Liverpool FC Forum

by **sixbuster** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:33 pm

Tim LFC wrote:I think lets just try him up front with Torres. See if he improves. I think we can utilize his pace and he might have a few good goals in him. Were probably just playing him in the wrong position. We should at least try him up there with Torres as Babel really probably doesn't enjoy playing LW like Rooney doesn't enjoy playing LW.

We haven't got time to see if he improves, the season will be over. Enough chances.

by **Bammo** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:16 pm

sixbuster wrote:he could not control the ball.

That could be applied to our entire team yesterday :upside:

Against Stoke I'd be tempted to switch to this formation later in the game (assuming we're either winning comfortably or desperate for an equaliser!)

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Insua
Masch
Kuyt Gerrard Benny
Babel
Torres

by **Reg** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:21 pm

Tim LFC wrote:I think lets just try him up front with Torres. See if he improves. I think we can utilize his pace and he might have a few good goals in him. Were probably just playing him in the wrong position. We should at least try him up there with Torres as Babel really probably doesn't enjoy playing LW like Rooney doesn't enjoy playing LW.

When I think of Babel, I dont see any of Rushie, Kenny, Beardsley, Aldo, Fowler or Owen in the lad so why d'you want to play him up front?

by **Toffeehater** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:38 pm

Play him upfront for 5 games than see the difference , he's not a winger and rafa keeps playing him there. He has been brilliant during pre season , played well for the dutch surely rafa would have selected him . Next game if riera is not fit , play yossi on the left , stevie back in midfield and babel off torres

by **LFC2007** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:00 pm

"I've been saying for a while now."

He isn't good enough. There are league 1 players I'd rather see at the club (Jermain Beckford for a start).
It's a classic case of people seeing pace, a powerful shot and the odd bit of easy-on-the-eye skill (which is rarely put to any useful effect), and concluding that we have a player on our hands. We didn't, he was only ever of use very occasionally, and if anything he's regressed since his first season. He gets the opportunity start against Spurs - to put right the shocker he had in the same fixture last season, and to stake a claim for a place of sorts (as if he deserves it ahead of Benayoun ffs?) - and he gives us yet another gutless/useless performance. Enough. He should be indefinitely removed from the equation; there is no way he can play a significant role in any title challenging side. You could tell him to play anywhere, in any capacity, and for any reasonable period of time he would prove to be well below the required standard.

by **Bammo** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:15 pm

People were saying similar about Kuyt last year...

by **ruskiy playmaker** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:30 pm

aCe' wrote:To me, Rafa hasnt been able to get the best out of Babel... under a different manager if given the chance to express his talents in a more consistent basis im sure he'd become a much better player...

I used to think that too, but maybe it's Babel's poor atitude that's keeping him from becoming a good player. Just look at Ronaldo, after coming back from the world cup, he changed his attitude and suddenly he became one of the best players in the world. I really don't think that Ferguson had much to do with that.

Babel really needs to start motivating himself too or else his careers going to go down the drain real fast.

by **Dazzer** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:36 pm

I feel babel just don't believes he can be the best player in world any more I think he is playing catch up in his own head now.Who to blame I guess easy target is Rafa as he is manager and players look up to him (or I would hope so).But I feel its few things that are holding babel back one being him self he doubts him self maybe it was comming to the next level and not finding his feet fast enough.I do think he needs run of games but How far do you push it with out hurting the team and our chances for silverwear this year.

Its a massive problem for Rafa this one Stick or Twist and I tell you what I wouldn't like to make this choice.

by **LFC2007** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:07 pm

Kuyt's a much better player than Babel (usual disclaimers apply here), mainly because he has a sniff of a footballing brain, works his b'*ll*c*ks of and in his last season he consistently delivered valuable end product. You can't say the same about Babel.

In fact, there isn't much you can claim about Babel. What does he offer that could be regarded as evidence of a player good enough to figure consistently in a side with title aspirations? It may be pleasant alluding to his talent, but what (and where) is it?

I dread when he gets on the ball. I just want him to give it to someone else ASAP because otherwise you just know he'll either run willy nilly into a defender and lose possession, or play a shoddy pass that's either intercepted by an opposing player, or one that gives his own player little chance of making much of it. All too often it's a case of 'how long 'til he loses the ball?'. Such is the mark of a very poor player. When you lack complete confidence in seeing a player receive possession, they usually aren't good enough to play (consistently/substantial part) at the highest level. The exact opposite is a great marker of the best players.

by **Bammo** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:28 pm

Babel's definitely not in the Kuyt class at this moment in time, certainly not with regards to work rate. On the other hand Babel has shown glimpses of skill and ability that Kuyt just doesn't have. A quick look on youtube gives examples of when Babel has done well. There is talent there, we just haven't seen it.

The worrying thing for me is that he plays best with a smile on his face and we've not seen that in ages. I'm not sure that can be brought back whilst he's playing under pressure in the position he plays. In Holland he played further forwards and had less defensive duties. The only way I can see him doing well for us is if he's just told to go out and attack.

That may not have to be up front instead of Torres. Against the likes of Stoke I'd rather Rafa just said to the likes of Babel and Kuyt to not worry too much about tracking back and go out and attack them.

I think if he stays then we'll see what he's made of. He's either going to come to fruition or become one of those players who never makes it because he doesn't have a true position - not clinical enough for a forward but not defensive enough for a midfielder.

by **LFC2007** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:41 pm

That says it all for me. In two and a bit seasons we still 'haven't seen' this talent, and the refuge for many a poor player has to be sought in youtube. We have seen him and other than the occasional glimpse of skill, this 'talent' otherwise comprises of conceding possession easily and running into defenders. Whether he was signed for Arsenal, Inter Milan, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, I don't he'd be good enough.

by **Reg** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:14 pm

Think about Babel in the context of the post in the Rumours section that Barcelona are interested in Albert Reira. If we sold him we would be totaly up the swanny up the left side. Babel doesnt count for anything.

by **Gerrard30391** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:24 am

Playing Babel on the Left is exactly like playing Riera on the right....it just wouldn't work....so as has been said above.....Rafa needs to rethink his position or ship him.....hes never gonn want to take his man on down the left when he won't be able to put in a quality cross.....and we know he can if he gets on his right foot (CL to Kuyt for example).....

by **Dazzer** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:15 pm

Gerrard30391 wrote:Playing Babel on the Left is exactly like playing Riera on the right....it just wouldn't work....so as has been said above.....Rafa needs to rethink his position or ship him.....hes never gonn want to take his man on down the left when he won't be able to put in a quality cross.....and we know he can if he gets on his right foot (CL to Kuyt for example).....

I doubt this very much as I personaly have seen the best out of babel on his right foot.Do you remeber that CL game last season can't remeber what one where babel had 2 assists from corners ? Which foot did he use with those ? his right !

He has a very sweet right foot in fact But as you know playing on left as a right footer its hard unless shorter and can trun on the spot fast to lose ya marker also if you have a bad left foot which I think babel has you become predictable.

I think moving kuyt up front and babel to the right might give us a good ballance with Benny on left as Benny tho right footed is a master at making space for him self and that is a skill a right footer needs if he is to play on the left.

If babel played on right I think we would see him go down the line more with confidence and pace.I feel we would see the best out of him there.

by **Gerrard30391** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:32 pm

Dazzer wrote:
Gerrard30391 wrote:Playing Babel on the Left is exactly like playing Riera on the right....it just wouldn't work....so as has been said above.....Rafa needs to rethink his position or ship him.....hes never gonn want to take his man on down the left when he won't be able to put in a quality cross.....and we know he can if he gets on his right foot (CL to Kuyt for example).....

I doubt this very much as I personaly have seen the best out of babel on his right foot.Do you remeber that CL game last season can't remeber what one where babel had 2 assists from corners ? Which foot did he use with those ? his right !

He has a very sweet right foot in fact But as you know playing on left as a right footer its hard unless shorter and can trun on the spot fast to lose ya marker also if you have a bad left foot which I think babel has you become predictable.

I think moving kuyt up front and babel to the right might give us a good ballance with Benny on left as Benny tho right footed is a master at making space for him self and that is a skill a right footer needs if he is to play on the left.

If babel played on right I think we would see him go down the line more with confidence and pace.I feel we would see the best out of him there.

Did you read my post? IS that not what i said???

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