₦airaland Forum

Truidstar:
A certain division 2 midfield general in Spain did not make the match day aquad.

He has a slight injury - back problem

Ppogbae:
Kunle Adeleke of Abia Warriors has been called up

Npfl players are like uncooked rice. That is raw rice that has not been cooked. they are badly coached. As it is he needs to go abroad and be retrained for a year. Npfl coaches must be held responsible for the type of bad players they produce. Talented but badly coached. I'm sure he does not know basic things like how to read the movement of a mobile striker or intercept a pass even though he might have raw talent. Uncooked rice needs to be cooked. I'm sure he is still raw as he is the product of a failed system.
To solve the problem I think we need to work on training our coaches on modern knowledge of football. Coaching certificate should be made important.

TheSuperNerd:
Midweek action done. Brace up for another weekend of Action from our lads across Europe and beyond...


Nigerian players who shone across Europe during the midweek: August 24-26 (Tue - Thurs)



1. Alex Iwobi (AM - LW) Goal and Solid performance (Everton FC): Played 90mins+

Huddersfield Town 1-2 Everton FC (EFL Carabao Cup - Round 2)

*1 shot on target, 86% passing accuracy, 1/3 ground duels won, 2 interceptions, 1 tackle

*1 assist in 2 EPL games (1 start)

*1 goal + 1 assist in 3 games (2 starts) in all comps.



2. 17 y/o Carney Chibueze Chukwuemeka (CM/CAM - Played AM) Decent Midfield Performance (Aston Villa FC): Played 73mins

Barrow 0-6 Aston Villa FC (EFL Carabao Cup - Round 2).

*2 chances created, 1 shot on target, 86% passing accuracy, 3/4 successful dribbles, 5/9 ground duels won, 1 tackle, 2 fouls committed, was fouled once.

*1 EFL Carabao Cup game (1 start)



3. Oghenekaro Peter Etebo (CM - Played CDM) Solid Midfield Performance (Watford FC): Played 90mins+

Watford 1-0 Crystal Palace (EFL Carabao Cup - Round 2).

*1 big chance created, 1 chance created, 89% passing accuracy, 4/5 accurate long balls, 100% accurate crosses (1/1), 1/1 successful dribbles(100% take on success), 6/10 ground duels won, 2 interceptions, 2 tackles, 1 foul committed, was fouled 3 times

*3 games (3 starts) in all comps.



4. William Troost Ekong (CB) Solid Defensive Performance (Watford FC): Played 90mins+

Watford 1-0 Crystal Palace (EFL Carabao Cup - Round 2).

*1 shot on target, 1 big chance missed, 80% passing accuracy, 10 clearances, 2 blocked shots, 1 interception, 5/11 accurate long balls, 2/4 aerial duels won

*3 games (3 starts), 1 cleansheet in all comps.



5. Frank Onyeka (CM/CDM - Played CM) Solid Midfield Showing (Brentford FC): Played 45 mins+ off the bench.

Brentford FC 3-1 Forest Green Rovers
(EFL Carabao Cup - Round 2).

*96% passing accuracy, 1/1 accurate long balls, 1 shot off target, 100% aerial duels won (2/2), 4/10 ground duels won, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 fouls committed, was fouled 2 times.

*3 games (2 starts) in all comps.



6. Bonke Innocent (DM) Fairly Decent Midfield Performance (Malmo FF): Played 90mins+

Ludogorets Razgrad 2-1 Malmo FF (Uefa Champions League Qualifiers - Final Playoffs round, 2nd leg)

*Bonke and Malmo win 3-2 on aggregate and qualifies for the UCL group stage proper and have been drawn against Chelsea, Juventus & Zenit in Group H.

*83% passing accuracy, 2/7 ground duels won, 1/3 aerial duels won, q tackle, 1 interception, 1 blocked shot, 1 foul committed, was fouled once.

*3 cleansheets, 8 league games (7 starts)

*1 assist, 2 cleansheets in 7 UCL Qualifying games (5 starts)



7. Yusuf Otubanjo (FW) Goal (FC Ararat-Armenia): Played 70mins

FC Ararat-Armenia 5-2 FC Noah (Armenian Premier League)

*4 goals, 1 assist in 4 league games (3 starts).



8. Nathan Tella (RW/LW - Played LW) Goal (Southampton): Played 65mins

Newport County 0-8 Southampton (EFL Carabao Cup - Round 2).

*64% passing accuracy, 1 shot on target, 1/2 accurate long balls, 2/6 ground duels won, 2 tackles, 1 interception

*1 Goal in 2 games (1 start) in all comps.



9. Ubong Ukpai (FW) Goal (Slavia Prague): Played 90mins+

Legia Warsaw 2-1 Slavia Prague (Uefa Europa League Final Playoffs round - 2nd leg).

*Slavia Prague lost 4-3 on aggregate

*3 league games (3 starts)

*1 Goal in 2 UEL Qualifying games (1 start)



10. Tosin Kehinde (RM/RW) Assist (Randers FC): Played 83mins

Galatasaray SK 2-1 Randers FC (Uefa Europa League Final Playoffs round - 2nd leg).

*Tosin and Randers lose 3-2 on aggregate

*1 Goal, 2 assists in 4 league games (4 starts)

*1 assist in 2 UEL qualifying games (1 start)



11. Henry Onyekuru (LW) Goal (Olympiacos): Played 72mins

Slovan Bratislava 2-2 Olympiacos (Uefa Europa League Final Playoffs round - 2nd leg).

*First goal for his new side, Olympiacos. First of many to come

*Henry and Olympiacos win 5-2 on aggregate

*1 Goal in 2 UEL qualifying games (1 start)



12. Ezekiel Henty (CF) Goal (Slovan Bratislava): Played 79mins

Slovan Bratislava 2-2 Olympiacos (Uefa Europa League Final Playoffs round - 2nd leg).

*Henty and Bratislava lose 5-2 on Aggregate to Henry's Olympiacos

*3 league games (1 start)

*2 goals in 4 UEL qualifying games (3 starts)

*2 goals in UCL Qualifying games (3 starts)



13. Lesley Ugochukwu (CDM) Decent Midfield Performance (Stade Rennais): Played 90mins+

Rosenborg BK 1-3 Stade Rennais (Uefa Europa Conference League Final Playoffs Round - 2nd leg)

*Solid display from the 17 year old in his debut European competition fixture. Helps Rennes secure a 5-1 aggregate win

*3 ligue 1 games (2 starts)

*1 UECL qualifying game (1 start)



14. Akinkunmi Amoo (RW) Impact Showing (Hammarby IF): Played 43mins+ off the bench

Hammarby IF 3-1 FC Basel (Uefa Europa Conference League Final Playoffs Round - 2nd leg)

*Came on and bagged a beautiful pre-assist and also created a big chance with his mazy run in extra time that was not converted by a teammate

*4 goals + 2 assists in 16 league games (11 starts)

*1 assist in 6 UECL qualifying games (4 starts)



Notable Mention(s):.

Joe Aribo (CM) - Glasgow Rangers FC: Played 90mins+

FC Alashkert 0-0 Rangers FC (Uefa Europa League Final Playoffs round - 2nd leg).

Aribo and Rangers win 1-0 on aggregate making it to today's UEL draw proper. They are in pot 2.

*Very Decent showing at RW/RM.

*1 goal, 1 assist in 7 games (7 starts) in all comps.

MY THOUGHTS ON AKINKUNMI AMOO

I think Akinkunmi Amoo is a false 9. Players with this skill set are not too many.
Firmino, messi, etc. They are rare.
He will be useful for our national teams but now and in the nearest future.
False 9's roam the entire midfield and attack and create and score goals at the same time.
I don't know if his coaches see it but i think that is why Ibrahimovic is crazy over him.
I hope he fullfills his potentials as false 9's are actually difficult to mark because of their mobility, intelligence, skill, speed etc.
This is what makes Akinkunmi Amoo unique


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TheSuperNerd:
Isaac Success already added to the matchday squad for Udinese's Serie A game vs Ebuehi's Venezia this Friday (August 27).

He was officially announced as an Udinese player just under 9 hours ago.

Wanted.

Isaac success is lucky. Despite his injury and loss of form he still gets into good teams. There are many players who are not given a chance like him.
He must have divine favor.
I mean many African players are dropped after 5 bad matches and an injury.
He is good but I wonder why they still rate him so highly given the impatience of European football that is very competitive

TheSuperNerd:
Kingsley Michael is a lad I rate and like but I can tell you without mincing words that his invite is undeserved. He hasn't played one game this season and Played so very little last season. This is who Rohr chose over Alhassan and Nwakali. And yes I know what qualities he brings but his inactivity is a problem.

And Bonke is a DM. He is needed to stand in for Ndidi and Onyeka for the Cape Verde game. That call makes sense.

Kingsley micheal,s choice makes no sense. Nwakali and Yusuf have been in good form with rave reviews from the European media while Kingsley has not even been playing regularly.
It's funny for someone who rates by club form.
Kingsley form is suspect

Good

charlesemeka85:
small time now dem go tell una say na him be the most creative player wey 9ja don produce

The 2nd coming of Mikel and jay Jay rolled in one

This is logic.
Ok can u least 5 creative midfielders we have. We don't have much in creative midfield.

Good for u

Philosopher1979:
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WHAT'S THE LATEST ON SAMSON TIJANI
Supernerd or anybody
What is the latest on Samson Tijani?
Are the loaning him and where are they loaning him to?
He has not been part of their squad for matches even though he is in the team

TheSuperNerd:
What is this one saying?

Is it not the same Rohr that has refused to address our midfield deficiencies?? Is it not the same Rohr that sees how depleted we are in the middle yet he chooses to act like there is no issue? Well, now we have no choice but to play without the regulars. Had Rohr had the sense to consider cases of "unavailability" to certain regulars in mind, we would not be facing this challenge.

And please read with understanding. It is inevitable that we would parade new Midfield partners alongside Aribo. I am only interested in seeing who Rohr calls up in the middle especially as he refused to address the issue all this while.

Honestly, you are just here defending nonsense. This is on Rohr as well and he must act. We wait.


P.S: And we have uncapped lads that can come in and still perform. Okocha and Oruma are retired okay. So your reference to them is baseless.

Alhassan Yusuf is technically better than Etebo and a more natural midfielder
Kelechi Nwakali is there.
Also, Obinna Nwobodo is there.
In fact, Adewale Oladoye is a sensational defensive midfielder who with time may bench Ndidi as his progress is rapid.
Rohr should try there players. I don't see any problem happening.
The problem with Rohr is that he is not too intelligent

Philosopher1979:
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Good for you

Philosopher1979:
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IDENNAA:
It will be so interesting to see us start a front line comprising OSIMHEN , ONYEKURU, NWAKALI ,CHUKWUEZE , IHEANACHO....with Nwakali playing CM/AM.

Rohr's sense of tactical intelligence is limited.
In his limited reasoning, Onyeka is a better player than Nwakali because he is in a better league.
Which is funny because they are different types of players. One is like kante while nwakali is like pirlo or jorginho.
So none is better, they just do different things and nwakali is more needed for possesion, creative football.
Rohr is like Joachim Löw (the former coach of Germany) Incidentally, Joachim Löw should have been sacked after the 2018 world cup. IN the same vein, Rohr has outlived his usefullness. He should have been
sacked after the 2019 nations cup.
We needed him in 2016 to restore some ability to the team and get us new players (some foreign born)
who could rejuvenate the team again. He has done that but cannot take us to the next level.
Rohr is like an average student who does not go beyond 58% in school (2nd class lower).
Well, we are stuck with him.
Things like winning a nations cup or getting to the quarter-final or semi-final of a world cup are beyond him.
He can't take us to the next level. He has tried but he has serious limitations.
He does not know how to use his players or maximize their innate potentials.

TheLoneCitizen:
I agree he is quite unique. But I believe he is more Salah than Mane.

Although similar movements and pace. He lacks the dribbling ability, technique, weak foot proficiency and long-range shooting that has made Mane what he is today.

Like Salah, he is one-footed and prefers dribbling on the run while Mane prefers man to man. He also has very similar attacking aggression with the former. Even with this, Onyekuru plays way closer to goal than orthodox wingers. Like a second striker.

In fact, I think the only player we have who plays like Mane is Ebere Eze, yet he is still far behind.

I hope rohr knows how to use him. Rohr seems to have sunk into this simplistic logic of rating a player by his league. One thing the super eagles have is the ability to explode in the last third of the pitch and x-factor players that can change a game.
Rohr tactical knowledge is questionable and limited. I hope he knows how to use his players instead of looking for players from real Madrid, Juventus etc

Ppogbae:
If Osimhen can't control his hotheadedness then he can say goodbye to the Eagles. We don't need another Sani Keita.

After 6 goals and 5 assists in 12 matches (11 goal contributions in 12 matches).
You are really funny. His contribution to our attack is immense. With time
he will change. Also, the red card was too harsh and wicked going by what i read

Ibrahim Said (u17 star) scores for Viborg

zoboizee:
Nigeria will never dominate anything in sports talkless of football. There is no golden generation anywhere! The country lack what it takes to dominate in sports

We can do it at least in football. Maybe in track and field but i am sure of football.
As per football, all we need is grassroots football and football academies and that is all.
Grassroots football is growing. Too many football academies in Nigeria. in fact, the surulere league is going on right now.
Secondly, we are a footballing country and so we have a footballing culture and history to fall back on. For example, cricket is the main sport
in India and so they can easily dominate that sport.
We are a historical football country and dominating football is organic to us and we do not have to force it like the Chinese are trying to do.
In fact, right now there is a Nigerian teenager in the Bayern world team (Daniel Francis Dada) and so many talents are being discovered at grassroots level.
Also, add the diaspora Nigerians that we can tap into and we have a powerful combination.
We have that history and pedigree and all we have to do is build on it and some structures are being built.
I mean there is Vandrezzar fc which is run like a professional club
also, Barcelona and as roma have their academies in Nigeria.
We have had, still have and will continue to have Nigerian stars that are at least up to standard (i dont want to mention names).
Dominating football is not alien to us.
I leave in Ibadan and i live near the house Mutiu Adepoju built for his father and i know Yekini's house in Ibadan
Football is tiwantiwa to us. We can do it and i like the modalities been put in place

Former u17 star Ibrahim said playing for Viborg as a left winger. Game is on now. I believe in Akinkunmi smoos 2019 under 17 set. Will be part of our golden generation that will dominate football for decades

This is the height of wickedness. Hilary gong should leave vitese arnhem immediately. He is better than than the people benching him

Napoleon55:
From this analysis,
Ndidi/Alhassan seems to be the best midfield combo,
but I doubt if we'll b able to c it happen any time soon because of the type of coach we have.
We really need to try as many new midfield combo as we can to determine which work best.

Etebo will be dropped as time goes on. He may not make the world cup team and after the 2022 world cup his time will be over. I beleif even now he can be dropped and replaced with nwakali and alhassan Yusuf. Problem with him is that he is not really a natural midfielder but more of a forward. Also adewale oladoye of gent will feature in our future midfield.

humility33:
Dont mind them...I never rate him typical of Npfl players no football sense

Yeah, i observed the lack of technical astuteness and inability
to use the ball in the chan 2018 team. They deservedly lost 4 0 to morocco as
they were totally outplayed by a clearly superior team. Even though they got to the final.
it was by attrition and luck as they could neither dribble nor make accurate passes (all npfl players).
in fact, Nigerian football lacked technically astute players until a few years ago with the rise of football academies.
To be honest Muazum in the portuguese second division can pass better than some of our midfielders.
I am not advocating for his call up but that is a pure tactical observation.
I know things have improved but i'm just stating the fact.
NPfl coaches have to work hard on developing technical players. Since Kanu nwankwo we have not
been producing technically gifted players.
This is why players like Nwakali and Rabiu Ibrahim are still relevant to our midfield becausse of the absecne of skilled passers.
Again i'm not advocating for their call up but then, if we did not have issues with technical players in midfield who can pass, players
in obscure leagues will not look suddenly relevant to us.
It is an issue Nigerian football should resolve but it is improving. At least it is said that Samuel Nnoshiri is higly technical
and so i will be on the look out for him.
Also, the lack of basic tactical intelligence or ball sense of our npfl players must be examined.
I think it starts with coaching and administration.
This is why football academies seem more and more relevant to Nigerian football as the days go bye.
In fact, most of the best players in the Nigerian league are a product of football academies and grassroots football.
The nnoshiri i mentioned is a product of a football academy.

IDENNAA:
Etebo is such a talented player full of energy that has been constantly misused. The boy is a forward player not a ffucking DM! He will never excel in that DM position....take this from someone that knows Karo from his early days with Warri Wolves.

Idenna you are very right. I think he can manage as a box-to-box midfielder but not as a pure defensive midfielder. In fact, he is better as a forward. Remember the olympics where he scored 4 goals.
Anyway, can you tell me his best position.
Can he play attacking midfield. I remember his goals from midfield in the Olympics qualifier.
Europeans are the masters of football but they sometimes make serious mistakes with African players.

OGHENAOGIE:
it's tough ooo only read about it in school during elective course psychology... But I wonder how we Link everything to spiritual in Nigeria...

Nigerians grew up with culture and religion and not science and philosophy. So it makes us a bit backward. We are not used to philosophical and scientific enquiry.
It's like Isaac Newton is not our forefather. Our forefathers were idol worshippers, dibias and babalawos and witch doctors in the village. So just get it.

TheSuperNerd:
Well, I believe every Nigerian Footballer out there deserves a mention from time to time. I understand we would be much more focused on the Top talents and finest players among them especially with respect to building the best and the strongest Super Eagles team we all dream to have but but I think that shouldn't stop the others in less fancied leagues/teams from being talked about.
I mean, afterall, this is the home of everything Nigerian football at home and in Europe especially and with some touchdowns also in Asia, the Americas, Oceania, within Africa and even Antarctica (if a league begins there and has a Nigerian ).. and no one should feel left out.

So in the end, it's for the showcase of the Power of Naija across the entirety of the football World . Coz na we dey here!!

We should not ignore players s in obscure leagues 100%. Terem moffi was in Lithuania just 3 years ago and so good players can emerge from there once in a while.
In particular I'm keeping eye on omojesu in the Latvian league. He has 7 assists in 14 matches. He is a creative midfield talent. I hope he moves to a better league next to season. He had also been in team of the week 3 times. Also remember Tolu arokodare. So they deserve some respect

LukasPodolski:
how can you score 20 serie A goals with a relegation bound team and still not secure a move to a top 10 team ?


And some people are still saying Sadiq Umar should not go to Russia, Sevilla my a55.

Home grown African players are underrated and treated like shit.

edi287:
Front 3 would be way too imbalanced. Who will hold width? Who will drift in? Who will create if all 3 are interchanging?
All three aren't great dribblers too.

Okay,
Sadiq Umar will create or operate as a creative forward. (This is why i value him because of his creativity and versatility and not just the league he is in)
Taiwo Awoniyi will come in from the wings. He sometimes plays in the wings for his club
Osimhen will play as top 9 and sometimes drift to the wings
Iwobi, nwakali, eze or whoever will be in midfield to supply the passes and creativity.

Rohr can try this option in a friendly or if we qualify for the world cup
with matches to spare, he can try it in that kind of needless match

Subzero047:
How will the wide men provide service to the point man

That is it. Any of our strikers can drift to the wing at any time and create chances or even score.
That is why i said THREE MOBILE STRIKERS. Eg. Awoniyi can drift to the wings and cause damage,
Ahmed Musa can also do that. Even Osimhen can drift to the wings. With three mobile strikers and wide forwards
you dont need traditional wingers. You only need creative central midfielders.
Wingers and strikers are almost the same in modern football. Think mbape, salah etc.

lloydtruth:
This your formation is somehow. How can you through three pointmen at once? With deficiency in AM, Iheanacho kind of forward will always be needed to serve an overlapping role of SS and AM.

Iwobi, eze, nwakali or enybody will serve as the attacking midfielder behind them. The are not total pointmen. Our strikers are mobile forwards that can drift to the wings. All we need is a 2 or 3 man midfield and mobile forwards who just roam anywhere and do what they like. Paul Onuachu is the only true target man we have.