₦airaland Forum

OkpaNsukkaisBae:
Ancient of days. Xavi lose four straight classico as Barca coach. Google is your friend

abduleez1:
True. Same Xavi also dash Madrid 3-4 straight losses before dem cast him format.

Mcleo007:
You guys, and even the coach, are way too harsh on Balde.

The one real setback he's had is his terrible luck with injuries. Almost every time Barcelona have reached the business end of the season and needed him most, he's ended up sidelined. That's hardly something you can hold against him.

People also seem to forget just how good he is defensively. In one-on-one situations, he's among the best full-backs in the game. For years now, he's been playing at left-back without a natural left winger consistently operating ahead of him, yet he's still expected to produce the same attacking numbers and chemistry you'd see in a fully balanced setup. That's not a fair assessment.

The criticism feels exaggerated. Balde has never struggled in La Liga. In fact, he's been a key part of multiple league-winning sides. His performances in the Champions League have rarely been a major concern either. You don't reach the level he's reached by being an average player.

If the coach decides he wants a different profile at left-back, fair enough. Coaches have their preferences. But let's not rewrite history and pretend Balde isn't an elite player. He's proven his quality time and time again. The injuries are frustrating, but that's very different from saying he's not good enough.

abduleez1:
Good thing some still remembers Balde's quality.
It's like some peeps here are trying to rewrite facts and make it seem as if Blade has been a bum for a while like Kounde.

Balde is our most defensive astute LB.... Whether na Cancelo or na Xavi Espart now get coach's favour.

Maybe Balde has been lazy, and probably hasn't grown past his abilities the last two years but he definitely isn't trash or not useful.

Balde truly has an unfortunate problem of always getting injured in crucial matches where we needed him most for two seasons back to back. And that's an annoyance.

Mcleo007:
You guys, and even the coach, are way too harsh on Balde.

The one real setback he's had is his terrible luck with injuries. Almost every time Barcelona have reached the business end of the season and needed him most, he's ended up sidelined. That's hardly something you can hold against him.

People also seem to forget just how good he is defensively. In one-on-one situations, he's among the best full-backs in the game. For years now, he's been playing at left-back without a natural left winger consistently operating ahead of him, yet he's still expected to produce the same attacking numbers and chemistry you'd see in a fully balanced setup. That's not a fair assessment.

The criticism feels exaggerated. Balde has never struggled in La Liga. In fact, he's been a key part of multiple league-winning sides. His performances in the Champions League have rarely been a major concern either. You don't reach the level he's reached by being an average player.

If the coach decides he wants a different profile at left-back, fair enough. Coaches have their preferences. But let's not rewrite history and pretend Balde isn't an elite player. He's proven his quality time and time again. The injuries are frustrating, but that's very different from saying he's not good enough.

jpmoriarti:
Why do you think Balde hasn't ever been called up for the national team even when he was performing at his best?

jpmoriarti:
Why do you think Balde hasn't ever been called up for the national team even when he was performing at his best?

abduleez1:
Back then I can easily chalk it up to coach's preferences. Cos I felt Balde could easily compete with Cucurella back then. Even Grimaldo that was largely inferior to Balde in his peak was ahead of Balde in the national team.

Everyone knows De La Fuente is mostly a coach who cares about hierarchy more than anything. Same reason Unai Simon has been failing upwards in the team even when Raya and Garcia had shown impeccable performances.

Mcleo007:
You guys, and even the coach, are way too harsh on Balde.

The one real setback he's had is his terrible luck with injuries. Almost every time Barcelona have reached the business end of the season and needed him most, he's ended up sidelined. That's hardly something you can hold against him.

People also seem to forget just how good he is defensively. In one-on-one situations, he's among the best full-backs in the game. For years now, he's been playing at left-back without a natural left winger consistently operating ahead of him, yet he's still expected to produce the same attacking numbers and chemistry you'd see in a fully balanced setup. That's not a fair assessment.

The criticism feels exaggerated. Balde has never struggled in La Liga. In fact, he's been a key part of multiple league-winning sides. His performances in the Champions League have rarely been a major concern either. You don't reach the level he's reached by being an average player.

If the coach decides he wants a different profile at left-back, fair enough. Coaches have their preferences. But let's not rewrite history and pretend Balde isn't an elite player. He's proven his quality time and time again. The injuries are frustrating, but that's very different from saying he's not good enough.

Techu:
Gavi is considering leaving Barcelona due to lack of playing time.


Liverpool wants to sign Balde, possibly in January.

One of Dani Olmo or De jong, may likely leave Barcelona after this season.
Certain of De jong.

Casado that one will surely leave.

Let all the players leave, all the players should be leaving. Flick is doing well.

Chasicolis:
Barcelona will likely collapse again when it matters if flick doesn’t rotate that left back position.
Espart is nothing to compare with Balde. Watch him being feasted against tougher opponents. I wonder why the praises when we are yet to play any title contending teams. If not Balde’s injury, we would have defeated inter that year.



Na this Balde una say no good, wonderful. Our loss against inter two seasons ago was attributed to Balde getting injured.

Hansi Flick love for Espart we shall see where it would end.
Na the game we dey watch.

There's no left back in the world aside Nuno mendes that contributes more to attack than Balde.

Left back is a very tasking position, those who play football knows.

I am glad fans all over social media are beginning to speak up for Balde. We ain't gonna lose a gem all because of flick.

To hell with flick.

AirBere:
If Gavi wants to leave, that's a normal thing. 7 players for 3 positions is overbooking.

As I said earlier, at the start of next season or the one after, one of these players will leave due to overbooking of midfielders. Gavi, Dejong, Rodri, Olmo, Fermin, Pedri and Bernal.

With all that said, I don't think Gavi will ever leave Barca lol.

UncleHaba22:
If Farinas begins getting gaming time it'll be over for Gavi
That guy will be more valuable than Gavi in that midfield

Radcliffeee:
Techu, good day.
I know this is you, I know your handwriting.

Wouldn't you send Balde your house address so he'd spend the international break with you?
The love is massive at this point.

Little Wonder,i never see that kin bromance,its worse than Cool and Clifford's...na woman sef,now the crush is understandable.

Bimmarlykay:
Little Wonder,i never see that kin bromance,its worse than Cool and Clifford's...na woman sef,now the crush is understandable.

jpmoriarti:
Gavi started the first game of the season and got himself injured after just 45 mins or so. And since he was gone, we have win all our matches while playing some of the best football we have played in years and scoring bucketload of goals.

I don't think that rumour is true though but he should know he has to work himself back to playing. Nothing is guaranteed for anyone in this Barca squad. And he has to do it fast because once Frenkie de Jong comes back, he will have to compete with him for Pedri's position.

Pedri didn't play well the previous match. So he must be ready to play better than him when he gets the chance.

Radcliffeee:
Techu, good day.
I know this is you, I know your handwriting.

Wouldn't you send Balde your house address so he'd spend the international break with you?
The love is massive at this point.

AirBere:
Gavi needs to settle on a role. He's been played as a false left winger, CM, DM and even AM. Since Flick took over, Gavi has played better as DM paired with Pedri at CM.

I think Bernal despite his huge frame plays better as a CM not DM. So far, Gavi should be Rodri's deputy with Bernal as Pedri's deputy.

Dejong is better as a CM and with Pedri looking shaky, ur DJ could be back in the starting lineup. Well, with Rodri on the pitch, Dejong may not suffer much.

Time shall tell....

Techu:
But I will not be shocked if flick bench Rodri, nothing flick cannot do.

Chasicolis:
Barcelona will likely collapse again when it matters if flick doesn’t rotate that left back position.
Espart is nothing to compare with Balde. Watch him being feasted against tougher opponents. I wonder why the praises when we are yet to play any title contending teams. If not Balde’s injury, we would have defeated inter that year

AirBere:

Based on Balde things abi.

Techu:
I tell you bro.

Techu:
I tell you bro.

AirBere:

He's benched again. Techu, which kind wahala Balde enter like this.

Go mountain go pray make them quickly sack Flick. Also pray make the new coach rate am ooo.

Classic 3rd choice situation. Only injury crises will bring him back but dont be surprised to see Jordi Pasquer preferred.

Techu:
Balde's situation can only be redeemed when he steps on the pitch.
Like I said he's performance would be analyzed.Until then, this tells you what kinda coach flick is.