ASN: Key Ghanaian Gamers Are Struggling Forward of Brazil

Have to compensate for Ghana’s squad? You’ve come to the suitable place. Right here’s our first in a three-part collection detailing who’s scorching and who’s not for the U.S.’s Group G opponents.

BY

Blake Thomsen

Posted
Could 20, 2014
12:51 PM

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WE WILL HAVE A DETAILED tactical evaluation of Ghana as soon as they begin taking part in their pre-Brazil friendlies, however within the meantime, let’s check out who’s scorching and who’s not for the Black Stars heading into the World Cup.

THEY’RE HOT
These are gamers who’re coming into World Cup camp within the type of their lives, or near it a minimum of. Warning for U.S. followers and defenders alike: most of them are attackers.

Asamoah Gyan—striker, Al Ain

The previous U.S. nemesis is in electrical type for the time being, scoring an astonishing 14 objectives over his final 10 video games to carry his season whole to 37 objectives in 35 appearances. Granted, Gyan is taking part in within the Arabian Gulf League, however his scoring fee is spectacular nonetheless. Listed below are his two most up-to-date strikes, each from his final sport earlier than reporting to Ghana camp (the Gyan present begins on the :50 mark).

Critics can justifiably query the extent of competitors, however Gyan doesn’t appear fazed by the poor high quality of his opponents. “Since I moved here, my statistics in the national team have been really excellent, and I don’t regret coming to the UAE,” he mentioned final week. “And I have been scoring more consistently for the national team since I moved here than when I was playing in Europe.”

The person’s obtained a degree. His performances for Ghana have solely improved since he’s turn out to be one of many world’s high scorers, which isn’t that shocking given how assured he have to be each time he steps on the sphere. Gyan enters the World Cup in red-hot type, and he’s comfortably probably the most harmful participant on Ghana’s workforce.
Warmth Index: Summer season World Cup in Qatar

Abdul Waris—winger, Valenciennes
After becoming a member of French aspect Valenciennes in January, Waris ranked third in Ligue 1 with 9 objectives, underlining his terrific type in 2014. He added three assists as nicely, making him by far the most important offensive contributor on a woeful Valenciennes aspect, for which he scored or assisted on 12 of the 20 objectives it scored after his arrival. Right here’s Waris’ most up-to-date aim, which options an Aron Johannsson-esque lower earlier than a intelligent near-post end.

Simply 22 years previous, Waris has an actual probability to play huge minutes for Ghana in Brazil. Previous to this yr, he would have been anticipated to be far behind Kwadwo Asamoah and Andre Ayew on the winger depth chart, however his type in Ligue 1 will probably be laborious to disregard for Ghana supervisor Kwasi Appiah. Given Waris’ glorious type, there’s a slight probability that Asamoah could possibly be moved centrally to accommodate him within the beginning XI.
Warmth Index: Manaus

Andre Ayew—winger, Marseilles
The elder Ayew brother has rebounded fairly nicely after lacking about half the season with a knee damage. He picked up 4 objectives in his final seven video games of the season for Marseilles and scored the winner on Saturday, twisting to go dwelling Mathieu Valbuena’s cross after including some helpful touches within the buildup.

He’ll virtually definitely begin at proper wing for Ghana in Brazil, and Fabian Johnson (or maybe DaMarcus Beasley) could have his fingers full in conserving Ayew quiet.
Warmth Index: First day of camp at Stanford

Jordan Ayew—winger, Sochaux
Jordan Ayew noticed his older brother’s exploits within the final seven Ligue 1 video games and doubtless thought, hey, I can do this, too. Or one thing. Anyway, Jordan Ayew delivered an equivalent tally to Andre within the final seven video games, notching 4 objectives in a valiant however unsuccessful effort to maintain Sochaux within the high division. This good piece of chest management and slammed strike from final week’s loss to Montbeliard reveals the boldness with which the youthful Ayew is taking part in with for the time being.

Jordan is unlikely to start out in Brazil, however his current scorching streak means it’s possible that he’ll see a good period of time in its place. One factor working in opposition to Jordan, although, is his considerably weird disciplinary report. Although he performs as a winger—seemingly the least combative place on the pitch—Ayew picked up three yellow playing cards and a purple in his final 9 video games.

Warmth Index: Sizzling—emotionally too

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu—central midfielder, Udinese
The 23-year-old Agyemang-Badu picked up the tempo as soon as the calendar hit 2014, seeing much more minutes for Udinese and responding by delivering objectives and stable performances over the previous 4 months. His outrageous volley in opposition to Lazio was significantly memorable (surprise aim aficionados will notice its similarity to his Puskas Award nominated effort in 2012).

Agyemang-Badu is likely one of the most intriguing gamers within the Ghana camp. Typically a first-team choice for the Black Stars over the previous two years, Agyemang-Badu has seen his beginning place come underneath fireplace with the return of Michael Essien, and he now appears to be like an underdog to start out in Brazil. Is that justified? Most likely not, however extra on that later.

Warmth Index: Sizzling, however at risk of being cooled by his supervisor

THEY’RE MEDIUM HOT
On this part we’ll check out some gamers who’re taking part in nicely, however not fairly at their finest. Right here we’ll discover two of Ghana’s most essential gamers.

Kwadwo Asamoah—winger/central midfielder, Juventus
At Juventus, Asamoah performs virtually completely as a wingback, which permits him to get ahead often however asks a variety of him defensively as nicely. Because of this, his aim scoring and help charges are far decrease than a number of of his nationwide teammates, even when it could be honest to say that Asamoah is the higher participant. He notched two objectives in Juve’s final 14 video games, which isn’t too shabby for a wingback, however he solely managed three assists all season.

Ghana has often used him centrally previously, and given the glut of high quality and in-form wingers within the aspect, he could discover himself in the midst of the pitch in Brazil. All informed, given his distinctive mixture of power, pace, stamina, and high quality on the ball, Asamoah is at all times going to be an asset wherever he’s on the pitch. Nonetheless, U.S. followers and gamers is probably not cowering in worry about his potential attacking contributions.

Warmth Index: On the seashore in Rio with an ocean breeze

Adam Kwarasey—goalkeeper, Stromsgodet
Ghana’s No. 1 has been reliable if unexceptional within the Norwegian league because the starting of the Tippeligaen season. In 9 video games this yr he’s recorded three shutouts, giving up 10 objectives in whole. For what it’s price, Kwarasey has given up 5 objectives in three video games in opposition to high 4 groups. Admittedly that doesn’t inform us a lot, however maybe he’ll battle a bit with the elevated stage of competitors in Brazil.
Warmth Index: Properly and actually lukewarm

Christian Atsu—winger, Vitesse
Atsu has been OK for Vitesse, but it surely’s protected to say that larger issues had been anticipated from the Chelsea loanee this season. He solely managed 5 objectives in opposition to the infamously porous defenses of the Eredivisie, regardless of beginning virtually each sport. It wasn’t all unhealthy for Atsu, although. He nonetheless made time for some spectacular moments, with this slalom and sharp end the standout aim of his marketing campaign.

He additionally delivered a serviceable six assists, and he’s in respectable type for the time being, scoring twice in his final eight video games. With all of this in thoughts, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see what Atsu’s destiny is in Brazil. He’s obtained one of the best pedigree of any winger outdoors of Asamoah and Andre Ayew, however his typically lackluster shows within the Eredivisie might even see him consigned to the bench behind the aforementioned starters, in addition to Abdul Waris and Jordan Ayew.
Warmth Index: Beginning to consider carrying a jacket

THEY’RE DOWNRIGHT COLD
Are you a U.S. fan in search of a cause to be optimistic? You’re in the suitable place. Our three most distinguished (and coldest) choices on this group have a superb opportunity of being Ghana’s three beginning central midfielders in Natal on June 16.

Wakaso Mubarak—winger, Rubin Kazan
If Christian Atsu must be involved about potential taking part in time in Brazil, Wakaso Mubarak must be actually involved. Due to accidents and poor type, he managed simply two objectives for Rubin Kazan all season, which doesn’t bode nicely for his possibilities heading into the World Cup.

Nonetheless, Mubarak has at all times performed much better for Ghana than for his membership groups. If Kwasi Appiah values nationwide workforce performances way over membership performances—keep in mind, Jozy Altidore is the U.S.’s projected starter at striker, and never with out good cause—then Mubarak might see the sphere in Brazil.
Warmth Index: Shivering

Kevin Prince-Boateng—central midfielder, Schalke
When in peak type, Kevin Prince-Boateng is Ghana’s finest participant. However how about at his worst? We would simply discover out the reply to that query in a month’s time. The supremely gifted central midfielder has by no means appeared to slot in at Schalke since leaving AC Milan, and he’s spent extra of his time not too long ago choosing fights within the media with Germany than he has contributing on the sphere.

Regardless of taking part in virtually each sport, Prince-Boateng has exactly one league aim for Schalke since early November. And he hasn’t been setting objectives up, both, with simply two assists in 28 league begins on the season. Nonetheless, U.S. followers know all too nicely how harmful Prince-Boateng may be. Warning: the video beneath comprises graphic photos.

Nevertheless it appears distinctly attainable that the Prince-Boateng who reveals up in Brazil could also be a shell of his typical self. Contemplating he’ll possible play as a complicated central midfielder, he could battle to make an influence on the proceedings.

Warmth Index: Chilly, moist Wednesday evening at Stoke

Sulley Muntari—central midfielder, AC Milan
With 79 caps and 19 objectives to his identify, Muntari has lengthy been a stalwart for Ghana. However like his central midfield mate Prince-Boateng, Muntari has struggled for his membership workforce regardless of seeing loads of the sphere. He scored just one aim in all competitions in 2014, and managed solely two assists all season. It’s additionally price noting that his presence within the center didn’t precisely encourage Milan to play at a excessive stage, because the big-spending membership completed eighth in Serie A—a whopping 35 factors behind leaders Juventus.

To make issues worse, Muntari continued his historically poor self-discipline, accruing 10 yellow playing cards and a purple over the course of the season. He’s nonetheless extremely prone to begin in Brazil, however after such a poor marketing campaign, it’s tough to see him taking part in at or close to his finest.

Warmth Index: Hex sport in opposition to Mexico in Columbus in February

Michael Essien—central midfielder, AC Milan
It appears that evidently in each World Cup, age catches up with a legendary participant who then vastly underperforms, successfully ending his profession on the highest stage. Think about Fabio Cannavaro in 2010. Michael Essien looks as if a robust candidate to proceed the custom.

He moved to Milan on mortgage in January, and although he’s been absolutely wholesome, he’s solely performed 324 ineffective league minutes for Milan this season. As talked about earlier than, this can be a deeply mediocre Milan aspect, however Essien can hardly get on the sphere, with fellow underperforming Ghanaian Sulley Muntari in his method.

It was an identical story at Chelsea within the first half of the season. Even Jose Mourinho, who introduced Essien to Chelsea initially and used to start out him just about each sport—in a stronger Chelsea aspect, no much less—began him simply twice within the league earlier than delivery him off to Milan.

Essien appears to be like, frankly, far previous his prime. However all indications are that he’ll begin within the heart of the pitch in Brazil. Michael Bradley eagerly awaits.

Warmth Index: SnoClásico in Denver

What do you consider the state of Ghana’s squad heading into Brazil? How essential is a participant’s type main as much as the World Cup? Tell us within the feedback part.

Blake Thomsen is a frequent ASN contributor who has as many objectives in all competitions (Premier League, FA Cup, Capital One Cup, Champions League, and Serie A) as Michael Essien this season, however six fewer yellow playing cards. Comply with him on Twitter.