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Was Babel a worthwhile purchase?

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    #1

    Was Babel a worthwhile purchase?

    Just been having a look at our squad, and can't help but think that Babel really wasn't a nescessary purchase when we bought him.

    I'm not aware if there were other clubs after him, but he certainly wasn't featuring heavily in the transfer news over the summer. So maybe we could have looked at other options and gone back and purchased him in maybe a year or two, of course there is always the danger he really starts to look a player and then we either lose out or his price goes up.

    However to me the 10mil or so would have been better spent on a proper winger (touchline hugger variation), and it seems to me Rafa wanted this type of winger but he either wasn't aware how much Babel preferred to play as a striker or was just keen to overlook it. Now while I don't think he was a waste of money, as i'm sure he'll improve as time goes one, he might have benefited from another year or two playing senior football somewhere else, and learning his trade and position, what does everyone else think about him?
    Last edited by Morph; 15-11-07, 06:15 PM.
    Thomas Hicks Senior
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    #2
    Personally, I would not have bought him, but each to their own, I backed his signing when Rafa made it, he has huge potential. but after seeing him in more detail playing as a winger. I don't think he will ever be the world class winger we crave.
    Bill shankly to Tommy Smith after he'd turned up for training with a bandaged knee:
    'Take that poof bandage off, and what do you mean YOUR knee, it's LIVERPOOL'S knee !'

    "Sorry, boss, I should have kept my legs together," said Lawrence. "No, Tommy, your mother should have kept her legs together!," replied Shankly.

    * After Tommy Lawrence had let in a fluke goal between his legs

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      #3
      I think he was bought for his talent and potential and the fact he can play through the centre or left and right. Primarily he's one for the future, but can make an impact this season.

      I'd say a worthwhile purchase
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        #4
        He was being scouted by many top clubs and was expected to move to Arsenal. I think the investment will pay off and we had to strike while the iron was hot. You don't want to fit to many immediate starters in anyway and I can see us making some moves in January.

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          #5
          Wasn't this one of the supposed reasons Ayesteran left, as he felt it was a panic buy?

          The question is, would he have cost more more in January or next Summer?

          Personally i'm glad we signed him (despite him clearly not being a winger)
          Sack swinging like Dub-D40 on a door hinge

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            #6
            I think that Babel is exactly what Rafa wanted/wants long term - a player who can play any position in attack in either 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formations and has pace and is good with the ball at his feet. However I think it was an odd time to buy him when we needed to get another established attacking player who didn't need time to adapt his game IMO. I think if he learns when to come off his wing and develops his general decision making he will be a very evry good player for us.

            I think he was aware of how much Babel prefered playing as striker but didn't care as he thought he could make him into an exceptional attacking player and that his versatility made him more valuable to the squad. To be fair despite his preference of striker he has wilingly played his wing role and unlike Stevie seems willing to put in a disciplined stint their - almost to the detriment of his impact on the game.

            I think the signings made in the summer indicate that Rafa didn't want the 'proper' wingers people talk about (at least as a top priority) but rather players capable of making a fluid attacking quartet and offering the ability to go inside or outside the fullback.
            "The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind."
            -- William Blake

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              #7
              Originally posted by dww View Post
              I think the signings made in the summer indicate that Rafa didn't want the 'proper' wingers people talk about (at least as a top priority) but rather players capable of making a fluid attacking quartet and offering the ability to go inside or outside the fullback.
              Ya see the only problem I have with that in an interview I was reading with babel he said "the boss told me he signed me as winger"
              Thomas Hicks Senior

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                #8
                Originally posted by Morphorino View Post
                Ya see the only problem I have with that in an interview I was reading with babel he said "the boss told me he signed me as winger"
                Yes but by winger I take it to mean that he will mostly be deployed as one of the two players who start wide in midfield. The word winger seems to have a multitude of possible inflections but currently it mostly seems to mean wide attacking player. I was assuming that when you said proper wingers you were implying the sort who hug the toughline and bang in the crosses.
                "The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind."
                -- William Blake

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by dww View Post
                  Yes but by winger I take it to mean that he will mostly be deployed as one of the two players who start wide in midfield. The word winger seems to have a multitude of possible inflections but currently it mostly seems to mean wide attacking player. I was assuming that when you said proper wingers you were implying the sort who hug the toughline and bang in the crosses.
                  I was, but I was also takin babels quote to mean touchline winger rather than the left or right midfield type player but obviously he clearly isn't a winger in the literal sense
                  Thomas Hicks Senior

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by dww View Post
                    Yes but by winger I take it to mean that he will mostly be deployed as one of the two players who start wide in midfield. The word winger seems to have a multitude of possible inflections but currently it mostly seems to mean wide attacking player. I was assuming that when you said proper wingers you were implying the sort who hug the toughline and bang in the crosses.


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                      #11
                      Originally posted by Morphorino View Post
                      I was, but I was also takin babels quote to mean touchline winger rather than the left or right midfield type player but obviously he clearly isn't a winger in the literal sense
                      Fair enough, it is nigh on impossible to know what the original meaning of a translated quote about what Rafa said to Babel is. I'm not sure I really believe that there are many touchline hugging wingers left - The prime example of a modern winger for me is Ronaldo, who is so effective because of the amount of time he spends in the box and the timing of his movements about the pitch.
                      "The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind."
                      -- William Blake

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                        #12
                        It is clear that Babel is not a winger in the traditional sense. He does like to drift infield and I think he will be played up front a lot more in the future. Only downside is he does seem a bit moody and arrogant... maybe the latter is a good thing I don't know.

                        Hopefully he works hard and shines when he gets the chances. Definitely a worthwhile purchase - perhaps our style of play is not quite ready for him yet, but we are evolving that way.
                        "Its not about the long ball or the short ball, its about the right ball." Bob Paisley

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by dww View Post
                          I think that Babel is exactly what Rafa wanted/wants long term - a player who can play any position in attack in either 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formations and has pace and is good with the ball at his feet. However I think it was an odd time to buy him when we needed to get another established attacking player who didn't need time to adapt his game IMO. I think if he learns when to come off his wing and develops his general decision making he will be a very evry good player for us.

                          I think he was aware of how much Babel prefered playing as striker but didn't care as he thought he could make him into an exceptional attacking player and that his versatility made him more valuable to the squad. To be fair despite his preference of striker he has wilingly played his wing role and unlike Stevie seems willing to put in a disciplined stint their - almost to the detriment of his impact on the game.

                          I think the signings made in the summer indicate that Rafa didn't want the 'proper' wingers people talk about (at least as a top priority) but rather players capable of making a fluid attacking quartet and offering the ability to go inside or outside the fullback.


                          Babel will probably end up as one of the attacking three in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
                          Just believe and you never know what will happen.

                          According to Benitez it's important not simply to go out to win but to go out prepared to win, which means players have to put in the same level of work on a daily basis. Anything else is unacceptable.

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                            #14
                            i think babel is a strange buy unless you consider the fact that rafa seems to have refused to buy an out and out top class left sided player because he rates kewell so highly. is there any chance that if crouchy is being shipped there won;t be another striker brought in as babel can do a job there (granted a totally different one than crouch)? and that our next big purchases - assuming it all goes tits up finally for kewell -will be proper wingers? haven't really though this out to be honest but i did find babel an unusual purchase.

                            as a sidenote, anyone remember on c/unttalk a post that dunk made with "major" "insider" knowledge from a board member (this was pre-takeover) in which, amongst others, the board supposedly sanctioned the purchase of torres when he became available for about 20-25 million and the then pretty much unheard of ryan babel who apparently rafa was very serious about getting - a priority in fact...
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                              #15
                              Originally posted by wiwma View Post
                              Wasn't this one of the supposed reasons Ayesteran left, as he felt it was a panic buy?
                              where did you hear that?

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