Nigeria...
is a hot bed of talent and to choose from that talent is not an easy job especially putting up with politics, enemies of progress and pressure.
The nff have asked keshi to pick 35 men which fifa will later ask to widdle down to 23 to be handed in to the nff next week and which will release the beauty or the beast either in his camp or with the fans.
Keshi is known for his favour of youth but also his ability to be unorthodox and spring surprises and with the list i expect some surprises.
I have said once and i will say again i called for uchebo's inclusion and many fans agree that his inclusion was right and he has added something different something new and we are itching to see more( watch out Scotland)
But literally no-one except keshi anticipated one or both these [layers actually getting called up let alone game time again mexico. They will be expected to be in the 35 list even though balogun is recovering from injury many of us saw potential and plus he spoke to our souls with his warm presence and his patriotic musings.
Attack
Some may think attack is spelt emenike in nigeria and that all we have to do is utilise him. Others are like we need reinforcements in case he gets [insert argument here]______
But then who do we invite in this short space of time and we must have a balanced team not just strikers. Keshi i also see is favouring utility players and if we take players who can only play one function what is to be made of them especially if they are only back-up.
This has been the argument against uche from some sections
But some say that one function is more than enough and that we should find away to incorporate it into the tactics and strategy. But the thing with players they are also people not just chess pieces to be thrown about for the caused and sacrificed for potential advantages. So will the player really be willing to be just a wild card a trick a back-up plan for the coach and can the player handle that pressure to hone all their skills into that one half chance or so. Remember the yakubu miss and how he was vilified afterwards.
I still don't know how he missed. Keshi knows he needs alternatives (plan b through zee if you will) but he needs devotion and he needs the element of surprise on his side.
Keshi has been experimenting with fluid formations where players can interchange roles but has he found the right personnel.
The Sunday Mba effect
I think this is what keshi is looking for a player who is under the radar and can produce magic, many believe Mba can possibly still do it and that being in the third tier of french maybe a blessing in disguise in some way.
- Regular football
- Regulated (European way) football
- Test
- Still under the radar to an extent
- But can be checked upon for progress
But how many players are capable of this effect?
Ejike
Some believe he is the man especially after his chan displays. Could be a possibility since he was player of the tournament and scored some fine goals. See how you wish the big boss kept him out of the limelight which was the mexico match. Is the big boss keeping him up his sleeve does he have the Sunday Mba effect?
Imoh
Has he got the potential to be the new uche? Some people actually think so he is nimble quick and is one of the countries top scorers and i have to wonder why keshi decided to give him so little time. Though in that time he did manage to trouble the Mexicans a few times.Scotland may be our chance to see if he can carry the scoring burden with emenike.
Musa
when he clicks for nigeria it will be devastating mark my words.
The pace, the pace and the pace!
If he can pretend that he is in russia whilst he is in brazil and relax and play his football he could be devastating for defences.
Getting that scoring touch is what nigerians are asking for and our psychologist have to break through to musa and get him to play the way we know he can.
The world cup could be one hell of a stepping stone for ahmed and could change how we see him.
Keshi i see is trying to do to musa what he did with mikel and tap into that reservoir of potential rich yet unused.
I remember his goal during qualifying against malawi i think and i was like that is the real musa right there but in the national colours i have not seen it since.
The way he confidently ran into space and expertly without a worry (in a crucial time i might add) dinked it over the keeper so classy so pristine and ran off to celebrate.I was like I see big boss, I see.
Many are saying play him behind emenike or perhaps give him a free role.
I think musa needs to look at the legend henry and rethink his approach to the wing and perhaps combine it with being a forward.
Moses/Musa
Same name spelt differently.
Moses tormented mexico so bad the Mexicans could not stop giving him plaudits.
I will say it now controversially he is world class.
He has the poise the guile the skill the flair a okochaesque potential.
Ask the Ethiopians!
He i repeated tormented them and i say now watch out Scotland after being in the wilderness/exile/liverpool bench
he will come back a different player.
Ruthless i think what has been holding him back is that he is in essence a nice guy i think Pharaoh aka rodgers has or will have torn that out of him.
He will now be looking for blood every time he hits the pitch.
He has just like his name sake gone from being prince to being in the wilderness in such a short space of time it is spooky.
Moses I believe will do miracles at the world cup, yes miracles.
I saw the way he was twisting Mexicans like burrito wraps and he will do the same to scotland I have seen with my own eyes him do it to Italy.
Keshi must now channel it into pure ruthlessness and to such an extent it just kills of games.
He also must add scoring but consistently to his game like he has with assists.
Ideye
Many forget he did do the business to mexico when we last played them and i must say now the same psychologist that will do musa needs to also pay ideye a visit. Ideye i feel as well is getting overwhelmed by the occasion and need to drop his niceness at the door and be ready to see the opposition fans cry. We know he has positioning, we know he can link up with emenike and we know he can score, he just has to do it.
He for me is emenike part 2 with the ability to switch with him in the fluid system and who can forget that side flick assist he did for emenike in afcon.
Osaze
Should he be called up?
I don't know, yes he is scoring goals and some fine goals i might add but is it enough?
I have had a soft spot for him and he seems to have bridged the gap and he does have quality and i do think keshi will put him in the 35 man list.
The team does need people who will shoot, i remember ogu's goal against mexico came from said position. Adding another marksman to the team might not be bad the Nigerian balotelli if you will.
I would prefer him to uche since he is versatile and may be easier to fit into our system.
I believe these players are fighting for the same spot.
Yes aluko has been talking to bbc as often as uche's name has been posted on the internet but he is trying to be relevant.
Obinna is fighting for the role of set piece specialist, who can forget the goal he scored against kenya to kill the game and with such class.
But before or since i have not seen that poise and when he came on against mexico he seemed a spent force and in reality he is not fighting to start games.
He is not fighting to start games for his club or his country he is merely trying to be in the squad and is that worth giving him a spot.
Aluko it would be nice to see a new face and to see if he could be the "third man" but also he can fight for a starting berth and is a set piece taker for his club.
My problem is hunger and grit also there is the injury problems.
I watched a recent game of hull and he could not get in the game at all but he did whip in a good few balls which is why i believe he should be in the 35 man list.
igboananike
the man who likes to somersault
I saw his youtube reel and he looked ok but so did ujah and akpala and that was a failure and could he squeeze into the 35 man possibly we know keshi has tricks but i don't know.
We must be wary of players forcing their way into the team via i will switch allegiances but i would not be totally against his inclusion he does remind me of a bony who is doing well in epl.
But keshi has in the back of his mind yes players may be good but being thrown in the deep end aka the world cup could be damaging for him and for the players themselves.
Scoring goals is a start not the end of the conversation there is also the team chemistry to think about and too many new players in the fold could unbalance it or could help on the flip side.
Obasi
Late emergence
he is back and playing even getting time in the champions league.
Could he sneak into the 35?
I think keshi would want him there so possibly a yes....
Also his inclusion would swing more fans in his favour without problems for himself.
He is perhaps more to keshi's liking than osaze because of osaze's jekyll hyde persona.
Welcome him yes skills poise and he has even scored a goal recently in the bundesliga.
Possibilty i give this a moderately high rating..
anichebe
has been a back and forth thing of the last few weeks
has keshi or has keshi not spoken to him
but i think he will be on the list
- Finding form
- Scoring goals
- Scoring important goals
- Long stretch of fitness
- Important player in current club
- Getting game time
Ticks many of keshi's boxes plus he is experienced and can possibly fill the dike void.
Midfield
Joel obi is the most requested player by nigerian fans, yes more than uche. I and many others would love to see him don the shirt again and wrestle with this "third man" conundrum.
Him getting game time finally at parma is music to our ears and him getting into the 35 would be a
symphony to us. Picking him would have all nigerian bloggers and writers falling over themselves but will keshi do it?
I have yet to see him play for parma but it would not hurt him landing in the squad (of 35)
- Getting game time
- Utility player
- Fan favourite
- Answer to potential creativity questions
- Experienced
Mikel the heart of the super eagles
he will be possibly the joint first name with enyeama on the list
He will be looking to shine and we saw him do so in the confederations cup
i cannot wait to see him unbridled and dictating play
azeez
He will be in the 35 man squad
and i think keshi has plans for him
though he was a bit overwhelmed in the mexico game
he provided sparks
- positioning
- potential
- attacking threat
Yes he missed his chance to score but the fact he was there points to good things.
i look forward to seeing what he can do.
haruna
his name has cooled as of late but in a few articles i have heard the big boss refer to him by name
so possibly he is long awaited arrival may be on the cards
"third man" may be his mission
many fans will also be happy
will this one of keshi's many surprises
defenders
Otigba
will he get the call finally?
i really don't think so
but then the whole balogun thing makes me wonder
would we accept him sure
If he does people may be singing his name in the streets..
possibility for me is low but who knows.
But i would like to see him paired with omeruo a youtful partnership for now and the future..
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