Folarin Balogun at AS Monaco

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by Rahbiefowlah, Apr 4, 2018.

  1. nycfc919

    nycfc919 Member+

    Aug 17, 2015
    Yeah we would’ve had to make a speculative call up fairly early; problem being, he had hardly any pro games before this loan. We weren’t going to blood an academy player in qualifying and it was too late by the time we got to pre-WC tune ups. Although I suppose you could make an argument that, given how he’d looked early season in Ligue 1, he deserved a call up for the tune ups. But we had forwards with NT experience who were in decent form we needed to see.

    Feels like one where a lot of NT fans will look back with in the rearview mirror raving about how he should’ve been called in because XYZ forwards ~suck.
     
  2. theboogeyman

    theboogeyman Member+

    Jun 21, 2010
    I’d love to have him, but only if it’s where he really wants to be. It seems to me that he is going to wait things out with England, so I’m not going to get too invested in seeing what happens.
     
  3. theboogeyman

    theboogeyman Member+

    Jun 21, 2010
    Yeah he didn’t really deserve a call up until this fall. Berhalter could’ve possibly offered him a spot in Qatar, but that could’ve understandably upset some folks in the locker room, given what others had achieved with their clubs and contributed to the national team.
     
  4. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    Contributed, yes, like Pepi. "Achieved with their clubs" is a reach.
     
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  5. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    He had 31 first-team appearances plus 6 EFL Trophy appearances with the Arsenal U21s prior to moving to Reims.

    I'm not saying that he deserved a call-up prior to this loan, but he had quite a bit of first-team experience.

    The issue for the US is that he rightly thinks that he's good enough to play for the country he identifies with.
     
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  6. gomichigan24

    gomichigan24 Member+

    Jul 15, 2002
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You can’t outright promise a spot with hurting team chemistry, but you can tell someone where you see them in the pecking order and that they have a great chance of making it if they switch. And from what we’ve heard Berhalter was pitching Balogun to make the switch. But I don’t think he’s quite ready yet and him not switching isn’t because of lack of trying.
     
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  7. aeschylusdanceparty

    NYRB
    United States
    Jun 3, 2021
    I don't see him ever suiting up for the US. It seems like he feels English, wants to play for them or bust, and nothing wrong with that.
     
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  8. Casper

    Casper Member+

    Mar 30, 2001
    New York
    We definitely should have promised him a spot in the World Cup. He was the obvious choice for the 2014 World Cup over Landon Donovan.
     
  9. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  10. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  11. glutton4Bolts

    glutton4Bolts Member+

    United States
    Mar 18, 2019
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    14 goals in 20 Ligue 1 matches is pretty great. I watched him a bit at Arsenal when I thought he may choose the US, but after reading some of his comments about wanting to be with England I decided to stop investing time in him. Perhaps he will change his tune but I wouldn't count on it. I also wonder how well he will fare in a more physical league like the EPL. Google lists him as 5'10" - 145 lb. That is pretty slight for a striker. But the numbers are legit and I am jealous that England has another prospect at striker while ours continue to underwhelm.
     
  12. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    hes already worn a us jersey before, competing with US youth teams and is friends with Musah.....it's not out of the question
     
  13. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas
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  14. gomichigan24

    gomichigan24 Member+

    Jul 15, 2002
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Maybe, but he’s almost going to get an opportunity with them.

    The main reason for him to pick the US would be that he’s most likely going to be the guy for the US. For England that job is likely taken by Harry Kane for the next cycle. And then he’ll have to compete with whoever the next guys for England are the following cycle. He’ll definitely get his shot if he wants it though.
     
  15. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas
    That’s exactly what I thought until I read the article.
     
  16. gomichigan24

    gomichigan24 Member+

    Jul 15, 2002
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah but we are talking about someone who is 21, in his second year of playing first team soccer, and who plays a position where guys tend to mature later in their careers. Of course he’ll have stuff to work on and is not the finished product. Meanwhile I think the only three players in top 5 leagues with more goals than him this year are Kane, Osihmen, and Haaland.
     
  17. bshredder

    bshredder BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 23, 1999
    Club:
    Millwall FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #742 bshredder, Feb 7, 2023
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2023
    I don't know. Compare Rossi and Jonathan David. Both would have helped the U.S. Both were clear about their intentions to rep Italy and Canada respectively.

    But with Rossi, American fans were asking "what if" for like 10 years. There isn't even a fraction of the anger with David about being the "one that got away" as there was with Rossi.

    I think most people realize that players really do need to follow their heart. It sounds really cheesy but it's true. Sure, U.S. Soccer talks to players and makes their case. Sometimes it works out. But in the end, players have complete free will. International soccer is different than club soccer. With international soccer, you really have to be emotionally invested to be at your best. International soccer is the most emotional soccer at its core

    U.S. Soccer has been in contact with Balogun. If he plays for the USMNT, it could be big - if that's what he wants to do. But if he chooses England, what can you do? U.S. Soccer didn't ignore him. In the end, that a very good 21 year old player who was raised entirely in London and chooses to play for England is logical and understandable - regardless of the pitch US Soccer makes.

    I guess the more painful "Dual National Panic" cases are the players who were raised in the U.S. but who opt elsewhere. I think that's what made Rossi more painful. If Cremaschi ends up playing for Argentina, that would a similar blow.
     
  18. RecLeague Super Sub

    Fulham
    United States
    Jun 5, 2019
    BBC posted this today - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64515741

    They make it sound like his choice will come down to either England or Nigeria (I did not see the US mentioned as an option).

    I think I've reached the point of assuming he won't play for us and moving on, but with hope that I am pleasantly surprised in the coming months.
     
  19. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Profile:

    https://www.transfermarkt.us/from-e...logun-is-thriving-in-ligue-1/view/news/417923

    What’s even more impressive and encouraging for fans of the French club is that Balogun seems to be outperforming the very player he was tasked with replacing. Last season, Ekitiké finished the campaign with an average of 0.71 goals per 90. However, this time around, Balogun is currently sitting on an even more impressive average of 0.78 goals per 90 for the club. And while Ekitiké bagged 23% of Reims’ league goals last season, Balogun is currently sitting on an impressive hoard of 54% of the club’s goals.
     
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  20. Shaster

    Shaster Member+

    Apr 13, 1999
    El Cerrito, CA, USA
    Or at 2024 when he decides to make decision, the USMNT may have their own talents level coming up.
     
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  21. aeschylusdanceparty

    NYRB
    United States
    Jun 3, 2021
    #746 aeschylusdanceparty, Feb 8, 2023
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2023
    A lot will depend on how long he is willing to wait for a chance, but yeah the next cycle with Kane and Rashford behind him, and frankly two or three others, it is hard to see how he really has much of a shot for England. But as others have pointed out, maybe he goes with Nigeria then. I can't say I know much of what their striker situation looks like going into the next cycle. Anyway, it still doesn't seem like he feel much of a connection to the US, and someone pointed out, and I think they are totally correct, when you play for a country, there has to be a feeling of connection. We've sort of seen it with various German-Americans over the years, with it being pretty obvious who really felt a connection and who sort of just liked the idea but never really connected.
     
  22. gomichigan24

    gomichigan24 Member+

    Jul 15, 2002
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Nigeria has Victor Osimhen who is 24 and very very good.

    I disagree that he doesn’t seem like he has much of a connection as he’s always posting about being American on social media and what not (and even visiting the US in the offseason). I just think he prefers England for the time being.
     
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  23. aeschylusdanceparty

    NYRB
    United States
    Jun 3, 2021
    Interesting. I'm not a social media person, so I don't follow any of that. I know Osimhen, but what is Nigeria's depth at striker? Anyway, even with what I'm saying, I do hope he chooses the US. He'd certainly immediately be our best striker.
     
  24. felloveranddidanadu

    Plymouth Argyle FC
    Dec 12, 2009
    Club:
    San Jose Frogs
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    First would have to be England, for familiarity, prestige, simplicity. Europeans (ha!) playing in Europe and for European national teams have a much easier go of it that people from further corners of the world.

    Second would have to be US for an equal chance of making deep runs in tournaments as England, for money, and potential marketing value.

    Third, I'd think by a distance, would be Nigeria. The travel is probably nearly as long at times as with the USA (South Africa anyone?) and the stadiums and accommodations at the low end of CONCACAF and the African fed have to be on par. He'd be paid less for his troubles that either of the other two and have less of a chance at making deep runs in tournaments one would think.

    Nigeria and the USA are probably similar in many ways -- big populations, lots of ex-pats who can't quite make it for their new countries and move down a rung to play for their maternal/paternal one, big economies (relative to their continents) who pay well (again, relative to their continents).

    Would be much more surprised him picking Nigeria than USA but don't know anything about his family or personal life. Perhaps if he has a much larger connection to Nigeria it would make perfect sense but if he's thinking from a financial and professional perspective, England and the USA are clear winners there.
     
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  25. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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