Jack Ross has admitted that he could be powerless to prevent star striker Josh Maja leaving Sunderland, should a large enough bid come in. Maja has been linked with Premier League trio Manchester City, Tottenham and Everton in recent weeks, with several clubs believed to be scouting the 19-year-old.

Talks are ongoing over a new deal at the Stadium of Light, with the Black Cats keen to tie down their top scorer to an improved contract. The youngster has been a revelation as Sunderland push for promotion from the third tier, netting 11 times in all competitions this season. And while Ross remains confident that he will remain on Wearside, he has confessed that the striker's future could be taken out of his hands should a large enough offer come in.

"I still believe he (Maja) will be at the club beyond his current contract," said Ross. "Obviously there will be certain elements that are out of my control." "If there was an offer that came that the club believed they couldn't turn down, it's very different. "At the moment, the conversations I've had with Josh, I know he's happy, enjoys it, I think he believes it's an environment where he can improve.

"I would still be confident that he'll remain at the club but there will always be other factors and things that I can't control." Speculation regarding Maja's future has ramped up in the past week, with Championship pair Middlesbrough and Bristol City also thought to be casting an eye over the youngster.

But Ross is refusing to be thrown off by the transfer talk, insisting it is part and parcel of working in football. "I think part of it is what happens in modern football. When players do well, naturally they become subject to speculation. League One and Two transfer LIVE: Everton join race for Sunderland striker while Hibernian eye swoop for Gillingham favourite "There're are probably parts of that speculation that are accurate and parts of that speculation which are inaccurate, it just goes with the territory."

Read more at: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/jack-ross-admits-sunderland-may-lose-josh-maja-to-big-money-bid-as-manchester-city-and-spurs-eye-striker-1-9458312

safarigirl:


The league is a joke. Both NPFL and NNL are all jokes, and it is hard to take anybody who plays in a joke of a league seriously.


Besides, aside Keshi, Rohr is one coach that has given a lot of home based players opportunities. It is not his fault that they run off to the abroad the second they get the chance to. If the league was so great, the players would not be running off to foreign lands, I mean, look at Lokosa and all his failed moves. Nobody playing in a decent league with decent players will feel the need to find greener pastures. Let the players in the league respect the league first, then the National coaches will respect it.

The distrust is widespread. Even employers tend to hire those who graduate from foreign universities before they hire those who graduate from Nigerian universities these days.

lol u say u would find it hard to take anyone playing in the league seriously yet you are amazed when players decide to go abroad.
Are we not talking about Nigeria again? Just about everybody feels the need to find greener pastures, that was why everyone and their mothers played the American lottery at some point. Doctors want to leave, lawyers want to leave, even the president wants to leave sef

Rohr has not given the home based any REAL opportunities. If I were an agent, my player won't honor that nonsense, it is embarrassing that they get treated like orphans in the national team. He doesn't even let them scrimmage with the team most times, they just end up training with the keepers.

You can play a bench warming Leon Balogun and even beg Victor Moses to leave his couch at home and come back to the starting XI but u are telling me u won't give an home based boy a chance because it might change his life for the better, I am sorry but that is total crap on Rohr's part. These players go through hell but still put up performances week in week out. Don't blame them because the same people u wanted to be in office have fvcked them over big time. Players can't get sponsorships and tv deals, all they can do is work with what is on ground.

BascoVanVeli:


Once his father said he would play for Nigeria (Which I saw myself on Naija Made) his club stopped playing him. Now how can a guy with over 100 apps in the championship suddenly forget how to play football? Forget sentiments, I don't care if he spit on the FA boss, all I care about is that he is ready to play for Nigeria, the past is the past.

And you believe that his club stopped playing him because of what his dad said? Ridiculous!
But komekn gave another reason.

fabyom:
And you believe that his club stopped playing him because of what his dad said? Ridiculous!
But komekn gave another reason.

I wasn't agreeing or disagreeing with anybody. I am just telling what I know. The father is the agent and we have seen players get hidden under benches for what their agents have said in the press. My main point is that if the boy starts playing he will be a great option to have given the experience he already has at a young age.

BascoVanVeli:



I wasn't agreeing or disagreeing with anybody. I am just telling what I know. The father is the agent and we have seen players get hidden under benches for what their agents have said in the press. My main point is that if the boy starts playing he will be a great option to have given the experience he already has at a young age.

The problem here is because Komekn called his name then he has to be a poor player, many of the people commenting that he should not be invited have never even watched him before. I mean someone that has watched Iorfa before will wake up and say that Ajayi is better than a prime Iorfa? Seriously it is a joke.

BascoVanVeli:


lol u say u would find it hard to take anyone playing in the league seriously yet you are amazed when players decide to go abroad.
Are we not talking about Nigeria again? Just about everybody feels the need to find greener pastures, that was why everyone and their mothers played the American lottery at some point. Doctors want to leave, lawyers want to leave, even the president wants to leave sef

Rohr has not given the home based any REAL opportunities. If I were an agent, my player won't honor that nonsense, it is embarrassing that they get treated like orphans in the national team. He doesn't even let them scrimmage with the team most times, they just end up training with the keepers.

You can play a bench warming Leon Balogun and even beg Victor Moses to leave his couch at home and come back to the starting XI but u are telling me u won't give an home based boy a chance because it might change his life for the better, I am sorry but that is total crap on Rohr's part. These players go through hell but still put up performances week in week out. Don't blame them because the same people u wanted to be in office have fvcked them over big time. Players can't get sponsorships and tv deals, all they can do is work with what is on ground.

it is the useless agents throwing their players in Rohr's face to begin with. Once they get small exposure in the National team, the next thing is to start hustling a move to some backwater league, most times, without permission from their clubs in Nigeria.

If that is not the height of indiscipline, I don't know what is. People who can make moves behind the backs of their employers should not be given any opportunities, especially when they are basically unproven.


What are you talking about Balogun and Moses? These two people were given chances when they were doing well and they proved their mettle, just because they have deteriorated with AGE doesn't make them trash, neither does it automatically make those in NPFL better. It is sad that you are comparing a 29-year old man to defenders who ought to be younger if Rohr is to use them, or are you telling us something about the young NPFL players?

Decent players in the NPFL come once in a blue moon, plus, they are like men suffering from premature ejaculation. They shine for a couple of months and fizzle out, case in point, everybody Keshi called up. They didn't even last one year after the world cup.... You cannot then expect Rohr, who is trying to BUILD a team for 2022, to start hustling players that cannot last past one year.

And before you talk about the injustice to NPFL, let us remember that there are many other foreign born players who have been overlooked by Rohr over the years, so, let us not play victim for nothing.

If somebody is good, the coach will call you up. It is a defeatist mentality to keep blaming others for someone's shortcomings.

Iwobi costs his team a goal

Iwobi's stupidity just led to Arsenal conceding a goal. Great counter by Bournemouth.

Pray for Iwobi and the social media Hawks will come for his head. He was supposed to score that.

Bolowolowo:
Pray for Iwobi and the social media Hawks will come for his head. He was supposed to score that.

Just when the guy was starting to build confidence

Mickael2:



The problem here is because Komekn called his name then he has to be a poor player, many of the people commenting that he should not be invited have never even watched him before. I mean someone that has watched Iorfa before will wake up and say that Ajayi is better than a prime Iorfa? Seriously it is a joke.

Many have watched him play and that was why we all clamoured for his invitation back then when we are having issues with our defense. His father responded like God as if he knows tommorow. As at this moment Ajayi is better.

Bolowolowo:
Pray for Iwobi and the social media Hawks will come for his head. He was supposed to score that.

Mistakes lead to goals. No mistakes, no discoveries. He is not new to been bash. He will get over it in no time

And you say we should take the Nigerian league serious?

NNL insist on 8 Teams to be promoted to NPFL.

Nigeria National League Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held at the Nera Hotel, Abuja on Saturday night and ended with a consensus that proposed the 8 teams which qualified for the NNL Super 8 are promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The NNL Executive Body also agreed to cancel the 2018 Super 8 competition which was usually the way to determine teams that get promoted to the NPFL.

Read Full Story at:

http://www.diegwusports.com/2018/11/25/nnl-insists-on-8-teams-getting-promoted-to-npfl/

Iwobi just created 2nd goal

fabyom:
Mistakes lead to goals. No mistakes, no discoveries. He is not new to been bash. He will get over it in no time

One simple qstn u shud av asked him is "is the boy having a bad game?"

BascoVanVeli:


Once his father said he would play for Nigeria (Which I saw myself on Naija Made) his club stopped playing him. Now how can a guy with over 100 apps in the championship suddenly forget how to play football? Forget sentiments, I don't care if he spit on the FA boss, all I care about is that he is ready to play for Nigeria, the past is the past.

So you're saying we should drop who for him? Balogun? Omeruo? Ajayi?

Just who can that perennial bench warmer displace in the SE?

I just tire for the way Arsenal play. Win or no win, this is a horrible performance

Bolowolowo:
I just tire for the way Arsenal play. Win or no win, this is a horrible performance

The 3-4-3 is a huge problem

Arsenal can't play with only 2 midfielders

BascoVanVeli:


The national team is for all Nigerian footballers. It is easy to say all this now but just remember that Musa, Etebo and Shehu are the players they are because the national team gave them the chance while they were in the league. You cannot have your cake and eat it too, Ekong was a nobody when he came into the SE and look at him now. If he can go from Norway to Italy while on the SE why can't a player based in Nigeria make the same leap.

As u have noticed I have not clamored for a single player in a while and that is because the league is off but the fact is football is about form and when the league starts there will be players who's form deserve a shot a the NT. Brazil have players in the best leagues but if a young Brazilian starts showing class in their league the coach will call him up. Honestly I just don't like the way Rohr put his answer because that was very disrespectful to the young men plying their trade at home. The biggest issue is that these guys get zero respect in Nigeria. I have been at their trainings and the way Rohr treats the homeboys is disgraceful, no difference between them and the ball, pure training material.

Agreed

BascoVanVeli:


So because a player is in the national team he should lack ambition? Why didn't Ekong stay in Gent or Norway. The national team makes it easier to sell every player. That is why scout show up at matches so is this really news? The coach should stop being lazy and search for players. Just like he said Nosa was the best Nigerian player in Israel so he didn't need John Ogu now all of a sudden he can't drop him. I rather he say the competition isn't good enough than to come up with this mess because it just doesn't add up. Who in the Super Eagles won't want to go to a better club?

lemme breakdown d comment make by rohr so all of us are on same page.
Today he invites what he believes to be d best 23 players to rep naija.
5 from npfl(local league)
18.from europe.
Everyone is happy...

Before d next FIFA intl window.2 of d 5from npfl have joined European teams and now he invites DAT same group...but now you have
3 from npfl
Nd 20from Europe...

Ppl begin to cry foul DAT he is reducing d slots for npfl...DAT he isn't giving d npfl professionals an avenue to showcase themselves...dats his point nd I agree with him 100%....he was not employed to develop grassroot football..he was employed to manage d national team...so as long as we are getting results nd d players with the best legs nd attitude.DAT fits his own philosophy are being called...all is right with d world Bro.

wayodude:


Nah bro I back @komekn on this one. The broad question being posed here is regarding consistency in selection criteria. The players being discussed should be seen as mere examples in trying to explain the case. Why did a player perform at a certain level for a long period of time and was ignored and then a different player performs at a similar level for a shorter spell and he is called up? That's the question being asked

Now we are coming to the crux of the matter.

The SE is currently crying put for an attacking midfielder as well as in form strikers.

How many competitive games have the 19 years old Eze and Maja played. How many seasons of first team football have they played.

Have they been exceptional in thier clubs and league are they the stand out players. Why are they being courted by a number of EPL clubs ❓

Ademola Lookman and Dele Alli left League one straight to the EPL and stood out. So forget the league. The issue is stand out top performances.

One player has not played a whole season of competitive first team football and after two games is in the SE.

What do you call that, Fair- play and a balanced measurement of quality.

Icon4s:


Has Dominic Iorfa jnr now agreed to play for Nigeria?

You should know by now I'm not talking paper talk.

That commitment was made well before the summer of 2017 and Rohr had a personal meeting with him. But feelers had been given unofficially in 2016.

komekn:


I am automatically indignant when , FAIR-PLAY, TRANSPARENCY, OBJECTIVITY and a MERIT are put aside against FAVOURITISM and SUBJECTIVE PRESUMPTION.

What makes a player quality is consistency of top quality and or continuous above average performances and that component consistency, is intrinsically linked to time, you can not have one without the other.

Ajayi is 25, from the 2012 /2013 season until 2015 he never kicked a ball in senior first team league football that is near three years. He never played one game for Arsenal, Charlton or Cardiff, his first professional league game came at AFC Wimbledon in the 2015/16 in league two. However, despite not playing any first team football he was in the U20 Nigerian team in 2013. In 2016/17 he made it to the Championship with Rotherham playing about 17 games. 2017/18 they were relegated and Ajayi played that season in League one. Bring things up to date they got promoted and he is in the Championship 2018/19, he got MOTM award against Stoke, he is improving at 25 he is like many other players a late developer. How far can he go , time will tell.

Dominic Iorfa is 23, started playing as a teenager in 2013/14 season on loan to Shrewsbury in League one. From 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 he played near 100 games for wolves , winning best young player, MOTM. Playing for England youth teams and invited to train with the first team of England. He was an established player in Wolves numerous offers from EPL sides rejected in now we know misplaced loyalty.

Before the summer of 2017 he made clear commitment to the SE he even had a positive meeting with Rohr to this effect, he was at his peak, everything was going well. He was waiting for the official call up that never materialised to date.

2017 Super Agent Mendes had taken control by proxy resulting in a FA probe that couldnt meet the burden of legal proof to make a substansive case against Wolves and Mendes, but its an open secret - https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11699/11561273/wolves-boss-nuno-espirito-santo-brushes-off-football-leaks-claims-about-jorge-mendes-relationship

He brought in a new manager Nuno Santos, and he systematically began to dispose of players not within the business model. Wolves currently has more Portuguese players than Benfica and Porto. That should tell you something. Dominic arrived 2017//18 before he had kicked a ball he was frozen out no explanation. Very hurriedly had to find another club hence Ipswich Town, early 2018 he got injured so for the 2017/18 season he played about 24 games.

2018/19, things have gone so bad in a totally unprecedented move never seen before unflavoured first team players were not allowed to train with the first or the U23. However, Dominic has now been allowed back in but only with the U23.

Strikers can have dry patches and are deemed to loose form. However, defenders are not prone to loosing form so dramatically. You cant have played football as defender played consistently at a top performing and with continuous improvement then all of a sudden you are bad or not good enough. This is not a football decision but one based on the politics of football business.

Sakho was left out of the Liverpool Squad after disputes with Klopp and didn't play for quite a few months before he went to Palace and immediately changed their season. His pedigree didn't change or quality drop just the opportunity to play at Liverpool. I see similarities with Iorfa that is not a double standard.

Now the question is double standard and hypocrisy.

Ajayi has played 35 games in the championship over two seasons not consecutive and is two years older largely been anonymous compared to Dominic who has played 110 games in the Championship over four consecutive seasons that is long term top level consistency. Consistency that has seen him playing for England at all youth levels.

So who is better , on paper and statistically there is no debateBut that's not the most pertinent question in reality, but rather why is one been DENIED OPPORTUNITY and who is more DESERVING of OPPORTUNITY We will not know how good he is until he is given OPPORTUNITY, competition creates quality it doesn't diminish it. I remember Danny Shittu blatantly denied opportunity at Bolton for two seasons , leaves and was voted best Defender in the Championship he was also exceptional for Nigeria.

Now you should look in the mirror, the finger you pointed has many more fingers pointing back at you, one of them is called bigotry.


Dont presume to know what any man is thinking it is birthed out of conceit. This talk about Iorfa started well before anybody knew the name Ajayi. It started in comparison to the German trio of defenders not interested in playing for Nigeria but Rohr still keeps requesting for. At the same time as ignoring Dominic.

is it not d same iorfa ...that wanted some more time before deciding his Intl future.?...its not like he was available and wasn't picked na...
Dude was balling but saying he wanted to be 21 or so before deciding...now he is no longer as gud as he was so even if he decides for naija today...we most likely will pick d player DAT is in red hot form..
I get am b4 no b property bros

jihday:
Oga forget all this your long story, bottom line is tell your boy to sort out his club form/future first Semilogo Ajayi has been very active and key for his club this season so his call to the super eagles is justified without any doubt. and please quit this mendes this Mendes that, if your boy is good enough he'll force the coach hands, do you want to tell me all the players on the books of wolves are contracted under agent Mendes? besides why did Ipswich not make his loan deal permanent or extend the loan for another season? abeg go help am sort his club status first before thinking of the super eagles

mendes go spoil Ipswich management mind against Dominic maybe

Icon4s:


Look at even the arrogance. "As long as I am alive my son MUST play for Nigeria".

When his son was initially invited what did Iorfa Snr. say?

Bros I hope this boy's case won't end up like Nedum Onuoha's case.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in Semi Ajayi's invitation.

So as to not mislead the discourse.

Can you state when his Dad made that to the NFF and at what time the NFF contacted him.

I will add context. If you are an England youth international. You do not just change your position there will be political Maradona going on.

You bid your time, you sort out your long term club contract then you make your commitment. You should understand how these things work with regards to players contracts.

Watching the European Nations league, I am forced to ask, is Europe really that better than Africa?

See pitches from Andorra to Kosovo, Serbia, Marcedonia, Bosnia etc

That Seychelles pitch we played in, is a paradise to what Andorra presented as they played host to Latvia

Mickael2:



The problem here is because Komekn called his name then he has to be a poor player, many of the people commenting that he should not be invited have never even watched him before. I mean someone that has watched Iorfa before will wake up and say that Ajayi is better than a prime Iorfa? Seriously it is a joke.

Prime...DAT statement is key...d SE is not a gestational pod...when he hits gud form again m sure he will b considered..

komekn:


Now we are coming to the crux of the matter.

The SE is currently crying put for an attacking midfielder as well as in form strikers.

How many competitive games have the 19 years old Eze and Maja played. How many seasons of first team football have they played.

Have they been exceptional in thier clubs and league are they the stand out players. Why are they being courted by a number of EPL clubs ❓

Ademola Lookman and Dele Alli left League one straight to the EPL and stood out. So forget the league. The issue is stand out top performances.

One player has not played a whole season of competitive first team football and after two games is in the SE.

What do you call that, Fair- play and a balanced measurement of quality.

For me it's too big a gamble calling up players from league one no matter how well they perform at the level. Everyone has a view though.

ChrisKels:
Watching the European Nations league, I am forced to ask, is Europe really that better than Africa?

See pitches from Andorra to Kosovo, Serbia, Marcedonia, Bosnia etc

That Seychelles pitch we played in, is a paradise to what Andorra presented as they played host to Latvia

spot on bro. Was just about to say this. I think some of those eastern European countries are not so bouyant as some African countries. Limited resources with no Economic and Military might to exploit Africans like the Western counterparts.

jihday:
Oga forget all this your long story, bottom line is tell your boy to sort out his club form/future first Semilogo Ajayi has been very active and key for his club this season so his call to the super eagles is justified without any doubt. and please quit this mendes this Mendes that, if your boy is good enough he'll force the coach hands, do you want to tell me all the players on the books of wolves are contracted under agent Mendes? be[b]sides why did Ipswich not make his loan deal permanent or extend the loan for another season? abeg go help am sort his club status first before thinking of the super eagles [/b]

I don’t think Ipswich could afford him in the first place and Dominic expected to be allowed to fight for a place. Dominic is contracted until 2019 to Wolves.

The issue is not centred on Ajayi but double standard by the NFF. So don't muddy the waters keep to the issue of dispute not Personalities.

Consistent firm over four seasons of first team football is not hype or a marketing gimmick. It's proven fact.

That's why after not playing 1st team football for 4/5 months. Sacko could go to Crystal Palace and turn thier season around from the first game. Because he leverage himself not just on one or two seasons but over 9 seasons of consistent top level performances.

Humility017:


are you agent to Dominic llorfa?
because just don't understand....you rarely market exceptional players save for the likes of solanke, llorfa , and onyedinma.
this are players not even good enough for the super eagles under 23 team let alone the super eagles....
please relax..

I am not thier agents and l can not market them and in any case certainly not here there is absolutely no point.

In January 2019 all things being equal Dominic Iorfa will be in another club.

Could be an EPL club so what will you say then ❓

Can you tell the exceptional players you are talking about ❓ so we can understand what you mean by exceptional.

wayodude:


For me it's too big a gamble calling up players from league one no matter how well they perform at the level. Everyone has a view though.

I agree with you.

Let the player prove himself on a higher level.