Oliseh's Ridiculous Rule - Disappointed with the iffy start

[Eddydove]

Hi guys,

Hope you're all well - been great reading some of the opinions on here about Oliseh's arrival.

While I am cautiously optimistic, the recent comment he made about squad selection seemed illogical and nonsensical - why say that?

I've got all of my thoughts down here - would be good to get some of your opinions on this.

bit.ly/1JoMtWp

Thanks in advance.

@EddyDove

P.S. Here's a graphic to illustrate my point:

[Enugu II]

IMHO, it is an ill-advised statement that is perhaps a reaction to fan displeasure with some of Keshi's invitation of "unknown" names. Oliseh should call up any player that he feels that meets what he and his coaching crew wants and not focus on what fans want. There really should be no hard and fast rule on where a player should be playing before being inviting to the SE. Such rules make very little sense particularly as it pertains to Nigeria. I make this statement because Nigerian players do not often make decisions to join a club because of the club's profile but rather decisions are based on financial reasons. You will find that Oliseh will call up a player from a division lower than the first division. Bet on it. He cannot avoid it if he wants to improve Nigerian football.

[papilo]

This does not help. Non of them deserves to be invited

[Dammy]

This does not help. Non of them deserves to be invited

KPOM

[osita]

The players stated are average players.

First division players in Denmark, Egypt, Tunian and Belgium are better than the players listed above.

[Mr. Piffington]

Can you people just let the man work and judge him based on his actual results? My goodness.

[YUJAM]

I like Sunday Oliseh. But I do think the less talking he does, the better for him.

[pajimoh]

My only problem with the statement - heaven help us if we were to discover a rare gem in the back waters of Nigeria not attached to a club or a 1st division club.

[maceo4]

What's so special about these guys? Were they even regulars in Keshis team? Argument is kinda flimsy men. Clearly there will be exceptions but it shouldn't be the norm for our national team to be filled with lower division players...

[felarey]

I think people are taking his words too literally and causing unnecessary distractions. Lets wait till he says he's left out Sone Aluko for example only bcos Hull is in the championship then we can talk. The championship is definitely better than a first division in backwater leagues and Africa. His statement was more a motivation for those that aspire to play for SE push themselves and amateurs to seek ways of testing themselves in tougher leagues.

[The YeyeMan]

I first called for this exact minimum standard requirement to be introduced a long time ago. So I don't see it as a reaction to Keshi's penchant for puzzling call ups to the senior team.

There really should be no hard and fast rule on where a player should be playing before being inviting to the SE.

Just to be clear, in case there's uncertainty, it's not about "where" the player plys his trade - i.e. Nigeria, Spain, England, China, etc... It's about playing in the top-flight league of those countries.

I don't have many qualms with this rule, as there'll likely be exceptions, but what the rule infers is that if a player in a lower league has ambitions to play for the national team then he will need to improve his game further and/or find himself playing at a higher level in order to fulfill that ambition. It's an incentive to play at the higher level.

International football isn't for everybody. I think this is a sound baseline standard - especially for new players.

[Enugu II]

YeyeMan,
I disagree with such rules. I believe every coach knows that he/she should always use the best players available to fit the system. A strait jacket rule like this is just hollow IMHO. If you grant several exemptions because you suddenly find out that you cannot implement the rule in an absolute sense, then what is the value of the rule?

In this case, would Omeruo be exempt because he goes back to Middlesborough? Will you decide not to call Ighalo any more if he goes into relegation with Watford? This simply is a slippery slope that Oliseh or any other person does not need for that matter.

Simple -- international football is for those the NT coach deems good enough to play for the country. No need for defining whether the guy plays in Division I or not.

If I was Oliseh, the next time some journalist wants to talk about this my answer will be: "We will invite and use players that we consider to be the best for Nigeria"

Journalist: "But these are players playing for top division clubs, are they not?"

Oliseh: "Not necessarily, while many may play in Division I, it will not dissuade us from using any other player that we find useful for Nigeria"

It just does not make sense to box yourself into a corner.

I first called for this exact minimum standard requirement to be introduced a long time ago. So I don't see it as a reaction to Keshi's penchant for puzzling call ups to the senior team.

There really should be no hard and fast rule on where a player should be playing before being inviting to the SE.

Just to be clear, in case there's uncertainty, it's not about "where" the player plys his trade - i.e. Nigeria, Spain, England, China, etc... It's about playing in the top-flight league of those countries.

I don't have many qualms with this rule, as there'll likely be exceptions, but what the rule infers is that if a player in a lower league has ambitions to play for the national team then he will need to improve his game further and/or find himself playing at a higher level in order to fulfill that ambition. It's an incentive to play at the higher level.

International football isn't for everybody. I think this is a sound baseline standard - especially for new players.

[jb]

......in other words the player has to first prove himself. Him nko, e don prove imself? To digress a little bit, Oliseh is a big tactician and a fantastic game reader which is what has been lacking in all the local coaches that I have followed. However, in real time, I cannot predict how this will play out.

[txj]

I first called for this exact minimum standard requirement to be introduced a long time ago. So I don't see it as a reaction to Keshi's penchant for puzzling call ups to the senior team.

There really should be no hard and fast rule on where a player should be playing before being inviting to the SE.

Just to be clear, in case there's uncertainty, it's not about "where" the player plys his trade - i.e. Nigeria, Spain, England, China, etc... It's about playing in the top-flight league of those countries.

I don't have many qualms with this rule, as there'll likely be exceptions, but what the rule infers is that if a player in a lower league has ambitions to play for the national team then he will need to improve his game further and/or find himself playing at a higher level in order to fulfill that ambition. It's an incentive to play at the higher level.

International football isn't for everybody. I think this is a sound baseline standard - especially for new players.

KPOM!

There are typically exemptions for key well established NT players whose team run into difficult times.

But overall its a good rule and lets everyone know where they stand with the coach/team. It basically means, as a player, u know what to do to get into the NT.

[ohenhen1]

I like Oliseh statement. Some of the players that gets invited, don't deserve the call up. If you want to play for Nigeria, play in the first division of a good league. That is not asking for too much.

[fishward]

Please don't be silly . A player that is on the verge will be called up. The ones who languish in lower leagues no chance rightfully so.

[metalalloy]

Oliseh already made exceptions for the likes of aluko. There is no "iffy start"

"For players who are already in the national team and performing at a high level, they will not be thrown just like that," he said. "But to keep their place in the team, they will have to maintain the same level of performance.
"Also, we will give the, a reasonable time to find new clubs in a top division. Even if it is on loan. After that time, and especially if their performance drops, we will have no choice but to find those who are playing at a higher level."

Oliseh explained the reason for his decision
"At national team level, there is no time to teach players. You can only manage them to play in a certain way, at a certain tempo. And players who are playing in top divisions are already used to that sort of high level tempo.
"At the same time, we cannot have players who are complacent to have just have a club. We want players who are hungry to achieve more and improve themselves and if you are not getting regular playing time at one club, you should aspire to. One to where you can play regularly and challenge yourself against the best."

http://www.colinudoh.com/2015/07/oliseh ... thers.html

You people should leave the man alone to do his jobs instead of getting your panties in a bunch. Jeez!!

[opine]

Oliseh already made exceptions for the likes of aluko. There is no "iffy start"

"For players who are already in the national team and performing at a high level, they will not be thrown just like that," he said. "But to keep their place in the team, they will have to maintain the same level of performance.
"Also, we will give the, a reasonable time to find new clubs in a top division. Even if it is on loan. After that time, and especially if their performance drops, we will have no choice but to find those who are playing at a higher level."

Oliseh explained the reason for his decision
"At national team level, there is no time to teach players. You can only manage them to play in a certain way, at a certain tempo. And players who are playing in top divisions are already used to that sort of high level tempo.
"At the same time, we cannot have players who are complacent to have just have a club. We want players who are hungry to achieve more and improve themselves and if you are not getting regular playing time at one club, you should aspire to. One to where you can play regularly and challenge yourself against the best."

http://www.colinudoh.com/2015/07/oliseh ... thers.html

You people should leave the man alone to do his jobs instead of getting your panties in a bunch. Jeez!!

Preach it! Hunting for something to criticize

[The YeyeMan]

EII, you say, "international football is for those the NT coach deems good enough to play for the country." And Oliseh has deemed only those playing in the top-flight are good enough to play for the country.

He hasn't boxed himself into a corner at all - he's just laid down the marker.

So to take your examples of Omeruo and Ighalo (and let's add Aluko) - they've already featured for the national team and in order to retain their places they will have to maintain a good level of performance with the senior team.

Now take someone like Carl Ikeme who I consider a good goalkeeper. He hasn't featured for the national team and if he harbours ambitions to do so will need to move to a better club / gain promotion with his team.

YeyeMan,
I disagree with such rules. I believe every coach knows that he/she should always use the best players available to fit the system. A strait jacket rule like this is just hollow IMHO. If you grant several exemptions because you suddenly find out that you cannot implement the rule in an absolute sense, then what is the value of the rule?

In this case, would Omeruo be exempt because he goes back to Middlesborough? Will you decide not to call Ighalo any more if he goes into relegation with Watford? This simply is a slippery slope that Oliseh or any other person does not need for that matter.

Simple -- international football is for those the NT coach deems good enough to play for the country. No need for defining whether the guy plays in Division I or not.

If I was Oliseh, the next time some journalist wants to talk about this my answer will be: "We will invite and use players that we consider to be the best for Nigeria"

Journalist: "But these are players playing for top division clubs, are they not?"

Oliseh: "Not necessarily, while many may play in Division I, it will not dissuade us from using any other player that we find useful for Nigeria"

It just does not make sense to box yourself into a corner.

[opine]

EII, you say, "international football is for those the NT coach deems good enough to play for the country." And Oliseh has deemed only those playing in the top-flight are good enough to play for the country.

He hasn't boxed himself into a corner at all - he's just laid down the marker.

So to take your examples of Omeruo and Ighalo (and let's add Aluko) - they've already featured for the national team and in order to retain their places they will have to maintain a good level of performance with the senior team.

Now take someone like Carl Ikeme who I consider a good goalkeeper. He hasn't featured for the national team and if he harbours ambitions to do so will need to move to a better club / gain promotion with his team.

YeyeMan,
I disagree with such rules. I believe every coach knows that he/she should always use the best players available to fit the system. A strait jacket rule like this is just hollow IMHO. If you grant several exemptions because you suddenly find out that you cannot implement the rule in an absolute sense, then what is the value of the rule?

In this case, would Omeruo be exempt because he goes back to Middlesborough? Will you decide not to call Ighalo any more if he goes into relegation with Watford? This simply is a slippery slope that Oliseh or any other person does not need for that matter.

Simple -- international football is for those the NT coach deems good enough to play for the country. No need for defining whether the guy plays in Division I or not.

If I was Oliseh, the next time some journalist wants to talk about this my answer will be: "We will invite and use players that we consider to be the best for Nigeria"

Journalist: "But these are players playing for top division clubs, are they not?"

Oliseh: "Not necessarily, while many may play in Division I, it will not dissuade us from using any other player that we find useful for Nigeria"

It just does not make sense to box yourself into a corner.

Yeyeman, is this really you? Welcome back

[Enugu II]

YeyeMan,

The point is he does not need these statements. There will be a time that he will want to invite a guy in the lower divisions and for very good reasons. Note that apart from what he had announced as the "only exception", he has already expanded that to include other exceptions in that KoC interview. There will be other exceptions which will make you wonder why the statements in the first place. Keep this page marked, my brother.

EII, you say, "international football is for those the NT coach deems good enough to play for the country." And Oliseh has deemed only those playing in the top-flight are good enough to play for the country.

He hasn't boxed himself into a corner at all - he's just laid down the marker.

So to take your examples of Omeruo and Ighalo (and let's add Aluko) - they've already featured for the national team and in order to retain their places they will have to maintain a good level of performance with the senior team.

Now take someone like Carl Ikeme who I consider a good goalkeeper. He hasn't featured for the national team and if he harbours ambitions to do so will need to move to a better club / gain promotion with his team.

YeyeMan,
I disagree with such rules. I believe every coach knows that he/she should always use the best players available to fit the system. A strait jacket rule like this is just hollow IMHO. If you grant several exemptions because you suddenly find out that you cannot implement the rule in an absolute sense, then what is the value of the rule?

In this case, would Omeruo be exempt because he goes back to Middlesborough? Will you decide not to call Ighalo any more if he goes into relegation with Watford? This simply is a slippery slope that Oliseh or any other person does not need for that matter.

Simple -- international football is for those the NT coach deems good enough to play for the country. No need for defining whether the guy plays in Division I or not.

If I was Oliseh, the next time some journalist wants to talk about this my answer will be: "We will invite and use players that we consider to be the best for Nigeria"

Journalist: "But these are players playing for top division clubs, are they not?"

Oliseh: "Not necessarily, while many may play in Division I, it will not dissuade us from using any other player that we find useful for Nigeria"

It just does not make sense to box yourself into a corner.

[mystic]

Oliseh already made exceptions for the likes of aluko. There is no "iffy start"

"For players who are already in the national team and performing at a high level, they will not be thrown just like that," he said. "But to keep their place in the team, they will have to maintain the same level of performance.
"Also, we will give the, a reasonable time to find new clubs in a top division. Even if it is on loan. After that time, and especially if their performance drops, we will have no choice but to find those who are playing at a higher level."

Oliseh explained the reason for his decision
"At national team level, there is no time to teach players. You can only manage them to play in a certain way, at a certain tempo. And players who are playing in top divisions are already used to that sort of high level tempo.
"At the same time, we cannot have players who are complacent to have just have a club. We want players who are hungry to achieve more and improve themselves and if you are not getting regular playing time at one club, you should aspire to. One to where you can play regularly and challenge yourself against the best."

http://www.colinudoh.com/2015/07/oliseh ... thers.html

You people should leave the man alone to do his jobs instead of getting your panties in a bunch. Jeez!!

[patrick]

This does not help. Non of them deserves to be invited

Right on