Lagerback was appointed last month to replace Shuaibu Amodu and although he has already started work, is yet to meet with the players, few of whom know him.

"I don't know much about him, but it doesn't matter that much, "Taiwo said. "The important thing is that he feels the player’s passion and I think it will be shown that he is the right man for this task.

"The federation has chosen him, and they have good reasons to do it."

With time in short supply before the World Cup, Taiwo says the new man will face a tough task, but says he is looking forward to exciting times.

"It's an exciting venture with Lagerback, but it will also be a tough job. We haven't lot of time to get a good feeling in the team, but I'm sure that we will fix it."

Nigeria are grouped with Argentina, South Korea and Greece for the World Cup in June.

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Davie:2010-03-11 14:03

All these players with their "prostitution tendency" ....All of a sudden Lagerback is now the right for the SE job and "It's an exciting venture with Lagerback..." (even before his first match in charge), howcome no one was bold enough to voice out his mind during Amodu's tenure aside Osaze? I won't be surprised if other players start 'romancing' the new coach by singing his praise, it's all about going to the world cup.

nelson:2010-03-11 14:16

i could remembered taiwo game against eygpt and tunisia.what can i wish a coach with such performances?



nelson4u...

gerry:2010-03-11 14:47

@Davie, i totally disagree with you. Maybe he should have said that the new Super Eagle's TA isn't the right man. All he did was to tender his support to the new man. They all said the same thing when Amodu was appointed.

Lexy:2010-03-11 14:53

Haba Davie, Nelson, we don't see anything good in what our players say or do.
Please Taiwo has every right just like you guys to bare his mind concerning Lagerback, and by the way what he said is true. The task b4 Lars Lagerback is a very big one and he needs the total support of all, including the players, to succeed.

Lexy:2010-03-11 14:58

@gerry, true talk. The players need to tender their support to the new TA, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Let us criticize constructively guys.

Stay blessed!!

dozie:2010-03-11 15:40

EFCC Investigate HODDLEGATE
Published: March 10, 2010
allnigeriasoccer.com

Former England manager, Glenn Hoddle, has said some top Nigerian officials demanded a bribe of $500,000 to facilitate his getting the country’s top coaching job.

According to Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, Hoddle complained to him that some officials demanded he inflate his wage demands by $500,000 because this would guarantee the Englishman the job to lead the Super Eagles to the 2010 World Cup.

“My working with Hoddle was borne out of patriotism and my conviction that the right thing must be done. I met Hoddle, who complained that he was asked to part with $500,000 out of his $1.5 million (proposed salary) and that that was the only way to do business in Nigeria,” said Saraki.

“He said some people asked him to quote $1.5 million instead of the $900,000 he asked for.”

Football agent John Ola Shittu, who worked with Hoddle for the Nigeria job disclosed that the country’s anti-corruption body, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is now investigating this scandal after Saraki and he complained to the head of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) for the World Cup, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

“It is high time that criminals parading themselves as sports officials in Nigeria were brought to book,” said Shittu.

Chairman of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Taiwo Ogunjobi, challenged Shittu to reveal the identity of the officials who demanded for this massive kickback.

“If he is sure of himself, let him reveal the identity of those who told Hoddle to inflate his salary,” said Ogunjobi, who was on the interview panel to hire a new Nigeria coach.

Another official added: “We were very transparent in the process of engaging a new coach and the scores of all the coaches have been published in the media.”

Former Sweden World Cup coach, Lars Lagerback, was named Nigeria coach late last month after he was rated the best of four other European coaches interviewed for the job. He has signed a contract that is renewable after the World Cup in July.

dozie:2010-03-11 15:45

EFCC Investigate HODDLEGATE
Published: March 10, 2010
allnigeriasoccer.com

Former England manager, Glenn Hoddle, has said some top Nigerian officials demanded a bribe of $500,000 to facilitate his getting the country’s top coaching job.

According to Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, Hoddle complained to him that some officials demanded he inflate his wage demands by $500,000 because this would guarantee the Englishman the job to lead the Super Eagles to the 2010 World Cup.

“My working with Hoddle was borne out of patriotism and my conviction that the right thing must be done. I met Hoddle, who complained that he was asked to part with $500,000 out of his $1.5 million (proposed salary) and that that was the only way to do business in Nigeria,” said Saraki.

“He said some people asked him to quote $1.5 million instead of the $900,000 he asked for.”

Football agent John Ola Shittu, who worked with Hoddle for the Nigeria job disclosed that the country’s anti-corruption body, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is now investigating this scandal after Saraki and he complained to the head of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) for the World Cup, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

“It is high time that criminals parading themselves as sports officials in Nigeria were brought to book,” said Shittu.

Chairman of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Taiwo Ogunjobi, challenged Shittu to reveal the identity of the officials who demanded for this massive kickback.

“If he is sure of himself, let him reveal the identity of those who told Hoddle to inflate his salary,” said Ogunjobi, who was on the interview panel to hire a new Nigeria coach.

Another official added: “We were very transparent in the process of engaging a new coach and the scores of all the coaches have been published in the media.”

Former Sweden World Cup coach, Lars Lagerback, was named Nigeria coach late last month after he was rated the best of four other European coaches interviewed for the job. He has signed a contract that is renewable after the World Cup in July.

nelson:2010-03-11 16:14

@dozie,it does'nt surprise or baffle me......a bit.the only joke there is about efcc that make me laugh.



nelson4u.

gerry:2010-03-11 17:14

@Freethug, he might be after agent fee, but it doesn't mean that he should not blow the whistle on bribrey and corruption Within NFF. Mind you, agent fee is not ilegal.

Billion:2010-03-11 17:15

I feel Taiye Taiwo...he's going the way of Kanu. They all want to be at the WC. Osaze said what he said cos' he already knew Amodu was on his way out of the SE, how come he never said during the qualifiers?

gerry:2010-03-11 17:16

@Freethug, he might be after agent fee, but it doesn't mean that he should not blow the whistle on bribery and corruption Within NFF. Mind you, agent fee is not ilegal.

Billion:2010-03-11 17:16

correction,

how come he never said it during the qualifiers?

Promo:2010-03-11 17:20

A smart way to tell Larger he's available. But anyway, he's a good defender, but we need someone to cover him up when he goes on Overlapping

Garvey:2010-03-11 17:33

I can't understand all the complain about what Taye Taiwo said. It's the normal thing for players to be positive about a new coach. That's how it is all over the world. We just keep discussing and aguing on issues that are not relevant.

Noel:2010-03-11 17:47

Mr overlapper wey no dey remember to go back and defend. I pray you are not picked. There are more enterprising and stronger defenders than you.

Garvey:2010-03-11 18:04

@Noel - In modern football it is normal for full-backs to overlap and are sometimes caught up in quick counter-attack from the opposing team. A good coach will always provide a cover up for such cases.

Clovis:2010-03-11 18:22

I am glad that you are giving your support to Lagerback. More your teammate should be doing the same too. This is a good show of maturity in you, you are looking ahead rather than duel in the past which helps nobody. Now that you have given your support to him, it will be nice if you fight hard to get your shirt for the country. Leave it all on the pitch. Amodu’s era is over now we focus our full support to the current SE coach and players.

collins:2010-03-11 18:50

@garvey,which intending player's will say otherwise?that is the complain.

end:2010-03-11 19:31

@billion why are u acting like a kid,Osaze said that after they lost to Ghana I wonder when u expect him to say that?Pls think b4 posting don't feed us with ur rubbish idea.

Hopewell:2010-03-11 19:32

@ Billion: Hmm... You seem to be very controversial. Is Osazee Odemwingie a Prophet? How could you force such an allegation down his throat that he knows Amodu was to be fired after the AFCON? I tire for u, my guy. You better get over Amodu's demotion or else, you will be forced to take medication for someone else's medical problem. Osazee is not dumb and will never be. Ask me why. He has a winning mentality and gives everything in him whenever he puts on the colours of the SE. He has been tolerant with Amodu's stale ideas of coaching hoping he will learn. But, can you teach an old dog new tricks? You attack every SE player, from Kanu's hair do, to Taiwo's comment and now Osazee. Man, you are inviting abuses from fellow forumites. Be warned and be less sentimental in your comments.

oscar :2010-03-11 19:42

@ Billion, even Amodu knew he was on the way out. Osaze said those things because he knew things would have been different if a better coach had handled the team, do not blame him for that. Every good player complains about their team's performance, if they knew things should have been different with another or a better coach.

@ Garvey, I totally agree with you. Taye is not saying anything from the ordinary. He is a national team player and he has to support the new coach, no matter what. I believe other players will do the same, they have to support the new coach. Who wouldnt? If Barca changes their coach today, will Messi complain about the coach? NO. I dont know if Taye is trying to safe-guard his place or not, but I think he has not done anything extra-ordinary.

Hopewell:2010-03-11 22:43

@ Lagerback: PLEASE, there shouldn't be automatic shirts for players or selection based on the pedigree of clubside. Lagerback should look inwards. There are good players in the local league that can be played in some of the friendlies he has lined up. Azeez (U- 17) should be given a look in despite his age. I think his game is more matured than that of some SE midfield players. Age has got nothing to do with football intelligence. Experience is a reflection of your performance and not age or how long you've been out there playing.

moneyman:2010-03-12 01:11

@dozie, who knows maybe, lagerback also played by the rules of kickbacks. EFCC should extend their investigation to Lagerback contract also. I don't think is the best to handle SE for now. He might get the job by playing with NFF rules of "chop make I chop".

ken gadaffi:2010-03-12 05:51

@tefil what a great analysis from you. I hope Lagerback can take note of that so he can know how to work on the weaknesses u have observed.

Didier Drogba has been crowned African Footballer of the Year for the second time in his career. COngrats to him, He truely deserved it.


THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Noel:2010-03-12 11:38

@Garvey: I quite understand the process and agree with you, but Taiwo is not disciplined enough as a defender. I believe We have better disciplined and efficient defenders who when they go forward are not found wanting as defenders

gerry:2010-03-12 11:43

@Tefil, you really went deep. Anyway my belief is that players, be it strikers or defenders are allowed off games or should i say a dip in form. it is understandable.

You can not drop Obafemi base on a few scoreless matches or drop defenders for their shortness in height.


Hopefully, players that are not firing on all cylinders today would start firing soon. out of form players may regain the forms. forgotten players may be rediscovered.

Players like Utaka is beginning to show good signs. Nobody should rule out player at the moment.


Our most recent memories of the Super eagles are not fun memories. starting with qualifers to the Nations cup.

Hopefully, Mr Lars would put together a fix enough team to challenge the world.

Garvey:2010-03-12 11:45

@Tefil - Not a bad analysis. Good that you add this sentence at the end "But, in all these I may be wrong…I’m open to ideas…" Are our players really so bad? I would say NO. I still believe that all the players in your analysis are good players and can hold theirs against the best players in the world on a good day. All players no matter who they are have their weaknesses and should not be seen as not good enough because of such weaknesses.

Garvey:2010-03-12 11:51

@Noel - I agree with you that some of the goals scored against the Eagles occured from Taye's side of the field but most of the goals are not totally his fault. A good coach can make his team play according to instruction. If a coach can not instill discipline in his team and make them play according to his instruction then that coach is not the right one for the team. As you know it is not possible to change the whole team in a game of football (At least it is not easy to do that)when the team is not performing well. The buck stops at the coach doorstep most of the time.

Brown:2010-03-12 20:50

I think Taiwo would do better as an attacking left-wing (forward) than a defensive full back.