₦airaland Forum

TheGoodJoe:
Kelechi Iheanacho is a player known for his high conversion rate of chances created. At Bristol City, he will play in a system where chances will get created. This makes it an ideal place for Nacho.

Finito.

and when he goes there and flops you will now say that Bristol is bad. Anyways Bristol City DO NOT want Nacho, so that's wishful thinking

Truidstar:
Ermmmmm there was a twin black strike duo of Andy Cole and the other Trinidad fella (forgotten his name) also Paul Ince. These guys were over regulars.

what I said is obviously a stretch and grossly exaggerated, my mistake there. I was talking about black players playing for United within the time frame Mikel wanted to step in, that's 2005 till he left.

Then there is also a mistake you guys make, there is a big difference between Dele Alli and Etebo, both are black but one is a Brit and the other isnt, generally I don't add them as black players

Icon79:
Omo, you need an egg to make an omelet. How many naturally talented players (of Mikel's caliber) did Ferguson during that period? You know, we actually came to realize how poor that Man Utd team was after the departure of Sir Alex. Since his departure, 3 world class coaches have been trying to rebuild the same team ... a team that won the EPL in Ferguson's final year, mind you!

Of course, in football like in life there are no guarantees but the truth is that Mikel stood a better chance of developing under Sir Alex than under Mourinho. You know as well as I do that Jose Mourinho doesn't have the time to develop anybody ... he believes in instant gratification - aka the win today mantra. I cried blue murder when Mikel decided to chose Chelsea and I still think that it was a mistake to this day.

O pari

the end point of the discussion is that there is no guarantee, Pogba comes to mind. Manucho, even Macheda, they all had talent but so much for that.

Kog45:
Thank you my man.I remember a very talented Angola player that was wasted by Ferguson but couldn't recalled his name,may be one Manucho.

exactly and a lot of other top black players that were wasted by Feggie. People point the racist finger at Pep but bar Evra was there anyother black starter for Ferguson throughout his reign at Manu?

AIG07:
hahaha! See African's Finest Eleven.

See something o o o. North Africans rooted for their own and here in sub-sahara Africa, an over sabi Nigerian(s) will be giving you 101 reasons why his country man(men) doesn't deserve a slot or his vote. Whose glory is it now? Ours or theirs?

To the objective analysts who analysis without emotions, to the non sentimentals, and to the critics who criticises anything Nigeria football, I need explanations on how the above named players deserve to make the list of Africa finest. What justifies their inclusion? Don't forget your facts and figures.

Cc: Mikael2, Goldfish80 etc

there is a reason why the award is called fans finest XI and not CAF's best Eleven. This was voted by fans, if not I don't know why Ndidi wouldnt be there or why Mane whose departure coincided with Liverpool''s worst form of the year was left out for Ajayi of all people

Icon79:
Mikel is a baller. That guy would've been the modern day Zinadine Zidane if he had played to his potential. He has everything it takes to be a world class playmaker. Whomever convinced him to chose Jose Mourinho's Chelsea ahead of Sir Alex Man Utd needs to jailed.


O pari

y'all are saying this based on hindsight. What is the guarantee that he would have developed properly as an attacking midfielder under Ferguson? Over the years how many world class attacking midfielders did Ferguson produce? I can only remember Scholes. I can also remember him preferring Cleverly to a lot of other better midfielders, what is the guarantee that Mikel would not be overlooked in favour of cleverly? If you ask me I am totally content with the player Mikel is right now, hypothetical he could have developed into a better player and he could have ended up a lot worse as well so we need to accept what we have

Certitude:
It may seem this way, but can this guys compete with their European counterparts? Their award was their only chance.

eh that is something me I don't understand either. You know the UEFA best player is only for the best player in Europe? So why can't the CAF best player be for any player based in Africa?

tbaba1234:
There is nothing in those stats that justify a 3:0 win. 6 to 4 shots on target??

Spain did not dominate, far from it

Some of the reaction of football fans after the game.

6-4, then they had a clear chance which hit the bar so make that 7. Meanwhile one of our own shots on target was a plain old strike from one midfielder like that, so much for that.


Now back to Mikel, Nigeria didnt dominate the game, then how did Mikel dominate the midfield? I mean go and watch Pirlo against England and see what 'dominating a game' truly means

We are talking about the game against Spain, not the entire group stage. Maybe you may want to dig up who created the highest number of chances in that Nig-Esp game and you won't know what to say again. Let me go and dig up the stat

tbaba1234:
The good about the internet is that you can always dig up facts.. Mikel did not just hold up his own, he was one of the best in that tournament.

A few stats:

John Obi Mikel completed more passes in the final third of the pitch (69) than any other player in the group stage of the 2013 confederation cup. This is a tournament that included Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta.

Only Andre Inesta completed more dribbles than John Obi Mikel. And that is just 1 more

In the game against spain, John Obi Mikel created 3 chances in the first half, more than any other player in the game.

https://www.soccerpunter.com/soccer-statistics/World/Confederations-Cup-2013-Brazil/match/1286869_Nigeria_vs_Spain

read this report. Like I said, the Spanish team could have won by more than 3 goals although we should have scored once but saying that we would have won even if it was Ronaldo that we had upfront is simply wrong. Also saying that Mikel dominated when we can all see that the Spanish team dominated the game is also very wrong, thanks to Mikel though the game looked slightly more balanced unlike the other games the spanish team played

Certitude:
I thought this argument ended last year... Well I heard best African player based in Africa has been scrapped... Na true?

is it not better? That award was created specifically for Aboutrika so that the Egyptians can take home an award every year, good riddance

tbaba1234:
Go and rewatch the game... Mikel dominated the midfield that day.

Nigeria had a very good game. Scoreline did not tell the full story.

dominated which midfield? He held his own but saying he dominated the midfield is as false as ever

tbaba1234:
Lol, are you implying that it was because of Moses that they could not score Or is it the soft soft penalty that you are attributing to Zappa?

you should really direct that question to Icon79 not me

Dannyxy:
He was, bros....
It 0-0 when moses was pulled out..

yes yes yes, and they scored barely 5mins later

tbaba1234:
With better strikers, Nigeria could have won that game. Mikel was unplayable that day.

won? We both know that is not even close to the truth. I can only remember one very good chance which was the one that local based guy missed, anyone else?

Loogan:
I don't like it to because sincerely he's better than Willian Attacking wise, his penetration, skill creativity is something to behold in a GWG shirt. But as time goes on his goal tally will increase with more game time and confidence.

Moses is better attacking wise than William? Even Pedro right?

Jarus:
Makes sense...

I think "fast and reckless" cost us the game against Spain in 2014 Confeds. The scoreline didn't do justice to our performance in that game.

I think the scoreline actually did, it was JUST 4-0, which shows that we played better than Tahiti for example

Icon79:
Bros, sometimes you should just ignore these ignorant posters. I have come to realize that most people who post here do not even watch the games they post about, believe it or not.

I watched Arsenal v Chelsea yesterday, and VicMo didn't have a great game due to fatigue but he wasn't horrible. Take for instance, the two goals Arsenal scored yesterday (were created from) came from Zappacosta's wing; yet some folks are here promoting him because they read the craps posted by some dumb folks in the media with their own individual agendas! Listen, VicMo is going to hold onto his position for a very long time if Zappacosta is his biggest threat at Chelsea. The two are simply not in the same class. You gotta be blind not to notice that and Antonio Conte is definitely not blind.

VicMo was one of Chelsea's best players last season and he has remained one of their best player this season. Check out Chelsea's results when Moses is out (either with injuries or on suspension). Trust me, Antonio Conte knows his values to the team. I advise folks to ignore the BS the English media tend to post about African players in general and Nigerian players in particular. They all have their agendas.


O pari

I am pretty sure Zappercosta wasn't on the pitch when Arsenal scored their first goal

daveP:
You missed the point, so no need to give my statement an 'extension of deliberations'. Just like a good wc outing gave James Rodiguez a Madrid jersey, same for my angle.

Madrid already has a standard DMF, two if you count Llronte/Kovacic. If they buy Ndidi it will be for who? The assistant captain of the brazillian national team(Casemiro)? If he going to bench Case? James had a vacant position to fill, Ozil already left and Di Maria was posting highly inconsistent results, but Case's case is way way different

daveP:
My conditional statement wasnt seen by you ba? 2reasons for your negativity pls!!

Current price:25m, +good world cup outing=40m+? i'm waiting...

you still missed the point. Is he just going to Madrid because he wants to be a madrid player? Or he wants to be a starter? Do you think he will be a starter in Real Madrid?

OMANBALA1:
If I remember correctly , it was baba Icons that said that most cadet players dont end up becoming what was anticipated of them and rightly so this has manifested and kept going. In the case of Omeruo, this guy was like a rock and great ball player during the U20 world cup that had Ajagun,Musa,Azeez, Kayode and co in the team and though we have finally found Uche Okechukwu replacement but lo and behold I watch Omeruo depreciated and was playing like grandpa. I think he is picking up his pieces and hopefully he makes the team.

Omeruo was not a starter during that U20, there were two northern guys playing the defence then. Infact Omeruo didnt play a single minute of that tournament

eterisan:
who will challenge forgiveness for most controversial.... Lolz... When Lord Ajagun wey fit play Rb rm cm am df ss... And will make Nigeria win world cup.. Abeg.. No challenge.... Abeg mek una nor mind me I'm just here to read comments and chillax.. Click like if u like me.. Cos I know say we are many

Lord Ajagun that leaps like an antelope and runs like a gazzete

daveP:
Hmm. If a good wc outing happens, la liga should be his next destination to me. Madrid maybe. Else he can think of joining the Klopp's Kops.

Madrid kwa? Ok that isn't possible

joseph1013:

CATEGORIES
1. Most Controversial Poster
2. Most Interactive Poster
3. Most Intelligent Poster
4. Most Resourceful Poster
5. Most Respectful Poster
6. Most Consistent Poster
7. Most Positive Poster
8. Best Sense of Humor
9. Most Critical Poster
10. Nicest Poster
11. Most Influential Poster
12. Most Pro-Foreign Born Poster
13. Most Pro-Naija League Poster
14. People's Favourite
15. Most Sentimental
16. Notorious Silent Reader
17. Impressive Thread Newbie
18. Diehard Super Eagles Fan
19. Best Friends
20. Most Outstanding Poster
21. Overall Best Poster
22. Top Dramatic Topics
23. Honourable Mention: I, by the power vested on me by this thread, unanimously give this category to THESUPERNERD. Whoever does not accept should go and report to Buhari.

Any other categories I'm missing?

PS: Apologies the get-together could not happen. I am out of the country.

I tender my unreserved apologies if your name is not here. Let's have some fun.

Most Controversial...without doubt oo Forgiveness, he can just type something that will make you shout 'what!'

Most Interactive....without doubt over the entire year has to be TheSuperNerd, I am not sure he left any of his mentions unattended to, and he had the highest number of comments too.

Most intelligent poster.... Easily Mujtahida, not just about sports but the way he combines sports with real life education is just top notch, I like reading his comments, one advice sha don't be too optimistic, I always tell you that.

Most resourcesful....Tbaba and Joebie, nothing else.

Most respectful..... I would give it to Tbaba and Icon4s, not sure they've had any dint on their image at all.

Most consistent.... Over the course of the year, I am not sure anyone deserves this at all so blank.

Most positive.... Ah them plenty ooo, Mujtahida, Icon4s, Tbaba1234, Humility, Kog45 abeg them too plenty.

Best sense of humour.... Goldfish

Most critical.... Goldfish and Komekn to a lesser extent

Nicest poster.... Tbaba1234, he is always very very diplomatic.

Most influential....has to be Komekn and Safarigirl. Their comments will always turn your head, sometimes they may be negative(well most times for Komekn) but the fact is that so long as their comments leads to a reaction from a lot of people, then they are influential for me.

The next two categories, we already know them na. Komekn for foreign and Bascon for local, finish.


People's favourite has to be Icon4s

Most Sentimental has to be Humility without doubt, and Safarigirl too.

Most impressive thread newbie,,,,Mujtahida. He has barely been here for 3months and he has already won the most intelligent poster award, that is nothing short of impressive.


Die hard SE fan... Eh no comment.

Best friends..... Forgiveness and Icon4s

Most outstanding poster and best poster are the same for me, and I will give it to Tbaba1234 for his top top diplomatic approach to matters.


Honourable mentions: them plenty o

Icon79:
Sorry, I don't think Ndidi did enough for the Super Eagles to merit the player of the year.



O pari

he asked the BEST NIGERIAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR, not the best performing SE player, and in that regard Ndidi combined consistent good performances with longetivity. VicMo was injured for most times and others werent up to par

Danielnino00:
Its a few days to the end of the year...


Who is your Nigeria player of the year??




CC: Forgiveness, TheGoodJoe,Safarigirl,Komekn,Icon79, icon4s, Mujthida,Kog45,Goldfish,soetanoreoluwa,Mikeal2,elyte89, and other distinguished members of the thread



PS: You can add another player that's not on this list

Wilfred Ndidi without doubt

realpoacher:
Hmmmmm,... Now I am forced to agree with you. Honestly I now see the angle you are coming out from.

Truly we have a very big and deep rooted problem on our hands that calls for a radical different approach from our grassroots developmental football.

This problem, I do not see a solution to under 6 months to the world cup. There is no way in hell we can get our players firing on all cylinders before the the world cup.

So what should we do?

Asking them to force the hands of their respective clubs for a loan or transfer move is not a sure solution as no one can guarantee that they will hit form at their next destination.

To me, instead of the hue and cry about their non performance. They should be encouraged to work hard in training in order to keep shape and deliver for us in the GWG!

they certainly will work hard in training but that is different. See no matter how good you were during clinicals with cadavers and stuff, the very first day you have to partake in an actual surgery you will be tensed up and you most definetly will make mistakes, that's why we still have to go through a long period of residency so that you can get enough experience. Trust me even those of us with distinctions in medicine and surgery could hardly remember the first step in dissection on that day, not that the talent wasn't there, but we lacked on-the-job experience. This is why I like players who are playing, who are going through the main thing and not just training without pressure

jihday:
so because mbappe is highly rated now, does it mean he's better than Griezman

Bebeto was no Griezman and Ronaldo was way better than Mbappe was then

soetanoreoluwa:
Is that really bad? And you are aware his market value will reduced drastically and also probability of losing his position in super eagles will be will also be high too...

I don't see championship as good idea

some teams like Wolves and Leeds are playing better than Swansea for example, the case is he might go there and start from the bench assuming the coach even wants him

komekn:
I have watched both players live in youth games in senior games and in matches live as well as in training.

Side be Side as stand alone players Solanke brings a lot more to the table in the role of striker. In this regard he is ahead

The only thing I can say is I wonder how many goals Solanke could have scored if he had played 25 games for Nigeria. But we can never tell so it's not a fair comparison.

Consider the bold highlight, what are the attributes required to feel Nigerian please

I would have to disagree with you here. Solanke would definetly not have the same number of goals with Iheanacho. Solanke plays for Liverpool, a team that has scored more than 3 goals so many times this season and yet he has ZERO goals, atleast when Iheanacho was playing for City he had the goals to show for it. The hype on Solanke has to be reduced, the boy and Iheanacho are either equal or Iheanacho edges him

Dedebanky85:
Which kind yans be this? If the coach knew, then why did he pull him off? The pressure Naija was putting on them was increasing by the minute. They had to alter their formation to take out an attacker. At that time Bebeto was more rated than Ronaldo and they still had Bebeto on the pitch. So why we no chop 7. I could also say if we had Oliseh them for score only 1.

as at 1996 Ronaldo was rated higher than Bebeto, this was a guy that scored 35 goals in 1995, the highest scoring teenager until Mbappe took over this year. I am not saying we would have collected 7 o, we definetly wouldnt have but Ronaldo as at then was better than Bebeto na

TheGoodJoe:
I say, it is not a debate. Pellegrini signed a boy and turned him into a superstar. Or do you want to argue with Isco again?

Finito.

I am pretty sure Madrid didnt break the bank for Isco. Isco as at then was a Ceballos-type of signing, he was signed for his future world class abilities, he was in no way a superstar when Madrid signed him

forgiveness:
So, this epistle was for Iheanacho and not for the progress of the team. I see.

Free kick is now the yardstick for measuring a player. I see.

my brother eh, I read that comment and I was like 'wow' so people like this still dey? One freekick in a friendly game, one freaking Fkick in a friendly game is now the yardstick, so because Kanu never scored a freekick he isn't a good player any more? Poor Yekini I guess