₦airaland Forum

Xzbit91:
Just two games and Nigerians are already ringing the alarm bells. It's a no brainer that a €32m Brazilian import is going to take priority over an academy product (people don't usually value what they got cheaply or for free). You simply cannot shell out that amount for a bench player except ofcourse you're Madrid.

I remember how a few years ago soldado was bought by Tottenham and automatically become the first choice striker even though they had adebayor and a budding Harry Kane yet I didn't hear England fans asking Kane to request a loan deal and eventually Kane's quality shone through.

I must admit Gabriel Jesus quality is not in doubt, the few games I watched him play at the Olympics and the Brazilian national team he was a joy to behold despite his young age. He's an embodiment of your typical Brazilian no.9, fast, strong, tricky, sleek and aggressive and I can understand the fanfare he's coming with from back home. Brazil have not had his type in a while since the retirement of O' Phenomeno, adriano only flattered to deceive, Fabiano's reign at the top was too short and well Fred and Leandro were not your classic Brazilian striker hence their over-reliance on neymar who is a winger.

Is Gabriel better than iheanacho? I can't say and it's too early to tell, they're both class acts and they both have their strengths and weaknesses. Gabriel is more of an all round striker although iheanacho is more clinical, iheanacho's passing accuracy and decision making (not front of goal decisions) leaves a lot to be desired.

My take on the matter is Iheanacho should stay and fight for his shirt, you cannot be the best by running away from competition. He should develop other aspects of his game which will come in handy even if he leaves or stays. If he leaves he'd still have to fight for a shirt where he's going, if he stakes a high enough claim to a starting berth then city might be more willing to letting go of an injury prone aguero knocking on his thirties.

My only anger with pep is that he's shown a complete lack of faith in the young Nigerian that is too much to be ignored by bringing him on at 85th min when match is already won or lost. He also refused to play him consistently enough when aguero was out injured and on suspension preferring to use wingers as false nine and now he's not making matchday squad even for domestic cup matches.

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goldfish80:
When TheGoodJoe drops his usual bombshells, I just can't help myself
This thread is a good tonic for hypertension. Shout out to everyone in the house.

TheGoodJoe:
First of all, Gabriel Jesus can not polish the boots or Adriano. I watched Adriano at 19 and he was unbelievably brilliant. I remember him in an age grade tournament when he pulled off a skill I have not seen again.

TheGoodJoe:
Gabriel Jesus is good. I have done some research on him and he is not a better attacker than Nacho. There are chances he misses that Nacho will most likely bury.

TheGoodJoe:
However, the main difference from my study is the speed at which Gabriel Jesus tracks back. Just like how Guardiola likes his defenders and goalkeepers being offensive, I see Guardiola likes his forward defensive and he clearly performs better than Nacho in this aspect.

TheGoodJoe:
Talent wise, Gabriel Jesus name should not come in the same sentence as Ronaldo and Adriano. These men were unbelievably Super. Will Gabriel Jesus hit their heights later? Time will tell but for now, it is an insult to football greatness putting his name among these icons.

TheGoodJoe:
“Of course we evaluate how they do in the games and the training sessions,” Guardiola said when asked about keeping the likes of Iheanacho and Nolito happy. “At the end I try to be fair based on what I have seen in their performances."

Sad I could not watch the game because I couldn't get a station that was showing the match.

I always found the buzz around Gabriel Jesus unusual and I hoped his arrival at City will not affect Iheanacho's chances. It all changed today when Guardiola played Gabriel Jesus as a top striker. Despite the repeated tale of Gabriel Jesus a winger, it seems he is the one Guardiola wants to lead the line.

Seems Sane finally nicked the left wing forward position after working his socks off in training. His brilliant run before he slotted the goal against Hennessey was brilliant.

My advice to Iheanacho is keep working hard in training. Look at how Sane dealt with the lack of games and kept pushing. Guardiola expressed he was impressed with the recent performances of Sane in training.

If Sane could convince Guardiola with hard work and perseverance, Nacho can.

Iheanacho should study Gabriel Jesus closely. Understand what Guardiola means by doing more outside the area and improve on it. In the coming months, Iheanacho can become a whole new player working hard on the all round play Guardiola wants.

Let the lack of games not hinder his perseverance. Yaya Toure, without games kept on working hard. Now he tracks back faster and controls the game better. Nasri was not seeing games under Guardiola, after the boss screened him out of the team due to his weight. Nasri came back an improved player in the game against Steaua Bucharest. He looked fitter and a better player than he was last season.

I wanted Iheanacho to have a long career at City but I do not think there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I think a summer move is suitable. His agents needs to take their time to find a right place for Nacho to continue his growth. If Guardiola maintained Gabriel Jesus on the wings, I would say Stay because I feel Nacho stood a great chance toppling Aguero.

However, a battle against City's poster boy who is younger than Nacho seems an unfair battle. Not that Nacho can not battle him but the love Gabriel Jesus draws is frightening.

Xzbit91:
First of all, I didn't say Adriano wasn't talented after all he was touted as o phenomeno's heir, I said he flattered to deceive, his carrier was over by the time he was 26 when most players are hitting their prime.



I never said Gabriel is better than Nacho, read my post again, I said Nacho is more clinical but Gabriel has more flair and strikes a better rhythm with teammates.



You'd agree he's also more skillful



Here is what o phenomeno himself had to say about Gabriel and please Adriano is no icon
https://www.mancity.com/news/first-team/2017/01/20/gabriel-jesus-in-quotes/1480510489582

daveP:
Trust me he can and will break in into these team, crept Chelsea.

forgiveness:
Chelsea!?

zicky:
I think Nacho will do very well in Chelsea, outside Costa Chelsea gat no other striker forget that batsuyi guy he's shit and should be playing for dundee united.

TheGoodJoe:

I will repeat, at 19, Adriano and Ronaldo were unbelievably brilliant. Gabriel Jesus has not shown the kind of talents these men showed at young age. He is not close in talent to Robinho, Ronaldinho, Kaka and Neymar at 19.

I do not get why the buzz is so loud. Unless those who did not watch these players at 19, the excitement should not be this high.

I hope he reaches and surpasses these guys but for now, they should chill with the hype. He is not close to their ability. Not even as good as Pato at 19.

The praise singing is too much. I can understand Guardiola preferring his brilliant tracking back and ball winning ability. Not comparing him to these guys.

TheGoodJoe:
How far ni? Batshuayi was unbelievably awful yesterday.

Xzbit91:
Maybe you know more than the Brazilians who cheer him

forgiveness:
Hehehehe! No be so dem talk for Lukaku when he was in Chelsea? Or you no remember how una take rubbish Falcao then in Chelsea but una know wetin em dey perform for Monaco.

Forget dat thing Batshuayi na fine striker. Chelsea just have a way of killing young strikers or player's spirit.

If Nacho comes to Chelsea, he fit no smell bench until he commot.

TheGoodJoe:
Either way, Batshuayi was comical yesterday. More of shocking.

forgiveness:
Hehehehe! No be so dem talk for Lukaku when he was in Chelsea? Or you no remember how una take rubbish Falcao then in Chelsea but una know wetin em dey perform for Monaco.

Forget dat thing Batshuayi na fine striker. Chelsea just have a way of killing young strikers or player's spirit.

If Nacho comes to Chelsea, he fit no smell bench until he commot.

forgiveness:
Well, I didn't see the game and I will not doubt it because it seems there is a curse in Chelsea for some good players.

TheGoodJoe:
Either way, Batshuayi was comical yesterday. More of shocking.

zicky:
Batshuayi is a gbolaho salami kinda striker, no flare, no shooting accuracy just strength no even football sense

zicky:
If Pep was Chelsea coach, Batshuyi career is over, he would be substituted even before the first half ends.

TheGoodJoe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mUaIR3esFw

This is Pato at 16-17. Tell me Gabriel Jesus ability is as good as this.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yh4ZREN-EQ

This is Ronaldo, 16-18. Tell me Gabriel Jesus ability is as good as this.

My point is, the kid is a good player, fast and promising. It is an insult putting his name in the list of Ronaldo and Adriano. These men had insane talents at his age. Let us give the guy time to grow before the heavy tag.

TheSuperNerd:
Well, Nacho at Chelsea? I don't know Sir GoodJoe.... I think Forgiveness is right about one thing.... Chelsea be like say na curse for some very good players.


Examples: KDB, Mohammed Salah, Falcao, Shevchenko, Fernando Torres, Andre Schurrle, Lukaku, etc.... Noticed all of them are forwards-kinda?

Xzbit91:
I've watched all this people play and Gabriel's ability is in that class. His ability on the ball rivals Ronaldo but his finishing is not in same class even Ronaldo has attested to this but there is no shame in that because Ronaldo is easily the best centre forward there was. You're just suffering from a serious case of nostalgia comparing people whose carreers are over to one who is just starting. Everyone can't follow same path, Diego Maradona flopped at Barcelona does that make Messi better than he was? I don't think so. That all these players you supposedly say were better than Gabriel at 19 doesn't mean they'll leave a better legacy than him at the end of his career

TheSuperNerd:
Well, Nacho at Chelsea? I don't know Sir GoodJoe.... I think Forgiveness is right about one thing.... Chelsea be like say na curse for some very good players.


Examples: KDB, Mohammed Salah, Falcao, Shevchenko, Fernando Torres, Andre Schurrle, Lukaku, etc.... Noticed all of them are forwards-kinda?

Sebastien Siani of Cameroon celebrates goal with Vincent Aboubakar (behind) during the 2017 African Cup of Nations Finals Afcon football match between Cameroon and Guinea Bissau at the Libreville Stadium in Gabon on 18 January 2017©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

TheGoodJoe:

Unless people have a crystal ball and they saw Gabriel Jesus outclassing these players, I am yet to get the hype.

The hype should come after he pulls of amazing games for City. Not before. For what he has, in ability, he is not as good as these guys.

I honestly believe in hard work and practice. With these Gabriel Jesus can reach top Heights but the hype should come after.

My ear shakes when people say Brazil has not seen since Ronaldo. We just saw blazing talents in Neymar and Lucas Moura. Gabriel Jesus has not done it like them at nineteen. So he does not deserve such accolades.

Xzbit91:
The players you mentioned here are not strikers, Brazilians want a striker in the mould of o phenomeno now they have one with the ability not the Fred and Leandro type. If I may ask did you watch Gabriel on international duty? If yes, what memories came to your mind? As soon as I watched him play, his movement and ability on the ball was reminiscent of Ronaldo. I've not watched him consistently enough to draw conclusions because his finishing is suspect, but I know within me he's got what it takes to be the next Ronaldo if he works hard enough and you can't fault Brazilians for thinking same.

With the second half of the season in the European Leagues in full swing, Completesportsnigeria.com's JOHNNY EDWARD presents five overseas-based Nigerian players that have turned out to be disappointing this term in the business of goal scoring.

TheGoodJoe:

Pato is a striker. Robinho is also a striker. Played on the side because of the quality of players ahead of him for Club or country.

I have no problem with anyone believing Gabriel Jesus can become one of the best players. I am against the current hype. It should reduce and he needs time to grow. That is my own Maggi.