensive midfield, When I started playing as a number nine in Getafe, it was against Real Oviedo in preseason. In the first half, I played in midfield.

“In the second half, the coach said to me, ‘Uche, can you play as a center forward?’ I didn’t hesitate, I just said okay. From there on, I started playing as a number nine.”

“In the game against Bilbao, the coach told me I was going to continue to play as a number nine. Again, I didn’t hesitate because I know what I can do, and as long as it is football, I can play anywhere.”

--Christantus

But when Iwobi is the AM. Then the pick on the right naturally shifts towards Chukwueze or Ejuke or Tella.

Lookman keeps his place ahead of Simon on the left.

Then ing Iwobi in Midfield is Christantus Uche and Raphael Onyedika.

A Power Playing Yaya-Profile, a Proper CDM profile and a visionary creator. That's a sweet balance.

MF backups based on tactical tweaks and cover for positions will be Onyeka (great in a midfield 2 and midfield 3 with complimentary personnel), Alhassan, Fisayo, Ndidi, Ojediran, etc....

Joebie:
I agree on Iwobi, but thinking 4-2-3-1, who will be on the other side of the flank? Lookman, Moses? And who will be the AM?

This is 4-2-3-1 (a), and 4-1-4-1