Dominic Solanke wants to play for Nigeria

[danfo driver]

Both Akor and Orban are below his level.

I have not watched Akor, so cant speak for him. I do not believe Orban is below his level, and Orban is even younger.

Solanke has failed in every big club he has played for and there is a reason for that. He is going to be 27 in 2024. I suspect as a striker, he will be getting into his prime. if this present performance is his prime, then his downhill is going to be pretty low.

The key IMO is that he can play from wide and as support for Osimhen.

this is news to me. Considering at youth level, Chelsea had to play Abraham on the wings, because Solanke couldnt do it.

In the wide positions we only have two quality players- Samu and Lookman

Tella is also a wide player, dont you think so?


But you havent anwsered my question though, if you are taking 4 strikers, where are you cutting? The wings?

[danfo driver]

Does Solanke really fit that bill or is this another case of forcing strikers where they don't belong?

Solanke has never seen the wide space in his life.

[EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA]

Abeg move this thread to face to face mek we stop wasting time hia jare.

[txj]

He is performing better than Awoniyi for one...

I believe we have 2 or 3 spots in the squad. Now, he has to try to outperform Osimhen, Boniface, Sadiq, Moffi, Lookman, Akor Adams and Orban. That is 7 players (excluding Awoniyi).

His competition is Moffi for the 4th spot.
Lookman is a wide MF/FWD

Just to confirm your position, he has surpassed Akor Adams and Orban in the pecking order?

Also, we do not select 4 CFs in a squad of 23. If we do that, where would you cut to fit in the CFs?

Both Akor and Orban are below his level.

The key IMO is that he can play from wide and as support for Osimhen.

Both Boniface and Sadiq are best as lone strikers.

In the wide positions we only have two quality players- Samu and Lookman

Samu isn't even better than Simon. Bit I agree we can do with more wide quality players.

Does Solanke really fit that bill or is this another case of forcing strikers where they don't belong?

Everytime I’ve watched Solanke he plays as a CF, he’s in no way a wide player, where is this wide talk coming from?

https://www.transfermarkt.us/dominic-so ... ler/258889

Not sure who/what you are responding to!

He is NOT a wide player; but he can play from wide, if required, (and as support) in a two striker combo

[txj]

Does Solanke really fit that bill or is this another case of forcing strikers where they don't belong?

Solanke has never seen the wide space in his life.

Again, not true.

While he is NOT a wide player, he CAN and DOES play from wide for Bournemouth as the game occasionally requires...
He can also drop back into a quasi #10 role behind the main striker.
He has gradually developed an all-round game...

[TonyTheTigerKiller]

Considering the massive drop-off recently experienced by the SE, with Osimhen and Awoniyi injured, its clear that there is still a gulf in class between those 2 and the others that still needs to be filled.
There is nothing wrong with the young man throwing his hat into the ring The only issue is that, since he already played for the England youth teams and once for the 3 lions (even though a friendly game in 2017), his clearance wait time could be several months - unless he has commenced the switch.
The more quality strikers we have in our stables, the greater the competition which only bodes well for the SE.
Wish Dominic all the best!

The wonderful thing about opinions is that it is free… but in all honesty, I don’t see how anyone could make the claim that there’s a wide gulf between Awoniyi and Iheanacho in particular. Even though I, personally, would prefer to play Iheanacho in a supporting striker or attacking midfield role because of his numerous other attributes, as a pure striker, Iheanacho is better than Awoniyi, period


Cheers.

[danfo driver]

Does Solanke really fit that bill or is this another case of forcing strikers where they don't belong?

Solanke has never seen the wide space in his life.

Again, not true.

While he is NOT a wide player, he CAN and DOES play from wide for Bournemouth as the game occasionally requires...
He can also drop back into a quasi #10 role behind the main striker.
He has gradually developed an all-round game...

Would you consider him instead of Chuba Akpom, who seems to fit the description you have above?

[txj]

Does Solanke really fit that bill or is this another case of forcing strikers where they don't belong?

Solanke has never seen the wide space in his life.

Again, not true.

While he is NOT a wide player, he CAN and DOES play from wide for Bournemouth as the game occasionally requires...
He can also drop back into a quasi #10 role behind the main striker.
He has gradually developed an all-round game...

Would you consider him instead of Chuba Akpom, who seems to fit the description you have above?

Definitely yes! Ajax is in a bad place atm...
He will be a far better option in the role currently occupied by Kelechi...Covers more ground, more intelligent movement and support of main striker and comparable finishing, if not better...

[danfo driver]

Does Solanke really fit that bill or is this another case of forcing strikers where they don't belong?

Solanke has never seen the wide space in his life.

Again, not true.

While he is NOT a wide player, he CAN and DOES play from wide for Bournemouth as the game occasionally requires...
He can also drop back into a quasi #10 role behind the main striker.
He has gradually developed an all-round game...

Would you consider him instead of Chuba Akpom, who seems to fit the description you have above?

Definitely yes! Ajax is in a bad place atm...
He will be a far better option in the role currently occupied by Kelechi...Covers more ground, more intelligent movement and support of main striker and comparable finishing, if not better...

Okay, although I am not sure the highlighted is a good reason, since Akpom has been in very good form.

[maceo4]

I believe we have 2 or 3 spots in the squad. Now, he has to try to outperform Osimhen, Boniface, Sadiq, Moffi, Lookman, Akor Adams and Orban. That is 7 players (excluding Awoniyi).

His competition is Moffi for the 4th spot.
Lookman is a wide MF/FWD

Just to confirm your position, he has surpassed Akor Adams and Orban in the pecking order?

Also, we do not select 4 CFs in a squad of 23. If we do that, where would you cut to fit in the CFs?

Both Akor and Orban are below his level.

The key IMO is that he can play from wide and as support for Osimhen.

Both Boniface and Sadiq are best as lone strikers.

In the wide positions we only have two quality players- Samu and Lookman

Samu isn't even better than Simon. Bit I agree we can do with more wide quality players.

Does Solanke really fit that bill or is this another case of forcing strikers where they don't belong?

Everytime I’ve watched Solanke he plays as a CF, he’s in no way a wide player, where is this wide talk coming from?

https://www.transfermarkt.us/dominic-so ... ler/258889

Not sure who/what you are responding to!

He is NOT a wide player; but he can play from wide, if required, (and as support) in a two striker combo

I’m responding to the post I quoted…see bolded text

[danfo driver]

TxJ,

Chuba Akpom has just scored again, continuing his great form, in spite of Ajax's form.

[danfo driver]

Txj,

Akpom has scored a second goal. Despite Ajax's struggles, his form continues... playing well and scoring from the withdrawn position.

[txj]

Both Akor and Orban are below his level.

I have not watched Akor, so cant speak for him. I do not believe Orban is below his level, and Orban is even younger.

Solanke has failed in every big club he has played for and there is a reason for that. He is going to be 27 in 2024. I suspect as a striker, he will be getting into his prime. if this present performance is his prime, then his downhill is going to be pretty low.

The key IMO is that he can play from wide and as support for Osimhen.

this is news to me. Considering at youth level, Chelsea had to play Abraham on the wings, because Solanke couldnt do it.

In the wide positions we only have two quality players- Samu and Lookman

Tella is also a wide player, dont you think so?


But you havent anwsered my question though, if you are taking 4 strikers, where are you cutting? The wings?

I said his competition for those 4 slots is Moffi;
I'll also have him compete directly with Kele in the support striker role.
But for me, he takes Moffi's place or Sadiq, esp since he's returning from a long term injury.

2ndly, players develop differently, so the issue of failing at Chelsea and LFC at a young age is frankly irrelevant. Its about today not yesterday. His football has finally emerged...There are multiple examples of players who failed to break through at young ages who emerge later, so ur constant use of data from that period is a case of chasing a narrative...

There's a lot of upside about Orban, but he's largely unproven...

[danfo driver]

I said his competition for those 4 slots is Moffi;
I'll also have him compete directly with Kele in the support striker role.
But for me, he takes Moffi's place or Sadiq, esp since he's returning from a long term injury.

Oh! You have moved him from 4th-fighting with Moffi, to 3rd, in front of Sadiq. Thats cute. I suspect soon, he'd be second- fighting with Boniface and then, leap frog Osimhen to first.

2ndly, players develop differently, so the issue of failing at Chelsea and LFC at a young age is frankly irrelevant. Its about today not yesterday. His football has finally emerged...There are multiple examples of players who failed to break through at young ages who emerge later, so ur constant use of data from that period is a case of chasing a narrative..

I agree with your premise. My issue with him is that I think the problem is not that he was "developing," but more so that he failed at big clubs because he doesnt have the mentality and capacity to succeed at that level of pressure. @ Bournmouth, at 27, for the first time in his career, he is having a good season in the EPL. Previously, his good seasons have been in Div 2. I dont think he has what it takes to make that step up to a bigger club and handle the pressure.

I saw him and Abraham (who was playing right wing) at youth level and you could just tell that Abraham would be better in the future.

it also funny that Abraham, who is better, wouldnt be able to make the Nigerian squad.

There's a lot of upside about Orban, but he's largely unproven...

True, and Orban has even played European competition and shined there, while Solanke's best has been in Div 2 and 3 months in EPL.

[txj]

Txj,

Akpom has scored a second goal. Despite Ajax's struggles, his form continues... playing well and scoring from the withdrawn position.

A good championship player...

[txj]

I said his competition for those 4 slots is Moffi;
I'll also have him compete directly with Kele in the support striker role.
But for me, he takes Moffi's place or Sadiq, esp since he's returning from a long term injury.

Oh! You have moved him from 4th-fighting with Moffi, to 3rd, in front of Sadiq. Thats cute. I suspect soon, he'd be second- fighting with Boniface and then, leap frog Osimhen to first.

2ndly, players develop differently, so the issue of failing at Chelsea and LFC at a young age is frankly irrelevant. Its about today not yesterday. His football has finally emerged...There are multiple examples of players who failed to break through at young ages who emerge later, so ur constant use of data from that period is a case of chasing a narrative..

I agree with your premise. My issue with him is that I think the problem is not that he was "developing," but more so that he failed at big clubs because he doesnt have the mentality and capacity to succeed at that level of pressure. @ Bournmouth, at 27, for the first time in his career, he is having a good season in the EPL. Previously, his good seasons have been in Div 2. I dont think he has what it takes to make that step up to a bigger club and handle the pressure.

I saw him and Abraham (who was playing right wing) at youth level and you could just tell that Abraham would be better in the future.

it also funny that Abraham, who is better, wouldnt be able to make the Nigerian squad.

There's a lot of upside about Orban, but he's largely unproven...

True, and Orban has even played European competition and shined there, while Solanke's best has been in Div 2 and 3 months in EPL.

Never knew Bournemouth has been in the PL for just 3months.

The top 3 striking positions are set in the SE with everybody fit and on form. However the 4th, Moffi is not. And atm, the 3rd specifically cus Sadiq is returning from a long term injury...

Orban has a lot of upsides, but his form was from last season...

What a player did last year is irrelevant to me. Its what he's doing atm, so citing Solanke's history is irrelevant...

[danfo driver]

Txj,

Akpom has scored a second goal. Despite Ajax's struggles, his form continues... playing well and scoring from the withdrawn position.

A good championship player...

Oh! That was last year, when he dominated the Div 2 league. It seems you havent followed him this year? He actually moved to the Eredivisie and Europa League.

[danfo driver]

I said his competition for those 4 slots is Moffi;
I'll also have him compete directly with Kele in the support striker role.
But for me, he takes Moffi's place or Sadiq, esp since he's returning from a long term injury.

Oh! You have moved him from 4th-fighting with Moffi, to 3rd, in front of Sadiq. Thats cute. I suspect soon, he'd be second- fighting with Boniface and then, leap frog Osimhen to first.

2ndly, players develop differently, so the issue of failing at Chelsea and LFC at a young age is frankly irrelevant. Its about today not yesterday. His football has finally emerged...There are multiple examples of players who failed to break through at young ages who emerge later, so ur constant use of data from that period is a case of chasing a narrative..

I agree with your premise. My issue with him is that I think the problem is not that he was "developing," but more so that he failed at big clubs because he doesnt have the mentality and capacity to succeed at that level of pressure. @ Bournmouth, at 27, for the first time in his career, he is having a good season in the EPL. Previously, his good seasons have been in Div 2. I dont think he has what it takes to make that step up to a bigger club and handle the pressure.

I saw him and Abraham (who was playing right wing) at youth level and you could just tell that Abraham would be better in the future.

it also funny that Abraham, who is better, wouldnt be able to make the Nigerian squad.

There's a lot of upside about Orban, but he's largely unproven...

True, and Orban has even played European competition and shined there, while Solanke's best has been in Div 2 and 3 months in EPL.

Never knew Bournemouth has been in the PL for just 3months.

i am referring to his performance this season. As you can see from my comment -- "while Solanke's best has been in Div 2 and 3 months in EPL."

If you rememeber, last season, Solanke scored 7 goals in 35 games. Which is quite embarrassing. Do you agree?

What a player did last year is irrelevant to me. Its what he's doing atm, so citing Solanke's history is irrelevant...

Thats understandable, so Sadiq's injury from last season is irrelevant and his form in recent weeks it is! Makes sense.

[txj]

Txj,

Akpom has scored a second goal. Despite Ajax's struggles, his form continues... playing well and scoring from the withdrawn position.

A good championship player...

Oh! That was last year, when he dominated the Div 2 league. It seems you havent followed him this year? He actually moved to the Eredivisie and Europa League.

I have actually. He's largely a sub and has had a good run of games following injuries to Bergwjn and one other whose name escapes me atm...

[txj]

I said his competition for those 4 slots is Moffi;
I'll also have him compete directly with Kele in the support striker role.
But for me, he takes Moffi's place or Sadiq, esp since he's returning from a long term injury.

Oh! You have moved him from 4th-fighting with Moffi, to 3rd, in front of Sadiq. Thats cute. I suspect soon, he'd be second- fighting with Boniface and then, leap frog Osimhen to first.

2ndly, players develop differently, so the issue of failing at Chelsea and LFC at a young age is frankly irrelevant. Its about today not yesterday. His football has finally emerged...There are multiple examples of players who failed to break through at young ages who emerge later, so ur constant use of data from that period is a case of chasing a narrative..

I agree with your premise. My issue with him is that I think the problem is not that he was "developing," but more so that he failed at big clubs because he doesnt have the mentality and capacity to succeed at that level of pressure. @ Bournmouth, at 27, for the first time in his career, he is having a good season in the EPL. Previously, his good seasons have been in Div 2. I dont think he has what it takes to make that step up to a bigger club and handle the pressure.

I saw him and Abraham (who was playing right wing) at youth level and you could just tell that Abraham would be better in the future.

it also funny that Abraham, who is better, wouldnt be able to make the Nigerian squad.

There's a lot of upside about Orban, but he's largely unproven...

True, and Orban has even played European competition and shined there, while Solanke's best has been in Div 2 and 3 months in EPL.

Never knew Bournemouth has been in the PL for just 3months.

i am referring to his performance this season. As you can see from my comment -- "while Solanke's best has been in Div 2 and 3 months in EPL."

If you rememeber, last season, Solanke scored 7 goals in 35 games. Which is quite embarrassing. Do you agree?

What a player did last year is irrelevant to me. Its what he's doing atm, so citing Solanke's history is irrelevant...

Thats understandable, so Sadiq's injury from last season is irrelevant and his form in recent weeks it is! Makes sense.

Bournemouth was in the PL last season. Did you forget?

Sadiq IMO is only behind Vic and Boni in the SE striker echelon. But he's returning from a long term injury...such players are typically a risk for tournaments...

[danfo driver]

Txj,

Akpom has scored a second goal. Despite Ajax's struggles, his form continues... playing well and scoring from the withdrawn position.

A good championship player...

Oh! That was last year, when he dominated the Div 2 league. It seems you havent followed him this year? He actually moved to the Eredivisie and Europa League.

I have actually. He's largely a sub and has had a good run of games following injuries to Bergwjn and one other whose name escapes me atm...

Ah! nice. so you have witnessed his great form? I am surprised then that your first post about him spoke about "Ajax being in a bad place."

[danfo driver]

Bournemouth was in the PL last season. Did you forget?

No I didnt. And he scored only 6 premier league goals, because thats his level in top division. He has shown that over the years. The last 3 months is probably an abberation.

Sadiq IMO is only behind Vic and Boni in the SE striker echelon. But he's returning from a long term injury...such players are typically a risk for tournaments...

I would agree if he just came back. He has been back for a few months and has now picked up form.

[txj]

Txj,

Akpom has scored a second goal. Despite Ajax's struggles, his form continues... playing well and scoring from the withdrawn position.

A good championship player...

Oh! That was last year, when he dominated the Div 2 league. It seems you havent followed him this year? He actually moved to the Eredivisie and Europa League.

I have actually. He's largely a sub and has had a good run of games following injuries to Bergwjn and one other whose name escapes me atm...

Ah! nice. so you have witnessed his great form? I am surprised then that your first post about him spoke about "Ajax being in a bad place."

He's in good form atm. But he's still an average talent IMO..