[Albion] Carlos Baleba

[Van Cleef]

Ooff.
He was levels above EVERY player on the pitch.

This 100%. I'm amazed anyone could find anything to criticise about his performance.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I just don’t get this line of argument, which seems to surface every time late flags are discussed. How is the lateness of the flag in any way related to an injury? They could just as easily be injured after an early flag and a quick restart.

Of course, but it is a lot more galling for it to happen when the ball is effectively dead.

Given that these are likely goal scoring positions, I would suggest the injury risk is heightened.

As you highlight, an injury can happen at any time, but as a manager/coach you want the ball to be ‘live’.

 

[martin tyler]

Did the half dozen Ipswich counter attacks not concern you, they ripped us to shreds? JPVH I think last ditch saved us twice, whilst some awful finishing by them saved the day. So open to pace.

First half they didn’t really create anything bar the very first attack with a brilliant ball in the box.
They set up quite well I thought. 4 attacking all had pace and in Delap they also had a bit of power. We defended that very well in first half and pressed well when they went short.

2nd half there were 2/3 solo counters by them. The Delap one I think we may have under estimated his pace a bit, Hutchinson also had a decent run from half way. I couldn’t think of many others where we were opened up. There expected goals was 0.49 ours was 1.72.

 

[Flounce]

BEAST, that’s all

 

[Hiheidi]

 

[brighton_tom]

You can tell that he's really starting to believe in himself and his confidence in building. A joy to watch.

 

[Zeberdi]

You can tell that he's really starting to believe in himself and his confidence in building. A joy to watch.

It helps when you don’t have a manager telling the world and his wife in a presser that one day you could be the best midfielder in Europe but at the moment you are not even ready for the Premier League.

It seems he plays better when he has the freedom to carry the ball into the central midfield ->attacking areas than making him sit at the back as the one half of the CDM pivot.

That’s probably a testament to Húrzeler’s system of using players in a more fluid positional role and encouraging them to carry the ball into whatever area of the pitch play happens to be dictating - Baleba may not be the only break out player this season.

 

[pigmanovich]

Nominated alongside Minteh for African Men's Young Player of the Year:

 

[Mustafa II]

f*** me has this boy come good this season.

Every game he plays he utterly destroys the opposition midfield.

He's got tenacity - but he's all f***ing quality dribbling, passing and he's got a shot on him.

I'm gonna stick my neck out and say he is/will be CONSIDERABLY better than Caicedo. He's just that good.

 

[oldboyroy]

f*** me has this boy come good this season.

Every game he plays he utterly destroys the opposition midfield.

He's got tenacity - but he's all f***ing quality dribbling, passing and he's got a shot on him.

I'm gonna stick my neck out and say he is/will be CONSIDERABLY better than Caicedo. He's just that good.

He's becoming world class isn't he!

 

[slimes]

He destroyed there midfield!

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Just thinking how we’d have destroyed them if he and Joao Pedro had been fit enough to start.

Stunning player.

 

[Whitechapel]

I never thought I’d see a better midfielder play for us than Caicedo.

Carlos Baleba, I apologise for my naivety x

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

130 million

 

[The Optimist]

130 million

No. I want to keep him.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

I never thought I’d see a better midfielder play for us than Caicedo.

Carlos Baleba, I apologise for naivety x

And unlike Caicedo, he doesn’t seem like he’s desperate to leave at the first opportunity judging by his interview this week.

Absolutely love him!

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

I absolutely love this guy.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Let’s enjoy him whilst we can

Absolute unit and game changer

 

[Oh_aye]

Absolutely amazing player. The algorithm strikes again. I'm going to enjoy him as much as possible this season. Literally has no flaws in his game. When he goes I hope its to Madrid or somewhere abroad.

Enjoyed him bullying 1980s girl haired Kev De Bruyne at the end there too.

 

[peterward]

He's on the same trajectory as Biss.

Young, raw, looked a bit out of depth, needed time, got time, massive improvements week on week, now a top quality dynamic PL midfielder.

He's a