Babel Should be playing Up Front

[Leo No.8]

Thought there was a great example tonight of why Ryan Babel is a future star at this club playing as a forward, but he's ineffective out wide, particularly in a 4-4-2.

 

Babel was played into a great crossing position on the left side with a few minutes to go in the first half; and as he so often has so far whilst playing out wide he hit the first man and the chance was gone.

 

A minute or two later Babel was played in through the channel by Torres in what was the kind of position he'd be much more likely to find himself if he played up front more often. This time he finished powerfully and accurately into the bottom corner and it looked to me like doing that right there was where he belongs.

 

This is it for me; Babel is all about power and pace. He doesn't have a great deal of craft and that is shown up in the way he plays out wide. He never looks up or picks out a man when he has good crossing opportunities, and he rarely guides the ball into the area with any kind of accuracy because it just isn't his way.

 

In fact I'd go as far as to say his delivery from wide areas is pretty terrible. You could count his good crosses this season on one hand in the games I've been to or seen.

 

That said, pace and power is absolutely fine with me in a striker and the lad is capable of moments of fantastic skill at times as well as a thunderous finish. I think Ryan Babel has absolutely immense potential as a striker, but that playing him out wide too often at this stage of his career could even set him back a bit and doesn't benefit the team greatly either.

 

Kewell or Benayoun on the left for me, Babel up front. I'd like to see him and Torres given a run together up top, and why not because our other strikers all look so ineffective?

 

Massive talent, I enjoy watching him hugely but Babel is never a winger in a million years. I hope to see him and Torres alongside each other before too long.

Edited January 15, 2008 by Leo No.8

[Fagan]

i agree, i was sying this to my mate tonight. himse;f and torres have the potential to be terrifying.

 

pace frightens the life out of defenders. they both have that in abundance.

 

he would certainly do better than voronin and kuyt, so why not

 

dunno why rafa leaves him out so much, he scores a lot of goals

[Guest RedLegend]

He has 7 goals now. Not bad at all considering he's been used mainly as a sub. Could reach 12 or 13 by the end of the season.

 

Left wing is where I don't want to see him though.

[Guest prophet]

Been saying this for months. He aint no winger......

[Guest GrandpaSimpson]

I like the way he's been introduced so far, think it will only benefit him long term, and next season.

[MFletcher]

I think the whole point of playing him on the wing is to encourage him to improve his overall play.

 

He'll be a star for us up front but I think this period on the wing is vital to his development.

[Guest RedLegend]

Hansen bigging Babel up on MOTD.

[Falconhoof]

Sell Crouch, buy a left winger and use Babel up front.

[Guest GrandpaSimpson]

I think the whole point of playing him on the wing is to encourage him to improve his overall play.

 

He'll be a star for us up front but I think this period on the wing is vital to his development.

 

 

Agree with this

[growler]

most of the kids we sign, play in different positions to improve their positioning and tactical knowledge. Babel is doing that in the first team.

 

Long term, I see him up front with Torres, but at the moment, he is also the only pacey winger we have.

 

Last summer we bought two strikers (Torres and Babel). this summer I expect us to buy 2 out and out wingers whilst dropping out Pennant, Kuyt etc.

[Falconhoof]

He's 21, he's played for his country 20 times and been a pro in a top side for 4 years. How much learning on the wing does he need to do before he's ready to play up front ?

[windy city red]

I think the whole point of playing him on the wing is to encourage him to improve his overall play.

 

He'll be a star for us up front but I think this period on the wing is vital to his development.

 

Like teach him to use his left foot a little more.

 

I dont think he will be left there once we get a proper left winger/midfield player.

[MFletcher]

It's a different league here though mate. The pace is faster, he's playing with better players and he'll learn more on the wing as he'll get more of the ball.

[Guest prophet]

All these gaining experience thingy is great BUT

 

a) playing them outta position can damage their confidence as well eg Kyut

 

b) Hes already an international- experience?

 

c) he sshown that hes doing most damage as a center frowward

[mathewbet1]

Hes getting better every timre i see him. still needs to improve though sloppy passing somtimes. Star of the future.

[Earl Hafler]

It's a different league here though mate. The pace is faster, he's playing with better players and he'll learn more on the wing as he'll get more of the ball.

 

Obviously something that suits one player doesn't necessarily suit another but both Ronaldo and Henry came here when they were young and their managers used them better than Rafa has used Babel - and they had greater competition for places in that position ( Henry being introduced on the left, too )

 

He'd learn more if he got more starts.

 

Stuck record time - him or Voronin ? Unbelievable.

 

Hopefully the last of that.

Edited January 15, 2008 by Big Stuff

[Earl Hafler]

All these gaining experience thingy is great BUT

 

a) playing them outta position can damage their confidence as well eg Kyut

 

b) Hes already an international- experience?

 

c) he sshown that hes doing most damage as a center frowward

 

I don't think it matters so much when you're a talented youngster. You're still learning, still adapting. Gerrard would have played anywhere when he was 20-21 and played with enthusiasm. Play him at right back now and he might play brilliantly, he might sulk.

 

As players become older they need a settled position.

[Zoob]

He's really got to start playing up-front regularly sooner rather than later. I wouldnt be surprised if he's outscored all our strikers bar Torres. playing on the left in a 442 really doesn't suit him, and I think he's going to gain more confidence and understanding of our team play by playing up front than his is on the left in a 442. It's not like any of our other strikers have done enough to cement a place alongside Torres (and in terms of the 'pace' of our other 3 strikers cement is an apt term)

 

The way Kuyt, Crouch and Voronin are playing at the moment (although Crouch obviously has had restricted opportunities), I just don't see any of them scoring enough, and I think opposition players feel this way too, which means Torres often has much closer attention than his strike partner. With Torres and Babel up front I think defences would have a whole lot of problems to deal with.

[crisps]

Think he'd also be happier on RW than LW as he'd be able to drive the ball in with more accuracy and power if need be. On his left, it's clearly his weaker side so he either cuts in or takes too long trying to measure a ball in which doesnt come off to often.

 

But yeh, upfront with Torres please!

[meepins]

I would like to see him up front but I can understand the reasoning behind having him play out wide. His pace and ability to beat players really add to an area we are particularly weak.

[Mike]

babel excels when running from deep - i can see why he is played in midfield.

he is far more likely to score than the hopeless kuyt though and crouch can clearly not play as a supporting striker to the kid.

voronin is dead to me.

[fyds]

Voronin = Fredo

[Frosty Jack]

just play him up front with torres, kewell/aurelio on the left. (i know)

[alias75]

Think the main reason he hasnt played up front more is we have 4 forwards at the club but lack left wingers and Kewell has been injured for a large part of this season. I think if we had a world class left winger he'd be treated as a forward first and winger 2nd, i think its obvious he'll end up being a forward and him and Torres could be terrific together.

[New York Red]

He reminds me of Anelka when he was young and terrifying.

 

Actually, he even reminds me of Henry a bit.