OPINION
West Ham United defender Fabian Balbuena produced yet another assured performance in the team’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, something that is becoming a familiar theme with the Paraguay international.
The centre back, signed from Corinthians for a fee reported by Sky Sports as £6.5million this summer, has impressed everyone by forming a solid partnership with Issa Diop at the heart of the Hammers defence this season.
But while the Frenchman deservedly receives much of the plaudits this term, Balbuena often goes under the radar.
That’s the sort of player he is, of course. The 27-year-old is an unflappable presence in the West Ham backline, providing the brains alongside Diop’s tremendous brawn.
The pair compliment each other perfectly, and they have gone from strength to strength since a rough start to the campaign.
It says a lot about how well both centre halves played that they emerged with credit from a defeat on Saturday. You couldn’t put the blame on either man for the Hammers’ lack of points against Spurs, with Balbuena making a terrific block from Harry Kane at one point to keep the score down.
Despite Diop being a more intimidating physical presence, Balbuena certainly doesn’t shirk any challenges and he set the tone against Tottenham with a dominating display.
Credit must go to the scouting system at the London Stadium because they have managed to unearth not one but two top quality centre backs who have adapted superbly to English football.
It’s difficult to judge how well players will be able to acclimatise to the Premier League, especially, as in Balbuena’s case, they’re coming from a non-European league.
However, the Hammers were correct in their judgement of the former Corinthians man. They saw something in the Paraguayan and they took a chance on him. It has proved an inspired decision.
Balbuena may not steal the headlines like Diop, but he is a solid presence in the middle of the West Ham defence who is only going to get better as the season goes on.
