Starts: 👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 🆚 @ASSEofficiel ‣ #ASMASSE pic.twitter.com/vfNxu6Mtwk— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 17, 2024
Stayed on the bench for a 2-0 win: 👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 🆚 @OL ‣ #OLASM pic.twitter.com/MP9QZ6d1uQ— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 24, 2024
I think his place as a starter withbthe new coach can be considered to be in jeopardy. He doesn't press as well as Sargent or Pepi and so far this year Wright, Sargent and Pepi are scoring like they left off last year. Poch didn't bring him in or promise anything so he needs to start scoring again ASAP.
Hyperbole warning: Balogun might have scored 28 goals in 20 minutes off the bench for PSV today. Let's not pretend his current club situation is somehow making other guys in the pool better than they are. The gulf in class between Balogun, Pepi, and Sargent is pretty clear. Let's just hope he gets some confidence in his club career soon, because he hasn't been the same guy for club since missing 356 penalties at the beginning of his Monaco tenure.
Who's comparing Balo to other Americans? Not the thread for it anyway. Balo has been disappointing per his innate talent and prior trajectory.
Started: 👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 🆚 @RCLens‣ #ASMRCL pic.twitter.com/JDckSaGh8h— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 1, 2024 Played 65'. Ended 1-1.
Today I stopped watching the game because he just seemed invisible out there. Basically the same sense I have gotten for large portions of last season and especially early in this one.
On in the 70th, and Monaco score in the 91st. Balo with a "dummy header" before making the trailing run that Ilenhikena decides he doesn't need, burying the solo shot on the break alone. 2-1 over Barca, who are down a red card. People in the PBP thread.
Exciting win - too bad it's Monaco (or, too bad it's Monaco's fans). Players looked pretty stoked tho. The goal was in the 72nd min, just after Balo came on. And he almost drew a PK, but it was reversed by VAR. Fwiw... he got "John Prine" reviews, for the most part. (pretty good, not bad, she can't complain, 'cause actually all them dogs are just about the same.) Folarin Bolagun - 6 Showed his quality in possession, good composure and forward play. Forced a strong hand out of Ter Stegen after a smooth touch. (He also shared a whoscored 6.5 with 4 other Monaco players. There were also 4 Monocinz with lower scores.)
Their injuries may be the biggest test. The players out yesterday for Barcelona ... Marc Bernal Meniscus injury Andreas Christensen Achilles tendon injury Ronald Araújo Hamstring strain Frenkie De Jong Ankle injury Fermín López Hamstring strain Gavi Cruciate ligament injury Dani Olmo Muscle injury
Balogun gets the start against Le Havre this morning. Sabbi bench. PBP thread is locked for some reason. Very active early - they lead 1-0, and Balo just had an excellent near-assist beating two men on the dribble and whipping a driven lefty cross into a perfect spot, but the defense is able to disrupt the finish by his strike partner.
GOAL BALOGUN - Zakaria steals during a Le Havre buildout, passes to Ilenikhena. Balo cuts between defenders before the defense is organized, perfect pass laid off to him by Ilenikhena, and Balo blasts a first time strike past a keeper who never had time to come out and cut off the angle. Makes it 3-1 Monaco.