Subzero047:


Etebo played like a warrior last match

Getafe play Agbero football and it suits his playing style

Joebie:
Do Nigeria need to fight England for Arsenal sensation Bukayo Saka?


SOLACE CHUKWU
Correspondent
23 hours ago

The teenager has been a revelation for the Gunners, and his performances have predictably sparked a conversation about his international future
Article continues below

By no means is Alexandre Lacazette the absolute authority on the pedigree of young players in the Premier League.

However, his glowing praise of youngster Bukayo Saka – he referred to the 18-year-old as the best young player in the English top flight – did not ring hollow at all. While it can be disputed, it is not preposterous.

The winger has shone in his repurposing as a marauding left-back, and has assisted more goals than any other player in the Arsenal squad so far this season. Put simply, while this has been an underwhelming campaign for the Gunners, it could have been so much worse without their new wing wizard.

England's left-back options all have question marks over them: Ben Chilwell has struggled to find his best form since December, the utility of Danny Rose's move to Newcastle United remains to be seen, Luke Shaw has only just begun to look serviceable as the left-sided centre-back in a back three at Manchester United, and Ashley Young is a little long in the tooth just now.

Tough luck for Nigeria then, who would have been hoping to snag another gem of the British production line undetected. It now appears that, if the Nigeria Football Federation wish to have the West London-born Saka turn out for the Super Eagles, it will come down to a protracted battle.

Herein lies a paradox: the very performances that have made him worth pursuing for Nigeria are also making him less attainable. With each passing game, it will only get more onerous.

So much so, in fact, that it is worth considering: does Nigeria actually need to be involved in this tussle at all?

The first layer of difficulty is the fact that Saka has played for England up to U-19 level, and so would require more than a little paperwork to switch his international allegiance.

This is even presupposing his amenability to the idea; he has been keen to embrace his Nigerian heritage at every opportunity, but that is not to say he would be willing to lay down all the perks that come with being a full England international. It is not a coincidence that, within weeks of committing to the Three Lions, both Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham inked new contracts at Chelsea. As it happens, Saka is presently in contract talks with Arsenal.

However, there is a more fundamental concern: do Nigeria actually need him?

It may seem preposterous to suggest, but there is a case to be made he is not exactly essential, especially in his current guise. There is no denying his profile is attractive – he is unnervingly calm in possession, has courage, and possesses a telling final ball.

That said, the recent comments credited to Arsenal's head of youth development Marcel Lucassen – he referred to Saka as having "the potential to become one of the best three wing-backs in the world" – revealed the perception and expectation of him at the club. Far from being a short-term fix, his deployment at left-back might very well be permanent.

No disrespect at all to the position – full-backs are of the utmost importance in modern football – but do the Super Eagles have a pressing need in that area?

Consider this: his peculiar deployment within Mikel Arteta's system at Arsenal liberates him to be a force in the final third, with Granit Xhaka filling in for him further back.

It is not the sort of tactical adaptation that would be made for him at international level for Nigeria, where there's already a functioning system in place and he would be required to sink or swim—hardly ideal conditions for a teenager.

There is of course the option of simply utilizing him further forward for Nigeria, in a role the player himself has stated a preference for.

This is hardly unusual: in recent times, the likes of Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel have been pressed into service for the national team in roles that were different from those they played at club level.

Both, unsurprisingly, relished their heightened prominence in the final third when in green and white.

The results have been decidedly mixed though, which will come as a surprise to no one. The more time a player spends in one role at club level, the less suited he becomes to another, even while retaining a basic level of competence still.

As such, getting Saka and fielding him further afield would arguably not be the best use of his skillset, especially if he continues on the path to fulfilling Lucassen's prophecy

While there can be no denying Saka is a marvellous talent either England or Nigeria would be glad to have, it remains unclear at this time just how best that ability can be harnessed on the international stage.

—goal

BascoVanVeli:



see I blame Etebo for your last statement. Anybody who goes to Stoke after performing like he did in la Liga deserves even worse

Subzero047:
4th start, 4th clean sheet for Leon Balogun

Wigan has also climbed out of the relegation zone

jihday:
Seems Rhor really likes Imama

tbaba1234:


Imama is a trained coach. At least, he knows what it entails.

Odunayaw:
The Flamingoes did well at Conakry today.
Defeated Guinea 6-1 away!

elyte89:
https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/nigerian-descent-ikpeazu-representing-uganda-was-always-my/1ujd8d2la0txc1uiu875znyj1n

jihday:
Seems Rhor really likes Imama

Humility017:


On a normal day it seems yobo is not serious
He does not know what he is supposed to do....
A reasonable employee will seek instructions, put a call across to his superior asking him what is expected of him as the qualifier approaches if there is any task to be delegated ?

The green horn coach is expecting Rohr to call him first

I have said it before...the appointment of this yobo was a square peg in a round hole

Joebie:
Do Nigeria need to fight England for Arsenal sensation Bukayo Saka?


SOLACE CHUKWU
Correspondent
23 hours ago

The teenager has been a revelation for the Gunners, and his performances have predictably sparked a conversation about his international future
Article continues below

By no means is Alexandre Lacazette the absolute authority on the pedigree of young players in the Premier League.

However, his glowing praise of youngster Bukayo Saka – he referred to the 18-year-old as the best young player in the English top flight – did not ring hollow at all. While it can be disputed, it is not preposterous.

The winger has shone in his repurposing as a marauding left-back, and has assisted more goals than any other player in the Arsenal squad so far this season. Put simply, while this has been an underwhelming campaign for the Gunners, it could have been so much worse without their new wing wizard.

England's left-back options all have question marks over them: Ben Chilwell has struggled to find his best form since December, the utility of Danny Rose's move to Newcastle United remains to be seen, Luke Shaw has only just begun to look serviceable as the left-sided centre-back in a back three at Manchester United, and Ashley Young is a little long in the tooth just now.

Tough luck for Nigeria then, who would have been hoping to snag another gem of the British production line undetected. It now appears that, if the Nigeria Football Federation wish to have the West London-born Saka turn out for the Super Eagles, it will come down to a protracted battle.

Herein lies a paradox: the very performances that have made him worth pursuing for Nigeria are also making him less attainable. With each passing game, it will only get more onerous.

So much so, in fact, that it is worth considering: does Nigeria actually need to be involved in this tussle at all?

The first layer of difficulty is the fact that Saka has played for England up to U-19 level, and so would require more than a little paperwork to switch his international allegiance.

This is even presupposing his amenability to the idea; he has been keen to embrace his Nigerian heritage at every opportunity, but that is not to say he would be willing to lay down all the perks that come with being a full England international. It is not a coincidence that, within weeks of committing to the Three Lions, both Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham inked new contracts at Chelsea. As it happens, Saka is presently in contract talks with Arsenal.

However, there is a more fundamental concern: do Nigeria actually need him?

It may seem preposterous to suggest, but there is a case to be made he is not exactly essential, especially in his current guise. There is no denying his profile is attractive – he is unnervingly calm in possession, has courage, and possesses a telling final ball.

That said, the recent comments credited to Arsenal's head of youth development Marcel Lucassen – he referred to Saka as having "the potential to become one of the best three wing-backs in the world" – revealed the perception and expectation of him at the club. Far from being a short-term fix, his deployment at left-back might very well be permanent.

No disrespect at all to the position – full-backs are of the utmost importance in modern football – but do the Super Eagles have a pressing need in that area?

Consider this: his peculiar deployment within Mikel Arteta's system at Arsenal liberates him to be a force in the final third, with Granit Xhaka filling in for him further back.

It is not the sort of tactical adaptation that would be made for him at international level for Nigeria, where there's already a functioning system in place and he would be required to sink or swim—hardly ideal conditions for a teenager.

There is of course the option of simply utilizing him further forward for Nigeria, in a role the player himself has stated a preference for.

This is hardly unusual: in recent times, the likes of Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel have been pressed into service for the national team in roles that were different from those they played at club level.

Both, unsurprisingly, relished their heightened prominence in the final third when in green and white.

The results have been decidedly mixed though, which will come as a surprise to no one. The more time a player spends in one role at club level, the less suited he becomes to another, even while retaining a basic level of competence still.

As such, getting Saka and fielding him further afield would arguably not be the best use of his skillset, especially if he continues on the path to fulfilling Lucassen's prophecy

While there can be no denying Saka is a marvellous talent either England or Nigeria would be glad to have, it remains unclear at this time just how best that ability can be harnessed on the international stage.

—goal

etebefia:
Nigeria certainly need Saka, forget this article, anybody can argue his opinion. The lad is in contract talks now and believe me once he extends his contract he will pledge allegiance to Nigeria.

AndSunGorilla:


Great news, needed competition for Akpeyi in keeping clean sheets.

LaMujer:

LaMujer:

Arabiandude:

If he is destined to bring glory to the country, beg him

BascoVanVeli:
Orji Okonkwo with an assist

andrewbaba44:


What glory ?

So a full country should beg one small boy ?

Humility017:


How did you know.that the guy is training very hard

I understand that you have a soft spot for the guy....but you see there is little you can do for an unserious player...
He needs to advise himself if really wanna make it big as a 10

Blueelf:


We don't badly need anybody. I will take a loyal player with half his abilities than a player with no loyalty in him.

Nigeria will not self-destruct if they don't play for us

safarigirl:
just imagine

So, all the other twenty-three players we invited are not destined to bring glory to the country, it is one chunkuli baby wey dem dey push comot from ball, that will bring this glory

Somebody who is destined to bring glory to the country, will not be begged to fulfill his destiny. It is people like Dessers that have such destiny, some other people are just destined to be bit players for England, and that is fine.

Danielnino00:


Aina isn't a makeshift left back... What are u even saying ?
Was the left back role not the first role he was given when he joined the team ? Did he impress there? No! He was rightly dropped from the world cup squad for a washed up Echijele..now he has gotten another chance and is performing well there. . Why can't u give Collins time too? How long has he even been in the team? How many times has he cost us a game ?

Collins came back from injury at the AFCON and immediately assumed Aina's role in the team,and u say Rohr doesn't rate him? Rohr didn't even bother to give Aina the RB role. He left Awazeim there...

Collins still own the left back role until Rohr decides not to play him there again!