TheSuperNerd:
Exclusive + Pics – Ezekiel Dazzles In Training
With Barcelona, Club Extends His Stay By Three Weeks



Barcelona latest recruit Ezekiel Bassey gave a
good impression of himself in his first training
session with the team, Owngoalnigeria.com can
exclusively reveal.

The 20 year old completed his move to the team on an initial six months loan deal with the option of a permanent deal at the end of the current season yesterday, and distinguished himself during training with the B team.

Coach of the team Gerard Lopez told the local
press in Spain, that Bassey is a technical player
who will get better in the nearest future. Some
players of the first team who came in early for
their training gave him hugs and commendations as well.

His performances has made the team extend his stay in Spain by three weeks to enable him settle into the plans of the B team, squashing plans of his planned return to Nigeria on Saturday.

He was supposed to return to Nigeria to begin his visa and work permit process, but while the
process will still go on, Bassey will only be given a five days break to return to Nigeria and pick his work permit when it comes through.

Upon his return he is expected to walk straight
into the B team for league games in the third
division, where his performances will be
monitored for promotion to the first team.









Source: http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/02/01/exclusive-pics-ezekiel-dazzles-in-training-with-barcelona-club-extends-his-stay-by-three-weeks/

TheGoodJoe:


What is did what was asked of him? Na wa. Are you saying Guardiola asked Sane to do more than Gabriel Jesus? We played three forwards today. Sane was by far the star. Stood out. Go and download the match highlights. The few clips you will see will convince you.

Gabriel was second best and Sterling was third.

Sane was faster and worked harder. Created more scoring chances than Gabriel Jesus. Sane was far better. I doubt you watched the game. If not you will not argue this.

princesuko:



I agree with you that sane was better not just by miles. According to your logic was Jesus far better than Sterling? Some sites will give the MOTM to Jesus, Sane or Sterling because they all played pretty well.

Watched about 60mins of the Match, that should be enough to Make an opinion that Counts.

TheGoodJoe:
Who the hell gave Gabriel Jesus man of the match after Sane's magical performance today? OK. I think we should call Gabriel Jesus THE LOVED ONE.

Sane clearly deserved that Man of the match and he is the one driving the revival of City.

Sane should have played for Senegal. Sad. His dad used to play for the Senegal national team but he chose Germany.

lakesidepapa:


The guy didn't expect it will comes that way. Am very sure Oga Joseph will even hide in and refuse to pay the guy if he lose, that's not the right way to play bet ms, not really open. I later realized that the bet can't stand after i have taught that oga Josy should have ask one of the ogas in the house to have the money from the two parties before the stake is place on, So it will be more open in this way.

Honestly, if it was Oga Joseph that loss, the guy wouldn't put the pressure on him this way. As the guy is an Ijesha guy, he hardly give out money to people but he can blow that amount of money on beer and club with in a week if he got paid U guys should cool down, we are all matured. He will drop u something when something show, his hands are tied.

Cc: joseph1013

BascoVanVeli:


To me man city is meaningless when Iheanacho is not playing.

TheSuperNerd:
Congratulations to the pharoahs of Egypt...

Wow! Their "tactical discipline" have paid off in huge ways.... Wow! What a team... Burkina faso is a strong side... First to breach The pharoahs' defence at this Afcon.


Abeg.... Our "not going" to Afcon 2017 is now justified somewhat... We lost to an eventual Afcon finalist and possibly Champions...

Egypt is one step closer to being African Champs for the 8th time!!! Lawd!!!

Na only dem dey Africa?

Anyway, Ghana and Cameroun both have 8 titltes between them (Ghana-4, Cameroun-4) and it would be very interesting to see which of them will earn the ticket to battle Egypt for a fifth crown...

Meanwhile, Our Super Eagles are still on Three Afcon Titles... Nna eh... Make 2019 come quickly abeg...

safarigirl:
A Big Congratulations to the great Pharoahs of Egypt for returning to their base with a Bang.

Now go to that finals and show the world that Nigeria did not miss this AFCON for nothing

#EgyptForTheWin

goldfish80:
Congratulations to Egypt and Hossam El hardary. The young man El hardary makes it to another final yet again.

I've always rated the Egyptians to reach the finals but I don't see them winning the trophy. I expect the curse of Hector Cuper to strike again. The man seems to have pissed on a sacred grave,akin to the curse of Benefica.
I will be betting against Egypt on the showpiece game

I like the looks of Bertrand Traore. The young man is so talented. Hope he goes on to have a better career than his injury prone brother Alan Traore. Watching him reminds me of the Iheanacho I saw who burst into the scene. Chelsea have a player there but unfortunately I don't see him getting the chances his talent deserves at Chelsea.

Icon4s:


'His' country abi?

On a serious note now, I know the bolded is where you have been going.

I see Nigeria's next FIFA ranking climbing high even despite not kicking a ball last month
Notable countries we will over take are Ivory coast and Algeria.

Who go follow me bet this one?

Tarzaa:

Can't wait to see this current squad of the super eagles display their talents as a team as qualifiers begin again. Seriously, I'm seeing the 94 eagles now. Our inability to qualify for the nations cup doesn't call us minors. The egyptions worth that. I sincerly love the way you guys analyse football here. Thanx guys.

daveP:
Somehow for Egypt to win it again, they'll seem uncatchable till the next 7 editions of Afcon without them in the competition.





If Ghana take this now, mouth of how Abedi was better than Jay Jay would resurface as usual.







Cameroun meanwhile will now use reputation to face us....



Abeg Egypt just take it

Lazyerudite:

Well he had the best goal statistics to game time last year in Europe. You don't have to be Nigerian to see that the guy is good. How can you deliver when you are hardly given the chance to showcase your talent. Sterling I don't need to argue this, you mean as a coach you would play sterling as your lone striker ahead of Nacho?? Anyways he can leave the club and go somewhere else to play, you sound as if Nacho has no record at all, that is being biased, how many strikers in the world have such statistics to boast of. Your comment is really not fair but time has a way of sorting things out anyways

TheGoodJoe:


What is did what was asked of him? Na wa. Are you saying Guardiola asked Sane to do more than Gabriel Jesus? We played three forwards today. Sane was by far the star. Stood out. Go and download the match highlights. The few clips you will see will convince you.

Gabriel was second best and Sterling was third.

Sane was faster and worked harder. Created more scoring chances than Gabriel Jesus. Sane was far better. I doubt you watched the game. If not you will not argue this.

TheGoodJoe:
Attacking wise, Iheanacho is faster than Gabriel Jesus. Iheanacho moves with far more pace from the midfield into the attack. I doubt that is a debate.

Iheanacho is a better passer. Gabriel Jesus does not look as composed as Iheanacho when he drops deep. Although he made some electric passes earlier in the game.

Gabriel Jesus can not press as hard as Iheanacho. Sane had to cover him in doing a lot of that. Something that hardly happens when Nacho attacks for City.

Iheanacho has more stamina and plays with more intensity.

As for finishing. With what we have seen in the last few games, Nacho is ahead of Gabriel Jesus in finishing.

TheSuperNerd:
EZEKIEL BASSEY: THE NIGERIAN SPEEDSTER
SET TO TAKE BARCELONA BY STORM


COMMENT By Solace Chukwu


Ezekiel Bassey’s move to Barcelona B on Tuesday took many by surprise. The winger, previously on the books of seven-time league champions Enyimba, signed on an initial six-month loan deal, with a provision to make it permanent for a two-year duration.

Barcelona B of course compete in Spain’s
Segunda B, the equivalent of the third-tier.
Looked at that way, it is hard to get excited about such a move. However, this is no ordinary third division side. By virtue of being Barcelona’s farm team, the move affords him the opportunity of training alongside the world’s best players.


Barcelona may have recently moved away from
their prominent home-grown bias, with most of
their recent acquisitions for big money and
sourced from without, but this still presents the
player with a great opportunity. Even players who do not make the step-up often land on their feet.

Barcelona remains respected enough in terms of youth development that clubs have been known to shop in the B team.

Adama Traore, pace and frustration in equal
measure at Middlesbrough, is one such case; it is unlikely Barcelona will go back in for him in the future. Still, he can have no complaints with his current estate.

Bassey therefore cannot lose, but what direction he takes is entirely dependent on whether he can take to his new surroundings as comfortably as he did at Enyimba. The 20-year-old joined the two-time African champions from Akwa United at the start of the 2014/2015 season with a reputation as one of the league’s rising stars.




His speed and quick feet made him a prized asset —the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) is uncompromisingly physical, and there is a great emphasis on man-marking, so players who excel in one-on-one situations are in high demand.

It was Enyimba though who won the race to sign him, but even they would not have expected bang for their buck so soon. While most had expected Mfon Udoh, who set the record for league goals, with 23, the previous season to push on and power the team’s challenge, it was new signing Bassey who was at the heart of much of the play going forward.

Starting on the left and dribbling diagonally
infield, Bassey was a constant menace whenever he started, reaching double figures for assists in his debut season for the club.

Enyimba secured a record seventh title, and Bassey was their player of the season.

However, he was unable to consolidate on that
splendid opening season. A coaching change saw him fall somewhat out of favour, and a spate of niggling injuries did not help his cause.

However, he made his international debut for
Nigeria in November 2015 in a World Cup qualifier against Swaziland, a tacit admission of his ability whenever fit. He had a sub-par tournament at the CHAN the following January though, struggling to make an impact as Nigeria exited in the Group Stage.

However, his involvement in the NPFL’s La Liga
tour in August once again put him in the
spotlight, and has culminated in this move.




Barcelona gets a player with insanely quick feet and an impressive repertoire of dribbles and step-overs. He is unmistakably stronger on his right foot, but will not shy away from going on his weaker left. Unlike most young pacy wingers, he is neither small nor frail, and this is both a strength and a weakness.

On the one hand, he is hard to bully off the ball, but on the other he does not have that ability to weave and duck between challenges that smaller players have. As a result, he wins a high volume of fouls.


If there is a worry about him, it is the streak of
ostentation that runs through his football as well as his personal life, as a cursory examination of his social media profiles will reveal. His decision-making is often problematic, as he indulges one too many dribbles, and prefers to put the defender on the back foot and provoke a foul rather than pass when he sometimes should.


His finishing is also a part of his game that
remains indecisive: his technique in striking at
goal is limited, and will have to be worked on
extensively.

As it stands, he has a six-month window within
which to convince the coaches at Barcelona he is worth a further punt. If he gets his head down, there is little to suggest he will fail to make the grade.



Source: http://m.goal.com/s/en/news/8/main/2017/02/01/32217802/ezekiel-bassey-the-nigerian-speedster-set-to-take-barcelona

komekn:


Support your team and your man by all means but still have some clear objectivity in your critical analysis.

Just because of you I watched the West ham game and I will tell you. They city didn't waste money two games in the premiership is not enough to say he is the best.

But I will say he looks on another level on that performance he is considerably better than Kelechi. And please this guy is MUCH faster than Kelechi.

The other reality is I actually see him getting better. For now have no doubt he is in Guardiola's first pick.

komekn:


You really think that's a good move for him?

Barcelona buys multi million pound proven exceptionally talented players at all levels, as a consequence you can easily get lost and forgotten if you are in the B team.

Godswill Ekpolo is 21 played with Barcelona for 2 years with the B team. He is currently playing Kick and follow at Fleetwood Town fc in the English league one, NUFF SAID.

Xzbit91:


It is not in the place of a lone striker to create chances but to be in the right places at the right time.

The 4-1-4-1 formation deployed by guardiola permitted play from just the wings. I must admit that on overall Sane played better but he neither had an assist nor a goal and that must have counted in Gabriels' favor

komekn:
My advice remains the same from the onset that Kelechi needs to find another club. Where he can be the first choice striker and develop his game further.

This is what Dembele at Celtic has done and he is debatably the most in demand young striker in Europe.

Very wisely declined to go to Chelsea where he will not develop even with big ££££ offered.

komekn:


I didnt say Kelechi is not good, the operative word is COMPARATIVELY.
to other players I mentioned.

Raheem was younger than Kelechi when he lead the line as the lone striker for Liverpool with considerable success. Then he got his big pay out transfer to City.

Statistics don't always tell the full story, Bolasie doesn't have great stats but drives the whole team forward.

You can see just like at Bayern Guardiola wants to use pace. Pace isn't everything but matched with technical ability it becomes devastating.

Currently Raheem, Gabriel and Sane have some lightning pace. It's not that Kelechi is slow just that these guys are much faster. Then compare what they have done in thier respective clubs and on the international scene and Kelechi is definitely not on par with them. Kelechi will get there but not in my opinion very fast, if he stays at City.

Then consider the investment they have made on these players and Kelechi's fee is mere pennies.

Finally even the much respected Aguero with all his pedigree may find things not so easy. Therfore if Aguero can be left out. Kelechi really can't complain or other on this forum about discriminatory practice where Kelechi is concerned.

komekn:
My advice remains the same from the onset that Kelechi needs to find another club. Where he can be the first choice striker and develop his game further.

This is what Dembele at Celtic has done and he is debatably the most in demand young striker in Europe.

Very wisely declined to go to Chelsea where he will not develop even with big ££££ offered.

Icon4s:


Abeg Egypt all the way jare. I prefer it that way.

Ghana no go gree pessin hear word again.

PetroDolla3:
You people are pathetic! Ghana no gree pessimism hear word,huh? You've forgotten Ghana has won the title 4 times already, compared with a miserable two for your pathetic country? Nonsense! And who gives a fvcking who you prefer or who you don't prefer. Ghana will win the trophy, if it the will of God. All of you Nigerians can pray for Ghana to lose, we don'T give a fvck!

komekn:


I didnt say Kelechi is not good, the operative word is COMPARATIVELY.
to other players I mentioned.

Raheem was younger than Kelechi when he lead the line as the lone striker for Liverpool with considerable success. Then he got his big pay out transfer to City.

Statistics don't always tell the full story, Bolasie doesn't have great stats but drives the whole team forward.

You can see just like at Bayern Guardiola wants to use pace. Pace isn't everything but matched with technical ability it becomes devastating.

Currently Raheem, Gabriel and Sane have some lightning pace. It's not that Kelechi is slow just that these guys are much faster. Then compare what they have done in thier respective clubs and on the international scene and Kelechi is definitely not on par with them. Kelechi will get there but not in my opinion very fast, if he stays at City.

Then consider the investment they have made on these players and Kelechi's fee is mere pennies.

Finally even the much respected Aguero with all his pedigree may find things not so easy. Therfore if Aguero can be left out. Kelechi really can't complain or other on this forum about discriminatory practice where Kelechi is concerned.

TheGoodJoe:



I doubt you have watched Iheanacho closely. He is insanely fast. You are trying to make him look slow.

Where you should hinge your point which I will wholeheartedly agree with you is on the ball speed. Iheanacho does not like making runs with the ball. He is more of an off the ball player. Off the ball, Iheanacho is insanely fast. However, Sane, Sterling and Gabriel Jesus like to make runs with the ball.

PetroDolla3:
You people are pathetic! Ghana no gree pessimism hear word,huh? You've forgotten Ghana has won the title 4 times already, compared with a miserable two for your pathetic country? Nonsense! And who gives a fvcking who you prefer or who you don't prefer. Ghana will win the trophy, if it the will of God. All of you Nigerians can pray for Ghana to lose, we don'T give a fvck!

TheGoodJoe:


What about the multitude of kids that played for Barcelona and later, went to clubs and did well. At the moment, Grimaldo who left Barca B is attracting huge interests from different clubs. His buy out clause is a fortune. Players like Jordi Alba, Diego Capel, Sergio Garcia and Nolito made it from Barca B. Unless you feel staying at Enyimba is a better option.