Player Topic: Kelechi Iheanacho (2015/16)

[Naija]

I've wanted him to do well since his first preseason with us because he has bags of potential and drive(that's a good sign) but especially now the rags have spent so much on Martial, Kelechi has to make it and become a top 5 world class striker so we can constantly remind them of it during "debates". :)

You'll be wasting his potential (as a #10) keeping him as a striker. Besides his insane finishing his other attributes don't really give an indication that he'll make a top Striker, not really much of a dribbler, not the quickest and not particularly physically dominant. His biggest asset that not too many people mention is actually his vision, something he hasn't been able to show too much as a #9.

I hear a lot of comparisons to Sturridge, but his style is more similar to that of James and Yaya mixed together, he's still extremely raw though.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

You'll be wasting his potential (as a #10) keeping him as a striker. Besides his insane finishing his other attributes don't really give an indication that he'll make a top Striker, not really much of a dribbler, not the quickest and not particularly physically dominant. His biggest asset that not too many people mention is actually his vision, something he hasn't been able to show too much as a #9.

I hear a lot of comparisons to Sturridge, but his style is more similar to that of James and Yaya mixed together, he's still extremely raw though.

absolutely we saw this when he came on against watford in that little cameo appearance

 

[Metalartin]

You'll be wasting his potential (as a #10) keeping him as a striker. Besides his insane finishing his other attributes don't really give an indication that he'll make a top Striker, not really much of a dribbler, not the quickest and <b>not particularly physically dominant</b>. His biggest asset that not too many people mention is actually his vision, something he hasn't been able to show too much as a #9.

I hear a lot of comparisons to Sturridge, but his style is more similar to that of James and Yaya mixed together, he's still extremely raw though.

Hang on a minute number 10? But not much of a dribbler? You need good ball control as well as vision for that role(yes he has both though luckily enough) and IMO any good number 10 can play as striker(Pellers thinks so too so I cant be the only one who thinks these roles require very similar attributes) and vice versa.

You clearly haven't been paying attention to the same things I have if you don't think he will be a physical type of player, for 18 years old he is very powerful(shrugging off people for fun from the first pre-season) and like I said his determination is evident(it sets him apart from all the other youngsters City have bought he has it in abundance), in fact he manhandled a Watford player in an effort to quickly win the ball back in his brief appearance at the weekend. His ball control/dribbling is fine to the point where I mistook him for Sterling on more than one occasion(as did the commentators... when he was deployed on the wing).

I have to disagree with you because I do see this kid as a Striker as his final position(he seems to enjoy driving at the goal rather than picking an intricate pass when given the choice of the two IMO) but he does seem versatile enough that he could probably play anywhere he wanted to up-field(might depend on who he's up against for competition). He may be listed as a number 10 now(according to wiki?... but it means very little with so far to go in his development, consider him a forward in the general sense is the best bet, so much can happen) but I can see him bulking up and becoming a powerhouse is why I say this(in fact it's a given he will bulk up some) but there's plenty of good strikers who don't need to over rely on physical strength too(he'll have it but it's not always necessary).

 

[Rolee]

When did Kelechi officially become eligible to play for the club?

 

[Naija]

Hang on a minute number 10? But not much of a dribbler? You need good ball control as well as vision for that role(yes he has both though luckily enough) and IMO any good number 10 can play as striker(Pellers thinks so too so I cant be the only one who thinks these roles require very similar attributes) and vice versa.

You clearly haven't been paying attention to the same things I have if you don't think he will be a physical type of player, for 18 years old he is very powerful(shrugging off people for fun from the first pre-season) and like I said his determination is evident(it sets him apart from all the other youngsters City have bought he has it in abundance), in fact he manhandled a Watford player in an effort to quickly win the ball back in his brief appearance at the weekend. His ball control/dribbling is fine to the point where I mistook him for Sterling on more than one occasion(as did the commentators... when he was deployed on the wing).

I have to disagree with you because I do see this kid as a Striker as his final position(he seems to enjoy driving at the goal rather than picking an intricate pass when given the choice of the two IMO) but he does seem versatile enough that he could probably play anywhere he wanted to up-field(might depend on who he's up against for competition). He may be listed as a number 10 now(according to wiki?... but it means very little with so far to go in his development, consider him a forward in the general sense is the best bet, so much can happen) but I can see him bulking up and becoming a powerhouse is why I say this(in fact it's a given he will bulk up some) but there's plenty of good strikers who don't need to over rely on physical strength too(he'll have it but it's not always necessary).

I wonder why you're so surprised? You do realize that's the position he was playing that caught the eye of city in the first place? And one can have really good ball control and not be much of a dribbler FYI. And where did I say he can't play as a striker, all I said is he wouldn't make a WC striker. And If you think his biggest is his physicality, then therein lies the problem....

 

[Naija]

I wonder who can spot Kelechi in this (taken way back in 2008 I believe) of our U13's.

 

[George Hannah]

When did Kelechi officially become eligible to play for the club?

When we bribed his Nigerian handlers to send the International Clearance Form on the 8/1/2015

 

[Bob Hope]

I wonder who can spot Kelechi in this (taken way back in 2008 I believe) of our U13's.

3rd from the end

 

[lancs blue]

When did Kelechi officially become eligible to play for the club?

Officially he was eligible to sign for City on his 18th birthday (October 3rd 2014) but as has been said the work permit and paperwork took a while to complete so I'm not sure if his formal registration dates from then or later.

 

[Metalartin]

I wonder why you're so surprised? You do realize that's the position he was playing that caught the eye of city in the first place? And one can have really good ball control and not be much of a dribbler FYI. And where did I say he can't play as a striker, all I said is he wouldn't make a WC striker. And If you think his biggest is his physicality, then therein lies the problem....

It doesn't matter he was what 16? Just as many players end up in a different position than where they started as those that stick with them(I suggest you take a look at our current team and see how many of them fit the former if you disagree). Where did I say Physicality was his biggest or most important "asset"? (I think was the word you missed out) I simply pointed out to you that A) He has physicality to his game you're blind if you haven't seen it(the way you put it implied it was a weakness which is absurd IMO) B) It wouldn't stop him being a World Class Striker if he didn't, there's been plenty with out it.

Also I think you don't have a clue what your talking about if you think ball control doesn't lend itself to dribbling because it certainly does(yes dribbling requires ball control, dexterity, speed and timing). Aside from that he isn't slow and he can dribble(again though this isn't the must have requirement for WC Striker either, he could rely on his movement, timing his runs, finishing. Strikers come in lots of varieties and playing styles) and like I said even the commentators have mistook him for sterling on more than one occasion(pre-season). It seems you have very narrow view of what a Striker should be IMO which is wrong.

We obviously don't agree and that's fine but I've reasoned quite well, you just threw out statements to which I countered with examples that show you haven't been paying attention. So at this point it's best we agree to disagree.