Babel

[Guest Raisbeck]

Strange game from him today, he is a different player when he comes on as sub.

 

Hes scored 9 goals this season - 6 of which have come when hes been used as a sub.

 

He didnt look like he could be arsed with today from the beginning and was lucky to last as long as he did before being hauled off.

 

Still not sure the role in the formation entirely suits Babel though, he WILL not take his man on, on the outside, no matter what.

[Earl Hafler]

Strange game from him today, he is a different player when he comes on as sub.

 

Hes scored 9 goals this season - 6 of which have come when hes been used as a sub.

 

He didnt look like he could be arsed with today from the beginning and was lucky to last as long as he did before being hauled off.

 

Still not sure the role in the formation entirely suits Babel though, he WILL not take his man on, on the outside, no matter what.

 

Apart from doing so when he was fouled by Samba.

 

He's often isolated, little support and team mates seem to expect him to take everyone on.

 

He's got game. The right coaching and he's a player.

[Guest Prongsy]

Through. The. Middle.

[Guest Raisbeck]

Through. The. Middle.

 

How though, in our current formation?

[Cooger]

Apart from doing so when he was fouled by Samba.

 

He's often isolated, little support and team mates seem to expect him to take everyone on.

 

He's got game. The right coaching and he's a player.

 

It's one of the reasons why our wide players have not produced over the last ten years.

 

Our players give the ball to Pennant, Kewell, Babel and others in the past and expect them to beat three players, just as Ronaldo does.

 

I think our wide players get little support at times and it doesn't help them. Give the some supporting runners, more movement and you'll see them create far more.

 

I like Babel, but for me he should be upfront or on the right. He has no left foot and it limits his game playing on the left. I know Pires and others have played on the left being right footed, but Babel is different as he constantly looks to cut inside and it is predicatble / easy to stop.

[fred milne]

I like Babel, but for me he should be upfront or on the right. He has no left foot and it limits his game playing on the left. I know Pires and others have played on the left being right footed, but Babel is different as he constantly looks to cut inside and it is predicatble / easy to stop.

A key difference is that Pires had Cole behind him always looking to overlap, almost playing as an auxilliary left-winger.

[Mascherano]

I thought that he made some decent movement today that wasn't always utilised by his team mates. For example, when Gerrard went over in the box the first time. Babel had taken up a good position in the centre forward position unmarked. If Gerrard had played the ball through to him he would have been one on one.

 

I also think he looks more composed on the ball, less nervous, especially with his passing.

 

He's no left sided player though for all the reasons highlighted. I would like to see him in a central or right sided role and someone bought for that role on the left during the summer.

[Guest Prongsy]

How though, in our current formation?

 

I dunno...

[Guest RedLegend]

Still not sure the role in the formation entirely suits Babel though, he WILL not take his man on, on the outside, no matter what.

 

Why would he? He's played on the left but he has no left foot. He obviously doesn't try to go on the outside because he knows he won't be able to cross the ball in with his left.

[mathewbet1]

Better and more impressive as impact player this season. Hopfully more consitent next season. Is he worth the 11m we paid for him? id have to say yes at this point when tacking into account he could develop into a really special player then 11m would seem like bargin of the year. At the moment i would say satisfactory progress.

[MickeyDocs]

How though, in our current formation?

 

He should be Torres back up. An option on the left and an option when we want to rest Torres, or replace him with 15 mins to go.

[Berger]

He should be Torres back up. An option on the left and an option when we want to rest Torres, or replace him with 15 mins to go.

I actually quite agree. He can take up from Torres and Crouchie as lone striker when they are rested because he has the pace and all the abilities provided he prepares take all the kicks, of course.