Green Street Hammers
Fansided

West Ham: Making the case to keep Fabian Balbuena

By Jeremiah Carson

West Ham United's Paraguayan defender Fabián Balbuena heads the ball during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at The London Stadium, in east London on January 25, 2020. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
West Ham United's Paraguayan defender Fabián Balbuena heads the ball during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at The London Stadium, in east London on January 25, 2020. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Some reports out there suggest that West Ham have concerns over keeping Fabian Balbuena. However, the up and down backline might suggest otherwise.

The reports… came out of Football.London and they are suggesting that West Ham have “concerns” over Fabian Balbuena and that he could be sold this summer. Those anxieties are warranted especially after failing to perform this season after a huge initial campaign.

So with Balbuena’s issues being real, and the club looking to sell probable, is there even a case for him to stay a Hammer? How does an undeniable yes sound? Maybe not so much for just keeping Balbuena for Balbuena’s sake, but for the ups and downs of the center back slot.

The Hammers have been fortunate to have a resurgence from Angelo Ogbonna and another solid season from Fabian’s incumbent CB partner, Issa Diop. But behind that, you have a walking injury in Winston Reid and a lot of unknowns. Although Balbuena might have fallen from his graces of year 1 and David Moyes, he is needed at this club.

It seemed that somewhere between Fabianski going out and Roberto almost tanking the club that Balbuena lost his confidence. Clearly he’s not a vocal leader and looks for guidance and when Fabs went out… that was all gone. But even before that Pellegrini was throwing out the “strong-side” excuse for not playing him. His entire season has been one confidence drain after another.

Yet if not for that reason, then how about the rumored low-end transfer budget that the West Ham board will have to work with? There’s no question that the center back slot needs to be boosted but it’s definitely not the most critical for the season coming up.

Keeping Fabian Balbuena will keep a center back in the sub role that knows how to play in the EPL and even if he will garnish a solid transfer price, that money might be better used in other places because if you sell him, then who will back up Diop or Ogbonna?

Next. West Ham doesn’t need to invest in a right-back. dark

That might seem like a scenario where he stays out of necessity and it might sound weak, but that is exactly what it is. At West Ham injuries happen about as much as you hear GSB out, so keeping someone that knows the league there seems like a solid ideal.