Six things Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah must experiment with against Montenegro

Published on: 04 March 2014
Six things Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah must experiment with against Montenegro
Ghana coach Akwasi Appiah

By Ameenu Shardow, follow on Twitter @alooameenu

Ghana take on Montenegro in an international friendly with just two months until the World Cup training camp begins. 

There are however a number of questions that need to be answered about the Black Stars team before the head to Brazil for their third successive appearance at the World Cup.

1. Split halves between Adam Kwarasey and Stephen Adams

Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey
Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey
Due to the absence of Fatau Dauda, Appiah is going to be forced to experiment in the goalkeeping department between Adam Kwarasey and Stephen Adams.

And even though Dauda is likely to remain no.1 it will be only prudent to see whether indeed we can continue to rely on Adam Kwarasey as either a backup plan or probably the real deal before the World Cup.

It is also important to find out whether indeed Stephen Adams is a Black Stars material.

2. The central defensive pair

Jerry Akaminko in for another pensive runout
Jerry Akaminko in for another pensive runout
The central defensive partnership of John Boye and Jerry Akaminko can be tested again to see if it remains as closely viable as when they were with Heart of Lion in the Ghanaian top flight.

Ghana is lacking a sound central defensive pair and Wednesday’s game against Montenegro will offer a great opportunity to see whether we are making in-roads in that department.

3. Who to play at right back

Has Samuel Inkoom really improved?
Has Samuel Inkoom really improved?
Samuel Inkoom should be given a run out to see if his form has indeed improved with regular games at Greek club Platanias.

An inform Inkoom is always an asset to the Black Stars but we first have to be certain of what we are to get if he is going to make the World Cup squad as expected.

David Addy must also start this game on the left now that it’s quite clear Harrison Afful will not be making the trip due to visa issues.

The Vitoria Guimaraes man is the only natural left-footed left back we have in the team. He needs a run out for to help eliminate all the doubts hovering around him.

4. The midfield

Are the dynamic duo; Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien losing steam?
Are the dynamic duo; Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien losing steam?
Ghana’s undeniable strength is in the midfield but we really need to sort out the balance of the team.

The central midfield pair of Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari was made to look lethargic in the second leg of the World Cup playoff against Egypt.

It therefore begs the question, can two players who are rotated off and on the bench at AC Milan be relied upon at the World stage, the friendly against Montenegro might perhaps help in answering this question.

There is also the issue of where best to play Kwadwo Asamoah – Ghana current ‘true’ and ‘consistent’ performer. We need to find the chap the best position in order to benefit from his immense talent and Appiah must begin to figure this out against Montenegro on Wednesday.

5. The attack

Jordan Ayew needs precious international game time
Jordan Ayew needs precious international game time
We know Asamoah Gyan and Majeed Waris will be the preferred attacking pair. We however do not know what Jordan Ayew brings on board in current times.

It was good for the young chap to get his first goal for Sochaux before joining up with the Black Stars squad and he needs some precious international game time to prove his worth.

It is also quite clear that the midfield is pretty much chocked and we also know that Kevin-Prince Boateng could be a bankable asset for scoring goals.

Appiah must therefore give the Schalke man a more attacking role than defensive – purely because he sucks at it (using Real Madrid’s thrashing as reference) – to hone his goalscoring potential.

6. The coach

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah
Kwesi Appiah didn’t overly impress during the qualifiers – even though he rightfully gets the credit for qualifying Ghana for the 2014 World Cup.

It has been four months since the last time he was on the touchline with the Black Stars and must therefore show some improvement.

We want to see signs of tactical variations, try new things, thrill us like other enigmatic coaches have done. Simply, start putting the signature of your philosophy or pattern of play on this very talented and fairly experienced side.

And also improve his fashion sense - just taking a cue from his daughter's recent interview.

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