₦airaland Forum

Joebie:
I personally thought Edwin Okon was better than Mustapha Abdullahi. Okon reminded me of Babayaro at UAE. He joined Akwa United after the U17 WC. Chigozie Obasi never signed with Deportivo. There were also rumors about a Bastia move at the time..

Lazarus.. I dont know.. Have you asked about Makanjuola Habeeb? Still with Chelsea?

I think Manu Garba did the right thing. But some of these forgotten players we have mentioned may topple others eventually. It's just too early to say.

Emmm.. the comparison u are making between Okon and Mustapha is that of comparing a player at U17 and another player at U20. That is nt a fair comparison.

For eg, the Musa Yahaya of U17 and the Musa Yahaya of U20 who seemed better?

The Iheanacho of U17 and Iheanacho of U20 who was better.

What Chidi Nwakali of U17 vs Chidi Nwakali of U20?

The thing is the competition at U20 is far more than U17. Most exceptional players at U17 become average at U20.

You need to close that gap in the team by introducing some professional 19 and 20 yrs olds in the team.

I had always said that the U17 is for cadet or academy players while the U20 is for young professionals. Players with mostly 2 to 3 seasons of professional football. And nt for academy players.

BascoVanVeli:
I am still waiting on u to tell me about the players Amunike should have selected. U have mentioned no names but u are sure Amunike selected on sentiments.

Hahaha . There was a thread on NPFL youngsters created jst last week.

Stephen Odey tops the list.

TheGoodJoe:
For real. I said. Are you saying you did not follow the news? We had a thread dedicated to the junior teams.


Nigeria U-20 Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has decided to have a three -day open screening for new players ahead of the team's camping for a 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Burundi, Vanguard reports.

Following Democratic Republic of Congo withdrawal from the tournament, Burundi progressed to be entitled to lock horns with Cup holders Nigeria.

Dates

Amuneke called for the open screening between Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 April before a group of 30 invited players arrive camp in Abuja on Monday 11 April.

http://www.futaa.com/transfers/amuneke-opens-screening-camp-for-u20

From this piece where was it stated that 600 players were invited?

tbaba1234:
Go back well, you will see that I supported you. Especially after Manu's u20 failure.

Ok. I see.

I give Manu kudos for bringing back into the team Wilfred Ndidi, Ifeanyi Mathew, Benard Bulbwa, Ibrahim Alhassan(later dropped), Mustapha Abdulahi. I need not tell u what these 4 brought into the U20 team even though they were still very young. at that U20 Mathew was 17, Ndidi, Bulbwa, and Mustapha were 18.
Others players like Success, Awoniyi, Godwin, Iheanacho, Musa Mohammed, Zaharadeen, Yahaya were either 17 or 18. Only Success was already 19 and Iheanacho and a few others were 18+.

Manu recognised the team was too young and then included Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Nwobodo, Kinglsey Sokari, Moses Simon And Enaholo and we saw what they brought to the table



For Amuneke, for a start, where are those boys that failed d MRI? Or none of his players failed MRI?

tbaba1234:
We treat under 20 as automatic promotion... Some players at under 17 might be unable to meet the standard at under 20. Under 17 is usually amateur, under 20 is professional /semi-professional. Those three years make a big difference in development. Some will fade away, others will remain.

So you know abt this all these while but kept me as a lone Ranger in that thought and argument.

OMG! This is what i have been preaching here for over 2yrs.

Joebie:
That's football for you. Development and other factors is crucial. Look at Brazil at the U17. Look at Brazil again at the U20s. Some stars in the U17 disappear never to return. Remember Sinama Pongole of France? So Muazam now may not be as good as Iheanacho, and may never reach his level even when he moves to Europe. Take note I said MAY. Rating him higher at U17 does not mean he will be a better player eventually. The likes of Onyekuru didnt pass our youth system, but MAY end up getting a higher rating than Iheanacho. Let's keep our fingers crossed and watch them play through their 20s.

Exactly.

I have always maintained that football development is not arithmetic. Some players development is in multiples, some +vely arithmetically progress while some will even regress.

MOST players after U17 do not progress well.

It would be a big error to assume that all graduates of U17 will keep improving. There are some players you will not jst hear them names any where again.

For instance I asked a question yesterday: WHERE IS JOHN LAZARUS? No answers yet.

What of Chigozie Obasi or Edwin Okon?

Why didnt Manu promote those two along with the others?

But Amuneke promoted all his players.

I will not buy that argument that what if all of them have progressed to be U20 materials.

I have been long enough in this game to know that that is very unlikely.

forgiveness:
Bros, wetin na?

You know na...

Joebie:
That selection process is suspect

Exactly my point.

joseph1013:
Na that one go cause fight pass. Forgiveness go dey analyse singular and plural with that hin shine shine teeth.

U know that kain thing. You sabi that my guy wella. He will be shouting corruption and ne......

Joebie:
Well Amuneke should take the blame. Plus he should have considered other boys that were not part of his former U17 set up

TheGoodJoe said he called over 600 players to an open camp and yet only one new player joined the first team from among the 600.

Joebie:
Well Amuneke should take the blame. Plus he should have considered other boys that were not part of his former U17 set up

TheGoodJoe come and see another top-notch comment

tbaba1234:
It is still afternoon here, put am for fridge.

I understand. But na make them begin the preparation on time.

In fact you deserve more. Take this one knack am down.

Joseph1013 we suppose dey do comment of the month award on this thread. Pick up 4 best comments or contributions and we vote.

That tbaba's comment deserves a look in.

Joebie:
I think it's a combination of factors. Our boys are used to that terrain. However, Amuneke should have instructed them to change tactics. Overall, they came into that game already at a disadvantage psychologically.

Amuneke and his boys needed to have consulted from Siasia and his boys on how they did it when they were not being properly catered for en-route qualification for the 2005 AYC. Amuneke's boys were not mentally matured. They lacked the Nigerian spirit. Period.

TheGoodJoe:

Do you think Barcelona will prefer to play in a bad pitch that will restrict their passing game? As soon as you take away that, you weaken them. The pitch restricted their play.

So Barca would lose to a club from Cyrus or Luxembourg on that kind of pitch.

tbaba1234:
Most of those boys were amateurs. Pros worry about pitch not amateurs. The pitch had no bearing on their performance, they were just not prepared mentally for the game. All other excuses are void.

Abeg tbaba u deserve this for dinner:

No let TheGoodJoe come near o.

TheGoodJoe:
You wanted Amunike to ask them to resort to long balls against taller and bigger opponents.



Our best bet was to stick to the way they know. The pitch was bad and the organizers messed them up. If we got them a better pitch they would have excelled. I wonder why it is so hard to face it. Bad pitch and unpaid allowances disrupted the team. Finito. Comprende, au revoir.

Those boys were not ready of the challenges at that stage. Period.

terzurum5:
Alhassan Ibrahim – Failed Arsenal Target,Once Rated Ahead Of Iheanacho Turning Heads In NPFL

https://owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/image-10.jpg

The story of Akwa United free scoring midfileder Alhassan Ibrahim popularly referred to as Mu’azam won’t be complete without visiting the issues that stifled his growth.


Back in 2012 when Nigeria U-17 coach Manu Garba finished screening for the next badge of cadet players for Nigeria, the one player whose name was on everybody’s lips was Ibrahim Alhassan.


The midfielder who loves to play just behind the main striker was a beauty to behold during the qualifiers for the African U-17 Youth Championship which was hosted by Morocco in 2013.


Mu’azam missed out on the tournament after falling short of the mandatory MRI Scan, but English Premier League giants have seen enough in the two qualifiers against Niger Republic and Guinea Conakry, hence they slapped in a bid for his services.


His agent (names withheld) killed the deal, when he insisted on taking control of negotiations instead of working in tandem with the intermediary who brought the interest from the English Premier League giants.


He subsequently tried out with some clubs in Europe but an ankle injury stopped him from joining any of the teams despite his performance, and his lack of club football subsequently cost him a spot in the 2015 Nigeria U-20 team for the World Youth Championship.


That exclusion happened to be the kick he needed to get his career back on track, as he joined Wikki Tourist last year and played a role inGodwin Obaje emerging as the highest goal scorer in the league.


He moved to Akwa United before the start of thisseason, and his form has once again gone back to 2012 where he was the big hit in a Nigeria team ahead of the likes of Manchester City Kelechi Iheanacho and Watford’s Isacc Success.


So far he has found the back of the net seven times as a pseudo striker, a strike rate that has made him one of the feared forwards in the Nigeria Professional Football League, and a show of why Arsenal pulled the stop to sign him in 2012.

* Ade Emmanuel

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/04/03/alhassan-ibrahim-failed-arsenal-target-once-rated-ahead-of-iheanacho-turning-heads-in-npfl/

Prio to the CAF U17 I also rated this guy including Benerd Bulbwa ahead of Iheanacho.

Iheanacho was warming the bench when this Al-Hassan and Bulbwa were running things in that team. Awoniyi was initially the main CF before Success broke in.

Another player I rated and still rate highly is Ifeanyi Mathew. Complete baller.

TheGoodJoe:

I don't know why the referee didn't call off the game the moment it became water logged. From what I learnt the Sudanese were bigger and resorted to up balls which helped them.

You did not see this too.

Some times in football when tactics fails, physic and experience carry you through. Especially in Africa. The team was grossly inadequate in these two.

For eg an NPFL U20 or U19 all stars team would not have crumbled to a team like Sudan under such conditions, including unpaid allowances.

TheGoodJoe:

I don't know why the referee didn't call off the game the moment it became water logged. From what I learnt the Sudanese were bigger and resorted to up balls which helped them.

You did not see this too.

"the Sudanese were bigger and resorted to up balls". That is what i have talking about. Amuneke's choice of players. That is part of the inadequacies i have been talking abt.I also blame Amuneke's tactics for that day.

You parade 17 and few 18 yrs olds as U20 and ask them to play tiki taka on a flooded pitch?

forgiveness:
Hehehehe! Na wey e chop sand you dey show face.
Hahahaha! You wan cause wahala for here, ba?

Cause which wahala?
Ajagun na topic wey fit cause wahala here?

tbaba1234:
Ifeanyi Mathew played 90 mins and provided an assist in Liilestorm 2:1 win.
Chidi Nwakali lost 3:1, played for 74 mins before he was subbed.
Aaron Samuel came in as a 64 min sub in Cska Moscow 2:1 win.

Thanks for this update mannn

Dedebanky85:
I agree with you bro... Lagos was specifically chosen due to the teams playing pattern which entails keeping the ball on the ground and passing swiftly. Teslim stadium has the best playing surface. If not that senior players don't like playing on artificial pitch, I'd have loved all SE games on that pitch. Nobody could foresee the rain. I don't know why the referee didn't call off the game the moment it became water logged. From what I learnt the Sudanese were bigger and resorted to up balls which helped them. But Amuneke advised the team to still maintain their passing game on the water logged pitch.

TheGoodJoe na me talk this one?

Joebie:
Since after his loan spell?

Yeah.

DjSwaga:
At least, put a price range

Seems u are new to this section.

Joebie:
He's been pretty good at the qualifiers though. Solid in Rio

Have you been following his club performance in the last 6months?

Price pls.

Joebie:
Are you saying that because of the red, or his overall game play?
Troost has been steady for SE.

His overall game play. Including the Super Eagles. Nt jst bc of this red card incidence.

TheSuperNerd:
Troost Why naa?

Now Kalu is out.... will be really tough for Simon carrying the team's attack now....

Troost Ekong.

His game has nt been impressive of late.
He was never a first teamer both under Keshi and Oliseh. Rio catapulted him.

Hmmmm... I remember the debate we had abt him and Omeruo. Who is better.

We need to reopen that discussion. Jst thinking.

Humility017:
I think he is currently not a first choice player in his team..
that might limit his changes... moreover a lot of options are now available to rohr.. even idowu is there
SE is now more competitive than before

Bros na wa o. U sef no dey sabi when pessin dey play sef?

TheSuperNerd:
No naa.... Chief Icon4s.... that is not why I mentioned You....

I know you didn't say he isn't good... and yes we both agreed he should try make it with the Chan team to further prove his class and readiness to step up levels....

I just wanted you to be aware of his progress so far...

No wahala.
Me too dey follow the league wella.

Muazam also scored last week.

I watch selected matches by Super sports at my leisure times, though relayed games.

TheSuperNerd:
That Brazilian front 3 na die..... Neymar, Gabby Jesus and Coutinho....


Even in Gabby Jesus' absence, you can see the way Paulinho stepped up from his CM position.

They still get Douglas Costa ooo... Brazil's team synergy is coming back and they will be a strong force at Russia 2018.


As for Jordan Of Hertha BSC, I believe we will get him and finally have a good backup for Echiejile...

But we must not stop at Jordan... we need yet another left back option... at least one more cover for both Elderson and Jordan...

Make theGoodJoe no kill me for sounding like I have forgotten Oshaniwa oooo..... **pulls off shoes.. ready to run on sighting Sir TheGoodJoe**

But Oshaniwa too follow for training crew na.

Who knows he may consider him. TheGoodJoe sebi?

forgiveness:
I think he came in for an injured player in the second half and they were playing with 10 players.

Why u con dey laugh na?

That ur comment reminded me of one of my pals way back by name Shola.

Ade Akinbiyi of Leicester City, if u remember him, was in the spot light then.

We heard so much of him and had an opportunity of watching him in a Cup game.

Leicester lost. Akinbiyi had no impact in the match. My friend now said ' him men no pass ball give am'. Lol! Just almost d way u said it.