₦airaland Forum

Martz101:
Bros I read all what you wrote and is difficult to pin point how Umar is better, how can you say Umar is faster than Awoniyi? big lie, Awoniyi is a beast

I am not judging quality by how many matches played, They are both young, umar is alittle bit older, when I said Awoniyi played has played more matches(61 matches in European football) it means he has more exposure and can be trusted in GWG.

Umar has been in Europe since 2013, played for spezia,lavagnese,Roma, bologna,you Torino and now Nac breda and can only boast of 18( 5 coning this season at Nac)matches at 21 years that's no progression.

And who told you young players don't succed in Seria A

1. Frank kessie - 21years ( a.c. Milan)....one of the best midfilders in Seria A
2. donnarumma -19 years( a.c. milan)
..been first choice keeper since 3 or 2 years now
3. Joel obi - at 21 was playing for inter already
4.Cengiz under - 20years( roma) arguably Roma best player this season

I don't see were Umar holds advantage over Awoniyi

I personally think a lot of you guys don't like umar bcoz of the olympics performance, he had a good competition but it seems the myopic lots expected him to give what he didn't have yet, but one thing was sure while ajayi and awoniyi were racking up appearances in thier clubs, umar came from the Roma bench and was chosen has the first team striker for rio, that should show you he's special so I don't know how awoniyi is better.
Quick question how many matches had iheanacho played for man city before he was regarded as one of the best young strikers in Europe? It took a season with alot of goals from the bench.
Imo umar is faster than awoniyi!!!
Then I said the seria a is a difficult league with a lot experienced players and there are lots of examples of young players who struggled at a young age in the league and there are also those who made it at a young age like you listed.

Kog45:
Yes Awoniyi struggled in dutch league and Umar is doing well but did you know Dessers had 25 appearance without a goal for Lokeren in the same Belgium league Awoniyi is making headlines,so sometimes not a yardstick to rate player.

It's not like awoniyi is tearing the league apart let's not overhype him he has 7goals 5assists in 27 games, has 10goals 7assists in 31gmaes in all competition, onyekuru has been on injury since forever and still has 10 goals
Umar 8app 4goals 3assits needs just 3more goals to equal awoniyis league goals.
The Dutch league might be weak but he has faced Ajax, feernood and was impressive.

Martz101:
Can you give me reasons why Umar is better, 1.awoniyi already have double digit goals this season.
2. Awoniyi is better on air
3. more first team appearance= more exposure

You are the one saying thier yardstick to comparing them both is flawed but yours is worse!
You should not judge quality based on how many matches played some players are naturally gifted. Willian had played alot of matches won trophies but if they tell you to choose between him and Asensio who I'm not sure has racked his 50app who would you choose? There is levels to this game. I love them both but cmon don't you k
1. umar is better than awoniyi on the air not just because he's taller but It's a proven strong point of umar amoury, his first serial a game for Roma at age 19 was a nice well placed header, the coach who gave him his break in the first team got sacked and since then he went on loan to bologna where injuries and lack of play time saw his game stall. The seria a is not a league for youngsters it's more experienced players. He had a wonderful preseason at Roma and was sent to be the second striker to Italy's first choice striker, he had limited game time but he still played but did not score, now he's in the edisevere where awoniyi actually struggled.
2. Umar is more direct, more skillful, more unpredictable and faster.
3. Awoniyi is the better team player and works his socks off for the team. Both of them are good at hold up plays.
I want you to watch these two players without sentiment, if you are a real football lover it's not hard to identify who the better talent is.
As regards to umar lack of game time, he has played in an Olympic competition against the very bests in the world as the top striker for us, scored and won a bronze medal trust me that exposure and experience has improved him drastically. He has 4goals and 3assits in 8games where he didn't start all

bengine:
The problem is ppl are misunderstanding the difference between strength and balance..Sodiq like most African players have great strength but lack proper balance...that's why he easily falls down at high speed..but his hold up play is great also..

Messi on the other hand has great balance but lil strength..ppl think because messi doesn't fall down easily is because he has strength which he doesnt, his high pace, trickery and great balance with close control makes it hard to get him of the ball without fouling him..

Thanks for saying what I meant in another way

goldfish80:
Skills and smoothness on the ball is a natural born gift. Either you're born with it or not.

I agree

Mujtahida:
I watched clips of Sadiq Umar this afternoon. He's not neat in his moves. Kanu had smoothness even though he was tall. There's something quite unorganised about that Sadiq. It's the same thing I saw in Uzoho in the course of the last two friendlies. I can't place my hand on it but I see it.

Bro you cannot play in the edisivere if you don't have above average technique, I believe sodiq has that kind of smoothness maybe not to Kanu level, he sometimes has bad touches I think that the unorganized thing you see in his game.
But when he's a more mature player he will be smoother on the ball.

tbaba1234:
Ideye is very hardworking and links up play well but his finishing is poor.

Umar is strong, fast and skilful, also holds up play well but can do better with finishing.

Dessers, better finisher than Umar and Ideye, good on both feet but not as strong as them

Kayode, fast and disturber in chief, closes the ball better than the rest, finishing average, not great in holding up play..

Spot on!!
Dessers tops them all in movement, and i would rate his technique good. A good finisher but seems rorh is looking for an all round striker. I called for umar a while back for a call up but some were sceptical because he Hadn't gotten games.

People saying umar is weak are wrong his hold up play is very good, and he outmuscles defenders! He is a physical specimen who the brings an unorthodox, unique style of directness using the size of his body like his chest and foot to good effect. His balance is his weakness, which can greatly improved on.
Come to think of it Kanu wasent the strongest or a balanced player but he used his trickery to great effect, umar had that!!!

andrew444:
Nigerians just like England,he scored brace if he play the next 5 games without scoring a goal,you will be the first person to criticize him,so scoring a brace is now an achievement?

Do you know the meaning of constitent ?i am not calling him a bad player,I am a fan of Samuel,but before you say he has improve let him keep scoring.

Did I tell you we have world class striker?

Name one striker in rohr team Aaron Samuel is better than? If you can't then you are clueless

People like you are the reasons Nigeria coaches are failures,just like how ogbeche make the 2002 World Cup squad.

So what "consistent striker" do we have? You are complaining that I'm excited to see improvements in Aaron with him capping it with a brace??
You don't have a point! No need to drag this with you

andrew444:
I have always love aaron samuel...But how do you guys watch ball,So because he scored brace and that makes him improve? Why cant you wait from now till the end of the season?

What are you talking about? Have you even bothered to watch the guys game of late?
its not how do we watch football it's how do you understand football, because Aaron has not been banging goals in his previous club that means he has not been improving? And if scoring a brace is not a sign of improvement what is? Una go dey talk like say una get world class strikers to choose from.
He's been in camp meaning he has a chance to make Russia.

elyte89:
Another candidate

I hope we all knw we will b going to d world cup with just 23players only


Cos only for d striking department alone,we av suggested close to 40names

You think If ighalo was a dependable goal threat we would be clamouring for more strikers?
You think gernot will be looking for a striker desperately for competition if he were satisfied with ighalo?
BTW Aaron has been in the eagles set up, suggesting him makes sense, based on current form he's better than ighalo

Aaron Samuel has improved immensely! I was very skeptical his call up based his performances in China, but based on recent performances he looks very fit, dynamic, strong, Hardworking and can score goals. I hope he gets to score more before the World Cup, it's in his hands.

bengine:
Too be fair to Ighalo, the midfield couldn't even keep the ball long enough in that game against Poland...we just hope Ighalo hits top form b4 the world cup..that's all we can hope for now..

True he didn't get deliveries against Poland, but he got a bit against Serbia.
With mikel hopefully he scores at the World Cup coz it's like the guy is jinx or something

Joebie:
His performance stagnated months before he left Watford. At least he's managed to score some goals in China.

It's a pity I feel he didn't reach his potential he ought to have although he had a few years at the top level, but he got found out in the EPL

bengine:
Ighalo is the best top 9 we have right now..too be honest I would rather have Ighalo has a forward than nacho because of his hold up play..I'm a nacho fan boy***

We play with skilful inverted forwards, you need a striker that can hold up play and bring them into the game..that's why I think Sodiq can be a back up to Ighalo, we should just let nacho be a SS OR AMF..

Ighalo "was" the best striker we HAD, when he was in watford! he has stagnated, with his profile he is supposed to be at his peak, he has had more than enough opportunities to prove his worth in the SE. It's obvious the coach is not satisfied because hold up play and gra gra will not win you matches goals do! He's our most experienced striker(at the very top level) but we cannot have the luxury to start an inconsistent striker based on past glory.
His best performance was agains Cameroon, we need to see that more often! The match against Poland his positioning was damn poor, people be criticizing our midfielders for lack of creativity, without considering that ighalos positioning/movement matters a lot to create space and ultimately goals, (there is no magic he can't do more than his ability, If you don't find and create space to exploit consistently, you are not a top class player) I don't recall him winning any arieal duels during the friendlies.
Love the guy but we have better.

Awoniyi scores to put his team 3-0 up

Umar sodiq scores an own goal, then 5mins later scores for his team.

komekn:
TOTALLY WRONG

I can name 10 players who chose the championship over the premiership. If I do will you apologise and eat humble pie

Bournemouth wanted him for sure.

He chose Reading believing thay they would be back in the EPL which they narrowly missed. And pocketed :-& £1 million in the course of the deal. At times money talks players walk.

Unfortunately Reading have lost thier managers and thier way.

On the other hand looks like Fulham are on the way to the EPL. He chose the £££ it happens it's football.

Apart from Mikel tell me the players who are better than him in the position he plays or can play And let's have an objective every one involved discourse on the subject.

Don't be deceived any player who choose to stay in the championship over a move to the EPL is simply because they are most times needed as back-up, rotational players in most of these EPL clubs, They are never promised important first team roles, so staying in the championship getting games would be in ideal for them.
Well I'm not one to judge based on a game so I can tell you in my opinion players like Iwobi, etebo, Joel obi can hold in the AM position.
Aluko is very inconsistent with poor stats, nice technique but low end product, it's about time you stop making excuses for him and let his performances speak for himself, funny considering your the one always preaching double standards.
Our team is one of the youngest in the world, a team full of potential for the future, that's what everyone in the footballing world has acknowledged. how do you want us to move forward when you cannot let go of the past? You are calling for martins, aluko etc these guys are given the chance to prove themselves to be useful experience but they do not bring anything more exceptional than what we have which can significantly improve the team.

forgiveness:
What stopped Onyekuru from playing in the EPL despite his performance in Belgium?

Did Ndidi performed better than Onyekuru in Belgium?

Now, I ask again, what qualified Ndidi to play in the EPL?

Onyekuru issue was work permit, I think his only undoing is his low transfer fee. I'm sure he would be in Everton next season if the club pushes for his stay under the "special talent" category.
Ndidi was already qualified to play in England because of his high transfer fee, he didnt have to have played for the national team, the transfer fee was enough evidence for the FA to know he was quality another way young players can gain work permit.
So it's not as simple as you make it sound.

Quick question my brothers.
Of all the top talents coming through the SE Who are the top three youngsters less than 22, whom you guys feel has the highest POTENTIAL based on talent, mentality and ability? there are too many exciting young talents but I would like to get you guys opinion?
NB Putting thier all round game into consideration and not based on current performance or playing position.
In no particular order

KELECHI NWAKALI(his class on the ball and vision is the closest Iv seen to okochas! Confident, and he's a beauty to watch, certainly going to be a world class someday

HENRY ONYEKURU(his dribblings are already mesmerizing enough plus his deadly finishing, he's too special)

ETEBO(choose him over nacho coz with his style of play there's no club he can't play for, also has so plenty strengths in his game, his potential is frightening)

lexyman:
when you see a coach like this , they re not far from success, initially Rohr wants playing time for KC now he wants more than 20minutes ... gradually he will push and push till KC become the player he is suppose to be .

Asin he's really the first coach to impress me on a personal level. This man actually travels to clubs to beg managers to play his players, sending personal trainers and convincing foreign borns to play for us. A country he has no ties to or any reason to admire.
Iv never seen a Nigerian coach show that level of commitment ever, this man is not just in for the personal glory he will get, he has a genuine love and eagerness to develop the SE and his players. good things come to those who wait indeed, gernot himself might have never thought he would go to the World Cup.
Hope he stays atleast till after our next World Cup.

forgiveness:
Gerrad won UEFA Champions League and Buffon won Serie A. EOD

SMH

forgiveness:
What has Kalu won for Gent? Yes, he is good but he has done nothing to attract attention. How many individual trophy has he been nominated for?


Onyekuru stats is like Yakubu Aiyegbeni scoring here and there without any medal to show for it.

Let Onyekuru use his goals to win something then we can begin to compare him with Simon Moses who has entered into the history books of Gent and Belgium pro league as the man who singlehandedly won the first Belgium pro league for Gent.

Oga stop acting like you started watching football yesterday! Gerrad is a PL legend but he never won the EPL, buffon is arguably the greatest of all time but he never won the champions league, no matter the talent football is a team game, there's nothing like singlehandedly.
Winning a cup means that a lot of things are going right at the club including big luck.
If you have watched both Simon and kalus game ever since he joined last year January without bias, you will know kalu has been the best player between the two.
At the time they had good quality players when they won the league, good momentum and Simon an unknown quantity came and helped them to the title, ever since then what spectacular thing has he done? He has gotten found out by Belgian pro league defenders and since then no special season, I doubt he has hit double ditig goals in his career. Simon is the more experienced of the two but His progress has stagnated and until he fufill his potential I would not overlook better performances by a younger team mate just because Simon has won the Belgian league!
Onyekuru has not won any league and has only one personal achievement, but is it not the same league he tore to shreds? Simon has stalled, and right now kalu is the better player based on club performance.

.

tbaba1234:
18 year old center back, Shawn Adewoye of Genk in Belgium.. Potentially, one for the future.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYHG7fFU0AAT1vK.jpg

Will surely keep an eye on this one, Genk have a reputation with producing talented youngsters.

tbaba1234:
Sadiq Umar in Eredivise Team of the week again.. Two weeks in a row..

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYF51iRUQAI-pyP.jpg

When I mentioned this guy people were amused because I knew we didn't need Tammy. Based on this potential with all our exciting young strikers I rate him top 3 best.
There's something peculiar about his style of play, the way he uses his body and chest to move the ball when trying to break defensive line is something special, hopefully he keeps the form and gets a look for the next friendlies

ChrisKels:
I have said this more than a million times on this thread and I reiterate, Simon and Musa ain't no cerebral wingers and won't make my team ahead of better wingers like Onyekuru and Kalu with the excuse that they have good defensive psych.

I agree, I remember musa at our last World Cup outing, I was seriously shocked his ball control was very poor, easily gets dispossessed, he's lucky he has some goal sense(musa was once touted a better talent than mane in about 2013) but no self development.
Simon would dribble everything and then give a hopeless cross, appalling end product. musa and Simon lack the ability thier talent deserves. They are lucky they have more club and international experienced at this stage of thier careers than these out young guns, else musa would have seen the other side of gernot.
Personally I would feel better if a bonaventura or olayinka started ahead of Simon.

ChrisKels:
After today's match, Samuel Kalu's stat so far with Gent;

"He has been directly involved in 26 goals (10 goals, 16 assists) in 46 appearances since his move to Gent."

This guy is an assist king. Badass winger

Moses Simon's fan boys won't like this

For real Kalu is hustling for a call up. This guy and Simon play in the same team and he constantly outshines him in almost all the matches. His crosses are a beauty to watch. Impact player! Good end product.
I like simon but he's not improving his game. What's more baffling is that if you study very closely Our young talents in Belgian pro league like kalu, bonaventura, onyekuru and olyinka all seem to have a better football IQ than simon.
This simon needs a coach like pochettino or klopp who will work the potential out of him.

ChrisKels:
Wolverhampton coach was the man that gave Awaziem his break at Porto, he knows the boy better but I would advise him to remain in France with Nantes. I once read Lyon was after him.

Omo it's a very tricky one, but what assures me is that I'm confident in his abilities.
He has had a excellent season In the French league, he has developed immensely and his abilities have shown to be on par with the leagues quality, staying will be more like being in his comfort zone. Nantes Do not have the competitive edge that a player of his talent needs to be exposed to at that top level. he might stay and develop under no pressure and it might all come good for his development it's works for some players.
But if the coach who has demoted him wants him then he's impressed him. With wolves sure to be in the EPL next season it's looks like the perfect combo for me, yes he will have competition but that will only make him better, nothing beats playing regularly in the EPL intensity it would make him develop faster in my opinion, besides he hes a special talent and one that can play for any team in the world in few years.

AIG07:
Kenneth Otigba's change of alliance is welcome.

I think he needs to be commended. Dude waited so long for a call-up from Nigeria that'll never come.

I salute his courage and endurance and I'm wishing him the best with the Hungarian National team.

Yeah he did wait man! I'm sad he didn't get to play for Nigeria because he looked like he wanted it so bad, but I'm also happy the competition in the defence is so fierce a player of his caliber dosent get a look in, show we have real quality.

tbaba1234:
Ajayi must play out of his skin to get a shirt. And he was not MVP in Egypt, was he??

Is it a formality? maybe.. Ajayi must be ready to show the coach something new in training.

It's all down to performance true! He was voted Al ally best player when they won the league. I just hope his ability is on par with the other strikers.

PDPGuy:
You mentioned he is a team player. That trait may be what gets him a seat on the plane to Russia, ahead of Simon Moses. The one weakness in S. Moses’s game is his inability to “play with” the team. He is way too selfish on the pitch.

I agree every coaches dream is a team player, but I'm not sure Moses simon will get affected by his inclusion, more like a striker.