Kelechi Iheanacho - 2016/17 Performances

[OrigamiNinja]

I don't know how anyone can knock the lad. In terms of opportunities I think he's been treated badly for 18 months, look at when he plays, it's either when Sergio is injured/suspended or when he is under huge pressure to score an important goal because he team-mates haven't been up to the job e.g. Southampton and Chelsea games. He doesn't get games or minutes off the bench where things aren't expected/required of him e.g. When we are cruising away at West Brom, instead we bring on Navas with 15 mins to go.

I don't think I've ever known a number 2 striker at a club get so few opportunities. Other players with his record would be playing most weeks, yet he is constantly fighting a battle just to get some minutes on the pitch. What is even more frustrating is that all we have been missing in the last few home games is someone is capable of putting the ball in the net, well we've had that person sat on the bench twiddling his thumbs. His goalscoring record is sensational, he should be playing the majority of home games alongside Sergio at the expense of one of our 173638 midfielders, none of whom score goals on a regular basis.

 

[domalino]

Did anyone else think he looked different yesterday? Carried himself a bit differently?

I thought he looked like a senior striker, and not just an optimistic kid breaking through. His movements seemed more deliberate, and whereas in the past he's allowed himself to become peripheral, yesterday he dropped deep if the ball didn't come to him and demanded to be given the ball.

In taking his goal, he was confident enough to hit it early, in the past I think he'd have taken another touch, and smashing it into the top corner is a ballsy finish too.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I thought he was notably more assured.

 

[Chi-town blues]

Did anyone else think he looked different yesterday? Carried himself a bit differently?

I thought he looked like a senior striker, and not just an optimistic kid breaking through. His movements seemed more deliberate, and whereas in the past he's allowed himself to become peripheral, yesterday he dropped deep if the ball didn't come to him and demanded to be given the ball.

In taking his goal, he was confident enough to hit it early, in the past I think he'd have taken another touch, and smashing it into the top corner is a ballsy finish too.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I thought he was notably more assured.

Pep talk ? Since kun will miss 4 games.

 

[kaz7]

Kelechi Iheanacho: "It’s a big opportunity for me. I have to take responsibility. I need to work really hard to prove myself to the team."

Kelechi Iheanacho: "He’s (Aguero) telling me I should do very well and they are words of encouragement from him. So I’m going to do it."

Kelechi Iheanacho: "Before we played Celtic, Aguero said that it’s up to me now to fill that gap, to carry the team along."

He is showing great maturity,he will take this chance i'm sure

 

[Chi-town blues]

Kelechi Iheanacho: "It’s a big opportunity for me. I have to take responsibility. I need to work really hard to prove myself to the team."

Kelechi Iheanacho: "He’s (Aguero) telling me I should do very well and they are words of encouragement from him. So I’m going to do it."

Kelechi Iheanacho: "Before we played Celtic, Aguero said that it’s up to me now to fill that gap, to carry the team along."

He is showing great maturity,he will take this chance i'm sure

Good lad kun .

 

[City_Sean]

Did anyone else think he looked different yesterday? Carried himself a bit differently?

I thought he looked like a senior striker, and not just an optimistic kid breaking through. His movements seemed more deliberate, and whereas in the past he's allowed himself to become peripheral, yesterday he dropped deep if the ball didn't come to him and demanded to be given the ball.

In taking his goal, he was confident enough to hit it early, in the past I think he'd have taken another touch, and smashing it into the top corner is a ballsy finish too.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I thought he was notably more assured.

Agree with this. He led the line like a natural striker. What's good with Kelechi is the fact he's so assured and is full of self belief.

 

[jessery]

Watching his post-match interviews, I just can't figure him out. I don't know if it's the language, nervousness, low confidence, or what. He seems scared. I'm not criticising him by any means. I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed it and what others think it is. I just feel kinda bad for him watching him in the interviews. Great performance today, by the way.

 

[kaz7]

Watching his post-match interviews, I just can't figure him out. I don't know if it's the language, nervousness, low confidence, or what. He seems scared. I'm not criticising him by any means. I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed it and what others think it is. I just feel kinda bad for him watching him in the interviews. Great performance today, by the way.

He is still young and is new to the interview thing,i get the impression he is trying not to make a mistake

 

[jessery]

He is still young and is new to the interview thing,i get the impression he is trying not to make a mistake

I bet that's what it is. Just seems terrified. Poor fella.

 

[mindmyp's_n_q's]

Watching his post-match interviews, I just can't figure him out. I don't know if it's the language, nervousness, low confidence, or what. He seems scared. I'm not criticising him by any means. I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed it and what others think it is. I just feel kinda bad for him watching him in the interviews. Great performance today, by the way.

I think that he just loves football and wants to answer every question with "football" and then a big smile. Anything that doesn't have the answer "football" just confuses the lad and puts him off guard.

Love him to bits and hope he continues to do what he obviously loves so much. "football"

 

[Hungarian blue]

I thought he looked like a senior striker, and not just an optimistic kid breaking through. His movements seemed more deliberate, and whereas in the past he's allowed himself to become peripheral, yesterday he dropped deep if the ball didn't come to him and demanded to be given the ball.

And the lovely thing is, he's quite good at this 'dropping back deep' thingy, though we know that since his Nigerua U17 days. It's definitely an asset we should utilize when he's on the pitch. The way he receives and carries the ball and distributes it makes him an ideal candidate for a Pep-style false. 9, I think.

 

[domalino]

And the lovely thing is, he's quite good at this 'dropping back deep' thingy, though we know that since his Nigerua U17 days. It's definitely an asset we should utilize when he's on the pitch. The way he receives and carries the ball and distributes it makes him an ideal candidate for a Pep-style false. 9, I think.

Although I've never been overly impressed with his passing for the first team, which is surprising considering his history as a #10. I can't really think of any great passes he's made - maybe it's just a confidence/role thing and he'll start showing that side more with a run of games. He did drop back and start the move that lead to Nolito's offside goal.

 

[sir baconface]

Did anyone else think he looked different yesterday? Carried himself a bit differently?

I thought he looked like a senior striker, and not just an optimistic kid breaking through. His movements seemed more deliberate, and whereas in the past he's allowed himself to become peripheral, yesterday he dropped deep if the ball didn't come to him and demanded to be given the ball.

In taking his goal, he was confident enough to hit it early, in the past I think he'd have taken another touch, and smashing it into the top corner is a ballsy finish too.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I thought he was notably more assured.

Yes. The previous two substitute appearances he looked a bit lost. Not surprisingly either. This time he was perhaps boosted by the prospect of a few games ahead of him instead of scraps. Either way, it was a more mature performance.

His scoring record is pretty amazing yet we still aren't really sure what sort of all-round player he is/can be. I'd love it if we could find a way to engage him a bit more.

 

[domalino]

Yes. The previous two substitute appearances he looked a bit lost. Not surprisingly either. This time he was perhaps boosted by the prospect of a few games ahead of him instead of scraps. Either way, it was a more mature performance.

His scoring record is pretty amazing yet we still aren't really sure what sort of all-round player he is/can be. I'd love it if we could find a way to engage him a bit more.

The dream would be to find a way he and Aguero can play together the way Pep accommodated Muller and Lewandowski. Not to use all the time, but just so Iheanacho has more of a role in the squad than Sergio's understudy and can play more regularly than just whenever Aguero is ruled out through injury or suspension.

And what do we do if he scores a bunch of goals and is brilliant in the next 4 games but then Aguero comes back. Kelechi clearly isn't going to leapfrog him, but how can Pep just say well done and see you next time Aguero loses his head?

 

[Clercqs]

Although I've never been overly impressed with his passing for the first team, which is surprising considering his history as a #10. I can't really think of any great passes he's made - maybe it's just a confidence/role thing and he'll start showing that side more with a run of games. He did drop back and start the move that lead to Nolito's offside goal.

Against Palace in the League Cup last year. A good assist for De Bruynes goal, a fantastic pass to give Navas a clear chance (ofc he missed) and a lovely assist for Garcias goal. Hasn't showed great passing since that though but the quality is definitely there.

 

[domalino]

Against Palace in the League Cup last year. A good assist for De Bruynes goal, a fantastic pass to give Navas a clear chance (ofc he missed) and a lovely assist for Garcias goal. Hasn't showed great passing since that though but the quality is definitely there.

Don't recall the Navas pass but the two assists were pretty straight forward, one a cross across the 6 yard box and the other the kind of pass on a counterattack you'd be absolutely furious if he didn't make.



I think this is the best pass I've seen him make, and it's more along the lines of what I was thinking - the sort of pass you expect from an 10 -

 

[jon stakes]

The dream would be to find a way he and Aguero can play together the way Pep accommodated Muller and Lewandowski. Not to use all the time, but just so Iheanacho has more of a role in the squad than Sergio's understudy and can play more regularly than just whenever Aguero is ruled out through injury or suspension.

And what do we do if he scores a bunch of goals and is brilliant in the next 4 games but then Aguero comes back. Kelechi clearly isn't going to leapfrog him, but how can Pep just say well done and see you next time Aguero loses his head?

Given he's pretty adaptable and can play on the wings (I know - very overloaded, but he could well be better than Sterling, Navas, Nolito and is more ready to start than Sane, not to mention Moreno and Jesus incoming) - I would play him on the wings a bit. I don't think he should play AM given there is Silva, de Bruyne and even Toure for that role. If you look at the wings there is no world class player there (unlike in AM), Iheanacho may well be, so why not play him there?

 

[jon stakes]

I would really love more of this below from Kelechi. Can't help but feel that he's been told to keep it simple and will only start being more adventureous when his first team status evolves:

 

[jon stakes]

Oh, and interesting fun fact.
Where did Kelechi get the nickname 'uncle' from? Because he called all the older players in the team 'uncle' as per Nigerian custom, so the nickname is a bit of harmless blowback:

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/12/0...nd-other-man-city-stars-call-iheanacho-uncle/

 

[BlueMedic]

He's great, works hard, consistently performs well for us, and most impressively keeps his head down - could easily be making a bit of fuss expecting to play a bit more, but hasn't.

Great chance for him to show what he can do over these next 4 games, pleased for him.