Ryan Babel

[bigfooty]

of course, naming a world class left winger that we could have signed and how much more that would have cost, and then guarenteeing that he would be good enough at liverpool to challenge instantly is another matter

That is a fair point. When you look through the Premiership there aren't too many "quality" left-wingers. The two options already here would be Downing and Pedersen. Of the pair I think Pedersen is the better, but I've seen many comments suggesting he's not really good enough for LFC. He's scored & performed against some good teams though, both for club and country and, as Carrick showed last season, it doesn't have to be the best player just the one that gives your team the balance it needs. Rafa's decision to buy "wingers" who cut infield constantly, both with and without the ball, doesn't seem to me to give us the right setup.

Looking abroad there were / are other options which have been discussed to death.

[lfcruleus]

Once and for all, Steven Gerrard's best position is in the team. Doesnt matter where he plays he wanders anyway.
Babel will need time to adjust and he will get it, chill out peeps its preseason.

[red g]

That is a fair point. When you look through the Premiership there aren't too many "quality" left-wingers. The two options already here would be Downing and Pedersen. Of the pair I think Pedersen is the better, but I've seen many comments suggesting he's not really good enough for LFC. He's scored & performed against some good teams though, both for club and country and, as Carrick showed last season, it doesn't have to be the best player just the one that gives your team the balance it needs. Rafa's decision to buy "wingers" who cut infield constantly, both with and without the ball, doesn't seem to me to give us the right setup.

Looking abroad there were / are other options which have been discussed to death.

hmmm quality and downing not 2 words i would put together. Downings delivery is very poor and similar to pennant as in no goal return.

[Kopite_Colin]

Once and for all, Steven Gerrard's best position is in the team. Doesnt matter where he plays he wanders anyway.
Babel will need time to adjust and he will get it, chill out peeps its preseason.

Of course it matters where he plays. The team needs structure, especially in CM. The midfield is the engine room of the team. If one CM doesn't get forward the attack suffers from lack of support. If the RM wanders, the RB is left exposed etc. etc. If SG wanders, then others have to cover, affecting the balance of the team. If Babel wanders too (which he may do because he has said himself he sees himself as a striker rather than a winger) - then that's potentially damaging as there is then the possibility of BOTH wide men wandering infield, constricting the play, and leaving the fullbacks exposed on both flanks. This is why all of the players under Rafa ALL need to play with discipline, and discipline is so much easier if you play your natural position.

As for Babel no-one can say yet one way or the other whether he'll cut it at LFC. Of course we all hope he does, but only time will tell.

[Red Chilli]

hmmm quality and downing not 2 words i would put together. Downings delivery is very poor and similar to pennant as in no goal return.

Absolutely, and Pedersen is incredibly inconsistent.

[Ron_Mexico]

as others have said babel needs time to settle

new country, bigger club, bigger expectations, and the weight of a hefty price tag on his shoulders

i think this season he will be our impact player off the bench, with his versatility he can play both wide positions and upfront, and his pace and trickery will be useful against tiring defenders who have battered all match by crouch, kuyt, voronin, torres etc...

by the end of the season he may well force his way into the team, but i dont expect much for the first few months

this season the burden needs to fall much further up the pecking order imo, babel should be given time

[Cisseshairdresser]

I still think were one, possibly two, wide players away from winning the title. Still can't see the service we need from the wings materialising yet, but I pray to God I'm wrong!!

[bigfooty]

this season the burden needs to fall much further up the pecking order imo, babel should be given time

I'd agree with that BUT all last season we were crying out for quality down the wings when we had an erratic Pennant, the misfits Gonzalez and Zenden and trying various other combinations on the left.

Rafa's solution is to sign Babel, who everyone seems to think will need a great deal of time and he himself says prefers to play striker, and Benayoun, who isn't really a winger.

There is Leto of course, but not seen much of him to suggest he'll feature prominently this season.

So we're left with Kewell, Pennant and then playing players out of their favoured positions. I don't think that is good enough for a team that aims to challenge for the title.

[Mattshark]

I'd agree with that BUT all last season we were crying out for quality down the wings when we had an erratic Pennant, the misfits Gonzalez and Zenden and trying various other combinations on the left.

Rafa's solution is to sign Babel, who everyone seems to think will need a great deal of time and he himself says prefers to play striker, and Benayoun, who isn't really a winger.

There is Leto of course, but not seen much of him to suggest he'll feature prominently this season.

So we're left with Kewell, Pennant and then playing players out of their favoured positions. I don't think that is good enough for a team that aims to challenge for the title.

Is there anyone to sign who wouldn't need time to settle though?

[Kenneth]

Pre season doesnt mean **** all. Last season we got ****ed 5-0 by Mainz who then got relegated while we went on to the Champions League final. I wonder how many players who played ****e that day went on to have a decent season.

We were **** pre-season. Then we started the season slowly and were out of the title race by October.