Was Babel a worthwhile purchase?

[DeeGame]

reeks of a certain Mr. T. Henry tbH

bit early to be making comparisons with him

[Shaggy]

Only downside is he does seem a bit moody and arrogant... .

He's Dutch - what did you expect?

[The incredible igor]

He's Dutch - what did you expect?

i'ver never found the dutch to be moody and arrogant. Friendly and hospitable would be more like it

[The incredible igor]

reeks of a certain Mr. T. Henry tbH

bit early to be making comparisons with him

[Shaggy]

i'ver never found the dutch to be moody and arrogant. Friendly and hospitable would be more like it

Indeed, but I don’t mean Dutch people per sé….I don’t mean your average Dutchman on the street.

Dutch footballers? Never noticed their arrogance, moodiness and surliness?

[The incredible igor]

Indeed, but I don’t mean Dutch people per sé….I don’t mean your average Dutchman on the street.

Dutch footballers? Never noticed their arrogance, moodiness and surliness?

fair enough
surely dirk has nothing to be arrogant about though?

[tommyg]

Good question - personally i think that we shouldnt have gotten him aswell as yossi, IMO we should have bought yossi and another out and out left sided winger.

[Nic83]

I can't understand how some people can't see Babel's potential. Baffling to say the least. He was a snip at the price we got for him and will prove it over the next few years IMO. I think he will be a superstar.

[Nic83]

Didn't Babel also say that Rafa told him he would compete for a place in the team with 6 other players?

To me that says that Rafa didn't see Babel purely as a winger, but more of a player who could play almost anywhere in attack

Spot on

This is exactly what he is - a player who can do an equally good job on the right, left, up top, or on the left or right of a 433

[Nic83]

Bags of pace, skill, strength (I noticed the way he bounced one of the fulham defenders off the ball last week and remember thinking "I didn't know you had that in your locker!" and the guy has 2 lethal feet and can play in any of the forward positions. He's ony young and cost only 12 or so mil, how can he not be a good signing?!

[friedk]

Bags of pace, skill, strength (I noticed the way he bounced one of the fulham defenders off the ball last week and remember thinking "I didn't know you had that in your locker!" and the guy has 2 lethal feet and can play in any of the forward positions. He's ony young and cost only 12 or so mil, how can he not be a good signing?!

[JohnDoe]

By the end of this season, Babel's signing will look like a bargain. The only thing that has been hindering his progress is his mental strength, but Rafa has already known this weakness before signing him, so he also knows what to do with it. I have no doubt Babel will progress further, grow more confident and improve his decision making on the pitch. He's still very raw but the potential is obvious.

He's a very talented footballer, but add his rare physical capabilities for an attacker and you've got the material to create a monstrous player.

[wiw]

Does no-one remember his run against Fulham?

Beat one for pace and skill, stiff-armed the other and took the piss out of both of them.

He is exactly what we needed - pace, power and directness.

I think players like him will prove to be a vital weapon if we hope to get results at the other 'top 3' team's back yards. In the past we have gone to these grounds and dominated large spells of possession, carving open some chances with good PASSING, but inevitably looked a little laboured at times.

We now clearly have the option to genuinely scare people on the counter-attack with our usual passing, coupled with greater mobility and better ball carriers. Babel, Torres, Benayoun - skillful players with pace who can carry the ball.

If these players are fit for the big away games I really fancy our chances

[red g]

Adebayor has been at Arsenal for 2 years and is only now getting a regular game.

Babel has been thrown in at the deep end....and is showing glimpses

[Shaggy]

By the end of this season, Babel's signing will look like a bargain. The only thing that has been hindering his progress is his mental strength, but Rafa has already known this weakness before signing him, so he also knows what to do with it. I have no doubt Babel will progress further, grow more confident and improve his decision making on the pitch. He's still very raw but the potential is obvious.

He's a very talented footballer, but add his rare physical capabilities for an attacker and you've got the material to create a monstrous player.