No one seems to be talking about Wilfred Ndidi

GM K

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Wilfred Ndidi.


Am I the only one who thinks this young lad is on his way to becoming a super player? He's not going about it like one of those obviously immensely talented young lads out there but like one of those payers who suddenly emerge as outstanding one day and you are wondering how come he wasn't getting all the attention before.

I will happily have this guy at United in place of Fellaini and as a squad player. He is energetic, comfortable on the ball (he started out as a striker), has some long distance rockets in his boots (strikes frequently from distance and once scored a screamer from long range that was voted the goal of the season in Belgium), plays in midfield but can also play across the back line, he's tall and good in the air, he's a great ball winner, he has very decent passing ability and he's younger than Kane, Alli and Sane (so he has a long career ahead of him).
 

Rozay

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I really, really like him. Partly because he's a fellow Nigerian, (and an eligible talent who actually opted to play for us, unlike Alli) and largely because he's a top talent.

Very Vieira like in the middle and could go very far.
 

KM

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Don't make a thread in transfer forum without any news report linking him with a transfer move please. Player discussion threads belong in football forum.
 

GM K

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Don't make a thread in transfer forum without any news report linking him with a transfer move please. Player discussion threads belong in football forum.
Okay. Thanks.

How can I close this?
 

sincher

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Would be great for us alongside the Pog for years to come.
 

AltiUn

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I really, really like him. Partly because he's a fellow Nigerian, (and an eligible talent who actually opted to play for us, unlike Alli) and largely because he's a top talent.

Very Vieira like in the middle and could go very far.
To be fair Alli not playing for Nigeria is completely understandable.
 

Rozay

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To be fair Alli not playing for Nigeria is completely understandable.
Not saying it isn't tbh. Just saying that in terms of an eligible talent pool, we often don't get access to all, or the best, when there is another option. Leaves you wondering what might have been.

Players like Jordan Ibe, Agbonlahor, Carlton Cole and others all opted for England but were never really respected by them. Most players will get a cap or two and spend most of their career in international wilderness. People like Shola Ameobi turned his back on Nigeria for his whole career, and decided to represent us and get a World Cup under his belt. We should have never taken him in tbh.

New generation like Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi have opted for Nigeria, and they will be better for it. They will likely retire with two or three World Cups under their belt and be revered for years afterwards too.

I can also understand if you are British born and have no connection with Nigeria at all. I myself am British born and raised, but I identify myself with Nigeria first and foremost. Alli is a bit balanced though. He lived in Nigeria for years so isn't just some British kid with no connection. I guess if you are as good as him, you will probably make the same choice, as the profile is much bigger for England internationals. But I think it's only worth it if you are a 50+ England cap level player.
 

DellaNe

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He just moved to a new club in January. Everyone knows his quality. We were even linked with a move directly out of Belgium. He went to Leicester instead. Can't see him moving for another year
 

villain

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Not saying it isn't tbh. Just saying that in terms of an eligible talent pool, we often don't get access to all, or the best, when there is another option. Leaves you wondering what might have been.

Players like Jordan Ibe, Agbonlahor, Carlton Cole and others all opted for England but were never really respected by them. Most players will get a cap or two and spend most of their career in international wilderness. People like Shola Ameobi turned his back on Nigeria for his whole career, and decided to represent us and get a World Cup under his belt. We should have never taken him in tbh.

New generation like Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi have opted for Nigeria, and they will be better for it. They will likely retire with two or three World Cups under their belt and be revered for years afterwards too.

I can also understand if you are British born and have no connection with Nigeria at all. I myself am British born and raised, but I identify myself with Nigeria first and foremost. Alli is a bit balanced though. He lived in Nigeria for years so isn't just some British kid with no connection. I guess if you are as good as him, you will probably make the same choice, as the profile is much bigger for England internationals. But I think it's only worth it if you are a 50+ England cap level player.
I agree with this, I wish more players would opt for countries which are underrepresented internationally, especially the African ones. I was so pissed that Welbeck chose England over Ghana, I should have knew he had no loyalty then.
The Ghana team would have so many good players if they opted to play for Ghana instead of the country they currently represent like Balotelli, Jerome Boateng, Wjnaldum, Depay, Bellerabi, i'm probably missing a few too.
 

antohan

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I agree with this, I wish more players would opt for countries which are underrepresented internationally, especially the African ones. I was so pissed that Welbeck chose England over Ghana, I should have knew he had no loyalty then.
The Ghana team would have so many good players if they opted to play for Ghana instead of the country they currently represent like Balotelli, Jerome Boateng, Wjnaldum, Depay, Bellerabi, i'm probably missing a few too.
Other than loyalty and all that, there's the AFCON element. If you are even keel loyalty-wise that should tilt it career-wise. It's an arse really and surely must be a consideration for your potential employers.
 

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I agree with this, I wish more players would opt for countries which are underrepresented internationally, especially the African ones. I was so pissed that Welbeck chose England over Ghana, I should have knew he had no loyalty then.
The Ghana team would have so many good players if they opted to play for Ghana instead of the country they currently represent like Balotelli, Jerome Boateng, Wjnaldum, Depay, Bellerabi, i'm probably missing a few too.
To be fair, most of these players have minimal or unfavourable ties to Ghana. Welbeck as far as I know was England born and raised, I believe Balotelli was given away for adoption because his parents couldn't afford to take care of him, Boateng was Germany born and raised, Memphis didn't have a good relationship with his father who was the Ghanaian side of his family, etc. They have every right to choose the path they felt was best for them both personally and career-wise.

Wijnaldum has Surinamese heritage, and Bellarabi is of Moroccan descent.

That said, it does feel like West African countries get a lot less joy than North Africans in this area.
 

JustAFan

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I agree with this, I wish more players would opt for countries which are underrepresented internationally, especially the African ones. I was so pissed that Welbeck chose England over Ghana, I should have knew he had no loyalty then.
The Ghana team would have so many good players if they opted to play for Ghana instead of the country they currently represent like Balotelli, Jerome Boateng, Wjnaldum, Depay, Bellerabi, i'm probably missing a few too.
Wasn't he born in England?
 

villain

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Other than loyalty and all that, there's the AFCON element. If you are even keel loyalty-wise that should tilt it career-wise. It's an arse really and surely must be a consideration for your potential employers.
AFCON lasts 3/4 weeks assuming your country wins, 5 max if you train with your country before hand.
There's no Champions League games, usually there's a 4/5th round of the FA CUP & a League Cup quarter final or so, it's hardly crunch time of the season, and certainly shouldn't be used as a reason not to select a player who would be eligible for the AFCON. That's just a lazy excuse imo.

To be fair, most of these players have minimal or unfavourable ties to Ghana. Welbeck as far as I know was England born and raised, I believe Balotelli was given away for adoption because his parents couldn't afford to take care of him, Boateng was Germany born and raised, Memphis didn't have a good relationship with his father who was the Ghanaian side of his family, etc. They have every right to choose the path they felt was best for them both personally and career-wise.

Wijnaldum has Surinamese heritage, and Bellarabi is of Moroccan descent.

That said, it does feel like West African countries get a lot less joy than North Africans in this area.
Wasn't he born in England?
I only picked those players off the top of my head briefly, i'm sure there's others plus lots more for different countries too.
Welbeck I know for a fact is still very much in tune with his Ghanaian heritage - I know this through mutual family friends and such, just because he's born here doesn't take away that fact.

And I accept that they have the right to choose for who they wish to play for, just like I have the right to feel pissed because it comes at the expense of my country's development. Boateng, Balotelli, Desailly etc who had/have memorable international careers I can see why they did it. But the likes of Welbeck will just be another squad member to England, whereas he could've been a star for Ghana. I mean, we almost went to the Semi-Final of the WC with Asamoah Gyan as our main striker ffs. :lol:
 

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Welbeck and Gyan could have been a great partnership. :(
 

ghagua

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He has really impressed me atfer watching a few of his games. I think he would be an ideal partner for Pogba in the midfield.
 

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he's absolutely shite you really should be looking at someone much much better









:smirk:
 

VorZakone

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The few times I watched him I didn't think he was all that. I'll watch him more next season.
 

JustAFan

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Welbeck I know for a fact is still very much in tune with his Ghanaian heritage - I know this through mutual family friends and such, just because he's born here doesn't take away that fact.
But that does not make him disloyal, he can be proud of his heritage but still feel he is an Englishman, given he was born and raised in England. Does not really seem to be a choice he deserves to be insulted over.
 

Jimmy Skitz

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he is that good, had we had him the whole season we would have a lot more points, he is very Veira like in his play and has good passing range and a good shot on him with either foot.

Kante is so unique it's hard to compare anyone to him and no one plays the game the same way he does
 

villain

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But that does not make him disloyal, he can be proud of his heritage but still feel he is an Englishman, given he was born and raised in England. Does not really seem to be a choice he deserves to be insulted over.
Who was insulting him? :confused:
 

JustAFan

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Who was insulting him? :confused:
You think this is a complement?

. I was so pissed that Welbeck chose England over Ghana, I should have knew he had no loyalty then.
Sorry that only comes across as an insult. Calling someone disloyal for picking to play for the nation they were born and raised in. :houllier:
 

villain

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You think this is a complement?



Sorry that only comes across as an insult. Calling someone disloyal for picking to play for the nation they were born and raised in. :houllier:
It's tongue in cheek at best. Think you're reading too much into it.
 

DWelbz19

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Your post hardly reads tongue in cheek, to be fair.
 

villain

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yeah just a joke right.
The 'should've known he had no loyalty then' was just in reference to him also ditching United, hence it being tongue in cheek. And me being pissed was an overstatement.
I probably should've broken it down and made it clearer, but I didn't think anyone would read that much into it or would feel as though I was intentionally trying to insult Welbeck and his choices.
 

Gerald G

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He's only 20? I thought he was roughly 22 or 23. Looks a great talent then. One to watch.
 

DWelbz19

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He's only 20? I thought he was roughly 22 or 23. Looks a great talent then. One to watch.
Why would him being 2 years older not make him a talent and one not to watch?