Haven't seen it - was the ref reaching for his card before Balo said anything? You can get a straight red just for something you say. Maybe the foul was just going to be a foul and the red was for what he said. Probably not the case based on everything I've heard, but that is a possibility.
I am looking at the recording again and it does look more like it was given for dissent since he did not reach for the card until about a minute from the time of the challenge. No var review. Balogun was pleading his case but wasn’t in the ref’s face or animated. Ref was talking to the injured player and called the medical staff to take s look. No player tried to intervene just casual conversation with the ref. This is what I think happened Ref: “Balo what were you thinking?” Balo: “Sorry, tried to get enough of the ball but missed” Ref: “Clean it up or Ill have to pull out a yellow” Balo: “I have two games coming up 1/2 way around the world and would appreciate time to rest after I get back. Would it be possible to make it red?” Ref:” Ok if that’s what you really want “ Balo: “Thanks, much appreciated.”
Saw a couple of reports suggesting Balo back and set to start v. Pafos today. Haven't been able to reach the crew on my yacht in Limmasol yet, so can't confirm. Will see what that chef has heard after they've served luncheon.
Well...... he's got something to be thankful for tomorrow at the dinner table. That was giftwrapped and severed on a platter from the GK.
He was in the right place and he converted the opportunity. They all count and that's all that counts for a striker
It's such an underrated talent to be in the right place and score. To some it seems that shouldn't count because you only had to tap it in without crediting reading the situation and maneuvering to be in that spot for the tap in. If it were so easy every forward would score a bunch of them or conversely they'd be so easy for a defender to stop.
Yep. It was an excellent play on his part - he was ready for the pass and pounced on the opportunity, and finished like a boss. The shambolicking was all on the keeper's side of things, Balo can be proud of that one - it was no tap in.
Too many people think that being a good striker means being an exceptional finisher. That helps, but like 90% of the job is being in the right place to generate a ton of scoring opportunities. Haaland’s goal totals have been at or below his xG numbers each of the last two seasons and he’s probably the best striker in the world.
Another little reminder that a lot of Champions League football isn’t Champions League Football Brought to You by Magic Euro Pixie Dust.
I like the quote about Inzaghi - “Look, actually he can't play football at all. He's just always in the right position."
I played indoor soccer one year with a young guy who I didn't know much about. He had a nose for the goal in a manner that I had never experienced. He not only knew where the goal was, where the ball was, but also how to arrive in front of the goal at the same moment the ball would. In addition, he would take shots that I would never consider to be worthwhile because the probability of scoring was so low. Or so I thought. When he took the shot, somehow the probability of success went up substantially. I played a central midfield position for much of college soccer and enjoyed trying to defend against him. A real challenge, but quite fun trying to learn during the heat of the game.
I got one. As a U15, in a tourney in Indianapolis, I played this team scrappy Ft Wayne United team who had this skinny scrawny kid. This skinny ass kid dribbled from 18 to 18 and rounded our GK for one goal. Then hit an unbelievable curling shot after cutting inside from the right side. Two of the best youth goals I’ve ever seen as a player or coach. After the 2nd goal, he didn’t talk shit, his team did. Like all kinds of shit. They said his name and I remembered it. Two years later he was playing in the ‘99 U17 WC, moved to Bradenton Academy, signed with Chicago Fire and went on to become a USMNT legend. We treated my Javanon FC team, a team that eventually had 14 D1 players, and won the 2000 USYS National Championship like a brunch of scrubs. Chewed us up and spit us out… all 125 lbs of him. He had no answer. Dude was a badass. If I ever get chance to see / meet him, I’d tell him the story. He won’t remember but I’ll never forget that game against a skinny, scrawny kid.
That kid was da bees knees, mark my words! Fort Wayne was a dead giveaway. Kinda like I heard this little kid singin’ in Gary…