Crystal Palace Linked With MLS Sensation; A Good Deal?
Crystal Palace are reportedly monitoring Portland Timbers forward Fanendo Adi ahead of the summer transfer window according to Yahoo Sports. The Nigerian forward has caught the eye of Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew with his impressive spell for Portland Timbers in the Major League Soccer. The 25-year-old has found the back of the net 36 times from 79 games for Portland Timbers till date setting a club record and also helping his side to win the MLS Cup last season in the process.
Adi is currently the joint top scorer in MLS this season with seven goals from nine appearances. The Nigerian played a pivotal role for Portland Timbers last season with 20 goals in all competitions. Adi earned his first ever senior call-up for Nigeria for their recent AFCON qualifiers against Egypt thanks to his good run of form of late but he is yet to make his debut for the African powerhouse.
Adi has done well in the United States after failing to make his mark in Ukraine, Denmark, and Slovakia previously. The 6 ft 4 inches forward is known for his aerial abilities, pace, and brilliant hold up play. The Nigerian is blessed with a brilliant intelligence to make good decisions in the final third. However, Crystal Palace might have to struggle to get a work permit for the Nigerian due to his lack of experience in European football and also at the international stage.
Adi's influence in the United States cannot be put into question but it is debatable if he can bring his brilliant form to the South London club across the Atlantic. Adi is highly unproven and would be a big gamble from the Eagles. Performances in Major League Soccer should not be the benchmark to judge players and Crystal Palace should avoid signing Adi if they are eyeing him as a first choice centre-forward to lead their attack.
Lack of profligacy from the strikers has been the biggest concern at Selhurst Park this season. Connor Wickham has managed to do a decent job of late but that is far from what the Eagles need on a consistent basis. The less we talk about the rest of the forwards at the South London club, the better it is. Crystal Palace must, at the very least, sign a 15-goal proven Premier League striker next season in order to come back with a stronger season.
A deal for Adi would be a shrewd piece of business by Alan Pardew if he eyes the Nigerian as a cover for the first choice centre-forward they sign in the summer. Adi might turn out to be a hit in the Premier League but to take a risk, when you are in no position to take a gamble on the department you need reinforcements to the hilt, is definitely not recommended!
Buhari Speaking at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, taking place in Houston, Texas, they advocated for low maintenance and operational costs of existing assets, elongating lives of assets through proactive local supports, cost effective implementation of projects and utilizing local resources to reduce the overall cost. According to them, there should be cost reduction of operations and projects through local capacity development, indigenous working assets acquisitions, developing local expertise, low maintenance and operational costs of existing assets and elongating lives of assets through proactive local expertise. Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, Mr. Bank-Anthony Okoroafor, said there is need to leverage on existing in-country capacity, adding that Nigeria should vigorously focus on reserves and production growth, which has been on the decline. According to Okoroafor, if the country can leverage on proven Nigerian companies and in-country capacity building, proper implementation of the Nigerian oil and gas industry content development will significantly drive down the cost of doing business in the oil industry and cushion the effects of the low prices. “The industry has operated under the local content Act regime for six years now. There is the need to take a closer look at the implementation strategy to ensure it is delivering the desired value to various industry stakeholders in particular and the Nigerian populace in general, proper implementation of local content will lead to massive economic transformation of our great nation”, he said Also speaking, the Acting Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Daziba Obah, said that with the right support and environment, indigenous companies are in a better position to provide services and processes at much lower cost without compromising standards. He explained that there will be much more cost savings if operators develop increased project management capabilities to manage projects. “Operators will save costs by optimizing existing facilities and improving maintenance efficiencies” he said. Also speaking, Mr. Emeka Ene, Managing Director of Oildata Energy Group Limited, said there is need to develop the steel sector for local production of steel billets, coils and plates, so as to save indigenous companies from the declining crude oil prices. Ene added that government should accelerate gas infrastructure along gas corridors to ease availability of gas in oil and gas parks, oil and gas free zones and other manufacturing locations supporting oil and gas activities. “There is need to engage relevant agencies to foster cordial and seamless working relationship with respect to expatriate quota and issuance of work permit. There should also be a periodic industry-wide capacity audit of local companies to establish current capacities and embark on gap closure interventions. Research and development clusters should be encouraged to promote the development of home grown technology,” he said. The Chairman, PETAN Conference Committee, Mr. Ranti Omole, said that based on the belief of indigenous companies, the association is partnering to reduce cost of operations and projects in Nigeria through increased local patronage. According to him, “The industry has been undergoing challenging and turbulent period for the past two years due to low prices of crude oil and low demand. This has resulted in severe adverse consequences in the industry as well as on the economy of many oil producing nations including our country. This has led major players in the industry to rationalize their operations, seek efficiencies and cost saving measures to ensure profitability and survival of their businesses.”
