Carlos Baleba ~ Midfield Master – Player Scouting Report

A deep dive on Mbeumo’s profile and how he’s quietly gone onto become one of Premier League’s most underrated attacking asset at Brighton

Career Overview:

Brighton’s scouts had a real heist to pull of in terms of talent after the sales of Bissouma + Max Alister + Caicedo in recent years. Just as you’d expect, they responded and managed to seal the deal for another special talent coming out of Africa – Carlos Baleba

Having been scouted from Lille to Brighton in 2023, he’s managed to develop quickly and fulfil his potential this season, making it clear that he’s ready to takeover that central midfield spot for the Seagulls. Now been linked to the biggest of clubs!

Carlos Baleba is a tenacious left foot midfielder that is renowned for his ball winning characteristics and superb passing range. Fancies himself driving forwards with his ball carrying + dribbling and also is a rigid tackler of the ball using his physicality defensively

Baleba’s rise under Brighton’s new setup under Fabian Hürzeler has been prominent, easy to label him as one of Premier League’s most promising youngsters. Solid performances vs big clubs has put him in the “next best player to break the bag” category

Firstly, let’s look at his player profile:
Age: 20
Club: Brighton
Position: DM/CM
Foot: Left
Nationality: Cameroonian
Value: €21M
Height: 5’10
Avg SofaScore rating: 6.92

Strengths: Tackling, Work Rate, Passing, Interceptions, Strength, Dribbling
Weaknesses: Weak foot usage, Overcomitting

Playstyle – In Possession

Being the composer of progression in initiating the build up for his team , Baleba shows waves of composure in collecting and holding the tempo across the pitch. Neat movements on the half turn after receiving back to goal help him divert the press and merge defence to attack

Passing technique is very fluent, especially long passing into spaces + line breakers with lesser risk taking involved – sitting deep between the CCB with minimal angle bias on his passing, he clips the bottom of the ball to get the dink + swirl

He likes taking fewer touches of the ball; rather be efficient with them through baiting techniques. He’s also very press resistant – situations where he’s doubled up, he’d want to quickly manoeuver through, deceiving through his body feints/chops and play passes to the free man

Being a former winger transitioned to a midfielder – a likeable trait that Baleba possesses is his robust ball carrying into spaces in the attacking third with large strides – doesn’t shy away from progressing higher up the pitch by dribbling if he sees the right occasion.

Honourable mention goes out to his shooting technique which is superb, doesn’t really find many chances to have a knock at goal due to his positioning duties. Nevertheless, his technique intent in executing a shot speaks for itself

Playstyle – Out of Possession

One of Baleba’s most reliable OOP characteristic is his pressing in the first phase as a midfielder- pouncing on loose balls + blocking passing lanes > his tenacity helps create turnovers. Very useful for a high pressing team

Understanding of game scenarios is exceptional – situations where he has to cover for an aggressive sweeper in the side, he’ll look to isolate them in wider areas in 1v1s, putting them in a physical battle. Albeit, his aggressive nature and approach could get the better of him at times

Baleba’s physicality is simply superb- the odds of outmuscling him with the ball or even without is highly unlikely because his understanding of the situation comes with maturity – gets the upper hand with his body handling in aerial duels

Baleba’s aggressive nature usually compliments him as a textbook tackler – utilising his physical attributes as an athletic duel winner + slide tackling like he’s an engine kept on a repeat telecast. Ranks 3rd for combined tackles + interceptions per90 in the league this season

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Decision making + game IQ IP/OOP is really mature – hardly makes mistakes or is out of position and has to actually track back. Uses his stature very well, compliments his overall technical abilities in ball retention too

Areas to Improve:

Weak Foot usage – Baleba’s dependability on his favourite left foot limits his ability to switch play seamlessly and find those additional angles – unlocking the right can do him a world of difference

Overcommitting – He likes to get tight to his marker and can sometimes get caught off guard with a simple feint (an ideology he propagates himself). This often a times leaves empty spaces + end up fouling (united video)

Best Position:

Jarring qualities like ball carrying + dribbling in the attacking third might make you seem as to how he should be used higher up the pitch. However, his influence in the first phase of build up as a progressor/press is too good to be ignored

Baleba’s best role would be that of connecting play to the creative force in the side as an orchestrator with additional ground breaking qualities in a pivot. Better fit as a midfied controller, tucking deeper between the two CB’s and dictating play

Conclusion:

Baleba has the raw qualities and potential to be one of the greatest, advantage being that he’s still young and ready to prove himself. Baleba’s energy, work ethic, defensive reliability is going to make him a real gem of a talent

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