By David Meshioye:
Former Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has advised against putting the Super Eagles under undue pressure with unrealistic Russia 2018 World Cup expectations, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
In an exclusive telephone chat on Thursday, the former Super Eagles striker declared that such pressure could have a negative effect on players’ performances, adding that Nigerians need not set a target for coach Gernot Rohr’s side.
“I don’t think Nigerians need to pile pressure on this team because the World Cup is no child’s play. They should just support the team and let the players express themselves,” Aiyegbeni, who represented the Super Eagles at the 2010 World Cup, told CSN.
“They do not need the pressure now, let’s not set any target for the team if really we want to get the best from them.”
Aiyegbeni further advised coach Gernot Rohr to find a lasting solution to Super Eagles attacking problem.
“I strongly believe (Odion)Ighalo is a good striker but he needs support from top strikers like Brown Ideye,” Aiyegbeni added. “The strength of any
good side is its ability to convert scoring chances, but we would need a good and hardworking supporting striker like Ideye to play behind Ighalo.
“Ideye is strong and can do the dirty work well. This will pave way for Ighalo to bang in the goals.”
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COMMENTS
Yakubu Aiyegbeni is recommending Brown Ideye as strike partner with Idion Ighalo. This coach should listen. One of the deadliest striker in the whole Nigeria is talking and he knows what he is saying. Some in this forum have recommended Brown Ideye. It is long I have watched him play but I believe he has that fighting hard against the opponent attitude. Let Gernot Rohr was NFF board or the Technical committee members and they will gist him about Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
Honestly speaking, many of us has blamed ODION Ighalo for difficulty in scoring goals for the super Eagles.
Some has allauded to the lack of a natural creative midfielder as as one of the possible reasons for that, but not many considered the fact that lack of a perfect striking partner could be the cause of his goal drought.
I strongly believe and support the Yak bull’s suggestion.
Come to think of it, when IGHALO was hot in Watford, he had a good supporting striker, and when Emenike paired with Brown Ideye, he was performing and scoring goals while Ideye did the dirty job. When in Brazil 2014, Kesh dropped Ideye , Ike Uche, Sunday Mbah for Shola Amobi, Uchebo, Aziz and Gabriel Ruben,the SE struggled to score goals.
Emenike could not score, he worked too hard, thank God for Osaze Odewinge against Iran.
All in all a strike partner who can be the bull charging at the defence while Ideye scores the goals is what we need in super Eagles now, not another striker, but a supporting striker.
Correction……while IGHALO scores the goals
Ideye of old yes(strong,powerful,hardworking & a team player).However the Ideye I see in Malaga does not merit a call unless we want to be sentimemntal, invitation ahould be based on current form.
Yakubu go n advice urself hw to score in an empty net
Na ly joh, abeg wich 1 ideye supporting ighalo again o, please you dont confused our coach
I support yakubu’s position on bringing in ideye. Infact ideye should be returned for the World Cup as against etebo. This is because ideye would do a better job than etebo. Etebo’s problems started in the super eagles when ndidi was brought in to pair with onazi and Mikel was given room up front to operate. Certainly,etebo isn’t skillful as Mikel. to further boost our chances of scoring and a better midfield, we should consider bringing back odemwingie if he’s currently doing well in his club. We may have an iwobi but experience matters alot too. Pls and pls, if efe ambrose is in form, he should be returned for a stronger defence. Experience matters a lot.
Someone asking for odemwingie lol,i laugh.
Ideye does well in a 442 formation where you have two wingers operating from the two flanks but presently eagles play 433 formations depending on the opponent,so how does he fit in? Pls let look at this