₦airaland Forum

Joezinho:
Kante strikes me as a more of a box-to-box midfielder than a rigid DM..

Anybody who plays in midfield and his skill set is rigid as opposed to to versatile and adaptable , will be at a disadvantage.

Top Midfielders can play anywhere in the midfield and can very quickly go from defence to instigating the attack and even scoring if needs be.

It is essentially the difference from being very good and Excellently world class .

TheGoodJoe:

Kelechi Nwakali did not have a bad game. He was good at his job.

Finito.

He was bad but not too bad because of the Quality player's around him.

But we could have been so much better if he we had brought on Onyeka.

Hanibal:
lol I sleep and wake up here, I just do not enjoy typing that much, I find it burdensome.
Maybe our definition of hype is different.
What you see as hype, I see as explanations.
No one has said he is the best in the world or even in Africa, or the best in segunda ( that is hype) , no one has said he is a finished product either.
All what the supposed hypers have been doing is explaining why they think he should be in the team

The explanation given he is the only quality Midfielder that Nigeria has acces to, that can do long balls and bring stability to the midfield.

When did we start playing " police game"

That is a complete aberration from truth and fact.

We are starting a never do well over those who have done well in clubs and leagues much higher than his

With the hundreds of Midfielder

andrewbaba44:
It’s the coach decision for him to be in the team and not me ,even onyekuru with a very poor season made it to the afcon so nothing new .

If you have not seen any hype then you aren’t always on this thread .

Happy Sunday

Maybe so Onyekuru had a poor season but Nwakali has had 5/6 poor seasons consecutively in Europe and is in the far from competitive Segunda Division.

TheGoodJoe:

I will do a write-up later. Ranting will not help you now. Nwakali hardly lost possession in midfield.

Several times the Sudanese took the ball off him. Particularly when he was never under any pressure.

His work rate is abysmal when you come in last 29 minutes you should be going box to box not backwards and giving long ball's to striker who will fall down at the slightest touch.

I can't wait for Onyeka to play and if he doesn't then l know NFF normal politics has returned.

TheGoodJoe:

Saying go and sleep is not a point. It is a sign of frustration. In the end, you can not blame me for you not understanding a basic point.

Eguavoen likes a player that CAN DICTATE play from deep with long balls.

That is not Eguavoen wants the player to always keep throwing long balls, even if the situation does not demand it.

OKAY?

Finito.

One of the easiest skill sets of you can even call it that is the " long ball". It's a skill set , just like walking and running anybody in can do.

There is nothing in unique or outstanding about "police game" long ball. Most teams use technical be ability, skill and tram strategy to retain possession , not the long ball.

Finally, is that what Eguavon said to you

There is no player in that SE selection that cannot kick a long ball.

That so called justification is not justified.

daveP:
The funny thing is if we now see what Onyeka plays and its better, that's another minus to his relevance, cos this is a competition of shirts and spots and the best once they've proven themselves, will outshadow the rest. Its national team football so the time is lesser, compared to club football where injury can make a benchito get time to even outshadow the main star if so wish. He's not the first and he's not going to be the last, that's why he need improve asap. Best of luck to him.

I am skeptical and unable to explain how an anonymous mouse in the Segunda was getting to play before Iwobi and Onyeka who has been a consistent performer for Brentford in the EPL . Has not had one minute.

There is simply no rational to these actions. I know that there is all kinds of politics that goes on in the NFF. But this is becoming too obviously implausible and defying logic.

When you come to the closing stages of a game you need a box to box Midfielder to put in a shift. This is something that Onyeka has done.

It should have been apparent to the coaching crew that Sadiq has nothing to offer. Then what about Olayinka and Onyekuru ❓

Sportilitica:
Boss you need to add insults na.
It would be hard to prove that Nwakalis inclusion helped the team compared to Aribo because we were already leading and quite comfortably. Nwakali came in to seal the game

He didn't seal the game he was close to being a liability when your own team mate's are berating you in the middle of the game as Ndidi did.

There is nothing to say

safarigirl:
Thank God Sadiq saw 30 minutes of game time today and 15 minutes in the last game

It is not the usual 10 minutes cameo. He did not get a cameo and we have seen more than enough

Iwobi that came on for less than 10 minutes against Egypt, we saw what he did in those 10 minutes.

A player who is good does not need to start a game or play for 45 minutes before they show their mettle.

Even Awoniyi's first game, despite not scoring, we saw what he brought.

Please, let us not even try to use game time to make excuses for some players, because there is no truth to it in this scenario.

Agreed without resort to question.

Danielnino00:
These Nwakali slanders aren't justifiable at all.. The guy had a good game.. Obviously he was brought in to stabilize the midfield,which he did perfectly well.. It's funny that some people are attacking him for making back passes when in reality, most of our players today made a lot of back passes too..

No he did not giving the ball away under no pressure on several occasions and unable to fight to get it back.

He was negative and simply not good enough. You don't bring someone in to just pass it on.

Really need to see Onyeka can't understand why he has not played really baffling. The long ball is the preference for player's who lack technical ability and the stamina to go box to box continuously. And take the option to go long most times.

I can assure you that Brentford is hard working team and passengers are not allowed.

Watching now Egypt against Guinea Bissau one thing is very clear, Guinea Bissau better than Sudan not by a lot

They are giving Egypt a strong challenge they are a collection of very tall Iroko Trees very athletic and physical. Egypt are not able to use their technical ability to control the game completely .

It's still 0-0

Just watched Coutinho score against Manchester United on his debut.

Also a certain 18 year old Carney Chukwuemeka in midfield for Villa and I do not know him personally. Small boy is running the midfield.

TheGoodJoe:
Carry Jorginho and play him attack midfield. It does not work that way

Carry Ngole and play him attack and see what happens, the same goes for Wijnaldum now at PSG, As well as Henderson at Liverpool, the same goes Fernadinho, Teilemans, Bissouma, etc ,etc

Good and intelligent players adapt to whatever position they have to play.

semid4lyfe:
Abeg make dem take araldite gum Sadiq and Nwakali to the bench for the rest of this competition. I have seen enough and come to the conclusion they're farmers and a waste of space in the squad.

Terem Moffi/Cyriel Dessers deserve to be in the squad ahead of Sadiq.

Akinkumi Amoo/Alhassan Yusuf deserve to be in the squad ahead of Nwakali.

Agreed without question ❓

dkay51:
Omeruo doesn't trust him to get the ball and I don't blame him.

When low cross is coming into the box within the 18 with opposing players in the 18. And the CB is in the direct pathway of the ball ( even blocking the keeper's sight of the ball) the responsibility to control, clear and or otherwise rests 100% with the CB not the goalkeeper.

That CB was Omeruo.

codemaniacs:
From what I've seen Nwakali is a central midfielder not an attacking midfielder and a Mikel obi type of a player --- a player who was an attacking midfielder in his youth but has become more of a central midfielder..

At least he was making runs with the ball and playing for the team and also maybe playing too safe for some people on this thread.

One of things we teach young players is versatility and you will find players taking on board several different positions. That means two footed proficiency as well.

That means even in the game you can switch from attack to defence and vice Versa. What makes Ngole Kante the best is his ability to switch roles in a second turning attack to defence in seconds.

Trent Alexander was predominantly a Midfielder at Liverpool, but opportunity came at RB and he has redefined the role, arguably the best RB in the world. He has the most assists in the EPL. That not withstanding a little drop in form and he lost his position in the England team.

You are trying to pidgin hole him into one role. The reality is he isn't good enough for the SE, there is reason he has kept dropping club and league to end up anonymous in the Segunda Division.

It can't be dressed up.

Hanibal:
Nwakali is the Jorginho of the super Eagles
A player grossly misunderstood at this Early stages
But he will become important and loved with time, and a run of games.
In my eyes, he was magnificent today.
But players like him suffer unfair criticism because most soccer fans do not understand them , what they do, and why they bring to their team's midfield.

Well it seems the whole of the coaching staff at Arsenal, MVV Maastricht, Venlo, Porto B and even Huesca in the Segunda Division where he is the second lowest paid player in his club. Seem not understand him.

So not just the fans but all the coaching staff in that have been involved with him apart from the NFF coaching staff who have given him undue opportunity.

TheSuperNerd:
As in eh. Shows you how really surface-level most people's eyes in here are.

A lad came in and recorded a 92% passing accuracy. Gave 24 accurate passes. 16 of those passes were into/in opposition half and only 8 were in his own defensive half. And he played deep ooo.

Had 3 accurate long balls. That was a 100% long balls accuracy from Nwakali. Even his last act saw him drive forward beating a man and setting up Iwobi who could get a cross in.

He didn't miss a beat on the long balls delivery and he distributed tidily. Kept control of that middle game and even

He even had a shot on target from a freekick and won 2 out of his 3 ground duels.

And the mob wants me to accept that Nwakali Played nonsense.

Mbanu now... even the stats say they are fooling themselves yet this is a game we all watched.

The calm we had in our Middle game in the second half wasn't present in the first half. We were rushed and putting ourselves under undue pressure in the first half in the middle because we couldn't keep the ball well enough and truly dictate play.

Iwobi and Nwakali came on and we saw control and calm. Honestly, not many people here know ball. I swear!!!

They just wanna Diss and Diss. Smh

It's funny shaa...

Do you know stats are only indicative not conclusive .

You can do twenty accurate short passes that do nothiny and have no impact on the game between you and your Midfield as you keep possession.

Nwakali had little impact on the game he brought NOTHING.

codemaniacs:
Nwakali also needs international caps for countries like England that have laws in place against players who don't have international caps. Sadiq , olayinka also needs international caps.

Nwakali came to England on the exception allowed for work permit, which is exceptional talent. He was supposedly the best in the world from the U17 world cup.

Nwakali came on the same framework as KC. However, Arsenal discovered he was not as good as they had speculated. I mean they signed him on a 5 year contract.

When he arrived Saka, Smith Row, Falorin were 12/13 Willock and Maitland were his age group and he wasn't better or up to thier level.

Nwakali needs to first of show quality in his club and league he has played in Europe for five years plus and nobody has considered him good enough. That's why he has remained in the Segunda even his stats are not encouraging. What is surprising is how he got into the SE.

I don't know a Championship side that will take him even league one it will not be easy for him.

So he needs to really up his game, you don't come to the SE to learn football you come to showcase it.

andrewbaba44:
Ejuke is a gem

I want Ebuehi to start next game also

We already know what Collins has to offer.

I would play Aina left back and Ebuehi Right back.

I want to know more about Ajayi , Ekong is best CB and captain. Sometimes you need a Midfielder to come in who has a relentless work rate to ensure things or your lead is maintained that player is Onyeka.

Why did we bring Olayinka and Onyekuru if we wil not see what they have to offer.

Is there anybody that has eyes that thinks Sadiq and Nwakali should be given more opportunity to waist.

TheSuperNerd:
All these Nwakali slander. Is it not the lad that had given 3 accurate long balls in this same half and even had a driving move just now setting up iwobi on the wings?

His distribution was very tidy and he alongside Iwobi made us keep the ball more in the middle.

We struggled to do this in the first half. Iwobi and Nwakali steps in and we were neat in pass recyles but ofcos people that don't know ball must slander.

Superficial observers.

Stop trying to turn black to white.

Did you see the number of times he lost possession, when he was under no pressure. It's obvious he plays in a slow poke league. And his football intelligence is lacking as a consequence decision making is poor.

Nwakali and Sadiq have shown what they have to offer.

Please let others who are there show what they can do. Players like Onyeka who should have been on to maintain thngs as well as Onyekuru, Olayinka and l want to see if Ajayi brings more than Omeruo (because he is suspect) his ball distribution should be much better and anticipation.

JohnBullMySon:
Omeruo and Maduka need to coordinate themselves. Know which ball to leave for another.

That ball is the defenders ball he is supposed to clear and control that ball it's a basic low level cross.

Two players on the outside to release the ball too and Sadiq decides to give a long back pass to the Sudan keeper.

WELL DONE

Pidginwhisper:
Okoye should thank the defense in front of him. Man is average

No he is not.

His was unsighted and Omeruo should have controlled and blocked off the very basic cross .,but did not.

Okoye pulls off an instinctive save towards Ekong to clear.

SerVik:
Olayinka should be playing ahead of Sadiq tbh

100%

I guess if your going to score then this is your chance against Sudan.

They are not weak but they are not strong either.

Forgive me but some of these Sudanese players look like they have not had cold ice water before.

Meanwhile we shouldn't get complacent.

Why is Sadiq falling like I don't know nobody touched him.

Oasis001:
That's a never a PK..... but we moved.

But the Dude jumps to the ground screaming and shouting like somebody cut off his foot. Refereee falls for the play acting like he was in Nollywood

Awoniyi thought it was a goal.

I really want to see Onyeka and Onyekuru match is more or less done, we would have to something crazy too loose it.

Awoniyi is doing what he does best

That's very soft gets a yellow for almost nothing.

Sudan are not on our level.

I haven't realised Musa is still here he has come on , dies he still have it.

Look like penalty

andrewbaba44:
I want onyekuru to come in ,let me see what he can do

Awoniyi and Aribo needs to rest also ,they should be protected

Agreed

drDoom3:
Aboubakar is better than Ighalo.

The only qualities Ighalo could be considered remotely better are finishing and positioning. Abou is faster, stronger, younger, you can keep going on. Aboubakar is a power forward who hold his own in any top league. The only reason he is in Saudi is money and when he wants to come back, he will get offers.

Ighalo is the same if he wants to come to the EPL he will get several club's. He is also in the same league as Aboubakar just scored more goals than him.

We are Africans he may or may not be younger, Aboubakar has not played in the best league in the world but Ighalo has the EPL. Manchester United did not see him before they invited Ighalo Abe.

Your deduction is based on emotive preference and dislike. The facts are before you, but you choose to imagine things birthed from a prejudiced mind.