Was Babel a worthwhile purchase?

[tomasjj]

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?

Much too early to tell.

I personally think he is going to be pure class, and he has already shown us glimpses of that.

[dww]

where did you hear that?

It was a rumour that went round here and other websites - I imagine if you check out the threads about Pako leaving the original source will eb in there somewhere.

[einar]

I think this purchase shows that Rafa is not under pressure. It is a real luxury to buy a player like this who is gonna need time when everyone expects us to win the league.

I think Babel will come good. He just needs to get the tempo of the league and his team.

[glynner]

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

[homer1]

A signing for the future but with a big contribution to make this year. Obviously not a winger in the traditional sense of the word but I think when everyone is fit we will see Rafa playing 2 holding midfielders, Stevie in front with 2 wide attacking players and Torres up top - Babel has the potential & ability to play on either side

I still would like to see him start up top with Torres as I think they could be awesome together. People say he doesn't have the intelligence to play as a "deep" lying striker but in fairness Kuyt, Voronin nor Crouch have staked a claim for the second spot.

Picture yourself as a defender facing the Scum and seeing Rooney, Tevez & Ronaldo starting against you or against Arsenal and seeing Van Persie & Adaboyour lining up opposite you and you would sh#t yourself. You'd feel the same about facing Torres but the other 3 ..... I would feel comfortable marking them, knowing that you will run all over the park but rarely in threatening positions. I think Babel could easily become one of those players you would hate to face as he has got pace and power to burn, a ferocious shot with both feet and once in his stride very difficult to knock off the ball

I don't think we've seen a patch of what Babel can offer yet but when he hits form I think he'll be awesome

[Morph]

I think this purchase shows that Rafa is not under pressure. It is a real luxury to buy a player like this who is gonna need time when everyone expects us to win the league.

I think Babel will come good. He just needs to get the tempo of the league and his team.

this is kinda my point tho, do we really have the option for luxury players at the moment, should we not be plugging a few gaps still?

[Roboklopp]

Early doors innit? He has shown some class bits of play, but £13m's worth or whatever he was remains to be seen.

Frustrating we still lack that quality out wide.

[einar]

this is kinda my point tho, do we really have the option for luxury players at the moment, should we not be plugging a few gaps still?

Judging from Rafas buys this summer we do.

[Morph]

Judging from Rafas buys this summer we do.

let me word it differently, do we have higher priorities atm than luxury babel type purchases

[Fowler_God]

It was a rumour that went round here and other websites - I imagine if you check out the threads about Pako leaving the original source will eb in there somewhere.

If i remember correctly it came from ShanksLegend on Rawk. He does get some things spot on, so a fairly reliable source

[Roboklopp]

Sounds like bollocks- it's not up to the coach who to buy, that's the manager's decision.

[Fowler_God]

Sounds like bollocks- it's not up to the coach who to buy, that's the manager's decision.

Im pretty sure Rafa discusses his potential targets with the staff. Pako must not have agreed with what Rafa thought, hence the fall out.

The jury is still out on Babel. His decision making is fairly poor, but you get glimpses of what he can offer.

Time will tell who was right over this one, Rafa or Pako

[badpiggy]

does anyone know if any other clubs were in for him? by anyone i obviously mean af2.

[Dhav]

does anyone know if any other clubs were in for him? by anyone i obviously mean af2.

Strongly linked with the N4 North London Scum wasn't he?

[Slinky Skills]

[QUOTE=homer1;787984]A signing for the future but with a big contribution to make this year. Obviously not a winger in the traditional sense of the word but I think when everyone is fit we will see Rafa playing 2 holding midfielders, Stevie in front with 2 wide attacking players and Torres up top - Babel has the potential & ability to play on either side


I agree here, I reckon this is the formation that Rafa is looking to play obviously once everyone is back. Babel will turn out to be a fantastic buy, this year is like a bedding in year for him but I've got high hopes for this lad. He's lightning quick and strong too and has a belter of a shot on him, he's not used to the pace of the game over here yet which is why he sometimes goes off the boil a bit but that will come.

He's not really suited to play out on the left though imo, he's not bad at cutting in but he's not a left sided player, whenever he cuts in he's always looking to knock it on to his right and shoot. Hopefully he'll learn to use his left foot a bit more and develop it as he gets a bit older. I'd like to see him out on the right or maybe given a chance up front a bit more often. He hasn't really been given much of a chance to show what he can do yet to be fair but I think we'll see a lot more from him as the season goes on and in the future.