3 - Alejandro Balde

[Don Juan Laporta Estruch]

Looks like his excellent performances and general improvement are continuing to go under the radar, with the lack of acknowledgement here.

 

[jamrock]

Needs to improve in defense, but that's coming, he's been out for 10 months, everything else has been good.

 

[FCMessi]

keep it up

 

[Barcaman]

Solid match. Due to Flick's pressing scheme, our flanks are often weak spots for opponents to exploit.
I think he did well do contain danger.

 

[Windhook]

Balde has improved defensively, but in attack plays as our true LW, Raphinha playing more central, and still crosses the ball chaotic.

 

[FCMessi]

Someone needs to tell Balde to stop the hands behind the back defense Roberto always did even 20 yards away from the box.

you are immediately 0.5 to 1 step behind the winger pulling the Roberto defense.

 

[FCBfan22]

Solid. Had some iffy minutes in the 1st half, but otherwise a good game.

 

[El Ilusionista]

Bad first half, solid second. Flick needs to make this guy train on crossing. We have been spoilt for years by Alba who had a crazy passing/crosses. Needs to watch some vids of Alba. (except that Anfield lol)

 

[FCBarca]

Consistency, I'd like to see that - he had moments of brilliance and others where he switched off. The eye for the pass to Dani though, La Masia effect

 

[Don Juan Laporta Estruch]

Another great game. People keep talking about his crossing and I'm not saying they are wrong, but let's have some context.

The best left backs in the past few years have all struggled with their crossing. Theo, Davies, Robertson, Mendes, none of them are significantly better crossers of the ball than Ale.

People talk about Alba but his crossing was just as erratic. It's just that he had an exceptional connection with the best player of all time, who he would cut the ball back to on the edge of the area to pick up assists.

A full back who is great at crossing is an exception rather than the norm. Ale is coming along nicely and as far as young left backs go, I wouldn't swap him for no-one.

 

[Masetro10]

Fellow Culers,
Awesome start of this promising season. I just have one concern--the left back. To be honest, Balde has always appeared that he can't defend and always vulnerable. Can we do something before this week ends? We need an experienced left back who can compete with Balde. Let's act NOW!

What kinda BS is this?

 

[FCMessi]

held his ground 10 on 11 for 80 min at Monaco.

 

[SeloBarca]

really poor in defence, got easily ran past.

 

[ZenI]

Not great in defense no, but not terrible. He was alright in attack though. I think it's the way we're going to play under Flick, we're going to press and defend far from goal and try to win the ball back - but it might get shaky against better teams if they get trough our press. We should do better with Gavi and FdJ back sorting out better cover and help for Balde and the team as a whole - but Balde will get exposed during the season.

 

[TacticsTim]

Absolute disaster. Afraid to make a tackle and completely destroyed the whole game