₦airaland Forum

tbaba1234:
Beyond experience, Iheanacho was already making a bit of a name for himself at Man city and was ahead of several players there but was barely given a look. Saviour Godwin was not anywhere near Yahaya or Iheanacho at that point

Bulbwa at that point did not have a club and was not ahead of Yahaya who was already signed by Spurs. Ifeanyi Ifeanyi was not ahead of Nwakali or Idowu.

Experience is one factor but poor selection is another factor.

The first game against Brazil revealed a lot about Yahaya and Iheanacho.

Manu fell back to players who could give more.

Iwobi is limping

MetalJigsaw:
Anyway, I'm so proud of Ighalo... 7 goals in 8 games is awesome!

Where are the doubters and haters??

On a lighter note, he better takes it easy and not try to prove any doubter wrong. We no wan hear say him don get injury o. His position in the team is almost secured.

MetalJigsaw:
Okpotu and Ali for the replacements

No be only Okpotu and Ali. Na Simbi and Ali.

enomakos:
i think victor osimhen need to be invited to this team if still eligible

The next year's tournament is for players born on or after January 1st 1999. Osimhen was born on December 29th 1998. So he is just 3 days older.

He will definitely join the U23 party. Other notable players that are eligible for the U23 include: Taiwo Awoniyi, Sadiq Umar, Samuel Kalu, Kelechi Nwakali, Chidozie Awaziem, Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Azubuike Okechukwu, Benerd Bulbwa, Ifeanyi Mathew, Musa Yahaya, Sunday Faleye etc. And of course they will be joined by players who excel from the 2019 U20. Also of course we expect to see some home lads and new players that will spring up in Europe in the next two years. The "Borough borns" will not also be left out.

If most of these players can be available I see us producing strong U20 and U23 teams.

tbaba1234:
Clubless or locally based... Awoniyi, Saviour Godwin, Bulbwa, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Ifeanyi Matthew etc had not secured foreign deals..

Players like Nwakali, Iheanacho, Ezeh, Success, Yahaya, who had joined foreign clubs were mostly benched

The only clubless player on that your first list was Awoniyi. The other players were playing senior team football in their respective NPFL clubs.

From the list of players in foreign clubs you listed, the only player that was already playing senior team football was Success. Yahaya as at then was still waiting to clock 18 before signing a professional contract, he was practically clubless because he spent months in Kano while waiting.

Ifeanyi Mathew, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Benerd Bulbwa, Godwin Saviour, and Kingsley Sokari were very strong members of that midfield. They seemed to have offered more than the benchers like: Chidi Nwakali, Akinjide Idowu and Musa Yahaya. Remember some of those players alongside Ndidi were amongst those that failed the MRI. A lot of them would have startets at the U17 WC.

That team was obviously talented but was lacking in Experience.

tbaba1234:
Manu Garba messed up by leaving his best players on the bench for whatever reason. The clubless players were starting whilst the foreign based were left on the bench.

Who were the clubless players he started?

TheSuperNerd:
@Bolded... well let me not dwell on what ifs shaa... it is past and they never got the chance to make us know. But personally I am convinced we would have gotten past Germany with Iheanacho and Yahaya with Success also starting that game. But like I said... it is all in the what if realm.

"What if" realm. Remember that Etebo and Junior Ajayi were supposed to be part of the team but were dropped. So what if they were in the team? Don't you think the team would have also been more deadly?

TheSuperNerd:
Top Dutch prospect Hamdi Akujobi thrilled with Flying Eagles experience


Rotterdam-based forward Hamdi Akujobi has told SCORENigeria he is thrilled with his experience with the Nigeria U20s, the Flying Eagles.
Hamdi, who clocked 18 in January, is the son of one-time Heracles Almelo striker Chika Akujobi.

He has already pledged his international allegiance to Nigeria even though he is also eligible to play for Holland.

“I am really excited to be part of the Flying Eagles squad,” he told SCORENigeria

“It’s a dream come true for me and I’m really honoured to be back in Nigeria training with this great team.
“The players have been great and coach Paul Aigbogun has been a father. I couldn’t have hoped for more.”
This is only his second visit to his father’s native country after he first visited at the age of three.
“Things are a bit different than Holland, the language, the food and the weather, but I’m enjoying every minute here,” he said.
On Friday, the versatile attacking player, who is on the radar of several top clubs in Holland and beyond, got 25 minutes playing time as the Flying Eagles soared past Yobo FC 3-0.
“It was a very physical game, but it went well in the end,” he recounted.
“I had to play smartly to avoid a lot of physical contacts.
“I played as a left winger, I will score myself above average and one of the coaches came around and congratulated me after the game.”


Source: http://scorenigeria.com.ng/2018/04/28/top-dutch-prospect-hamdi-akujobi-thrilled-with-flying-eagles-experience/

The coach scouting for players all over. Not when you limit your squad to the previous U17 crop.

Way to go.

TheSuperNerd:
I agree better with you now because even the England U-20 side at the last U-20 WC was a perfect case study. We know all those players and how much experience each commanded... experience is vital and yes it was also the archilles heel of Manu Garba's U-20 side 2015 debacle but I also still believe that the team would have at least gotten to the Semis if Many had played the best we had instead of benching them. Experience is vital at the U-20 grade... so vital infact that it is the single mist important ingredient to make an U-20 side dangerous... France U-20 side of 2013 is another case study with Pogba and co.

A good level of Experience is definitely the most vital parameter at U-20 level... but Super Talent is still key too. Super Talent can also be the difference between victory and defeat. Manu's team had fine talents but lacked enough experience... but even when we were crippled in the Experience dept... Manu also crippled us on the talents dept too by benching his very best talents. That 2015 debacle still hurts honestly.

Yeah, I perfectly agree with you especially with the English and French case. Also on the area of talent without much experience and experience without much talent.

But what I crave for is talent plus experience. We can assemble players with both. That is what makes a very deadly U20 team bro.

I am glad you now understand why I was really worried about the Manu's U20 boys and even more still the Amuneke's U20 boys that were all academy players.

The Manu's U20 boys, could they have overcome Germany in that game if Iheanacho and Yahaya had started? Not sure bro.

TheSuperNerd:
No much noise is being made about them yet... But I think we can really put together a very powerful U-20 side with good experience too. They will indeed be bad if all are available abeg....

I like that word good "experience". Though many do not agree but it is very vital at this stage. The U20 is not for academy players but mostly for young professionals with 1-3 years senior professional experience.

I just hope all the invited pros will be available. This team will be Super.

Well done TheSuperNerd. Good updates

TheSuperNerd:
Bologna Duo Orji Okonkwo & Kingsley Michael, Villarreal Chukwueze Named In Flying Eagles Foreign Pros List For Guinea Bissau Tie

https://i1.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_4061.jpg


Coach of the Nigerian U20 team Paul Aigbogun has extended invitation to the foreign based trio of Orji Okonkwo, Kingsley Michael and Samuel Chukwueze , Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The trio are part of the foreign based players called up to beef the Nigerian U20 team ahead of their AFCON 2019 Qualifiers clash against Guinea Bissau next month as Nigeria bid to stage a return to the African youth scene after their failure to qualify for the last tournament.

Okonkwo is expected to beef up the attack of the team following his exploits with Bologna in the Serie A, where he scored three league goals before heading on loan to Serie B side Brescia, while Kingsley made the first team squad last week for their league game against Sampdoria, thanks to his strong performances for the youth team.

Chukwueze is living up to expectations at Villarreal and he is already tipped for rapid progression to the first team if he continue to progress as expected at the club, where he is teammates with his ex U17 colleague Jack Ipalibo.

They are part of the players of the last U20 team that failed to qualify for the last edition of the African Youth Championship who are still eligible to play for the present team.


**Osas Mahawi


Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2018/04/23/bologna-duo-orji-okonkwo-kingsley-michael-villarreal-chukwueze-named-in-flying-eagles-foreign-pros-list-for-guinea-bissau-tie/

Now this is what I am talking about.

This trio are alot more matured both in the game and psychologically than they were two years ago under the Amuneke U20.

I hope they are released for the game.

This crop of Flying Eagles will be bad....

kingphilip:
if not for clearance, would have been an Iheanacho assist

Assist, not even goal.

TheSuperNerd:
No Chief... I am not for inviting every fine prospect just like that. Ours is a team on the rise and so far we have been able to establish some fine team chemistry and understanding. This is something we must keep building on.
Invites of new talented prospects will always be in the picture as there are players who can be added to make this team keep getting better but IT WOULD ALWAYS BE GRADUAL and NOT REACTIONARY.

@bolded... I perfectly understand that especially as this is WC season.

I wasn't actually referring to you. I know your stand already on the issue. It was just a general remark.

Truidstar:
Best post all week. Folks on here just want immediate dividends.

Flooding the team with green horns will only prolong the maturation of the dividends.

You keep pulling down and rebuilding over and over. How will the team mature and start paying dividends?

MetalJigsaw:
I go offer you some beer, bro

Thank you a no want.

asha80:
hehe I do not what to bring up a controversial angle as per Nigerians in this argument

E pass age cheating?

TheSuperNerd:
I agree that, generally, very talented young players will take time to peak and begin showing their monster forms in their mid-20s or a bit earlier. But I also still hold the opinion that certain players even at 18 or maybe 21 will still ruffle feathers using their precociousness to trump experience.

There are always exceptions to the rule Dad.... You know that.

Some players take time to mature and hit their peak levels between ages 25-30 or so... E.g. Drogba, Salah, Jorginho.... Etc

But some others at age 19, 20, 21 or even 22 will be at an already high level technically making giant leaps and making fine statements even before they reach ages 25-33.... E.g. Messi, CR7, Pele, Maradona, Neymar, Kanu... Etc

I understand that fact of some exceptionally talented players breaking in early. But not every d!ck and Harry player that comes up next thing invite him, he is better than Musa, Simon, Onazi etc.

Team building is a gradual process and you don't flood the national team with green horns especially on the eve of a major tournament like the WC.

asha80:
most football players peak between the ages of 25 to 31

But that is the age we chose to offload our players after gathering all the experience.

We easily call them tired old legs and be in a haste to push them out so as to bring in new kids and the cycle continues.And We keep trying to build endlessly.

This current team is young and growing in experience but when they have started gathering the experience we want to throw them out and start chasing some new kids all over again.

ChrisKels:
Coming from someone who called a 20 year old Awaziem an overhyped player despite his obvious young age. People dey sha oo

Yes, he was hyped beyond his abilities. This is player that some claimed was our best CB even before he got a call-up. We expect too much from some of these young players That is my point

TheSuperNerd:
I love the way you just used a glimpse of Nigerian football history to dive into the depths of the matter as regards the growth of the present Super Eagles generation of players and prospects. I also saw the Tunisia 94 final not so long ago this year and saw your observations too. I also took time to go through more Tunisia 94 games and clips plus some USA 94 matches I have on my archives on Nigeria's Glory days even down to the U-17s.
The same Okocha that was quite inconsistent and sometimes made some folks feel like he was unserious grew to become not just a Nigerian and African legend but a world class footballer.

Our current generation is still so very young... Most of our brightest talents are still only aged between 19 and 21 currently. They will still mature and so will their talents/potentials....

Look at Mohammed Salah... He is 25 now (will be 26 by June this year) but at ages 21 and 22/23, he was not this explosive. Look at his growth... We saw the talents in the 19-20yrs old Salah at Basel and he did show some fine glimpses at Chelsea before he left for Fiorentina in Italy and then to Roma... But now at 25/26 at Liverpool, he has matured and allowed his growth count immensely... He is now practically a god among his peers at Liverpool.

Greatness sometimes will take time. And I see same explosion happening to a few of our rising young Nigerian talents if they keep the same positive, hardworking spirit and A-class mentality. I know we are on the verge of another golden generation in Nigerian football as it was in the 90s... But their growth continues... Most of the best of these lads/rising young players are still only aged 18, 19, 20, 21 or even 22... I say give it time. They will rise stronger with a few or couple of them going on to be world class footballers.

But some don't believe that(or pretend not to believe) age counts in football.

Players generally mature and get better with age. Just that they peak at various ages.

I look at some people when they criticise a player and then forgetting his age.

The expectations on some of these young players are too high. They expect them to be pulling up trees already meanwhile they are still at the developmental stages.

You in particular call me the custodian of the Hall of experience or something, you now agree with me that players get better as they age and gain more experience.

It is that young untested player that people here will always see as a better or best player. Going back to the motion that Kalu and Olayinka are better than Simon and Musa and that the later duo should be dropped for the former duo. Where is it done? You want to throw away the experience of Simon and Musa for untested young players? Not even as if Simon and Musa have not been forming in their clubs.

edi287:
If you were making a case for Iwobi coming on for Wilshere or even Lacazette, then maybe. But Welbeck?? His athleticism alone is why you don't take him off. Arsenal were still creating chances and should've scored 3-4 without the substitution. If anything, I'd have brought on AMN for his pace to deal with Atleti's counter.

Correct!

MetalJigsaw:
Bros, I respect people as much I respect myself. But don't do something that will annoy me this night. I reminded everyone that this thread is not for Arsenal and Atletico for Christ's sake. go and open this your fussy annoying Arsenal Atleti thread.

I be gentleman but I no day miss my target when it comes to connecting a Guilder bottle for person head o [hehehe]

Oga, the focus is on Iwobi Vs Welbeck. It is a Nigerian player we are discussing here.

If you are not interested in this topic then join in other ones elsewhere.

MetalJigsaw:
Why are you bent on derailing this thread for us? why?

OK. I see. It is Friday night.

MetalJigsaw:
I used to respect people like you o. *starts searching for a bottle but sights a cutlass*

I guess that bottle or cutlass na to shave your hair abi?

daveP:
This is a very interesting revelation. very Interesting one. I'm out. Back to Papi Rohrs GWG matters.

Hahaha, who do you define as a dribbler? Or what do you refer to as dribbling?

daveP:
10s of thousands of arsenal fans disagree with this your analysis. Funny enough, most of them that insulted and vilified Iwobi were the very ones saying that he would have made a difference cos of his dribbles which Welbeck the heck, couldn't offer. Pls we know that most of the players on the pitch were very tired. only a foolish coach would leave a tired Ronaldo or Messi on the pitch in the name of that they would still make a big chance at winning. Not to talk less of Arsenal players that if Ancellotti were coach, they would see the backdoor out.

Don't tell me here and now that you believe that Iwobi's game is solely for possession cos I won't agree atall with you.

Did you see the list of players on Arsenal's bench?

Talking about drillbles, Ramsey, Wilshere and Ozil are all drillers. We needed a direct player in that attack which was what Wilbeck was there for.

Mickael2:
can't you just say that the Atletico fullback was a stalwart on the day? I mean this is a team with one of the best defences in the world, Arsenal created chances, plenty if chances which shows that the team was doing okay, all they needed was a goalscorer, is it Iwobi that would have scored the goals? Welbeck remains a bigger goal threat than Iwobi any day

Thank you Jare.

daveP:
Impact players. Iwobi may not be a game changer cos he still has a lot to learn, but beat your chest and tell me point blank that he wouldn't have done better on the wing than Welbeck that kept passing back when he had space to dribble thru and do something. The three times he tried to dribble, he was dispossessed and one of such even led to the goal that Griezmann buried. Haba.

Iwobi would dribble that defender and at least due to pressure, can get hacked down in the PK box cos of the rough way those ATM defenders were doing. Pls.


Sometimes, it's not just about the best 11.


We have coaches and managers bringing on players that have just one contribution to a game even if they are bench warmers. we've seen that alot in the UCL.



Iwobi, would have made a breakthrough on that flank than a wasteful, less confident Welbeck any day.

Naa, Iwobi would not have made the difference.

Welbeck has had a good run of games anf scored a couple of goals. So he was favorite to start from that wing and favorite to stay in the game for 90s. Arsenal needed a winger that plays direct football and also scores. And that was Welbeck.

Iwobi is a kind of player that gives you possession but we had the possession already. We needed a player that could take on the opposition directly, and there was none on the bench to come in and make that impact. So Welbeck stays for 90mins

Yes Wilshere had an average game but who could have replaced him?

Arsenal had no bench yesterday, so there was no way they could have made any substitutions.

Besides, making substitutions in a game is not a must. You can switch tactics and formations without any player substitution.

daveP:
A dribbling Iwobi would have done better than that useless Welbeck that can't make an attacking run on the wing.
He made it look like it was 10vs10.

Ozil, Ramsey and Wilshere had a bad bad game too.


Shock that le prof didn't make any subs.

1-1 and I wonder how the arsenal defenders would face beast Costa.

Who were the Impact players on the bench? He would have only made substitutions if we were leading like 3-0 to rest some players for the return leg.

I told someone even when it was 1-0, that Wenger was not going to make any substitutions. He had his best 11 on the field.

Martz101:
oh no, how can you deviate from free kick skills not been an age grade thing to development of both player, I was just trying to make you understand that Musa Mohammed was good with free kick and will be good with free kick after graduating from under17

It is not automatic bro. His relative lack of development may have also affected that aspect of his game.