Pablo, to pick up on an issue you raised -- and, as you will see, NOT to defend this team or how they played:
Regarding the substitution of Moses with Ameobi: I agree with you and Folu that the team was immobile. I also agree with you that Moses was playing o.k., even though he was not having the best game of his life.
But Keshi's substitution was a tactical move to tackle a structural imbalance in the Eagles' play against Iran for the first 60 minutes or so that Keshi and some of his players had created. It is Keshi's fault for playing Azeez in an advanced position, like a number 10, whereas he plays as a defensive midfielder in La Liga. Mikel too plays as a defensive midfielder in the Premiership but we have seen him do a more effective job at the number 10 position, so Keshi should have utilized him there and played Azeez behind him, instead of the other way around. It is nonetheless the collective fault of the central midfielders that they failed to support the lone striker when they could have done so.
We started with two wingers in Moses and Musa, a lone striker in Emenike, and three central midfielders in Onazi, Mikel and Azeez. The two wingers (including Moses) both had an o.k. game. The problem is that we had two wingers, who did largely their job by sending crosses to the Iran 18-yard box, and three central wingers who neither supported the lone striker nor create meaningful chances of their own for him. As a result, three or four Iran defenders were nearly always on hand to crowd out Emenike because our midfielders -- particularly, Mikel and Onazi -- chose to be immobile. They were not making themselves available for passes in attacking positions. Even though Germany played as many as three forwards to our one (never mind the Germany forwards are attacking midfielders), you could see how the central midfielders behind them (particularly Khedira) supported the forwards, while fulfilling their defensive duties against Portugal better that our central midfielders did against Iran.
The lack of support for the striker also limited the option for the wingers. This is not to exonerate the wingers; they could have done more to support the striker. I cannot how many times Moses was making a run in the box to provide Musa with an option (apart from Emenike) to pass the ball from the right and vice versa.
Because of the above reasons and in contrast to your take, Pablo, I think that Keshi's substitution of Moses with Ameobi was an appropriate response. Two wingers were redundant and one striker was sorely inadequate in the way the team was playing. What the change did was to reduce the redundancy and provide support for the attack and, to his credit, Ameobi acquitted himself well. (Which game were you watching? Lol.) He has lost a step or two, but he always plays with professionalism, and he actually enjoys playing for Nigeria and with zeal. Given the team's overall mediocre display, he clearly added some spark to their display when he came on. But it is a sad commentary upon the state of talent in Nigeria that Sola Ameobi can still add freshness to the Eagles at this late phase of his career. I won't have any problem if he starts the next game in a two-man strikeforce. I wouldn't play him alone upfront at this stage.
But adding more body to the attack without anybody creating anything meant that Emenike and Ameobi were being underutilized. This is what changed when Keshi finally substituted Azeez with Osaze. In Osaze, the attackers finally found a creator who destabilized the Iran defense, and the game changed. The fact that they didn't score at that point was down to ill-luck.
Ugo
G. Ugo Nwokeji
Director, Center for African Studies
Associate Professor of African American Studies
University of California, Berkeley
686 Barrows Hall #2572
Berkeley, CA 94720
Tel. (510) 542-8140
Fax (510) 642-0318
University of California, Berkeley
686 Barrows Hall #2572
Berkeley, CA 94720
Tel. (510) 542-8140
Fax (510) 642-0318
Twitter: @UgoNwokeji
Facebook: facebook.com/ugo.nwokeji
On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 7:15 PM, Pablo <pidahosa@yorku.ca> wrote:
Wonderfully expressed Folu,
The contrast between the freshness, thoughtful and generally cohesive individual-team skills of Ghana and the headless chicken approach of Nigeria was evident all to see. If anyone watched the youth team play last year, in contrast to their seniors, they play with more decisiveness and team work than this lot on display. So dysfunctional and tepid, it was only when Odemwingie came on that they appeared to show a deliberative brain of movement and guile. Amongst many things, why was Moses (who while not having a great game, has the capacity to be a match winner) replaced by Ameobi, who personifies mediocrity, and who is a bench player at Newcastle and then subsequently released? My sense that Keshi holds grudges, as why did he not choose Uche? As to Ambrose (amongst others?) does that man know how to pass and defend? They may confound us yet, but against an organized, disciplined and skillful Bosnia and Herzegovina (bless them) and the yet-to-demonstrate-their-prowess Argentina, they may well be over their head.
Ghana did us all proud even in defeat. It's unfortunate that they are in such a tough group, but they showed, as did coach Appiah, the dignity of fearlessness and belief that at no time segued into arrogance. They showed their history, and why they may again be Africa's future-- I still see the belly of Nkrumah in the Back Stars.
Pablo
On 2014-06-17 7:07 PM, Folu Ogundimu wrote:
--My brother,No need to lament yesterday's loss by the Black Stars. They gave a good account of themselves, the god of football was unkind to them yesterday. But this happens sometimes. I am as proud of his young, aggressive Ghana team as I am distressed by the lethargic and ugly display of the Super 'Chickens' of my own Nigeria yesterday.
In today's football, the game's fortune sails better on the fleet-footed and skillful legs of the young, not tired old legs. See Spain's opening match. Ghana has lot going for them with this young team. All they need is a bit more tactical discipline and team cohesion.
Folu
Sent from my iPad--Dear Brother Kwasi:
Many thanks for your very helpful World Cup Diary #3, which is like a consolation prize in a lost competition.
My two teenage sons, born in America but cheered yesterday evenly for Ghana and America, can't believe that their father's ancestral home (Ghana) soccer or football team would be defeated so easily! They have pounded me with "Why, and What happened, Dad" questions.
My response to our two teenage sons (Kwadwo and Livingston Kwabena Assensoh) was as simple as this: Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, suffered from the "fatal disease of over confidence".
We will continue to pray for Mother Ghana and the Black Stars because as young Kwadwo reminded me, Ghana is still playing in the group!
Hopefully, Coach Kwasi Appiah -- our Kwasi/Akwasi name's sake -- will, henceforth, open his ears and listening devices in order to get advice so that he WILL now know how to start the Black Stars for any international game: to use seasoned players but not mainly novices! Amen!!
Coach Appiah should, please, make amends to do the right thing (as Spike Lee of USA would admonish) because we cannot afford and, also, we do not need the usual after Ghana coup d'états' intellectual refrain and dissection of "What Went Wrong" lectures!
A.B. Assensoh.
From: Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng [gapenteng@outlook.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 5:20 AM
To: Doris Dartey 3; GLU; pyaa@yahoo.com; Ebo Assan Donkoh; jkzorm2001@yahoo.com; Camynta Baezie; Gheysika Agambilla; Gina Afia Agbenu; Anthony Obeng Afrane; kabral blay-amihere; Manu Herbstein; Ebo Assan Donkoh; Dinah Amankwah; danappiah2@yahoo.com; Francis Gbormittah; (ranst59@yahoo.com); akoto ampaw; Kofi Marrah; Esi Sutherland; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; (arhattah@hotmail.com); (kwatiokor@yahoo.com); Gifty Anin; Prof Aki Sawyerr; Naa Kwale Dove; (woeli@woelipublishing.com); Ayo Amale; (georgeksarpong@yahoo.co.uk); Nanabanyin Dadson; George Koomson; Nii Adokwei; Afua Asafo-Adjei; Dorcas Ansah; Gina Asare Fiagbenu; Achimota 2010; Amidu Tanko; Selby Ashong Katai; (anneyayrasakyi@yahoo.com); ABLA DZIFA GOMASHIE; Akosua Adomako Ampofo; Ivy Austin; Michael Kwaku Somuah; Elikplim Akorli; Kafui Dey; Ruby Goka; Henry Asampong 2; Nana K. A. Busia; Raymond Atuguba; Kojo Yankah; Kofi Akpabli; Emmanuel Amoh; vicky wireko; kwami kayi; Mary Ametowoblah; (efalconer@mtn.com.gh); Elikplim; Sylvanus Bedzrah; Aaron Adyaye; Jojo Apenteng; Dr. Naana Mensah 2; Wendy Otu; Noshie Iddisah; Johnson Ametorwo; Atukwei Okai; Assensoh, Akwasi B.; Gladys; Enoch Avotri; Third Force; Emmanuel Fiagbenu; Ernest Akore; ALEXANDER BANNERMAN; Victoria Odoi; gphagan@lycos.com; Dinah Amankwah; Eddie Ameyibor; Yao Graham 2; Briggite Dzobgenuku; kwasi gyan-apenteng; Gifty Love Lartey [MTN Ghana - Finance]; (blay.gina@gmail.com); nyarkopong@hotmail.com; Oswald Okaitei; Joe Frazier; Awuradwoa Andoh; Akunu Dake; claudia.donkor@gmail.com; crystaltvofficial2002@yahoo.com; Ebo Quansah; PaJohn Bentsifi Dadson; Arthur Kennedy; naijaintellects; n naijanet2; Fritz Baffour; (giftytweneboa@aol.com); Akwasi Agyeman; Angela Dwamena Aboagye; Ethel Ansah; Joyce Aryee; cameron duodu; Ebo Quansah; Arthur Kennedy; kojokelly@yahoo.co.uk; Anthony Kweku Annan; Anthony Ossei; Yvette Appiah; Welbeck Abra-Appiah; Stella W. Appenteng; Nana Amoafo; nii moi; Nii Engmann; Paa Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng; Okyeame Group; Adjei Baah Eric; Ofei Nkansah (Sax); Dr Kofi Amoah; Esi Hammond; Jennifer Amansunu; Suleiman Braimah; Syd Casely-Hayford; Audrey Gadzekpo; Ghanaweb Features; chuks Iloegbunam
Subject: World Cup Diary 3
Dear friends
please find my World Cup Diary 3 attached.
Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng
Consultant in Communication, Culture and Media
President, Ghana Association of Writers
Member, National Media Commission
PAWA HOUSE
Roman Ridge, Accra
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