₦airaland Forum

charlesemeka85:
him and uduokhai are the best for now

I disagree NOT completely just by 50% lol ( modified)

Tomori Fikayo is the arguably the best defender in the Championship in the 2018/19 season out of the 46 league games Fikayo played 44, that says he definitely their main man. Add to that at Hull he played 25 games in the 2017/18 season. His career total excluding cup games is near 80 games. He is most likely going to be playing at Chelsea first team this season.

Felix Udokhai is slightly older than Fikayo, has not played more than 30 games for Wolfsburg since 2017 he is not oustandiing in the league and or in his club. His career total is about 50 games. He is good,

However, Tomori is way ahead of him in every department as it stands now.

You may argue that the Bunesliga is superior to the 2nd tier of the English football league, i agree the top maybe 6/7 teams. But the lower half of the Bundesliga is not. Add to that the quality of players, it is very normal for Championship clubs to have £30 million players in their teams.

IMO it is a debate if he is actually better than Dominic Iorfa, who had a stand out season for Sheffield Wednesday after the shameless discrimination meted out at him in Wolves. However, the powers that be a the NFF have chosen to exclude him for reasons other than football.

somehow:
Bros I am talking about your own players
Now that you have mentioned Nwakali, can you tell us how long he's been in the EPL and why he's yet to play senior football unlike his counterparts in other leagues?


Edit:

I just reread your comment and you summed it up. They are loaned out to go develop elsewhere because EPL is not meant for grooming. Forget youth league and football
It can't be compared with playing day in and out in a league where money and reputation ia involved. I am not talking about 5-15yrs old development here, I'm talking about young guys already known from playing fifa tournaments getting to cut their own in main leagues

Fifa tournaments are not the unit of measurement for excellence and outstanding capacity. It is still youth football. It's only indicative. I remember Chuba Akpom great at youth level had many opportunities but couldn't measure up.

I know the former England U16 captain that also captained Liverpool fc U18 team. Within two years of leaving Liverpool U23 he was playing non league.

If youth football was the over riding component Nigeria and Africa should be ruling the world. But we are very far from it. Most of our strikers who were outstanding dud not get far, e.g. Chrisantus, Sani Emmanuel, commensurate with thier past youthful glories.

Did you not see how woeful Sadiq Umar was at Rangers. Very few if any can go from youthful glories straight to play first team football. Unlike the Brazilian and a few other nations.

I can assure youthful players make it but you must be OUTSTANDING. For instance in recent times , Rashford, Raheem, Ibe, Zaha, Demari, Gomez, Stones, Maddison, Kane, etc,etc

With regards to Nwakali, my suspicious first of all is that there will be gaps in his initial football development. Which will mean limited quality and inability to read the game. That's in comparison to the boys at Arsenal who have been training comprehensively since they were 7/8 years old.

Second issue he will have to very quickly catch up and show quality, l don't think he did.

Finally, he was sent to the relatively easy Eredivisie ( he failed to make impact) he the tried the Ereste 2nr tier, he was anonymous. Finally ending up in the youth team at Porto, where he has been far from outstanding.

So I put the question back to you considering the circumstances. Why has Nwakali NEVER played for Arsenal ❓

Just to give you context , the big teams buy players doesn't necessarily make you one of thier players. You are just owned by the club but if you don't play for the club, then you are not really in this case an Arsenal player. You could have been bought speculatively. It's just football business.

somehow:
A league that prefers ready made players can't be said to be a developing league. And no, players hardly develop in the EPL. I have used our own names as yardsticks.

Players should go to where they will horn their skills before going to the EPL to make money. EPL is a league for Mercenaries and not where skills are developed (though we have few exceptions though)

I will disagree, l have a lot of involvement with EPL Academies and they are developing players from a very early age.

There is a EPL academy that brought the former Assistant manager at Sao Paulo in Brazil to head up the training of the U8 - U12. It is widely thought that the skills of agility and the personal skills are established before the age of 12.

They are applied after that age and much.more difficult to develop afterwards although not impossible. You have kids training 4/5 times a week high intensity fir 2+ hours each session.

That format is replicated across most of the football academies to different degrees and emphasis across England.

In this regard players are developing but not getting the opportunity to develop in the game. That's why the loan system is so important for development.

You can not use our own players as a yardstick. Because a lot of them have big gaps in thier development. As a result they have to work a lot harder to learn very quickly.

English players in the academies can become complacent. Essentially they are content to play youth football because at the age of 16 some of them are on £20k a week. Which club in Belguim or Portugal will pay that.

Something that may have impacted on Nwakali negatively and made him complacent. Aqua

terzurum5:
The moment Chikwueze dribbled through the crowded Camerounian difference, I had expected him to pass the ball to an already freed Iwobi but to available.

Chikwueze should learn to be a team player in such moments.

I think our fans need to make a very clear cut and measured deduction in knowing the difference between style and skill, dribbling, showboating, beating players and END DECISIVE PRODUCT.

We love all the skill and stylish fancy footwork l do too I have learned painfully that without end product it's simply a WASTE.


As a consequence a lot of clubs will over look him and we on this forum will call it racism.

Sportilitica:
Mali looks better though

I really can't say with conviction.

I would say CIV are more technical and composed but Mali is more offensive Bullish determined and physical.

I am also emotively biased towards CIV.

After l have expressed discontent with Zaha's performance who scores yes ZAHA.

Watching Mali and CIV it's very evenly matched and Zaha has not been able to impose himself on the game.

The game is not a classic it's very very physical.

somehow:
Yea, but i am actually talking about players development and not about which league is the best.

Players develop but they have to be exceptionally good to get into the first team of these top clubs in the EPL.

Consider that Ademola, Nelson (Arsenal) Sancho and a few others. Couldn't get game time in the EPL and essentially tore up the Bundesliga and two of them were U18.

Players develop but they don't get opportunities and some can even get lost in the lost in the system.

I had this discussion with two Nigerian origin players of which one has now gone to Lazio and the other is looking at options for a loan move.

Considering also Osimhen he couldn't do anything after two seasons in the Bundesliga. Goes to the Belguim league and tears it open.

Now the debate or the question is can he replicate that new found form in a better more competitive league.

The question is it a mix between development and or opportunity. Or you could say that the other leagues are not as competitive and easier for players to make it.

elyte89:
Balogun shld b exempted, he went dere at age 27years or so... For DT age its no longer for development

This is a very contentious subject for some when l consider the problem of football age in the African context doesn't help a lot of our players.

somehow:
Something is wrong with the EPL and player development. Only few get to develop there
If you want to grow and improve, go to la liga, Bundseliga or serial A. If you want to make money and be in the news always, go.to the EPL. (But make sure you are already good)

Iheanacho, Balogun and success are few of my examples

Aina and Omeruo another set of examples.

The competition in the EPL is intense and there is a lot at stake including £££ millions.

Managers have very little time and you are not prepared to spare that little time for players to develop. You on get few chances and you must take them.

But there us something else it's different from other European leagues it may not suit all players. That's why a large percentage of English players may struggle with the higher technicality of the top European leagues.

Just in the same way European players from other top European leagues may struggle with the speed, intensity and physicality of the EPL.

Which is best or better is open to never ending debate.

charlesemeka85:
Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Belgian First Division A side Club Brugge have won the race for Nigeria U23 international David Okereke.

Club Brugge have reached an agreement with Italian club Spezia over the transfer of the talented winger who was courted by a host of clubs in the English Premier League.

Southampton, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace were monitoring the situation of Okereke with a view to a summer move but they have missed out on his services.

The 21-year-old will undergo a medical with Club Brugge on Monday, July 8 ahead of his unveiling by the Blue-Black.

He is highly thought of by Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr who invited him to beef up the senior national team squad ahead of a friendly against Egypt in March after watching him in action for 12 minutes in an U23 AFCON qualifier against Libya.

Okereke was one of the outstanding performers in the Serie B last season, scoring 10 goals and providing 12 asssits in 30 appearances.

He is represented by renowned Italian agent Patrick Bastianelli, who used to handle the affairs of Odion Ighalo on behalf of Atta Aneke during his time with Udinese.

That's why l don't get carried away with media manipulative hype. Were is all the talk of various EPL clubs and then he goes to Belguim.

edi287:
Hmmm don't know what to think of this. I'd rather he moves to Serie A than go to Belgium.
Our players need to grab any opportunity they have to play at top leagues.
Look how much Aina and Omeruo has improved. Omeruo was wasting him time at Turkey all this while.
Put development first when you're young and you can run to China or wherever for you last payday later on(i.e Ighalo)

Aina was always quality just did not get any game time at Chelsea a characteristic of this club and it's young talents.

He had an outstanding season at Hull on loan and then took to Seria A like a fish to water.

Omeruo case is different he is a lot older and a lot more experienced. And has been a journey man player loan to loan all his career.

The different values placed on the players is indicative of how much clubs rate thier individual quality and attributes.

Mujtahida:
So you alone is representative of the broad Nigerian people?

Ighalo is not fan's favorite. That's a fact.

Not many know that Kanu never scored in an AFCON. And someone posted that ighalo has ten goals now same with Kanu yet Kanu is regarded as a Nigerian soccer god.

Ighalo is like Akpoborie more or less.

First of all, l gave my personal opinion to negate the proposition that nobody likes Ighalo. Because I unapologetically do.

Nairaland does not represent the views of all Nigerians neither do you and I.

How popular he is l really don't know because we would have to have substantive survey to ascertain that.

Nonetheless, one thing that's apparent here, is that accolades and ability are not based on proven established fact but emotive sentiment. Even when the facts are right before our eyes.

But then it should not surprising. The terminology football fan is derived from the word fanatic. People who are fanatical are usually unable to be rational, objective, balanced and devoid of emotive prejudiced sentiment.

So let's find it all good comedy never to be taken serious.

AIG07:
Ighalo is similar to Emenike. Ighalo like Emenike is inconsistent. Emenike did well and contributed his quota to the national team and won the AFCON abut was never loved by Nigerians... Ighalo is towing same path.


Nigerians don't just like him. Nothing more.

I disagree l am Nigerian and consider him our best striker with nobody near him.

cc12:
I hope he becomes serious this time around and gets a club in Belgium Pro League

On what basis, poor performances playing before the youth team of Porto.

However, it depends on how good his agent is its still possible. A lot of the time particularly in lower level league and clubs, players through agent influence can be given opportunity.

forgiveness:
Please, watch the match again. All Nigerian's players were in the half of the Camerounians and about 5 or 6 players were in the box to receive a cross. That was part of Rohr's tactics not the movement of Chukwueze.

Agreed without reservation.

Not every one has the capacity to be objective on this thread. Many are carried away on a wave of sentimentality and emotive favoritism.

charlesemeka85:
Chelsea starlet Fikayo Tomori could become the most expensive Nigerian defender in history if transfer speculations are anything to go by.

The Daily Star is reporting that Burnley are hoping to clinch a £15m deal for Tomori, who is also eligible to represent the senior national teams of Canada and England.

Should Chelsea agree to do business with The Clarets, Tomori will become the costliest defender eligible to represent Nigeria, surpassing the 12 million euros Inter Milan paid Auxerre for Taribo West in June 1997.

Tomori was loaned out to Derby County for the entirety of last season and was named the club's Player of the Year and spent the previous season at Hull City.

With Chelsea slapped with a two-window transfer ban, it is thought that the central defender is in the plans of new Blues boss Frank Lampard as he was included in the pre-season squad for games against Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic FC this week.

Although Manuel Akanji is a Switzerland international and no longer eligible for the Super Eagles, he is the most expensive defender of Nigerian descent in history, costing Borussia Dortmund €21.5 million when he was acquired from FC Basel in 2018.

Tomori has upped his game.

I siad sometime ago that Fikayo was arguably the best CB in the Championship 2018/19. The very successful season that Frank Lampard had was predominantly anchored on the performances of Fikayo.

I doubt if Lampard will let him go on loan and or be sold for the paltry sum of £15 million right now is way undervalued for a young promising and outstanding CB that he is.

2017/18 l slated him as bang average and not good enough as a RB for the SE when l watched him live up close and personal several times that season. But he has turned it all round in one season.

IMO the best Nigerian origin CB yet to be capped.

forgiveness:
Which press the point? I am giving you facts here and not emotive analyses of the game yesterday.

He didn't do anything before the two goals were scored. In fact, the ball touched his legs ones or twice and still lost the ball.

The two chances were after the two goals were scored. EOD

Straight to the point.

Objectivity over sentiment unfortunately many here can not decipher between the two.

edi287:
Don't think Awaziem is weak technically. His lack of a pace is a worry for me but he's been generally ok so far.

You will agree a wing back without pace is like an SUV going off road that doesn't have 4X4, a liability.

BascoVanVeli:
It would have been suicidal to close in on Basagog. Maybe Awaziem should have done better in not allowing the cross but this is football and stuff happens. As per weakest link if I am forced to give it it would go to Ola Aina. That second was too poor on his part and he switched off other times in the game when Omeruo had to save him.

Now you are being mischievously contentious and prejudiced.

You are entitled to your opinion irrespective of how devoid of objectivity it is.

This was a routine long ball that came into the direct pathway of our CB , who then mistimed his header was bullied into this elementary error and that forced Aina to backtrack and end up on the wrong side of the SA Attacker as he tried to mitigate for the first error.

Ola Aina the weakest link in the SE according to you is just downright spurious.

Oasis007:


Did you read my Post at all?!

You can't pin the blame of the first Goal on Simon or/and Awaziem. A good Crossing was made, not that they were dribbled off Position, but our Defence failed to intercept and clear the Danger

A good defender would have blocked that cross or seen him off to the touchline.

But Awaziem gave him too much space he kept backtracking as opposed to closing him down and the space down. A reflection of a player with limited pace up against a much faster player.

That's why Awaziem was the WEAKEST LINK in thay team.

forgiveness:
Chukwueze didn't change any game. In fact, he had no hand in the 2 goals.

The dynamic of the whole game changed after the two goals because the Camerounians began to chase the game with many players thrown forward leaving their defence exposed.

I just watched the replay now. Chukwueze barely did anything with the ball before the two goals were scored.

You said Simon was bereft in the final third. Maybe, you should watch the game again.

The way objectivity and rational are thrown to the dogs anytime a favoured player is mentioned, has become a trend here.

And we begin to give accolades for nothing.

And when you don't join the emotive hallelujah praise singers for thier favoured player you are labelled a HATER.

Odunayaw:
Afcon just began! To the dungeons o ye North Africans!!

I like dat.

chrisooblog:
wow the South Africans have only gone and beat The Host super Eagles get ready for a battle is going to be epic against this great South African team I won't lie I didn't think they could overcome the Egyptians but they gone and done it

I dude have Nigeria ad favourite to win the AFCON bit after this epic loss to Egypt.

All of you here calling for Rohr to be sacked may have to eat humble pie and prostrate before him. When he brings the cup home.

As it stands we are now SERIOUS CONTENDERS.

darkelf:
I agree with most of your points.

But for who?

That's the problem.

Our scouting has been weak and so we really don't have many options in the Squad.

So as it stands, when the desirable is not available the available becomes desirable.

We just have to manage it seems

tbaba1234:
There is nothing Gbam about that. Nigerian players go to Turkey not because there are no offers elsewhere.

Awaziem had multiple offers from France that Porto rejected.. Instead they loaned him out.

I'd that's what you think, l leave you to your opinion.

jjii:
This South African team will destroy us

No way not possible

safarigirl:
Don't worry, he is still young and cream has to go through a process.

Not like Salah was in a top club when he was younger.

Awaziem played really good today, his cross into the 18-yard box for the second goal was particularly briliant. He's a good crosser of the ball and Turkey is not his end....after all, Onyekuru is a quality player, but he is in Turkey.

Look at Salah progression they are not comparable by any stretch of the imagination.

Meanwhile it looks like SA are beating Egypt tjat would be a Christmas present for Nigeria

Joebie:
Awaziem should be adventurous?
We for just play Simon as RB and put Chukwueze ahead of him

You want to play that Isikeun (dwarf) as RB it will.not work he doe's not even have composure.

The other thing l am bewildered about is hoe is it that our Wingers and wing backs can not cross ball.

Meanwhile WOW S.Africa have just scored

tbaba1234:
Anyone who watched Awaziem in France know how good he is.

I watched and l found him to be OK but that's all.

His lack of pace for a RB or RWB add to that his limited technical ability leaves a lot to be desired. In the past two games he has-been the WEAKEST LINK.

Quality doesn't hide cream will always rise to the top. If he was exceptional then PSG and other clubs would have been fighting to sign him. But nobody in the end. na TURKEY he find himself.

That in itself tells the story.

charlesemeka85:
Where are the wailing wailers. Iwobi is poor as a number 10,ighalo is the worst striker in the world, Rohr is the worst thing that happened to Nigerian football, etebo is brainless blablabla. Una never coach una village team before late alone an u12 team but una Sabi pass coaches wey get batches and. Nonsense

Just like corrupt politicians moving from PDP to APC they have changed camp and are all peaceful quite saints.

ChrisKels:
Awaziem really impressed me today. Dude can pick his passes neatly even when under pressure

For me Awaziem is the weak link, lacks composure his positional sense very suspect and has no pace.

He should be dropped.