OM: Balerdi under pressure — jittery captain, tense transfer window

Let's be honest, folks: this 5-2 against Paris FC was good for morale, but not for our nerves. The Vélodrome was rocking thanks to Aubameyang, Nadir and Vaz, but at the back we still saw far too many lapses. We won, yes, but how many of you trembled at every Parisian burst of pace? That's the paradox: the joy of victory, and the frustration of a defense that's too shaky.

Balerdi, a struggling captain

Focus on Leonardo Balerdi. With the armband, we expected a leader; we got a fragile player. A botched line on Simon's equalizer, a marking error on Geubbels in the first half... the press didn't spare the Argentine (ratings between 2.5 and 4.5). Yes, he nearly made amends with a dangerous header, but overall he didn't inspire confidence. Can we keep going with Balerdi as the linchpin of our defensive composure? We put the question to you, folks.

The contrast with our substitutes

Thankfully, OM have gems who step up: Bilal Nadir, Robinio Vaz, Aubameyang... guys who turned the game around with their energy and experience. But is it reassuring if our salvation depends only on flashes of attacking brilliance? Defensively, it's still a major work in progress.

Transfer window: urgent decision

The Balerdi case raises a real transfer-window question. Should we sell him while he still has value and look for a new leader at the back? Or should we keep him and hope he regains his level with experience? The board is under pressure: time is running out, and our ambitions inevitably depend on a solid center-back partnership.

Over to you!

So, folks, what do we do? Do we sign a center-back before the window closes? Do we keep faith with Balerdi? Or do we take a real gamble on youth at the back? We want your opinions, your analysis and your rants in the comments.

Because one thing is certain: if we want to keep the thrills going all season, we also need to stop being so shaky at the back.