Balogun or Helander as first choice?

[dh1963]

No point in saying pair them as Goldson is our first choice centre half and the organiser of the defence.
2 competitive games, they have played a game each and been really impressive.

Balogun looks mobile, good on the ball, composed and a great reader of the game.
Helander is an out and out defender, gets in blocks, and has terrific game awareness.

A lovely problem to have, who would you say is the better partner for Goldson?

 

[Rio Loyal]

Helander I was worried about tonight but he was outstanding, He’s our best defender with our a doubt.

We will rotate a lot this season so they will all get games .

 

[Enclosure-Loyal]

Balogun has the shirt imo

 

[Texas ranger]

A very nice problem ( just seen you had used the term after I read your post fully) to have. I can’t answer the question though.

 

[OZ1872]

Helander

 

[All of the Lights]

Await the daft replies about both instead of Goldson.....

Good battle between the two. I’d say in league Balogun for now. Pace and ability on ball.

 

[Jase]

Balogun deserves to keep his place IMO. If he'd been elegible I'd have had him in tonight.

 

[LiviLoyal]

Helander is our best CB. If it was me I’d be playing him and Balogun. I think Gerrard will go Goldson and Balgoun on Sunday though.

 

[CaptainCourageous]

Hard to say. Balogun was rarely tested by Aberdeen but when he was, he looked good.

Helander played well tonight and has done against very good European opposition.

We've got a number of reliable and good central defenders at the ckub. I just hope we don't chop and change too often.

 

[MarkieLoyal]

Too early for Helander to play 2 games in 4 days.

So Balogun for Sunday.

 

[Portadown_Bear]

Helander is the best defender at the club. He should be the first choice.

On nights like tonight you can tell who the real quality players in the squad are when they can step up and not look out of place against top class opposition. Helander played very well tonight.

 

[davyboy83]

Balogun for me .

 

[Clubdeckg]

Hard to judge Balogun after one start! It will be Goldson and Helander

 

[Stevie13000]

Balogun for me cause he as better in the air and is a lot faster

 

[BertsEBT]

I think it will be Goldson and Helander. When fit, they've played pretty much every game and I think the gaffer thinks that's his strongest pair

 

[The Pontiac Bandit]

I think Balogan will play on Sunday as I cant see us asking Helander to play 2 games in 3 days but after that I don't know.

I feel bad for Edmundson who has done little wrong.

Add in Katic and Mayo and we are strong in that area.

 

[GF7]

They actually seem similar so far on the limited viewing of Balogun. Helander's reading of the game is superb though.

 

[tumsheeheed]

Helander was superb so was big Connor

 

[d72]

Impossible to say after seeing Balogun once imo

 

[Henrywatson115]

good thing is we have good options now

 

[Bluchoo]

Balogun for domestic for me, his pace and ability to drive out of defence is better suited to teams sitting back

 

[Germlin]

Our investment is in Helander. Balogun was brought in as cover. So it would be logical to think Helander will be first choice. He did a lot right tonight whilst not being match fit.

 

[Hellfire]

Balogun needs a few more tough tests for us to decide.

Helander looks great when fit.

Goldson is bulletproof in the eyes of the manager so will mainly be Goldson and one other.

It's a good problem to have right enough.

 

[Uddy Gers]

I’d play Balogun.

He’s had a weeks recuperation.

That was Helanders first big game in a while.

Remember we have five subs now so if we’re cruising we can get Helander 30 mins or so.

 

[Snoopproddiedogg]

Balogun for domestic for me, his pace and ability to drive out of defence is better suited to teams sitting back

We've saw him once

 

[cav]

I’d say in league games Balogun as pace against counter attacks is a huge asset.
European games Helander when it’s slower and more technical.

 

[Once a BEAR]

Helander is our best CH he was MOTM tonight and to come back after 8 months out and still not match fit to put in a performance like that against a quality side tells you all you need to know about him.

 

[Jogbear]

For me right now balogun edges it, only because helanders just back from a bad injury, ive only seen him in 1 game right enough ill trust gerrards judgement. We dont look like we’ll concede alot this season. Just need to start firing the goals in

 

[Crafty Cifu]

In a great position. Both are good CBs who are left sided. I would say Balogun has the shirt and is probably sharper. However, saying that thought Helander played very well tonight.

 

[Laudrup is God]

Play all three.

 

[ICA_86]

If we’ve got another 60-odd game season, then Goldson can’t just automatically start every one given how burned out he looks at times.

Excellent to know we have options.

Can’t be arsed discussing 3 at the back. Seems like it’s beyond Gerrard and Beale.

 

[MearnsUnionist]

No point in saying pair them as Goldson is our first choice centre half and the organiser of the defence.
2 competitive games, they have played a game each and been really impressive.

Balogun looks mobile, good on the ball, composed and a great reader of the game.
Helander is an out and out defender, gets in blocks, and has terrific game awareness.

A lovely problem to have, who would you say is the better partner for Goldson?

Will depend on the type of game for me mate.

Balogun looks far more comfortable on the ball, so if we're playing against one of the deep lying defensive teams at Ibrox it's Balogun for me.

However, if it's a game we'll need to do some serious defending in, then Helander must come into our thoughts.

Him and Goldson were outstanding tonight.

 

[A Magician Named Gob]

I think we might try a 5-3-2 or the 3-4-3 that's quite common in England with two wing backs (so essentially the same thing as a 5-3-2) at times. Balogun, Helander and Goldson would take most of the defensive responsibilities off of Barisic and Tavernier and might free them up to offer more going forward. I thought that signing two forwards in Itten and Roofe also indicated this might be an option.

 

[Thommo2006]

Great problem to have got 3 good cbs then katic to come back, helander never looked like hes been out for 8 months.

So to answer the op, no idea haha

 

[Ubik]

Balogun needs a few more tough tests for us to decide.

100% this.

 

[LyonGer]

Helander didn't put a foot wrong tonight

 

[1872GFX]

i think balogun will start on sunday considering helander has just played his first 90 minutes for about 8 months. moving forward tho i really dont know who i could pick between them. there should be at times where goldson should be dropped. hopefully playing 60 games a season he shouldnt need to play them all

 

[robobear]

One competitive game each in a week and people are making their minds up.

 

[MearnsUnionist]

Play all three.

No need for 3 central defenders in our domestic football.

It's more creativity and attacking threat we need and that's what we've signed.

 

[dynamo_rosco]

Is Goldson at fault the goal tonight? Having an argument with someone about this

 

[Truffle Shuffle]

It's a nice problem to have, Balogun was good at the weekend, but Helander has shown quite often that he's our best defender, when fit If he could stay fit he'd be 1st choice then it could even be between Goldson and Balogun to partner him.

 

[Northampton_Loyalist]

We are now in a position to pick players to suit the strikers they will face and we have a pretty decent blend of skills, footedness, aerial ability and tactical understanding.

Helander is a proper defender but I think he is a little lightweight in the air and I think he will sit out games against the likes of Dykes etc. He will play against the scum, where better tactical defending is needed, rather than blootering man and ball.

 

[Christopher Moltisanti]

This is genuinely a hard one for me. I think it might be opposition dependant who gets the game. I think Balogun might be able to cover Goldson’s position to give him a rest when needed.

 

[Jjbscotty]

How about Balogun and Helander?

 

[TommyC]

What Balogun offers is a bit more pace and driving runs forward. His passing looks a little more direct too. We need to see more of Balogun defensively.

 

[Q11]

In all honesty, the entire centre back choices have started this season very well. Great to have the options available. For Sunday I think the manager will go Goldson and Balogun down to the length of time Helander has been out.

 

[GovanFront4]

Depends. Sitting deeper v better opposition then Helander. Playing further up the park and needing a covering defender then Balogun.

 

[alfie55]

Helander was amazing tonight considering it was his first game for 8 months, having 3 strong CBs is something that we haven’t had for quite a while.

 

[Morelos20]

Is there such thing as 1st choice these days?

 

[Liviger1984]

Good problem to have. Thought goldson and helander were good tonight even though we got beat.