₦airaland Forum

ecoco2014:
No one called anyone kids as you are drifting away from the suggestion. If you watched the constitution of Super Eagles Players from 1990 to 1993 had a good mix of Home-based players and we posted decent results then.

I am a confirmed egbon and I watched the team closely then.b You are right we had a good mix of home based and foreign based BUT by the eve of the 1994 World Cup all the players were foreign based.

Meliforme:
As things stands, our midfield is the poorest.
Poor not only because of personnel selection, but in how they are told to play.

Our midfield issues from a personnel perspective are excercebated by our inability (NFF and Managers) to even recognize it is a problem or the will to find a resolution.

We have been inviting 4 midfielders in squads of 23 for years now. When a national team (obviously can't buy players) is in the predicament we're in, you would expect that the available options that are untested get tested asap. They've not done that.

Who expected a midfield including Sunday Mba and Onazi will win the biggest prize in African football?

Our defence options (CB positions) on the other hand is disaster class!

Omeruo - This is his 11th or 12th year in the team, and diminishing returns set in a while ago to put it mildly.

Ekong - at his best would would be a squad player. Too slow (that Sierra Leonian first goal would have been even easier for the striker had it been he was in a foot race with Ekong). Also slow recovery rate when beaten by a trick.

Akpoguma - Never seen a good game by this one. If he is the answer then I cannot begin to imagine what the question is.

Bassey - the jury is still out on him being he is verifiably young. But if we're being honest he is still learning the game and in today's money he isn't any better than what any other half decent teams in Africa have to offer.

Balogun - has served gallantly and can retire from international football in peace.

Ajayi - for all his height doesn't win enough aerially. Good tackler not so good marker nor is he aggressive enough. Again like the rest of his peers not the quickest on the park.

If these guys face a striker like Percy Tau today....it will be very messy.

forgiveness:
Oga, what if he receives the pass and doesn't know what to do next when Omeruo was still facing him?

I don't know if you have played ball before but if you had, you should have understood.

My point is not from watching academy matches but from the remarks of certified coaches life and direct.

I think that validates my point. This in not about forcing take but stating it as it is.

Besides, tap in doesn't translate to individual brilliance even that goal was not in anyway a tap in.

He received the ball but did something extra, that makes it individual brilliance. Shikena.

I get where you're coming from. The player took the chance with aplomb! Had he missed no one would have been surprised so there was some brilliance there. Many of our players squander similar chances upandan.

We need friendly games to try out Onyedika, Alhassan, Daga, Nnadi, Eletu and Nwachukwu. But we won't do it. Trust me.

What we will do is arrange friendlies, call up exactly the same squad bar maybe 1 or 2 players and play a very familiar 11 on match day, with Musa on the bench (stealing a valuable spot for a young player), for his experience

chrisooblog:
Good game from an attacking point of view. Osimhen just loves playing against the Sierra Leonians 4 goals in 3 matches against them now.

Osayi was impressive again today.

Chukwueze and Simon especially were annoying with their decision making today. When they should cross they opt to take on their man, when they should take on their opposite number they decide to deliver ineffectual crosses.

Team still looks a good way from being AFCON contenders. Thankfully there's still time between now till January next year but can the NFF take the necessary decisions to improve the team?

Never mind the midfield. Firstly you cannot win anything without a goal keeper.

And that center back options are right now are quite frankly no where near good enough to go through a tournament unscathed.

humility33:
It seems you've not following the super eagles

This guys stephen Eze, Aneke etc and co leave for obscure leagues abroad at the slightest opportunity the coach can't stop them... and after that you barely hear of them again

A recent example is Anayo Iwuala. When Iwuala was home based we never got peace until he was called up regularly. After leaving for Esperance Tunis nobody called for him again. Why? So what was the point all along? Now he's in the Algerian league.

I used to rate him as a player hopefully he's still good.

Our attack is World class
Midfield is African class
Fullbacks are competent class
Centre backs and goal keepers are ... invisible submarine class

We focus a lot on our midfield shortcomings but I think we are better in midfield than at Centre back and GK. That's why there really is no spine to this team.

Oh and was it only me that heard the Sierra Leone goal keeper and one of their centre backs were 18 years old. We should fear God more in Africa sha.

JohnBullMySon:
We dominated them. A draw was more than enough for them.

They're always the underdogs even if we play in their market square.

They had to win. A draw was never going to be enough.

Icon79:
Well, I have seen him play in the flanks for NF. And we also have Lookman in the team, he can play as a winger too.


O pari

Awoniyi cannot play as a winger to the level required of a decent team. He doesn't have the footwork, speed or crossing ability to do that role effectively.

African referees let players get away with outright thuggery. It isn't and will never help the development of the tactical game on the continent. Technically the players from almost all countries are not too bad. With a proper referee Nigeria win this game. Ah well.

Eze comes on for Maddison for his first England cap. How many more will follow...we will see in time. good luck 'English man'.

Bishop7170:
We have the device in our room. Doctor's in the house, hope nothing is wrong with my health?

This is high. You need to get checked out.

maidaboi:
I Feel So Nigerian – Man City
Star Defender Akanji Explains
Celebrating UCL Title With
Nigerian Flag



https://www.owngoalnigeria.com/2023/06/13/i-feel-so-nigerian-man-city-star-defender-akanji-explains-celebrating-ucl-title-with-nigerian-flag/

He's a joker

charlesemeka85:
French ligue 2 side Troyes have made a bid of 7million euros to Turkish giants Fernebache to sign super eagles right back Bright Samuel Osayi

Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers interested too

Troyes have 7million Euros to spend on one player? Wow

lovewins:
Just In:

Jordan Torunarigha of KAA Gent has announced his decision to represent Nigeria at the international level. Jordan whose father also played for Nigeria says:

"After a lot of consideration and good talks with the coach and all people in charge, I decided to play for the country for which my father already stood on the pitch, Nigeria ".

Thoughts??

This guy rejected us before. Hmm... should we do principle or gratification?

TheSuperNerd:
Finidi George and Enyimba are Naija NPFL Champions

FT: Enyimba 1-1 Rivers Utd.

The final standings mean Enyimba and Remo Stars qualify for the CAF Champions League while Rivers Utd settle for the CAF Confederations Cup.

Hopefully Bendel Insurance win the Federation Cup final and get the second CAF Confederation Cup ticket. It would be a shame if they finish the season with nothing after going 26 games unbeaten in all competitions only to lose form when it mattered most.

komekn:
Your have EVADED the subject.

Let me remind you , you claimed that Jude Billingham was just, "youth prospect with potential"

I proven that to be TOTALLY UNTRUE and you are still making noise.

I have nothing more to say

Very funny, anyone with basic comprehensive skills and has read my comments will know I haven't evaded anything.

One doesn't have to have the last word to convincingly disprove the other in an argument.

Dropping the mic on this one 😁

komekn:
Substansive essentially means to be anchored ⚓ on established FACTS and TRUTH.

At 14 Jude Billingham played with the U18 at age 15 he played with the reserve team with consistent oustanding performance. He was dominating men .

At age 16 and 38 days Jude played his first professional first team game for Birmingham city in EFL cup. He was given the MOTM award at this stage he was the youngest ever play to play for Birmingham city.

At age 16 +(56 days) he had his first game in the Championship in August 2019. He was consistently continuously oustanding and by November he was given EFL Young Player of the Month. At the end of the season 2019/20 being still 16 years old he had played 41 games in the Championship with multiple never ending accolades. At the EFL Awards, he was named both Championship Apprentice of the Year and EFL Young Player of the Season. This is your spurious definition of a mere "youth prospect with high potential"


2020/21 after being courted by numerous top clubs including Manchester United he chose Borussia Dortmund. On his first game at age 17 (77 days) September 2020, he scored another outstanding performance. He was B. Dortmund youngest ever goal scorer in the Bundisliga by end of the month he given the accolade, Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for September. This is your misguided definition of what you call ,"youth prospect with high potential"

Jadon Sancho was already on the first team lost at 17 in Manchester city he was already proven established but denied opportunity. Then Borussia Dortmund gave him opportunity the rest is history.

Rubbish. Playing with the reserves at 15 years old is not as rare as you make it sound. If you are as close to the academies in the English game as you claim to be you will know this.

Again, several players have made their debut at 16 even in the Premier League and had rave reviews just like Bellingham. Of course it was great for Bellingham to also have been in your words 'dominating men' although in 'division 2' reserve games.

For example at 16/17 years old midfielders like Jack Wilshere, Josh McEachran were not only playing with and dominating men in the Premier League and Champions League. Had Chelsea or Arsenal sold them on at that point they would have probably gone for more money than Bellingham went for... Sadly Arsenal and Chelsea don't get that excited at talented youth prospects to retire a squad number in their honour if they do move on.

You say Sancho was 'established' at Manchester City!? Hahahahaha funny guy, he was so established he didn't kick a ball for the first team.

In any case have we now lowered the bar about being consistently exceptional and outstanding to simply being 'established'. Do tell us.

I think you are consistent and exceptional in your attempts to prove to the unprovable. Not with me fam, the results won't be outstanding

Not even sure what you're arguing about to be fair.

chrisooblog:
Clock win treble twice no manager born of woman except Pep has achieved that.

If e easy to use money win UCL PSG for don win tey tey plus Chelsea would have won more than two times.

Abeg make that kind broken clock come coach Nigeria if na so we go dey win.

Na so 😂

chrisooblog:
Una call Pep scam, fraudster, Catalan hushpuppi baba don reply disgrace all of you.

Don Guardiola Boss of bosses

Story! Seen ehn, even a broken clock is correct twice everyday.

He was eventually going to win the thing one day after well over a decade of managing top top teams and failing. 😂

Seeing how PSG and Chelsea have managed to implode even with similar finances available has made me reassess and agree he is a great manager and not the false prophet I used to think he was.

I've been in an earthquake twice before. Very strange feeling, especially if it happens to you for the first time while you're sleeping and you wake up to find everything around you shaking violently!

You start thinking several different thoughts, did I drink before going to bed? did I drink too much or Didi drink something I shouldn't have? Is this some funny dream? Or hang on a second, is this similar to those earthquakes I see on TV?

Only at that point do your eyes and thought clear up well enough for you to react! Luckily my house was still intact 😂

Barryseal:
On what basis will a club formed in 1875 retire a player's jersey number? How many Jersey numbers have they retired in their history if any? You call it an out of the blue sentiment?

Sure that is a significant gesture but also mindful to note it is from a 'small club'.

Try to answer the question though, what did he achieve with the club?

I remember Obafemi Martins scored the winner in the league cup final for Birmingham against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal just over a decade ago. IMO he achieved more than Bellingham did for Birmingham City.

Finally I won't call it an out of the blue sentiment. He frigging made them £25million pounds out of thin air as their record transfer received! For that alone they will love and honour him forever. Birmingham have never ever seen that kind of money before

Good prospect turned great player no doubt.

TheSuperNerd:
Pep to Catch Madrid? A Tall order but then he would have to pull an Alex Ferguson by staying as long as possible with Citeh to stand a chance.

Also, who says Madrid won't add to their 14 UCLs in the coming seasons? Lol

Did Pep have too much to drink? 😂😂

He certainly did. He was joking though 😂

Barryseal:
Birmingham retired Jude Bellingham's no 22 shirt and he was just 19.

If they did that's purely based on sentiment. My question remains what did he achieve there?

komekn:
Be substansive , objective and balanced please and present an evidenced based view.

You are talking with bias and sentiment.

Jude Billingham started playing at 16 in the Championship and was at that young age oustanding.

Nonetheless, the amount of performance related data that some clubs in particular Borussia keep on young players is astounding. It's continuous assessment in these players from age 12/13.

This is why they can make an informed decision and map the potential progression of a player.

Borussia Dortmund payed £8 million for Sancho and sold him for £85 Million . Jude Billingham bought for £25 million sold for £115 million. That's some EXCEPTIONAL scouting and player appraisal.

Not sure what you mean by asking me to be substantive and objective. What did I say that wasn't? What evidence of what do you want from me? Lol

Both Sancho and Bellingham were not consistent and exceptional performers before being signed by Dortmund. were they?

They were just youth prospects with high potential. There are dozens of players so regarded at any one time. And by the way that is same group of players you talk down on with statements like they haven't played mens football; talents at youth level is at best indicative etc etc. No?

It is acknowledged everywhere that Dortmund's scouting at youth level is very good and they have now seemingly built their business model on it.

Who were the beneficiaries and in most cases the instructors?

Nothing will happen to Meffy...dey play.

komekn:
Adarabioyo is ready and waiting but it seems he has not settled with the NFF.

Jude is 19 and has been playing since age 16 first team football in addition he has since day one been.

CONSISTENT oustanding exceptional why would Dortmund pay £25 million for 17 year old from the Championship. Has been outstanding for three years running. It was s in this regard I can say edition contradiction he is arguably at 19 best Midfielder in the world.

I can say the same for Haaland continuous consistent oustanding exceptional performance from day one.

V.O. is an exceptionaly good number 9 top level striker, world class yes . But arguably the best in the world at THIS TIME a very big NO.

This is his first season as highest goal scorer in fact in his entire career in a top 5 league in Europe.

I can say that of Haaland, Kane, Mbappe, Lewandowski , Benzema but not YET of VO objectively speaking there is no argument.

Not necessarily at the bolded. Dortmund scout young players with high potential from any league, be it Austria, Championship etc.

What had Sancho done to show he was a consistent outstanding exceptional performer before they poached him?

Granted he was young, but what had Bellingham done in the championship, before they poached him? Several players have in the past delivered similar output but didn't end up in a Champions League club.

AndSunGorilla:
His birthday reads May 2003 and that makes him eligible.

Cool, I didn't know that. He should have been in that squad then on merit.

AndSunGorilla:
Why didn't Bosso invite him for the U20 same as that guy Basco used to mention. While the U20 surpassed my expectations but I think Bosso could have really showcased some more talented guys, anyway that one don pass.

He is probably over 20 years old but he is a good influential player. If you follow Bendel Insurance on Facebook, all their games are streamed live.

BankyGee:
Please someone should help me with one big name player from Sierra Leone 🙏🏾

Not exactly a response to your question but they don't need any. As we have chosen to be tactically static they only need to watch our games against Guinea Bissau to know how they need to line up. 4 in defence, 5 in midfield with 2 holding players and a fast forward.

Our super stars will be sweating at 0-0 after 70 mins. At that point the game can go either way as we have witnessed several times recently, with no opposition big name in sight. Normal thing.

typicalgamer:
Bro no blame am a true patriot of our football team will never say that

The bendel insurance midfielder invited is not a bad player at all but sadly they’ll never only give him garbage time 78-80 mins and above

Exactly! I have seen Divine Nwachukwu play this season and I can tell you a fact. If he was to line up for Sierra Leone against our current squad he will cause them endless problems.

The other Bendel Insurance player that can be looked at is Deputy Echeta. Like they say, dawg!

komekn:
If you noticed I said in the last decade, let me be more clearer for you, a decade means 10 years.

Indeed his last 6/7 seasons in the EPL which is well over 25 years ago , he was abysmal he became a liability for Chelsea.

Please try again.

Sergio Aguero
Diego Costa
Alexis Sanchez
Even Michu!!