Time for Babel to start up front?

[MascheredUp]

I've had enough of Kuyt and Voronin and their hopeless, ineffective displays.

Now that Crouch's suspensed for the next two games, I really hope Rafa tries Babel in his favourite natural position with Torres.

I cannot see anything to lose by trying this (apart from losing six points ).

Torres and Babel could tear some defences a new arsehole with their power and pace.

[Robster007]

I've had enough of Kuyt and Voronin and their hopeless, ineffective displays.
Now that Crouch's suspensed for the next two games, I really hope Rafa tries Babel in his favourite natural position with Torres.

I cannot see anything to lose by trying this (apart from losing six points ).

Torres and Babel could tear some defences a new arsehole with their power and pace.

[anfieldanfield]

He's not a winger and he's too good to sit on the bench.

He deserves 3 or 4 games up front with Torres.....

[AFII]

He's not a winger and he's too good to sit on the bench.

He deserves 3 or 4 games up front with Torres.....

He really isn't an out and out striker either so if he should play upfront then it's together with Torres as the second striker but I doubt that Rafa will do that.

Our second striker usually do a lot of hard work to create space for Torres and that isn't Babel's strength.

[The Erectile Banana]

I like Babel on the right wing, he always seems more effective there than on the left.

Mayve try swopping himself and Yossi for a few games?

I agree he deserves a game up front, he's defintitely going to be a more important player for us long term than Kuyt or Voronin.

We have the same problem with both players, they are generally neat and tidy in the build up, link play well and show some good touches (like Voronin did today) but offer very little goal threat or cutting edge.

[rage]

really don't think he knows (yet) how to positionally play upfront in a 442 or 4411.

[MrMichael]

really don't think he knows (yet) how to positionally play upfront in a 442 or 4411.

Don't think he's ready myself, and there's the possibility that it might negatively impact upon Torres' form.... I know most people on here have a low opinion of Kuyt and Voronin, but they're very selfless players who will certainly do a job for the main striker. I'm not sure Babel/Torres would have the right dynamic.

The vast majority of impact Babel has made this season has been from the bench, in the last 30 mins of a game when space is appearing and opponents are tiring. He's had several unconvincing starting appearances, and I suspect starting him up top right now might only accentuate that.

[alunevans]

I've had enough of Kuyt and Voronin and their hopeless, ineffective displays.

Now that Crouch's suspensed for the next two games, I really hope Rafa tries Babel in his favourite natural position with Torres.

I cannot see anything to lose by trying this (apart from losing six points ).

Torres and Babel could tear some defences a new arsehole with their power and pace.

thoroughly agree. the lad is clearly a centre forward. him and torres up front together would be frightening pace wise.

[Marky]

He's not a winger and he's too good to sit on the bench.

He deserves 3 or 4 games up front with Torres.....

I agree, let him play off Torres, play in a free role and have Torres as the central striker.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

I've had enough of Kuyt and Voronin and their hopeless, ineffective displays.

Now that Crouch's suspensed for the next two games, I really hope Rafa tries Babel in his favourite natural position with Torres.

I cannot see anything to lose by trying this (apart from losing six points ).

Torres and Babel could tear some defences a new arsehole with their power and pace.

Id go with that

[tomasjj]

hes made for the 4231 formation

[Guest]

He's not a winger and he's too good to sit on the bench.

He deserves 3 or 4 games up front with Torres.....

He was poor last night though. He couldn't trap a bag of cement.

[Darth Marty]

Yes I think so. Start him vs City.

[marcus50bucks]

Don't think he's ready myself, and there's the possibility that it might negatively impact upon Torres' form.... I know most people on here have a low opinion of Kuyt and Voronin, but they're very selfless players who will certainly do a job for the main striker. I'm not sure Babel/Torres would have the right dynamic.

The vast majority of impact Babel has made this season has been from the bench, in the last 30 mins of a game when space is appearing and opponents are tiring. He's had several unconvincing starting appearances, and I suspect starting him up top right now might only accentuate that.

[dww]

hes made for the 4231 formation

I think he is being developed very well by Rafa. He will be able to fill any of the 3 positions behind the striker in that formation. He may well eventually also be capable of playing the one. I think moving him inside towards the end of a game to use his pace against tiring CBs is the best way to help him learn that role, players like Kuyt and Voronin have for all their faults very good movement and create a lot of space for others.

I really think having players both left and right capable of doing damage in the area is the way forward and Babel provides that and has the pace to hurt any team.