₦airaland Forum

TheGoodJoe:
If you spend time reading Rohr's comments you will know he rates Osimhen highly. Also Awaziem. There is this saying that only the Manager knows how good a player is for him. Unfortunately, you chose to toil in your own view when you did not even see barb wire of the camp.

Rohr stated that he did not invite Awaziem and Osimhen to later camps because he did not want them going through repeated rejections.

That alone is enough for a Babylonian to know the coach rates Osimhen highly and will not flinch. Yet, you want to show us you know more than the German tactician.

What a gwan O ye Babylonian?

He rates him highly from what he saw at a one week camp last year? A lot have happened since last year my friend.

tbaba1234:
False news because Kayode was in the list released.

"What if" he was initially left out of the list but was later considered due to intense lobby and PRs?
I say this because the publication was made before the list was released.

tbaba1234:
Kayode was on the original list. Onyekuru wasn't.. Onyekuru scored a blinder that weekend and was added to the list.

The point is we are making conclusions from a limited set of variables. Rohr has seen Osimhen severally and is convinced about what he can offer.

The coach can only invite a limited number of players. Odey was invited and was dropped for Osimhen. Does that not give you a clue of how highly the coach rates him?

Austria Vienna striker Olarenwaju Kayode will not train with the national team in Corsica this coming month ahead of the African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in June, barring any last minute changes.
The former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles star may be in the form of his life but this has not impressed manager Gernot Rohr and his assistants one bit.
Kayode and his camp embarked on a media campaign after he was left out of the Super Eagles squad for the international friendly against Senegal in March, before he was handed a late call-up by the Nigerian Federation just to keep the peace.
The 23-year-old failed to justify his invitation during the training sessions and the match on March 23 against the West Africans, and has been omitted from the latest roster.
He tallied his 19th and 20th goal of the season in Austria Vienna's 4-1 rout of Sturm Graz on Saturday.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel

cc:allnigeriansoccer

TheGoodJoe:

Were you in camp with Osimhen to know if he justified the call-up? Rohr is the one in camp who worked with Osimhen and was the one who felt the young man deserves another call-up.

What A Gwan O ye Babylonian?

So Osimhen was invited to camp because of what Rohr saw of him last year?
He was invited on the back of his form in training last year?

This is exactly the reason why I said some players have cult followership on this thread.
At the mention of the name Osimhen, common sense fly out of the window.

TheGoodJoe:
Funny. Obodo and Rabiu are not fit enough to polish Jay-Jay's boot. Oruma pass them wella. Simple, great players are hard to replace. Spain producing another Xavi will take time.

England producing another Scholes might take another fifty years.

Skill for skill, those guys are extremely skillful. If they played in football in the 80s and early 90s, they would have been better appreciated.
If you ever watched Obodo AND Rabiu you will understand what I am saying.

TheGoodJoe:

Please, Pongolle was a fantastic talent. It was a serious injury that ruined his career. As big as Nigeria is as you make it, why are we finding it difficult producing a talent like Okocha. Food for thought. Wash the plates after eating.

We've seen talented players like Okocha not hit it big with the super eagles because the times have changed,football is no longer the same. Nobody wants a ball Clogher in his team.

The world have seen a death in technical players, the days of having a midfield maestro is long gone.
Christian Obodo and Rabiu Ibrahim had skills packed in their thumbs.

chrisooblog:
nobody is irreplaceable not even the great ronaldo or messi if they start posting consistent poor performances. what the goodjoe and other monikers have said is rohr has looked at osimhen and sees something special in the boy. its left for him to prove rohr right or wrong. its not like the boy is blocking the destiny of anybody abi were onyekuru, kayode, muazzem and even odey not called up? whoever you feel wasn't called up now if he continues to impress will get his chance

Granted, Osimhen is talented. The question is, have he done enough this past season to merit a call up? No!
Do we have more prolific players in Europe this past season who could arguably stake a greater claim of earning a national team call? Yes!
This have just been the baseline of this arguement.

Mujtahida:
Chai (it literarily came out of my mouth when I read Nwakaeme) that guy is another Oduamadi and what's the name of the other striker we took to confederation cup again ooo. Bros leave that guy with his high goal scoring. Ee no be am. The others you mentioned are contenders for a place in our team but not Nwakaeme.

Nwakaeme was the Mvp at Isreal this past season. He's a performer for his club, the same club which parades a super Eagles player. He also had a decent campaign in the Europa league to show he should be taken seriously.

TheGoodJoe:
Who said Osimhen is in their league? I used it to explain special talent to you. Amunike believes the young man is special. Osimhen proved Amunike right by breaking the U17 scoring record. Rohr sparked my interest by continuing the pursuit of this young man's potential. We can not tell how good Osimhen is until Rohr is through. Time will tell.

As for me, I am interested.

If we were talking about Gambia or Seychelles I would have understood. But we are talking about Nigeria, do you know how many top goal scorers at the u17 level we have produced down the years?
What's so special about scoring at the u17 anyway? Synema Pogolle used to the the record holder of the most goals at the U17 level till Souleymane Coulibally equalled the record in 2011. What did scoring goals at the u17 help Synema Pogolle achieve in his career? How about Coulibally? I hear he plays for Al Ahli these days. That's a far cry from his days breaking goals records at the u17s.

Till Osimhen starts producing at wolfsburg, his invite will always be questionable with an asterisks

TheGoodJoe:
They are very few special talents. Even if there is someone as good or better, it is very few. When we find the person, we will celebrate him. Just as we celebrated Iheanacho before Osimhen. Comprende?

You're free to hold whatever belive you want. Its neither my prerogative nor my obligation to change your opinion. You're totally free to hold onto your belive that Osimhen is irreplaceable while I cling to my belive that better talented players are bound in almost every local government across the country.

TheGoodJoe:
Are you saying someone that is not as good as Osimhen playing on Osimhen's absence? If that is stepping up to you, that is okay. You were talking of searching the whole country for a better talent.

Awo just played his role. He was second choice.

So you belive there's no hidden talent somewhere in Nigeria as good as if not better than Osimhen?
Osimhen is now a god.

TheGoodJoe:
How can Success at Granada be out of context? You were talking of another talent stepping up and doing better than Osimhen. Correct me if Iam wrong. Highlighted Awoniyi as an example. I am telling you that Awoniyi did not step up and become better. He was still in the same pecking order since U17 when you compare him to the others.

Graduating from U17 to U20 is not stepping up.

Before the U17 world cup, Awoniyi was the second choice until Success got injured.
What would you call a deputy who held sway when Oga went on sick leave? Is that not stepping up? Looks like you have a problem understanding the context or direction a discussion is going.

We are talking about someone stepping up in the absence of Osimhen just like someone stepped up in the absence of Success and you're talking about Granada. How those these two pronouncments relate?

TheGoodJoe:
I guess Brazil should call it a day because they are yet to replace Pele. Na wa. Screen the whole Brazil and I doubt you can find a player close to Neymar in talent. Are you saying Brazil should forget about playing football? Hmmmm.

There is a reason they are called special talents.

Osimhen is now in the league of Pele and Neymar? I know he's a personal favourite of yours but do you really have down this route?

TheGoodJoe:
Awoniyi establishing himself after Success injured is not stepping up. Also playing well when Success was lighting La Liga to the point he was the best player in his club is not Awoniyi stepping up. He just made the most of Success absence.

You're just running around in circles. Awoniyi stepped up for Nigeria the time we needed someone to do so. What's my buisness with Isaac success playing and his so called exploit with Granada?
I'm not a Granada fan.
I guess you were trying to remind me that Isaac success was playing for Granada at the time. A point which is absolutely outside the context of the argument.

We are talking about someone stepping up for the U20s and U23 national team which Taiwo did and got the attention of Liverpool and you're telling me about Isaac Success winning man of the match for Granada.

TheGoodJoe:


Just see as you are writing like if you are an Oracle. Isaac Success arrived late to camp while Awoniyi had time to blend with the team and coaches tactics. That is not stepping up in my dictionary. After Mikel's U17 until today, we are yet to see someone stepping up to his level.

So you can not say you are sure that someone would have stepped up. Football does not work like that.

Has Osimhen done enough to merit a call-up? Rohr already identified his special talents. Had camping sessions with them. He is in the best position to tell if Osimhen has done enough. Not you. Keep in mind, Rohr is conversant with German youth football system and has more insight into the development area of young talents in Germany.

If Rohr feels Osimhen needs to come to camp, he has my one hundred percent support.

Awoniyi established himself in the team immediately Success got injured, Awoniyi didn't stand still, after the U17 WC, he went to to have a fine tournament at the AYC spear heading the attack. He was simultaneously playing for the U20s and U 23s at a point.
His fine run of form made him undroppable at the WYC.


If we can't boast of another player within the age of Osimhen who could replace him in our U20 team through out the length and breath of the country, we should forget about playing football and invest our time in other sport.

tbaba1234:
Onyekuru and Kayode forced their call-up by continously scoring not by any pressure. Who and who were applying pressure?

We have already seen that he does not make drastic changes and prefers his team to evolve gradually. The coach mentioned that the Osimhen role is geared towards the future not today.

Initially it was reported that Kayode's and Onyekuru's names were missing from the initial list.
Alot of eye brows were raised. Dont tell me you've forgotten.

Much is expected of Osimhen obviously, but I have seen you argue that Nwakali should bid his time and wait because we have our midfield already stock. Time and time again, you have ran with this line of argument. Can't one make same arguement about Osimhen since we have strikers in Europe performing at top gear.
Nwakaeme, Onachu, Kayode and Onyekuru were top scorers in their league.
Why can't the same argument be made about Osimhen if not the fact that he's a personal favorite of most people here?

tbaba1234:
Some people might have their favorites but Rohr has seen more of Osimhen than anyone here.

How about those Rohr haven't seen? Have Rohr taken a close up look at Fenando Adi, Nwakaeme, Paul Onachu? If not for the pressure mounted in him, ONYEKURU and Kayode wouldn't have been invited.
These 4 players between them have scored. (+/-) 100 goals this season.
Why doesn't he want to see these other top performers?

Don't try to justify the inclusion of an inactive player in place of those who have actually performed this season.

TheGoodJoe:
It is baffling that people take their time to break down their reasons for taking a particular side of a debate and you come up with such ridiculous and baseless statement as the above.

None of us called for the inclusion of Osimhen to the best of my knowledge. What I am certain is that most of us know we have a gem in this young man.

The actions by the team mangers at Wolfsburg, Amunike, Siasia and Rohr certifies our beliefs that he is quality. You can keep viewing analysis from the spectacle of playing time but the fact is that football is deeper than that.

To the best of my knowledge, nobody said Osimhen is not talented, even Million Koma is talented. The question have been if he has done enough to merit a senior national team call up in the past season? The answer is a resounding No! If we had qualified for the U20 world cup in Korea, he might not even be a sure starter for the team because someone else must have stepped up to the plate, just like Awoniyi stepped up and took Isaac Success's place at the last championship.

zicky:
I'm suprise that those defending Oshimen inclusion ask "who orji go bench" as if Oshimein fit bench anyone, I just feel hard work should be rewarded. Nacho prove himself in USA and city before he was invited to the SE not his U-17 record.

You have to understand that some players have a cult followership on this thread. At the mention of certain names, all manner of of objectivity fly out of the window.
Osimhen is one of such players.
I hope this supposed cult followership don't reduce the intelligent quotient of this thread.

Mujtahida:
Cc goldfish80: I went back to read on this thread opinions on Akpeyi prior to and after our match against Algeria and I am satisfied that my perception of his performance as panicky is not unique to me. I discovered that you have consistently defended him. I am not spreading panic. I have no preference among the three goalkeeper currently in camp. I just pray Ikeme overcomes his injuries.

Truth is that when people hold a perspective about a person , they over analyse every move the person makes.
Before the game against Algeria, there was a panic wave about Akpeyi being in goal, this greatly influced the perspective people wanted to associate with him to suit their narrative.
Between Ezenwa, Akpeyi and Alampasu, Akpeyi will start every day of the week.

Mujtahida:
It is not the fans who panic but Akpeyi. It's his panicking that makes us panic. Didn't you see how uncomfortable he was against Algeria? He should not let diffidence to bury his ability. Sometimes with confidence even a mediocre can go far.

Against Algeria, he was pretty solid. He made some fine saves which is expected of any good goal keeper and he managed to command his penalty area and distributed the ball well . This set the tone for the team and helped us dominate the possession and the game for a long period.

Against Egypt in Alexandria, he was quite solid. The goal the Egyptians scored was not his fault as the ball went through the legs to Efe Ambrose which caused a deflection. Sorry, I don't seem to understand this panic attack you're spreading about his game.

do4luv14:
I don't tink so, it was injury and lost of form, as well the outstanding form of the second choice keeper that drooped him to the bench

Bottom line was that his team went on a loosing streak with him in goal, almost like a free fall.
He later lost his place in the team.
These are undisputable facts.

Icon4s:
You know when you naturally do not like someone no matter what that person does you will never appreciate it.

That is how I see it. They want their own choice as goal keeper.

It's not necessary to spread panic just because you dont like someone.

Mickael2:
players lose form

What proof do you have that he lost form? Atleast statistically he has more clean sheet this season than Alampasu who seem have a lot of fans here.
It is on record that Alampasu lost his place in the Portuguese 3rd div after the team couldn't win any game he started after 11-13 games.

Icon4s:
It was not the Nelson Mandela Challenge. It was just a friendly. That game finished 1-1. Ahmed Musa put Nigeria ahead with about 10mins left. While they equalised late into injury time. Leon Balogun was the culprit.

Exactly. You recall perfectly. I frankly didn't rate Balogun in his early days playing for the super eagles. I recall the game in Kaduna against Egypt, he played at Rb, looked uncomfortable all afternoon.

In the friendly against SA, Akpeyi had a blinder. So good on the night he caught a penalty. I recall the the press heralded him as the heir apparent to Enyeama after the fine evening outting.
How suddenly, people are panicking when his name is mentioned shows how fickle minded football fans are.

Icon4s:
Who would have been our second choice?

This reminds me of Edward Ansah of the then Iwuanyawu FC of Owerri, a Ghanaian.

Ansah was so much criticised by the Iwuayanwu fans me inclusive. I cannot forgot how we lost 4-0 to Setif of Algeria in the final of the 1989 African Cup winners cup. We won 1-0 in Lagos Or Enugu (forgotten) but lost the second leg 4-0.

In late 1990, Nigeria was to play Ghana in the 1992 AFCON qualifiers. Lo and behold Edward Ansah was their goalie.

There were a lot of Ghanaians in my locality in Lagos then. Come and see how we bad mouthed them that Ansah could be their best goalie.

Lo and behold we lost 1-0 to Ghana in Accra and drew 0-0 in Lagos. Edward Ansah did not concede against Nigeria.

We met again in the semis of the 1992 AFCON and Ghana won 2-1 with Edward Ansah still in goal.

So forget those SA fans football is not that way.

Funny enough, Akpeyi made his super Eagles debut against the same South Africans in the Mandela challenge friendly. He was the man of the match on the night.
He even caught a penalty in the game. Bafana fans should continue Laughing, we will know who will laugh last.

Joebie:
Okay lets follow your logic:

Since Omeruo fumbled as CB against Zambia he has NEVER returned there.
Against Zambia Ndidi played RB, ahead of Shehu
Omeruo was RB versus Algeria ahead of Shehu. Shehu replaced him in the 66th minute.
Ebuehi started as RB against Corsica ahead of Shehu in the absence of Omeruo
Omeruo started as RB against Senegal ahead of Ebuehi and Shehu
Shehu started as RB against Togo ahead of Ebuehi in the absence of Omeruo.

So this follows that... (although Rohr makes the final say)

modified**
Let me help you.
So far it follows that :
1. Omeruo is preferred among the trio at RB
2. Omeruo has never been used to pair Ekong at CB since the Zambia mishap
3. Shehu has been a regular call up and his closest rival seems to be the new entrant, Ebuehi
4. Awaziem even though a new entrant will most likely get the nod since Rohr has not tempered with that Awaziem-Ekong CB partnership even in test training matches. That's more like continuity in the absence of Balogun. It is LESS risky than an Omeruo-Ekong CB partnership AGAIN after a long time.

This was the exact deductive reasoning I used to come up with my earlier probably line up.
I don't think Rohr will be open to make more than one change in the defence. That one change could be Awaziem, while Omeruo maintains his spot at Rb.

My realistic starting line-up for South Africa.

. . . . . . . Akpeyi. . . .
Omeruo. . . . . Awaziem. . . . . Ekong. . . Elder
. . . . . Onazi. . . . . . Ndidi. . .
. . . . . . . . . . Etebor. . .
Musa/Simon. . . . Iheanacho. . . . Iwobi

.............
I see Omeruo starting at Rb. Rohr seems not to trust Shehu enough and he wouldn't want to make so many changes in the defence that played the last qualifiers.
I see just one change in Awaziem who is more or less a like for like replacement of Balogun. I read sometime ago in an interview Awaziem granted which he attested that Balogun have been a big influence on his game.

Etebor will likely play behind Iheanacho because he is more of a goal threat in such areas while Iwobi works from the flanks.

Impact subs could be Kayode Olarenwaju and Muzam. While Ogu subs in for to secure the match from the middle if we have a lead going into the last 10-5mins

komekn:
That's an assumption without track record justification.

If Rohr likes him he plays full stop even if he plays in Wales ranked number 50 in Europes.

If Osimhen after playing 10 minutes of football in a team at the bottom of Bundesliga can be invited. Then structureed selection methodology doesn't exist and subjectivity has overcome objectivity.

Then again some may say the end justifies the means. Long term that does not inspire players to play for the SE if it is perceived that objectivity and performance are not the main consideration.

I think Oshimhen's invitation is akin to Sven Goran Ericsson's decision taking Walcott to the world cup before he played a professional game for Arsenal.
Sometimes, these sort of perversed descions by managers are made with the premise of "building for the future". Only time will tell if it indeed it was the correct decision.

Only time.

TheSuperNerd:
It is obvious you wanna start something. Plsss do have a too day/night.

Start what? Because I pointed out a petulant remark you made?
What do you really mean by that remark you made? Are you questioning my eye sight or what? Or you think I will be childish to say I didn't see your post but I indeed saw it?
Please, I don't appreciate that comment.

tbaba1234:
I saw that report from owngoalnigeria.com but I doubt that it was just agent talk. I think there is genuine interest.

David Ornstein is a renowned BBC journo. You can take it to the bank whatever he says about transfers, especially Arsenal transfer buisness. He's like the unofficial, Arsenal mouth piece.

TheSuperNerd:
You can't blame them.... even Skysports reported such. Then David Ormstein of the BBC said what he said... he is reputed to the BBC's inside man on Arsenal affairs. He called the news "fabricated".

And yes I did post the Ormstein report. It is a couple of pages back. You not seeing it doesn't mean it is not there.

What is the bolded supposed to mean? I simply said, I didn't see the report you posted. I wonder why you're flipping.