Noah Okafor

[1964white]

Okafor had a long conversation with Farke prior to releasing this statement.

[Cjay]

Major Swiss publication Neue Zürcher Zeitung has responded

Describing the player as "once again taking himself too seriously" and that the player and Swiss footballing nation are well aware of the managers stance on "players who place their own importance above the team".

And the Swiss football team is unlikely to mourn his departure despite their best efforts.

They also speculate Murat Yakin had already spoken to the player and this may be Okafor getting the boot in first.

[BlackHillsPaul]

I'm fine with Okafor's decision. We've seen this with the Mexican National team over the years with top players refusing call ups. The most high profile of them was Carlos Vela. But also Chicharito Hernandez and others. if a player and Manager don't get along, or the Federation is corrupt or incompetent, sometimes players need to look out for themselves.

[1964white]

Major Swiss publication Neue Zürcher Zeitung has responded

Describing the player as "once again taking himself too seriously" and that the player and Swiss footballing nation are well aware of the managers stance on "players who place their own importance above the team".

And the Swiss football team is unlikely to mourn his departure despite their best efforts.

They also speculate Murat Yakin had already spoken to the player and this may be Okafor getting the boot in first.

So why select Okafor for their World Cup squad in the first place?

[Cjay]

So why select Okafor for their World Cup squad in the first place?

No idea

Was weird.

Maybe they thought it would be different to last time? Isn't the first time he and Yakin fell out.

[1964white]

No idea

Was weird.

Maybe they thought it would be different to last time? Isn't the first time he and Yakin fell out.

Yakin probably selected Noah to humiliate him.

Played a winger ahead of him who produced nowhere near Okafor form/stats in 2027.

[Cjay]

Yakin probably selected Noah to humiliate him.

Played a winger ahead of him who produced nowhere near Okafor form/stats in 2027.

No clue maybe Switzerland haven't much depth? Only a small country.

Then again a player having constant tantrums and releasing statements (which Okafor has apparently done before) seems like a bit of an egotist.

Would he do the same here if he was dropped for a while?

[1964white]

No clue maybe Switzerland haven't much depth? Only a small country.

Then again a player having constant tantrums and releasing statements (which Okafor has apparently done before) seems like a bit of an egotist.

Would he do the same here if he was dropped for a while?

Farke is full of praise for him, says he works hard in training & gets on well with the rest of the group.

[Cjay]

Farke is full of praise for him, says he works hard in training & gets on well with the rest of the group.

Wish he worked harder on the pitch

Defensively pretty useless.

Does offer a threat though

But I don't think releasing statements is a good look.

And given his agents proclivity for talking to Romano I suspect he'd have no second thoughts to letting everyone know he wasn't happy here if things didn't go his way

[The Subhuman]

Wish he worked harder on the pitch

Defensively pretty useless.

Does offer a threat though

But I don't think releasing statements is a good look.

And given his agents proclivity for talking to Romano I suspect he'd have no second thoughts to letting everyone know he wasn't happy here if things didn't go his way

Very similar player to Ramazani, both will score goals, both will beat players. Neither will offer much defensively

[DDB220]

No clue maybe Switzerland haven't much depth? Only a small country.

Then again a player having constant tantrums and releasing statements (which Okafor has apparently done before) seems like a bit of an egotist.

Would he do the same here if he was dropped for a while?

I agree with you on this. We shall see how he reacts if and when the new lad gets ahead of him in the pecking order.

[weasel]

So why select Okafor for their World Cup squad in the first place?

Likely only selected him so as to not have to answer questions as to why he hadn't picked him etc - especially given how well Okafor had played at the end of last season. Possibly also little depth with Switzerland so he then had Okafor available if injuries bit rather than someone with no pedigree.

Hard to really know where to aportion blame. Like Cjay says he wants to see Okafor work harder defensively for us and maybe that is Yakin's viewpoint too that he needs hardworking players in his formation, and to suit his tactics. The trouble there though is that Okafor's prime asset is his pace. If he has to keep working defensively then his body will be more fatigued and the explosive speed will be diminished.

Reminds me of when Leeds Rhinoes played the Bradford Bulls in the Super League Grand Final and from kick off Leeds kicked it straight towards Vanikolo - Bradford's most dangerous player. But it was so that we could clatter in to him, fairly. We kept repeating this so we were able to reduce his offensive output as he was too knackered to run at his blistering speed.

So to get Okafor doing more defensive work means he is far less of a threat attack wise. So you have to get the balance right and that is why I think in some matches Farke will start Aaronsen or Wilson instead so there is a better balance. Also likely why we take Okafor off after 60 minutes as the explosive speed is diminishing and the risk of muscle injury is increasing (you wouldn't expect Usain Bolt to run race after race for 90 minutes).

For me though it makes sense for Okafor to retire from international football as he clearly isn't going to get much action with this manager in charge. So far better to rest up and stay at home for a couple of weeks than fly around the world to watch a couple of matches.

Also worth noting that Farke doesn't tolerate disruptive influences so whatever is going on between Okafor and Switzerland we are not seeing that here - also great that Okafor spoke with Farke prior to releasing his statement. That would suggest that Okafor is not a disruptive influence here and not ego obsessed etc. He feels loved/wanted here and is in a very good team environment.

[1964white]

I love the Okafor song.

Sounds great in the kop.