Define the skill sets needed to play in the EPL and let's discuss the players and these skills.

komekn:


The particular skills set required for the EPL has seen many top flight players flop. It's not unique to Musa in all honesty I had my doubts even before he arrived.

tbaba1234:
Age has caught up with Elderson, 2nd division belgium is probably his level now. I do not think, he will make the WC.

Sad but true.

He could have cut it if he went to a club that needed him. A Musa would have played week in and out in clubs like Everton, Southampton, stoke, westham. These clubs don't really have fast wingers.

He went to a Leicester filled with good wingers and alot of strikers.

And yes, I insist, money influenced him partly.

komekn:


It's not money but progression to a higher league.

Unfortunately he couldn't cut it in the EPL.

AIG07:
hmmm...
Presently, Vardy and Okazaki are ahead of him in the pecking order.

The problem is: even if he displace Okazaki can he play alongside vardy. I don't see him displacing vardy(one of English Top striker) any moment son considering the fact that it's a world cup year and they'll want him to be in a top shape.

Leicester seems to always play a very different game anytime Vardy is on . They become less possessive of the ball which does not really suit Nacho and resort to huff and puff kind of set up huffing all the ball to vardy to chase.

One thing I only see changing the whole situation on ground is if Riyad Mahrez move to Man City materialise, the cult-like status the title winning side possess might be finally brought down and equity will be established with the influx of new signing.

Till then, Nacho should be contempted with the sub role.

It's a bit more complicated with Diabate his first game in the FA cup was outstanding. He is in direct competition with KC.

Furthermore, Diabate seems too have more pace and I use the word seems. So KC will still have to fight which for me is a good thing. Challenges improve players, so I am expecting considerable improvement all round for KC.

junnyjake:


I seriously don't get you.

So you'd rate the NPFL higher than the EPL In competitiveness? Since the teams are pretty equated in quality.

All I can say is BEWILDERED.

tbaba1234:


Ekong's chance of playing with holland was non-existent same with balogun. If Uduokhai keeps playing, german caps are not too far off.

How many Nigerian CBs are starting and playing regularly in the top 5 leagues? Awaziem and Uduokhai.

If Germany cap is sure for Uduokhai then we should forget him and concentrate on what we have instead of shading shadow.

Come on guys... chillax... The German national team got lots of quality in their defence. Check these out,

Nicklas Sulé, Antonio Rudiger, Willi Orban, Mathias Ginter, Skodran Mustafi, Jonathan Tah.... etc are all quality CB options for Germany.

The first choice CBs are Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels.

Now ask yourself... compared to our own defensive options, does Uduokahi's quality stand a chance of breaking in ahead of even Rudiger, Sulé, Tah or Mustafi??!!! That is four bad-ass options here and there is still Hummels and Boateng at the very top of the pile... Holy Moses!!!!


Nigeria boasts of only Balogun, Ekong, Awaziem and Omeruo as Fine Quality... who else do we have as Fine quality? Efe Ambrose?? Uche Agbo? Abeg who? Do you see the issue here?


So Felix Uduokahi's inability to break into the Germany squad will not be based on his potentials, quality or abilty because those are not in doubt. It will rather be based on the guys already ahead of him who also boast similar potentials and abilities like him. Guys like Tah, Sulé, and co for instance.


So biko... let us not use that "let him break into Germany squad first if he is that good" mentality to rate him because truth is even our own Awaziem will not find it funny breaking into that same German side.

That is all I wanna say to set matters straight here. Uduokhai is a top quality young CB and that cannot be taken away from him. Period.

somehow:
If he's above average, then let him fight for the german national team shirt na.

komekn:


It's a bit more complicated with Diabate his first game in the FA cup was outstanding. He is in direct competition with KC.

Furthermore, Diabate seems too have more pace and I use the word seems. So KC will still have to fight which for me is a good thing. Challenges improve players, so I am expecting considerable improvement all round for KC.

How is diabate in direct competition with Nacho? At times i dey wonder how una dey use watch una ball,Fouseni Diabate ia a Winger,if he is in direct competition then it will be mahrez and gray,nacho competition is just vardy and okazaki so what are you saying? Dont you know the difference of a winger and a striker?

Kog45:
Uduokhai is good but a starter i doubt cos i watched him closely this season,well he would fit in 3-5-2 formation.

Help me tell that guy oo,i doubt say him don even watch the guy,like say e dey watch German league,many people here have no difference with most Nigeria coaches,thank God we have a foreign coach,Last year world cup,i remember Uchebo,Uche Nwofor and gabriel making it,thank God for rohr,he is not the best no perfect but no partial in calling up players,brown ideye was regular in dynamo kiev yet he didnt make the world cup a player playing champions league and ukraine league dynamo kieve top forward,yet an uchebo making it,after the world cup brown ideye was transfer to west brom even without making eagles list,where are those uchebo and co now?

tbaba1234:


Who are our CBs? Ekong, Balogun, Awaziem and Omeruo

How many of these will start in the Bundesliga?

Uduokhai starts every week in the Bundesliga when fit. The only reason you will not start him is that he is new to the team but based on just quality, he will start comfortably.

My man a fit Balogun is better than Uduokhai and don't even say Ekong would not start in Bundesliga cos you cannot say,Awaziem is doing well in French league, so what a fuss about Uduokhai.

Mind you am one of the people that believe in him,if we get him good but not really exceptional cos i watched him closely this season without sentiment.

somehow:
He starts because that's his country and his clubside. Someone said he only played 17 times in 2017 so how does that translate to week in and out?

Lastly, if his club doesn't have a better replacement, they have no choice but to keep using what they have. So that doesn't buy the argument of being a world class prospect.

I feel like the problem is that very few have watched this guy play.

He has played 19 times, this season alone and we are at the mid-way point. Not in 2017 as a whole. He joined July 2017. And yes, he is an outstanding prospect. He is a regular starter unless injured. In his first season,nonetheless. He has come in as a youngster and displaced players with more experience.

Omeruo could not cut it in the championship. Balogun has been relegated to the bench, Ekong is in Turkey.

Certainly, a 20 year commanding regular football in the bundesliga in his first season is a top prospect.

This guy is linked to Arsenal to a summer transfer to Arsenal to replace the retiring Mertesacker.

'Sportsmail can reveal Mainz's Abdou Diallo and Wolfsburg's Ohis Felix Uduokhai are two central defenders already earmarked to replace club captain Per Mertesacker, who will join Arsenal's academy in a coaching capacity at the end of the season.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5184565/Arsenal-squad-set-huge-shake-up.html

TheSuperNerd:
Come on guys... chillax... The German national team got lots of quality in their defence. Check these out,

Nicklas Sulé, Antonio Rudiger, Willi Orban, Mathias Ginter, Skodran Mustafi, Jonathan Tah.... etc are all quality CB options for Germany.

The first choice CBs are Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels.

Now ask yourself... compared to our own defensive options, does Uduokahi's quality stand a chance of breaking in ahead of even Rudiger, Sulé, Tah or Mustafi??!!! That is four bad-ass options here and there is still Hummels and Boateng at the very top of the pile... Holy Moses!!!!


Nigeria boasts of only Balogun, Ekong, Awaziem and Omeruo as Fine Quality... who else do we have as Fine quality? Efe Ambrose?? Uche Agbo? Abeg who? Do you see the issue here?


So Felix Uduokahi's inability to break into the Germany squad will not be based on his potentials, quality or abilty because those are not in doubt. It will rather be based on the guys already ahead of him who also boast similar potentials and abilities like him. Guys like Tah, Sulé, and co for instance.


So biko... let us not use that "let him break into Germany squad first if he is that good" mentality to rate him because truth is even our own Awaziem will not find it funny breaking into that same German side.

That is all I wanna say to set matters straight here. Uduokhai is a top quality young CB and that cannot be taken away from him. Period.

Yes German teams have the quality in CB but rubbishing our players cos of FB breed who wants to use us as allternative is uncalled for

Nooooooo.... we have top quality too in Balogun, Ekong, and Awaziem most especially. Omeruo too is good quality on a manageable level and have good WC experience.

I don't think Sir Tbaba1234 is rubbishing our players. I think he only wants us to be open to more quality defensive reinforcements. We need more hands in our defence and that is true.

Just look at the Germans... multiple quality options.

Kog45:
Yes German teams have the quality in CB but rubbishing our players cos of FB breed who wants to use us as allternative is uncalled for

komekn:


The particular skills set required for the EPL has seen many top flight players flop. It's not unique to Musa in all honesty I had my doubts even before he arrived.

How many match did must played before you can consider him a flop? 18 premier league games and 2 goals and you call him a flop,a winger for that matter?How many starts in those 18 games? That guy was not given a chance okay,ranieri was sacked and the other coaches didnt give him a chance so he is not a flop,how many games did he played under craig skahespare before he was scaked? he even score 3 goals for shakesspare in the cup,2 against everton and 1 against 1 other team,under appelton and puel he was pushed to the u23 so how has he flopped? demerai gray who is also a young english winger how many goals has he scored?will they also call him a flop?

tbaba1234:


I feel like the problem is that very few have watched this guy play.

He has played 19 times, this season alone and we are at the mid-way point. Not in 2017 as a whole. He joined July 2017. And yes, he is an outstanding prospect. He is a regular starter unless injured. In his first season,nonetheless. He has come in as a youngster and displaced players with more experience.

Omeruo could not cut it in the championship. Balogun has been relegated to the bench, Ekong is in Turkey.

Certainly, a 20 year commanding regular football in the bundesliga in his first season is a top prospect.

This guy is linked to Arsenal to a summer transfer to Arsenal to replace the retiring Mertesacker.

'Sportsmail can reveal Mainz's Abdou Diallo and Wolfsburg's Ohis Felix Uduokhai are two central defenders already earmarked to replace club captain Per Mertesacker, who will join Arsenal's academy in a coaching capacity at the end of the season.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5184565/Arsenal-squad-set-huge-shake-up.html

My man i watched him closely this season with Akpoguma,they are good player and linked with Arsenal not a big deal.

Kog45:
My man a fit Balogun is better than Uduokhai and don't even say Ekong would not start in Bundesliga cos you cannot say,Awaziem is doing well in French league, so what a fuss about Uduokhai.

Mind you am one of the people that believe in him,if we get him good but not really exceptional cos i watched him closely this season without sentiment.

Arsenal is angling for a summer move for Uduokhai. Certainly the scouts saw something good.

Uduokhai can certainly compete with what we have on ground.

Kog45:
My man i watched him closely this season with Akpoguma,they are good player and linked with Arsenal not a big deal.

I do not even rate Akpoguma that highly. But Uduokhai will add to our team.

Kog45:
Yes German teams have the quality in CB but rubbishing our players cos of FB breed who wants to use us as allternative is uncalled for

I am not rubbishing our players. Someone called the boy, below average. I am simply saying, he can compete with what we have on ground.

TheSuperNerd:
Nooooooo.... we have top quality too in Balogun, Ekong, and Awaziem most especially. Omeruo too is good quality and have good WC experience.

I don't think Sir Tbaba1234 is rubbishing our players. I think he only wants us to be open to more defensive reinforcements. We need more hands in our defence and that is true.

Just look at the Germans... multiple quality options.

No he his rubbishing them,pls when chips are down we know who is who in eagles oh,forget all these regular in Bundesliga, Uduokhai would work harder to displace Balogun, Ekong, Awaziem even Omeruo,they may be warming bench or not regular.

tbaba1234:


I do not even rate Akpoguma that highly. But Uduokhai will add to our team.

Yes Akpoguma i watched is not better than Omeruo but Uduokhai is damn good but you are hyping him.

Kog45:
No he his rubbishing them,pls when chips are down we know who is who in eagles oh,forget all these regular in Bundesliga, Uduokhai would work harder to displace Balogun, Ekong, Awaziem even Omeruo,they may be warming bench or not regular.

Where did this conversation start from?

A poster called the player below average..

I am saying, our CBs are not clearly better than him.

tbaba1234:


I am not rubbishing our players. Someone called the boy, below average. I am simply saying, he can compete with what we have on ground.

No o Uduokhai is good and definitely he would add more quality to the team.

tbaba1234:


Where did this conversation start from?

A poster called the player below average..

I am saying, our CBs are not clearly better than him.

Agreed is not average but our present CBs are better cos so far so good they are doing well in eagles colour.

Truth is even if we get Felix Uduokhai before Russia 2018, the only player that will be dropped for him is Omeruo.

Uduokhai won't and can't displace Balogun and Ekong. That won't happen now. Even Awaziem is a tough nut. But I will pick Uduokhai over Omeruo right now based on quality alone.

And yes, we know who is who is the GWG... Right now without a doubt, in Ekong and Balogun we have two of Africa's Best CBs that can be classed in the Top 10 in Africa. And in Awaziem, we have one of Africa's brightest young CBs and a player with world class potential in his position.

These three are the Super Eagles Top three choices and best right now at CB. Omeruo is still decent but not top quality. He is also error-prone. He showed potentials back then but has not progressed ever since so we have just Balogun, Ekong, and Awaziem for now as our top 3.


I think this is where Uduokhai can fancy his chances with our team. To provide another quality option in defence at CB.

Kog45:
No he his rubbishing them,pls when chips are down we know who is who in eagles oh,forget all these regular in Bundesliga, Uduokhai would work harder to displace Balogun, Ekong, Awaziem even Omeruo,they may be warming bench or not regular.

tbaba1234:


Uduokhai is a world class prospect and will improve the Nigerian team. He can potentially even be a starter.

world class prospect? Don't u think u might be Jordon Hybing a bit

Kog45:
Agreed is not average but our present CBs are better cos so far so good they are doing well in eagles colour.

For now and the future, he could be an asset.

BascoVanVeli:



world class prospect? Don't u think u might be Jordon Hybing a bit

That is what i believe. Maybe until he signs for a major club, it will become clear to people.

TheSuperNerd:
Truth is even if we get Felix Uduokhai before Russia 2018, the only player that will be dropped for him is Omeruo.

Uduokhai won't and can't displace Balogun and Ekong. That won't happen now. Even Awaziem is a tough nut. But I will pick Uduokhai over Omeruo right now based on quality alone.

And yes, we know who is who is the GWG... Right now without a doubt, in Ekong and Balogun we have two of Africa's Best CBs that can be classed in the Top 10 in Africa. And in Awaziem, we have one of Africa's brightest young CBs and a player with world class potential in his position.

These three are the Super Eagles Top three choices and best right now at CB. Omeruo is still decent but not top quality. He is also error-prone. He showed potentials back then but has not progressed ever since so we have just Balogun, Ekong, and Awaziem for now as our top 3.


I think this is where Uduokhai can fancy his chances with our team. To provide another quality option in defence at CB.

Good point but i don't think there is need talking on a German who is not yet ready to play for us.I don't want Tammy Abraham heart break again.

tbaba1234:


That is what i believe. Maybe until he signs for a major club, it will become clear to people.

u don't have to be world class to be signed by a major club. I don't think there is such thing as a world class prospect, that was more where I was getting at.

Kog45:
Good point but i don't think there is need talking on a German who is not yet ready to play for us.I don't want Tammy Abraham heart break again.

As long as, he is respectful. There is no big deal if he chooses Germany.

NFF spooked the English FA on Tammy. Germany on the other hand can have 4 full teams at the moment. They would mind less losing Uduokhai.

BascoVanVeli:


u don't have to be world class to be signed by a major club. I don't think there is such thing as a world class prospect, that was more where I was getting at.

I define a world class prospect as a player who can become world class if they keep improving and are properly managed.

Essentially, a top prospect.

Kog45:
Good point but i don't think there is need talking on a German who is not yet ready to play for us. I don't want Tammy Abraham heart break again.

Now I understand what you are trying to avoid with Uduokhai....

Elder Sir Kog45 is still feeling the hurt of Tammy's rejection... Dont worry Sir, another "girl" will come along. And "she" will be much better and more beautiful than Tammy.....

Cheer up Sir....