3 - Alejandro Balde

[JamDav1982]

Comparing Gerard Martin who has never been a main starting player in any CL winning tie ever to players that won the CL is not quite the big gotcha made out.

Even if it was relevant the point is not that there are some poor FBs these days anyway but this idea that football has regressed is nonsense and just 'it was better in my day' full of top full backs.

You dismantle nothing and the standard of full backs back then proves it was not some high quality period.

Oelguer won the CL and was horrendous standard.

CL is not just won in the final either.

Try again.

 

[Barcaman]

You are all over the place changing goalposts and topics. Usual.

Tell us again about your little list with Oleguer CL winner as "proof" of similar quality as is now.
As if being in the squad winning the competition is proof of any kind about quality across the board.

Catalan press might hail him as best in the world but truth is, Balde is probably 3rd- 6th choice for Spain. And for a reason of being obviously limited.

 

[JamDav1982]

Fake news.

Point was clearly made.

The top sides in Europe back then did not have the standard of full backs made out.

While the 'top Dutch side' didnt not either.

Oleguer being the starting FB for a CL winning side is laughable. The fact he came off in final backs me up not you.

The fact he may not have even been the worst FB in that game is even worse.. Eboue.

 

[Barcaman]

Only digging yourself further. Comparing defensive and offensive full-backs. Really?

As said, did not win that CL with Oleguer on pitch as Belletti came on for him and won us the match. Not that it matters anyway.

Players compared are likes of Sergi, Gio, Sylvinho, Alba. Not Costacurta (who played CB for 90 percent of his career anyway) or Oleguer.

And yeah, we were seconds off CL final with Martin as lb making 3 assists. Also doesn't prove anything but obviously shows you can do it with low quality players in first 11.

Nice fairy tale you believe about quality not being lower nowadays. Enjoy it.

 

[vuji_31]

He is decent.

But he is just one trick pony.

Ease to read and one dimemsional

 

[JamDav1982]

Point been well made and you are struggling and being full on Wurzel again so heres some Balde..

 

[te amo barca]

Only digging yourself further. Comparing defensive and offensive full-backs. Really?

As said, did not win that CL with Oleguer on pitch as Belletti came on for him and won us the match. Not that it matters anyway.

Players compared are likes of Sergi, Gio, Sylvinho, Alba. Not Costacurta (who played CB for 90 percent of his career anyway) or Oleguer.

And yeah, we were seconds off CL final with Martin as lb making 3 assists. Also doesn't prove anything but obviously shows you can do it with low quality players in first 11.

Nice fairy tale you believe about quality not being lower nowadays. Enjoy it.

ffs, stop spreading disinformation. 2 assists, not 3. And he had a mare in the first leg and could not keep up with Dumfries in both ties. And his error led to Inter's late equalizer. Balde's pace would have been essential in containing Dumfries and Inter's transitions.

 

[ajnotkeith]

Full backs have just never been particularly coveted players, it is the least technical position and probably the least important position for teams when building their squads, the only exception is maybe in some WB systems, other than that having fullbacks who are athletic and technically passable is fine for most teams.

 

[Maradona37]

Full backs have just never been particularly coveted players, it is the least technical position and probably the least important position for teams when building their squads, the only exception is maybe in some WB systems, other than that having fullbacks who are athletic and technically passable is fine for most teams.

It depends who you ask. Full-back has always been an extremely coveted position in Brazil. Nilton Santos, Djalma Santos, Jorginho, Cafu, Robert Carlos, Davi Alves, Marcelo to name just a few.

You can argue they are the exception, but especially in modern football with inverted wingers, much of the width is provided by the full-backs, and they're also very key in defending one on one against tricky wingers. They have a lot of work to do getting up and down the park and I think they're unsung heroes (heroes is the wrong word but in a footballing context).

I don't think Pep would agree with you that it isn't an important position. He seems to love full-backs.

Love a brilliant attacking full-back, me.

 

[Porque]

Without fullbacks, nobody can stand up.

Am I right, am I right?

 

[malvolio]

It's just that he is over hyped, that's all there is to it. Calling him one of the best around but he's not better than fucking Cucurella. Then having the nerve to mention all time greats while forgetting there were like 20 players better than him over the past 30 years.

When there's mention of better players we reverting to his age. I mean, make up your mind already. Either he is world class now, which means he is already good enough to be compared to top fullbacks of the past or he isn't.

 

[TheStig]

You can be world class now and not be close to all time greats. The standard in football right now is so low that is possible.

 

[malvolio]

You can be world class now and not be close to all time greats. The standard in football right now is so low that is possible.

We already been trough that. Conclusion was that we're just old farts blinded by nostalgia.

 

[JamDav1982]

Football is not at low quality.

Folk remember it with rose tinted spectacles. Refer back to the list of full backs winning CLs in the mid 00s. It awful and that was CL winning teams.

 

[FCBarca]

This guy is suddenly rated as one of the best around out of nothing really. He is only good when he has space and time on the ball to pass/cross. Otherwise he is Bamby on skates when defending and loses his head easily. A fraud.

I think his problem is more that he is not a natural/instinctive defender, more a player who relies on his physical skills to get out of trouble defensively. I do think his crossing is actually quite good, when he has time

But to summarily discount his speed or dribbling ability because he isn't a natural defender ignores all the advantages a lateral of his profile affords this Barça - it's tremendous. It's essentially the same role Davies had under Flick at Bayern and similar to how he managed Alphonso's workload to preserve that very vital & explosive pace

And frankly he has improved dramatically compared to under Xavi where he was often injured, assists alone he was essential last season but also Flick had a lot to do with getting the most out of Balde who had been underwhelming

Maybe he's not the best in his position but in this team? Who else could you replace him with? I think he needs competition and hopefully Torrents will provide it since there's a consensus that Alejandro has a level still to reach as a LB as he isn't even a regular with La Roja