Albanian Football Forum

RedFootballs wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 7:22 pm Allegedly Rayo Vallecano have beat out Mallorca, Osasuna and Valencia to Balliu's signature, all 4 playing in LaLiga Santander (although Valencia are still said to be very interested). Let's see how Balliu does with his shot in the LaLiga. And let's fill in the LB spot with him before he gets too old.

Still a La Liga team so that means he gets to play against professional competition every week. (well unless he gets buried on the bench but still).

For Albania that just adds to the players who play in top 3 leagues. I have hope that Bare will be a success in La Liga but we'll see. Most of the backline play in Serie a too.

Just need some attacking players at those levels.

Dallku wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 10:25 pm

RedFootballs wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 7:22 pm Allegedly Rayo Vallecano have beat out Mallorca, Osasuna and Valencia to Balliu's signature, all 4 playing in LaLiga Santander (although Valencia are still said to be very interested). Let's see how Balliu does with his shot in the LaLiga. And let's fill in the LB spot with him before he gets too old.

Still a La Liga team so that means he gets to play against professional competition every week. (well unless he gets buried on the bench but still).

For Albania that just adds to the players who play in top 3 leagues. I have hope that Bare will be a success in La Liga but we'll see. Most of the backline play in Serie a too.

Just need some attacking players at those levels.

I've been saying it for years and years but I genuinely think Bare will go onto great things. He's so special in what he offers. Very technical, brings a lot to the attack, but has a typical Albanian strong work ethic and defending. True box-to-box midfielder..

We also have Anis Mehmeti who could be ready to break out in League 1 with Wycombe and could become very important for us. We are quickly carving a real team identity, elite-level defense and goalie and a hard-working strong midfield. Up front it's not all bad as well with Broja becoming a top5 league striker, Muci and Manaj if he gets his act together. We need a Roshi replacement badly though.

I'm not buying any of this until they actually make it. I've compared Broja's stats to other top striker, and have said SO FAR, at least in terms of goals, he's mirrored other world class strikers.

But you never know when players peak. Look at Mbappe. He hasn't made any progress in years. He's arguably worse now than he was 3 years ago when France won the World Cup.

Mbappe is still a top 5 attacker in the world right now. Not sure how his situation is similar to Broja’s.

Broja has shown potential to be a player in a top 4 league. That’s better than anything we’ve had in a long time.

Aurora Bulkualis wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:21 pm I'm not buying any of this until they actually make it. I've compared Broja's stats to other top striker, and have said SO FAR, at least in terms of goals, he's mirrored other world class strikers.

But you never know when players peak. Look at Mbappe. He hasn't made any progress in years. He's arguably worse now than he was 3 years ago when France won the World Cup.

It's really a case by case basis and I think Broja's profile is more favourable if you look at him with this in mind. There are forwards who don't really get going till 23-24 and skyrocket from then and there are ones that peak at 20-21. However watching Broja's game, he's quite raw and has a lot to learn. When he played with Albania you could tell he was very inexperienced, watching Vitesse his qualities shine but he also has points to work on like hold-up and aerial, strength etc. That's why I'm so big on him, I think with another season in Holland with regular minutes he could score 20 goals. It only makes sense Mbappe is close to or at his peak right now because he's one of the best in the world..

artan wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:32 pm Mbappe is still a top 5 attacker in the world right now. Not sure how his situation is similar to Broja’s.

Broja has shown potential to be a player in a top 4 league. That’s better than anything we’ve had in a long time.

It's not about comparing Broja to Mbappe, but using Mbappe as an example to show that someone can stagnate very early. You never know what trajectory players will take. There are 0 guarantees.

Aurora Bulkualis wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2021 1:24 am

artan wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:32 pm Mbappe is still a top 5 attacker in the world right now. Not sure how his situation is similar to Broja’s.

Broja has shown potential to be a player in a top 4 league. That’s better than anything we’ve had in a long time.

It's not about comparing Broja to Mbappe, but using Mbappe as an example to show that someone can stagnate very early. You never know what trajectory players will take. There are 0 guarantees.

Progress isn't linear but to suggest Mbappe has gone backwards is madness.

It's not that Mbappe has gone backwards but he has stayed stagnant and people expected(or desperately wanted him) to become the next Messi/Ronaldo but he's nowhere near that dominating level.

Broja always had the raw talent but something about him is disappointing. Feels like he can do much better than what he displays most of the time. Maybe it's work ethic.

So I’m guessing Balliu will be suddenly called up since he’s a la Liga player. So predictable

artan wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2021 11:54 am So I’m guessing Balliu will be suddenly called up since he’s a la Liga player. So predictable

After being neglected and playing regularly since 2016. He should just reject them. Since Pannuci put him on stands he hasn’t been called up anymore.