enigma

[Rory Fitzgerald]

What a world beater, but what should we do with him.

 

I kinda think of him like Crouch. If he is played alot, he is good enough for us, but if he is not going to be played then sell him for market value and buy someone that will get a game.

Edited April 10, 2009 by Rory Fitzgerald

[Sion]

Has all the talent required but not the mentality. See Cisse, Collymore, etc...

 

I would get rid while his price is still high

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Has all the talent required but not the mentality. See Cisse, Collymore, etc...

 

I would get rid while his price is still high

 

I havent fallen off the fench just yet but I am strongly leaning to that side I have to admit.

[Romario]

Keep him. He can fill in for Torres up top on his own. It's where he wants to play

[MFletcher]

He has all the attributes required to be a top striker. Except mental strength and decision making. Both are of such ludicrously inept levels that I believe he should be sold in the summer. He's done very, very little indeed this year to suggest he's a viable long-term option.

[Tosh]

He's so much like John Barnes at times

 

And so much like Paul Stewart at others. Better this year than last.

[MFletcher]

He's so much like John Barnes at times

 

And so much like Paul Stewart at others. Better this year than last.

 

I would contest that. He came on and changed games last year. His substitute appearances this year could be described as feeble.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

If he is played alot, he is good enough for us

 

wrong

 

Has all the talent required

 

wrong

 

He can fill in for Torres up top on his own.

 

wrong.

 

He's so much like John Barnes at times

 

very wrong.

[Kite]

Better this year than last.

Would have said the exact opposite

[Maldini]

He will never ever be good enough for us. Sell him this summer before other clubs realise that.

[Stevie H]

youtube compilations have so much to answer for.

[floyd the barber]

looked pretty good at times last season.....this season and he hasnt made that step up..and yes hes had his chances..

 

weird is babel , 2% of the time he looks world class.....98% hes s****,wastes the ball...cant cross, looks lazy..

 

Honestly, id sell.....we can probably get 10million plus...he still has value in europe..

then id put the money towards getting a true world class winger for the left hand side.....not someone with potential but someone who is already there.

 

Reina,gerrard,torres.......we need another world class player to sit alongside those 3..

[Magic8Ball]

Keep him. He can fill in for Torres up top on his own. It's where he wants to play

Has he shown any ability to fill in for Torres ?

[McBain]

His best spell was when we switched to one striker last year and dumped Pennant. He wasn't brilliant during that run but was pretty good. This season he's been really poor basically the whole time but in his defence he's not had a run of games. It's chicken and egg in that his form doesn't warrant a run in the side but the only way he'll probably get form is by having a run in the side.

 

I'm leaning towards sell at near the amount we paid

[kop205]

wrong

wrong

wrong.

very wrong.

 

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

I am bemused at this 'He has all the attributes except the mentality' stuff because to me he often looks clumsy and lacking in so many basic skills that a top winger needs - clkose control, ability to regularly beat a man either side and so on. A youtube compilation of that would last a lot longer than 4 minutes sadly.

 

The Barnes comparison is the one that riles me the most though and I can't believe it still gets trotted out, even if it is qualified.

 

I really don't think he is this frustrating enigma who is within touching distance of greatness if he can only get his head right. The Cisse compariosn was closer to the mark - he has certain physical attributes that he mean he will grab goals from time to time, but as an all-round footballer he just doesn't cut it, at least not given how we set up.

 

I've not rushed to that conclusion and it gives me no pleasure making it - it is based on evidence of wathcing him for two seasons now. The warning signs were there last year for me in that despite a good goals return, he looked alarmingly clumsy at times.

 

I said at the start of this year it would be interesting to see how he progressed because he was kind of an inverse Ronaldo in his first year, who had all the technique but no end product. The fera always was that without that sound techincal base, he wouldn't produce consistently and that is how it looks like turning out.

 

Shame - lilke everyone else I was excited by the purchase and saw enough last year to take a bit of encouragement and gloss over the reservations that appeared as well.

[Falconhoof]

There's only so much patience you can have for a player like this. I think he'll be moved on in the summer but I only hope he gets his act together and makes a proper contribution to the remaining games.

[Dee]

I'm sick talking about Babel

[Jonesy]

I havent fallen off the fench just yet but I am strongly leaning to that side I have to admit.

 

you are SCS

 

this is you earlier on in these season!! ha ha .........

Edited April 11, 2009 by Jonesy

[carrafan]

El Zhar and Ngog (even dossena) have got the nod over Ryan a few times this season and that makes me almost sure that Rafa's lost trust in him and might sell him in the summer. He is one of our best sellable assets as well.

[Ethan]

2nd season syndrome - he'll be fantastic next season