Nigerians in the Championship - 2014/15

[truetalk]

Odion Ighalo got the winner for Watford as the beat Blackburn 1-0 and move up to 6th, the final playoff spot.

[Dammy]

Ikeme can't seem to get a break. Broken foot and is out for 8 weeks after training ground injury. Last time he got injured, wolves were relegated. They were just beginning to make a run for one of the playoff positions.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31152699

Carl Ikeme: Wolves keeper's injury gives chance to Tomasz Kuszczak

Wolves could be without goalkeeper Carl Ikeme for up to eight weeks following a training ground injury.
Ikeme, 28, has broken the second metatarsal bone in his left foot after colliding with team-mate James Henry.
Ex-West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak will take over in goal, starting with Saturday's home game against Reading.
"It's one of those things that happen in training. A block tackle with James Henry," boss Kenny Jackett told BBC WM.
Kuszczak in England
Tomasz Kuszczak first arrived in English football at West Bromwich Albion, when he was signed by Bryan Robson from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2004. He has since played for Manchester United, Watford (loan) and Brighton & Hove Albion.
"It will be a loss, because Carl's been a big player for us, but it's also an opportunity for Tomasz Kuszczak. And it's the reason he's here, to cover situations like this.
"He's been with us a couple of months and he's ready to go. He wants to be a number one keeper again and has been frustrated at not getting such opportunities."
The 32-year-old Poland international, released by Brighton last summer, joined Wolves on a short-term deal in November after reserve keeper Aaron McCarey was ruled out following back surgery.
Kuszczak then signed a new contract in mid-January to keep him at Molineux until the end of the season.
Ikeme's injury is his third fracture in successive seasons, having twice broken his hand.

Well, he got a break.

[truetalk]

Time to update this a bit:

Carl Ikeme: Injured and will be out for almost 2 months. Hope Wolves can continue their push for playoff contention and quest for promotion to the premiership without him.

Dominic Iorfa: Has been on the bench for the last 2 games. Hope the coach is just resting him as all reports suggest he has been playing quite well.

In the absence of Ikeme and Iorfa, all the other Africans at Wolves, Sako (scored one for the best goals in the AFCON), d#$% and Afobe (who I am trying to claim for naija) have been doing well.

The other club with a lot of Nigerians (Yakubu, Akpan, Obita) is Reading, although they are stuck mid-table with almost no chance at promotion.

Hope Akpan: Has not been playing regularly since his return from Injury. On the bench as Reading lost at home to Leeds. Congrats AyoAkinfe.

Jordan Obita: Played the full 90 minutes in the home loss.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni: Came on for the last 20 minutes in the home loss


Danny Shittu: Has been MIA lately and is not even on the bench. Millwall is currently fighting to stay in the division and are 3rd from bottom.

Tom Adeyemi: So so season for a so so club. Cardiff is also stuck in mid-table. Adeyemi plays most of their games.

Odion Ighalo: With Ikeme out, Misses Bushboy will be my choice for the Nigerian player of the season in the division (and England). His 14 goals (so far) have him as the 4th highest scorer in the division, and he has been on a tear lately. He is also not just a smash and grab forward as he has good all around play and is very good in the air. If he is just maturing, he could have some big things ahead of him.

Dele Alli: Exceptional talent watch from the division below. I have to pat myself on the back for including him on this list even before there was any news of the Spurs interest. Central Midfielder who has scored 13 for the MK dons, and just got bought for £5 million by spurs. MK dons pushing for promotion to the Championship (currently 3rd), but Alli is gone to spurs at the end of the season anyway. We must find a way to cap him, abeg.

[truetalk]

Good news as Kenneth Omeruo played the full 90 minutes as Boro took a huge step towards automatic promotion in a very difficult game.

Boro had gone a man and a goal down as their keeper was sent off and Birmingham converted the resulting penalty.

Boro fought back, even with a man down in the 2nd half to level the game and go a point clear in the Championship. Hopefully they stay ahead till the end of the season.

Ighalo's club are in playoff contention.

Wolves have faltered (losing 2 of 3) since Ikeme got injured and are at risk of missing the playoffs. Dominic Iorfa played all the 90 in their disappointing 2-0 loss to Norwich.

Liverpool have loaned highly rated teenager Sheyi Ojo to Wigan and he was on for 90 minutes as Wigan fight to avoid relegation by winning away at Reading (the team of Yakubu, Akpan and Obita)

[wale1974]

Time to update this a bit:

Carl Ikeme: Injured and will be out for almost 2 months. Hope Wolves can continue their push for playoff contention and quest for promotion to the premiership without him.

Dominic Iorfa: Has been on the bench for the last 2 games. Hope the coach is just resting him as all reports suggest he has been playing quite well.

In the absence of Ikeme and Iorfa, all the other Africans at Wolves, Sako (scored one for the best goals in the AFCON), d#$% and Afobe (who I am trying to claim for naija) have been doing well.

The other club with a lot of Nigerians (Yakubu, Akpan, Obita) is Reading, although they are stuck mid-table with almost no chance at promotion.

Hope Akpan: Has not been playing regularly since his return from Injury. On the bench as Reading lost at home to Leeds. Congrats AyoAkinfe.

Jordan Obita: Played the full 90 minutes in the home loss.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni: Came on for the last 20 minutes in the home loss


Danny Shittu: Has been MIA lately and is not even on the bench. Millwall is currently fighting to stay in the division and are 3rd from bottom.

Tom Adeyemi: So so season for a so so club. Cardiff is also stuck in mid-table. Adeyemi plays most of their games.

Odion Ighalo: With Ikeme out, Misses Bushboy will be my choice for the Nigerian player of the season in the division (and England). His 14 goals (so far) have him as the 4th highest scorer in the division, and he has been on a tear lately. He is also not just a smash and grab forward as he has good all around play and is very good in the air. If he is just maturing, he could have some big things ahead of him.

Dele Alli: Exceptional talent watch from the division below. I have to pat myself on the back for including him on this list even before there was any news of the Spurs interest. Central Midfielder who has scored 13 for the MK dons, and just got bought for £5 million by spurs. MK dons pushing for promotion to the Championship (currently 3rd), but Alli is gone to spurs at the end of the season anyway. We must find a way to cap him, abeg.

[truetalk]

Boro missed an opportunity to go 4 points clear at the top as they lost at home to Leeds. Omeruo was back on the bench and did not play.

Maybe we have to go and beg Ayo Akinfe. Leeds are not going anywhere this season but the have been recently beating the sides of the Nigerians that are actually contending for promotion.

[patrick]

Boro missed an opportunity to go 4 points clear at the top as they lost at home to Leeds. Omeruo was back on the bench and did not play.

Maybe we have to go and beg Ayo Akinfe. Leeds are not going anywhere this season but the have been recently beating the sides of the Nigerians that are actually contending for promotion.

What is Karanka problem? Omeruo played well against Arsenal & Birmingham respectively, he will cost them d promotion with his nonsense rotation policy

[Coach]

War wounds and battle scars. Ken is drawing swords in the toughest colosseum of them all. Even the gladiator sleeps.

[patrick]

War wounds and battle scars. Ken is drawing swords in the toughest colosseum of them all. Even the gladiator sleeps.

Coach,

Omeruo was Boro’s best against Arsenal and second best against Birmingham, Karanka is smoking some cheap ish

[The Notorious B!GGESTMAN]

Omeruo on the bench again? Levels.

















Otigba dey wait.

[Gotti]

Otigba dey wait.

Dey wait for wetin? Space on the fabled bench?

Dude, Otigba has made 16 appearances this season (9 as starter) and played 925 mins...
While Omeruo has made 17 appearances this season (16 as starter) and played 1479 mins.

[The Notorious B!GGESTMAN]

Otigba dey wait.

Dey wait for wetin? Space on the fabled bench?

Dude, Otigba has made 16 appearances this season (9 as starter) and played 925 mins...
While Omeruo has made 17 appearances this season (16 as starter) and played 1479 mins.

Omeruo is playing in a lower league. And don't dare come back and tell me Div 1 is a higher level than Eredivisie!

[truetalk]

Tony Pulis and West Brom were reportedly looking at Brentford's Moses Odubajo last month.

He seems to be having a good season, and will likely be bought by a premiership club over the summer.

http://www.winnersports.co.uk/exclusive ... bajo-10489

[Gotti]

Omeruo is playing in a lower league. And don't dare come back and tell me Div 1 is a higher level than Eredivisie!

When they played in the same league...
Omeruo still logged more games and minutes than Otigba.

[The Notorious B!GGESTMAN]

Omeruo is playing in a lower league. And don't dare come back and tell me Div 1 is a higher level than Eredivisie!

When they played in the same league...
Omeruo still logged more games and minutes than Otigba.

Things dun change on this side, remember they used to thump, but now they blast







Right

[truetalk]

We're approaching the business end of the season now, and there are 8 clubs with a realistic chance of getting promoted. The good news is that 4 of these clubs have Nigerians on their books, but nothing is guaranteed. We could see anything between 0 to 3 clubs with Nigerians promoted and we can only hope for the best.

Clubs fighting for promotion:

Middlesbrough (currently 2nd): It will be disappointing if they don't get one of the 2 automatic spots. They have been strong for most of the season and are finding ways to grind out games. Omeruo has been in and out of the side. He has played 2 of their last 4 games. He played well in the games he was in but has been on the bench for the most recent 2 games

Watford (currently 6th with the same points as the 4th and 5th positioned teams): Odion Ighalo is leading Watford's charge for promotion, and is now the 2nd highest goal scorer in the division. If he maintains his form over the last month till the end of the season, he should be league MVP. Watford is currently holding on to the last playoff game, but it will be a dogfight till the end of the season.

Brentford (currently 7th, a point behind Watford): I don't erally mind Brentford not getting promoted, as a few Premiership clubs are snooping around Moses Odubajo, and he will likely be bought by a Premiership club if Brentford miss out on promotion.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: (currently 8th, 4 points behind Brentford): Wolves are 10 points above the 9th placed team, and are the final club with a realistic hope of promotion. Ikeme is out injured for another month or 2, but young Dominic Iorfa is really playing well. Malians Bakary Sako and Nouha d#$% are premiership level players. Their attack has been rejuvenated with the signing of former Arsenal youth player, Bennick Afobe, and I think they will score a lot of goals going forward.

[truetalk]

Reading (Yakubu, Hope Akpan, Jordan Obita) are stuck mid-table and have lost their last 2 games. Almost no risk of relegation and no prospects for promotion. The have lost their last 2 games, but on a good note, all 3 started the most recent game.

Cardiff is just like Reading. Stuck mid-table, and Tom Adeyemi has been on the bench for the last 2 games.

Millwall are deep in relegation zone and their are rumors that Danny Shittu ( a recent captain) is about to be asked to leave the club, along with a few other players. Shittu has not been listed for any of their recent games.


Sheyi Ojo is on loan at Wigan from Liverpool. Wigan are in the relegation zone and will probably drop.

From the Division below:

Delel Alli is having a really good season for MK Dons, but he is now on the books of Spurs and may see action in the English premiership next season.

[truetalk]

Not the best of days for Nigerians in the Championship. No standout performer, but 4 clubs with Nigerians are in the top 8 and in contention for the 3 promotion spots.

Starting with the clubs contending for promotion.

We really need to beg AyoAkinfe as his Leeds club seem to be set at derailing the promotion aspiration of all Nigerians. Leeds were leading 2-0 away to Watford, but full credit to Watford as the fought back to win the game 3-2. Odion Ighalo was rested for this game as a precaution for a tight hamstring, but his teammates have shot Watford up to 3rd.

It was a tough day for Kenneth Omeruo, back in the side after sitting out the last 2 games, as Boro were beaten 2-0 by a mid-table Sheffield Wednesday. Omeruo conceded the penalty for Wednesday's first goal, and was substituted shortly afterwards after another foul. Hope his confidence has not taken a hit. Boro however remain 2nd, 2 points behind Derby, who also lost.

Wolves secured a tough away win at Tom Adeyemi's Watford. Ikeme is still out injured, Iorfa played but was substituted in the 61st minute, and Adeyemi was an unused substitute. One of the other Africans in the Wolves' team, Mali's Bakary Sacko, got the only goal of the game.

Brenford remained 7th, but were beaten by Birmingham. Moses Odubajo played for 76 minutes.

Reading seems to have packed up shop for the season, as they have now lost 4 of their last 5 games. They seem to be safe from relegation, but they are dropping rapidly in terms of position. Yakubu was on for the last 20 minutes, Obita played the whole game, and Hope Akpan was not even on the bench.

[patrick]

[patrick]