₦airaland Forum

andrewbaba44:
He is still a regular ,he has started almost all their games apart from the last 3 games ,he deserved to go to afcon but not to start games .

In a pure meritocracy, Bassey, Zaidu and Aina are all ahead of him in that LB role.

chrisooblog:
Egypt sabi fall hand once in a while, but Cameroon to mess up in front of home fans? mbanu!

Trust me, Cameroon are not crossing quarters. Forget home fans, Nigeria games will have as much of not more home fans making noise lol.

12large1:
Remember that he had retired from international football prior to signing that contract. The blame goes to Rohr for recalling him and assuming that, we had a striker issue instead of fixing his midfield

John Ogu said in 2019 on Elegbete TV that Ighalo was his close friend and the retirement saga was a bluff, that Odion just wanted to rest and ease out his World Cup mistakes and the backlash that came after, that he would come back after a year or two when the coast was clear.

nelszx:
I've said it and will say it again, its Cameroon vs Nigeria final for AFCON 2021

Cameroon will finish second in their group behind Burkina Faso.

Collins has sat on the bench for the last three games for his club in Germany’s second division. I’m sure that if It was Rohr going to AFCON, he would be the first name on our starting lineup. Mediocrity.

Gammfreak:
Joe Aribo in camp......others to join later in the day

If Ighalo is not in there we should quickly replace him with Dessers abeg...

For the LoneCitizen post, I doubt he was the poster. The tone of the message doesn't correlate with his past messages. Please spare him the spite, at least temporarily.

I think Chidera Ejuke will secure a big money move after this AFCON provided he doesn't get any injuries. The combination of a new coach who appreciates his skill-set, some players in his position who missed out, and his club being on winter break until the end of AFCON could just help him explode into the global scene.

I think the guy is the most talented player I have seen that has been under the radar for so long. It's amazing how well he performs at every club he goes but no bigger club seems to be interested in him. He is someone I feel will do so well in a top league.

PurpleHouse:
If I have my way, Balogun and Dennis, and anyone else who doesn't respect the opportunity to play for Eagles, won't wear that GWG again.

Balogun has been dedicated over the years, but recently I've seen that fire die in his eyes. Maybe it's because he's outspoken and the NFF don't like people like that, or maybe he want to reclaim his shirt at Rangers, but whatever, he should have come to camp. Not coming means he's lying about his fitness going by the stray bullets Eguavoen sent to the absent players.

Very good that you don't have your way.

How is Ndidi in camp and Nacho isn't?

TheGoodJoe:

At 23, as far as I am concerned, Mikel looked lost in Chelsea and people believed he could do nothing other than sit in front of the defense and pass back. Boy were they wrong.

At 23, where was Vardy, from your perspective he would not amount to anything special. Well, he took the premier league by storm later.

It is not over. The light can still shine brightly on Kelz Nwakali.

Very true. However, if you brought Vardy at 23 to start in the England National team because you see his potential, would it be wise and fair?

I am not saying Nwakali cannot come good in the future. However, selecting a player based on potential rather than performance over moore deserving players is dangerous for any team.

Chuks with a beautiful assist.

Meliforme:
Aribo is a good winger, but a very poor midfielder. This is not hard to see.
He should be drafted to the wings where his pace, dribbling and finishing will come handy

As far as the central and attacking midfield is concerned, Iwobi and Aribo has nothing on Nwakali, withi Aribo being the least as far as game reading is concerned.
Should i also say that he is the least in technique. This is an honest appraisal.

I am not trying to bring down Aribo, but we will appreciate more the player Aribo is when we see him ply the wings. He doesn't seem to bring anything of note to the team because we have players who are head and shoulders above him adding to the fact that he plies a position that doesn't fit him.

Have you watched Aribo though? He is not a poor midfielder, he is a poor defensive player. Also he is the most technical of all three so I don’t get your point. Aribo was rated as the player with the best first touch in world football just last year and you are comparing him with lowly Iwobi and even a worse Nwakali.

After Osimhen and Ndidi, no other player in our team has a higher ceiling than Aribo. Guy is good at everything. Passing, scoring worldies, first touch, physicality, link up play, dribbling, name it. Guy if a baller.

I would advise you to watch Rangers fc highlights so that you can really see the player you are so helplessly slandering.

TheGoodJoe:

All you said here did not address the points BOOOMNAIJA raised. One thing that affects players is systems and belief. That is why you can see a player struggling in one team and excelling in another.

Iheanacho is a player that everyone knows system affects him. Irrespective of that, he is still rated very highly in the UK because everyone has seen glimpses of what he can do in a team set up to favor him.

Nwakali is 23 and has been to multiple clubs and systems. If he has not found any yet by now that he can finally show his real talent, it begs the question of whether the problem is from the numerous clubs he has played in or from the player himself.

BOOOMNAIJA:
Wat do u mean by iwobi's level or aribo level....av u watched nwakali play before?

Neither iwobi nor aribo is a brilliant set piece taker, neither of them is good in maintaining possession in d midfield, neither of them is good in long diagonal overhead split passes....these are things nwakali does effortlessly and perfectly.

U guys just argue blindly based on WAT U KNOW OR SEE.

I love how, with all these wonderful characteristics, the guy is struggling to start in a Segunda mid table club without injury. The coach must be biased. In fact, I’m sure all the coaching staff and fellow players are racist to him, that is why he is performing poorly at such a low level.

When you are good, your results will speak for you. No one here has any connections in Scottish football, but Aribo is rated there as the best midfielder in the league, courting transfers to multiple EPL clubs. His talent speaks on the pitch, it doesn’t need multiple mouthpieces to broadcast to the world how he is the second coming of Neymar.

Fabuloski:
Guys, what happened to Morroco during the last AFCON? I can't remember how they drop off

Benin eliminated them on penalties in the round of 16, and then got eliminated by Senegal in the quarter finals.

komekn:
You can talk utter balderdash and If I question you on details you will go missing. But let's see if the leopard can Indeed change his spots.

Kai Havertz has played 16 games in the EPL this season and scored 2 goals, last season 27 games and 4 goals , he has been played as a striker he cost £72 million. Him and Timo Werner were supposed to be better than Tega Abraham. But alas both of them flopped he cost £50 million. This is the quintessential definition of a player who has flopped. Nationaliyy had nothing to do with it.

Now tell me the innit boys as you call them in your SHAMELESS bigoted double standard bigotry and quasi tribalism.

Who l have hyped here, I challenge you to name just three.

Havertz is not a striker.

At Leverkusen he was an AM. He can also play false 9/SS. His main aim is not to score, he is not a point man.

Damioduso1:
Base on owngoalnigeria which I don't trust there report Ighalo club does not want to release him for afcon just like Watford opportunity for Cyril Desser to get a call up as a replacement

Knowing Ighalo, he will want to come as Osimhen is not there. However, I hope he has the maturity to leave this spot for the upcoming talents and watch from afar.

IDENNAA:
So , you have the temerity to give excuses why Aribo has not impressed and even went further to to deafen us with all these qualities that made Aribo superior to Nwakali ? Just reread the thing you wrote and tell me you didn't see the bigotry and bias in that post that is good for the toilet drains.

In the last three matches Aribo played for SE he has no impressed , showed skills nor held the midfield with these invincible qualities he possessed. Anyways , whether you like it or not Nwakali is coming to camp and your fears will know no bounds. Sorry

If you play a striker as a defensive midfielder you cannot expect him to play well. Everybody and their parents know that Aribo plays best the closer he gets to the opponents' goal. I don't know why Rohr adamantly refused to play him where he is best utilized. It is not his fault he has not performed as well as expected.

Nwakali is not going to bench Aribo as an AM. He could as a CM or if Eguavoen decides to follow ERohr's footsteps, but if not tthen forget it. Nwakali still has a long way to go to get to Iwobi's level, let alone Aribo.

ChrisKels:
The boy is so sexy on the ball and he makes it look so easy. Funny enough, he is the last man you can ever disposses in the pitch whenever he has the ball, but I don't really like his off the ball movements some times, because he tends to stroll

He is too lazy off the ball. That is my main issue with the guy.

He is not aggressive enough. He doesn't take charge and rush into the rumble. I said it before that it was like he was trying not to get his jersey dirty. It is good to be sleek, but you also have to be aggressive and demanding to play at the top level.

This where Aribo edges Nwakali. Aribo is as sleek, but more aggressive and demanding. He always wants to join in and take matters into his hands. Aribo at Rangers is totally different from Aribo at SE because of the way Rohr uses him. Aribo is not a CM, he is more of a LM/AM hybrid. He is not a Kante or even an Onyeka, he is more of a De Bruyne/Eze with his shots on the edge of the box and his attacking runs. His passing is not up to the level it should be but he is still not too bad in that aspect.

TheGoodJoe:
On a serious note, there is no one in the Super Eagles that has the kind of touch of Nwakali. I don't know if he is raising his game because of the call up but that last through pass was brilliant. That was similar to that of Sarabia.

Sad it did not get to his teammate.

His ball control is also cool.

He needs to work on his work rate. Sometimes he strolls a bit too much. Also, he will look far better in a deeper role, playing in a possessive system. Nice one.

Aribo has the same touch if you watch his Rangers games. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to replicate it in the SE, probably because of Rohr's style.

JayromWrites:
I don't really like the word Inferior sha

That was why I added “based on current form” to make it clearer.

If I am performing better than you at work, won’t it be unfair for you to get picked over me for promotions?

CODMOK:
And if the person who can perform does not share your vision and doesn't want to work for you? Do you fold your arms and watch your business crashes because someone is too big to help?

That is not a problem of loyalty, it is one of performance.

Employing someone who is not ready to work is employing someone who will give you low performance. Sharing vision or whatnot has nothing to do with it. I can do a good job for you without necessarily sharing your vision.

JayromWrites:
Rohr shares the blame for his dogmatism


He wasn't fluid enough


But we can't also deny the fact that Bonaventure is a nutcase.. The guy stubborn gan... What I deduced from the whole issue is this

1). Dennis wasn't part of the 37 man list penned by Rohr

2). Due to 1 above, Watford were not informed same time as Ekong...

3). Rohr and Dennis don't see eye to eye hence why he(dennis) decided to not play the Afcon(initially)

4) when Austin was appointed, Dennis had a change of heart but Watford had something to hold on to as per (2)

5). Dennis wasn't so interested in the whole stuff and preferred to stay where he is treated as a King

With regards to 5. Above, he prefers to stay where he will be useful rather than where he’ll sit on the bench for possibly inferior players (at least on current form) like Simon, Iwobi, and even Chuks.

TheGoodJoe:

Representing the National team is about Honour. If your career is more important than honouring a call to represent your country, please stay in your club and let those that are passionate and eager to represent the country play.

This is ironical. If you don't have a stable career, you won't have the opportunity to honor calls in the future because you won't get calls. This is short-term vs. long-term thinking.

CODMOK:
Is it fanbase that plays football? And who told you Dennis is the best? If Mikel can be made to write a letter of apology to the NFF for a seeming disloyalty to the NT (at a time when our midfield was so thin), who is Dennis?. Nigeria has never lacked strikers you know. I think his swift replacement goes to show that others will always do the job.
And to correct you, best players don't always win but a good team does. Who are the best players in Egypt when they held the AFCON trophy in captivity for 6 years?. Who are the best players in the Algerian team?

Loyalty is crap. No matter how loyal you are to a team, if you are a crap player nobody rates you. Do you think companies hire people on how loyal they are? If you own a business will you employ the people that are most loyal to you (e.g your family members)? If you do that, the business crashes. That's one of the reasons Nigeria is a hot mess today. Nigeria is a clear example of the consequences of people choosing loyalty over performance.

PurpleHouse:
Bar injury, Dennis would have started every game alongside Chukwueze. He would probably even won Best Player of Afcon. He would sold himself more. And left Watford next season. But him nor get sense.

I feel am I nor go lie. E pain me. But na him lose. On a good day (for the SE) Onyekuru is a beast.

All "would". What if he comes to AFCON and doesn't fit into the coach's system? Contracts COVID? Gets injured first match? What then?

CODMOK:
Loyalty is everything bro. I hope you will not also complain when other players who got a call up at the last hour (and still honoured it) make subsequent SE squads at his expense.

You are too sentimental.

Loyalty does not win you a world cup or a champions league. Newcastle have the most loyal fanbase in EPL, where are they on the table?

Going with the best players is what wins you anything, not loyalty.

Philosopher1979:
Dennis should be careful. International football is important.
Another player could start shining a few months from now and it will make us forget about him.
We have many young players scattered in Europe waiting for a chance to shine in the top 5 leagues.
playing at the world cup will boost his reputation to no limits.
This is what made Ahmed Musa earn his place in Nigeria and it is even helping his club career.
If dennis plays well in the nations cup, then he can go to the world cup and play well and this will boost his career
and cement his international career.
Anyone can go and take his place at anytime. Football is unpredictable and fickle.
What if peter olaynka, collins yira sor, akinkunmi amoo etc move to a top 5 league next season and
start doing something spectacular or peter olayinka takes the nations cup by storm and moves
to a better league.
Nigeria has too many good players for him to be doing shakara.
The future will surprise him

If he keeps his premier league form, no one, and I repeat, no one will be able to displace him from the super eagles squad. This is someone that is second only to Salah as the best player in the EPL.

nelszx:
NFF sent it late yet they allowed Troost and are making a case cos its Dennis. Why didn't they stop Sarr from leaving despite his injury?

It's just the player unwillingness to be at the tournament, if he truly wants to play the club can't stop him provided he was invited.

We saw what happened when CFC wanted to stop Mikel from participating in a non FIFA tournament (Olympics) but was allowed to when the player wanted to go. That shows commitment

Let Dennis stay at Watford and enjoy his relegation fight cos both him and Watford must be relegated. If you feel too proud, other less fancy players will come up and show you how useless you are.

I no talk for this Dennis matter again......He has pitched his tent, let him enjoy.

Oga it is not about pride. It is about sense. Unfortunately many of us are lacking in that respect.

jihday:
true, Watford and Ranieri wouldn’t want to stop him because they wouldn’t want any form of backlash but Dennis unwillingness to come made it easy for them. I hope he’ll be dropped in future games

God forbid.

CODMOK:
I know Dennis has an attitude problem but he has voiced it over and over again that he will be happy to go to the AFCON. If Salah, Mane and Mahrez are happy to be there (and Liverpool couldn't stop them), which other African wouldn't?

It is not just about being happy.

Sure, I will be happy if I go to Disneyland and have fun tomorrow, but can I afford it?

Players like Salah and Mane can afford the luxury of leaving their clubs for AFCON because they have already earned legend status. Liverpool is safe and can afford to let them go for that period.

Dennis is an entirely different issue. This is his best form in his career. Every decision he makes now must be to maximize his career long term. He has not reached the level of Salah and Mane, so any drop in form can bring him crashing down. He had to make the smart decision, whether he liked it or not.

In context, imagine this AFCON happened when Osimhen was having his breakout season at Lille. If you honestly think Osimhen at that point would drop everything for an AFCON where he was not even a guaranteed starter, then you need to evaluate your decision making process.

CODMOK:
Abeg, make nobody complain if Dennis no go WC o.

When you are the best at what you do, you will always have the leverage to make these kind of choices.

Please, perish this idea. If Dennis doesn't go to WC, it is us that will suffer, not him. I don't blame him for trying to stabilize his career, it was the best decision for him to make.