Comments on: Siasia names Mikel weak link

By: quentin

quentin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:03:22 +0000

the tunisia game was all nonsense because we know we are better than that. we are surpposed to enjoy our games instead of hoping for some cheap draw. amodu should quickly give up the team to siasia who is one of the best coaches in the world. not untill we lose him to some foreign nation shall we know his worth. Siasia has exceled at every level and the truth must be told if we must succeed

By: quentin

quentin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:55:51 +0000

nigerian football is just like nigerian politics, we al know that the people in positions are criminals who are incapable of carrying out basic functions of governance but then we sit on the side line and do nothing. likewise we all know Amodu has nothing to offer while a world class coach like Siasia is kept on the side line. Siasia must step up by all means to take over the team if he has good intentions for the naton’s football and we must all support him. we are not only playing to manage and qualify for south africa, we must do well at all time both home and away because we know we have all it takes

By: garrick dd

garrick dd — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:59:02 +0000

una think say Tunisia na holiday dem dey come for Nigeria? pls remember Godwin Odiye in 1978. Even Kenya will be difficult to beat in Nairobi. Eagles should work and pray. period.

By: Abdulmaalum

Abdulmaalum — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:14:08 +0000

Amodu should also note that Nsofor plays better when ever he comes in as a sub., so he shouldn’t be played in 1st half…

By: jokos

jokos — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:02:51 +0000

good submission by siasia. but everything stops at Amodu’s desk. i expected him to tell mikel to play more offensively in the 2nd half. probably he was okay with a draw. this is a match they should have won in the 2nd half and shift the pressure to Tunisians. the last 15minutes of that match was in their control but no clear cut chance was created. Neverthless i am still 90% sure we will be in South Africa.

Jokos Interbiz

By: michael ndimele

michael ndimele — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:05:24 +0000

samson`s position was glaring enough for a football tactician,as mikel has to work more in the midfield to augument the strikers.

By: Abang Edward

Abang Edward — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:32:41 +0000

Yes, Mikel played more of a defensive role than offensive role but i think Amodu should have seen that while the match was on and caution him after the first half or perhaps substitute him in the 2nd half.

By: NIYI

NIYI — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:26:58 +0000

Its a good submission by Siasia, Eagles didin’t create more chances and if they really want to qualify for the World cup, they have to create more goal scoring chances.

By: Garba Lawal

Garba Lawal — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:33:16 +0000

Siasia statement is very correct,Nigeria needs a creative midfielder that ‘ll create chances. Mikel is a good player but should be played as defence midfielder. I will want to make it clear that we need a bold coach that introduce a creative midfielder not minding his present club but if he can deliver. Is time we learn from south Africa & Egypt for being bold enough in using square peg in a square hole.

By: True 9ja

True 9ja — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:23:53 +0000

I am disapointed in this negative reporting about our own player Mikel. Siasia never said he is a weak link. How did this come about. Stop this negative reporting about slected Nigerian Players. Kindly appologise to Mikel and change this word ”weak link”. Learn how to encourage our players

By: Pau Odu

Pau Odu — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:31:36 +0000

Mr. Siasia was very very correct. In that match, Mikel played as a defensive midfielder rather as an offensive midfielder. Amodu needs to find a midfielder like Sunday Oliseh of old, who can give a taylor made pass to a striker to score goals. Oliseh was making Yekini’s job much easier with accurate and intelligent passes. Mikel can do it if he can strive harder to assist the strikers and not the defenders. Our defender is getter better, therefore, Mikel should concentrate on the attack and not waste the enire 90 minutes working for the defenders. This is the reason why the team cannot score goals whenever Mikel is playing in the team. This is where the coach comes in. If Amodu knows his job very well, he should have been able to tell Mikel to work more for the strikers and not the defender for the goals to come. Amodu should try and incorporate Rabiu Ibrahim into that midfield. Rabiu is a good ball distributor and can dribble well too. In fact, he is more of an offensive player than a defensive midfielder and can score goals too. Seyi Olofinjana is just not good enough for the team. This is further confirmed in his club where he has been relegated to the bench.

By: kenny from KC,MO. USA

kenny from KC,MO. USA — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:00:48 +0000

Siasia was right in his judgment. the boys did their best to contend the Tunis attackers. Like Siasia said Mikel needed to to move a little further to assit the stikers. this is now an avenue for Super Eagles to sit up an trash the Tunis side on sept. 6. Lets support them instead of criticising them.
Good job Amodu and your coaching crew. But please use Kanu for more than 20 minutes, to input experience.
We Nigerians are looking forward to the remaining 9 points in this qualifying series.

By: BANJI

BANJI — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:44:21 +0000

The Tunisians were not a fantastic side,my expectation was a win considering the numerious football talents we have in this country.A match is won or loss from the bench. Nigeria bench behave like spectators, no input, no innovation, no tact nor motivation except from Amokachi.
Lets not worry about S.A frica to avoid total DISGRACE!!!!

By: CHIADIKAOBI OBASI

CHIADIKAOBI OBASI — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:07:35 +0000

As far as Siasia’s statement goes, he is a strong hand to even criticize Amodu or Mikel. The fact remains that Nigerians are fond of making a mountain out of a mole hill.

However, it is evident that Siasia did not call Mikel by any bad name. He is only trying to butress where he thought the Eagles have to improve. He has the right to air his view on any football issue in any part of the world especially in Naija.

We should be thinking straight like humans not zombies being pushed by sentiments. An even if Siasia criticized Mikel, so does WHATTTTT?

By: Kelvyn Ibeh

Kelvyn Ibeh — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:54:56 +0000

Coach Siasia’s comment is very much in order as far as I am concerned. Except that he was exhibiting, should I say “fair play” with Amodu. There was no serious tactical input from the Nigerian bench, and that’s true and quite clear for all to see. The Eagles simply responded to the situation when they realized where the game was tending to, and as such started defending. We all saw Zituni could have messed it all up for us on more than 3 occasions. (Ref. South Africa-Spain match – South Africa were having a field day in the whole of the 1st half, until the bench made a distinctive tactical input at half time; and the whole difference was made). That’s the kind of thing we need. Let us all stop pretending. The technical standing of that team (not the players) cannot win a match at the world cup. Amodu knows that, so why are we crying for him in abject pretense or should I say myopic!
I more like think that Mikel’s problem stems from the defensive role Jose Morinho made him play at Chelsea. This is a completely different player from the one that played at the world youth championship. This guy is always trying to block his opponent unnecessarily even after dribbling him (ref: towards the end of the match). He played his heart out; I know, but he never did spread the passes a midfielder should normally provide. And in fact, I dare say he overworked Osaze and Kalu Uche in that match. He is in no way behaving like someone who would any time soon start playing the good old role of Jay-Jay.
For me, Mikel had merely an average game, and that’s the best case scenario. But he could do better; we all know his potentials. Mikel brother: you don’t need to waste time trying to block your opponent after dribbling them, in a bid to cover your back. For Christ’s sake you are not the last man on the defense line… Anyway, it’s merely my opinion.

By: Mr Timithy Udoh

Mr Timithy Udoh — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:12:54 +0000

I’m surprise at the way some people understand simple statements. Coach Siasia is not blaming Mikel, what he said here is that Mikel should move up a little bit and assist the strikers, thats all. Where in that statement did he criticise Mikel for God sake? He just said he would have played the same way Amadu played, so how is that statement an attack on Amadu. Na waoh!! is English so difficult for us to understand!!??

By: emeka edmnund

emeka edmnund — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:44:12 +0000

Mikel always attracts envy because of his impeccable style and position in Chelsea..again.there is no where where Sia Sia named Mikel as a weak link, this is mischievious reporting

By: justin ezonfade

justin ezonfade — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:35:35 +0000

let nigerians discuss on facts and not on popularity. by proper accessment some of them includin mikel played because of the club they play. i advise the coach to always use those in form.

By: klinsmann oluwashola,e,

klinsmann oluwashola,e, — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:22:47 +0000

Leave Mikel alone he is only playing to the instruction of the bench and not his decision to play deep in the defence line,if he’s given the power to attack then you will all witness a harvest of goals from the Eagles,a flashback at the world youth championship in Holland will kill off any pessimism about his abilities

By: Chibuzo Eke

Chibuzo Eke — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Good assessment by Siasia on the surface. But I strongly suspect some ulterior motives behind his comments on Mikel. If there are one or two players that didn’t click that day, Mikel wasn’t among them. Mikel did his job very well, playing to instructions, shielding the back four and holding on to the ball. Some players like Olifinjana, Taye Taiwo and the Uches’ had above-average performance, yet it is Mikel that must be crucified. May be Siaone is yet to forgive him for not turning up for his team and such attitude if true, portends danger for our team when as expected, Siasia takes over the Eagles at the appointed time. I have also noticed that there is this unholy “pull-him-down” press campaign against Mikel and Shuaibu Amodu no matter how they perform. For the records, Shuaibu Amodu has not lost and no opponent has bridged his Eagles defence in a competitive match. Among the Eagles, Mikel is playing for the biggest team. Let us learn to respect our coaches and players and stop alienating and maligning them.