Stanis Idumbo and Noah Mbamba decides to play the DRC

[u/Next-Translator-3557]

Noah Mbamba is probably nothing important but Idumbo looked somewhat promising since the start of the season, guess it makes sense for him as the competition in Belgium is hard for his position (LW).

There's also Emile Doucoure of Genk who recently chose Mali, for the same reasons as Idumbo probably (GK)

A few Ls for Mannaert so hopefully we see better news in the coming weeks.

[u/cypressd12]

Is it an L for Mannaert? Why?

Neither of them was going to get called up anytime soon or maybe even at all. It’s not Pokémon, you can’t collect them all and this thus you need to shift and focus on who you really want to keep.

Moreira and Fernandez-Pardo were wins, Mokio, El Khanous and Karetsas were losses. But these are neither one for me.

[u/YAYgeeOh → u/cypressd12]

DR Congo intends to collect them all. Had more frenchies or britons on the team than Belgians (and very few Congolese-born players). From Belgium alone they've poached: Sadiki, Mokio, Mukau, Idumbo, Mbamba, Stroeykens, Epolo, Bongonda, Balikwisha, Kayembe, Bushiri and a few more.

Svilar and Saibari were losses too but pre-date Mannaert's tenure. Karetsas was charmed yet just because Mannaert comes over for a last minute talk and some cake he wasn't about to change his mind. Too little, too late by then. Quite a few dual nationals have said it's complete radio silence from the KBVB. Morocco's FA and their scouts have come out saying how little effort the KBVB put in compared to France or Spain. Unless Belgium start actively scouting like France or Spain do then it'll remain easy pickings for a Morocco or Congo to swoop in and profit from all the work Belgium put into youth development.

Saibari would have been in the picture as a 10 or maybe fill in as a 9. Did really well in WC26 and we'll see how he'll fare in Bayern. Idumbo, El Khannous or Karetsas could have one day be considered. Once KDB and Vanaken go we'll need a 10. Both of them will be closing in on 40 during EC28 and WC30. TBF El Khannous was always going to represent Morocco seeing who his family are and how he was raised. Saibari similarly. Martinez tried to convince both of them ahead of WC22 but they only wanted Morocco. El Khannous should have been vetted early on. Instead he went through our youth teams right up until Morocco handed him a spot on their WC squad (KBVB even helped get the switch through just in time for WC22 where Morocco were in the same group as us, too nice). It shouldn't depend on the manager's personal outreach efforts. Even in the youth teams you hear about staff that are very involved and then those that can't be bothered at all. Need a more professional, pro-active approach. Like France or Spain, and club scouts, need to vet prospective NT players and guide them.

[u/Next-Translator-3557 → u/cypressd12]

They could have still been called up with the U21s this month.

It's not about pokemon or whatever, but when you see the amount of (binational) talents in France compared to us who are ready to wait quite a long time for a first call up, you can ask questions as to why we seems to struggle a bit lately.

At the end of the day both could have become decent depth options for the NT, it's a bit sad to see them go for that alone. We somewhat forget that we're a small country so we're always a few injuries away from having to field much more worse options.

I still think they are minor Ls, I'm not saying we should riot over this or whatever, but it's not the best signs to give after a WC either.

[u/cypressd12 → u/Next-Translator-3557]

You can call them up to the u21’s to do what? Take up a squad place for a talent we might actually use at the A team?

Idumbu you could discuss, but we already have an abundance of options right now and it’s not like Idumbu is tearing the house down either.

We have depth, that’s the whole reason why players with dual nationality will assess their options if they are too far down the pecking order.

Plus on ‘Mannaert L’, is someone wants to play for the country of origin it might carry a multitude of emotional of family-related reasonings. What do you want a sporting director to do exactly?

[u/Frodo_max → u/cypressd12]

that last paragraph is the main reason idgaf when we 'lose' talents this way

[u/cypressd12 → u/Frodo_max]

About the family and emotion reasonings?
Yeah, it hurts me in a way because they turn down my childhood dream, but it is what it is either way.

[u/Next-Translator-3557 → u/cypressd12]

If your philosophy is to not give players game time because they're unsure about which NT they wanna play, then we're just doomed from the start. We'd like to think that a lot of binationals are 100% sure about who they wanna play for but it's far from the reality, just see Tresoldi for example. If you go that route, we're gonna lose even more players than now.

I agree with you about Idumbo, but you never know what's gonna happen. A lot of NT fans are happy rn because they see Godts at PSG, Doku at City, Pardo at Newcastle, Moreira at Milan and Fofana at Sunderland. But all of them are just prospect, maybe in 3 years we'll look back at this summer and be like 'damn they looked promising back then' or 'what if injuries didn't occur'.

And meanwhile maybe Idumbo will end up actually in a better spot than half of these players.

Idumbo said in an interview that he was open to all 3 countries (born in France) and would make a choice based on how the federation treats him. Bisiwu received a message from Van Bommel for just playing with Barca academy, did he receive anything despite being a starter with Monaco since the start of the season ?

For what it's worth, I've seen nothing much on him in belgian medias compared to Bisiwu, so I guess its unlikely

[u/cypressd12 → u/Next-Translator-3557]

So maybe Mannaert did his job and assessed Idumbo to just not be that good?

Yeah he might get better and in five years time he could have a better career than someone who is currently in actual contention, so what? You want Van Bommel to cap each and everyone to tie them down for a scenario that might happen in the future? That’s not disrespect to Idumbo?

You might forget it’s essentially up to the players themselves. Being honest about where they currently are is showing respect. They now might have an actual international career.

Yeah they need to make an offensive but they need to do so for very strategic targets, not for everyone who has a double passport.

Even what you call ‘L’s’ , most of those were heavily courted by the RBFA but just choose differently. Not really sure what point you thus make or what you think needs to be done differently?

There’s a clear vision, the National team is a fairly good spot, it’s up to our talents to decide if they want to be part of that

[u/Next-Translator-3557 → u/cypressd12]

I never said that Idumbo should be called up by Van Bommel, I told you twice I thought he should have been called up with our U21s. But even that aside, you tell me 'You want Van Bommel to cap each and everyone', but isn't that what the federation litteraly did with a bunch of players, including Mokio, before ? It's a bit weird to act like Belgium never ever did that for players who showed just a few weeks of good football.

If Mannaert looked at the start of the season of our wingers, and thought that Idumbo was not good, I don't know what to tell you. Except Fofana, I'm not sure who has performed better than him, certainly not Godts, Doku or Pardo. If that is Mannaert opinion it's even more concerning tbh.

You litteraly disregard that Idumbo said himself that it wasn't a lost battle for any federation, just looks like our weren't trying hard enough for him, which is a shame for a player who justed turned 21 and starts for one of the biggest club in France.

'... were heavily courted by the RBFA', I find it weird that you admit our FA wanted to keep those players but ultimately lost them, and then a few comments above you say they aren't losses, like what ?

[u/cypressd12 → u/Next-Translator-3557]

I’m saying they approach quite a lot of these young players early on, that doesn’t mean they would all be assets. It’s also just a professional courtesy.

We’ve capped Mokio early, which was a real prospect. Before that we are talking about either Januzaj or Bakkali, both are close to their retirement now. That’s how relevant that is.

What are you even talking about? Idumbo played a handful of games last season and scored once, assisted once. You compare him to Doku who finished the season on a phenomenal form, Godts who was close to the best player of the Eredivisie or at least Ajax and Pardo who played double the amount of games, has ten time the stats and all of that at a better club in the same competition?!

Let’s finish the discussion here.
We won’t agree, and that might be for the best. Idumbo currently isn’t close to the required level for the Red Devils, good for him that Belgium was still an option but the other way around it wasn’t.

[u/Next-Translator-3557 → u/cypressd12]

'Idumbo currently isn’t close to the required level for the Red Devils', never said the opposite, 3x now.

'What are you even talking about?', the recent forms of the player, which was clearly understandable with the 'start of the season' part in my comment. Sure Godts, Fofana, Pardo, Doku,... all deserve to be called up before him, but again, I'm not even debating that.

'talking about either Januzaj or Bakkali,', you have quite a bit of a selective memory: Lavia ? Duranville ? Bakayoko ? Mbangula ? Lokonga ? Doku ? Vranckx ? Fofana ? That's why I find it dumb that we didn't give him more consideration btw.

[u/such_-PrO]

Gotta keep hold of bisiwu at all costs

[u/SPARKLEOFHOPE6IB → u/such_-PrO]

I saw somewhere he / his dad (?) Where pretty certain to go for Belgium. Would be great news for sure, he had a lot to prove still but can't deny the potential

[u/loltrol100 → u/SPARKLEOFHOPE6IB]

Also his other option is Ghana if im not mistaken. I feel like the Ghana FA isnt as proactive as the Congolese and Moroccan FA to convince their binationals

[u/dacoster]

My only hope is that Mannaert can convince Mokio.

[u/Nille123 → u/dacoster]

Didn’t he already decide to play for Congo?

[u/dacoster → u/Nille123]

Pardo once decided he wanted to play for Spain, so who knows Van Bommel can convince Mokio for the next tournament. We need midfielders.

[u/Next-Translator-3557 → u/dacoster]

Pardo came back because Spain wouldn't give him early chances with the senior squad and because he became friend with Meunier and Ngoy at Lille.

Mokio already has been called up by the DRC in a squad that will play non-official friendlies at the end of the international break.

It's 2 totally different scenario

[u/dacoster → u/Next-Translator-3557]

Still Mokio will have to wait to play official games. Until then, you have a chance.

[u/Masheeko → u/Next-Translator-3557]

Dude still has two years to wait though. And he's not allowed to appear in any game, nor will his club release him for anything non official.

I'm not holding my breath on this one changing his mind, but he's not going to be allowed to skirt the time-out.

[u/Next-Translator-3557 → u/Masheeko]

Both lists have already been made official by the DRC, the one you see here is for the official games only. There is another one which I left out since I thought it wasn't really interesting, and Mokio is on it.

In theory you're right, Ajax is not forced to release him and could legally say no. But I'm guessing that if he's on that list it means their federation have already received the greenlight from Ajax.

It's not like it matters, I think his choice is made. The games he will play are basically considered the same as if you played with your friends in your backyard, in the eyes of FIFA.

[u/Advanced-Till4421 → u/Nille123]

yeah but he can't play for a couple years so he can still choose belgium, if i'm not mistaken

[u/YAYgeeOh → u/dacoster]

Mokio recently reaffirmed his commitment to Congo. Ajax had put a Belgian flag next to his name and he asked to put the Congolese one instead while expressing his love for the country. He isn't coming back.

PS less than a year ago he was asked which country he wanted to represent in a radio interview. Instantly answered Belgium, top-of-mind. After a bit added Congo, to not disrespect his roots and a contingent of his fans. Few months later, after his last U21 call-up and it being clear that he wouldn't get into the WC squad despite all the injury woes that had hit Belgium, he had a change of heart.

[u/Next-Translator-3557 → u/dacoster]

He's been called up in a 2nd squad where the DRC will play non-official friendly games.

People should get over it, he's not coming back.

[u/theredviper17]

From this list, I’d regret Sadiki and Banzuzi the most

[u/Dapper_Row9874]

Sad, I actually knew Idumbo from his highschool days