komekn:


Meanwhile they will say one is biased.

Now compare the obsessive fixation and over hype associated with Nwakali, who has done absolutely nothing for 5 years beyond U17 football.

Then l will be accused of favoritism towards Nigerian origin players in the UK.

It's hypocritical double-standard as well as unguarded prejudiced and negative bias towards Nigerian players not considered to be "homegrown" in the context of Nigerian football.

Joebie:
Come to think of how Semi Ajayi got a chance in the SE and has never looked back. Eze and Adarabioyo will be massive additions. Even Onomah. I can remember Omeruo didn’t have a commanding presence in the Championship but still arguably our best CB in tournaments.

TheSuperNerd:
Ndidi's 19/20 season: A success or failure?



Has Leicester City’s botched attempt to secure Champions League football soiled what was another impressive year for the evolving Nigerian anchorman?


Without question, Leicester City’s final standing had a ‘What might have been?’ feel to it, owing to how they had looked to have secured a Champions League spot at the halfway point of the campaign.

Indeed, the fact they were 11 points above Manchester United in eighth after 19 games only to end in fifth four points adrift of the Red Devils amplifies their collapse at the end of the extended 2019/20 season.

Even though the Foxes made the semi-final of the League Cup, quarter-final of the FA Cup, scored more goals and conceded fewer this season compared to 18/19, had their first Premier League Golden Boot winner in Jamie Vardy and will be playing in Europe next season, there’s a hint of sadness at how they unravelled since the turn of the year.

There’s an argument that Brendan Rodgers’ side would have taken fifth spot had it been offered to them a year ago, still, given the prolific nature of their start, preseason expectations were probably adjusted following a strong opening to the campaign.

While many continue to mull over the glass half-full or glass half-empty appraisal, the improving Wilfred Ndidi will undoubtedly be pleased with his season, which continued his progression as an all-round midfielder.

Given the 23-year-old arrived from Genk practically as a ball winner capable of scoring the odd cracker, his development since January 2017 has been outstanding.



Unsurprisingly, as has been the case in the two preceding seasons, Ndidi was the top tackler in the division, along with Man United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka with 129. In 17/18 and 18/19, that figure was 138 and 143 respectively.

What makes this year’s volume all the more impressive is because he registered this many retrievals despite the team's shift in style, which was highlighted by the increase in Leicester’s average possession.

In the Nigerian’s first full season, the Foxes' average possession was 48 percent and it just barely crossed the halfway mark last year. However, Rodgers’ troops had a mean of 57.5 percent this year, the fourth-highest in the Premier League, and a major indicator of their change in approach.

Thus, it was hugely impressive that the West African still topped that metric regardless of the alteration of the team’s style in possession. Only Bournemouth’s Diego Rico (84) made more interceptions than Ndidi’s 80, with the anchorman’s reading of the game as sharp as ever.

Nevertheless, the pertinent indicator of the ex-Genk man’s improvement hasn’t been what he’s done without the ball alone, rather his adeptness in possession to match the brutishness in the middle of the park.



According to Fbref, the Nigeria international ranks fifth for passes made excluding dead-ball passes, higher than James Maddison, the side’s creative hub this season. In fairness, the Englishman’s injury towards the end of the campaign probably saw Ndidi edge him in the closing weeks but playing a high quantity of passes in the first place demonstrates his importance in the Foxes’ build-up.

He played 44.4 passes per game, the fourth-highest in the side and an accuracy of 85 percent was a commendable completion rate. Unsurprisingly, the Nigerian completed 87 percent of his attempted passes in Leicester’s half while the decrease to 83 percent in the opposition half was a respectable return.

For passes longer than 25 yards, the mere fact that Ndidi successfully found a teammate 304 times from 376 tries (81% success) showed not all these attempts were short, simple passes.
While he sits sixth for percentage success for long passes, only Caglar Soyuncu’s 555 completed passes from 659 efforts was significantly higher (no other colleague with a better completion rate crossed the 100-pass mark).

Furthermore, 138 passes by the 23-year-old defensive midfielder were directed into the final third, only Jonny Evans (144), Maddison (155) and Youri Tielemans (157) attempted more. While the Nigerian didn’t quite attempt as many progressive passes (74) he still sits a respectable eighth when compared with other teammates.

The aforementioned truly highlight the transformation of Ndidi into a more complete midfielder, who not only thrives in the defensive aspects but is now becoming an accomplished player in possession as well.





In truth, it is no surprise he led the way for most blocks (81) while successfully harrying the opponent on the ball more times than any other Leicester player, given that’s what he thrives at doing. The improving adeptness with the ball, however, is why the African is becoming one of the top rounded players in his position.

Indeed, Ndidi’s influence on their play was felt early on in the Foxes’ slump from mid-January to February where he missed five of six league games. Rodgers’ men won none of those fixtures with the 2-1 home defeat by Southampton the perfect representation of how much they lean on the Nigerian.

While he was involved in a few questionable moments post-lockdown – the concession of penalties in damaging defeats by Everton and Bournemouth, especially – the former was a contentious handball while the other originated from Kasper Schmeichel’s poor kick at the Vitality Stadium.

Without a doubt, Ndidi has come on in leaps and bounds since his Premier League debut against Chelsea in January 2017, refining his style to suit the team while not losing his blue-collar tendencies in the process.

The Nigerian anchorman will finally grace European football with Leicester next season, still, it’s a shame it won’t be the Champions League as the continent’s most prestigious competition is where his talent ought to be showcased and where the Foxes seemed destined for before their post-January decline.


Source: Goal

TheSuperNerd:
Naija players expected/likely to be in action for their various sides across Europe today - July 29

✔Serie A

William Troost Ekong (Udinese) vs Lecce - Home game.
*Ekong expected to return today after missing out on the last game due to accumulated yellows suspension. Had a solid game vs Juve last time out.

Ola Aina (Torino) vs AS Roma - Home game



✔Turkish Cup Final

Anthony Nwakaeme (Trabzonspor) vs Alanyaspor
*Nwakaeme boasts 2 goals and 1 assist in 6 cup games. In the league alone, he had 11 goals and 9 assists. Overall, he has 14 goals and 11 assists from 43 appearances in all comps. Can he add to his overall tally as he seeks cup glory? Today will tell.


✔Norwegian Eliteserien

Afeez Aremu (IK Start) vs Aalesund - Away game.

Shuaibu Lalle Ibrahim (Mjondalen) vs Odds BK - Home game.

Jack Ipalibo (Stromsgodset) vs Brann Bergen - Home game.

Leke James (Molde FK) vs Valerenga - Home game.



✔Latvian Virsliga

Chinonso Nnamdi Offor (RIGAS FS) vs Valmiera FK - Home game.

Tolu Arokodare and Olaide Badmus (Valmiera FK) vs RIGAS FS - Away game.

*Two of Nigeria's finest exciting and most in-form young players in Latvia go head to head. Chinonso vs Tolu



✔ Ukrainian Persha Liga - 2nd tier

Chidera Anih Kelit (FC Metalist 1925) vs Mykolaiv - Away game.



✔Club Friendlies

Rabiu Ibrahim, *Ezekiel Henty (Slovan Bratislava) vs Slovacko









Bonus

✔Albanian SuperLiga

Coach Ndubuisi Egbo's K.F. Tirana take on Bylis in their last league game of the season today.

After this, they prepare for a date with KF Teuta in the Albanian Cup final (on August 2) in their quest to make it a league and cup double.

sheyishemba:


Bro it his choice many people here hype home breed players (awon komekn ibile) so you can't tell him to asses other players, to him he might see thoses players he assess as a prospect like I've said earlier it his choice

Edopesin:


Eze and Adarabioyo are more needed in the SE right now, And I really want to see a Ekong-Adarabioyo pairing... It's going to be crazy

komekn:


Meanwhile they will say one is biased.

Now compare the obsessive fixation and over hype associated with Nwakali, who has done absolutely nothing for 5 years beyond U17 football.

Then l will be accused of favoritism towards Nigerian origin players in the UK.

It's hypocritical double-standard as well as unguarded prejudiced and negative bias towards Nigerian players not considered to be "homegrown" in the context of Nigerian football.

IDENNAA:



Again , get this into your mind. Nwakali is a Nigerian born and bred talent. He has privilege , rights and advantage Onomah enjoys in England. The English will not furnish Nwakali with these benefits. Henceforth , we will take care of our own, firstly.

IDENNAA:
Afeez Aremu (IK Start) vs Aalesund - Away game.

ChrisKels, is this same Aremu that was impressive during CHAN ?

sheyishemba:


Bro it his choice many people here hype home breed players (awon komekn ibile) so you can't tell him to asses other players, to him he might see thoses players he assess as a prospect like I've said earlier it his choice

ChrisKels:
Did you know that the current Trabzonspor head coach is a Nigerian and he is on the verge of winning his first laurel as a head coach in a top flight football, as Trabzonspor battles Alanyaspor in the Turkish cup final today?

His name is Edward Ikemefula Newton

sheyishemba:


Bro it his choice many people here hype home breed players (awon komekn ibile) so you can't tell him to asses other players, to him he might see thoses players he assess as a prospect like I've said earlier it his choice

andrewbaba44:


Wow are you serious bro ?

Did Trabzonspor sack their coach ?

So a Nigerian is the head coach of a top Turkish club.

ChrisKels:


They path ways under mutual consent, leaving Ikem to assume the mantle. He even won his first away at Eskirispor or whatever-Spor

ChrisKels:


He didn't forget, he deliberately left that out thinking that we wouldn't notice. Dude single handedly sent Swansea back to the Championship.

TheLoneCitizen:
Manu Lonjon first and Now Hanif Berkane have reported that Ranger's interest in Josh Maja is concrete.

Both reporters said that immediately Lille sign Morelos, Rangers will table a bid for Maja.

Skyspots reported some hours ago that Morelos has agreed personal terms with Lille.


Rangers play their first league game in 11 days.

komekn:


Being in a top league does not automatically make you a top player. You can be anonymous and almost a spectator.

I would rather have the most outstanding consistent players in the Championship than a players in a moi moi team in La Liga who has done nothing and will do nothing.

Eze, Tega and Ovie are outstanding players in thier league.

You could add Iorfa and Adarabioyo to that list in the context of defence. And on the wing we have Osayi coming in to stake a claim.

Finally, Scottish Premiership league may have a low rating. however the club Rangers has a much much higher rating than Huesca in European club ratings.

If you have the time look at the players and value of Sunderland and Hulls players and compare to Huesca and you will see gap that will suprise. And these are essential league one clubs now.

ChrisKels:


Yea. You wan begin clamor for him? He passes better than Ndidi

elunico:


Osayi is no threat to anybody in the present team, there's nothing he can offer that those we have can't. He's not better than Bonaventure let alone.

ChrisKels:


Yea. You wan begin clamor for him? He passes better than Ndidi

TheSuperNerd:
Ndidi's 19/20 season: A success or failure?

Has Leicester City’s botched attempt to secure Champions League football soiled what was another impressive year for the evolving Nigerian anchorman?.

Joebie:
Formation5
Cc Edopesin

ChrisKels:
Did you know that the current Trabzonspor head coach is a Nigerian and he is on the verge of winning his first laurel as a head coach in a top flight football, as Trabzonspor battles Alanyaspor in the Turkish cup final today?

His name is Edward Ikemefula Newton

ChrisKels:


Coming from the same joke who always feels so bitter when other people choose their own players to asses or hype.

Now, it is a choice?

Edopesin:


Eze and Adarabioyo are more needed in the SE right now, And I really want to see a Ekong-Adarabioyo pairing... It's going to be crazy

BascoVanVeli:


What are you talking about? I said he should maintain the same energy which means he surely has been assessing other players.