Liverpool FC Forum

[Fo Dne]

He also can't take a ball on the move, he has to have a static touch all the time.

That’s actually true and something I have never picked up on before. I can’t recall many times when Babel has taken the ball in full flight. This may be down to fact that he doesn’t get himself into good starting positions but he also seems to have a very unnatural first touch when running onto the ball which is big defect considering what his game is based around, pace and taking players on.

I think he can work on the point about starting positions and moving onto the ball rather than taking it sideways as he often seems to.

Thats a habbit you develope as a kid mate, a starting position and receiving the ball.

Its something alot of players don't do well in the premier league in alot of teams. One of the best at it as much as I hate to admit it is Lampard. He always uses his touch against he momentum of the opposition player, its one of his strengths.

Starting positions for a touch and obviously the direction in which you take the ball aswell as how heavy the touch is IE whether you kill the ball or push it out form under your feet is something you learn to do from an early age, Babel is awful in this aspect.

[bigmick]

The point I keep making Mick is players don't become something they are not.

Yeah I'm not disputing that that's your point mate, I know. You think he'll never ever become anything, I think he's got a bit of a chance. We could debate it till the cows come home and in three years time, either you'd be right if he bacame nothing, or I'd be right if he became a player (it could also be argued that I'm right both ways round as I've sat on the fence  ).

The point of my post though was not really about Babel, or about your "if he can't do it now he never will" stance. It was about this thing which keeps cropping up about comparisons. We always pick a player or a manager who bears no sensible comparison whatsoever.

If it isn't Rafa being compared to Shankly or Paisley, or being a better manager than Dalglish, it's Babel being the new Thierry Henri.


The simple facts of the matter are Henri wasn't sh!te on arrival, and neither was Robert Pires. There have been numerous foreign players who took time to settle, but they are not good examples. Even though when foreign players take time to find their feet, if they have lots of quality they by and large display at least glimpses of it pretty much straight away. Similarly, if we are to have a debate about how good a manager Rafa is, lets compare him with people like Evans, Sounness, Houllier and not disrespect some of the managerial greats of the past by getting them involved.

Babel may or not make a player, it's debateable (OK maybe not debateable with Stu, but I mean it's an either/or situation). He may or may not be worth 11 million quid, it's debateable. His best position if indeed he has one is debateable. He isn't though, in any way shape or form in a football sense comparable to Thierry Henri.

[pass_da_dutchie]

Babel is a very good impact player. He should only be used as a sub for the simple fact that the game is then at his pace. He has so much pace but his game is so slow and he still looks awkward when the ball is at his feet. He's also one lazy which is why he got dropped from the Dutch side for being asleep. He has some ability but currently looks unable to sustain a good run of three games.

[Yessicajax]

so are ther any songs for him already?

[Number 9]

[Yessicajax]

oi..1 he is NOT gay.. 2 im not a pup (i think) and 3...wow cool poem:D

[stmichael]

no chance he'll start at the weekend.

[Effes]

no chance he'll start at the weekend.

I agree, not because I don't think he deserves it but because of Rafa's undying loyalty to Kuyt.

I would defo start him against Everton, go for it Rafa!

[LegBarnes]

no chance he'll start at the weekend.

I agree, not because I don't think he deserves it but because of Rafa's undying loyalty to Kuyt.

I would defo start him against Everton, go for it Rafa!

I would drop keane in everton match and play babel up front but thats meen can't see rafa doing it for some strange reason rafa thinks babels a winger I think he needs to talk to van basten.

[LiverpoolMadman]

no chance he'll start at the weekend.

I agree, not because I don't think he deserves it but because of Rafa's undying loyalty to Kuyt.

I would defo start him against Everton, go for it Rafa!

I would drop keane in everton match and play babel up front but thats meen can't see rafa doing it for some strange reason rafa thinks babels a winger I think he needs to talk to van basten.

Babel a winger ? Is that Rafa sees Babel ? Babel need more games then we will see how good he is ....

The only reason why Babel played so well in National Team is because the manager knows where he played.

But when he played for Liverpool , Rafa is "wasting" his talent ...

[Jimmy the Weasel]

Where is Babel's best position though? I don't think any of us could say for sure...

[Number 9]

Where is Babel's best position though? I don't think any of us could say for sure...

On the bench mate!Thats a no brainer!

[LiverpoolMadman]

Where is Babel's best position though? I don't think any of us could say for sure...

He's not winger or all out striker ... he someone like Theo Walcott ( Rafa should exchange this boy when Arsenal wants to buy Alonso ).

This type of player should not play in one positions, the manager should "let" him "free" ....

[Fo Dne]

no chance he'll start at the weekend.

I agree, not because I don't think he deserves it but because of Rafa's undying loyalty to Kuyt.

I would defo start him against Everton, go for it Rafa!

I would drop keane in everton match and play babel up front but thats meen can't see rafa doing it for some strange reason rafa thinks babels a winger I think he needs to talk to van basten.

I know yeah, we seen all his superb striking instincts against Crewe, the way he took the game by the scuff of the neck and shown his class throughout the game was very impressive.

[Fo Dne]

Where is Babel's best position though? I don't think any of us could say for sure...

On the bench mate!Thats a no brainer!