ChrisKels:



That trend seems to have been botched because those players couldn't stand the test of time.

Oboabona, Uzoenyi, Agbim Mba(my village boy), that lanky defender from abia state Azubuike abi wetin be d boy name, Kwambe, Francis, Gambo et al are not qualities and if they are what our league have got to offer, then we should be ashamed of ourselves.

Funny enough they were members of a team which equalled your best world cup run and Afcon victory. Something your shinny overrated team have failed to match so far.

ChrisKels:


After that WAFU finals, he joined cordoba, muazam joined Vienna. Fast forward to this window, he got snapped up by Villarreal while Muazam is struggling to join lowly Maritimo.

Thats the message.

Did u know that if the Academies were not there and we didnt get the FBs, our league wouldn't be able to help us with good players to form a national team. How many of the present Eagles played in our league BTW?

I would prefer to list the number of ex players from our league who won the Afcon in 2013 and made the world cup 2nd round in Brazil, thereby equalling the best performance and achievement of the famous USA 94 team who about 99% of them cut their cut their teeth in the local league. By the way, Nigerias best player at this world cup, Ahmed MUSA was a product of the Nigerian local league.

ChrisKels:


Lol u want me to believe u weren't serious when u said fekir was ur pick to star for France ahead of Mbappe abi u dont know the meaning of "tongue-in-cheek"?

Dude u were damne serious so dont try to be smart because if things had turned out the way u predicted them, u would have been here shouting" I said it". Admit it, ur pick failed to show up. KPOM

You just made me do a quick search on the arguments here regarding Mbappe. How time flies Reading through how some people were close to abusing me because of how I promoted Mbappe here makes me wonder if this guy had flopped, I may have been chased out of this thread.
But let me not embarrass anyone, I will seive some of the choice comments. LOL
Hindsight dey sweet sha
ChrisKels, in your mind you really think I don't see Mbappe starring for France?

ChrisKels:


Are u sure u followed this argument from the roots? It's about Mbappe and Fekir not Nacho. Goldfish80 boldly tipped Fekir to be the star of the French team prior to the world cup because he had more juicy numbers than Mbappe. But today he doesn't wanna admit that since the reverse was the case.

Wetin concern Nacho with this abi I look like those wey dey praise him to high heavens? U miss road

You just want to argue because I know you know what tongue in cheek means, except I'm mistaking.

ChrisKels:



I know a tongue-in-cheek statement when I see one. Dude if u claimed that was a tongue-in-cheek, then maybe the whole post was also, hence u never meant it when u tipped France for the trophy. Dont u think so ?

LOL don't make me laugh! Michael2 recall the conversation we had last year? abeg come and help me tell this guy how much I rate Mbappe.

ChrisKels:


But at the end, their coach proved to be the best and Mbappe proved to be the better player between he and Fekir that u were rating. So u got it all wrong because even ur prediction was something almost everybody knew would happen because France had the best squad going into this world cup.


To me, u didnt get it this time around unlike the Cameroun case. No thumbs up from ChrisKels dis time around bro.

LOL! You think anyone on nairaland rates Mbappe more than I do? I was the first person to bring Mbappe to the attention of this thread back in 2016.
The comparison with Fekir was a tongue in cheek moment especially when my stance OK Mbappe on this thread is well known.
You said it was well known France will win the world cup last year? Lol

If only I was a betting man. Look at the prediction I made November last year.

elyte89:
......And some MOFOS WILL compare IHEANACHO WITH MBAPPE

It's like comparing a Ferrari to a wheel barrow.

Farzat:
This VAR is a scam indeed. I need explanation on why Nigeria was denied a penalty against Argentina

Stop attacking technology and the referees.The blame lies solely with the governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA. The rules they have drafted are lacking in clarity and precision. Whenever you leave room for multiple interpretations, inconsistencies creep in.

BascoVanVeli:
At least FIFAs corruption dey favour black man for change. Even France first goal should not have been because Griezmann clearly dived for that free kick.

Cheating lead to the first goal. I thought I was the only one who saw that. Lol

BascoVanVeli:


3 penalties, 2 headers against Tunisia and a deflected goal against Panama. 2 pks against that same Panama and one against Colombia. A goal issa goal. There is nothing funny about that.
Players should always worry about helping their team win. Lets say your team is 1 goal down with 30 seconds left on the clock, would u tell the referee "please sir, don't give us a penalty we need to score a real goal?". Scoring great goals is a bonus but winning is ultimate and sometimes you have to win ugly or by luck.

A goal is a goal when judging the result of games but penalties shouldn't count as 1goal when calculating the coefficient to award top scorer in a championship.

Reminds me of those days in the Nigerian league when Okey Odita, a centre back used to get among top scorers with the mandatory 9 penalties every season while the overall top scorer usually finished with 14 goals with about 10 coming from pens.
I think I have made my point though.

daveP:
Not that I actually believed it, but I love such news. LCFC don't deserve such a player.


I'm sure if we qualified for R16, And lost to France yet, his tackles and interceptions stats wouldn't not be beaten till the end if the WC. I strongly believe that. now that's someone we can tag world class.


I'd love such a news sha. Every rumor has an iota of truth in it na.

Arsenal have signed a Uruguayan and French DM. You think they still looking at adding another, moreso Ndidi? Lol
I repeat, tackling alone won't get the big clubs rushing to sign you. Chelsea, Liverpool, Man utd and Arsenal have already signed DMs outside England without as much as putting in a bid for Ndidi who is the top tackler in the EPL.
This should tell you the direction these clubs are looking at.

BascoVanVeli:


Actually it was 3 penalties. PK's can and have been missed even in this tournament. If they go that route football will turn into gymnastics and the goals will be rated on a point system.

4 penalties, a tap in and a deflected goal. For a top scorer? What a joke!

www.thesun.co.uk/world-cup-2018/6628154/golden-boot-harry-kane/amp/

Fair play to Courtois for issuing an apology to the French team.
He had been very critical of the way France won v Belgium to which Griezmann replied that the Belgian keeper won a title with Atletico with that style and that Chelsea ain’t exactly Barça either.

forgiveness:


Why did he leave Ethiopia then? I like this kind of coaches.

Hmmm! Then Aigbogun must be a good coach then but where people here against his appointment as U20 coach?

I don't know why he left Ethiopia. I watched his Ethiopian side make the finals of one of those Cosafa championships playing very good football.

I don't know why people criticized his appointment. Could be out of ignorance or disdain for anything Npfl, probably thinking he was the average Naija local coach.

daveP:
Ndidi to Arsenal , abeg hope na better cash o?

He left at group start yet his tackles record is still 3rd ranked at this world cup.


he should forget Leicester like mahrez too and move on. Moses should get ready to find game time in Spain to me. Enough of Chelsea blue jare. But if Hazard goes to Madrid Ehen. he can be drafted for the meanwhile. Willian wana leave too I hear.

Can't believe you fell for that. Lol

forgiveness:


Where is Ify Onourah now?

Has Paul won anything in Nigeria?

He's the assistant coach of England U21s. Ethiopia played quality football when he managed them.
I think Paul have come 2nd in the league and Warri Wolves became feared in the league when he handled them.

Everton just beat a team 21:0

forgiveness:


So the one on one the keeper save off him na wetin?

He was actually flagged offside in that incident.

BascoVanVeli:


Actually it was 3 penalties. PK's can and have been missed even in this tournament. If they go that route football will turn into gymnastics and the goals will be rated on a point system.

Forget about missed penalties. A penalty is advantage to the taker with no defender to block or tackle him. Even a goalkeeper is not expected to save a pen, atleast I haven't heard of a gk who got slatted for not stopping a penalty. A point system for penalty is not a bad idea.

forgiveness:

I still don't understand why Ndidi is not in a big club in EPL. He's that good. The only thing lack in his game is goal, assist and the ability to give a pig point pass with long balls. Once these are resolved, Ndidi should be in a top club in EPL. Tottenham would have been a perfect starting point.

I hope this article will make sense to Tottenham and Arsenal.


Forrget Dembele – Levy must get his hands on Nigerian who could be the ultimate long-term investment for Tottenham

by Rohan Sengupta

Why Tottenham must replace Mousa Dembele with Wilfred Ndidi

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele is open to the prospect of leaving the club to play in the MLS, China or even Bangladesh, according to reports.

The Belgian midfielder will turn 31 this month and has just a year left on his Tottenham contract. Dembele, who signed from Fulham in 2012, has spent eight seasons in English football. However, he wants to quit Spurs in search of a new challenge, reportedly in China or Italy.

Dembele has been struggling with minor injuries that have hampered his progress at Spurs in the last couple of seasons. The Belgian endured another injury-hit campaign with the north Londoners the last term. Despite returning to fitness, he never looked like the midfielder he once used to be.

And the 30-year-old’s display for Belgium against France in the World Cup semi-finals has not done any favours. Dembele looked sluggish throughout the game and simply failed to find his rhythm. He was no match for the likes of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, and was hauled off the pitch by Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.


Mousa Dembele
Hence, it is safe to suggest that Mauricio Pochettino must sell the midfielder this summer. It is the right time for Tottenham to let Dembele leave but finding his replacement would be a tough ask. That said, should Tottenham go for Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi?

Leicester City signed Ndidi from KRC Genk in January 2017 and the Nigerian powerhouse has grown leaps and bounds in the Premier League. He has enjoyed two quality seasons at King Power Stadium that has seen him enhance his reputation as one of the top-flight’s most exciting young midfielders.

Leicester City
Wilfried Ndidi
An ever-present figure in the Leicester side that finished 9th last term, Ndidi is a solid midfielder with a sublime range of passing and crossing abilities. He is a solid ball-winner and also possesses balance and guile.

He is a top-tackler and his physicality allows him to push opponents off the ball and win aerial duels with considerable ease. The Nigeria international can make box-to-box runs and play long balls, while also packing a powerful shot.

Ndidi has proven to be a strong defensive presence for Leicester and is highly competent in the air, which is an area Tottenham must improve. The Lagos-born midfielder has also already racked up 19 caps for Nigeria at the age of 21, enjoying an impressive World Cup campaign as well.

Read more: 3 top class replacements for Sissoko who Tottenham should look to sign including French powerhouse

There is absolutely no questioning Dembele’s talent or his value to Tottenham but the Belgian is done and dusted in north London. To that end, Ndidi could be an excellent option to replace Dembele. The Nigerian is good at what he does, making him the ultimate long-term investment for Tottenham.

I have said this before and I will say it again. Ndidi will not be signed up by a big club except such a club have plans to convert him to a CB.
Big clubs are not interested in tackles. They want to play on the front foot, recover and transition from defence to attack very quickly. You need a good ball distributing DM to play this way. Ndidi's passing game is very ordinary.
I don't think Liverpool would have gone for Fabinho if Ndidi was great with his distribution. Because he comes with the advantage of the much talked about EPL experience.

forgiveness:

So Aigbogun na Britiko. Make em convince dem ooooooo. He should remember Deji Beyreuther too.

Sir BascoVanVeli, what has this man achieved in his coaching career?


Aigbogun Follows Rohr’s Diaspora Recruitment Style

By Editor - July 14, 2018

Youth national team, Flying Eagles head coach, Paul Aigbogun has taken a leaf from the style of Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, in calling up players of Nigerian origin who were born abroad.

With Rohr having made a success of such recruitments with Tyronne Ebuehi, Bryan Idowu and Ola Aina, after consolidating on the earlier arrivals of Carl Onuoha Ikeme, Leon Aderemi Balogun and William Troost-Ekong, Aigbogun is now following suit with the under-20 squad.

Aigbogun confirmed as much, as he disclosed that he recently held talks with players of Nigerian descent when he visited England last month and urged them to switch their national team allegiances.

The Enyimba of Aba coach, who disclosed that he was in England to renew his papers as a British citizen, said he met with some youth team players of various top clubs, who are eligible to feature for his side.

Aigbogun, who is in Mauritania for the first leg tie of the 2019 African U-20 Nations Cup final round of qualifiers, said positive talks were held with players of Nigerian descent while he was in England.

He recounted: “I met a couple of players who are eligible for England and also Nigeria. They are within the age limit require for my team and we had positive talks about a switch of allegiance to Nigeria.

“They are willing to play for Nigeria and some of them would have been in my squad for the Mauritania game but it’s pre-season time and most of them will be involved with the first team.

“Aside playing for the youth teams of top clubs in England, they have what we think we lack at that moment in the team but that doesn’t mean an automatic shirt for them. They have to come here and slug it out with the lads we have in camp.”

http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/946237783?-21310:8643:3

Paul Aigbogun is a returnee. It was celebrated when he came back to the NFL with his shinny Uefa B license.
I thought Ify onuorah will make the same move after his stint in Africa with the Ethiopian National team.

forgiveness:


Beside that, he had a shot on goal against Croatia.

Not what the stats say. Officially he hasn't had a shot on target since the Penalty against Colombia.

BascoVanVeli:


Oga a goal issa goal. It's not like he is in contention for the golden ball.

Scoring only penalties is a fraudulent way of walking your way to the top scorer. I hope FIFA in subsequent competitions count penalties as 1/2 goal when calculating top scorers cumulative.
It is an unfair advantage to count penalties as 1 goal as it favours penalty takers in a team.
The name of the game is fair play after all.

forgiveness:


That's not true. He had a shot on goal against Croatia and another hit the bar.

A shot which strikes the bar is counted as off target.

I think FIFA should review their goal credit process especially when it comes to penalties, because I can't for the life of me image how a player who scored 5 penalties and a deflected goal will walk away with the top scorer award.
Makes it even more crazy that Harry Keane haven't managed a shot on goal since the penalty against Colombia.
This is a huge minus for this tournament in my opinion.

forgiveness:


They started the campaign. Even with their first team players, England still dey beat Belgium.

It's not as if Belgium players are far more superior to the English team.

Abi no bi d same Belgium team first eleven dey play for EPL where most of the English players don make EPL player of the season and EPL team of the season more than the Belgium players?

England have better players than Belgium?
Gerrarahia meeeen!

ChrisKels:


Now I am scared for my boy even though it was his medial and not his anterior. But since he didnt require surgery and he came back before schedule, I guess it wasnt a serious case.


Shebi na same matter end Amuneke career

Nothing to fear about, really. He is a professional. Although, he must avoid playing on synthetic pitches.
You're correct about Amunike.

ChrisKels:



Damaged knee? Does every knee injury suggest the knee is damaged and a relapse, possible?

This is no argument, just want u to clear me

Careers have have abruptly ended by knee injuries. Knee is the worst and most sensitive part of the body an athlete can injure. Guys like Owen Hargreaves never recovered from that.
This link will explain better what I mean.

www.goal.com/en/amp/news/cruciate-knee-injuries-recovery-time-can-it-ruin-careers/nl5zualno95d1e1ygil4nsh5m

ChrisKels:


In other words, he made the move for every reasonable reason but money.

We don't have the details of the other offers he had but one thing I am sure about is that he comes with a risk, knowing his injury history. I think prospective clubs might have been turn off by his damaged knee, knowing fully well he could suffer a reoccurrance. The list of clubs really interested in him might have been massively pruned down because of this.
Clubs and managers factor some these things before making decisions.

tbaba1234:


That is why he went to Turkey. I wish he went to Germany or Spain. Yes, less money but better competition and more exposure.

Nigerian players always make these money moves.

It's not everytime you lowball yourself on a deal just because you want to land softly in a shinny place.
It's not caste in Iron he will own the German or Spanish leagues. Better players gone to those leagues and flopped. Who says he cannot get injured again? Nothing in life is guaranteed.

It's not like Galatasaray is not a competitive club. Look at Vida, the Croatian center back. He has been hands down the best defender at this world cup and he plays in Turkey for Beskitas.

Kog45:
Yes cool money but $25k per week should not be the major reason likely champions league football.

Exactly. I didn't see this before making my comment.
Do you know he can get about the same deal from a North African club like Etoile du Sahel?