Carlos Baleba

Trigestis said:
A few poor games, and that's it. Barely worth £10m :lol:

He dominated top midfielders in PL regularly last season, and you don't do that if you don't have potential or aren't a really good player.

He potentially saw his once in a lifetime opportunity and childhood dream slip away when Brighton said he was not for sale. I'm sure that would get to any young player. The question is now whether he has the mentality to rise again and be the player he was last season.
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10 million is obviously hyperbole, but Dele Ali is a cautionary tail. And there are many more like him. If, as reported, Brighton promised he could leave next summer, they better hope his form turns around at some point of there will be big trouble because if his season continues like this, clubs would be nuts to drop 50m on him, nevermind over 100.
 
AndySmith1990 said:
He's a young lad with some potential after one decent season. It's the sort of deal that should be a £40m punt, not a fecking £100m transfer. Football has well and truly been broken if people see that as an acceptable valuation for such a player
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He cost them about 30 million and they've developed him since to the point where lots of "experts" were saying to do the deal. On no planet ever will a club like Brighton sell for cost unless the player is a flop. Even in this terrible form given what he's shown last year he's still worth a "punt" at 60/70 like Rasmus or Sesko. 100 million was a bit bonkers to be fair. Caciedo looked a lot better of a player too any time I've seen them
 
Annihilate Now! said:
That was rough. Barely worth £10m... Let alone £100m.

Didn't look fit to lace Casemiro's boots
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This! No matter is his price 10 mil or 100 mil, if he is not ready to go straight in first 11 and make difference we MUST avoid signing him.

In midfield we need Cunha/Mbeumo type of signing. Someone go goes straight in first 11 and make difference from day one. Not another "huge prospect" player.
 
I've hardly seen him play, but everyone was waxing lyrical about him last season. Surely he's just struggling due to our interest in the summer?
 
Andycoleno9 said:
This! No matter is his price 10 mil or 100 mil, if he is not ready to go straight in first 11 and make difference we MUST avoid signing him.

In midfield we need Cunha/Mbeumo type of signing. Someone go goes straight in first 11 and make difference from day one. Not another "huge prospect" player.
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Agreed. Not only do we need players who can play immediately, we also need players who meet Amorim's desired attitude and intensity profiles. I have a suspicion that we will buy a midfielder who is completely off the radar among the usual suspects being promoted by journos and fans.
 
Spoony said:
I've hardly seen him play, but everyone was waxing lyrical about him last season. Surely he's just struggling due to our interest in the summer?
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Had a knee injury and pretty much missed the whole of preseason, on top of the transfer distractions.

He’s rotten right now but people are too quick to write him off. It wasn’t just last season, he’s shown huge promise the moment he started playing PL football and when Caicedo was still there and they played together, he looked the more technical player. That’s about 18 months of good PL football from him before this string of poor games.
 
Need to see how he gets on for the rest of the season now to truly get an idea of him.

Evan Ferguson looked like an absolute world beater and is now struggling. Baleba possibly the same but both are still very young and it would be silly to claim we dodged a bullet this early. Same for us to have spent so much on him at such a young age. We’ll just have to see how he copes with his first proper bump in the road.
 
Stadjer said:
Its weird. Almost like because we didnt get him, people have to make posts to write him off.

As a 19/20 year old kid, Baleba was dominating Premier League midfielders and this season he has not been great. Writing Baleba off like he cant become a great midfielder anymore is just stupid.
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No I think it’s more because his rumoured price tag was so high and expectations and hype became so high. He was being compared in the summer to Caceido, and people questioning why we just didn’t pay the high price for him. I think it’s now dawning on people he’s a 20 year old kid with good physical attributes but a heck of a lot of work required to get him anywhere near a 100m player.
 
We turned his head that's surely obvious to anyone.
 
lsd said:
We turned his head that's surely obvious to anyone.
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Has anyone’s head ever been turned this much? He’s been absolutely shocking. Can understand maybe a couple of bad games but we’re nearly 1/4 through the season now.
 
Carlsen19 said:
Has anyone’s head ever been turned this much? He’s been absolutely shocking. Can understand maybe a couple of bad games but we’re nearly 1/4 through the season now.
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It’s weird that if Brighton turned down 60+ million for him that he’s still on his original 10k a week contract. Usually the way these things work is you’d get a new contract and promised a move next summer to ensure players don’t check out. He seems like he’s definitely checked out.
 
Mickeza said:
It’s weird that if Brighton turned down 60+ million for him that he’s still on his original 10k a week contract. Usually the way these things work is you’d get a new contract and promised a move next summer to ensure players don’t check out. He seems like he’s definitely checked out.
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I don't understand your logic, why does the lack of a new contract mean he's checked out?
 
Above average athleticism + good close control (we need both desperately) but something seems missing technically.

He sometimes plays midfield like an athletic fullback that’s been asked to invert. His mobility serves him well but he probably lack a true midfielders intuition.

I’m find myself comparing him to early Camvinga and Baleba seem way less complete
 
Minteh seemed head and shoulders their best player. Though plays the same role as Mbeumo + Amad so wouldn't be needed.
 
Hammondo said:
I don't understand your logic, why does the lack of a new contract mean he's checked out?
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I see the point. Brighton tells other clubs that they value him at 100 million but they tell Baleba himself they value him at only 10k a week? As a spoiled professional footballer that could cause some resentment i guess. I didnt know that he is on just 10k a week though. I can imagine that missing out on a dream move and a wage increase to atleast 100k would turn your head and make you lose your focus? You might even check out in that case... not good but not impossible to see happen to a 20 year old kid.

Often players get a new contract after not getting the move that the player wanted. Especially when the wages are very low for Premier League standards.
 
McLvnsMuse said:
Above average athleticism + good close control (we need both desperately) but something seems missing technically.

He sometimes plays midfield like an athletic fullback that’s been asked to invert. His mobility serves him well but he probably lack a true midfielders intuition.

I’m find myself comparing him to early Camvinga and Baleba seem way less complete
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Really good description imo
 
People are going overboard with the negative assessment of his performance, he wasn't even terrible as some are claiming, he just wasn't quite impactful in that game. Despite a quiet performance, It was pretty clear as to why Amorim wants him and it makes sense. Our midfield is light(Bruno) and slow(Casemiro) and he'd bring the physicality required to play as one of the 2 CM, especially next to Bruno.

Despite a quiet performance he still showed the attributes that'd be needed for us. His recovery to Mbuemo, albeit fouling him showed what he'd bring to this midfield. Those attributes alone would be an upgrade over old Casemiro and he's only going to improve given his age(he's shown flashes of those and last year proved that). It's not like Casemiro is out there progressing the ball for us or taking care of it, so I don't get all the fuss about wanting to see him progress the ball in his last game. The hope should be with his form not quite as hig as last year so far, the price has dropped and is gettable in the 50-60 million range.

It's imperative that this midfield has some steel and physicality, add that and this team will be much improved and will allow us to press from the front even more. Bruno alone provides good creativity for this midfield, the issue has been us getting overrun and outdueled in that area when teams want to do so because neither of Bruno nor Casemiro are physical enough(Bruno too light and get pushed around while Casemiro is slow).
 
Santoryo said:
People are going overboard with the negative assessment of his performance, he wasn't even terrible as some are claiming, he just wasn't quite impactful in that game. Despite a quiet performance, It was pretty clear as to why Amorim wants him and it makes sense. Our midfield is light(Bruno) and slow(Casemiro) and he'd bring the physicality required to play as one of the 2 CM, especially next to Bruno.

Despite a quiet performance he still showed the attributes that'd be needed for us. His recovery to Mbuemo, albeit fouling him showed what he'd bring to this midfield. Those attributes alone would be an upgrade over old Casemiro and he's only going to improve given his age(he's shown flashes of those and last year proved that). It's not like Casemiro is out there progressing the ball for us or taking care of it, so I don't get all the fuss about wanting to see him progress the ball in his last game. The hope should be with his form not quite as hig as last year so far, the price has dropped and is gettable in the 50-60 million range.

It's imperative that this midfield has some steel and physicality, add that and this team will be much improved and will allow us to press from the front even more. Bruno alone provides good creativity for this midfield, the issue has been us getting overrun and outdueled in that area when teams want to do so because neither of Bruno nor Casemiro are physical enough(Bruno too light and get pushed around while Casemiro is slow).
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I don't think we're getting overrun in midfield. Casemiro has been very good this year, and for all we know, he may extend another year. Beyond that, there are other options than 20 year old Baleba at £100m +
 
Flashes were seen, potential is there but based off the limited footage I’ve seen, I prefer Elliot Anderson.
 
50m take it or leave it.
Having said that, Ineos got a shitstorm for walking away but seems the right decision. Shame we did not go for Anderson though
 
Escobar said:
50m take it or leave it.
Having said that, Ineos got a shitstorm for walking away but seems the right decision. Shame we did not go for Anderson though
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He's all potential, which I absolutely see, but it's risky.
 
First, we don't know if the reason for his poor display has anything to do with the links to United, many players have shown something for one season and never returned to that level, if it actually is the reason that's a bad sign because it shows how easily he can be moved from his center, that kind of mentality wouldn't cope well with the pressures of United.
Second, he's a bit too young. If we want to keep progressing immediately as a team we don't need a project DM, we need a ready made one, an Mbeumo type signing. Actually I feel lots of this young players move to soon. One thing is the player he can become another thing is the player he is now. Do we have two or three years to wait for him to get it together. If we're buying two midfielders say him and Anderson then that takes the pressure off a bit, a rotation of Baleba, Anderson, Mainoo and Bruno takes the pressure off him. I'll be wary though, we should always buy a player on the upward trajectory.
 
Trex said:
First, we don't know if the reason for his poor display has anything to do with the links to United, many players have shown something for one season and never returned to that level, if it actually is the reason that's a bad sign because it shows how easily he can be moved from his center, that kind of mentality wouldn't cope well with the pressures of United.
Second, he's a bit too young. If we want to keep progressing immediately as a team we don't need a project DM, we need a ready made one, an Mbeumo type signing. Actually I feel lots of this young players move to soon. One thing is the player he can become another thing is the player he is now. Do we have two or three years to wait for him to get it together. If we're buying two midfielders say him and Anderson then that takes the pressure off a bit, a rotation of Baleba, Anderson, Mainoo and Bruno takes the pressure off him. I'll be wary though, we should always buy a player on the upward trajectory.
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That's true but his potential is pretty impressive, some would argue this is the type of player we miss out on. Though he's clearly not ready for first 11.
 
I don't but he's not exactly comfortable in possession against United. Lots of missing passes and if I remember correctly, it was his missed pass that led to our first goal. Maybe because our pressing was great, but 40 year old Milner came on for him the difference was stark.
 
Ok I’m just going to say it, I think we dodged a bullet with this one.
 
I’d take him off the list unless he turns this form around fairly soon. The way he is playing I wouldn’t even pay what Brighton did for him.
 
He's not been great this season by all accounts but I wouldn't be writing him off just yet. See how he gets on for the rest of the season, if he has a stinker then fair enough.
 
Classic fan hyperbole. He's a top talent, there is no doubt. You don't hit the consistent performance levels he did, for as long as he did, and not be a top talent. He's going through a rough patch. Had some injuries, pre-season wasn't as complete as one would've liked, and he was at the centre of a major transfer speculation with United coming in for him. Being told to stay, despite United being willing to pay a massive fee, was likely a big blow for him personally. Especially with him still being on something like 10K a week.

I wouldn't read too much into it yet, it's only 9 games into the season, not all of which he was available for. Let's see how or if he gets it together over the rest of the season. Fan sentiment will change on this as quickly as the weather. In the summer it was a case of "pay whatever they want, 120m? so What? Pay it, we need him. He's worth it" etc etc. Now, after a few bad games and loss of form it's "he's not worth 10M let alone 100M", "major bullet dodged here" etc etc. If someone can go from one of the best midfielders in the PL to Championship standard in less than 10 games, then the people doing the analysis are the problem.
 
Clear has day his head has had a wobble, as would anyone at 21 when United make an approach. He is young and raw, decision making inconsistent as you’d expect from any young person in their career.

Would definitely not want to spend 100mill on him as of right now, especially where we need an instant Casemiro replacement. We fall apart when Casemiro isn’t on the pitch or is taken off (as we say on Saturday do that spell).

He is a few seasons away from that level, as you’d expect.
 
Mickeza said:
It’s weird that if Brighton turned down 60+ million for him that he’s still on his original 10k a week contract. Usually the way these things work is you’d get a new contract and promised a move next summer to ensure players don’t check out. He seems like he’s definitely checked out.
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He's not on 10k
 
InfiniteBoredom said:
Had a knee injury and pretty much missed the whole of preseason, on top of the transfer distractions.

He’s rotten right now but people are too quick to write him off. It wasn’t just last season, he’s shown huge promise the moment he started playing PL football and when Caicedo was still there and they played together, he looked the more technical player. That’s about 18 months of good PL football from him before this string of poor games.
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Caicedo joined Chelsea 2 weeks before Brighton signed Baleba, easy to look more technical than somebody who isn't there.
 
Would anyone object to us giving Mainoo for Baleba? No brainer if it can be done if you ask me, and it'd probably suit both teams given their playstyles. I wouldn't even begrudge us throwing in a few quid too.
 
AbstruseAlan said:
Would anyone object to us giving Mainoo for Baleba? No brainer if it can be done if you ask me, and it'd probably suit both teams given their playstyles. I wouldn't even begrudge us throwing in a few quid too.
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That would be a poor deal.

Mainoo is worth a lot more - English tax and younger, and probably a higher ceiling too. Secondly I don't see Mainoo wanting to go to Brighton. He'd probably fancy Chelsea or a club abroad.
 
I genuinely thought he was a 100m player. Class whenever I watched him play, the stats backed it up too. Not sure what happened this season, maybe it's a case of the United syndrome -- the club overall looks in bad shape and individual players don't look good as a result.

Maybe Hurzler will get sacked.
 
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