₦airaland Forum

Trust me. I've made those arguments against Mikel in the past. But if Chelsea officially sees him as their legend. Then so be it

Mickael2:
that defines precisely what Busquets does for Barcelona but that hasn't prevented him from being nominated for the accolades.


Ok, during his best patch was Mikel ever included in the FIFA best XI? Atleast there is always a DMF there, he has never even been nominated for that one as well

dude.. A holding defensive midfielder don't need speed.. That's the role he played at Chelsea. I don't know where you are heading with your sarcasm. Okocha was not very fast. Yes he did have that sudden burst going forward sometimes.

neighy:
lol.. Compared to mikel okocha was very fast and very skillful so he could easily take out defenders ... And mikel has shielding the ball to cover for it

I want to think that Mikel was more a holding defensive midfielder -- specialized defensive midfielder. Thats the aspect I think we are talking about. There are not many players that play that role. Makalele will be a good example.

Mickael2:
ok so how many times has Mikel been shortlisted in the....50man list for the Fifa World Best player? Atleast at that stage a lot of 'shields' are seen. Even Keita made it in once. Busquets is a mainstay, Ramos is there just about every year and so many other defensive players. Back to the question, did Mikel make that list after his 'legendary' contributions in 2012?

Now you are talking. That's why I've been canvassing for Joel Obi. That partnership will be deadly. Joel has the pace that Mikel don't have. But pace is not everything. Okocha wasn't fast but he had many other qualities that could cover for it.

neighy:
i acknowledge the fact that nothing can be done.. Buh if only he can add pace to his game

Agreed.

TheGoodJoe:
Exactly. Coupled with the fact that Mikel played that Key role for so long at Chelsea during a domestic dominating period and trophy-filled era. That was amazing. Then doing great in the Semi-finals and Finals of the Champions League. Then AFCON. With repeated man to match performances. This should not even be a debate.

Very true. I read a while back that the holding midfielder role is the MOST important role but players playing that role can be easily unnoticed.

TheGoodJoe:
Mikel will not get nominated because he did not play a flamboyant role. It is that simple. Even the board of Real Madrid thought Makelele was useless until they sold him and Zidane criticised the decision. Most times, awards and accolades go to the flamboyant role players.

EXTREMELY famous. Well at least we now have reference in our debate.. But really nobody is going to win this. Chelsea said he is a legend, so be it.

Mickael2:
Mikel wasn't so famous at Chelsea so Legend? No

well, i'm going to have to revise my definition lol.. I had to go look at the dictionary.
This looks the most appropriate definition:

An extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field.
Sentences: ‘the man was a living legend’
‘a screen legend’

So we are talking about a player that is extremely famous in a team. Or should I say extremely famous because of his exploits in that team?

Well I must say Mikel is Super Eagles legend considering the 2013 era till date. Kanu also was. But club performances also rub off on these players. And that can boost their legendary status.

Mickael2:
wasn't Kanu part of the team from 96 till 2010? I can remember we made the semis in all but one Afcon he participated and he scored some vital goals and earned some vital penalties and assists as well.


Chelsea's golden era can also be the year they won their first Epl or when they won it under Mou back then or when Ancelotti was destroying teams enroute to a double etc etc

Let me define it again in my own opinion.

If we are speaking of a club. I want to look at the long history of the club especially as it has to do with our lifetime. I want to look at the golden era, or the era of best achievement to see those who were monumental to that feat. Those are the ones I will consider legends.

For Super Eagles. I will consider 1994 (nations cup and our first world cup) period our only golden-generation I am conscious of. And it even spilled over to several years after when we at least made bronze several times at the AFCON. The likes of Yekini, Okocha, Amokachi, Amuneke, Rufai etc comes to mind. Nwankwo Kanu had a very successful club career than Nigerian SENIOR career.

Mickael2:
now I am confused, so despite being a vital player(not vital alone, infact irreplaceable, only about 4 players in that team were irreplaceable) in our first Afcon win since 1994 he isn't a SE legend? But for being a pivotal piece in a star-studded Chelsea team that cost almost 1bn he is a Chelsea legend?

What you have here are two occasions in a short period of time (within a year?).
The striketroughs do not count. We are talking Super Eagles Legend. Or maybe you want to discus Nigerian-Footballer legend (?)

I wouldn't even put Kanu Nwankwo in the class of SuperEagles Legends for the same reason I've stated earlier.
Nigerian-Football legend? Hell yes!!!

Mickael2:
he appears in just two or three. Can you compare Mikel's achievements to any of Lampard or Drogba?


We did win the Afcon with Mikel holding our midfield, the U20 too(not SE but still) plus Olympics(granted he messed up at the world cup) but he was also great at the Confed cup so SE legend? Absolutely

Oh yes no doubt. But if you look at our team very well. Let's be realistic, you will see a lot of these players in their very early 20s. We shouldn't expect TOO much from them in Russia. But I like where we are heading with Qatar in view.

tbaba1234:
Well, if we qualify, there is time to do the allegiance switch.

Consider the history of Chelsea, their best moments. Was Mikel involved?

I won't consider Mikel an SE legend though. I want to think of the period of SE successes (our golden era) and those who propelled it. Now that's legendary.

Mickael2:
I liked your comment because it exposes the entire problem we are having now.


Simple Mikel deserves maximum respect, he was a great Chelsea player but he was not a Chelsea legend, he is a SE legend for sure but very far from a legend at Chelsea. For top clubs your exploits in a season(granted a Champions league winning season) does not elevate your status to a legend, it makes you a great player for sure

oga when I think of that word legend, I think of a long span of time. e.g our lifetime. Not a period of time.
It's either Yobo is a SE Legend or he is not. Likewise Enyeama. Please don't use a short-term category.

Which is why Mikel can be considered a legend. The time he spent in Chelsea and the trophies he won with the team, while playing of course.
Chelsea don talk am.. o pari

Modified
You want to think of the period of success of the country, team etc as a context

elyte89:
Baba Mikel no b LEGEND,forget dt one,


If we were to pick legends among d SE set up since 2008-uptill date, we av just two or three players based on deir consistency,effort pulled towards d team success, we av ENYEAMA AND YOBO...dis re d only two Nigeria legends we av

I beg make we leave that Mikel matter. Chelsea has already said it.

O pari (borrowed)

I must applaud yourself and Kog45 for agreeing to disagree in such a fine manner. We hope to see more of such in future.

neighy:
i actually share your view about di mateo.. His name will go down in history.. I get your point and your view and lastly i respect you, you don't term people whose view contradict yours as "hater"
you be agba and not agbaya infact permission to add "SIR" to your name...

"AN (for emphasis) FA Cup for them"

Mickael2:
Babayaro is a chelsea legend, he won an FA Cup with them

Trust me. I've looked that direction earlier. But then he has to agree first. That's a process. Then we have to wait for the FIFA side of the process.
Of course, that's a good plan just like I've been canvassing for Torunarigha. But the discussion has been as regards the moment. It doesn't seem like we have immediate good alternatives.

I want to be honest, I fancy our chances in Qatar more -- as regards having a good bench.

tbaba1234:
What about Felix Udoukhai? That is the guy we should be going for, i believe...

Too early to say for Junior Pius..

Yes if Celtics must be fair to him, he should be called a Celtics Legend considering their Champions League exploits.

do4luv14:
more over Rogers, does not believe in him, and does not even know him,

ask his former coach, who took him to the second tie, wia he help them back on top, EFE is a top defender, if you know how to use hin

Let me add, just today Hibernian held Scottish powerhouse Celtic to a 2-2 draw AWAY.

Kog45:
WAFU CB?watching d final Eze let me down after Adeleye got injured,so no go area.

Ambrose getting MOTM in lower Scottish league not a big deal and also a regular in Hilbernia don't fancy me.

I don't reckon with Scottish league,so i don't see his form in d league as a way for national recall.

My concerns is Awaziem making d grade and Omeruo getting his fitness back.

good one!

denniece1:
K. Nwakali with his 1st league start for venlo

Oh yes. that's it!

soetanoreoluwa:
just hope I won't get Banned again


Two Foreign-Based Stars Withdraw From Zambia Squad Ahead Of Nigeria Clash
Published: September 30, 2017
Two Foreign-Based Stars Withdraw From Zambia Squad Ahead Of Nigeria Clash
The Zambian national team have suffered a big blow ahead of their 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria, with two of the eleven foreign-based professionals called up for the tie withdrawing from the squad.

Platinum Stars ace Brian Mwila and K.V Oostende midfielder Emmanuel Banda can't participate in the game after failing to recover from injury, and coach Wedson Nyirenda has since replaced the duo with Power Dynamos midfielder Alex Ng’onga and Zesco United’s John Ching’andu.

Mwila endeared himself to Zambia fans after netting a brace in a 3-1 win over Algeria at the Heroes Stadium on September 2.

''Brian (Mwila) will not be part of the team as he had a recurrence of the injury he suffered during the Algeria game. It is best to give him time to fully recover,'' Team Doctor George Magwende said to Fazfootball.com.

The Zambia squad will leave for Accra, Ghana on Sunday, October 1 ahead of the meeting against Nigeria.

Updated Zambia Squad

Goalkeepers (3) : Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns-RSA), Toaster Nsabata (Zanaco), Allan Chibwe (Power Dynamos)

Defenders (6) : Simon Silwimba, Fackson Kapumbu (both Zesco United), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), Stoppilla Sunzu (Arsenal Tula -Russia), Ziyo Tembo (Zanaco), Isaac Shamujompa (Power Dynamos)

Midfielders (11) : Chisamba Lungu (Allanyespor-Turkey), Edward Chilufya (Djurgårdens-Sweden), Donashano Malama (Nkana), Kondwani Mtonga, Misheck Chaila (both Zesco United), Augustine Mulenga (Zanaco), Enock Mwepu (FC Liefering), Roderick Kabwe (Cape Town Ajax), Ernest Mbewe (Zanaco), John Ching’andu (Zesco United), Alex Ng’onga (Power Dynamos)

Strikers (3) : Justin Shonga (Orlando Pirates), Fashion Sakala (Spartak Moscow), Patson Daka (Red Bull Salzburg-Austria)

Igho Kingsley

I actually read earlier, was it allnigeriasoccer?, that two of their foreign pros are out due to injury. Their presence won't have made a difference anyway.

femianski:
good news for Nigeria
Zambia star striker mwilla is injured
the Zambians are really panicking on the social media

So you agree with me. The argument has been, "for now". If Ambrose was still with Celtic you won't say that. But there is no evidence that he has dropped form. I'm not saying he Efe is above average , but at the moment, it's clear we don't have options. Awaziem latest performances in Ligue 1 can't be ignored.

Kog45:
WAFU CB?watching d final Eze let me down after Adeleye got injured,so no go area.

Ambrose getting MOTM in lower Scottish league not a big deal and also a regular in Hilbernia don't fancy me.

I don't reckon with Scottish league,so i don't see his form in d league as a way for national recall.

My concerns is Awaziem making d grade and Omeruo getting his fitness back.

Ambrose as CB now my brother.

OMANBALA1:
Ambrose is a fantastic ball player but dude cant cross a danm ball.

Lol the discussion is on. Who are the promising players?

soetanoreoluwa:
Who will you prefer a promising player or average tested players as back up for both Ekong and Balogun?

21?

soetanoreoluwa:
You try... Utaka dey there too...

Thank you!!

Chrismario:
Awoniyi scores.

His team leading 2-0

12. Enyeama
3. Udeze
17. Aghahowa
14. Aiyegbeni(?)
I don try

soetanoreoluwa:
Kindly name this players... Thanks


Cc: all

if I am right, I believe it was a stupid own goal against Barcelona in a friendly, that made Celtic fans call for his head. He dropped to lower team, Hibernian, had several MOTM awards if i'm not mistaking and help them to the top tier. Since then he's been a regular. Did Ambrose ever show a loss of form? I stand to be corrected.

Or mabye we should consider a couple of our CB's from WAFU(?).

Kog45:
Taiwo and Ambrose no go area for me coz they have nothing to offer again as regards national team.

Right. That's why the argument has been, for now. Trust me I want to see Omeruo improve and become even better than AFCON 2013. You never know Conte may just retain him.

Kog45:
Just hope Omeruo should shake up his slow start this season.

It's debatable. That's my opinion. Do you have suggestions? We can make comparisons

Kog45:
Efe Ambrose?

of course if he is still in form and we don't have options at LB, why not? These players we are mentioning still have to show they are still good in camp. But they say Taiwo is OLD.

Kog45:
meaning Taiye Taiwo can be recalled as back up to Echiejele due lack of availability in LB