What happened to Abdoullah Ba?

[alcoauth]

Let's look at this sensibly. Signs from Le Havre in 2022 for around €1m having turned 19 just a month earlier, at that point he was an established youth international for France playing consistently from levels U16 to U19. He also manages to rack up 27 appearances for the Le Havre first team in Ligue 2.

At Sunderland he becomes a France U20 international, transitions from centre midfield to the wings and over the course of two seasons plays an impressive 70+ appearances, becoming a mainstay in the first team squad. His time in the first team, like many a player in his age group, has plenty to critique: Does a bit too much, doesn't do enough, can't deliver in the final third, ball greedy, loves a thirty yarder over the bar etc. All of that has a bit of validity, but the fact remains as things stand today he is a 21 year old France youth international with close to 100 games of mens football on his record, by almost any standard this player should be worth a few bob and be able to add something to the first team squads of any team at this level.

So then, what has went wrong? Why has this player seemingly been on an impressive upward trajectory in terms of gaining experience to suddenly being shut off completely? Is there any hope for the lad to find a way back into the squad or is he destined for pastures new?

 

[Dorset]

I'm guessing that he may have an attitude problem. He has pace and skill, but he tends to hold on to the ball too long and ends up losing the ball time and time again.

If it is an attitude issue, he has no chance of starting, or even making the bench in an RLB team.

 

[rowley]

He looked like he had something to me, he probably still looks like that.

He was unpredictable, and carried a threat, but his finishing was pretty poor and showed little sign of improving. It might improve though, as might the rest of his game, but he will need game time and the determination to improve for that to happen.

The latter he might have, we don't know. But the former will be hard for him to get, mostly I'd say as he struggles with the structure bit: the working off the ball and tracking back. Paddy is miles better at that now for instance.

 

[Brainy Dose]

It may be that he hasn't settled with us. Not everyone manages to adapt to a new way of life in God's Country and,if he's unhappy here,then I'd expect his attitude and his performances to suffer. I have him down as a mover in this window.

 

[MadMackem77]

He questioned the clubs recruitment process and got banished

 

[alcoauth]

He questioned the clubs recruitment process and got banished

Where did you hear that?

 

[MadMackem77]

Where did you hear that?

Was just a joke mate

 

[rooch 3]

Where did you hear that?

I don’t think he said he did, I thought it was a question?

 

[Southern A]

I’ve never rated him and I don’t think we’re missing him. Evidently RLB doesn’t either.

The fact he’s barely played in PL2 as well suggests the club have written him off.

Think he’ll be gone before long.

 

[clockstander]

Wrong attitude imo, Adil has learned, sadly he has'nt and time is, or probably has run out. .

 

[Frazier the Lion]

He had moments where it looked like he could break through. Contributed to points won. Didn’t really see an ability reason why he should be completely bombed out so it must have been an attitude thing. Ah well, not really a failure given the money we paid.

 

[RTB]

I will always remember his goal at QPR
- jumping up to celebrate then realising that I scraped all the skin off my shin against the seat in front and there was blood running down my leg.
He is a talented footballer but seems to have lost his way here.
He just didn’t want to be on the pitch for the U21s the last time I saw him and I’m sure that didn’t go down well with Graeme Murty.

If you ever go to QPR - don’t wear shorts

 

[LBW]

We invested in a promising young player and tried to develop him, a few coaches have tried now and all came to the same conclusion, he isn’t good enough. I thought that after seeing him for half a season but gave him time to prove me wrong, he has pace and can carry the ball but his 1st touch is poor and so is his finishing, looks like attitude could be a problem as well. Shame but not all these young lads will work out, hope we move him out for as much as possible as quickly as possible because we need players to make a difference for the rest of the season.

 

[Scout73]

Always been a fan of Ba's potential, however, the biggest issue I've always had was what position is his best

The best game I watched him play before he joined us was a RWB and I think that's where he would be best. I remember a scout in france told me that he believed he would be best at RB in the future

 

[clockstander]

I will always remember his goal at QPR
- jumping up to celebrate then realising that I scraped all the skin off my shin against the seat in front and there was blood running down my leg.
He is a talented footballer but seems to have lost his way here.
He just didn’t want to be on the pitch for the U21s the last time I saw him and I’m sure that didn’t go down well with Graeme Murty.

If you ever go to QPR - don’t wear shorts

i agree although I felt exactly the same about Isidor, great in his first game at that level , then very poor in his next appearance, I dont think it will happen for Ba tbh but we have written a few off prematurely and it would be great if Ba made the same impact that Isidor has , ps I'm too old for shorts ,of any description.

 

[Nads]

Always been a fan of Ba's potential, however, the biggest issue I've always had was what position is his best

The best game I watched him play before he joined us was a RWB and I think that's where he would be best. I remember a scout in france told me that he believed he would be best at RB in the future

This really.

I was really excited about him after his first season and watching him absolutely immense for France youths, but he never moved forward.

 

[LD19SAFC]

Meh. Don’t think he was ever making it here

 

[clockstander]

Meh. Don’t think he was ever making it here

You really are an impatient poster, not the only one mind.

 

[alcoauth]

Always been a fan of Ba's potential, however, the biggest issue I've always had was what position is his best

The best game I watched him play before he joined us was a RWB and I think that's where he would be best. I remember a scout in france told me that he believed he would be best at RB in the future

If i remember rightly it was Mowbray who referred to him as a ball traveller or a runner, something along those lines, I think meaning he likes to take players on and he's not one for sitting in and keeping shape, so it's probably logical you push those types wide where losing the ball and being out of shape is less punishing to the team. I could see him being a marauding RB.

 

[Robertson]

Ba has so much going for him in terms of skill, pace and athleticism. It's the mental side that lets him down so much. Not very much discipline, determination or football intelligence. I hope he can get a decent move and just start enjoying the game again.