Me too. Thought Hinsh was ok but Ayari struggled and largely at fault for the goal with a poor pass putting us in trouble. Baleba has to be first name on team sheet no matter the opposition. He’s amazing.
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[Albion] Carlos Baleba
- Thread starter worthingweird
- Start date
severnside gull
Well-known member
Watching Haaland bounce off him was a joy
Munchkin
Well-known member
Having enjoyed Bissouma, been wax lyrical about Caicedo.
I honestly believe Baleba is better than both of them.
Absolute class. Without doubt the next £100m player in our ranks.
I honestly believe Baleba is better than both of them.
Absolute class. Without doubt the next £100m player in our ranks.
sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 4,083
To be honest, the game changed after they scored when Guardiola changed their shape in midfield and pulled Lewis into a more traditional full back role, despite the fact that he’d been the best player on the pitch in the first 20-25 minutes.
It wasn’t that they were bad first half, they were just utterly tactically and numerically outmatched for much of it.
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
Love the guy, magnificent
Sussexscots
3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 3, 3, 3, 3 ,3 ,3 3 coach chuggers
Turned the game on our favour. Bossed the midfield with, it has to be said, seeming ease and our attacks started to carry real threat.
Genuinely excited to see what we might achieve with him and O'Riley paired in central midfield plus also having Hinshelwood and Ayari.
Still flying past match. The beer has rarely tasted sweeter. What an evening!
Genuinely excited to see what we might achieve with him and O'Riley paired in central midfield plus also having Hinshelwood and Ayari.
Still flying past match. The beer has rarely tasted sweeter. What an evening!
GoldstoneVintage
Active member
The fact is, Hinch and Ayari were never meant to be our starting pair of mids, but for injuries. My hope now is that Baleba and O'Riley will stay fit as our first choice pairing, thus giving the aforementioned youngsters the time and space to develop under somewhat less pressure.
Munchkin
Well-known member
If Dunky, Minteh, Milner, March and Kadioglu are all going to be fit and available in the coming weeks we have some exceptionally good footballers that won’t make our squad let alone the starting XI
Genuinely exciting times.
O’Riley and Baleba as a central midfield partnership…. Just wow.
Genuinely exciting times.
O’Riley and Baleba as a central midfield partnership…. Just wow.
GrizzlingGammon
Well-known member
- Dec 15, 2018
- 1,996
As I said on the match day thread, he seemed to be Bisouma and Caicedo, with a bit of Maradona's dribbling skills.
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 16,062
And yet some say we should've kept Billy and shouldn't have sent Goodnight out on loan...
As for Baleba, I said when I first saw him that, even though he was REALLY raw, he had the potential to be better than Bissouma and Caicedo. He's getting there faster than I thought! Simply outstanding today.
To come back so quickly after such a shocking tackle and surgery suggests he’s made of tough stuff.
Listen to what Fab says post-match
BN41Albion
Well-known member
- Oct 1, 2017
- 6,829
Would be nice if we could keep him beyond this season, though
I sent my non Brighton supporting mates this message in September last year after his debut. They have said we are the new saints for years. One sale from being doomed. I hope I got the 2 years thing wrong but if I was right I hope the amount is correct.
We had another debut yesterday. Baleba is his name. New bissouma/caicedo. Selling in 2 years for 180 million
We had another debut yesterday. Baleba is his name. New bissouma/caicedo. Selling in 2 years for 180 million
Magnificent performance. Reminds me of a young Vieira in his prime. Brilliant going forward, defending, exudes energy and purpose. Loves a tackle and can shoot! And as somebody else said, he energised the whole team. As good as he is now, he's surely going to get better.
Some of his attacking passes today were a revelation.
veuve
Well-known member
- Jun 27, 2015
- 702
Gomez coming in January,v exciting times.
I find it hilarious that Baleba (signed at 19 for €27m) and João Pedro (signed at 21 for £30m) could easily be seen as bargains at those prices.
It's a real sign that our transfer strategy hasn't changed. We're still signing value, just maybe at different levels
It's a real sign that our transfer strategy hasn't changed. We're still signing value, just maybe at different levels
SeagullinExile
Well-known member
This is what O’Riley had to say on our Carlos after the game -
"He is strong. To put it simply he is an absolute beast. It's nice to play alongside someone like that because he just smashes everyone and makes my life quite easy."
Says it all really!
"He is strong. To put it simply he is an absolute beast. It's nice to play alongside someone like that because he just smashes everyone and makes my life quite easy."
Says it all really!