Ryan Babel

[MARTINOZ]

I agree (amazingly) with DJS . I thought the lad was ok against Pompey , not great but not ****e either . He wanted to be involved , showed some good pace and had a few good touches . He will improve big time . The partnership of Torres and Kuyt will be explosive I reckon when they get to know each other better . There were a few signs in that game that got me excited .

[Radar]

I can confirm your story. I lived about a 5 minute walk from Highbury at the time and knew alot of Gooners. They were always telling me that this guy Henry was ****e.

I think he started as a left winger for them just like Babel is supposed to for us.

So do you think we signed 'The New Henry'

[Howard_lfc]

Far to many people are writing him off at such an early stage. It's far to early to judge. I was excited about what his signing could bring and I still am. If I'm proved wrong then fair enough but I have a feeling that in time he will turn out to be a good player for us.

I thought I said we're gonna have to be patient with him. I didn't think I'd written the lad off.

[JPK]

He needs time.I'm woried about our wings still.I can see Stevie G on the right again this year and Aurelio,Riise and Barry Kewell on the left.We still have not rectified this problem.Torres will be electric.Could'nt agree more.

[dww]

To be honest he is clearly a talent. I suspect that the move in league and position will mean he will take a while to show his full ability. I think we will need some combination of Kewell, Riise and Aurelio (maybe Leto too) to do a job for us while he settles in.

He does seem to have all the attributes to be a success though.

[cobain]

Ryan Babel is the biggest disappointment in our preseason so far Hope he starts playing like he should soon enough.

[JPK]

To be honest he is clearly a talent. I suspect that the move in league and position will mean he will take a while to show his full ability. I think we will need some combination of Kewell, Riise and Aurelio (maybe Leto too) to do a job for us while he settles in.

He does seem to have all the attributes to be a success though.

So until he setlles we use two left backs and KewellFills me with confidenceRight backs up and down the country will be cacking themselves

[Los Rojos]

I think we're gonna have to be patient with him.

It's fairly obvious he's definitely got talent - but it's also obvious that he hasn't quite got a natural position. I think he's gonna frustrate us fans before eventually winning us over.

He has good pace and a good touch but he seems to drift in and out of games and becomes less effective. I believe Rafa will 'sort him out' though and eventually turn him into a decent second striker as I don't see him as a wide man.

I think you're right that he's going to take some time patience from the fans to settle but I hope Rafa doesn't see him as a second striker when we've been desperate for a couple of class wingers for years.

[kurtangle01]

I thought I said we're gonna have to be patient with him. I didn't think I'd written the lad off.

Sorry, Les. That wasn't directed at you.

I have seen quite a few people who have almost written the lad off already. That's who it was directed at.

[Howard_lfc]

Sorry, Les. That wasn't directed at you.

I have seen quite a few people who have almost written the lad off already. That's who it was directed at.

Well that's alright then.

I was getting primed for a straightener !!!!

[bazza76]

Well that's alright then.

I was getting primed for a straightener !!!!

aaww, we could have made this on a live event for est1892
We could have even asked Frank warren to promote it

[kurtangle01]

Well that's alright then.

I was getting primed for a straightener !!!!

[dww]

So until he setlles we use two left backs and KewellFills me with confidenceRight backs up and down the country will be cacking themselves

To be fair Aurelio has player off a striker for Valencia and is a better crosser than nearly anyone in the division. Riise is a decent if limited left mid and Kewell on form is a very, very good player and when he has played well has offered us very good balance.

[JPK]

To be fair Aurelio has player off a striker for Valencia and is a better crosser than nearly anyone in the division. Riise is a decent if limited left mid and Kewell on form is a very, very good player and when he has played well has offered us very good balance.

Decent isnt good enough and Riise gets goals there but he's not a natural winger.Kewell on form?Never at this club has his form been good and Aurelio has played centre midfield too but he is a left back
My point is in tight games you need that bit of magic.Gerrard cant do it forever.I do like Aurelio and Riise is frustrating at times but he has been one of our better players over the years.When Rafa arrived Finnan was played RW and 3years on two left backs could possibly play LW for a good part of the season.It's just not good enough.

[Kopite_Colin]

We need a seasoned winger to add to the 1st 11, especially if Babel isn't going to hiit the ground running. One injury to Kewell, and Babel struggling - we're then in the same position as last season - lack of consistent creativity and width.