Thoughts on Babel last night?

[Marky]

I noticed alot of mixed views on his performance around the forum last night.
I actually thought he played reasonably well in the main but at times he looked very raw and inexperienced which you would expect from a 20 year old in his first season at a new club and a new country.
To be fair he looked threatening when he was running down the wing, always confident of beating his man and driving into the box, his touch and delivery let him down a bit but still he had a go and along with Benayoun(when he came on) and Gerrard he looked like the player most likely to produce a bit of magic.
Couldn't fault his work rate either, chasing back way into his own half on a few occasions last night.
Well in lad

[kewellnthegang]

I noticed alot of mixed views on his performance around the forum last night.
I actually thought he played reasonably well in the main but at times he looked very raw and inexperienced which you would expect from a 20 year old in his first season at a new club and a new country.
To be fair he looked threatening when he was running down the wing, always confident of beating his man and driving into the box, his touch and delivery let him down a bit but still he had a go and along with Benayoun(when he came on) and Gerrard he looked like the player most likely to produce a bit of magic.
Couldn't fault his work rate either, chasing back way into his own half on a few occasions last night.
Well in lad

he is raw but he was ok
my main problem with him and JP is that imo we signed these 2 because we couldnt/didnt get our main targets

[Parm]

have said earlier I thought he was our best player, always showed for the ball, looked to attack and drive forward with his pace and get a shot in where possible, played it simple when needed. Ok he lost it a few times trying to cut in but his head did not go down. This guy needs more and more game time. He will develop into a fine player.

[Fierce]

I thought Babel was good last night. He seems to be able to pass defenders relatively easily, it was what he did next that let him down. Too often a player was beaten only for the ball to be given away afterwards

Its clear he's raw and still learning, and I think that if we had other options, Babel would be used more sparingly in these early months of the season. I also think that he will eventually be used as a striker, thats where I see his best position. He's certainly not afraid of having a shot!

[Parm]

I thought Babel was good last night. He seems to be able to pass defenders relatively easily, it was what he did next that let him down. Too often a player was beaten only for the ball to be given away afterwards

Its clear he's raw and still learning, and I think that if we had other options, Babel would be used more sparingly in these early months of the season. I also think that he will eventually be used as a striker, thats where I see his best position. He's certainly not afraid of having a shot!

[machiavelli]

Yep...i defo think he is more a striker than a winger.

[Kenneth]

Good. The people slating him specifically were the usual retards.

[Pacman]

He was ok last night.

I think he is a talent and will only get better.

[Colemere]

I think he is/can be a good player but last night he looked a bit like Cisse playing on the wing.

[Frank Leroux]

I thought he was our 'best' player last night. He looks like a youngster who has an idea what to do but is finding it difficult at the moment. Many times he looked like he was trying to kick-start the game for us on his own.

It's unfortunate for him that's he's being introduced into a new team which, at the moment, is not playing with much confidence. Handled right, I think he'll come good for us.

[Frank Leroux]

By the by, which is his strongest foot...seemed to be coming in on his right a lot last night...I always thought he was left footed?

[rushscored4]

By the by, which is his strongest foot...seemed to be coming in on his right a lot last night...I always thought he was left footed?

No, he's right footed but has often played wide on the left like Robert Pires and many other left-sided players. I think one of his main problems is that he's too predictable. Defenders know he will cut inside to shoot rather than go outside and try to get a cross in. The easy solution is to switch a left footed defender to play right back against him.

[Frank Leroux]

No, he's right footed but has often played wide on the left like Robert Pires and many other left-sided players. I think one of his main problems is that he's too predictable. Defenders know he will cut inside to shoot rather than go outside and try to get a cross in. The easy solution is to switch a left footed defender to play right back against him.

Indeed. I posted last night, I think it was last night...,that he seemed to me more a 'Wenger'-type player. Being right footed that's precisely where Arsenal would play him.

Babel cutting inside with a Philip Lahm overlapping is a nice thought....no?

[rushscored4]

Indeed. I posted last night, I think it was last night...,that he seemed to me more a 'Wenger'-type player. Being right footed that's precisely where Arsenal would play him.

Babel cutting inside with a Philip Lahm overlapping is a nice thought....no?

Yeah, if you have a right footed left midfielder you need an excellent overlapping left back who is preferably left footed so the opposing team's right back is turned inside and out (literally)...

[Reece]

Yeah, if you have a right footed left midfielder you need an excellent overlapping left back who is preferably left footed so the opposing team's right back is turned inside and out (literally)...

But we already have that in Riise, don't we?