📋 Here's how #AFCU23 lineup this afternoon in the #PL2 XI: Hein, Swanson, Medley, Clarke (C), Omole, Lopez, Smith, Cottrell, McEneff, Coyle, BalogunSubstitutes: Hillson, Alebiosu, Greenwood, Kirk, Dennis pic.twitter.com/C0Ha1ysSAd— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) February 1, 2020
Starts for the reserves: Arsenal: Hein, Swanson, Pablo Mari, Holding, Omole, Smith, McEneff, Cottrell, Balogun, Greenwood, Coyle.Subs: Clarke, Hillson, Medley, Ogungbo, Azeez.— Chelsea Youth (@chelseayouth) February 17, 2020
WHAT A GOAL! @FBALOGUN67 🔴 1-0 🔵 (16) | #PL2 pic.twitter.com/pBEPhmHNtu— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) February 17, 2020
This seems like the kind of prospect we could steal from England if we give him a shot. He has played for the US U18s before and he might find it hard to break thru to the senior team considering guys Kane and Tammy. Of course, w/o senior team time I assume he wouldn't get a chance. I hope the US at least offers him a chance at the Olympic Quals.
The goal: Another game, another goal 🔥👏 @fbalogun67 pic.twitter.com/ZTK18MXysk— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) February 18, 2020
Seriously... just sic. GB... steal this kid away now. At least McBride and Co should offer him a slot on the U23 Olympic Squad.
He's provisionally cap-tied, so it's a permanent switch away from England if he wants to play for us now. I'm guessing, based on nothing, that this drives the asking price above anything YNT-related. (England DNQ for the Olympics, for the record.) I guess Nigeria is also a potential player, though of course he's still theoretically U20-eligible for all three countries since it doesn't appear that he appeared for England in the preliminary round of UEFA U20 qualifying held late last year. I suppose that if he thinks he's out of the England U20 picture, we might be able to snag him given he's not locked down at that level yet. Just would be something of a surprise, at least to me.
Hard to say what HE would gain, because a) player development is as much art as science and b) I don't pretend to know much about the caliber of competition he's playing. *I* would gain because I think it would be funny as hell. And, really, it's all about me.
Huh, I always heard it was more art than science, though I once had someone tell me they thought it was more science than art, and anyway in each case I've yet to see a useful percentage breakdown between art/science. This only complicates things...
How long is he signed to Arsenal for? He seems like a candidate for a German Bundesliga loan/permanent sale.
Old Eddie Nketiah, who is about two years older than Balogun, scored for Arsenal today. At this point, a few months shy of his 21st birthday, he has perhaps 30 professional league appearances, not all in the PL, and a few goals. What would we think of a trajectory like that for Young Eddie Nketiah over the next two years?
📋 Here’s how #AFCU23 lineup this evening in the #PL2 XI: Macey, Swanson, Clarke, Mari, Medley, Smith, Azeez, Cottrell, Maitland-Niles, Balogun, Coyle Substitutes: Holding, Hein, Nelson, McEneff, Omole pic.twitter.com/ipTBoHmylA— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) February 28, 2020
Scores: WHAT A START! @FBALOGUN67 GIVES US THE LEAD🔴 1-0 🔵 (2) | #PL2 pic.twitter.com/wkwkygxA1L— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) February 28, 2020
Scores again: Goal for #AFCU23. @FBalogun67 races through on goal and slots coolly past Bazunu 😍🔴 2-1 🔵 (63) | #PL2— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) February 28, 2020
Folarin Balogun’s second goal from last night. As usual, it was Matt Smith playing him through on goal.Unfortunately, I don’t have footage of the first goal, so you’ll have to wait on Arsenal for that.https://t.co/y5K3fvWHnr— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) February 29, 2020
Folarin Balogun 2019/20:PL2 - 15 apps (13 starts), 10 goals, 4 assistsPL Int. Cup - 2 apps (1 start), 1 goal, 1 assistEFL Trophy - 1 app (1 start), scored in the shootoutTotal - 18 apps (15 starts), 16 goal contributionsGood stats considering his disruptive 6-week injury. https://t.co/XcRfKv3GeO— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) February 29, 2020
The goals: A couple of goals last night at the Emirates 🤳🏻🙌🏼. Thanks for the support pic.twitter.com/1ereGym5HD— Balogun (@balogun) February 29, 2020