₦airaland Forum

I once criticized Onuachu but not any more, I'm now his number one fan. Omoh that shot nah one million.

I am really happy that he is proving doubters wrong, including myself. Boy, he is a huge guy and he can cause all sorts of troubles for the opposition defenders with that frame.

As for Ebuehi, he is a modern day fullback and he is really comfortable with the ball at his feet. He should however track back abit more when we lose possession. Aina is equally good but I will pick Ebuehi over him.

charlesemeka85:
Former England U21 skipper Nedum Onuoha has claimed that he did not turn down the opportunity to play for the Nigeria national teams, and has explained why he didn't accept a call-up to play for the Super Eagles fourteen years ago.

Born in Warri but raised in England, the Manchester City academy product was contacted by the Nigeria Football Federation in the weeks leading up to the 2010 World Cup but he shunned their advances.

Former Super Eagles manager Shuaibu Amodu also tried to persuade the dual-eligible center back to switch his allegiance from England to Nigeria in 2009 but was unsuccessful.

German manager Berti Vogts, who coached the Super Eagles 2007-2008, named Onuoha in his first provisional squad in 2007, only for the player to decline the invitation.

In an Instagram Live session with our colleagues Team Nigeria UK, Onuoha explained : "For the first five years of my career, I played for the U20s and U21s of England and the only time I got a call up for Nigeria in my career was from Berti Vogts when he was manager and this was in 2010.

"I got a call up from him saying he wanted me for the AFCON and at that time Roberto Mancini had just become manager at Man City and I was out of his plans and Berti was calling just before the turn of the year.

"This was the first time it happened that I wasn’t part of the first team. I didn’t want to leave and I was worried about leaving for AFCON and having nothing when I come back because people say this is a shop window, it raises your profile and for some people it’s not the case."

Onuoha revealed that he is proud of his Nigerian heritage and to buttress his point, the 34-year-old sensationally claimed that he never sang England's national team whilst on Young Lions duty.

"At the time I was 24 years old, this is what I’m thinking cause I was honest with Berti that I wanted to do it but it wasn’t just the right time.

"From that exact moment, nobody from Nigeria called me again and I was hearing from everywhere that I had turned Nigeria to beg for England.

" But if you look at it anything the media has said wasn’t true and to add to it I know my identity and I was honored to represent England but anytime I got to play for England I would never sing the anthem because I know my home is somewhere else.

"So I appreciated what I was doing and I was given because I’ve the British passport but I always have the green passport and playing for Nigeria is something I’ve always wanted to d," Onuoha concluded.

See explanation How we go help am now? He made his choice, he should be proud of it, good or bad.

elunico:
I wouldn't be surprised if that dunce of a coach called Rohr plays Musa in any of the games.

Rohr is very rigid and prepredictable so I wont be surprised if such happens.

andrewbaba44:
Antonio have been called 3 times thou but didn’t make it out from the bench from a game and he withdrew because of Injury for the remaining 2 games he was called

He first rejected the chance to play for Jamaica sometime 2016 now dude wanna play for them to help them qualify for the 2022 World Cup

Well, it is not that late for him. He still has couple of years to play for his country.

I think more than anything, playing regularly for national teams somehow gives individuals some sort of identity.

solonnachi:
Southgate and the FA really at work here. Hope Lookman does not also change his mind?

That one concern them. I wish them best of luck with their ambitions. As full adults, they are capable of taking decisions concerning their future. Regardless of the outcome, they should take responsibilities of their choices and not blame anybody should it go south for them.

I read online 2 days ago that Michail Antonio have decided to play for Jamaica at 30 years after waiting endlessly for 3 lions call up. Life is about choices.

TheSuperNerd:
Rohr and the NFF were right. Tosin's heart is with England

This is gotten from Tosin Adarabioyo's latest interview revelation with the UK Telegraph.

"We know it’s the Euros this summer so hopefully if I keep on doing well, who knows, I could be looking to push myself into that squad,” Tosin says. “Obviously there are a lot of good players to choose from but if I do what I can do best there is a chance.”

This Tosin really annoyed me with his statements. Not like he owe me or Nigeria, but if he wanted to push through with playing for the English national team, he would have come out straight and not flirt with playing for Nigeria.

I wish him best of luck with his 3 lion ambition, just that I dont like 2 faced people.

So unfair that she doesn't get recognised when it is award time on the international stage. They will rather choose one white player ahead of her because she is from Africa. Girl has been on fire since she signed for Barcelona.

andrewbaba44:
Because he didn’t play yesterday and you think emery don’t rate him ?

Chuks has played 17 Laliga games this season and started majority of them so how come you are saying emery doesn’t rate him ?

Perhaps my choice of words.

I didn't know he was injured. Majority of Villarreal's matches I watched this season, he is either coming in as a sub or he is subbed out. I was kinna concerned for him cuz it doesn't help in his development.

JohnBullMySon:
I think he is on injury, but besides that, dude is quite inconsistent. but there is hope this season, his numbers are not bad.

Alright.

jihday:
He's injured sir, Emery actually rates him

Ok I get it.

Olulong:
He's injured for Christ sake

Ok I get it, Fair enough! I was concerned because this season, he has been used as either subs or when he starts he wouldn't finish the match.

He isnt consistent but this kind of appearances doesn't help because I believe he needs consistent appearances for his development at this point in his career. If he isnt getting that, he should look for a loan move. Thats not a bad idea.

Chukwueze should move from Villarreal, even if it is a loan move to salvage his situation before the transfer window is up, cuz It seems Emery no rate am atall.

I don't know why Nigerian players prefer sitting on the bench while their careers suffer.

andrewbaba44:
David Silva overrated ?

Didn’t see the moniker but I know it’s the usual person

Lol, men that guy can't be serious. David Silva of all persons?

I wish him the best at Chelsea. Let me begin to enjoy my beautiful club in peace.I stopped watching Chelsea matches because of the amateur coach Lampard.

Thank God he is gone with his favoritism and poor technical abilities. I really hope Tuchel doesn't have favorites cuz this is the surest way of losing ur dressing room. Play players on merits not because they are your country men.

oloriooko:
Napoli players are bunch of average players, Mertens was a colossal failure after coming on yesterday
Osi was match rusty after weeks of lay off dur to injury

Napoli is not a poor team. They have good players. I really enjoy watching Insigne, I think he is a top top winger.

Great news!

Anybody but Lampard. It is good that Chelsea sacked Lampard and he can take his son Mount with him to wherever he goes.

Midfielder that runs round the field like headless chicken without much technical input. To control and distribute ball effectively dey hard am, yet he is picked every match.
He is one of the reasons his master was sacked. Average English players.

Let him bring on the energy when non English coaches starts underperforming.

Very sentimental English people.

Best news of the year. Good riddance!

Subzero047:
Scott Parker is probably the best English coach atm

I'm not surprised, I always knew he would be a good coach.

During his playing days, he was very comfortable with the ball at his feet and I guess he would expect same from his players. He also brought in players with good technical abilities like Cavaleiro, Anguissa, lookman, RLC etc.

Angelfrost:
But... Olé, Arteta, Zidane, and Gattuso were given enough time...

Shouldn't Lampard be extended the same courtesy?!!

Just asking sir.

Excuse me!

Zidane came in and inherited world class players and a team built by others, that won champions league the 2 season before he came in and built on it.

Arteta is way better than Lampard, dont even compare. If he had the squad Chelsea has, he will be winning game. He wasn't given the amount Lampard got in the summer.

Gattuso? Dont even go there. If he was given the time, he wouldn't have been sacked by Ac Milan.

Pls don't always sell yourself cheap because of others. Be ambitious and have winning mentality mindset.

At this point I don't even blame Lampard cuz he clearly cannot give what he does not have.

I however blame the board for leaving him at the job this far to continue making mess of himself. He is the worst we have had and i'm sure he is still in charge up till this moment because of his status as a player for the club. Assuming this is any other person, they would have fired him long ago.

I must say that i'm happy with the result cuz this will hasten his dismissal, since the board are no longer interested in the progress of the club.

If people can be truthful, they should accept the fact that we are going anywhere with Lampard.

No organization, poor movements on and off the ball, no creativity from the middle, especially in the final third.

Just cross and hope for the best.

For now, FFK should first settle his troubled private life before meddling in US government affairs. He is morally bankrupt like trump.

Trump was rightfully booted out of Twitter for inciting violence. Trump is the worst president USA have had. I mean, a sitting president inciting violence against his people because he could not accept an election result he lost fairly. Shows his level of greed and desire to hold on to power.

The people I fear most in this very shameful and condemnable situation are those supporting this act and cheering him on. They are worse than animals.

The Republican congress woman that spoke in favour of his impeachment said it is a matter of conscience. If we actually have conscience, we should always stand for truth and justice.

iphanyi10:
what annoys me the most is the constant cross and nod. even after spending over 200m Chelsea always look bereft of ideas against formidable opponents. His second season and his team still don't have a definite pattern of play. No tactics, no motivation, no passion. just first 11 and grace of God.

He is just not matured and technical enough for the job. Simple as that.

Seunfretty:
...Exactly boss....i ave Chelsea fans as friends who always commend mount and the only they talk about is his work rate and I always laugh....personally I live mounts efforts on the field but let's stop kidding mount isn't a quality player at least nt yet ...his a player that thrives more on effort than intellect....he plays as a number 8 but makes close to noting happen in the field ...the only thing he excels a little at is shooting...now the question is how about a game where u can't get a clear shot....mount is nt really a good ball passer....his poor at dribbling and he isn't a fast thinker ....just to basic in playing "typical english midfielder"....asides Kante and kovacic he should be the main attacking and creative threat in midfield but NO...u will only see him pressing high...can mount enter the starting line up of any team in the top6 ...the answer is No

Thank goodness there is someone who has football knowledge. I always enjoy exchanging football ideas with minds like u. Not with someone that will tell me how he loves Mount so much because he presses. We know that Frank is a legend at Chelsea no doubt, he scored so many goals from the midfield but he wasn't good at ball retaining and distribution. I think he saw abit of himself in Mount plus he is English, that's why he plays him ahead of good midfielders.

I was arguing about Mount sometime ago with someone and I used Iniesta as an example. Barca of Xavi and Iniesta thrived so much because their football retaintion and distribution is second to none.

Mount in the midfield doesn't work. He is not good at retaining and distribution and he doesn't have the vision for defence splitting passes. The player with such vision is Havertz. The reason he isn't performing well is because Lampard uses him in wrong positions to accommodate Mount.

Seunfretty:
Sometimes u need to learn on the job but am sorry that will be hard in a club like Chelsea...he was backed highly during the last transfer window...the squad his having is wat some managers will salivate at ...am nt been harsh on him but have saw Chelsea so many times this season even during matches they won...Chelsea is fucking to predictable ...and the crop of players they bought are players u won't get any good team from if u don't use them to three strenght...Chelsea can't play this team to it's strenght and it's cos his nt sooooo sound tactically...for example they move the ball too slow ..like fucking slow and so many epl teams as caught up with them...liverpool always throw the ball to there forwards at the edge of the box cos they know that's where they are most destructive but Lampard adopted the ball crossing tactics even wen he doesn't really ave the crop of players to make the tactics effective....every of chelseas attack comes from the flank ..no incisive pass from middle ....everyball all just goes to the wing ...it works but every team now knows that's wat they do and work against it...the addition of Grant might just make things a little better but in the very short term

Good analysis. the best midfield for Chelsea is Kante at 4, Kovacic at 10, Havertz at 8, midfielders with ball holding and distribution abilities, then flanked by Pulisic and Hakim, with Werner/Giroud upfront. Then we use other players interchangeably, depending on the opponent.

Anybody who understands football will agree with me on this but for God knows why, Lampard will always want to fix Mount and Abraham into the mix.

A good coach changes his team's dynamics and approach according to opponents but not Lampard. Very anyhow somebody.

Anybody but Lampard. He nauseates the hell out of me with his favourtism. Not that his coaching ability is of standard to start with.
Worst coach Chelsea have ever had, yet ppl still want him to stay cuz he is a club legend.

I always know that English coaches are never serious with their careers cuz they must bring in nepotism into everything they do, like a typical English man.

andrewbaba44:
In uefa golden shoe rankings a player with 30 league goals have a better point than an epl Laliga seria A player with 10 goals

Stop saying nonsense just because you wanna diss onauchu

Bundesliga to you is a farmers league because you know nothing about football

Bundesliga to the real football world is not a farmers league ,your opinion will not be needed in uefa leagues ratings

Thank you

I really enjoy watching Bundesliga matches. They play proper football over there, not some kick and run football played in England.

seankafor:
It's now safe to say that iwobi has cemented his place as a first team starter for Everton FC

I have always been a big fan of his. I pray he steps up to his full potentials.

komekn:
He is not arrogant.

He is the outcome delivery of not having s stable family background. He had am absentee father and then a uninformed white Italian foster father a recipe for confusion.

I can empathize with him. I went to primary school where my brother and l were the only black kids in the school.

One day my Father woke up and said " Megwuno, my children don turn oyibo finish " And we were sent straight from the UK to boarding school in Warri. That singular act changed the entire trajectory of my life. I could write a book about my experience.

I couldn't speak my language and or any other Nigerian language, not even pidgin English. I couldn't even dance ( 2 left feet). However, today I consider myself born in the UK but made in Warri.

Today l meet black kids even adults suffering deeply with identity crisis in Europe. They can not engage with black people although they are black. They just don't have the communication skills. And become uncomfortable with black people and feel awkward. A paradox because they are not really accepted by white people. It's painfully CONFUSING for them.

That creates all kind of crisis in thier lives.

As you know dance, language, accent, mannerisms are all communication skills. If you live in a black area you may easily acquires these life skills. And as a result you will not have an identity crisis or any issues of low self esteem. And will easily relate and identify with your roots.

For example NairaMarley born in Nigeria but made in the UK in particular, little Lagos (Peckham, London)

You are correct. I once worked in a boarding school some years back and parents kept sending their kids back home. To a greater extent, it worked cuz by the time those kids move from junior class to senior class, most of them must have adjusted well in thier new environment. Sometimes, u hadly notice they came from abroad to study.

BabaO2:
gerrout jor. Coach is not the problem but few players even though they are all professionals that want to play every match. Christensen in particular should always be the third choice for a central defense role.

You know ur way out of my mention so please do the needful.

Mexyz:
Boss please let's always say things the way they are, yes some Cfc fan don't really like Mount, but he is the most energetic midfielder we have there and his close downs is really helping us. And for Kante, so you really want us to play with a midfield of Jorginho, kovacic and Gilmour or what? Because I don't really see the midfielders you want him to field alongside Jorginho...

As far as i'm concerned, Mount is not a technical midfielder, he is all runs. He doesn't close down anything. A technically sound midfielder keeps the ball on his feet and dictates the flow of the game, not running around like headless chicken. Go and watch iniesta and Xavi play and see how technically gifted midfielders play.

As for Kante, he is getting old and sometimes his level drops because of exhaustion, we have seen it in the past. I expected him to come in after first half.