Nigeria v Mexico Debrief

The game we were all waiting for up until the wee hours of the morning.
After seeing many teams struggle earlier in the day, Nigerians were optimistic.
Many laughing at Ghana's demise it was now Nigeria's time to shine.

The line was a strong one starting with the spine of the team and then slowly adding on fleshing parts.I was happy with the start of an untested player aka uchebo but would of wanted more.
But it turned out to be a good call on Keshi's part.


So it seemed we started with either a 4-4-2/ 4-2-3-1/ 4-2-1-3
Seeming very fluid and something i was eager to see.

I conducted my view of the game into segments of 15
so alas the game kicked off.


Nigeria jumped out of the blocks with youthful energy and dynamism, seeing why Keshi is promoting the young blood. Nigeria was playing amazing in this first 15 they where pressing, harrying and harassing the Mexicans.
So even though mexico had the midfield number advantage Nigeria's quick pressing and pace was already causing trouble.
I talked in the build up to the game midfield would be where the battle would be and that is where onazi and mikel took the battle to them.

Many question was asked about our attack and the lack of a number ten but within the first 15 minutes twice we looked to feed players in behind, being musa and emenike.
much has been said about musa but he does draw fouls with his pace and low centre of gravity.
Musa also had a chance to score but as emenike was saved by the keeper
15"

I felt this was at the this time a team performance i could see the attacking and midfield unit moving as a team to press and close down possession.
which they did very well constantly winning the ball back to gallop at the terrified Mexican defenders.
Also the team as usual seemed comfortable on the ball playing slick passes and uchebo even trying a flick or so.

Nigeria at this moment was great at stifling attack Moses was finding himself in the game constantly will and ever ready to run at or past defenders.
There was another chance Nigeria tried to run on behind defence in this period.

30"
Emenike was really going into the battle and throwing his weight around and uchebo and himself were really winning the aerial duals and giving a tough time to the Mexican in the air and on the ground.
This time Moses got in behind and tried to set up a goal scoring opportunities.
I was worried about a potential injury to ambrose but it turned out to be nothing.


Going into half time I was happy and was hoping to see more new players and with the change i was happy and sad.
Uchebo came off (sad)
Azeez on
Balogun on


45"
Nigeria started to collect fouls but did well getting in behind once again.
That would of helped his credentials. Selfishness started to creep into Nigeria's play spoiling the cohesiveness of the team and spurning some of its efforts.
unluckily Balogun got injured in this period,
60"

Obinna came on
we all were hoping it was some body else
azeez should of scored that may hamper his chances with the Nigerian support.
By this time we were clambering for imoh.
Emenike was still putting his body on the line and constantly marshalling the firing line.
Moses did well pulling it back for azeez.
Moses did not look happy coming off for imoh.
75"
Crossing was not up to scratch
lucky that the Mcxican's were wasteful.
Got in behind again tried to go round keeper but then couldn't pull it back for another team mate.
Thinking you have to take your chances.
#obinna was wasteful.

Thoughts on players and team.

Nigeria should of cleaned up that game in the first ten minutes.
We out classed them for the first half, we also out muscled them and and out ran them but came back with nothing to show.

Weaknesses

1. Can not always be so eager in tackling that we keep giving away free kicks.
2. Dwelling on the ball we need to stop doing this, especially if you are in the defensive third.
3. Watching out for quick free-kicks.
4. Switching off, especially if you have not put the ball in the back of the net yet.
5. Corners, Mexico got many free headers 
6. Leaving players hovering around the box, against better teams this is where you can get punished
7. Counters to our counters, this is what got us against Uruguay and we where guilty of that to many times. One time our midfield just became a sieve constantly being breached. Though exciting for neutrals or the other team this needs to be cut out.
8. We also looked shady at corners so we need to concede less of them. 
9. Greediness, we need to cut that from the team. We do not need players constantly going for glory, or trying to show of their flair by dribbling constantly.
10. Release the ball, to many times instead of the pass, one would want to take the extra touch at the detriment of the team.
11. Stop trying to score goal of the tournament, i read on a site that the Nigerians kept going for goal themselves rather than devise a way to get round the keeper who was on form i.e. tap in.
12. Crossing was poor and when not poor nobody there. How are strikers to feed off of bad crosses.
13. Dead ball situations many times our corners were wasteful, sometimes not beating the first man or just missing the group all together.

Players who caught the eye for wrong or right reasons

Obinna is not a super sub, contrary to the game v ethiopia.

obinna is a weird position for us and keshi, yes experienced but does not bring that much. Also potentially being a dead ball specialist i do not remeber him taking corners and he fluffed his actually niche a fee-kick!

He seems to be in this acute position our dead balls are atrocious and he has scored a free-kick, so is needed in that regard but is that enough. plus we do not know if he will come off of the bench when we have a free-kick or if he will actually score it.

ejide 

it is great that the big boss is giving him game time of a half.

His praises have been sung on all the sites i have checked thus far.

Enyeama is good and now we have extra confirmation his back-up is also.

He will have inspired faith in his supporters.

omeruo

for me he just oozes class 

he is a main stay the person he can be paired with, can chop and change but he is class.

Balogun

Provided height

was hungry and determined 

Shame he got injured

but does seem like he has a mistake in him

good to go possibly as a squad player

Willing to put his body on the line.

Some say he had stage freight time will tell if that will cost him.

onazi

now rightfully being herald 

i even read comments that he is the general not mikel

onazi is a amazing player

also he provided a great shot early on and is a classy player.

definitely on the plane.

also seems very humble.

azeez

I guess to much was on his shoulders

And after that showing there will be more. 

Many saying stage freight got to him but then there is the golden opportunity squandered. 

which will live in the memory.

will he bounced back..

Also during the game he was sloppy especially towards the end of the game.

uchebo

I saw him awhile back and was sure he was super eagles material

for many people yesterday

it was confirmed

many comparisons will be made between the two

and he may be the reincarnation of kanu

he played a similar game

good feet and touch

and link up play

won aerial balls and looked assured out there

but he didn't get a chance at goal 

but i am sure we will see more of him

great job playing him from the start

Moses 

mixed views on this guy

for some he was our best player yesterday.

he had pace and power and dribbling technique he was eager to get in behind. 

set up azeez for a shot on goal.

but selfishness and greed got to him and spoiled or tainted his herald view in the squad from the outside.

his crossing and final ball was poor he will need to step up he also had a chance to score he will also have to add scoring regularly to his repertoire.

musa

the enigma, many will be lining up to get him out. He had a chance to score but couldn't finish it and i cant help but think one day it will all come together perfectly.

Keshi has a dilemma he has dropped musa before but i don't think he knows what to do with him.

Dubbed naija's walcott his pace is tremendous but his final product is not always.

will he be relegated to the bench or dropped altogether. he was prone to greed and taking the shot when he should pass but did show skill like knocking it over a defenders head before going on to shoot.

emenike

this could come off as blasphemy

but emenike needs to step up.

yes he battled but we have been singing his praises as a master striker but he did not really show finesse in front of goal or extra ordinary ability.

it seems he likes to run on to balls or shoot from long range and wants to play the lone role so as to not worry about laying it off. he was guilty on occassion of going for the highlight reel.

He did not help the ease of the public's clambering for uche.

Is he really one chance one goal guy as we have been painting him to be.

keshi 

the tactician 

and mind game master

he has a plan

but needs to call up more strikers and perhaps aluko or haruna

we forget that training camps is where the battle is really won.

Also i feel like keshi is playing a dangerous game, he seems to be undermining and keeping cards close to his chest.

like chopping and changing the home based players 

or not playing them at all.

No body knew he was going to pick

enigma is on his side.

he could bring revelations to the world cup that no team will be able to study not even us the fans because of selected game time and undermining performances.

Really mexico was not a challenge if it was serious we should of beaten we were all over the team ranked twenty places higher.

also looked what we did to italy they couldn't handle us and emenike was on the bench we could of won that game, but it seems keshi wants to be under the radar. Use the power of smoke of being the underdog nobody really knows how nigeria can perform fully. 

imoh

we were waiting for his arrival personally he should f come on earlier but i believe keshi has a plan

he had some intelligent running and looked sharp even came in deep to get involved in the play

if not for selfishness he could of been played in a few times 

i look forward to seeing more i feel he will get called up again

interesting note ameobi did not play