₦airaland Forum

TheGoodJoe:

Mikel covers a lot of distance but he is not a pressing player.

The Chelsea Mikel or the Super Eagles mikel?
The Chelsea Mikel is as stagnant as they come, he won't go past 4km in a game. The Super Eagles version runs and covers alot of distance and certainly presses very hard when paired with Joel Obi/sani Kaita and lately Onazi.

TheGoodJoe:


How can pressing be cover more distance? Na wa. It is not the same thing. Pressing happens when the opponents have the ball. Most times in the defensive zone. The attacking players press them and make it uncomfortable to hold the ball.

Distance covered happens when the team is in possession and not in possession. Tracking back, pressing, opening for passes, making runs etc. You can see they are different.

Pressing is directly proportional to distance covered. Hard pressing teams like Barca, Dortmond, Liverpool etc cover incredible amount of kilometres.

If you say a player was phenomenal in pressing, it could be interpreted he covered between 10-12km in the game. Statistically.

TheGoodJoe:


Iheanacho pressed better than Etebo and Moses. If you argue that, you will expose how out of touch you are in the debate. Iheanacho repeatedly called on them to keep up and they could not.

Sanchez was not as good as he is at pressing today than before. Even at River Plate, he played some games on the wings. At Udinesse, Di Natalie lead the line. Which kind 07?is it not Nigeria that Chile parked bus until late in the game. Na wa.

Really? In the Algeria game Iheanacho pressed more than any other player? By this statement, it could be interpreted that Iheanacho covered more KM than any other super Eagles player.
He covered more kilometres than Mikel, Moses, Etebo, Onazi?

You're lucky opta doesn't cover Nigerian games, I would have shown you up on this argument.

TheGoodJoe:


If I remember well, is it not Argentina that removed Chile with Aguero and Morales. Men Chile 07 were back foot in that game.

The pressing I know is from Bielsa. I did not attribute Sanchez pressing to Guardiola. That came after with more education. Then later Sampaoli. What I am saying, Sanchez has a lifetime of education and training to press better than Iheanacho.

The game we played against Chile in 07, I still remember the details well.
Our coach Ladan Bosu goofed big time in that game. He watched the Chileans who were quicker and sharper inject very quick players in the second half and sustained the pressure. What did Ladan Bosu do? He left a weary team on their own, till the 80+minute to make his first change.
Immediately the game went into extra time, our players couldn't live with the Chileans.
Players like Monday James was so tired that he could barely stand in his feet. We ended up conceeding 4 in the extra time alone.

Even at the 2000 Olympics, the Chileans with Zamarano and Salas pressed us out of the pitch in the 4:1 whipping.

TheGoodJoe:

When people like you write this, I scratch my head. Please, did Ronaldo De Lima start out on the wings? What of Nicolas Anelka. Na wa.

So, when Iheanacho presses more than all the Super Eagles players and maybe more than all the City players, that is not phenomenal. See who you are calling. Sanchez who played, if I am correct, under Bielsa, a high pressing coach. Plays for Sampaoli, another pressing coach. Someone who played under Guardiola at Barcelona.

Argument.

Your obsession about Lord Pep is getting out hand. You have mastered a trick where you attribute everything good in football to Lord Pep. At U20 in 07, Sanchez almost pressed us out of the pitch in Canada.
Against Algeria, Iheanacho pressed the Fenecs more than Etebo, Moses? What are you smoking bra?

Mickael2:
In a counter attacking team, Nacho would still perform better than Rashford. all of Nacho's goals this season have come from quick counter attacks, In fact that's his strong point

Also Rashford scores alot from quick break aways. Against Arsenal, Van Gal set his team to play on the counter and Rashford scored a hatrick.
I will prefer Rashford because of his speed/acceleration and his ability to get behind defences.

krattoss:
ok... now tell me... irrespective of what and what not the team lacks.. if u are giving iheanacho and rashford to pick one who will u pick.... sentiments apart..

To be honest, there is no straight forward answer to this question.
Depending on how I want my team to set up.
If I want my team to set up as a strong counter attacking unity, I would go for Rashford. If I want my team to play possession based game, I will play Kelechi as a second striker.

TheGoodJoe:

Kelechi Iheanacho plays as a hitman. It is easier to express yourself in any other role but nine. Even Aguero is having it difficult posting dribbles and passing rate.

The cagey games are too much. Iheaacho has a brillianr goal to game ratio if you want scoring. However, he brings in more to the team when you consider his role as a forward.

For instance, he is the only forward who keeps pressure on the defenders and gives room for the midfield players to cause problem for City.

Takes me back to the Algeria game. Iheanacho did not score and many tried running him down. It took the Algerian coach and Journalist to point it out before people calmed down.

Iheanacho's pressing is phenomenal. His work rate is outstanding. These are things Iwobi can not bring to the team. This is harder than staying in the midfield and stringing passes.

I think Ihenacho's pressing is exaggerated. Not when I watch Sanchez press and tackle defenders you mention kelechi and phenomenominal pressing, I scratch my head.

By the way, Kelechi is just 20. At his young age, if he does not have the energy to press then we have a problem.

Kelechi skipped a part of his development if you ask me. I believe he should have started out on the wings before gradually ending up as a striker if that's his destiny.

Young players often develop faster when they start out on the wings.
From Henry, C. Ronaldo, Messi, Van persie name them, they started out developing from the wings. The advantage is that players develop to be better athletes, runners and polish their dribbling skills when they start on the wings.

Mbappe, Dembele, Dybala. Neymar, Martial are examples of modern wide forwards who will later make a switch and transform into out of this world strikers. Iheanacho should have been mentioned in the same sentence as these guys if Man city took another route in his development.

krattoss:
truth be told there is no room for comparism in iheanacho and rashford....


although they play different positions but bringing out the two for a non sentimental soccer fan or coach to choose... rashford will beat nacho hands down...

skills, runs, pace, versatility... common name it..

Granted Rashford has all those attributes but Iheanacho has better shooting abilities inside and outside the box. I think he has more positional awareness that Rashford. However, I feel there is more Iheanacho can bring to his game than just shooting and finishing.

TheGoodJoe:
This have made people notice Iheanacho only when he scores. Because frankly he offers little in games where he doesn't bang one in.

Iheanacho offers a lot but looked down upon if he does not score.

Even when Iwobi wasn't scoring or assisting, he was being recognised and appreciated for other parts of his game. Against Crystal Palace, he posted 90% pass completion. Even if he didn't score he would be appreciated for his passing.
Same cannot be said about kelechi. What's there to praise him about if he doesn't score? It would be very hard to find.
His dribbling/take ons is not up to scratch. It appears his drubbing abilities have been coached out of him at City. That's why I criticised his level of productivity apart from scoring.

OU. Dembele and Mbappe doesn't score a truck load but my God, if you block their way, they will dribble you out of the pitch. Kelechi have lost that dribbling touch apparently.

I think I've finally figured out why people are judgmental about Iheanacho's game.
In my opinion, I think the coaches at Man city have concentrated so much on kelechi's shooting and finishing abilities, this have left the play making ability underdeveloped.
It's no coincidence that he has excellent goal to game ratio. He is basically trained as a goal machine.

This have made people notice Iheanacho only when he scores. Because frankly he offers little in games where he doesn't bang one in.

Maybe with the arrival of Jesus, city can concentrate and train him to become the goal scoring machine, whole Iheanacho is left to develop other parts of his game which is his play making abilities. The idea of Man city coaching play making out of kelechi I feel will leave us wondering "what would have been" when he's in the twilight if his career just like Mikel.

When I watch young players like Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele tearing it up their various clubs, one can't help but be jealous as a Nigerian.
While man utd and man city fans argue over kelechi and Rushford, Dembele and Mbappe are posting ridiculous performances. Especially Ousmane Dembele, is absolutely a joke, still only 19 but his level of productivity is crazy.

I feel Iheanacho should up his game and productivity level beyond just scoring. I want people to appreciate his game even when he doesn't score. I believe that could be the POV of Michael Owen.

Era of NFF depending on government for funds will be over soon, says Carena

A foreign investor based in the United Kingdom is set to inject a huge sum of $1.5 billion into Nigerian football. The plan, which is said to have the backing of the federal government, will take effect in the next 18 months. It is being packaged by Arabella 21st Century, in partnership with UK-based Aurora Sports and Entertainment.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos yesterday, Chief Executive Officer of Arabella 21st Century, Femi Carena said the move, if well managed by Nigerians, would not only put the nation’s football among the billion dollars investment group like others in the world, but also put an end to the era of sports administrators running cap in hand to the Presidency for funds to run the various national teams.
According to Carena, a one-time Special Adviser to former Secretary General of the NFF, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, an international conference to unveil the foreign investors will hold on March 8-9, 2017. “The conference will be addressed by the Nigerian Stock Exchange and top officials of the English Premier League. We also in talk with world football legend, Pele, and he has agreed to be part of the ceremony.”
Carena hinted that Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung has given the go-ahead for the investors to come into the nation’s football, adding that both the NFF and LMC have also been briefed.
“Both the NFF and LMC can’t guarantee the investors. The Sports Minister is the eye of the Federal Government, and he has done what is expected of him. We are bringing money for the NFF and LMC. The minister has already issued a release concerning this plan. We are also in torch with the league board, Shehu Dikko and Nduka Irabor. Understanding the politics of this country, I don’t need to see the NFF or the LMC because the project would die on arrival. It is purely the job of the sports minister and we are on the right track. We are not coming into Nigerian football to change the status of FIFA or CAF. If all Nigerians rally round this big project, our football will never remain the same. The international conference holding in March 2017 has officials of the NFF and LMC in its planning committee,” Carena stated.
Also speaking yesterday, a representative of the broadcast partner in the United Kingdom, Babatunde Ayinor and a directors in Arabella 21st Century, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, urged Nigerians to embrace the plan for the good of the nation’s football.
http://m.guardian.ng/sport/uk-based-aurora-sports-to-inject-1-5b-in-nigerian-football/

Looks like we are in for exciting times. The stars are alligning for the actualization of my 2022 world prophecy. I can't wait

Absolutely speechless

safarigirl:
Please, I want us to analyze this 48-team World Cup plans very well because it's starting to look like some grand plan to keep the big boys at the top.

So, this morning, I came across some news on it saying the plan is to have 16 groups of 3 teams.

So, it's one team makes it out of the group.

Now, let's imagine these teams are brought about by seeding. So the top seeded 16 teams will each make it into one of the 16 groups each.

So let's imagine the top16 qualified teams on the World Cup are:

Brazil
Chile
Belgium
Italy
England
Spain
Germany
Argentina
Uruguay
France
Netherlands
Japan
Colombia
Mexico
Portugal
Ivory Coast.....

Just imagine these 16 teams in each group, at least 10 of them are sure to qualify from their groups, so why should the other teams bother? why should analysts bother? Save for England, Ivory Coast,Portugal, Japan and maybe Mexico, which other teams will any lower seeded team say with confidence that they can beat to qualify?

Where is the fairness in such a plan?

I mean, they can flood the World Cup with quantity, but by extension, they'll be ridding it of quality

cc Icon4s, Joseph1013, tbaba1234, terzurum5, lakesidepapa, thegoodjoe, cfcman, mickael2, kog45, thesupernerd, goldfish80, forgiveness

A bigger and more lucrative World Cup would help fulfill Infantino's election promises to FIFA's 211 member federations. He campaigned on adding eight teams to make a 40-team tournament and more than doubling development grants to $5 million for members from each World Cup.
It's all about politics and commerce for FIFA and Infantino.

The modern day player already plays alot of games durring the course of the season for both club and country engagements. Adding extra games in the off season in the name of world cup will be akin to asking the players to take performance enhancing drugs. Of which I believe would be legalised for athletes in the near future.
That's where we are heading to folks.

terzurum5:
Enyeama missing in world’s best goalkeepers list

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/99/ac/vincent-enyeama-of-losc-lille_2s595a9kixac1hhkz34uqnnd4.jpg?t=-658892730&w=620&h=430[/img]
The Nigeria was not included among the crème of shot stoppers in the world for year 2016 by the IFFHS.


Vincent Enyeama has not been named among the top 13 goalkeepers in the world for 2016 by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.


The IFFHS world's best goalkeeper is a football award given annually since 1987 with votes cast by IFFHS's editorial staff as well as experts from different continents.


In April, the 33-year-old finished in sixth place among the top 10 goalkeepers in Europe for the 2015/16 season by the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory.


Germany’s and Bayern München’s Manuel Neuer won his fourth successive IFFHS crown as The World’s Best Goalkeeper for 2016 with a convincing victory in this year’s poll.


Neuer, on 156 points, was a comfortable 65 points ahead of runner-up Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) on 91, with Sporting Portugal and Portugal’s keeper Rui Patrizio collecting 50 to finish third.


RANKING 2016
1- Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern München) 156 points

2- Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus Torino FC) 91 points

3- Rui Patricio (Portugal/Sporting Portugal) 50 points

4- Claudio Bravo (Chile/FC Barcelona/Manchester City FC) 45 points

5- David De Gea (Spain/Manchester United FC) 37 points

6- Jan Oblak (Slovenia/Club Atletico de Madrid) 31 points

7- Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham Hotspur FC) 29 points

8- Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/Real Madrid CF) 18 points

9- Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Chelsea FC) 13 points

10-Denis Onyango (Uganda/Mamelodi Sundowns)
5 points

11-Petr Cech (Cech Republic/Arsenal London FC) 4 points

12-Samir Handanovic (Slovenia/FC Inter Milano) 2 points

13-Marc André Ter Stegen (Germany/FC Barcelona) 1 point

m.goal.com/x/en-ng/news/4110/nigerians-abroad/2016/12/27/30894782/enyeama-missing-in-worlds-best-goalkeepers-list

Nice to see Dennis Onyango in the list. Dude had a blast the year under review.
The best in the continent at the moment. Am so filled with joy seeing a home based African in the company of elite names like Buffon, Oblak etc. E no easy

daveP:
Goal Flop of the season...


Please who said Ajiboye is 25?


This is quite true

Ajiboye can't be 25. Before he played at the U17 2007 WC, he was already married with a kid.
His wife was a footballer who tried out with the then falconets under coach Felix Ibeukwu.
Dele got married in early 2004, you can take it to the bank.

Merry Christmas everyone

The guy will have serious phobia for heights.

komekn:
Firstly you assumed knowledge I didn't claim knowledge.

Consider my question if the two of them were put on the market who will have the bigger price tag

I actually agree that the Ox is not as consistent as I would like, I feel Wenger needs to find a way to deal with that. Pace in the premiership cannot be discounted it may not be everything but it's a great attribute.

I think even with his inconsistencies which could be attributed somewhat to his injury problems. Then look at him over the last three seasons and he doesn't look as inconsistent as you may initially think.

Oxlade is a decent player. He has the skills, technic and speed (inherited from his dad who used to be a Pro athlete).
Lack of consistency has been a clough in the wheels of his development. He has an embarrassing record of not scoring a goal outside of the Emirates for 5years.
Against AC Milan, he was at his best when played in a box to box role. Van Persie was seen screaming when Wenger erroneously pulled him out.

When compared with Iwobi, Ox will edge him out in shooting ability, aggression and speed but Iwobi clearly has an edge when technic/ vision is considered.
Consistency for me, they are 50/50.

komekn:
Playing in Europe can not be the pre-requisite for invitation to the Eagles.

The harsh reality is that some of these leagues are not up to the standard of our local league.

I agree. Some of these leagues aren't as competitive as our local league here.
I would argue it out with anyone who tells me that the league in Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the likes of Finland is better than what we have at home comparatively.

In Finland for instance, football is still at the part time amateur levels. Students are recruited by league teams as part timers/ semi Professionals.
Ice hockey still remains the number 1 sports there.

tbaba1234:
It does not. NFL actually has an under 13 and under 15 program. Players like Chidera Ezeh, Awoniyi, iheanacho are products.

But more can still be done.

Definitely more should be done. I consider the Nff U13 programme hollow to be honest.
The problem of logistics and framework makes me think the whole concept is shallow.
Forget about the end result which saw us unearthing Iheanacho, Awoniyi and co.
It may or may not shock you to know that these kids slept in open fields of primary schools and churches in the zonal U13 championships.
At a push, I will name the church and school they slept in the eastern zonal championship where Ihenacho passed through.

I've always been an advocate of the Nff establishing academies modelled after the French Clairefontain academy at least 1 of such academies in each geo political zone of the country in addition to a database of all footballers in the country from the amateur level up to the pro level.

tbaba1234:
You are correct but that is why players are tested to reduce the cheating.

Many players are dropped due to MRI screening.

MRI is just papering over the cracks. To tackle this problem head-on, the Nff need to establish a database for all players in the country from the amateur level up to the pro level.
Our football must not start from U17.

komekn:
No be today this ting start.

I may have been born in the UK but I went to high school in Warri. I knew guys who went from school to school becoming almost landlords of the school, playing football. I even left them there a few years later they were playing Youth football at National level.

Alot of the so called academy players are as old as NPFL players,in some cases older than most NPFL players. I know for sure that Chisom Egbuchulam and Obinna Nwobodo are playing with their accurate ages or something close to their ages.
Some so called academy players are 7-10years older than them.
Its all about opportunities. Most players stay at the amateur level years before they blow.

TheGoodJoe:

X-ray can not because it views the surface of the bone. In this case, the MRI scan views the cross section of the bone. Just as if you cut the bone with a sharp object and look at it.

Thank you

TheGoodJoe:

The scan is to detect a bone formation in the arm. It is either there or not. If it is there, the player is under 17. If it is not there, the player is not under the age.

Citrus drink can not make the bone formation appear in the scan.

Ordinary xray should be able to get the same result if it's all about bone formation.
What am I missing?

TheGoodJoe:

Not true in any way.

Can you enlighten me further? This is not my field and I have done no research on this.

Kog45:
I quite agreed with u but on Lukman Haruna i want to say your friend did not tell u d truth coz Haruna in one of his interviews said Mikel was his role model and i don't think a player that was in camp with Mikel in 2003 w called Mikel a role model.Though going to U17 camp thrice is a cheat but twice is understandable.

I believe going to U17 camp twice doesn't mean u are over age.I remembered a friend named Tolagbe Alanamu a secondary school boy then that was dropped for Celestine Babayaro at d last minute and also James Obiorah who was dropped coz he was too young but later captained 1995 U 17.

If u can recollect Kanu and Emma Babayaro were member of U 20 Mauritius 93 but later drafted to Japan bound U 17 93 by advice of Westerhoff to Fanny Amu.This doesn't portrayed them as an over aged coz Kanu still went ahead to have a wonderful career than any of his mate in Japan 93 squad.

Am not saying there is no over age but d way w always goes about it is not good for our players.It was on this Forum somebody was saying Seyi Olofinjana should be 45 years of age and i need to come out and said Seyi is not up to 40 coz w played sch football together,even player like Emma Olisadebe who played for Poland during 2002 world cup,this are guys i know very well coz w played sch football together.

Ndidi MRI failing doesn't mean d guy was 25 years old then,though i don't know his actual age but d guy is still young and there is no need to debate his age.

In d 80s and 90s i can say we are a cheater coz i can remembered vividly Nigeria was banned from age tournament due to age discrepancies on Andrew Uwe and Samson Siasia passports and it was discovered during seoul 88 due to this Nigeria did not participate in age group btw 1990/91.I can say from year 2000 to date,things improved better against age cheating.

I agree, alot of over age claims are sometimes exaggerated when it concerns Nigerian players.
But to play the ostrich and bury our head in sand is not a good approach.

The Nff should be looking at establishing a database for all players in the country. This should be the direction the Nff should be heading.

The last U20,I know a guy who tried out with the team. I understand he missed out on the train by the whiskers.
The player in question is about 33yrs old and he has never played for a premier league club. He has spent over 12yrs playing amateur football.
Haruna have tried out with previous U17's.I think Izilien was the coach then.
There was a nickname they call him, I can't remember. He's about same set with Mikel or a set before Mikel. You can take it to the bank.

tbaba1234:
j m n m n u a x rasa

No, He vfailed the MRI test just before the tournament but passed during the qualifiers. Several players (About 15) had to be dropped in the qualifiers for failing that Manu had to bring in players from the under 15 team. At this point, Ndidi passed.. It was only at the start of the CAF tournment that he failed

He played the qualifiers where they were also required to take tests.

Same thing happened to Ifeanyi Mathew, Who passed during the qualifiers, passed for the CAF championship but failed just before the world cup.

The fact that Ndidi passed all through before the CAF tournament, indicates to me that he is young and not far from the declared age. It shows that he was growing through the qualifiers.

I don't know how true this is. But I heard from a source that the MRI test result can be gamed if someone takes alot of citrus just before the test.
I understand alot of Nigerian players do this while in camp to game the system.
Don't take my word for it. Its just a hearsay

tbaba1234:
Ndidi can't be compared to Uche Agbo.

Ndidi went straight from academy to Europe and only played in under age competitions including an under 16 tournament in 2011, in south Africa.

He also passed MRI tests up until the Caf tournament.

Ndidi actually failed MRI test and was banned subsequently for the CAF U17 championship with 2 other Nigerian players. Ghana and Ivory coast lost some players too due to MRI failure.

You will be making a huge mistake believing that everyone who went straight to Europe from local academies are young.
My brother, Premier league and national league clubs at the end of each season call for an open camp, where players from different academies and amateur clubs come and try out. The lucky 4 or 5 get signed up, out of those 5 maybe only 1 actually got signed up on merit. The rest got singed up due to normal naija man know man runs, padi padi and sometimes players come to camp cluching letters from senators or house of rep members.
The hands of coaches and club managers are usually tied because these clubs are actually owned by state governments. Player with such recommendations are given preferential treatments and get contracts in the end. The other players (usually in their 100s) go back to their amateur clubs and academies and wait for next open screening or contacts from little teams in Asia and obscure countries in Europe.
The following year the cycle contines, in an infinite loop so to say.

All in all, you can have a player who have played for an academy or been within the amateur rankings for more than 7years before getting any sort of attention. A friend of mine who is a professional goal keeper told me that lukman Haruna came for screening 3 previous U17 sets before he was considered and made the captain in 2007.
Haruna went from the academy system in Nigeria straight to Monaco. Am sure you get the picture.

komekn:
We know ourselves we be Naija, this is not shocking but normal, so we can choose to keep numb and not open this potential can of worms.

Just like Wilfred Ndidi who in 2013 failed an MRI scan for the U17 Eaglets, meaning he was most likely not even a teenager then. And is now on a multi million £ transfer to Leicester as a world class young teenage sensation. But let sleeping dogs lie.

Reminds me of Uche Agbo. He started his professional career in Nigeria in 2010 and later moved on to Enyimba.
Somehow, he's still being referred to as a teenager in 2016.
21 yrs being his official age. By that calculation, it means he was 14/15yrs old when he was playing in the Npfl

tbaba1234:
He left for England at 11 and played for BJ foundation's under 13. He played there as a kid.

The picture is a more mature Moses, who paid a visit to his former coach, apparently.

It raises some questions that are better left alone.

Lots of questions indeed.
If he played for BJ foundation in Benin, how come his family was murded in the Kaduna progum?
Abi he was staying in Benin as an 11yr alone?
Let's leave this matter abeg

zoboizee:
Dreams. Man city ain't winning trophy this season & nxt season. England or Europe. It's plain to see.

Moses was package abroad. He's a Bini boy. The kaduna story was just ruse to get him asylum.

I understand his parents are alive and kicking in Benin