43 replies to this topic

[Jackk!]

Stolen Ali's Ivory Coast game, done it on FM12, with Nigeria.

I'm gonna do it better...


This is my take on the tactics as I don't want to 'convert to classic'.

Not exactly ideal for the set of players I currently have (completely cuts of key players such as Obafemi Martins and now one-time capped Shola Ameobi). But I've got good enough players in each position at the moment to make a mark.



Game 1:

Only a friendly so not too fussed about the accuracy but plenty of shots taken. Held onto possession well and we generally dominated them. Quite a few new lads in the squad anyway so I wasn't expecting too much.


Game 2:


Hoped for a little more, accuracy was appaulling, although both the goals were great finishes (Taye Taiwo's a lot like Dani Alves' goal v Madrid on Wednesday night - except from the left). Possession improved to 56% and we were generally in control for the full 90 minutes. But at the end of the day, it's just another friendly so the performance is more important than the result.

Game 3:

Australia cancelled on us to play with Iran, so I did what any self-respecting 19 year old would do, and asked their best friend to come out and play. We were relatively slow to start but once Obasi came on, the game turned round. Assisted the first, involved in Moses' second and netted one himself just after. Was a dangerous player in that AMR position. Possession up to 58% which is a very good sign.


First competitive game coming up in 31 days v Guinea. Nigeria have made a pretty poor showing in the ACON qualifiers, with 5 games, 3 wins, 2 draws in a weak group. So will hopefully smash Guinea to secure top spot and a place in Guinea/Gabon in the New Year.

Don't know my pool of players too well and have been experimenting a fair bit, brought in Finidi George as a coach. So I'll probably end up missing out a key player for the finals.

[Jackk!]

Definitely fair to say that we got lucky. Fortunately John Utaka took his chances and scored twice.

Qualified and will be in the ACON in a few months time, exciting stuff.

Face Georgia in a friendly in November and that's it for 2011.

[Jackk!]

African Cup of Nations group draw....



Was hoping our first seed would've been one of the hosts, but no we drew the 2nd highest rated African team in the World. No fuss, confident of qualifying. I expect Mali to be the only challenge from the bottom half of the group, but confident of at least grinding out a win there.

Georgia game coming up then a month or two off ahead of my first tournament.

[Cupid Stunt]

Victor Moses will lead you to glory.

[Jackk!]

Cupid Stunt, on 27 January 2012 - 09:01 PM, said:

Victor Moses will lead you to glory.

He genuinely might, he's been quality so far. I've given him 3 caps, he's given me 3 goals and an avg. rating of 7.87

Just selected my 23-man squad for friendly v Georgia. Very much could be my ACoN squad, bar one or two injuries. Exciting times!

[Jackk!]

World Cup qualification kicks off a few months after the African Cup of Nations finishes, but I'm sure we will still be celebrating our success right up until kick-off against Guinea.

Should win all our games without a hitch in this group and qualify for the WC, but who knows.

[Jackk!]

Tidy result, that spells 66 days until the first game of African Cup of Nations (vs. Egypt)

Finishing was weak, but I tried 3 or 4 different players in the AMC role in this match so it was down to me really. Got a pretty good idea of what players I'm taking to ACoN, I assume it'll be a 23-man squad but any more would be a bonus..

[Jackk!]

2011 Best XI:



That's pretty much the side I would've picked. Peter Suswam has got all 4 of his caps under me, and is dubbed the next Taye Taiwo. Plying his trade for Vit. Setubal at the moment, he looks fairly promising.

Also confirmed my ACoN squad;


Obasi, Musa and Enyeama have short term injuries - they'll be recovered before the first game v Egypt providing there is no setbacks.

Musa and Moses could be key in this tournament, they both love running at defenders then cutting inside, so I think Odemwingie will have to settle for a place on the bench. Yakubu is simply there in case I choose to abandon tactic and just pump him upfront and use him as a target man, but that'll be a very last resort.

Wish I'd brought Obafemi Martins instead of the Yak though, as Martins is competent winger (I found out after confirming the squad), so he could've played on either wing. Promise Isaac and Lukman Haruna need to live up to the hype around them if they want to get anywhere in my squads, they both have great potential.

[Jackk!]

Apam is out for 3 days with a gashed head, no worries.

Musa out for 3-4 weeks with a hernia! They said its worth keeping an eye on and not to call up a replacement.
So I'm basically going in with 22 men. I doubt he'll be back before group stages finish.

[Jackk!]

Banging start. Shame about Lukman Haruna's straight red, but he deserved it. Egypt dominated us from that moment on, hence the possession stats not being in our favour for once.

Two fantastic goals, Kalu Uche's 39 second goal (iirc), was thanks to a long mazy run from Victor Moses, and Haruna's goal was just a 25 yard piledriver right in the top corner, in off the bar. Pretty unstoppable. Got a bit wasteful in the second half, and only had one sniff at goal after going down to 10 men, Obasi blasting a 1 v 1 right at the onrushing keeper.

Gambia play Mali tomorrow and that should set the tone for the group. Hopefully two consecutive victories will put me top of the group.

EDIT: Uche's goal was after 21 secs and Haruna's ban was just extended to 3 games. See you in the Semi's Lukman.

Edited by Jackk!, 27 January 2012 - 10:55 PM.

[alilane4]

Solid so far, good luck in the CAN

[Jackk!]

Spanner....in....the....works!



Dickson Etuhu's injury was a kicker, I'm now without 2 of the 4 CM's I took to the tournament. He's torn a calf muscle and will be out for 3 months, and we can't call up a replacement. So I'm stuck until Haruna returns. May have to tweak the formation as I don't want to drop Kalu Uche back as he's been brilliant.

Pretty poor with possession as the defenders kept pumping it long and when we had the ball up top they just refused to recycle possession.

Oh well, Gambia next, let's give them a good kicking for morales sake.

--



Egypt beat Gambia 4-1. That's how the group looks now. Feck.

[Tom.]

Damn the loss is unlucky but the injury is a killer

[Jackk!]

Victor Moses now out for 4 weeks with a hernia.

Fucking ridiculous.

[Jackk!]

Better from Nigeria. A solid victory in our final group game and we were all over Gambia. Obi Mikel had a stormer assisting 2 of the goals. Odemwingie played in my AMC role and had a superb game. He'll be there for a couple more games at least.

Mali beat first seeds Egypt 3-0, to leave Group B looking like this at it's conclusion:



Qualified so I'll take it. Facing Ivory Coast in the 1/4s.

[Cupid Stunt]

Injuries look set to cost you this campaign, butt best of luck! Seems you'll need it!

[Jackk!]

Cupid Stunt, on 28 January 2012 - 12:16 AM, said:

Injuries look set to cost you this campaign, butt best of luck! Seems you'll need it!

Yeah they're doing me over.

I've got 3 injuries, 2 (Etuhu & Moses) definitely won't see any action again in this year's competition, the other 1 (Musa), may be match fit for the final if he's lucky.

[Jackk!]

Cost me Mikel for the rest of the tournament but I'm through to face Ghana in the semi's.

I've now met the expectations of the FA, which with the injuries/suspensions, I think I've done well to do!

Lukman Haruna should be back for the next game which eases things in the middle a little more, but it's not a great situation to be in. Will have to consider sacrificing a wing-back for the next tournament to carry another CM.

[Jackk!]

The dream is over. In front of a tiny attendance, two flukey goals knocked us out of the tournament, and it still cost me a centre mid.

Ahmed Musa also got injured on his return, he either hit the post or John Mensah as he failed to score from about 6 yards in the 95th minute (when only 3 were added). Poor finishing by both sides and despite the possession stats, Ghana did not deserve to win that one.

Oh well, back to the drawing board and the World Cup qualifications await.

[Jackk!]

Unexpected fixture, but I'll take third place.

As per usual, I lost a Central Midfielder, Lukman Haruna becoming unavailable, this time through injury as was Peter Suswam meaning I leave Eq. Guinea & Gabon with 6 on the injury table, pretty frustrating.


Face Afghanistan in a friendly before the World Cup qualifications begin. Should be a good chance to try out some new, more durable central midfielders.