₦airaland Forum

tbaba1234:
Academy players on trial, very normal... When a top striker in a league is on trial, it means there is little trust in that league.

Bros there is no rule to it, sometimes you hear a big player is training with a team because he is clubless and the next thing, they signed him. Ogbuke with his years in Europe went for trial in boton

lexyman:
dont forget Mandzukic is a player that know's how to use his head , the team played to his strength , remove Douglas Costa , and see how ordinary Mandzukic is .

see how you are struggling to defend your self, why will you remove his Douglas costa abi no be him team mate, football is a team game and you play to your team strength.

Ehen before I forget, go and watch mandzukic last year champions league final goal then you will know his not all about the head

Icon4s:
To me the only time Iwobi should play from the wings is when Mikel is in the game.

So tell me why we keep on looking for new players that could disrupts this group of players

ChrisKels:
The bolded has a simple answer if we were honest with ourselves. The answer is Sadiq Umar. Remember why we were hot on the hills of Tammy, now luckily to us, Umar is even an upgrade on Tammy, so why not give him that opportunity.

And to ur last paragraph, please Ighalo ain't the best, we have better strikers, only the technical crew know why they prefer Ighalo.

Ighalo, Agu, Simon and Musa wouldn't make my team.

how can Sadiq be an upgrade of tammy with less than 10 career goals chai, how can Sadiq be better than ighalo who has played against the best in the world and scored loads of goals

darkelf:
Valid point.
We don't have an Agali type striker in our team

If Agali was even young you will still complain and want yekini type

ChrisKels:
To that guy who asked who will be the headers, please have u seen Sadiq Umar play? He is a wizard in the air. I am no fan of Ighalo, in fact I want him out of that team ASAP because he misses lots of chances but, did u see his header against Cameroun in Brussels and also Kelechi's header against Cameroun in Uyo?

We can score from crosses but unfortunately the crosses ain't coming through because we have whack wingers in Simon and Musa (the two headless chickens).


A Frontline with Sadiq as the top striker and Kalu as the winger will produce powerful bullet plus glancing headers from pinpoint crosses.


I honestly don't see our team as a serious team whenever I see the trio of Musa, Simon and Ighalo in the list of invited players or match day squad

change the whole team

darkelf:
Sorry ooo. Egbon.

Please, how many assists does Simon Moses have this season. No wait.....his whole career and please compare to say...mane or oxlade-chamberlain

I'm not sure myself to. I just need to understand something

Why una dey do like this, why this comparison?

darkelf:
In addition, the importance of a good target man with deadly instincts and good arial prowess (which we currently lack)

It's a pity. A nation with a population of 180million. The best we can boast of is ighalo. Haaa!!

Is normal, this things are like phases, there was a time we had so many point men at same time in Europe doing well that we had to fix them on the wings, kanu,yakubu,Martins,Utaka,Osaze and even more, then we lacked real wingers.

Also we lacked quality defensive midfielder, olofijana and Etuhu was the best we could offer, look at that department now.

since Ronaldo retired Brazil are also suffering from the same thing, in 2014 worldcup they went to worldcup with fuminense 31 year old fred, once upon a time we had Enyeama, Ejide and Aiyenugba at there peak

somehow:
Like I said, it's an individual thing, the man is desperate to leave so anything thrown at him, he grabs, he's looking for money badly. Blame it on his low self esteem or greed? Or maybe he's just too desperto start earning euros. We have had players from the league that went straight into first team football without trials, some weren't even HGS in the league. Okpotu is just a desperate man, nothing else.

sometimes is the club policy, Wenger wanted Ibrahimovic for trial sometime ago

Joebie:
Can Alex Iwobi shake Super Eagles out of John Obi Mikel-dependency?
Solace Chukwu
Correspondent


When the realization hit, ahead of Nigeria's two friendlies against Poland and Serbia last month, that leader, playmaker and talisman John Obi Mikel would be absent, a challenge immediately presented itself to Gernot Rohr.

It is no coincidence that, since the German took over the reins of the national team, he has recorded a win in only one of the four games for which his captain has been absent. The pattern of all four games is easily recognizable: disjointed attacking play; a lack of tempo, rhythm or indeed, direction.

The remit, then, was clear enough: Rohr's biggest challenge, heading into the World Cup, was to divine a way to play without Mikel. However, if what was presented in Wroclaw and Barnet was an indication of the breadth of his aptitude, then there is much to worry about in the summer.

It was not so much the predictable dysfunction, but that, right in his selection, there were present the very tools to solve the problem definitively. It brought to the fore a profound paradox, one which centres on Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi.

That paradox is this: for a player whose national team displays seem to dwarf his club performances, the 21-year-old appears to have more trust from Arsene Wenger than he does from Rohr.

With the Gunners' energies and best resources now focused on a Europa League run, Wenger had no qualms handing Iwobi the creative reins at the weekend.

It was a faith that was roundly repaid, as he ran the game: laying on two assists and involved in a characteristic Arsenal move for the first goal; pivotal, stealthy in his movements and taking up splendid positions to transition the ball into the final third.

It was no fluke either, simply the harnessing of the full width of a well-known skill set – quick feet in tight spaces, and the ability to think quickly, all the while using the ball economically.

This leads then to the inevitable question: why was Iwobi wasted on the flank in both friendlies last month?

Alex Iwobi

Instead, Rohr changed the system altogether, first playing a flat 4-4-2 with Kelechi Iheanacho upfront alongside Odion Ighalo, and then a 4-3-3 with Wilfred Ndidi shuttling forward.

Iwobi would often have to receive the ball wide with his back to goal, and while his strength and calmness under pressure meant he often did well laying it off, it seemed a waste to rip up the team's entire shape when a simple plug-and-play would have sufficed.

It is not simply that, having been at Arsenal from the age of eight, Iwobi naturally has more credit with Wenger. There is that element of course, a legacy of the Frenchman's well-known, almost indulgent, faith in young players.

However, when Rohr did trust Iwobi centrally, it led to a rather interesting result.

One has only to cast the mind back to that storming comeback against Argentina last November. Played as a nominal striker, Iwobi produced his best performance for the Super Eagles, scoring two brilliantly taken goals, both finishes in tight areas inside the penalty box.

That, then, is all the evidence needed of his ability to function at a high level centrally.

With Arsenal going all in in the Europa League, there will certainly be many more opportunities for him to shine.

While, for some coaches, the concern in a World Cup year is for their star players to not suffer burnout at the Mundial, for others it is rather the opposite—this significantly alleviates the concern around Iwobi turning up rusty or undercooked.

Rohr may have missed a trick in March, but if he can find it in his inherently cautious nature to trust Iwobi at the heart of the team, it would go some way toward weaning the Super Eagles of its Mikel-dependency.

--goal

we keep on looking for Aluko and co when we have a gem, if this dude can be trusted by Wenger why can't Rohr do same.

elyte89:
I didn't ask for 3,na anoda moniker ask d question,besides counting 4 assist as an offensive player who plays actively most times for us b4 shows aw poor he's

The 4 assist is not the only assist he got, he just name 4 because they ask for 3

Truidstar:
Noted. But also know that club form and national team form is not the same. The service Mandzukic got yesterday he does not get in the national team. REMEMBER.....CYRIL DESSERS!!!!!!

Oga dont be deceived, Croatia have very quality players to deliver such crosses

Icon4s:
He likes getting involved in plays.

If this boy can keep his head down he has the potential to be great.

I remember few weeks ago before our friendly, some monikers I don't wanna call there names said he does rubbish when he has the ball, this dude is a born playmaker.

modern playmakers ain't static, you pass the ball and move and open up for an another pass

Clementoke:
I think -
for the first instance, it was Emenike that gave that cross to Ideye sir not Musa (Ideye scored in the first half while Musa came in the second)


for the Moses simon's goal against Cameroon that assist from Musa (off a swift counter) was more of through Ball to Simon

Another look at the highlights would help sir

Through ball no be assist?

elyte89:
After 8years playing as 7 in Gwg,u can only remember 4crosses/assist,normally it ought to b much

Abeg MUSA no b am

see as human beings be, you ask for 3 and he gave you 4 and still you dey complain. maybe Musa papa collect una land

bengine:
Don't you think its disrespectful to our Nigerian league players..a highest goal scorer being asked to do trial!! Which means they don't trust whatever he achieved in the Nigerian league..

Eze the defender was signed without a trial

bengine:
Don't you think its disrespectful to our Nigerian league players..a highest goal scorer being asked to do trial!! Which means they don't trust whatever he achieved in the Nigerian league..

Not all Nigeria league players go for trial

tbaba1234:
Same thing with Stephen Odey, when he went on trial to a club in Denmark... Direct transfers are rare..

Musa didn't go for trial in VVV Venlo

Danielnino00:
Musa cross for Moses came against Algeria though....

IMO, he will do better coming in as sub than starting..

His not a starter

''Musa and I had a normal conversation yesterday. And if he is ready tomorrow, tomorrow he will play. My ambitions here will not influence the decision.''

It was earlier claimed that Goncharenko told the Leicester City loanee that he will sit on the bench forever after the Super Eagles striker publicly humiliated the Belarusian in front of 19,054 spectators on Monday.

Musa has started all the matches contested by the Muscovites since he re-joined the club in the January transfer window, scoring one goal.

Igho Kingsley

goldfish80:
You win. Big European clubs scout in Africa as much as they scout in South America and Europe. In fact Africa is indeed a hot cake for poaching talents.
Who in their right sense can argue with the litany of names you have listed.
And yes, Dortmund are rubbish in scouting.
Happy now?

Dortmund ain't rubbish in scouting and is not a competition of who win

elyte89:
For those monikers who re still furious abt my perspective on MUSA style of play, I will still say it,MUSA FOOTBALL I.Q IS TOO LOW

And what really make you think you are in the best position to ascertain a players football IQ, do you know how many coaches we had since 2010 he was invited to super eagle. All coaches featured him in there team.

You know more than those coaches I guess?

elyte89:
Super eagles were never a great team after d set 94 to some extent 98 set but I will keep saying it MUSA INCLUSION INTO D TEAM GOES BEYOND FOOTBALL REASON, if it were to b football reason alone,baba no worth bench,let alone of playing
No much diff btw him,Shaun wright phillips, Pius ikedia and co

if there is no much difference between him and those player then his a good player, in a team you need different attributes, his a speed star and is always an advantage in some matches

Nigerians always having the use and dump mentality

komekn:
The question ❓ is is it justified and I would say yes.

Tell me on of our players outside of Mikel who is more experienced and technically proficient as him add to that pace.

And the calls for Aluko should be much louder actually we should be screaming for him.

Aluko was one of the poorest player in there last match between Fulham and reading...Aluko is not doing so well now but you keep calling for his call up

elyte89:
Me from day 1ne....am not fancied with MUSA style of play from day1,ko impress mi ri,it got to a point I keep questioning those at d helms of affair den and now in my mind DT what exactly does dis guy offer to d team aside PACE,football modern pattern has outlived DT scope,and his final third ball again,na die.in dis aspect, am talking abt d senior national team set up,not club performances,am more interested in eagles
Besyde I don't support Leicester or CSKA Moscow,d only match he impressed me on GWG WAS D MATCH WE LOST AGAINST ARGIES

You are more consigned about your own write up that's why you didn't notice i never mention about his club performances

edi287:
Looks like Rohr sees him as an option at CF. I'm resigned to the guy going to WC. Onyekuru, Kalu have been better than him for 2 years now.

The main reason why England national team is not doing well is because they go for any player that did way prior to the call up, every national team should have it core players and gently inject in new players gradually.

Musa is part of the core super eagles player, his the assistant captain, he has worldcup experience and for other non footballing reason like playing in Russia for some years will make the worldcup team if his injury free and can get some game time

In the last worldcup player like podolski was called up and was even starting games for Germany even after having a poor season with arsenal, because he was part of the core Germany team.

gamaliel9:
Great.. is it that we had no better alternatives but now that we have better options we are seeing that this MUSA has not contributed to the growth of senior national team. For the past 8years absolutely nothing...i repeat nothing. Is he inclusion political? Why has every coach for the past 8 years included him? Even currently infact #dropmusaforkanu

how do you rate contribution to the team, this guy at some point was playing for under20, under23 and national team without complaining, in 2011 AYC Musa was playing that tournament and as well playing in Holland, travel back after each match.

what do you know about contributions to a team, you think is easy to boast 67 caps for a national team at 25 years. how many Nigeria players have 2 worldcup goals to there name, Musa started all the world 2014 qualifier games.

Bros you must not fly at night to be called a wizard or witch, to be happy about your follow man downfall can make you one

elyte89:
When I say Musa is myopic,peeps here won't agree with me,somehow even said I av personal beef for him ,d argies match we lost in 2014,is d only match most moniker makes reference to when dey want to defend MYOPIC MUSA,dts d only match dey can point to after almost 8years in d national team set up


As far as I am concerned, MUSA NO b player,he has never been impressive and productive to me,he lacks d basic knowledge of been a striker, asyde PACE,my guy no get anything,I don't knw y our ex and present coaches invites him for games


I kan even here say d guy snub him coach hand, ,person wey dem dey manage b4,

why are you using the word MYOPIC any how, Musa is not a bad player, his going through alot and need us. The dude has been a great servant for Nigeria, I believe he will get over this.

goldfish80:
You could only come up with 2 names who who transfered from Africa to a top Euro team. Does this evidence tell you that these bug clubs care about Africans to come scouting here?
Dortmund may not have signed someone from Asec but over the years they have got African players who did well for them.

You really want to go out of your way to pick on one sentence I made to nail Dortmund as not doing enough scouting or being successful at that with the resources and talent that have come through the club, which is the main point of this discussion.

The debate from the beginning wasn't who had the scouting network in Africa, my friend. Don't try and turn this conversation to that.

Big clubs don't scout in Africa, every man and his dog knows this. Except we want to be economical with the truth.

1.kanu....iwuanyawu - Ajax
2. finidi....sharks - Ajax
3. George weah....cameroon - Psg
4. Patrick mboma... Cameroon - Monaco
5.taiye taiwo... lobi - Marseille
6.ogbeche...lobi - psg
7. seydeou keita...mali - Marseille
8. salif keita....mali - saint Etienne

continue lying to your self

goldfish80:
You could only come up with 2 names who who transfered from Africa to a top Euro team. Does this evidence tell you that these bug clubs care about Africans to come scouting here?
Dortmund may not have signed someone from Asec but over the years they have got African players who did well for them.

You really want to go out of your way to pick on one sentence I made to nail Dortmund as not doing enough scouting or being successful at that with the resources and talent that have come through the club, which is the main point of this discussion.

The debate from the beginning wasn't who had the scouting network in Africa, my friend. Don't try and turn this conversation to that.

Big clubs don't scout in Africa, every man and his dog knows this. Except we want to be economical with the truth.

1.kanu....iwuanyawu - Ajax
2. finidi....sharks - Ajax
3. George weah....cameroon - Psg
4. Patrick mboma... Cameroon - Monaco
5.taiye taiwo... lobi - Marseille
6.ogbeche...lobi - psg
7. seydeou keita...mali - Marseille
8. salif keita....mali - saint Etienne

continue lying to your self

goldfish80:
HOw successful have they been qith these players from Kadji sports academy and Crystal Academy? What have been their ROI on these players? How many tournaments have they won with these players?
If you like, you can go to Obanta Utd and get players, the question is what were you able to achieve with these players in terms of finance and trophies.
That's my definition of success.

If not anything, it was the Lukman Harunas and the likes that saw Monaco relegated.
There's no basis for comparism with Dortmund.

Lastly and I repeat ,top clubs don't buy players straight from Africa. Except on very rare occasions. It is the 3rd and 4th class clubs who bother to scout in Africa for diamonds in the rough who they sell for profit. That's it.

You are really not a straight forward person, you said Dortmund had scouting network every where in the world including Africa and I ask which player did they sign straight from Africa and you don't know. now you turn around to say big team don't sign from Africa, you know nothing about scouting

1. Eto.... the best player ever in Africa was scouted by the biggest club in Madrid scout straight from Cameroon
2.kolo toure...from Asec to one of the best team in England Arsenal for just 150,000 pounds

I still ask you for one player Dortmund scouted from africa?

edi287:
No. He played well in the Copa America. Just like how Kanu made the top 10 of world player of year on the back of his Atlanta 96 performances

Olympic games were not the only yard stick for Kanu making the top 10, he played champions league final 1995/1996 season.

A copa America is equals to the Africa nations cup and cant be enough to earn him the 6th spot in Fifa player ranking, sanchez won the same competition 2014 and 2016, also named the best player of the tournament, why didn't he get same accolade as Suarez even when he was playing in a suppose bigger team to Suarez