Watch any match with the favourite player syndrome that we have here and when you hear the comment's he bossed the game, best player, pocketed this player or that . You will think you watched a completely different game.
My view is very simple if Nwakali was any good he would not have spent two seasons in the low level Segunda Division. If he was any good Porto would have not relegated him to the B youth team. If he was any good, he would have stood out in the Eredivisie and not have been relegated to Dutch 2nf tier and if was any good he would be at Arsenal, playing with Saka, Smith, Folarin, etc
He's done nothing at Huesca he is the second to the last lowest paid player in the club. Yet somebody days he is the star player in the club.
What's my issue, there is a pre requisite for selection to the SE. Current outstanding top quality performances in your league and club. He fails.
So what we have, is similar to someone, not taking JAMB and having failed his School certificate given admission to the university because he was a great top student in primary school.
Add to that is the shameless bigoted double standard that's been shown by quite a few here as well as quasi tribalism with so called foreign born players.
No too long it was said players in the Championship were too low for the SE.
You claim a lot of experience which i don't deny and yet you come up with this. You can say the same for Emmanuel Dennis.
Your experiences should tell you that a player's footballing ability is not the only criteria that determines which team a player features in.
drDoom3: I wonder how you are seeing him not understanding tactics from YouTube highlights. Nwakali has more to contribute defensively then Aribo? You have to be joking here. Nwakali that barely tackles and doesn’t track players in his box. Aribo gets lost in games like seriously? Do you even watch the guy at club level?
I’m tired of this argument abeg. The way you guys slander players without evidence is appalling. You just put up a word salad without real substance up there. Like seriously imagine saying Nwakali is better defensively than Aribo. Even Moses Simon that is a winger tracks back better than Nwakali does.
I don't even know what you guys observe whenever you watch matches. That is how some people will tag Ndidi an SE flop.
If you think that i am alone in my observations and assertions, see what Sofascore has to say. I am also tired of this argument.
Nwakali (Green) Aribo (blue). The league quality has a bearing on player rating.
drDoom3: I wonder how you are seeing him not understanding tactics from YouTube highlights. Nwakali has more to contribute defensively then Aribo? You have to be joking here. Nwakali that barely tackles and doesn’t track players in his box. Aribo gets lost in games like seriously? Do you even watch the guy at club level?
I’m tired of this argument abeg. The way you guys slander players without evidence is appalling. You just put up a word salad without real substance up there. Like seriously imagine saying Nwakali is better defensively than Aribo. Even Moses Simon that is a winger tracks back better than Nwakali does.
I don't even know what you guys observe whenever you watch matches. That is how some people will tag Ndidi an SE flop.
If you think that i am alone in my observations and assertions, see what Sofascore has to say. I am also tired of this argument.
Nwakali (Green) Aribo (blue). The league quality has a bearing on player rating.
Mujtahida: Your opinion not Fact. As far as tactics is concerned you simply cannot tell which player has more understanding than the other because you are not privy to the specific tactical instructions these players have received from their coaches. The information you have is mere tactical outline which is not sufficient for you to reach such definite positions as you have done.
By looking at how a team play, both individually and collectively, you can deduce the team's tactics and instructions from the coach.
Why do coaches make tactical switches and personnel changes during the course of a game.
Mujtahida: Aribo and wings? How? Why? You sure have a different eye oo cos this is the strangest view expressed about Aribo. Please watch the video below. He is over the top in his opinion about Iwobi but he's right about Aribo
The guest in that video, doesn't seem like an analyst to me. He somehow has the demeanour of a motivational talker.
Arlbo is yet to become the player that Iwobi is. Iwobi's problems is inconsistency, there might be some conflicts within himself that he will have to resolve.
Iwobi over Aribo, anytime, any day, and there are fine reasons for this.
drDoom3: Have you watched Aribo though? He is not a poor midfielder, he is a poor defensive player. Also he is the most technical of all three so I don’t get your point. Aribo was rated as the player with the best first touch in world football just last year and you are comparing him with lowly Iwobi and even a worse Nwakali.
After Osimhen and Ndidi, no other player in our team has a higher ceiling than Aribo. Guy is good at everything. Passing, scoring worldies, first touch, physicality, link up play, dribbling, name it. Guy if a baller.
I would advise you to watch Rangers fc highlights so that you can really see the player you are so helplessly slandering.
Aribo is the least technical of the three. This is not a slander I don't know what you guys define as technique. First touch is a technique, but there are other techniques.
I decided to see some Youtube videos of Aribo as you have suggested, to ascertain if i am really missing something. There are some positives to cull from his displays as always but he is not more spectacular than the people he is compared with.
As a central midfielder, your ability to understand tactics and make vital moves to stifle and counter the opponents is sine qua non. Only Ndidi trumps Nwakali in interpretation of tactics, even Frank Onyeka is ahead of Aribo in this area. I might argue with some great minds as to whether Ejuke is ahead of Aribo in tactical reading of the game, from my own assessment of their games, i think Ejuke is ( this is strictly a personal view ).
Can you explain why a skillful Aribo normally gets lost in games and his impact is hard to figure out. This is not just a coincidence His compatriots are better at understanding the game, and the opponents than him. Even though Gernot Rohr deserves the greater blame.
Concerning Nwakali, he is technically and tactically more astute than Aribo, and has more to contribute defensively. Being technically and tactically better makes him better at controlling a game than Aribo and therefore owns the CM spot.
Kog45: Oga meli,just say Victor Osimehn and Wilfred Ndidi.....Nwakili and Ejuke have Afcon to prove to us how good they are....and telling us Kelechi Nwakili is very important to eagles,sir I disagree,pls on what basis....I can only lose sleep on Osimehn and Ndidi if they are not available for selection.
Sir,time for us to calm down on Nwakili cos is rating here is damn on high sides,based on his performance so far he should just thank Eguavoen for believing in him,nothing more.
We need to reduce the pressure on the young man,the coming Afcon is an opportunity for him to prove a lot wrong and I wish the young man well.
Based on the few matches that we have seen of Ejuke, if you are yet to see what he brings, then i will leave you to whatever you make of him.
drDoom3: If you play a striker as a defensive midfielder you cannot expect him to play well. Everybody and their parents know that Aribo plays best the closer he gets to the opponents' goal. I don't know why Rohr adamantly refused to play him where he is best utilized. It is not his fault he has not performed as well as expected.
Nwakali is not going to bench Aribo as an AM. He could as a CM or if Eguavoen decides to follow ERohr's footsteps, but if not tthen forget it. Nwakali still has a long way to go to get to Iwobi's level, let alone Aribo.
Aribo is a good winger, but a very poor midfielder. This is not hard to see. He should be drafted to the wings where his pace, dribbling and finishing will come handy
As far as the central and attacking midfield is concerned, Iwobi and Aribo has nothing on Nwakali, withi Aribo being the least as far as game reading is concerned. Should i also say that he is the least in technique. This is an honest appraisal.
I am not trying to bring down Aribo, but we will appreciate more the player Aribo is when we see him ply the wings. He doesn't seem to bring anything of note to the team because we have players who are head and shoulders above him adding to the fact that he plies a position that doesn't fit him.
TheGoodJoe: On a serious note, there is no one in the Super Eagles that has the kind of touch of Nwakali. I don't know if he is raising his game because of the call up but that last through pass was brilliant. That was similar to that of Sarabia.
Sad it did not get to his teammate.
His ball control is also cool.
He needs to work on his work rate. Sometimes he strolls a bit too much. Also, he will look far better in a deeper role, playing in a possessive system. Nice one.
Ndidi, Osimhen and Nwakali are the three most important players, followed closely by Ejuke. These guys are very unique in what they bring.
lakesidepapa: Sir TheGoodJoe is not just humble, he's intelligent and cool headed as well, you will hardly find him attacking someone here.
I also do learn one or two things from his posts and I always concur with him, I will show disagreement on any of his post I can't agree on without being afraid of getting unpolite reply .
daveP: Lets not act like its only Ndidi that will defend the length of the place pls. Thats why i said we need an Etebo kinda player to balance it out. Nwakali is not that player.
The fact both has more to offer doesn't mean others won't join them against attacking teams like Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia.
Bottomline: Nwakali can't play that CM role. I however want him to prove me wrong cos new Revelations do just that.
Else......
Give me just one reason why he can't play the CM role?
TheGoodJoe: I am expecting some drastic surprises. I think passing ability will play a big part. Ndah might breakthrough because of his short passing skill.
I am also digging the free 8s role which I see Nacho and Nwakali making it.