TheGoodJoe:


Tell that to Barcelona players that complain about pitches. Recently, Guardiola complained about the length of the grass in a pitch. I guess these are amateurs to you. What of the spat between Guardiola and Mourinho recently when Guardiola requested a rule against high grasses. Talk less of waterlogged artificial pitch.

goldfish80:

Am not sure Celestine Babayaro, Olishe,Afolabi, Keshi and Amokachi played in Belgium within the last 15yrs.
I specifically gave a time frame. You were too quick to read.

Just like I pointed out earlier, Nigerians who took Belgium by storm over the past 15 yrs really didn't leave up to the promise. That is a fact weather you like it or not.

Joseph Akpala for all his endeavour didn't have a solid international career. He didn't find any bearing whatsoever in the national team. A few caps and cameos here and there. He didn't really cut it if you ask me.

Tosin Dosunmu at a time was rated the better talent than Obafemi Martins by Kashmao Laloko who coached them both in Nigeria. Tosin in his debut game for the super eagles couldn't even trap a bag of cement. The lack of confidence in the game discouraged coaches from giving him a look in. I couldn't believe this was the same guy who scored goals for fun with Westerlo.

Peter Utaka is a baller any day. I personally rate him very high. A guy who have won top scorer in virtually every league he has played. He was not favoured by national team selectors for some odd reasons. However, I think he should have played in a better league when he moved. He is that talented.

Manashe Isiaku?

Patrick Ogunshoto?

I mentioned Marvin Ogunjimi because he was touted for the super eagles at point. If this thread was in existence back then, you would have made a song and dance with his name.

N/B: These guys I mentioned were the hottest players in Belgium in their days. Neither Kalu, Moses Simon, Etisi and Onyekuru have had half the impact this guys had in Belgium. I stand to be corrected.

Icon4s:


Prio to the CAF U17 I also rated this guy including Benerd Bulbwa ahead of Iheanacho.

Iheanacho was warming the bench when this Al-Hassan and Bulbwa were running things in that team. Awoniyi was initially the main CF before Success broke in.

Another player I rated and still rate highly is Ifeanyi Mathew. Complete baller.

Icon4s:


TheGoodJoe said he called over 600 players to an open camp and yet only one new player joined the first team from among the 600.

tbaba1234:


Barca players are pros.. These boys are amateurs from Africa who must have played on all kinds of pitches through the qualifiers and even the African tournament.

Joebie:
That selection process is suspect

Icon4s:


TheGoodJoe come and see another top-notch comment

TheGoodJoe:


Barcelona players are pros but they have complained bitterly repeatedly about poor pitches. It weakens them. So using that to critique the players is not fair. The NFF wasted the home advantage by giving them a poor place. We had far better options.

TheGoodJoe:


For real. I said. Are you saying you did not follow the news? We had a thread dedicated to the junior teams.


Nigeria U-20 Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has decided to have a three -day open screening for new players ahead of the team's camping for a 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Burundi, Vanguard reports.

Following Democratic Republic of Congo withdrawal from the tournament, Burundi progressed to be entitled to lock horns with Cup holders Nigeria.

Dates

Amuneke called for the open screening between Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 April before a group of 30 invited players arrive camp in Abuja on Monday 11 April.

http://www.futaa.com/transfers/amuneke-opens-screening-camp-for-u20

joseph1013:


Cmon...if a coach calls 600 players to camp and chooses just one...and then piles the rest of the team with 'his boys', it is not unexpected for people to say that the camping exercise was a ruse.

Joebie:
That's football for you. Development and other factors is crucial. Look at Brazil at the U17. Look at Brazil again at the U20s. Some stars in the U17 disappear never to return. Remember Sinama Pongole of France? So Muazam now may not be as good as Iheanacho, and may never reach his level even when he moves to Europe. Take note I said MAY. Rating him higher at U17 does not mean he will be a better player eventually. The likes of Onyekuru didnt pass our youth system, but MAY end up getting a higher rating than Iheanacho. Let's keep our fingers crossed and watch them play through their 20s.

tbaba1234:


That is my point. Many of the Barca boys are used to good pitches. If you grew up playing in Nigeria, you are not used to good pitches. It is not an excuse for you.

Icon4s:


Exactly.

I have always maintained that football development is not arithmetic. Some players development is in multiples, some +vely arithmetically progress while some will even regress.

MOST players after U17 do not progress well.

It would be a big error to assume that all graduates of U17 will keep improving. There are some players you will not jst hear them names any where again.

For instance I asked a question yesterday: WHERE IS JOHN LAZARUS? No answers yet.

What of Chigozie Obasi or Edwin Okon?

Why didnt Manu promote those two along with the others?

But Amuneke promoted all his players.

I will not buy that argument that what if all of them have progressed to be U20 materials.

I have been long enough in this game to know that that is very unlikely.

TheGoodJoe:


Amunike trained his boys on the philosophy. Monday Sinclair had Sharks FC playing it. Amunike did not forsee that our NFF will take him away from the regular grounds of the National team to a pitch dreaded by the Super Eagles.

tbaba1234:
We treat under 20 as automatic promotion... Some players at under 17 might be unable to meet the standard at under 20. Under 17 is usually amateur, under 20 is professional /semi-professional. Those three years make a big difference in development. Some will fade away, others will remain.

TheGoodJoe:



You do not know the criteria. Something I have explained before. Note, Amunike knew what he was looking for and picked a player who suited his philosophy. How many teams in Nigeria train their players with the tiki taka philosophy. Amunike is a coach who embodies that. You can see that the player selected walked into his starting eleven.

It is possible to have six hundred players and only one embodies the philosophy. It is not our culture. The other players selected went through rigorous training to understand it.

Icon4s:


So you know abt this all these while but kept me as a lone Ranger in that thought and argument.

OMG! This is what i have been preaching here for over 2yrs.

TheGoodJoe:


Tell that to Barcelona players that complain about pitches. Recently, Guardiola complained about the length of the grass in a pitch. I guess these are amateurs to you. What of the spat between Guardiola and Mourinho recently when Guardiola requested a rule against high grasses. Talk less of waterlogged artificial pitch.

Icon4s:


Exactly.

I have always maintained that football development is not arithmetic. Some players development is in multiples, some +vely arithmetically progress while some will even regress.

MOST players after U17 do not progress well.

It would be a big error to assume that all graduates of U17 will keep improving. There are some players you will not jst hear them names any where again.

For instance I asked a question yesterday: WHERE IS JOHN LAZARUS? No answers yet.

What of Chigozie Obasi or Edwin Okon?

Why didnt Manu promote those two along with the others?

But Amuneke promoted all his players.

I will not buy that argument that what if all of them have progressed to be U20 materials.

I have been long enough in this game to know that that is very unlikely.

tbaba1234:


Go back well, you will see that I supported you. Especially after Manu's u20 failure.

Icon4s:


Exactly.

I have always maintained that football development is not arithmetic. Some players development is in multiples, some +vely arithmetically progress while some will even regress.

MOST players after U17 do not progress well.

It would be a big error to assume that all graduates of U17 will keep improving. There are some players you will not jst hear them names any where again.

For instance I asked a question yesterday: WHERE IS JOHN LAZARUS? No answers yet.

What of Chigozie Obasi or Edwin Okon?

Why didnt Manu promote those two along with the others?

But Amuneke promoted all his players.

I will not buy that argument that what if all of them have progressed to be U20 materials.

I have been long enough in this game to know that that is very unlikely.

TheGoodJoe:


For real. I said. Are you saying you did not follow the news? We had a thread dedicated to the junior teams.


Nigeria U-20 Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has decided to have a three -day open screening for new players ahead of the team's camping for a 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Burundi, Vanguard reports.

Following Democratic Republic of Congo withdrawal from the tournament, Burundi progressed to be entitled to lock horns with Cup holders Nigeria.

Dates

Amuneke called for the open screening between Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 April before a group of 30 invited players arrive camp in Abuja on Monday 11 April.

http://www.futaa.com/transfers/amuneke-opens-screening-camp-for-u20

BascoVanVeli:


I am still waiting on u to tell me about the players Amunike should have selected. U have mentioned no names but u are sure Amunike selected on sentiments.

Icon4s:


From this piece where was it stated that 600 players were invited?

joseph1013:


LOL. Only his boys understand the philosophy. Just like Pep and his drilling. Okay!

tbaba1234:


These boys played qualifiers all over Africa on terrible pitches.. No be excuse

Joebie:
I personally thought Edwin Okon was better than Mustapha Abdullahi. Okon reminded me of Babayaro at UAE. He joined Akwa United after the U17 WC. Chigozie Obasi never signed with Deportivo. There were also rumors about a Bastia move at the time..

Lazarus.. I dont know.. Have you asked about Makanjuola Habeeb? Still with Chelsea?

I think Manu Garba did the right thing. But some of these forgotten players we have mentioned may topple others eventually. It's just too early to say.

Icon4s:


Emmm.. the comparison u are making between Okon and Mustapha is that of comparing a player at U17 and another player at U20. That is nt a fair comparison.

For eg, the Musa Yahaya of U17 and the Musa Yahaya of U20 who seemed better?

The Iheanacho of U17 and Iheanacho of U20 who was better.

What Chidi Nwakali of U17 vs Chidi Nwakali of U20?

The thing is the competition at U20 is far more than U17. Most exceptional players at U17 become average at U20.

You need to close that gap in the team by introducing some professional 19 and 20 yrs olds in the team.

I had always said that the U17 is for cadet or academy players while the U20 is for young professionals. Players with mostly 2 to 3 seasons of professional football. And nt for academy players.

Icon4s:


Hahaha . There was a thread on NPFL youngsters created jst last week.

Stephen Odey tops the list.

TheGoodJoe:



I am showing you that he held an open camp. If you want me to keep browsing to give figures, you can ask. The fact is that Amunike put out an open invitation. It was public news just as you can see.