African nations, european coaches

[Denis The Red]

Did anyone notice the amount of european coaches plying their trade in the African cup of nations? If we're honest with ourselves we would find it hard to beat some of the better african countries.
Even the english have decided that continental is the way to go.
So I say stay away from the british style managers, ie Venebles, Billy Davies, Lawrie Sanchez etc and pay the money it'll take to get a top coach over here.

[jmurphyc]

Did anyone notice the amount of european coaches plying their trade in the African cup of nations? If we're honest with ourselves we would find it hard to beat some of the better african countries.
Even the english have decided that continental is the way to go.
So I say stay away from the british style managers, ie Venebles, Billy Davies, Lawrie Sanchez etc and pay the money it'll take to get a top coach over here.

Some of the African teams are seemingly excellently coached. The way Egypt were creating and closing down space really surprised me as I thought they weren't that great and only won the last tournament because they were the home nation. A lot of the teams play a continental style and I'd like us to be able to play that way but doubt it's possible due to the way our player pool is coached in Britain.

[eekers]

i wouldnt be shocked if one of the african teams goes all the way at the next world cup

[Risteard]

If we're honest with ourselves we would find it hard to beat some of the better african countries.


I don't think anyone would deny that.

[Stuttgart88]

Yet people dismiss our draw with the African champions at the 2002 WC.

[Stuttgart88]

What's the climate like in Sth Africa in June/July? Isn't it their winter?

[Ireland4ever]

Even though its the biggest cliche but it has to be said, the african teams seem so naive. I watched the first game between Guinea and Ghana. They just didnt look like they had any tactics or organisation. Shots flying from everywhere, lads running all round the place. It was nearly comical watching it, and the state of the grass, hilarious stuff!

[jmurphyc]

Even though its the biggest cliche but it has to be said, the african teams seem so naive. I watched the first game between Guinea and Ghana. They just didnt look like they had any tactics or organisation. Shots flying from everywhere, lads running all round the place. It was nearly comical watching it, and the state of the grass, hilarious stuff!

Whilst some of the teams do seem a bit tactically naive, I think most of them are improving. I haven't watched all of the games, but Egypt and Morocco stood out for me as very well organised (it does seem as though the North African teams are a bit more tactically astute than their counterparts).

[endabob1]

Ivory Coast should be amongst the top 10 teams in the world
Cameroon, Nigeria & Egypt are all good sides who would probably thump us over 2 legs.
There are some weak sides there, Namibia are a poor side and were well beaten by an average Morroccan side,Benin are a poor side as are Sudan but Guniea & Ghana are no mugs Neither are Mali or Angola, we would do well to beat them over 2 legs South Africa are deliberately blooding a pool of youngsters basically anyone over 25 is discounted as they are building mercilessly for 2010.
Zambia are a good side considering so few of their players play in Europe but have Cameroon & Egypt in their group so are unlikely to progress.
In 2010 I would be amazed if we didn't have an African Semi-Finalist at least.

On the original point, there are a handfull of coaches who seem to jump from one African Nation to the Next, Henri Michel, Claude le Roy etc...

[jmurphyc]

Ivory Coast should be amongst the top 10 teams in the world
Cameroon, Nigeria
South Africa are deliberately blooding a pool of youngsters basically anyone over 25

Yeah, if Ivory Coast have a good manager and get a decent group in the next World Cup then they could go very far.

[joe_barry80]

What's the climate like in Sth Africa in June/July? Isn't it their winter?


It's mild enough during the day Low 20's but cold at night 2-5°

I am Micheal Fish and that was the weather forcast for june/july in South Africa

:D

[Stuttgart88]

Is Lemerre still at Tunisia?

[ifk101]

Is Lemerre still at Tunisia?

Yes.

Think Ivory Coast are great going forward but at the back there're dodgy enough. Very few decent goalkeepers in African football. I don't think any of the West Africa teams have a goalie playing regularly in one of the top leagues.

[Denis The Red]

A lot of the teams play a continental style and I'd like us to be able to play that way but doubt it's possible due to the way our player pool is coached in Britain.

All the English players are based in England too (with the exception of Beckham) and they still went for Capello to coach them. I think we need a continental coach, not to play a continental style football, but because they have a better knowledge of coaching. Even all the top coaches in the english premier league (with the exception of Sir Alex, who's Scottish) is continental.

[jmurphyc]

All the English players are based in England too (with the exception of Beckham) and they still went for Capello to coach them. I think we need a continental coach, not to play a continental style football, but because they have a better knowledge of coaching. Even all the top coaches in the english premier league (with the exception of Sir Alex, who's Scottish) is continental.

Yes, but I'm not sure our players have the ability to play a contintental style (even with a continental coach) because of the way they're trained as youngsters in Britain.

[Denis The Red]

Why was this thread moved?
It's a discussion on how we need a continental coach, not about African football. I only used that to make a point.

[Stuttgart88]

It's mild enough during the day Low 20's but cold at night 2-5°

I am Micheal Fish and that was the weather forcast for june/july in South Africa

:DThanks. Reason I was asking is that I think England could do better than usual if they qualify. They can play their usual high tempo attritious game to better effect in the cool whereas in the heat the more measured, technically proficient approach will always prevail.

It might help us too if we qualify.

[Stuttgart88]

I don't think any of the West Africa teams have a goalie playing regularly in one of the top leagues.Richard Kingston of Ghana(?) kept Colin Doyle off the bench at Birmingham earlier this season. Hardly a ringing endorsement of West African keepers though!

[Dr. Ogba]

Based on their world cup performances I thought that Ghana were the outstanding African team in that competition. I watched most of their games and they were a joy to watch and played a great brand of free-flowing football. I'd even go as far to say that they were very unlucky against Brazil in the second round and really didn't deserve to lose that match 3-0.
As someone else pointed out there really is quite an element of tactical naiveity (sp??) especially in defence but if a good coach sorted that out then I wouldn't be surprised to see the likes of Ghana and Ivory Coast challenging in the next WC (which would be a breath of fresh air imho!)

[gustavo]

Richard Kingston of Ghana(?) kept Colin Doyle off the bench at Birmingham earlier this season. Hardly a ringing endorsement of West African keepers though!

Kameni at Espanyol

[jmurphyc]

Kameni at Espanyol

Is Cameroon considered West Africa?

[Thunderblaster]

If you want to check the record of Irish teams against African sides, here are the facts:

Algeria. Played once, lost once.

Morocco: Played once, won once.

Tunisia: Played once, won once.

Egypt: Played once, drew once.

Nigeria: Played twice, lost twice.

Cameroon: Played once, drew once.

South Africa: Played once, won once

Record against African countries: Played 8, Won 3, Drawn 2, Lost 3.

Hardly makes Ireland superior over the African nations.

[gustavo]

Is Cameroon considered West Africa?

havent a clue ,
wikipedia says
The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central and western Africa.

[superfrank]

I was genuinely surprised to see Otto Pfister at Cameroon.

Berti Vogts is surely taking Nigeria backwards. Kanu, Odemwingie, Yakubu and Martins at his diosposal and they haven't scored a goal yet.

I think the Nigerian keeper, Ejide, is pretty good but Kameni is surely the best African keeper on show.

[jmurphyc]

I was genuinely surprised to see Otto Pfister at Cameroon.

Berti Vogts is surely taking Nigeria backwards. Kanu, Odemwingie, Yakubu and Martins at his diosposal and they haven't scored a goal yet.

I think the Nigerian keeper, Ejide, is pretty good but Kameni is surely the best African keeper on show.

They seem to have plenty of good players up front but they really lack a creative player in midfield to supply their strikers. That's why I think Vogts tried playing Kanu in midfield. I think their best hope for this is to play Mikel in a slightly more advanced role instead of using him as a shield for the back four.