₦airaland Forum

Icon4s:
You see your life outside?

na only dat one na.

Icon4s:
Go back, fara ba le and read what u bolded again.

Infact read the whole paragraph again. And go back to ur google to check

I watched Nigeria 99 live at the National stadium in Lagos. I saw Xavi and some players live.

I watched all the matches of 2000 Ghana/Nigeria AFCON live at National stadium Lagos. I only missed the finals because of shitta touts who almost robbed me in front of Nigeria police after the semi finals.

But I can't remember one thing except for the attempted robbery incident.

So, does that makes me a novice?

Bros, you watch those matches live?

Icon4s:
Go back, fara ba le and read what u bolded again.

Infact read the whole paragraph again. And go back to ur google to check

Chai! My mistake.

my mistake.

Icon4s:
1. Noted Nwosu i think was second to Bouderbala of Morocco.

2. Henry Nwosu played mostly as the number 10/AM. Number 10 those days were CMF. Nwosu reigned from 1980 AFCON(though a sub) to 1989 as our "Maradona" This is jst like the way Mikel of today play DMF, CMF & AMF

3. Yes Oliha deputised for Kparko at Algiers 90 but Oliha took over and reigned up till the 1994 WC when Okocha had come of age. Kparko was a one off player.Oliha played 3 AFCON as the CMF.

4. Pls quote the paragraph where I mentioned that Okocha played 1990 AFCON


Those things i wrote from my memory not from google or youtube videos. So if you think there is any information I miss-represented and u are sure, then feel free to call it up. No one is an island of knowledge or infornation.

Icon4s:
As far as the current crop of players are concerned, we have no replacement for Mikel. We only have players we can jst manage to cope with and pray our opponents dnt capitilise on the weekness.

Top on my "interim" replacement for Mikel if injured is Oghenekaro Etebo. He showed he could cope with the demands from a CMF in the Egypt double header.He also played that role occassionally at the 2015 CAF U23 tourney.

Another player we can consider is Raheem Lawal.

Our permament replacement for John Obi Mikel is still in the bakery of Arsene Wenger , though currently on loan to a Dutch second division side: KELECHI (CARZOLA) NWAKALI


JUST A LITTLE FROM MY HISTORY BOOK OF NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

I have been following different generations of our CMF starting from the 1980s:From Henry Nwosu to Thompson Oliha to Austine Okocha to Obi Mikel.

Quality CMF emerge once in a decade.

Henry Nwosu was the master that emerged in the 1980s. Young Nwosu started playing that role enrout qualification for 1982 WC. He was just 18years old! He scored Nigeria's only goal in the semifinal of that qualification against Guinea. 1-0 aggregate win. I dnt watch that game but i saw the clips some time in the late 80s. Nwosu was the CMF marshal from then on. 20yrs old Etim Esim emerged during qualifiers for the 1986 AFCON. We didnt qualify. He kept Nwosu on his toes. Etim again was in the squad for qualifiers for 1988 AFCON. By then he was playing with Gent of Belgium while Nwosu was at ACB of Lagos. Etim could have easily walked into that CMF role.However, he had a rape case and ran away from Europe to his village in the then Cross Rivers state . Nwosu went ahead to win the Golden Ball award at Maroc '88.

Westerhof came in with a 21yrs old Thompson Oliha at Algiers '90 AFCON. Oliha marshalled the position even up to 1994 AFCON and WC. Okocha was a sub to Oliha in both tourneys. 20yrs old Okocha debuted against Algeria enroute qualification for 1994 WC. He scored from a free -kick.

Okocha's final break through came after his performance in that Second round game against Italy. Where he was sending the Italian players to "go buy akara at Dugbe market" . Ekpo never came back to the team.

Okocha's legendary held sway even up to the mid 2000s. At a point we never believed Okocha would retire one day. We suddenly woke up to realise that we needed a replacement for him. Christian Obodo, aka bundle of skills, a product of the 2001 Flying Eagles, was performing magic with his skills at Peruggia of Italy.
A 21 yrs old Obodo was invited but.. Okocha had widened the shoe.

We managed with Okocha until John Obi Mikel, a product of 2003 Eaglets & 2005 Flying Eagles emerged. 19yrs old Mikel's Debute game was a gainst Zimbabwe at the 2006 AFCON. He scored few minutes after being introduced. That was the begining of the end of Okocha's reign.

Mikel we still have today, but at 29 there is need to once again introduce a youngster to carry us further. Introducing Kelechi (Carzola) Nwakali, an 18yrs old product of the all conquering 2015 Eaglets. He currently stands out, in terms of talent and skills, among his generation. We expect Rohr to gradually introduce him into the team. I dnt see Mikel post 2018 WC. Hope Kelechi Nwakali would have matured enough to step into that shoe.

Note the age at which Nwosu, Okocha and Mikel were introduced into the team. Our greatest CMF were those introduced at a very young age and allowed to grow in the team. Food for thought for our coaches.

Humm! @bolded is the answer to question 4.

Icon4s:
1.Henry Nwosu was a CMF/AMF. I am sure u know players were nt as dynamic as they are today. Eg LB and RB hardly overlaped. And pls who controlled the midfield if not Nwosu.

2. Friday Ekpo was at Senegal '92 but a sub to Oliha. Thompson Oliha was the main CMF before Okocha took over. He even benched Okocha at the 1994 AFCON and '94 WC. Did i see you mention Okocha for 1992? Was Adepoju a CMF?

3. There are so many information u cant find on the net. Several. It is only when u withness those events that u can have such info.

Of course, some players where dynamic then.

Muda Lawal was a DMF, CMF and AMF. I think you know that.

Icon4s:
1.Henry Nwosu was a CMF/AMF. I am sure u know players were nt as dynamic as they are today. Eg LB and RB hardly overlaped. And pls who controlled the midfield if not Nwosu.

2. Friday Ekpo was at Senegal '92 but a sub to Oliha. Thompson Oliha was the main CMF before Okocha took over. He even benched Okocha at the 1994 AFCON and '94 WC. Did i see you mention Okocha for 1992? Was Adepoju a CMF?

3. There are so many information u cant find on the net. Several. It is only when u withness those events that u can have such info.

What was the formation the Green Eagles used in the 80s and 90s?

That is how we will know.

Only me!

I will be back.

Icon4s:
1. Noted Nwosu i think was second to Bouderbala of Morocco.

2. Henry Nwosu played mostly as the number 10/AM. Number 10 those days were CMF. Nwosu reigned from 1980 AFCON(though a sub) to 1989 as our "Maradona" This is jst like the way Mikel of today play DMF, CMF & AMF

3. Yes Oliha deputised for Kparko at Algiers 90 but Oliha took over and reigned up till the 1994 WC when Okocha had come of age. Kparko was a one off player.Oliha played 3 AFCON as the CMF.

4. Pls quote the paragraph where I mentioned that Okocha played 1990 AFCON


Those things i wrote from my memory not from google or youtube videos. So if you think there is any information I miss-represented and u are sure, then feel free to call it up. No one is an island of knowledge or infornation.

1, Henry Nwosu was not dynamic like Mikel Obi. He was was a attacking midfielder from the rw. He was not the one that controlled the midfield.

2, In 1992, there was Friday Ekpo(the number 10) and Mutui Adepoju of Real Madrid. In 1994, he was not the main man. There was Mutui Adepoju and Austin Okocha.

3, I am not good at storing football informations on my head hence the need to source for legitimate informations though I have ideas of what I am talking about.

Seriously, I will never agree that Mikel Obi never had playing time in Chelsea.

How do I know? I am a Chelsea fan because of Babayaro and now Mikel.

Prior to the 2013 Nations cup, Mikel dey play wella for em club.

Prior to the Olympics he dey play wella.

Although, he was not playing at the beginning of the season then but as soon as Mourinho left, he was regular.


In fact, I stopped watching Chelsea matches as soon as I noticed Mourinho's intention last season. That is how fanatic I am towards Mikel.

So, I do not agree that Mikel was an ordinary bench warmer or practicing material at Chelsea. Mbanu!

However, he has been sidelined from the main team this season and that is not good for him and the National team.


He needs playing time. Maybe if one player get injury dem go remember am.

Icon4s:
As far as the current crop of players are concerned, we have no replacement for Mikel. We only have players we can jst manage to cope with and pray our opponents dnt capitilise on the weekness.

Top on my "interim" replacement for Mikel if injured is Oghenekaro Etebo. He showed he could cope with the demands from a CMF in the Egypt double header.He also played that role occassionally at the 2015 CAF U23 tourney.

Another player we can consider is Raheem Lawal.

Our permament replacement for John Obi Mikel is still in the bakery of Arsene Wenger , though currently on loan to a Dutch second division side: KELECHI (CARZOLA) NWAKALI


JUST A LITTLE FROM MY HISTORY BOOK OF NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

I have been following different generations of our CMF starting from the 1980s:From Henry Nwosu to Thompson Oliha to Austine Okocha to Obi Mikel.

Quality CMF emerge once in a decade.

Henry Nwosu was the master that emerged in the 1980s. Young Nwosu started playing that role enrout qualification for 1982 WC. He was just 18years old! He scored Nigeria's only goal in the semifinal of that qualification against Guinea. 1-0 aggregate win. I dnt watch that game but i saw the clips some time in the late 80s. Nwosu was the CMF marshal from then on. 20yrs old Etim Esim emerged during qualifiers for the 1986 AFCON. We didnt qualify. He kept Nwosu on his toes. Etim again was in the squad for qualifiers for 1988 AFCON. By then he was playing with Gent of Belgium while Nwosu was at ACB of Lagos. Etim could have easily walked into that CMF role.However, he had a rape case and ran away from Europe to his village in the then Cross Rivers state . Nwosu went ahead to win the Golden Ball award at Maroc '88.

Westerhof came in with a 21yrs old Thompson Oliha at Algiers '90 AFCON. Oliha marshalled the position even up to 1994 AFCON and WC. Okocha was a sub to Oliha in both tourneys. 20yrs old Okocha debuted against Algeria enroute qualification for 1994 WC. He scored from a free -kick.

Okocha's final break through came after his performance in that Second round game against Italy. Where he was sending the Italian players to "go buy akara at Dugbe market" . Ekpo never came back to the team.

Okocha's legendary held sway even up to the mid 2000s. At a point we never believed Okocha would retire one day. We suddenly woke up to realise that we needed a replacement for him. Christian Obodo, aka bundle of skills, a product of the 2001 Flying Eagles, was performing magic with his skills at Peruggia of Italy.
A 21 yrs old Obodo was invited but.. Okocha had widened the shoe.

We managed with Okocha until John Obi Mikel, a product of 2003 Eaglets & 2005 Flying Eagles emerged. 19yrs old Mikel's Debute game was a gainst Zimbabwe at the 2006 AFCON. He scored few minutes after being introduced. That was the begining of the end of Okocha's reign.

Mikel we still have today, but at 29 there is need to once again introduce a youngster to carry us further. Introducing Kelechi (Carzola) Nwakali, an 18yrs old product of the all conquering 2015 Eaglets. He currently stands out, in terms of talent and skills, among his generation. We expect Rohr to gradually introduce him into the team. I dnt see Mikel post 2018 WC. Hope Kelechi Nwakali would have matured enough to step into that shoe.

Note the age at which Nwosu, Okocha and Mikel were introduced into the team. Our greatest CMF were those introduced at a very young age and allowed to grow in the team. Food for thought for our coaches.

I wan make small corrections. Please, pardon me.

No 1, Henry Nwosu never won golden ball award at Morocco 88 AFCON

No 2 Henry Nwosu was not the main CMF in the 80s. In short he was alternating btw midfield and right midfield or rw.

No 3, If Thompson Oliha was the one at the 90 AFCON then where do we place Moses Kparko?

No 4, Austin Okocha was not part of 90 AFCON. so, how was he a deputy in a competition he never went?

He plenty but make I stop for here.

princesuko:
Dominic Solanke Stats
National team‡ Apps Goals
2012–2013 England U16 6 (1)
2013–2014 England U17 14 (11)
2014–2015 England U18 7 (3)
2015–2016 England U19 10 (3)
2016 England U20 2 (1)
2015– England U21 3 (0)

Club Team
2013-2014 Chelsea u18 25 (20)
2014-2015 Chelsea u21 45 (41)
2015-2016 Vitesse 25 (7)

Kelechi Iheancaho
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015– Manchester City 30 (10)

National team‡
2013 Nigeria U17 7 (
2015– Nigeria U20 2 (0)
2015– Nigeria 6 (4)

Alex Iwobi
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015– Arsenal 19 (2)

National team‡
2011–2012 England U16 7 (1)
2013 England U17 3 (0)
2013 England U18 1 (0)
2015– Nigeria 7 (1)


Etebo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Warri Wolves 64 (23)
2016– Feirense 4 (3)

National team‡
2015 Nigeria U-23 17 (11)
2013– Nigeria 7 (5)

Isaac Success

Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 BJ Foundation
2014–2015 Granada B 20 (9)
2014–2016 Granada 49 (7)
2016– Watford 2 (1)

National team‡
2013 Nigeria U17 7 (7)
2015– Nigeria U20 4 (2)

Why did you bring out these statistics na? E no goodu oooo!

chai!

Mickael2:
oga forgiveness, you never notice Obasi since? not a bad bench piece if you ask me

I have been hearing of him lately but I don't want to rush.

tbaba1234:
As at today, i will argue yes... a decade ago, Roda Jc was bigger.

Why?

Napoleon55:
I have already said this before to Goodjoe,that statement was me being sarcastic to ur comments that when Aluko or so was inform of his life,he is better than all our present midfielders. Instead of answering u direct,I had to implore the figure of speech "sarcasm" to create more arguments,cos that's what u usually does.
But now the truth is,never a time the form of Aluka was better than the form of Iwobi,Iheanacho or Miichel now. Simple

If you like no believe am, na you sabi.

Icon4s:
Wey dat my plier make i pluck-off one of those ur teeth.

Na this kin small argument u dey take shine abi?

Dat plier no fit reach where I dey.

Moreover, you know I have always won any big argument here na, bros.

Icon4s:
Napoleon55, u should know forgiveness never turns a blind eye on any comment discrediting his favorite player.

Can this argument end already and lets discuss something else?

Hehehehe!

Oasis007:


Roda FC is far bigger than Watford my Bruh! LOL! This is a Club that has featured in UEFA Cup on several Occasions - in fact the Club won the 1999 - 2000 Edition. Also the Club is a Domestic Cup Winner!

Watford FC has never featured in any UEFA Competitions, also has never won even ordinary Spoon in an elite Competition.

Bros, I no think say Roda don win UEFA cup before oooo.

Napoleon55:
can they splash £16m on a 20yrs old boy,anyways,if I want to argue ur type of arguments,let's go back to what I said initially,
I said our midfielders plays in bigger n better clubs than Ajagun,I only made mention of watford because of success,when I said even Watford,u could c watford was not part of my initial arguments,so let's leave out Watford out of this.
Let's concentrate on Roda vs Chelsea/Man city/Arsenal.
Show ur own facts why Chelsea is not bigger than Roda

Commoooon! You ought to have remembered what you said earlier naaaaaaa!

Oya, let me help you. as you can see.

Napoleon55:
bt he is not playing at Arsenal,Man city and Chelsea,or even at Watford,that's the clubs we chose our midfielders and strikers, until he does,he won't near our senior national team.

That is the koko of the discussion.

Now, tell us where Igbiebor, Esiti, Ndidi etc play? Because these are also midfielders. Right!?

tbaba1234:
Would you say Nothingham forest is bigger than Watford? They are former European champions.

Is Watford bigger than Roda fc?

Napoleon55:
that's right but u can't be as good as Aguero or Sanches n b playing in Scandinavian and expect ur national team coaches to invite u ahead of players playing in EPL or La Liga,or is Obinna Nwobodo not a good player?

Is the Dutch league Scandinavian?

Napoleon55:
like I said u creates argument from nothing,is it Watford now?

Watford! Hahaha!

Napoleon55:
compare Watford to a club where Ajagun plays,which is bigger. Moreover I did not say Watford is a big club but in relative to Ajagun's club,[b]Watford is big to them.
Obviously,u should know why I included Watford is because we have players there,or did I not know that Man u and Liverpool r all big clubs yet I did not include them

Here we go again!

@bolded claims need concrete evidence to back it up.

Watford! tell how it is big to them?

Oasis007:


Seriously I laughed when I read comment. I do not know when Watford becomes a big Club in England. He included Watford in the list because of Isaac Success and perhaps Odion Ighalo!

bros! If you ask me, na who me I go ask? Watford of all clubs.

He should have told us where Ekong, Carl Ikeme, Esiti, Igbiebor, Musa Muhammad etc play? abi na Barcelona?

Napoleon55:
I was only referring to Forgiveness alone sarcastically just to keep his brain busy because he creates arguments out of nothing the way Ozil creates chances out of nothing. Why would he say that Ajagun is better than all our Midfielders that includes Mikel(Chelsea),Iwobi(Arsena) ,Iheanacho(Man city

I don't argue for nothing. I do it just to educate the misled ones.


I repeat 'when Aluko was in the form of his life, he was far better than some of these players.'

Okocha played in Bolton. Are they better than him?

Napoleon55:
bt he is not playing at Arsenal,Man city and Chelsea,or even at Watford,that's the clubs we chose our midfielders and strikers, until he does,he won't near our senior national team.

Chelsea, Manchester city, Arsenal... I know, what is Watford?

IyanuFanoro:
only watched him at Liverpool but currently is he better Dan ighalo/ideye

He is not a striker. He is a winger.

Napoleon55:
Thank God u r not the coach,have u heard the word "forgiveness” before,not this our Forgiveness here

Hehehehe!

TheSuperNerd:
I haven't forgotten a thing Bro.... My own is simple.... Victor moses can't play left-full back!!! Coz that was his suggestion since Moses can play on the left.

He also mentioned conte's use of moses as the solution to our left back problem since moses can play defensively also as seen for chelsea. BUT HE DIDN'T REALISE CONTE IS USING MOSES AS A RIGHT WING BACK NOT LEFT WING BACK.

Even at Wigan... Na right him dey sef predominantly. I lie?

Yes, you are right. He can't play as left back but he plays as left winger. I pointed out that to correct you for saying he doesn't play there.

At Wigan, he plays on both sides.

Napoleon55:
I don't think Aluko,and Joel Obi as well belongs in the emerging golding era we r anticipating,or who r u going to drop in order to accommodate him in the midfield? Is it Mikel,Iwobi or Iheanacho,he is good player in his own right but the ones we r using presently is far better than Aluko.

And we still have other young midfielders coming up,players like Mathew and Yahaya. I even prefer forgiveness' Ajagun to Aluko,but it does not mean that he will near this current set up as it stands.

We r gradually building a team we can easily name 9 or 10 players out of our first 11,it makes the job easier for our coaches as they will know the players they will concentrate n work on.

How do you know without given Ajagun the chance to prove himself?

When Aluko was in the form of his life I don't think you can compare him with some of those players.

He can dribble than most of them, he can score with free kicks, he can tear a defense with split passes, he can score.... the boy is good but he is playing in a lower division. That is all

goldfish80:
In a nutshell, am saying Solanke is too one dimensional.
In the modern game, strikers are meant to have the technical capacity to help in the build up play or attack from the wings and cut inside.

Chuks Aneke seems to have fallen off a cliff so something. Haven't heard about him for almost 2years. I had high expectations of Chucks.

@bolded is all what Solanke does best.



Dominic Ayodele "Dom" Solanke-Mitchell (born 14 September 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays for Chelsea. Although Solanke prefers playing as a striker, he can also play as a winger on either side and as an attacking midfielder. He has represented England up to under-21 level.

As you can see from Wikipedia and from the games I saw him played.


Chuks Aneke played in Belgium for two seasons. He played regularly in his first season and beginning of the second second before something happened to him.

He has gone back to England 1st division.

tbaba1234:
Awoniyi has been relegated to the bench after a barren spell.

The[b] great Ajagun is starting[/b]

So is Isaac Success

I no tell you.