₦airaland Forum

jubilantagida:
I meant everything I said.

Just because you're playing at an academy in England doesn't necessarily mean you'd turn out better than those who are plying their trades on the streets.

We seen youngsters playing for reputable academies in England and fading into obscurity as soon as their careers are about to kickstart, you are a witness to this.

I have seen players bought for a £1 million pounds at 14-16 within a few years they are playing non league. I have seen youth players bought from Barcelona and then within a few years lost. I have seen non league players rise from NOTHING to STARDOM this is what makes football exciting. The stone rejected becomes the corner stone.


All things being equal a player training with the best clubs, coaches and facilities has a better chance of making it, that is a FACT.

Although it is 1000 times harder and very difficult, sometimes impossible for a player to come from Ojagbugbe street in Warri and make it to the top BUT because of the great grace of God it is still very POSSIBLE.

My absolute dream is to see a Nigerian origin English non league player ignored and castigated in England play for the SE play a friendly with England and score a hatrick. is that dream too big.

cc12:
At 16 what great attribute of a striker did Ighalo have? Even at 20

Ighalo was playing in Laliga at 20 he must have had something to be in La liga you are being UNKIND.

But we are talking about the HERE and NOW not speculative assumption. A player the Management has said he currently lacks what it takes.

Look at SE strikers of the past and present.

Yakubu, Yekini, Ighalo, Anichibe. Odemwingie, Ideye. Emenike, Obagoal, Ikpeba. Look at thier attributes all of them had a good degree of physicallity and the best strikers were the strongest physically speaking.

So a good degree of physicality is a must have not just a desirable among other essential attributes.

cc12:
All these people saying Osimhen is not good, this one that one, give him time and more playing time in the Super Eagles and he would come good, Ighalo flopped for over 2years in the GWG before coming good against Cameroon in the world cup qualifiers,if Rohr hadn't continued playing Ighalo he wouldn't have started scoring for Nigeria.
Ighalo was even flopping in the Super Eagles when he was scoring for Watford in the EPL, you guys should stop sounding like Ighalo is the best striker since Yekini,Osimhen isn't yet a complete package but give him time and he would come good.

When we talk about potential it is the clear and apparent ATTRIBUTES required for ascendancy in the game that make us say GREAT POTENTIAL.

At 16 the attributes of a striker were apparent in Balotelli, Lukaku, Zaha, Rooney, etc

I don't see them clearly and unquestionably in Osimhen. He lacks physicality, presence to replace Ighalo. He may develop but for now l don't see them and he showed NOTHING yesterday to say he has those attributes so far.

cc12:
'' One season doesn't make a player'', you are very biased, but when it comes to Chukwueze and Osimhen you would never say that because they weren't born or groomed in England, always downplaying the abilities of Nigerian born players

Stick to objective deductions and measured proven established facts.

Tell me one Nigerian origin player from England that has played one season of first team football that I have praised to high heavens and compared to Mbappe, Ramos, Neymar, etc. Just one player not two please.

If you can not then irrational negative bias and prejudice against Nigeria origin players in the UK including myself has TOTALLY BLINDED YOU.

And you can be called a HATER.

BascoVanVeli:
I will always speak the fact as best as I can in every matter.

I commend you unreservedly.

tbaba1234:
Ighalo deserves a lot of credit but his performances were inconsistent and his movement issues remain

The first goal, Aina assist was perhaps the only goal where Ighalo movement was key. The other goals were not as result of great movement. He is easily marked out because he stays with the center backs and does not run into channels. It was obvious against South Africa and Algeria.They easily kept him quiet.

I clearly stated that Osimhens final balls were poor but his movement as an attribute is better than Ighalo.

Osimhen made errors today but he was not quiet.

Football movement is about intelligence, anticipation and deception. It is not about running � around like a headless chicken but with purpose.

There was one cross given to him by Aina he was in between the two defenders he could see the trajectory of the ball. But he did not anticipate and get in front of the defender. If that was Ighalo he would have bullied the defender taken the ball.

So that movement your talking about is fictional.

andrew444:
How are they better than what we have ?

Tell me something I don't know

The question is not better or comparable but deserved OPPORTUNITY.

If players who are playing youth football and in the back waters of the Nordic leagues can be invited why not them.


That's the question not UNFAIR SELECTION.

If they prove themselves to better then what's the problem. Nonetheless, there are some looking at club performance that are now proven to be better l am talking about Fikayo Tomori.

BascoVanVeli:
Only one goals came from a rebound why are you trying to discredit Ighalo? Osimhen was poor today there is no sugar coating that. He lost too many balls in promising positions and mistimed his runs like you yourself always blamed Ighalo for doing. This is a player I love to death but come on with the games na.

Odogu na you deh write this ting.

I still think someone has hijacked your account and Impersonatated you.

charlesemeka85:
My biggest problem is the midfield. Onomah didn't have a good season in the championship but he is a promising talent with huge potentials. If he moves to the Bundesliga as rumored and gets his MOJO back Rohr and the nff should approach him.

Aribo is already doing well in rangers in the preseason matches and uel qualifiers so far. He already said he won't turn a call up down if the nff and Rohr wants him so he is already in the bag

I also hope and pray bashiru gets a move to a decent league, he is one who looks promising as well

That's not a problem at all.

One season doesn't make a player and l have watched him since he was 16 at Tottenham up close and personal. If he goes to Germany he will clean up less physical mire team technical and not as fast as the EPL.

He had some Injury issues and had to adapt his game to suit the Manager but waa outstanding to the end of the season. Nonetheless, it's early days his Manager has gone to Newcastle do watch this space he may end up in the EPL.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9523325/josh-onomah-mauricio-pochettino-spurs-transfer/


The same way Dominic Iorfa was with him Sheffield Wednesday.

But the player l am looking forward to seeing is Chuks Aneke.

darkelf:
Rohr promised to play attacking football. It is either he failed to keep his promises or he doesn't know how to.

We had an above average tournament despite the win. Our boys didn't play to their full potentials.

While we must be thankful to Rohr for bringing us the bronze medal after several years of absence from AFCON, he has too many deficiencies as a manager and he takes the majority of the blame for both our losses in this tournament.

Rohr must make valuable use of the opportunity given to him in that Refresher course at Bayern Munich. I haven't seen the NFF do that for any local coach. He must open his mind to how football is played today and not in the conservative 80s. He shouldn't be caught sleeping in class because he is an old man .

We need reinforcement badly. I expect our scouts to start with a pool of 50 players going forward (at least). We are too blessed with footballing talent to be serial underperformers.

Mikel, Ogu, Akpeyi, Ezenwa, Alloy Agu has outlived their usefulness in this team. Musa, Ighalo, Balogun should be eased out slowly not because of their ability but due to ageing. We need replacements in our central midfield. Balogun needs to sit-up. Getting comfy on a bench because you're earning more is disastrous. Ask Iheanacho.

Etebo and Ndidi deserve a long rest. Bar some errors, they are true fighters.

Ekong needs to evaluate his career and performance at this AFCON. His performance was average and below expectations. One wonders if he is truly improving at Udinese or his double played for the SE instead of the real Ekong.

Omeruo stills needs some polishing.One more season should do the trick.

Chukwueze has a lot to learn. I am always wary when too much praises are heaped on a very young player that is not Mbappe. I hope such praises don't go to his head. He needs to learn to cross the ball or finish more accurately. Studying Robben's tapes should help if he really wants to surpass him but how many of our players have this mentality?

Osimhen and Onyekuru have a lot to learn obviously. I wondered why Rohr didn't start them or give them enough game time but this AFCON exposed them. It is either they didn't bring their game or Rohr just doesn't know how to inspire confidence or they aren't good enough yet.

We won the bronze. That is something but it is back to the drawing board. A good idea would be to regularly expose our local coaches (the most promising ones) to refresher courses. Pinnick is a good fund-raiser and I believe funds is not the major stumbling block but will.

I expect the following guys to up their game and grab a place in the Super Eagles:

Joe Aribo

Azubuike something something...I don forhet

Ovie Ejaria

Odey Stephen

Okereke

Please feel free to add yours

Players that will add immediate quality to the SE and among the Nigerian origin players in England the first two for me indisputable are.

Fikayo Tomori

Tega Onomah

Both are better than any other Nigerian origin player in thier respective positions.

A player you should watch out for but everyone dismissed here is Chuks Aneke, now at Charlton had been consistently outstanding over two seasons in league and two. after horrific injury he is getting cackling to his former self.

A player Wenger likened to Yaya Toure.

elyte89:
Yea seconded,at some point, he looked amateur to me,like someone learning d basics...abeg ighalo ,u re still very much needed

When Rohr said he was too weak and unable to play the role of a striker we wanted to murder the wise old man in cold blood.

He was absolutely correct.

DrLikita12:
We are grateful to Mikel, Akpeyi and Ogu for their services over the years. It's time for them to bow out. Possibly Ezenwa as well. We may need to buy seat belt for Musa if he gets called up again.
Time to scout, learn and build -we need CBs, GKs and more midfielders.
Time for our league to get a look in.

After watching Osimhen 50 minutes of football against a mediocre Tunisia my conclusion he is way behind Ighalo and he not even an understudy.

We need to find a STRIKER

forgiveness:
Victor Moses's shoe is too big for this our wingers to wear.

None of our current wingers not one of them is better or comparable to Victor Moses.

andrew444:
I have already said chuks should Stay at Villarreal that they won't get relegated ,some people even said he should leave January that they will be relegated

Agreed without question.

Toylove:
Big levels sef
See as e turn collins like woman wey dey tie wrapper

You wicked oh.

I must say that Collins is not bad but I don't think he is good enough for the SE. IMO Aina is considerably better than him even as a makeshift left back.

Kalu has come on to replace the very poor if l must say Chukwueze.

IMO Chukwueze needs to stay at Villareal for another season he has a lot more to learn. Otherwise he can cause his career to stagnate.

AFCON us a great place to showcase your talent at the same time it can also expose your inadequacies. And in that regard your value can go down.

You can tell that this Tunisia team have no physicality imagine Iwobi using muscle to barge player and succeed.

Tunisia is not a quality team comparative to Egypt and Algeria.

But by now we should have finished off the game and scored another 2/3 goals. But we are playing a dangerous game one mistake and we are in trouble.

We should be dominating the game but we are allowing them to much space and time.

Musa leaves after running up and down with very little quality in terms of end product.

What makes a QUALITY player is CONSISTENCY something too many of our players lack. Iwobi has not been IMPRESSIVE too.

I am somewhat puzzled with regards to Ekong.

This is player playing in a top league as a CB in a league known for technical football. But Ekong has not shown these attributes.

He just launches the ball anyhow and anywhere like a league two CB. He lacks composure and does not inspire confidence. His tournament has been just OK nothing more to be generous.

Look at Aina on the other hand complete composure and control with good distribution from the back.

Chukwueze has not been impressive as well as Musa thier end product is very poor.

forgiveness:
Osimhen don enter ooo.

At last the light weight player.

Described by many here as lightning quick, mobile, very skillful, clinical finishing and top notch off the ball movement.

These are some of the attributes he has been said to have by many here not least TheGoodJoe.

Add to that many have said he is better than Ighalo.

So let's open our eyes and see Tunisia is not a physical side they are more of a technical side, so he will not be bullied off the ball. He has a whole half plus injury time to show his quality.

jubilantagida:
We need to know if truly those England based boys have the quality to improve our team, we can't just bring in every Tom, Dick and Harry into the fold only on the basis that he could be the next Dele Alli, if we can't do same for those here at home.

Who is Tom, Dick and Harry ❓

All the Nigerian origin players being considered all play for professional clubs some in the EPL. Most of them have considerably more first team experience than our comparative age grade Nigerian players who have played for Nigeria.

So what's your point ❓

Unlike the Nigerian age grade players who get selected from obscure leagues as well as with sometimes little or no first team experience.

Barryseal:
What are you saying? Lookman have turned Nigeria down, Jordan Ibe, Nnedum Onuoha, Agbonlahor, Chucks Aneke, Tammy Abraham, Shola Ameobi (when he was good), Charlton Cole, Ugo Ehiogu, Chuba Akpom ( when he was a top prospect), I can name more.

Bros true Nigerians don't wait for a special invitation to represent Nigeria. You don't wait for red carpet IVs. Read the story about Nduka Ugbade and even Isaac Success. These guys used to sneak into the camp of the U17s uninvited, repeatedly they were asked to go home but they refused until they were given a chance.

How on earth can you compare these guys to the example I cited. I feel insulted reading these fBs are more Nigerian than the average street kid in Lagos. Just because they can say a few lines in pigin and dance azonto very well at parties.

Everything must be understood in context.

The context of Nigeria is different from the UK.

What motivates most players today is not patriotism but economic hardship and desperation to leave Nigeria and find better opportunities abroad.The U17 has been historically a spring board for many career in football for Nigerian born and resident players. Such desperate Dans are prepared to do almost anything. Sign off thier allowances to the coach, sign up with his preferred agent or proxy agent, etc, etc.

THAT IS NOT PATRIOTISM so before we proceed get clarity on what national patriotism is and whom the true Nigerian is and should be.

A Nigerian origin player in England playing for an EPL club could easily be on £20k a week. Such players are not hungry and or desperate. They are uncompromising on the subjects of probity, integrity and professional etiquette. Something that may be alien to most Nigerian residents players, essentially they can not afford to have integrity. And the coaches all take advantage.

Fortunately and unfortunately l have first hand information on a number of these situations.

Ademola Lookman and Ovie were invited to U17 selection when they were relatively anonymous. They were not selected WHY and the entire exercise was marred with sharp practices and blatant corruption. It would leave a bitter taste in many a persons mouth.

Nigeria had the chance to sign Ovie and Ademola but rejected them, they did not reject Nigeria. Now that have blown and we are now looking for Ademola.

Jordan Ibe was bought up by his Jamaican step Father very nice guy. His Nigerian Father was NEVER AROUND that creates issues in itself. He has never shown any affinity for anything Nigerian.

Last week l spoke with Ovie he is waiting for the call up NUTTIN so far.

Chuks Aneke is now in the championship with Charlton arguably the best AM in league one and two. When he was at Arsenal the NFF flirted with him but didn't carry matters much further again.

He waited for call up NUTTIN.

I agree that Onouha and Agbonlahor didn't honour invitations but that's more to do with inability of the NFF to have strategy to ensure long-term engagement and relationships with Nigerian origin players in England. You don't wait for them to blow first.

In conclusion l ask what makes you Nigerian ❓ That ability to give and take bribe the absence if truth, honour, integrity and righteousness❓ ❓

I say this because I was born in the UK although made in Warri. I speak my language as well as Ibo and a smattering of other Nigerian languages. However, it is much easier for me to win an election as an MP in the UK than it is for me to contest basic state house of assembly in my state Delta. Unless I am prepared to reject truth, honour, integrity and righteousness, join cult and swear oath of allegiance to some high flying god Fathers.

However, I am not prepared to do this, so by your proposition, can l ask you, am l not a PATRIOTIC NIGERIAN ❓ ❓

Barryseal:
Let's not insult our sensibilities, Why are they not jumping at the chance to represent Nigeria, if they are more Nigerian than everyone? Doing zanku steps at African themed parties doesn't make you Nigerian.

When you say jump, where should they jump too.

You don't invite yourself you must be invited, albeit they are of Nigerian origin. They believe in due process.

Last wee I had a conversation with one of our midfielders and he simply said to me that he has not been contacted nobody has made any official approach to him.

There are others who give me the same story.

You don't invite players on the pages of newspapers.

Bolowolowo:
What did I say that was wrong? I said some not all. Not every Nigerian footballer in the Diaspora would like to represent Nigeria. Surely there are some that would feel more of a connection to England than Nigeria itself (given the fact that they grew up in England).

In my first hand experience l would say the larger majority.

The problem is the nature and substance of our engagement with them. A lot of the time they find it very hard to deal with the obligatory requests for Egunje.

Bolowolowo:
I see another Tammy Abraham situation. Some of these dudes are just self identified with English culture. The only thing that's Nigerian about them is the blood running through their veins and their name of course.

You completely have no idea what you are talking about.

Some of these boys are more Nigerian than you.

wayodude:
When all is said and done, when everyone is tired of using the benefit of hindsight to offer expert advice on who Rohr should've played, these facts still remain;

1. We had our best players on the pitch!

2. With all our weaknesses in full exploit by the Algerians we were still yet on the brink of going into extra time where due to fatigue anything could've happened.

3. Most importantly ANY proper goal keeper (premier league standard) would have saved that particular free kick. In fact the best goalkeepers would have not only saved it, they would have caught and held it. I can elaborate on this claim for those who may not get it.

When defending a free kick as a goalkeeper YOU direct how the wall is set up. You ask the wall to cover one side of the goal area and you take responsibility for the other.

If the kick goes over the wall and into the net (on the side of the goal being covered by the wall) then you hold your hand up and say well played. Getting the ball up over the wall and back down like that is not an easy skill to master. Mahrez didn't have to do that.

If the kick is aimed in the area of the goal where the goalkeeper is supposed to be guarding HE is expected to deal with it. With this in mind a good goalkeeper would have been positioned well enough to save that shot.

This is evidence that the cliche you cannot win anything without a keeper has some fact in it.

Not laying the blame on our failure on Akpeyi's doorstep but this is a cause and effect analysis of why we got knocked out the way we eventually did.

Tell me one thing I didn't say prior to the match with Algeria.

Weakest links were the Full/ Wing back positions left and right. One had no pace and the other had average pace and no football intelligence but both were slower than the players they were going up against.

Akpeyi is not great but he did make one very crucial point blank save after Omeruo messed up.

We lacked creativity in the midfield the strongest area of the team. Iwobi lacks the ability to drive the team forward with creativity. However the work rate of Etebo and Ndidi covered a multitude of sins.

Our CB' s are not ball playing and under pressure lack composure. The weak links compounded the problem.

forgiveness:
Awaziem did nothing to free Chukwueze. He left him to deal with the Algerian LB on his own.

I expected Awaziem to support him upfront but he lack the pace to run up and down the flank and lacked the experience of a RB.

Besides, Awaziem was the only Nigerian player that got a yellow card. The Algerian pressed his wings often in that game.

However, the plan B is if Chukwueze didn't get the space after the introduction of Aina, we can easily switch to 3-5-2.

Agreed without reservation

forgiveness:
I still wonder who does the selection in the national team.

We need to reinforce the mildfield with fresh players. The likes of Eberechi Eze, Tega Onomah, Ovie, Semi Ajayi (if he moves away from league one), Joe Aribo (if his team gets to play in Europa League and he performs), Ramon Azeez (if he gets to play in the la Liga this season), Abdul Ajagun (if he gets to play in the Belgium Pro League or a better league this season), Azubike Okechukwu (if he gets to play), Nnamdi Ofoborh (if he gets game time in EPL), Dele Bashiru (if he gets to play in a decent league), Aniekeme Okon (he should be given the chance), Kingsley Michael etc. should be tested.


We should draft in more players in the attack to make it competitive.

Lookman Ademola, Issac Success and Noah Bazee should slog it out for the wings position.

We should watch out for Sheyi Ojo (fc Rangers) and Bobby Adekanye (Lazio). They can be a good addition for the RW position alongside with Noah Bazee and Isaac Success. Chukwueze should be given the competition to bring out the best in him.

Lookman Ademola can slog it out with Simon Moses and Henry Onyekuru on the LW. Enough of makeshift players.

Ahmed Musa should be moved to SS or S position.

In the striker position, Olanrewaju Kayode, Taiwo Awoniyi and Sunday Odey should be given the chance to prove themselves. They should slog it out with Osimhen and Ighalo.

We can watch out Josh Maja and David Okereke.

Onuachu!?

In the defence, we need to bring back Idowu to slog it out with Collins on the LB.

Ebuehi and Aina should slog it out for the RB position. Then, Tomori should be chased after to represent us. Uduokhia should be added into the team.

The goalkeeper department is one the problems we have. The goalkeeper trainer should be sacked and replaced with a more competent one. Then, we are good to go.

Agreed without asking for bribe.

forgiveness:
Aina, Osimhen and Onyekuru are promising players.

I agree 100% they are very promising but top class not yet.

nairalandankrah:
Do we go local or international...

I would prefer local but the issue of Egunje and other sharp practices has continued to plague our local coaches ad infinitum.

I would not mind the Cameroon combination. Whatever foreign coach we get he must be black. I am sure Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand would take the job.

But l think we need to expand the scouting of our players and be more proactive. I don’t know why Ovie, Tega Onomah, Ebere Eze, Dominic Iorfa, Fikayo Tomori, we're not invited. I haven't included Ademola because k haven't spoken to him to know if he interested or heard anything to that effect.

There are others you could include there is no harm in trying them out.

All Francophone African countries are filled with French youth internationals and players born in France predominantly.

I haven't mentioned players in other parts of Europe not because they don't exist but we have overwhelming numbers of Nigerian at all levels of football in the UK. So that's why l haven't mentioned any from other parts if Europe. And I simply don't know them to be honest.

But in addition the England is a quality league and conversely will have more quality players.

Indeed the core of the SE quality players are playing in England or emanated from England.

MetalJigsaw:
Rohr has tried for our football but he needs to be dismissed for a younger and more tactically sound and brave coach. This team with its array of very talented, young, promising and exciting players is being underutilized by the coach as far as I'm concerned. Rohr is a good coach but he's too rigid, and outdated in his tactical approach. praising your opposing team and their payers before a game does not always pan out well for the psychology and mentality of your own players. It it causes your players give unnecessary amount of respect their opponents and it also triggers fear and lack of confidence to the less experienced players of your team.

Yes it's a good thing for a coach to be humble and show respect to his opponents but the magnitude at which our dear coach dispenses it to his opponents without measure is a very bad idea. it threatens our jeopardizes any form of morale and confidence that exists in some of your players especially the less inexperienced ones. A team where you have an already jittery Akpeyi. That would surely worsen his situation.

But the problem is the new coach would most likely restart the team back to square one just like a newly refurbished laptop. I don't pray for such.

You use the term array of top young top quality players implied.

Outside of Chukwueze who are you talking about are you comparing them to the players in the NPFL.

Or is it in comparison to the top young talents in Europe what's your unit of measurement for top talent.

Even Chukwueze l have always said we should be very cautious with him and not put too much expectation on him. He has played one season of professional football that's all. Give him time to develop he has long way to go. Because in this match his blistering pace did not work his skills did not work and his end product and service piece delivery was non existent. The Algerians studied him in depth and completely neutralised him.

Now some will say to ask that question means Hate and negative prejudice. No not all you must compare them to too the top young talent in Europe. And add the question from that perspective.

So apart from him who are our top talented exciting young players.

EEGA:
Tactically the Algerian team were better yesterday.

1.They did their homework well.Caged both Musa and Chukwueze and stopped Ighalo from getting into the box.

I expected the coach to instruct his wingers to play through the middle since the Algerians have blocked the wings.

2.Wrong Sub:Musa was very poor today and should've been subbed b4 Chukwueze but the coach left him because he was the captain.

Onyekuru for Chukwueze was wrong because Onyekuru is a LW not a RW.Most of his goals for Galatasaray came from the left.

3.Prior to the match the coach told his players not to foul anyone close to the box but they failed as the Algerians got the winner from a foul close to the box.

4.Ighalo is poor aerially and not a 9 for counter attack because he is heavy and lacks pace.He is mainly good inside the box as in more of a poacher as most of his goals have been scored from the box.

5.Immobility of full-backs:J.Collins and Awaziem were solid in defence offered very little in attack.One would have expected that since Musa and Chukwueze were caged that the full-backs will start attacking through the flanks which back-fired.

How can you say that Awaziem was solid in defence when within the first 10 minutes he was completely routed. The referee was very generous not have given him a yellow card. The Algerians at a stage were show boating with him.

Collins has no football intelligence just a lot more pace than Awaziem. Mahrez used hin for Suya.

Both of them were scared to come forward and couldn't link with our wingers. This is where the game was lost.

Ekong became jittery and nervous kicking the ball like police to nobody like a league one defender in England. Omeruo was better but he waa getting bullied and nearly conceded a goal if not for a miraculous save by Akpeyi.