By Babajide Olaitan
Oct 4 2014
BALE-RONALDO AS MAN UTD SOLACE?
This is exactly the lead on Metro: “Manchester United are working on an incredible deal to sign Real Madrid ace Gareth Bale in the January transfer window”.
Imagine this becomes true and Gareth Bale wears the red jersey.
Here I have few questions:
What happens to Angel Di Maria, when Cristiano Ronaldo is on Man Utd’s to-do list ?
Let me say a “de ja vu” for Di Maria who actually ran away from his shadow now with is shadow, I will explain, Di Maria was the star man at Real Madrid last season with an outstanding performance in the La Liga most spectacular in the Champions League, now he was re-shuffled to the bench for World Cup star James Rodriguez and German Toni Kroos which aided his transfer to Old Trafford a needed priority. The question above still stands because Bale or Ronaldo who broke transfer records respectively won’t come to sit on the bench, will Di Maria run again?
Does Man Utd lack key players (starting xi) ?
For a team that made the exit door wide open for Danny Welbeck, Chicharito and still have the likes of Juan Mata, Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Blind and still more.
Man Utd or Southampton what’s surprising?
Southampton almost emptied their whole squad in the summer transfer window but here they are second on the table and the difference between both team on the standings is lucid.
If Luke Shaw was to be tempted back to the Saint Mary’s Park as things stand, any football fan could help him decide as the “new Man Utd” is yet to look like the Man Utd under Sir Alex Ferguson and Van Gaal is still building.
To put things into check and make balance, is Bale/Ronaldo hunt the real deal?
Playing the Blame Game: Keshi or the Glass House?
FEATURE
By Victor Abimbola
Sep 13 2014
Following the first series of Afcon qualifiers, Nigeria are in disarray. The future looks bleak, but who must take responsibility for the side’s current plight?
“We had a good team on paper, unfortunately, the game was played on grass.”
That famous quote by legendary coach Brian Clough feels very appropriate for the first two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches played by Nigeria.
The Super Eagles managed a well-deserved 3-2 loss in Calabar and an undeserved point gained against Bafana Bafana of South Africa, who can only blame their poor finishing and inexperience for failing to take all three. While the South Africans lacked composure and clinical finishing, Claude Le Roy’s Congo had Thievy Bifouma to rely on, although Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona were all complicit in making the former West Bromwich Albion loanee look like Thierry Henry.
Against the Congolese and the South Africans, The Super Eagles were, as usual, predictable, useless at set pieces, opted for kick-and-follow football, and could barely string meaningful passes together. Is it safe to say that Stephen Keshi has reached his peak with the national team and that it’s time for fresh ideas in the dressing room?
Or is it the administrative disaster at the Glass house that is impacting performances on the pitch?
There’s no perfect answer to either question, but two things are clear.
1.Keshi’s team has not improved since their Afcon triumph.
2.Aminu Maigari and Chris Giwa are not in charge of the Super Eagles’ dressing room.
Brian Clough was one of the greatest managers of all time so it’s logical to refer, to another of his most famous quotes “Rome wasn’t built in a day. But I wasn’t on that particular job.”
Keshi said, after the South Africa game, that the team has not been together for long and that it is taking time for its various components to gel which is a fair comment to a certain degree. Taking a closer look, however, it’s hard to give too much weight to the manager’s observations.
Maigari | A lot to answer for…
He’s been in charge of this team for three years and yet there’s been no significant improvement in playing style. Despite having a core group of players to call upon, it remains difficult to describe how the team play. In simple terms, they lack identity and three years is more than enough time to forge that.
Not many can explain the role of John Obi Mikel in the team, for example, while Ogenyi Onazi is a decent player who could run all day but his weight seems to be developing faster than his technique. It is hard to understand if Nnamdi Oduamadi is a midfielder or a striker, and only the Big Boss has a clue as to why Ramon Azeez is a better playmaker than Nosa Igiebor.
Gbolahan Salami ahead of Sone Aluko for the South Africa game was another odd decision; the latter is a pure winger and the former, an out-and-out striker. Emmanuel Emenike remains a powerful presence in the penalty box but often shunted wide to accommodate strikers of lesser ability and reputation. Nigeria seems to be the only team suited to a back three but persisting with a back four.
In international management, there’s no better candidate for the “most baffling selections of the year award” than Stephen Keshi. Is it fair to say that his inability to find a third midfield man for the Onazi/Mikel pairing makes him tactically incompetent?
Yes, he’s matched Clemens Westerhof’s achievements by winning the Afcon and reaching the second-round of the World Cup finals, but the greatest managers don’t just equal records, they break them.
While it would be cynical to solely lay the blame at Keshi’s feet, there’s no doubt about who conducts the training sessions and make selections. Morale is undoubtedly low within the Nigerian football community right now due to the continued soap opera at the Nigerian Football Federation. However, it is the job of a manager to get the best out of his players on the pitch and make sure they’re not distracted by off-field shenanigans.
If the Super Eagles are to make it to Morocco and defend their title in 2015, the obvious cracks at the Glass House in Abuja need to be fixed and not papered-over. Important personnel decisions have to be made regarding the technical crew. The first assignment for whoever resumes office now is to decide if Keshi ought to be the man to take the team forward.
Thanks to the Big Boss, we have a good core of decent players who respect him, but some of these players work with “A Grade” coaches in Europe, its only a matter of time before they begin to doubt the tactical nous of the Afcon-winning player/coach and his ability to make them a better team. Keshi has written his name in gold, he will no doubt be remembered as a legend and in good faith.
Keshi certainly must take the blame for the team’s current malaise, but moving forward the team can only prosper if the Glass House becomes a stable environment. Federation officials must also begin to take responsibility, success will only be achieved if the NFF, the coaching staff and the players are on the same page.
Can Felix Magath do the Magic or wish for a miracle?
By Babajide Olaitan
April 23 2014
Magath ‘hellfighter’ like he’s fondly called took on the job as Fulham’s manager after Rene meulensteen got sacked just as Martin Jol was as in december.
Magath have made mention that his predecessor dis-stablized the team with his tactis, but, as it stands now the tough man Magath who has been known for his deeds in the German league with Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg and Hamburg says he’s ready to do the deal, which is lifting Fulham from the relegation zone with just 12 matches to go.
Fulham is at the bottom of the table with 20 points, any loss will not favour their relegation fight.
Magath will take charge of the cottagers in an away derby against Westbrom.
Magath must win 12 games, is that a reality? Westbrom held chelsea to a 1-1 score draw and are also looking for crucial winning points to sustain their stand in the premier league, which means Fulham must double their laces so has to be ready for the stuff they(Wesbrom) are made up of.
Does Magath also know that the English premier league is competitive? A league where a bottom team can whip a top team not caring about where they stand.
A league that still runs its four slots in the Uefa Champions League, but let all fingers be crossed to watch how things pans out.
Sportcracker 