By Abayomi Kalejaye
The crowd roared on and on with ecstasy, interspersed with
surprise, as a rangy Nigerian lad delighted the spectators with a performance
that resonated with vapours of glory and a paradigm of execution.
A relatively
unknown Kelechi Iheanacho, a midfielder by trade, had the Mexican U17
goalkeeper wishing he had been on the substitute’s bench instead after
conceding four well taken goals from the Nigerian lad. That match against Mexico
in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup effectively served as the launch pad for a
promising career that saw Manchester City emerge as the victorious suitor.
After impressing in the preseason, Pellegrini elected to
give Iheanacho a place in the senior team as well as opting against signing
another striker, thus leaving him as the second back up striker. As the season
panned out, the most starry-eyed fan could not have foreseen such a productive
season Iheanacho has had.
THINGS HE HAS DONE WELL
A 14 goals return (across all competitions) for a third
choice striker can certainly be classified to be absolutely impressive. Taking
to cognizance that he has racked up that figure in lesser minutes compared to
his colleagues, the potential impact he can make with more minutes certainly
makes for an exciting prospect. Interestingly, he finished with the best
goals-to-minutes ratio in the Premier League, ahead of Sergio Aguero, Harry
Kane and Jamie Vardy. The EPL Goals To Minute Ratio reads: Iheanacho - 93.88,
Aguero - 98.88, Sturridge - 122.38, Vardy - 130.79.
TOP 15/16 #BPL MINS/GOAL (min 5 goals):— Premier League (@premierleague) May 18, 2016
Iheanacho - 93.88
Aguero - 98.88
Sturridge - 122.38
Vardy - 130.79 pic.twitter.com/NfWrA8s23J
The 19-year-old clocked up
752 minutes of game time in the Premier League, scoring a goal every 93.88
minutes, making him the deadliest striker in the English topflight, ahead of
teammate Aguero.
More so, for a player of his age producing such tangible
output -despite being a midfielder by trade - in his first season, there can be
no doubt that he has indeed excelled above his compatriots.
Another pointedly upside component of his game is the
enthusiasm exhibited in involving himself ubiquitously in the crucial moments of
play, as well as striking a nifty link up play with his team mates - a factor
that influenced the oft static Wilfried Bony to be supplanted by the promising
Nigerian.
Quite admirably as well, he has successfully shown a great
deal of consistency in the minutes afforded him. Barring few games where he was
relatively anonymous, he didn’t endure a large spell of drought in goals and
form.
THINGS HE HASN'T DONE TOO WELL
For every goal, came increased worth, and more encomiums.
Then more attention. But, more criminally, Iheanacho's play became slightly
individualistic. Applaudable as his ambition may be, ignoring better placed
team mates for goal-scoring opportunities (and botching them in the process)
can only engender a counterproductive effect for his career.
Further, his resolve to elect for an individualistic style
of celebration has often not gone down well with his team mates, especially the
ones who did all the hard work to provide him with an assist. The fact that
established players who are naturally world-beaters in their position are
compelled to chase an emerging talent for every goal scored not only evince a
lack of deference and disregard for players of their status, but also portrays
an egoistic impression of his personality. When Arsenal legend Thierry Henry questioned the togetherness within the Manchester City squad by pointing out the lack of a celebration after Kelechi Iheanacho's equalising goal against Tottenham, he was pretty much stating what most people were already suspecting to be a gradual ostracization of the Imo-born lad.
"That's something that, I don't know… you scored a goal, go and celebrate with the guy. 'Let's go, get the ball back'. No one went to celebrate with him. He was in the corner there.
"I think Vincent Kompany went with him and someone else but that's it. Maybe I'm reading too much between the lines about that Man City team, but no one went to celebrate with him, that's a bit weird."
"That's something that, I don't know… you scored a goal, go and celebrate with the guy. 'Let's go, get the ball back'. No one went to celebrate with him. He was in the corner there.
"I think Vincent Kompany went with him and someone else but that's it. Maybe I'm reading too much between the lines about that Man City team, but no one went to celebrate with him, that's a bit weird."
THINGS HE COULD DO WELL
With the entrance of a demanding coach like Guardiola,
Iheanacho doesn't have any choice but to prove all over again his worth to a
new coach. There is a curious phenomenon that strikingly pervades the world of
football. There has existed instances where certain players performed
underwhelmingly for a particular manager but put up a positively different
performance for another manager - and vice versa.
While Guardiola may deploy a different formation and personnel to carry out his tactical plan, it's incumbent on Iheanacho to force his way into that plan.
While Guardiola may deploy a different formation and personnel to carry out his tactical plan, it's incumbent on Iheanacho to force his way into that plan.
On a less significant note, he may perhaps have to revisit
and rejig his celebration style in a way that it would not appear as a slight
to his colleagues who toil to provide him with an assist. If the likes of
Messi, Neymar, Aguero, etc, see reason to acknowledge their team mates, how
much less him?
Despite reservations and pessimism from observers on his
move to the Etihad stadium, Iheanacho is gradually forging a promising
reputation for himself. And only him can ensure it remains aglow.
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