₦airaland Forum

Karlovych:
Austria will grab that boy, EU countries don't joke with such opportunities.

A whole England U19 captain? We should forget about him and focus on our upcoming prospects. If he is interested, he will contact us and we won't need to chase him and his family around like Pinnick does. Take Bassey's case for instance.

andrewbaba44:
Nothing like money laundering

Osimhen also cost 80 million

Normal levels for young talents with potentials

Vinicius jr also cost 40 million without much impact from South America

Osimhen never cost 80 million.

He cost 50 million plus 4 youth players valued at 20 million (which is currently being investigated, because those 4 youth players combined are barely worth 1 million, their values were inflated to balance the books).

darkelf:
Osimhen would do better in the same team

I can stake on this!!!!

Untrue. This Ajax team fits Haller like a glove.

Osimhen would do much better than Haller in the West Ham Haller left than in this Ajax team. This Ajax team is like 9 Osimhens, keeper and target man. They create so many chances, they just need a cold finisher to finish them off. Onuachu would do far better than Osimhen at this Ajax team because they are so similar to Genk with their style of play. Ito is like David Neres, Paintsil like Antony, Thorstvedt like Berghuis etc.

Osimhen does better in teams that allow him get involved in the game, rather than just waiting one place to finish off chances. After all, his strongest attribute is his pace, and target men don't require pace as much.

elyte89:
But our osimhen is far better Dan him

Debatable. At the moment, he is better. I have been following Haller since his days at Frankfurt with Rebic and Jovic. Guy is good. Extremely technical, deadly finisher, strong, decent pace, good in the air, excellent passing. He is like an Awoniyi but with upgrades here and there. However, in terms of potential, he is nowhere near Osimhen. Osimhen is the kind of player that can change a game all by himself. Having him on your team is like having two players - the traditional target man/goal merchant + a dynamic AM/winger running around causing trouble. Once he can perfect his finishing (his finishing still has a long way to go to be on even Haller's level) and work on his short passing (long passes/crosses are okay already), Osimhen will be on the level of Haaland and Mbappe.

fabyom:
I don't understand why he is underperforming for Ivory Coast!

He is not. 3 goals in 6 caps is not underperforming by any means.

Subzero047:
Every player reporting for National team call up faces the same thing with his club its not like Dennis' case is special, I don't see how CAF is at fault the Afcon was scheduled for a favorable weather or should we schedule our Afcon during the rainy season to please the European clubs?

It is not about pleasing anybody. It is about not putting your players at a disadvantage.

DO you know how many coaches refuse to sign African players because of AFCON? How many African players that have lost deals to better clubs that would have increased their careers but for AFCON? Weather is not an excuse, South America has similar weather but they make it work because they want the best for their players careers.

Utonwanne:
Must you drag-in Igbos to make your point?

I am Igbo myself. I made a point about a general trend I noticed few days back and received a lot of backlash from members of the thread. I am just reiterating what I said earlier.

Subzero047:
Oh he is now accepting invitations based on the fact that he starts, which Super Eagles player didn't start his career on the bench, Osimhen, Ejuke, Chukwueze? Well it has been cleared up that it is false because that is a flimsy excuse

Under normal circumstances, yes, it is a flimsy excuse.

However, remember that if he goes to this tournament, his club (which pays his salary) will lose his services. During that time, the club could purchase a player to replace him and he could lose his place in the squad entirely. His club could also lose all their games and be set for relegation due to his absence. At the end, it would be to what purpose? To sit on the bench for a coach that doesn't rate him.

Las las, it's all CAFs fault. They should not be holding AFCON at this kind of time. For me, any player that is not assured of theirs and their clubs safety shouldn't honor AFCON invitation because it will affect their long term stability and development as a player.

Subzero047:
If he really rejected the SE then he is brain dead

If I was in his shoes I would do the same.

Why will I go for a tournament I will mostly sit on the bench for washed players when I am the best player in my club helping my club survive relegation?

3 matches in a week and Nacho can't start any. When you say he is not driven enough and compare him to Ndidi and Onyeka people start arguing with you and saying you are pitting Igbo brothers against themselves.

I think that early City move he got made him so lazy. He seems to feel like he has tasted the summit already, so there is nothing greater for him to achieve.

andrewbaba44:
Napoli don Dey drop small small points since baba with their full lineup

With their full the best they can get against Atlanta is a draw

The 2 millan club and Atlanta are better ,Napoli needs to improve

If Koulibaly started and Osimhen and Insigne were even on the bench, Napoli would have won this match. They could have equalized so many times today but Petagna is not a player for this level.

Walahi I want Ighalo to carry us to AFCON. Dennis, Awoniyi and the rest should stay and make name with their clubs. After Rohr, Ighalo, Musa and co. drop another disasterclass at AFCON, our eyes will open clearly and we will be able to rectify our squad to prepare for the World cup.

andrewbaba44:
Las las Na 4th Napoli go carry for seria A

But if mourinho team improve Na wahala for them

The 2 millan clubs and Atlanta are better than them

They are not better.

Napoli had half of their starting lineup out for today's game. For Inter game, Osimhen got injured. They have been having injury problems recently.

drDoom3:
Ekong is so not on the level of the Premier league that it's painful to watch.

Guy is afraid of making any inividual mistakes like he did against Leicester, so he's trying to be anonymous as a CB. Not putting in tackles so that he won't concede penalties, not marking strongly so that he won't be dribbled past. Even with that, he still keeps on making the mistakes he is trying to avoid. His botched clearance almost gifted Foden a free goal, he was caught flat-footed for City's second goal.

Ekong is so not on the level of the Premier league that it's painful to watch.

forgiveness:
I think the bolded is just your perception because the last time I saw him played, he didn’t show any sign of lack of concentration.

You said it yourself, the last time you saw him play. I watch Torino every matchweek and my analysis is from what I have seen.

I think Aina's problem is really more of inconsistency than concentration. On some days he shows spark and liveliness, on others you struggle to find him on the pitch.

forgiveness:
Statistics shows Paul has stamina but no acceleration.

I think you are just insinuating without any verifiable facts.

It seems we have differing definitions of stamina.

I define stamina as gassing out. I don't know what you define it as.

Paul Onuachu gasses out quickly. In most games, by the start of the second half, he is already gassed.

In contrast, he is actually a pretty quick player. His long legs enable him cover greater distances in a shorter time.

forgiveness:
Can you please explain when he didn’t deliver at the biggest stage?

Awoniyi has 66 stamina rate. Is 66 poor?

Is it that he doesn’t have the attributes to press or he is playing to the coach’s instruction?

If Haaland can singlehanded spearhead an attack why is he not replicating it for his National team?

Awoniyi has scored from teams that plays high line.

The fact Awoniyi has won 3 motms proof, he is not all about scoring goals.

I wonder how and where you got your 66 stamina from. Anyways, that is not the point here. It is not that he does not have the attributes to press, it is that he does not have the stamina to hold that press long enough.

Also, my point was in no way connected to Awoniyi scoring from a high line. My point was how a player's talent/ability can make an entire team change formations to counter it. This ability can be shooting from outside 18, pace, strength, agility, threading the needle, etc. I foolow the Bundesliga closely both on and off the pitch (press conferences, etc). I can assure you, no club Union Berlin has played against have had to change theirstyle of play entirely just to contain Awoniyi. Thank you for missing my point, like you always do.

Also, Haaland replicates his form for his National team. 12 goals in 15 caps is no mean feat. Norway's recent poor form was mainly due to the injury he sustained weeks prior. Please, do your research before going into an argument.

Kog45:
Sir did you read my post very well...I said Victor Osimehn pressing is out of this world,did I compared the two?NO....Osimehn alone this season committed 21 fouls,meaning his pressing is a top notch and I don't think we have any striker presently that have such numbers,even Haaland had 4 while Awoniyi had 11 but that doesn't mean Awoniyi is poor pressing.

Sir you haven't answer my question....I want to know more about pressing and having stamina cos some one with 9 goals and 15 goals total numbers this season lack pressing and stamina.

Onuachu has 12 goals this season. Does it mean he has excellent pressing and stamina?

Scoring goals is more about positioning and finishing than it is about pressing and stamina. However, players who press and have stamina are more influential in games because they are the ones running after the ball and defending from the front the entire game. These are the players who keep the opposing team in check and who can be relied on for the full 90 minutes to give their all.

Kog45:
Oga Awoniyi is playing for Union Berlin while Haaland and Osimehn are playing for Dortmund and Napoli respectively,hope you see that gap,having 9 bundesliga goals with ordinary Union Berlin should tell you something......

Pls are you saying Awoniyi is not influential in Union Berlin or what?pls,how many of his games did you watched this season.....pls tell me what is pressing in a game and funny enough you said Awoniyi lack stamina?pls do you really know Awoniyi football abilities cos pressing is one of his strongest points but below that of Osimehn cos Victor Osimehn pressing is out of this world.....Awoniyi lack stamina? sorry sir,do you really watch Awoniyi games in Union Berlin?

Pls go and re watch CAR match and tell me more about Awoniyi pressing and stamina or I do not understand the meaning of pressing and having stamina,pls tell me more cos i want to learn more.

Another big question,Awoniyi has not delivered in a big stage? are you now saying Leipzig is a small club in bundesliga cos of recent it's Bayern Munich,Dortmund and Leipzig.

I watch all Awoniyi games. You cannot compare his pressing to Osimhen's. They are not in the same league.

Awoniyi has poor stamina, take it to the bank. That is in fact the reason why his pressing is poor. He starts well, but gasses out quickly and can't press with the same intensity he started with. Awoniyi has never been that kind of player though, right from U17.

When I meant big stage, I meant consistently at a top level. Keeping his form until the end of the season would be a good start.

TheLoneCitizen:
Just like Angelino at Leipzig, a good coach will turn Ola Aina into a forward. Too much skill set to be a defender.

Angelino is not a winger, please. He is a wingback/fullback. The fact that he is so involved in Leipzig's attack doesn't mean he is a forward. That is just like saying TAA, Robertson, Reece James, Davies etc are wingers because of how attacking minded they are.

Aina has the raw materials to become a fullback/wingback like these guys. Stamina, pace, decent crossing, strength etc. The difference though is decision making and passing. These guys know when to join the attack, when to pass, when to fall back, etc. Aina struggles a lot with concentration and making the right decisions. This is something a good coach can easily train out of him.

BascoVanVeli:
Now who wants to tell me Taiwo Awoniyi wouldn't have made it at Liverpool

He wouldn't.

Despite his recent scoring run, he has still not shown enough that he can deliver at the biggest stage. He looks Onuachu-esque. Poor pressing, poor stamina, but with excellent finishing propping up his stats. It's not all about scoring goals, what else do you have to offer in a game.

Osimhen, Haaland and co. are rated so highly because of how influential they are in games. They can singlehandedly spearhead an attack, and their abilities make them so threatening every minute they are on the pitch. Opposing teams have to put multiple players to mark them or change entire formations just to keep them in check. For example, Serie A teams don't play high line against Napoli when Victor starts. Is Awoniyi that influential in games?

TheLoneCitizen:
Just like Angelino at Leipzig, a good coach will turn Ola Aina into a forward. Too much skill set to be a defender.

I have been saying this for a long time. Aina is like a Reece James but with poor technical abilities. A good coach will train him into a weapon.

PurpleHouse:
And what happens when they cut our wings like Algeria did in last AFCON??

Then the coach is to blame for being tactically overpowered.

Since we have no AMs, let’s stop using AMs and play Liverpool style. 3 CMs, attack from wings. Aribo, Onyeka, Ndidi midfield trio.

andrewbaba44:
Ekong Dey fuckup wella

But his decision making was never poor today sha

That's because he didn't make a mistake of the magnitude he did the last time.

Decision making is in the small things. When to put the leg in for a tackle. Who to mark and where to be positioned in a counter. Who to pass to and when to start an attack.

Sometimes, these mistakes are fatal as in the last game. However, if your teammates are good enough to cover for you or if your opposition is not good enough, those mistakes won't show as often. It does not mean that you are not making these poor decisions though.

zuchyblink:
Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt have a good number of their players playing there. They will beat your EPL rookies silly any day any time

Because they have good coaches, which we do not have unfortunately.

isan:
Eking was decent today i don't know which match you watch

His decision making is too poor for an EPL defender. Sure, he puts in tackles, is strong, and goes for aerial duels, but you need positioning and football sense to man the defense of an EPL team because of how tricky and creative EPL attackers are. Unfortunately, Ekong is seriously lacking in those departments.

isan:
Dennis , sarr and pedro can keep Watford up

You need a defence to survive EPL. Watford scores 2 every game and concedes 3. They've scored more goals than all the teams around them but haven't kept a single clean sheet.

Blueelf:
Why do I feel like this guy is overrated somehow?

Aribo is the player with the highest potential in our squad. Osimhen was, but he is already showing his worth at the top level so you can't really call it potential again.

Aribo is so talented for someone who has played in backwater leagues all his life. Many players with less than half his talent have seen numeous opportunities to shine at the big stage, but the guy just seems to pass through the cracks. He has the touch only few players have.

TheGoodJoe:

Not watched him closely but I doubt he is close. Fred is a monster.

Almost every Leeds and Brentford player has Fred's work rate, so nothing special really in that sense.

Blueelf:
If we had alternatives, Ekong is not even good enough fr SE bench

Sometimes I wonder what Ekong brings to the tram specially?

Ekong should be playing the role Omeruo currently plays while Omeruo should be kicked out entirely. We have too many incompetent players getting call ups, and most of them are in defense because it is easy to hide there as a squad player. Collins, Omeruo and Shehu really have no business with the team. At LB use Sanusi and Bassey, CB Awaziem, Akpoguma, Balogun and Ekong as backup, RB Aina and Ebuehi. Max 8 defenders total.