Liverpool FC Forum

by **bigmick** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:49 pm

In the last 20 mins (the bit I saw) he was our best player and put in a top piece of play for the winner. He's been sh!te many times in a Red shirt (I know we played in white today before some smart erse jumps in

) but he wasn't in the bit I saw today.

As for him playing better down the right, who would have thought it

by **Fauxy** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:57 pm

Bad Bob wrote:I agree that Babel seems to have more confidence down the right and ergo is more effective there. But, IMHO, it's not just the change in position that's led to an improvement--I see a change in attitude as well. He was putting tackles in today, chasing lost causes and generally looking to impose himself on the game. He still had his usual quota of poor decisions, running down blind alleys and slow thinking but these things detract less when he's showing he's up for it and seems determined to contribute. I contend that he'll always be a somewhat limited player but there's absolutely no question that he can be a piece of the puzzle if he continues to show the commitment he showed today.

Yea i defo agree, his attitude was wat really seemed different today. He was putting arguably his best attribute to very good use, his pace and acceleration.

by **Penguins** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:17 pm

I am not saying Babel right now should be ahead of anyone right now but please to all those who say he has got to start to earn it.

How many games in a row did Kuyt **** ***** **** out there on the field?
He was abysmal 15 straight games and scored 0 goals as our lead striker.
He was at least just as bad as babel when he is at his worst.
Rafa stood by Kuyt and he improved much thanks to the confidence the manager put in him.
It is clear that Babel is much better as a rw so why shouldn't he be given the patience that was awarded Kuyt??

by **bigmick** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:12 pm

Penguins wrote:It is clear that Babel is much better as a rw so why shouldn't he be given the patience that was awarded Kuyt??

In fairness with Babel it's not a question of "patience", he's actually got to get into the team. Sure you could argue that while we persisted in picking Juyt even though he was perpetually awful we had Crouch who very often left out in his favour, but you can hardly argue for starting Babel in preference to Kuyt on the right at the moment.

My feeling is that we should be blooding him as Torres's potential replacement if/when he's needed. I simply cannot understand how Egg Nog ever gets game time up top while Babel is fit and available.

by **bunglemark2** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:18 pm

bigmick wrote:In the last 20 mins (the bit I saw) he was our best player and put in a top piece of play for the winner. He's been sh!te many times in a Red shirt (I know we played in white today before some smart erse jumps in ) but he wasn't in the bit I saw today.

As for him playing better down the right, who would have thought it

Errr. I think that's going a bit far to be honest.
Granted he made a couple of useful runs and it was a good cross for the last goal, but he was OK for a player of his ability. It's refreshing to see a bit more ooomph from him, perhaps Rafa's public flogging might have worked.
Now for another flogging of Stevie G !!

by **NANNY RED** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:40 pm

He played one good ball yep the cross which was brilliant, ill hand him that, Words out of my mouth before he played that was ,get a grip Babel lad you sh.ithouse, he puts a perfect cross in an an the next words out of my mouth were , hes great in he :laugh:

Nah i still wouldnt start him though , one good cross dosnt change my mind on him , hes gotta do more than that im afraid,

by **bunglemark2** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:11 pm

Assuming Rafa gives him the opportunity....

by **Dazzer** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:24 am

NANNY RED wrote:He played one good ball yep the cross which was brilliant, ill hand him that, Words out of my mouth before he played that was ,get a grip Babel lad you sh.ithouse, he puts a perfect cross in an an the next words out of my mouth were , hes great in he Nah i still wouldnt start him though , one good cross dosnt change my mind on him , hes gotta do more than that im afraid,

Thing is nan he has done alot more then that look his stats up that are pretty impressive.Thing is there is this band wagon that goes on and its easy to look at a player and see things not working for them and have a go.Fact is just changing a players place on the field can have massive impact on how they perform and how they enjoy playing.Look at herny when he was in Italy he was played as a winger tbh he was dire.Wenger seen him seen past his performances and brought him to England to train to be a striker.Later he admited he didn't need much training in that role as he found out he played there as a youth player and took to it like a duck to water.

Also you could look at kuyt Rafa bought and played him as a striker for a while before he seen he was rubbish there and moved him to the right and found him to be a better player there at this level.You could say same about Dossena he is left back but imo looks a far better left midfielder.So its all swings and roundabouts in football players don't always fit into your plans the way you first thought they would.What makes a great manager is making the best of what you have and Rafa atm seems to be doing that and long may it cont. :nod

by **Zidane** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:10 am

Two good cameos in a row I'll admit but he's done this before so I still don't know what to expect of him. That said hopefully he can keep it up cause the more people we have everyone playing well the better off we are so keep it up Ryan.

by **Penguins** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:06 am

What Babel did for the goal is what i'd want from a rw or lw.
Being able run at the defenders, burst past them and deliver a good cross. I find that essential for a player in that role.

Babel can't do what he did if he had played on the left.
Playing on the right makes such a move much more natural.

About Babel playing up top. For some reason Rafa obvioulsly sees
him as a winger as that is the position Rafa plays him and nowhere else. I am sure he'd do better than Egg nog but not sure we'll find out.

But if babel plays it has to be rw or as a striker. Both Benayoun and Riera are much better at lw than Babel.

by **Rush Job** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:02 am

Penguins wrote:What Babel did for the goal is what i'd want from a rw or lw.
Being able run at the defenders, burst past them and deliver a good cross. I find that essential for a player in that role.

He can dream about doing that while he`s on the bench.

He`s cross was a fluke, he didnt look up once. Go watch it, never takes his eyes of the ball, ala milan Baros.

by **Octsky** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:10 am

Babel has the physicality of the game but not the mental aspects of it. He lose possession too many time against Hammies, yah he did provided the assist, but for me losing possession is criminal. Especially if you are chasing a goal or defending a lead.
Once you lose the ball and the opposition has it, the only way you can get it back is 1) opposition attempts at goal (2) you work your :censored:

off getting it back (3) they scored a goal.
Babel has, lets say, potential but he needs to read the game better and dont give the ball away like charity.

by **Toffeehater** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:26 am

Rush Job wrote:
Penguins wrote:What Babel did for the goal is what i'd want from a rw or lw.
Being able run at the defenders, burst past them and deliver a good cross. I find that essential for a player in that role.

He can dream about doing that while he`s on the bench.

He`s cross was a fluke, he didnt look up once. Go watch it, never takes his eyes of the ball, ala milan Baros.

you'll never be happy will you? He did well when he came on , beat his man . Give the lad credit FFS !

by **Toffeehater** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:28 am

Penguins wrote:I am not saying Babel right now should be ahead of anyone right now but please to all those who say he has got to start to earn it.

How many games in a row did Kuyt **** ***** **** out there on the field?
He was abysmal 15 straight games and scored 0 goals as our lead striker.
He was at least just as bad as babel when he is at his worst.
Rafa stood by Kuyt and he improved much thanks to the confidence the manager put in him.
It is clear that Babel is much better as a rw so why shouldn't he be given the patience that was awarded Kuyt??

Whatever kuyt doesn't make up offensively he runs his :censored:

off , works hard and defends getting the ball back . Babel rarely does that , if babel carries on having impacts like this from the bench with the right attitude , he'd be knocking on the door for right wing position .

by **DrPepe** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:57 am

Toffeehater wrote:
Penguins wrote:I am not saying Babel right now should be ahead of anyone right now but please to all those who say he has got to start to earn it.

How many games in a row did Kuyt **** ***** **** out there on the field?
He was abysmal 15 straight games and scored 0 goals as our lead striker.
He was at least just as bad as babel when he is at his worst.
Rafa stood by Kuyt and he improved much thanks to the confidence the manager put in him.
It is clear that Babel is much better as a rw so why shouldn't he be given the patience that was awarded Kuyt??

Whatever kuyt doesn't make up offensively he runs his off , works hard and defends getting the ball back . Babel rarely does that , if babel carries on having impacts like this from the bench with the right attitude , he'd be knocking on the door for right wing position .

well done to the fella for seemingly turning around his attitude, but as far as i;m concerned his 2 "cameos" recently leave him just inside the garden gate, staring wistfully up the long path to the first team front door. He'll needs to show a lot lot more, before we can consider him to be "knocking on the door" for the RW position... :nod

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