The Super Eagles needs a knife, but we are increasingly offered a scalpel by Samson Siasia.
2. The SE need a total makeover, but instead we get cosmetic changes; a step forward here, is then nullified by two steps backwards there...We bring in Joel Obi, give Emenike his first Super Eagles cap, and then quickly we begin to speak about the return of Yakubu! Its the same tardy approach to national team selection that has led us inexorably to the golden bronze!
3. The period following a world cup is when teams begin to rebuild. The extent of rebuilding is often determined by their performance at the world cup and the average age of their players. For some, like Brazi, Italy and France, it is a total makeover; for others like Spain, Argentina, CIV, Ghana, it is more a case of tweaking around the edges, and building from an existing core.
4. But lets be clear- this Nations cup qualification series is not simply about qualifying for the next tournament.
2. The SE need a total makeover, but instead we get cosmetic changes; a step forward here, is then nullified by two steps backwards there...We bring in Joel Obi, give Emenike his first Super Eagles cap, and then quickly we begin to speak about the return of Yakubu! Its the same tardy approach to national team selection that has led us inexorably to the golden bronze!
3. The period following a world cup is when teams begin to rebuild. The extent of rebuilding is often determined by their performance at the world cup and the average age of their players. For some, like Brazi, Italy and France, it is a total makeover; for others like Spain, Argentina, CIV, Ghana, it is more a case of tweaking around the edges, and building from an existing core.
4. But lets be clear- this Nations cup qualification series is not simply about qualifying for the next tournament.
5. A qualification series typically has two objectives. The obvious one is to win your games and qualify. The other objective of similar significance is to build your tournament team, through a methodical process, that involves trials for new players, trials of tactical schemes, and development of team spirit.
6. In such a methodical approach, the first level of assessment is of course results form the field, without which everything else is mute. But following closely is the performance on the pitch, which should improve steadily, and be seen to, as the team and the coach develop chemistry.
7. Thus in his first three games with France, Lauren Blanc's team has steadily improved, with the young players visibly growing in confidence with each game, and the gap between the results and performance are starting to narrow significantly.
8. For a team that has been stagnant for more than a decade, the Super Eagles face the urgency of now!What is more, when a team fails as woefully as the Castrol statistics from our world cup performance shows (link), heads need to roll! Having parted ways with Lars Lagerback, there is an urgent need to weild the long knives at the playing personnel, not the surgeon's scalpel!
9. In my considered opinion, no one player exemplifies the locust years as much as Joseph Yobo, as both the captain, senior player, and patent holder on 'bigman football'. Yes, the very same Joseph Yobo, with the same idle gait, standing on the balls of his feet and looping the ball lazily out of defence, 'to no one in particular', to borrow from the late Ernest Okonkwo, or setting an offside trap with the leadership skills of a Mubarak!
10. Lets be clear, I have every confidence in Samson Siasia to lead the Super Eagles to greatness again, but there is still a palpable lack of urgency in making the critical changes that the team requires.
11. The Super Eagles need a new direction and the coaching crew need to lay down the marker. This process should begin with a new leadership, a new captain, one who can inspire the entire team, as well as enhance team spirit, not undermine it!
12. Every game that we play without clear resolution of what our long term goals are with the Super Eagles, including the choice of a new leadership, the choice of viable players and the tactical direction of the team is an opportunity lost.
13. Unlike in the past when viable national team players emerged at top European clubs, the reality today is that we must look for our players wherever available and make them international class players. We need to judge our players by the quality of their talent and not the profile of their clubs, and especially not the strength of their agency representation. We need a Samson Siasia who is professional and transparent, who can and is willing to think outside the box, who knows where to look for our players and the self belief to take risks with them.
14. The SE needs a knife, a butcher's knife, but we are offered a blunt scalpel...
13. Unlike in the past when viable national team players emerged at top European clubs, the reality today is that we must look for our players wherever available and make them international class players. We need to judge our players by the quality of their talent and not the profile of their clubs, and especially not the strength of their agency representation. We need a Samson Siasia who is professional and transparent, who can and is willing to think outside the box, who knows where to look for our players and the self belief to take risks with them.
14. The SE needs a knife, a butcher's knife, but we are offered a blunt scalpel...
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