₦airaland Forum

Earthquake1:
They still have Shawcross and Butland

I wonder why they are bottom of the league

It is the competitive nature of the Championship.

First of all look at the price of a good striker in the Championship, probably over £15 million plus.

It is the best 2nd tier league in Europe.

andrew444:
Make etebo no go look because of money ooo make e better leave stoke even if no epl team come self there are others better leagues

The most surprising player who still plays for stoke is Joe Allen

I have always said sometimes opportunity is more important than ability.

Many people dismiss players because they are in a lower league. I always say whatever league you are in be OUTSTANDING not just making up the numbers.

Many players who have got opportunity in the EPL from the Championship have become top players. Currently the hottest strikers in the EPL top 5 two came from the Championship.

Joe Allen was killing it in Liverpool then followed money too Stoke he could now see himself in league one. There are many who were in the EPL and even within two seasons of relegation now playing in league one or lower.

The reality is Etebo is not outstanding in the Championship. The harsh reality maybe the Championship does not suit him, he's in the wrong team, he needs more training lol., etc.

As it stands which top or better team will want a player who is not outstanding.

That why l am particularly dissapointed that EZE has not been invited. Because he is clearly outstanding in the league.

tbaba1234:
Etebo needs to leave Stoke. I hope he can get a move to a top league. That Stoke team is not good

Shocking, how the mighty have fallen.

Stoke was a bona-fide EPL team that we expected to bounce back to the EPL particularly after all the investment made. Add to that they did not loose the core of the team after relegation.

But after the first season in the Championship they are now stuck at the bottom of the Championship and looking at relegation yo league one.

This is a very big problem for Etebo if you are in a poor team unfortunately some of those attributes are put on you.

It will be difficult for Etebo to get a good move. These things can destroy good players career.

Look at Hope Akpan from Reading in the EPL after relegation to the Championship he moved to Blackburn then Burton got relegated to league one so he moved to Bradford who subsequently got relegated to League two.

Players have to be very careful about moves and be strategic with a lot of thought and planning.

Football can be crazy look at Osimhen if he had stayed at Wolfsburg will we be celebrating him today, l wonder. These decisions can make or break your career.

Hanibal:
Nobody here ever said he's top class , what you've been saying and kept saying is that he plays in the Bundesliga doesn't make him Bundesliga quality, and this isn't the first time you've made that statement, now that you're aware that he's been Paderborn's best player (stat wise) even as a left back... I hope you'll drop such uninformed statement at least until you can back it up with stats.
Now that you've changed the narrative to imply that you've been judging him with his Afcon performances, maybe I should remind you that he played only 3games at the Afcon, the first against South Africa, he was just coming out of injury he had the lowest rating among the back four, but on the day everyone in the back four had a good game (including Collins a game rating of 6.39 isn't bad at all) but we can admit he was the weakest link in defence that day.
Second game against Algeria in the back four only Awaziem had a better rating than him, he was far better than Troost, and on the same rating with Omeruo,.
Third game against Tunisia only Omeruo was better rated than him in the back four, he was ahead of Awaziem, and Troost.

Now statistics has proven your assertions that he isn't Bundesliga quality wrong, he is doing very fine in the Bundesliga.
Statistics has proven your assertions that he was the weakest link of our defence in the Afcon wrong, he played 3 matches and was second best in two!
So if what you've been saying about him for some weeks now isn't "slander".. Kindly borrow me the appropriate word.
Emotive prejudiced bias!

When matters are taken out of context it becomes a CON and the basis to misrepresent.

My comments were in response to Joebie comments and the pertinent issue is " outstanding performance "

I quote myself

"Being in a top flight league doesn't not necessarily make you a top flight player"

What is the substance of my proposition ❓ l am saying essentially that he is not outstanding in the Bundesliga.

Your entire narrative garnished with academic diction makes no sense. What exactly is your point you qualify my position with your own opening remark. Your whole write up is convoluted noise making with little or no substance.

Statistics are indicative but not absolutely conclusive in the context of football. What's the point of having the most tackles but your team loses 10-0 it it is of no consequence in determining quality.

I have watched all his matches for the SE. My opinion is he was at best adequate nothing more and on many questions he was out of his depth and a liability.

You go up and down about how well he is doing in his team Paderborn in the Bundesliga and in that assertion you imply he is good quality.

Well that's misleading because his so called outstanding performances in your opinion. Have given his team Paderborn the ignoble position of being at the bottom of the BUNDESLIGA.

They are currently the worst performaning team in the Bundesliga. They have not been able to win a single game in the league so far.

So l put the question to you, who is being emotive and sentimental in thier bias and preference for this player❓ ❓ ❓

ChrisKels:
Description well given. That boy brings nothing to the team. A makeshift Ola Aina does way better than him, in that LB position.

It seems your wife cook beta Banga Soup with Dry fish and Pounded Yam for you. Your mind come settle. Either that or its Christmas has come early.

You agree with me today.

Wonders will never cease.

ChrisKels:
Nobody is blocking anybody, this is just Rohr being so clueless that he does not know where the problems of the team lie. Same Rohr kept a better Ebuehi on the bench for Shehu, same Rohr gave a call up to underperforming Maja just bkus he now sits on Bordeaux's bench. Eze's only sins are playing in the championship instead of Bundesliga2 or the ligue2 and not signing with Rohr's agency the way Dennis Bonaventure, and other five members(including Esiti, Simon and Shehu) of Rohr's squad did. Did u know that after 3years in the international wilderness, Rohr had to hurriedly recall Esiti immediately he signed with the DW Sports Management, same agency that manages Rohr? Like Forgiveness rightly said, this man isn't clean.

This is something l know about in depth and you have just opened the murky can of worms that reflects the business of world football. What you have alluded to is how the business of football I'd generally conducted.

However, with regards to Rohr l don't know the specifics but l don't doubt it one bit.

In my experience even if you sign with certain agencies particularly as a unknown player you are giving yourself a direct route to get into the club. It's that simple.

I could give hundreds of examples.

Is Rohr immune to these antics l very much doubt. He has survived in African football for a decade because he plays the game and knows the game and the way we play it.

Hanibal:
You just keep slandering jamilu Collins like you have something to gain from it.
I'm certain that you cannot be better than the whole coaching staff and all the scouts of Paderborn, if he is as bad as you paint him here I'm sure they must have dropped him the moment they gained promotion to the Bundesliga.
According to whoscored.com statistically, Collins has had the highest average rating of any Paderborn player after 6 games in the Bundesliga 6.81 for context, this makes him the best left back in the Bundesliga's bottom 6 teams so far namely: Fortuna, union Berlin, Hertha Berlin, Fc koeln, and Mainz (Yea, I took my time to compare). Also Paderborn's attack has been strongest on the left side so far this season... Therefore It is safe to say that statistically he has been their best player this season. Going by your postulations above, we can as well assume that the whole Paderborn team is not fit to be in the Bundesliga.
You say he is very weak at 1vs1 yet stat websites believe he is very strong at tackling and making interceptions (how can a defender whose strength is tackling and interceptions be poor at 1vs 1? ) well I understand it isn't beyond you to believe he's the season why Paderborn at the base of the Bundesliga considering your history here.
You this man ehn, wetin 9ja born players do you self? Don't you think the assertion that the best player (stat wise) of a Bundesliga team is not Bundesliga quality is purely "prejudiced emotive sentiments"?
Na wa for you o

You should go back to basics and consider the meaning of slander.

In the first instance My comments are in response to the assertion that because he plays In the Bundesliga that means he is top class. Ebuehi may be in the Lower Portuguese league but l rate him far higher. Irrespective of thier positions.

Secondly my comments are in the context if his performances in the AFCON where he left a lot to be desired.

What he does in the Bundesliga gives him invitation to the SE however consistent performances in that SE ensure your selection.

I consider him from performances in the AFCON as a weak link.

Unfortunately we have few if any alternative options in the LB so he will probably remain.

Your preconceived notions show your own prejudice. This has nothing to do with being Nigerian born or being born in Europe.

Joebie:
Even if you pack "Odubanjo", Iorfa and like, Brazil go still turn them inside and out.. These players also have their weaknesses. Add to that, they are untested.

Dominic in my opinion is technically weak fast yes positional play as a CB he is just starting to learn the position.

How good he is currently not sure he's better than what we have.

However, Aerial dominance and pace he has as an advantage. However, without football intelligence i.e. timing it can amount too nothing.

Will he be better it's very early in the season how quickly can he learn and adapt let's see.

Moses Odubanjo suffered injury that caused a delay in his progression. He is now getting back to his previous form. Technically superior to Dominic and more attacking prowess but physicallity and Aerial dominance belong to Dominic.

Funny the Managers has completely changed formation. Moses is first choice RB and Dominic is first choice CB.

Things change in football either for better or worse currently for them both its for the better.

chrisooblog:
lol mediocre how someone that got good match ratings during the tournament.


Why are you bringing KC into this matter so it's now a sin to praise somebody for scoring a goal please highlight the posts where people exaggerated KC performance

Sorry no get that time do it yourself.

Earthquake1:
Collins has been solid for Nigeria, so I don't know what you mean

Technically deficient and tactically naive very weak on 1 to 1 defending against fact paced skill based players.

Has very limited forward play and contribution to team cohesion limited and finally he lacks composure.

However , he has good pace not blistering but good and works hard. But we need more in the SE.

edi287:
Which is weird considering he singled him out when we had that meet up in England.
Maybe NFF IS putting it off.

Meanwhile that was over two years ago a VERY LONG TIME in football.

He has improved IMMENSELY beyond from the time he was literally an academy player. He went on loan to then League two Wycombe Wanderers and did very well the rest is history.

So what on earth are we WAITING FOR he is three times the player he was when he trained with the SE.

Joebie:
Collins is our best left back and he is getting regular time in the highly rated Bundesliga.
Aina, in my opinion as our best wing-back (left and right)

Remember my proposition.

Being in a top flight league doesn't not necessarily make you a top flight player.

There are players that played in the EPL as soon as thier team got relegated they got relegated. Look at Sunderland now in League one within two seasons of leaving the EPL. A good number of thier players are still with them from thier time in the EPL. That should tell you something nonetheless they still sold a player to PSG quality is not restricted to the league because it always stands out.

I would rather have the best Defender in the Bundesliga 2 than an anonymous one in the Bundesliga. The reality is Collins has not outstanding in both Bundesliga 1 and when he was in Bundesliga 2.

His performances show where he is in terms of quality not the the league.

edi287:
Awaziem is our second best ball playing CB after Leon.

As a CB you are probably correct, in that role with a good compact protective midfield he may excel as well as with fast and competent full backs.

Danielnino00:
Awazeim is just one of d many Nigerian players he doesn't like....

I don't dislike players very few I know personally, there is nothing to like or dislike.

The more apt word should be preference and l underpin my preference with objectivity and rational not emotive sentiment.

For instance Awaziem as a RWB or RB is simply too slow. As a consequence he struggles to add to the attack and complement team cohesion. Then to compensate he by implication pulls the right sided CB out of position. I watched all his matches in the AFCON and this was glaringly obvious. That's my view of Awaziem he his technically astute and intelligence and uses that yo disguise his handicaps but still not good enough .

In the AFCON I said that Osimhen is way too light weight and lacks the physicality required to hold up the play and impose himself on the opposing CB'S. Add to that he is very weak on one to one dominance from a skill perspective. Finishing and speed he is very good.

Playing against Brazil with faster and stronger defenders. Will require that we play differently don't think we can press we might get found out. But we will have to hit them on the break. That means accurate diagonal through balls for Osimhen to use his pace to get and capitalise on. We will have to play differently hitting Brazil on the break.

That means we have to be on our A game no wayward passes or police game, composure is essential.

My concerns are for Jamilu lacks composure and l can imagine the Brazilian forwards turning him inside out. Unfortunately we don't have many options if any in the LB position.

chrisooblog:
Komekn why are you always harping on Awaziem not being a RB of course he isn't. he was just a makeshift option at the AFCON. plus i don't know why you are making it sound like he was an unmitigated disaster at the tournament. i won't hype him and say he was 100% in that position neither will i downgrade him like he was our worst defender. the only goal you could hold him a bit responsible for was Cameroon's equalizer the cross he should have kept out. bottom line Awaziem wasn't excellent neither was he terrible he was just decent. judge him as a centreback but curiously you we re AWOL when various handles commented on his great performance for his club yesterday.

There should be nothing like makeshift this is the national team not club football. There are no excuses, once you are called to play position you play it to the required standard.

In the AFCON he played as a RB you cant then say that because it's not his normal position we should accept mediocrity.

Unfortunately l didn't watch the match so l don't feel obliged to join the Hallelujah train.

I watched matches the same matches with many people here and thier view of particular players was Over-inflated.

I watched the Leicester match with Luton and the way they talk about KC you would think he was Neymar.

Earthquake1:
The squad looks more balanced now

What has Shehu got to offer ❓

2innocent:
I think the list has too much center backs, the only wing backs are Collins n ola aina, awaziem is a center back converted to wing back

Collins is a very weak link as a Left back the same goes for Awaziem is simply not a RB lacks pace and becomes a liability.

safarigirl:
oh, okay. Thanks for the clarification, I wasn't aware City had a lot of Pounded Yam boys

They and Liverpool have the highest number of Pounded Yam boys in thier youth teams. Right from the age of 5 years upwards.

In the North West of England.

andrew444:
Lyon will do bro, marsielle will also do

Is it not lyon that mancity could not beat last season?

So because Norwich beat Manchester city they should therefore win the EPL.

One game does not determine the quality of a team. It's the over all performance over the season.

How many French teams got to the last 16 of the Champions league and or the last 8. That gives you an insight into the over all quality of a league nit just the teams at the top.

safarigirl:
Manchester City's Pounded Yam boys?

African origin boys with athleticism speed and strength. Not boys eating potatoes but Yam.

tbaba1234:
Many of these teams that lost or struggled used second string sides.

Arsenal used kids to trash Nothingham Forest who are doing great in the championship.

It's about quality and team progression and cohesion.

Chelsea is using kids to have a very successful campaign in the EPL currently.

West Ham had a strong team and so did Bournemouth as well as Manchester United. You win some you loose some cup games can be very unpredictable.

safarigirl:
Liverpool's 16-year old star of tonight's game, Harvey Elliot.

He could easily pass for a 26-year old wrestling fan/white supremacist from Arizona...thankfully, he doesn't look extremely British.His choice of facial hair and hairstyle is indicative of his age, but I can see some Gareth Bale inspiration, just didn't come out as sleek

He is a good technical player playing pretty football surrounded by quality players.

He is going to be hyped but l watched him get destroyed by Manchester city 's Pounded Yam boys who left him for dead. He is too slow to play on the wing.

Nonetheless, the business of football and marketing will see him get sold for at least £5 million. Within two years he could be playing non league or last tier national league.

Watching the Carab cup and seeing how many EPL clubs have fallen to lower league competition.

Makes it so unpredictable and therefore exciting.

safarigirl:
Asians have predisposition to facial hair? What part of Asia? Because the East Asians surely don't have this predisposition.

When you say Africans, what part do you really mean? Because West Africans of Bantu origin have a predisposition to facial hair, but same cannot be said of the Southern Africans of Khoisan origin.

I am probably talking from personal experience and thay would mean West African and central Africa origin mainly.

Humility017:
it's like Nigeria have players in almost all British Clubs..... barely you'll find non-Nigeria origin players in any of the English club academics

There was a time when Fulham had so many Nigerian origin players they were called the Nigerians.

Even in the North West I haven't found any Championship club or EPL club without any Nigerian origin players in them.

Danielnino00:
Andrew will be like "see his biebie ..overage player"

It's a shame that most teenage footballers from Africa don't like to keep beards for fear of being tagged age cheats...

I disagree we black African do not have a genetic disposition to facial hair the same way as Caucasian and or Asians.

If there is suspicion of age cheating it's because it's in every facet of our lives in Nigeria. There are men married to women who are older than them and they don't know or found out when it was too late.

The reason we dont have automatic birth data capture and no official government corroboration of age. So we rely entirely on personal integrity.

wayodude:
Aribo subbed off after 22mins in Rangers League cup game away to Livingston.

Suspected injury.

Terrible bloody gash to his head other player led with elbow and caught him. He will need stitches but will recover.

safarigirl:
This is the most sensible thing he said in this interview. He should pass it on to Tammy

He can say that because he was never HOT he didn't even get like warm.

He had lots of opportunities in England but could never rise to the occasion. That's why he is in the backwater of Greece.

TheGoodJoe:
What you are saying is devoid of the point.

The point is that a manager who works everyday with a player made some observations and you are trying to discredit his words with nothing to back it.

It shows ignorance or you deliberately want to sow a negative seed. It does not add up.

Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson, Mancini, Pellegrini and a host of other managers, players and staff get interviewed regularly to draw up information.

Whether Klopp likes Albino or Steve Bruce likes bow legs does not count.

You study the information and deduce knowledge from it.

Trying to discredit Leicester City management with no obvious fact is like discrediting journalism as a whole.

I really don't understand how you are reasoning.

My comments are about football in general not specifically about Leicester City.

I reiterate, what players, coaches and managers say to the press and what they say in confidence with someone they know. Are two totally different things.

I for instance know a player that a EPL club rated very poorly, but marketed him as being exceptional. They sold him for millions.

My position is very simple l take what see in the media with caution.

TheGoodJoe:
With your level of experience, where do you get information on players? Are you saying you have watched all players from Thierry Henry, Ronaldo De Lima, Maradona, David Beckham, Paolo Maldini, Totti, Iniesta, Xavi etc on the training pitches?

Apart from live games, the most regarded source of information on football players are from media reports.

You should be experienced enough to know this. Why do we have sports news, articles, journals, reports, blogs, websites etc? It is to study and draw information on them.

What you wrote up there does not add up in any way.

No absolutely not.

Your approach is wrong.

First of all even of l watch players in training day in day out my view and assessment are IRRELEVANT.

It's the coaching staffs view that is pertinent not mine. You must understand what Dyche is looking for at Burnley and what Klopp is looking for ate completely different.

That's why you talk to coaches, managers and players to get a feel for the club. So for instance there are very few Black players l would advise to sign for Burnley. I know the club and what l know you will NEVER FIND in the media.

That's why I never ever rely on solely on media reports.

TheGoodJoe:
With your level of experience, you should know I will listen to a manager who works every day of the week with a player over you who have no idea what is going on in the camp of the player.

This is not the place to talk about who you know or don't know. Thats not the point.

I am telling you the REALITY of football and media.

But you want to rely on media.

edi287:
Samu and Dele Bashiru named as nominees for Golden Boy award...

I am happy for Dele Bashiru that he is there but l am at loss on what basis

When you consider players like Ryan Ssegnon, just turned 19 but almost three seasons of first team football or Reiss Nelson, Hudson Odoi, Saka, etc.

Not sure how they arrived at these awards but the criteria seems warped.