[Albion] Carlos Baleba

[DavidinSouthampton]

Bit unfair. Much as we resent the way it ended up with Caicedo, he's still a great player, easily one of Cheisea's standouts this season, and was fine tonight other than his usual cynical foul earning a yellow card. I suspect he was subbed because Maresca knew the game was gone and he didn't want to risk any injuries as they've relied on him so much this season.

I am still a Caicedo admirer! And I always thought his departure was more about the agent than him.
I am not a great analyst so just put it down to how Chelsea are using him and / or what’s going on around him. But Baleba was superb.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Made 3 shite passes to start then called down, had a whistle to himself as per and bossed it with his hands in his pockets as per.

Exactly, thought he was good but seen him play a lot better.

Thought Hinshelwood was excellent.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Bit unfair. Much as we resent the way it ended up with Caicedo, he's still a great player, easily one of Cheisea's standouts this season, and was fine tonight other than his usual cynical foul earning a yellow card. I suspect he was subbed because Maresca knew the game was gone and he didn't want to risk any injuries as they've relied on him so much this season.

This.

Don’t mind Caicedo, we got £115m….
Still a great player

 

[HantsSeagull]

i always wet the bed when BAleba gets subbed with 10 mins to go. Be amazed if he still here next year. Think he is better than Caicedo.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Right now it feels like Baleba is the one player we can’t do without. Every other position think we can chop and change and make it work, but he is immense, we’re definitely starting to see opposition players slightly shrink in his presence.

Jack was great next to him, but that’s what I think Baleba brings, Gomez, Jack, Ayari, Wieffer - they are all improved playing next to him.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

i always wet the bed when BAleba gets subbed with 10 mins to go. Be amazed if he still here next year. Think he is better than Caicedo.

I'm 100% confident Baleba will be here next year. Nobody has the money, or at least the PSR wiggle room to pay the fee we would want for him.

We have 13 games left to try to get the lad the european football he deserves

As for whether he is better than Caicedo. The question to ask is this. If Chelsea offered a swap deal for the two, would you be happy if we took it?

 

[Jim in the West]

As for whether he is better than Caicedo. The question to ask is this. If Chelsea offered a swap deal for the two, would you be happy if we took it?

One difference is that Baleba seems to have such a bouncy, positive personality - whereas Caicedo seems quite a shy, withdrawn sort of guy. Not a criticism - but I imagine the dressing room is a better place with Baleba.

 

[zefarelly]

He's turning into a consistently world class player

Thing is . . .Bissouma was that, but not any more . . . Caicedo . . .but not at the moment . . .ALi Mac is, amazing how players vary depending on team mates and management.

 

[Deadly Danson]

So why don't we sing the Baleba song.
" I'm a Baleba" monkeys tune of course..
He's our best player with the best possible song to be sung and it would be such fun if we could actually get organised and sing it .

Yep, for the 1000th time - for a player everyone is saying we can't afford to lose, no one can be bothered to start what would be a fun, easy and I'm sure, appreciated song.

 

[timbha]

The talent we have identified in that area has been incredible. Bissouma, Caicedo, Mac Allister, and now Baleba and home grown Hinshelwood. Not forgetting Mwepu.

And to think I thought Bridcutt was the business

 

[Uh_huh_him]

As for whether he is better than Caicedo. The question to ask is this. If Chelsea offered a swap deal for the two, would you be happy if we took it?

Amazingly, the answer to that is no.
Not just in a bullish, Brighton til I die way either.

I think Baleba has a more complete game, and is younger.

 

[ROSM]

One difference is that Baleba seems to have such a bouncy, positive personality - whereas Caicedo seems quite a shy, withdrawn sort of guy. Not a criticism - but I imagine the dressing room is a better place with Baleba.

I'd imagine a dressing room of Baleba, Minteh and Georginho is a bloody riot

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I'd imagine a dressing room of Baleba, Minteh and Georginho is a bloody riot

or possibly unbearable, depending on your tolerance of youthful high jinx.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Carlos (20) and Jack (19) bossed a £200m+ midfield. Staggering really.

But it was just as well we had Gomez and Ayari to bring on when it called for some maturity

 

[nevergoagain]

When you look at that talent we've had come in and out again it's insane. Baleba the latest and just as good as Caceido. Caceido in his last season for us was probably the best I have ever seen in the stripes but the money was brilliant and we got full value and some which has allowed us to move up a level with signings. Add Ali Mc, Biss, & Trossard into that mix and you have to think it's amazing we are still where we are.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

And to think I thought Bridcutt was the business

Well, he was!

To me, the greatest joy of watching this era of the Albion, even more than watching the world class skill we saw last night, even more than turning over scum clubs like Chelsea, is watching the young players develop. To see a player come in like Baleba, having barely played senior football, to watch some of his shaky initial performance, and then to see him develop into a what he is now .... which I believe is half way to being a genuine world star ..... gives me immense pleasure. Just to see the joy on the players face after a victory. The fact that my club can be the one the helps on on this path makes me feel amazing

 

[deslynhamsmoustache1]

The talent we have identified in that area has been incredible. Bissouma, Caicedo, Mac Allister, and now Baleba and home grown Hinshelwood. Not forgetting Mwepu.

And to think I thought Bridcutt was the business

Don’t forget the Swedish lad we have on loan he’s meant to be a bit tasty Malick Yalcouyé

 

[ChickenDipper]

Don’t forget the Swedish lad we have on loan he’s meant to be a bit tasty Malick Yalcouyé

He’s def not Swedish!

 

[ChickenDipper]

Baleba is def not all there and I love it

 

[Whitechapel]

Certain teams end up becoming renowned for being a conveyer belt of world class talent in specific positions. The obvious one being Atletico Madrid having an absurd amount of brilliant strikers in the 21st century; Aguero, Costa, Griezmann, Forlan, Torres, Falcao etc etc.

That’s us with midfielders. When Baleba goes and Yalcouye starts bossing midfields up and down the country I think the whole world will wake up and we’ll become the place to be if you’re a central midfielder who wants to jump from a middling European league to one of the big boys. We’re nearly there already but I feel like Baleba is going to be the one that makes it become an actual thing.