Ryan Babel

[bazza76]

I've had a bump on the head

I'd say, someone kicked an old wet heavy football at your head more like, you know the ones, that make a ringing sound in your head for a while after.

[Spionkop69]

I'm looking forward to Kewell returning

That bad eh?

[Parm]

firstly, i'm a big babel fan, I think this kid will be the nuts for us. but I do agree, he is still raw, no one quite knows where to play him (on the wings/upfront) all I know is that we have a rough and raw diamond on our hands and if we can smooth it out then great things can happen. I'd liken Babel to Van Persie, simialr type of player, quick and also converted from the wings. it's taken him 2yrs or so but that wait is being repaid.

[glynner]

he does look like he might be an interesting choice as a striker

out on the wing, more often than not, once he gets the ball he heads straight for the goal

he's hardly likely to ever be the archetypical touchline-hugging type of winger.

I wouldn't mind seeing him playing up front during the Carling Cup games.

[Darth Marty]

exactly..play him up front with one of the young strikers..lets see if we have a ****ing striker apart from Torres that can finish!!
Babel and Torres up front in the next Prem game I hope!

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Play him as an impact player for the next few. He had a shocker yesterday

He's a bit sloppy and his legs are a bit like "happy Feets" the odd time

[Mr Tourette]

Very brief flashes of something special. occasional skill to beat a man, powerful shot, eye for a killer pass maybe.

overall a very underwhelming start for me. more abd games than good.

not a winger.

not convinced AT ALL. Ive said it before but i strongly believe that these days if by 21 and you cost 11 million and you dont make a pretty much instant impact - the odds are against you in a top 4 side - long term. yes, henry was **** at first. He is one in a million. babel is not.

although a diving ******, you cant deny that queresma looke twice the player the other night in europe.

[sean_lfc]

I think that's a bit heavy Mr Tourette. Babel surely has more to come, he's only been here for 5 minutes.

Everyone harps on about the Premiership being 'a different kettle of fish, very physically demanding, very tight and very fast-paced', yet when we get a new signing he's to atone to the league like Torres did, who is also a 'one in a million' player.

Babel's been quite raw and I believe he will come good, he's a different class to Gonzalez, for example.

He's got an explosive shot and he knows where the target is, once he gets his confidence up, gets used to the league and his team mates, I'm sure we'll see much more of him.

For instance something we never saw Gonzalez do and which gives me hope for Babel is the way he took that goal vs Derby. A goal's a goal and it was a brilliant, very intelligent, calm, determined goal, slow-motion style.

And I believe this can become a more regular occurance with the amount of games and time we give him, when you see a player do something like that, all it takes is to harness and nourish those skills, which I'm sure Rafa won't oversee.

[Red Chilli]

I'm looking forward to Kewell returning

Got your ticket for Moscow then Disco?

[El Jefecito]

He's improved with each game he has played. He was awesome in the u-20 world cup, if he can repeat that for us, we will be very lucky!

[Red Chilli]

He's very raw at the moment. He's got potential to be very good but I think he's been rushed into the first tema because we haven't got any decent wingers.
He's trying a bit too hard at the moment IMO.

Plus it REALLY pisses me off when commentators say it reminds them of Digger when they see Babel. WTF? Barnes had a million times the composure that Babel has.

[El Jefecito]

He's very raw at the moment. He's got potential to be very good but I think he's been rushed into the first tema because we haven't got any decent wingers.
He's trying a bit too hard at the moment IMO.

Plus it REALLY pisses me off when commentators say it reminds them of Digger when they see Babel. WTF? Barnes had a million times the composure that Babel has.

I've watched all of our games and Babel has gotten better in each one. Hold on to your y-fronts and maybe he'll meet your standards soon enough.

[Mr Tourette]

I think that's a bit heavy Mr Tourette. Babel surely has more to come, he's only been here for 5 minutes.

Everyone harps on about the Premiership being 'a different kettle of fish, very physically demanding, very tight and very fast-paced', yet when we get a new signing he's to atone to the league like Torres did, who is also a 'one in a million' player.

Babel's been quite raw and I believe he will come good, he's a different class to Gonzalez, for example.

He's got an explosive shot and he knows where the target is, once he gets his confidence up, gets used to the league and his team mates, I'm sure we'll see much more of him.

For instance something we never saw Gonzalez do and which gives me hope for Babel is the way he took that goal vs Derby. A goal's a goal and it was a brilliant, very intelligent, calm, determined goal, slow-motion style.

And I believe this can become a more regular occurance with the amount of games and time we give him, when you see a player do something like that, all it takes is to harness and nourish those skills, which I'm sure Rafa won't oversee.

fair play - i just have ths debate every year, and i get the same argument from people about all manner of underperforming players. that the prem is a hard place, he doesnt know his team mates, hes a rough diamond. My opinion is that hes not started well and has shown very fleeting moments of the genius that youve rightly pounted out. Hes a cut above gonzalez, but im just impatient and i still believe that to improve a top 4 team attempting to win the league you havent got the time to bed in - youve either got it at the required level or you havent - especialy spending 10 or 12 million. As always i hope he comes good, he seems to have the raw materials, but lets have this discussion later in the season and see how it goes for the lad as im not overly optimistic that he will have forged himself a untouchable place on the teamsheet by may. but with rafa - who does.

[Mr Tourette]

I think that's a bit heavy Mr Tourette. Babel surely has more to come, he's only been here for 5 minutes.

Everyone harps on about the Premiership being 'a different kettle of fish, very physically demanding, very tight and very fast-paced', yet when we get a new signing he's to atone to the league like Torres did, who is also a 'one in a million' player.

Babel's been quite raw and I believe he will come good, he's a different class to Gonzalez, for example.

He's got an explosive shot and he knows where the target is, once he gets his confidence up, gets used to the league and his team mates, I'm sure we'll see much more of him.

For instance something we never saw Gonzalez do and which gives me hope for Babel is the way he took that goal vs Derby. A goal's a goal and it was a brilliant, very intelligent, calm, determined goal, slow-motion style.

And I believe this can become a more regular occurance with the amount of games and time we give him, when you see a player do something like that, all it takes is to harness and nourish those skills, which I'm sure Rafa won't oversee.

ps i agree with most on this thread that in theory as a second striker he is a more exciting prospect.

[El Jefecito]

fair play - i just have ths debate every year, and i get the same argument from people about all manner of underperforming players. that the prem is a hard place, he doesnt know his team mates, hes a rough diamond. My opinion is that hes not started well and has shown very fleeting moments of the genius that youve rightly pounted out. Hes a cut above gonzalez, but im just impatient and i still believe that to improve a top 4 team attempting to win the league you havent got the time to bed in - youve either got it at the required level or you havent - especialy spending 10 or 12 million. As always i hope he comes good, he seems to have the raw materials, but lets have this discussion later in the season and see how it goes for the lad as im not overly optimistic that he will have forged himself a untouchable place on the teamsheet by may. but with rafa - who does.

He's been improving game to game. Have you missed that?