₦airaland Forum

Icon4s:
I was even referring to d golden eaglets and nt d flying eagles.

The Olympic team dat was beaten by d Flying Eagles u and I know are lacking in quality. By the time d final selection is made let dem face the Flying Eagles again.

TheGoodJoe:

That is exactly what I am saying. If Sadiq Outclasses Ighalo. There is no reason for Ighalo to lead the line.

That was the mistake Coach Siasia made in Alexandria and Kaduna. He dropped those doing better than Ighalo in training and we paid for it. Ighalo was lost in both games.

The better player in training is the better player.

TheGoodJoe:


I wish they can play again. What I am saying is that, if the Dream team wins, they are the better team to be at Rio for the Olympics.

If the Flying Eagles win, then the Dream team is the weaker team for the competition.

It is not about age or experience. It is about form. Renato Sanches is very young. Dream team age, 18 but he is one of the best players of the Euros. One of the biggest international tournament. He even won a man of the match performance in this Euros.

There are more experienced and older midfielders. But, he is the best in Portugal.

Icon4s:
If Renato Sanches and the rest of his 18yrs old or U20 mates had represented Portugal at d Euros what do u think d outcome would have been?

Icon4s:
TheGoodJoe my good friend. I understand ur point bt what Siasia did was what 90% of coaches would have done.

The game in Alexandria u and i knew was poised to b more difficult for us than d Kaduna game. This is y Siasis went for power and relatively more experienced players.

Relative bc Ighalo to me is nt also an experienced campaigner on d African continent. If nt the Siasia's rigorous training dat saw them limp off training ground, Aaron Samuel and Chisom Chikatara would have added more bite to dat attack.

TheGoodJoe:

The right question is, are the players in the U20 better? If they are better, they would do better than those playing now. If they are not better, they will not do better.

If this current Portuguese side played their U20 side and lost 3-0 three times, we can not say this squad will do better.

It is about form, not experience or age. CR7 was very young when he was one of the best players for Portugal at the World Cup.

Ronaldo De Lima was very young when he was the best player in the World.

Very young players were among the players that led Ghana to the Quarter finals of the World Cup.

Icon4s:
The 1996 dream team lost 1-3 to Togo during Olympic preparations. does it mean that that Togolese team could have represented Africa better?

TheGoodJoe:

Godwin Obaje coped with the very rigorous training. It still beats my imagination why Coach Siasia dropped him.

It is time Coach Siasia reduces the very rigorous method. I feel it is also affecting his team negatively.

Guardiola uses light training exercises but his teams have done well for a long time.

Coach Siasia should compromise his methods. He killed the competition of the attack with his very hard method.

TheGoodJoe:

Note, I said if they lose three times to the same team. We did not lose three times to Togo.

In training, the competing players get many chances to prove themselves. It is not a one chance thing.

Note my term. Outclass.

If Sadiq Umar Outclasses Odion Ighalo in training, then he must start.

Icon4s:
Na over sabi dey worry Siasia. Most of his injured players sustain injuries in training and nt even on match days.

His Rock of Gibralter Segun Oduduwa has been ruled out for 1 yr. The poor boy wept uncontrolably.Jst also like Amuzie, Chikatara, Ardi, and Samuel Injury also sustained in camp.

Icon4s:
Except if Ighalo is injured there is no way Sadiq can merit starting ahead of him even if Ighalo is nt in d best of form. I can agree to starting Iheanacho or Success ahead of Ighalo bt nt Sadiq.

TheGoodJoe:

Different philosophies. As for me, age is not a barrier. I remember a young teenage Michael Owen scoring over and over again to save Liverpool.

Pele was Seventeen when he rattled the World.

I remember Omeruo for Yobo. With little professional experience becoming one of the best players of the AFCON even though he was a teenager.

It happens over and over again.

As for me, if a player can not hack it in training, he is not the best to start the game.

Icon4s:
Pele and Owen's cases are exceptional. It took Owen some time before he could even step into d shoes of the more experienced Allan Shearer.

Omeruo was nt introduced into d team from a major tourney.

TheGoodJoe:
Omeruo became a regular in a major tournament. Michael Owen became a regular by the second round in France '98. Played along side Shearer against Argentina.

In cases like Owen and Shearer, at that time, Owen could never outshine Shearer.

If Owen could outshine Shearer repeatedly, then Owen deserves to lead the line.

In the case of Ighalo and Sadiq. If Sadiq repeatedly outclasses Ighalo in training, he will be a better option to start the game.

Icon4s:
Omeruo's first game was nt in a major tourney. Itwas in a friendly against Cape verde.

That aside, Omeruo is a product of the Nigerian Youth system, having represented us at d U17 & U20. Coaches find it more easy to integrate Players like that into d senior team. Having played for d U17 &U20 i would say he was tested at youth level of which he was outstanding.

Sadiq Umar has never played for any of our teams b it friendly or anything. He is nt a tested player and so cannot spare head our attack in our first game in Rio

Icon4s:
Omeruo's first game was nt in a major tourney. Itwas in a friendly against Cape verde.

That aside, Omeruo is a product of the Nigerian Youth system, having represented us at d U17 & U20. Coaches find it more easy to integrate Players like that into d senior team. Having played for d U17 &U20 i would say he was tested at youth level of which he was outstanding.

Sadiq Umar has never played for any of our teams b it friendly or anything. He is nt a tested player and so cannot spare head our attack in our first game in Rio

TheGoodJoe:

No matter how we look at it, Omeruo's experience was no way near Yobo. Yet Omeruo was the better defender. Then ended up one of the best of the AFCON.

Icon4s:
Yobo was at d twilight of his career so it was very imperative to raise a replacement.

And as I said Omeruo was then an experienced campaigner as far as d national(youth) teams were concerned.

Same can b said for Isaac Success who we all here agree he is worth even a Super Eagles call up as we have seen him play several competitions in our colours.

Sadiq has nt even been featured in any friendly in our colours and u will feel comfortable giving him d starting top striker shirt in our first game in Rio? A complete debutant as far Nigeeian football is concerned.

I would even consider Imoh Ezekiel and Junior Ajayi before looking at Sadiq Umar. Awoniyi would nt make my team if i was in charge.

TheGoodJoe:
What use is their experience if they can not outclass an inexperienced attacker in training. I agree Sadiq Umar is inexperienced and unexposed. I agree he has years ahead of him. If he can outclass and outperform the others in training, they have no business starting ahead of him.

Icon4s:
Now it has become "if".

Remember our argument spans from ur starting line up u placed Sadiq at CF. I admit u said in d absence of Ighalo.

Bt i can tell u i would rather field more tested players like Ajayi or Imoh ahead of Sadiq.

Besides, what do u mean by "outclassing in training". U believe too much in training conditions.

Bros, training conditions are very different from match conditions. An experienced coach would easily identify with that statement.

Coaches select players hu they have confidence and trust in. Trust is key here.

U cannot field a striker u are nt sure can deliver the goods. Trust me, 2 or 3 flashes of brilliance during training cannot b enough. I need to see u in a typical match situation, even if it is a friendly, before i can trust u can fit into my game tactics.

If there are no such opportunities for friendlies i can at best introduce the player as a sub after haven studied the balance of play and trust he can flow with my laid down tactics.

Icon4s:
Now it has become "if".

Remember our argument spans from ur starting line up u placed Sadiq at CF. I admit u said in d absence of Ighalo.
Starting him in d absence of ighalo means u believe he is better than Ajayi and Imoh.

Bt i can tell u i would rather field the more tested Ajayi or Imoh ahead of Sadiq.

Besides, what do u mean by "outclassing in training". U believe too much in training conditions.

Bros, training conditions are very different from match conditions. An experienced coach would easily identify with that statement.

Coaches select players hu they have confidence and trust in. Trust is key here.

U cannot field a striker u are nt sure can deliver the goods. Trust me, 2 or 3 flashes of brilliance during training cannot b enough. I need to see u in a typical match situation, even if it is a friendly, before i can trust u can fit into my game tactics.

If there are no such opportunities for friendlies i can at best introduce the player as a sub after haven studied the balance of play and trust he can flow with my laid down tactics.

TheGoodJoe:

I put Sadiq there because I believe he will do better than the other strikers in camp. That I believe should be the selection criteria. Not who is most experienced.

Demeichelis had a massive wealth of experience last season but he was one of the culprits of our poor performances last season.

If Pellegrini was through to himself and form in training, Denayer and Adarabioyo should have been ahead of Demeichelis. Sticking to experience led us to a bad run.

TheGoodJoe:

I put Sadiq there because I believe he will do better than the other strikers in camp. That I believe should be the selection criteria. Not who is most experienced.

Demeichelis had a massive wealth of experience last season but he was one of the culprits of our poor performances last season.

If Pellegrini was through to himself and form in training, Denayer and Adarabioyo should have been ahead of Demeichelis. Sticking to experience led us to a bad run.

Icon4s:
How many of Sadiq's league games have u watched?

Icon4s:
The training ground is nt enough to fully assess players abilities.

Dnt b shocked if Sadiq does nt even make d final list.

I cannot field a debutant player in the first game of a major tourney. The training ground is nt enough for me.
I need to see u in a match situation.

Based on his abilities he may make my squad bt i cannot put him at the arrow head of my tactics.
As i said before i can introduce him as a sub as either a gamble to win/draw or if i have already secured a win. Then i can assess him and determine whether he can start d next game or from d bench.

safarigirl:
@thegoodjoe and joseph1013, make Una drop that yeye United matter, if none of our players are in United, why are they a topic of discussion?


Anyway, Iheanacho got to model City's new kit.....i hear that's a major achievement...he was also given the podium to speak to City fans at their rally


Meanwhile, Kelechi has met Pep. Hopefully, this will be the start of something beautiful and great for both men. I know you can't see Pep, but I think he's smiling

Cc thesupernerd, icon4s, tbaba1234, confun, lakesidepapa, terzurum5, forgiveness

*modified* Now, you can see Pep

forgiveness:
Sorry, I am just seeing the mention now.

Hmmm! I am not happy with Iheanacho decision not to go for the Olympics because he wants to win a place in Guardiola's team.

I don't think it's the right decision for him to take.

What if Guardiola doesn't have him in his plan?

I don't trust these clubs and coaches at all at all.

He needs to go to the Olympics football game to show his worth and add to his already risen stock which will even force Guardiola to rethink in case he does not have him in his plan.

What could have happened to Kanu nwankwo if he had not played in the Olympics before Inter Milan discovered his heart disease?

Assuming he had not played in the Olympics to showcase his talent before that incident, believe me Kanu nwankwo would had been a goner and discarded like a dog's dung.

The only saving grace for him was that Olympics football game.

Kanu Nwankwo was used in only 12 matches for Inter Milan during his three years sojourn Italy before he was bought by Arsene Wenger. And we know it was because of that Olympics football triumph.


Kelechi Iheanacho needs to add more pressure on Guardiola and Man city with his performance in the Olympics.

He is guaranteed to play in Rio while Manchester city is 50/50.

A word is enough for the wise.

TheGoodJoe:

Iheanacho and Iwobi wanted to play at the Olympics but their clubs refused. It was not their choices.

forgiveness:
Sorry, I am just seeing the mention now.

Hmmm! I am not happy with Iheanacho decision not to go for the Olympics because he wants to win a place in Guardiola's team.

I don't think it's the right decision for him to take.

What if Guardiola doesn't have him in his plan?

I don't trust these clubs and coaches at all at all.

He needs to go to the Olympics football game to show his worth and add to his already risen stock which will even force Guardiola to rethink in case he does not have him in his plan.

What could have happened to Kanu nwankwo if he had not played in the Olympics before Inter Milan discovered his heart disease?

Assuming he had not played in the Olympics to showcase his talent before that incident, believe me Kanu nwankwo would had been a goner and discarded like a dog's dung.

The only saving grace for him was that Olympics football game.

Kanu Nwankwo was used in only 12 matches for Inter Milan during his three years sojourn Italy before he was bought by Arsene Wenger. And we know it was because of that Olympics football triumph.


Kelechi Iheanacho needs to add more pressure on Guardiola and Man city with his performance in the Olympics.

He is guaranteed to play in Rio while Manchester city is 50/50.

A word is enough for the wise.

forgiveness:
If that is the case no wahala but I think they didn't push it.

safarigirl:
oga forgiveness, me I disagree with you on this.

Honestly, is there any guarantee these days that our established players will get game time at age grade tournaments?

Is that not how City released Kelechi last year with the guarantee that he'll play at the U20 only for him to just sit on the bench while Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade fielded whatever excuse for a footballer they liked?

And were there any explanations after the games? No. All he got was mockery.

This one that Siasia is planning to take people like Ajayi and Dimgba to Rio by any means necessary, he will also play them by any means necessary. So I say, Kelechi would gain more sitting in Manchester and using the absence of the big guns to gain favour with Pep than wasting it on nepotistic coaches

TheGoodJoe:

There is nothing they could do. FIFA have pulled their hands off forcing clubs to release players as they did in the past. These are young boys. It is too early from r them to go to war against their clubs who pays their bills.