Ryan Babel

[Jack D Rips]

Didn't think Babel was THAT bad last night, just because he doesn't do a lung buster like Dirky doesn't mean he wasn't trying.

Eboue and Toure double teamed him all night.

Was that the reason he couldnt control the ball, was that why he kicked the ball right across the pitch behind Carra and our for a throw?. Even his "pass" to Gerrard for the goal run was deflected to Stevie by an Arsenal player.

I like the lad and I think and hope he will make it, bur FFS guys stop making excuses. He was pure ****e last nightand I think Rafa agreed

[el matador]

he shouldnt be on the left because he doesnt have a left foot.

He can only go one way and that's inside onto his right bang into the middle where he's being harassed by the fullback, the central midfielders and the central defender.

Id play him on the right. He would have much more impact there no question about that. He has pace, can penetrate defenses and on his right has a ferocious shot. Im sure he'd be a better crosser on the right too.

Other thing people have to understand is that i dont think he's even played in the champions league before this season. The dutch league isnt the english league, so he hasnt played against this quality of defence, at this pace and intensity and in such tactically fought battles before.

sometimes its frustrating watching a player who we know has so much more to offer but he is still only 20. He will be a player for us no doubt about that. Just give him time.

[Chrono]

Just just reminded me of his right-footed cross field pass that he took 30 minutes to prepare and then screwed it up beyond belief and gifted Arsenal another run at our defence.

[Scratch]

Just just reminded me of his right-footed cross field pass that he took 30 minutes to prepare and then screwed it up beyond belief and gifted Arsenal another run at our defence.

Aye, thank **** our captain never screws up a cross field ball or a pass back to the keeper...

Pick on Babel week is it?

[Kenneth]

Aye, thank **** our captain never screws up a cross field ball or a pass back to the keeper...

Pick on Babel week is it?

Seems so. Yossi was worse if anything and gave the ball away a lot. Kuyt's touch was shocking at times too and cost us a couple of breaks. Babel didn't have a good game, but there's always a need to slate someone if we don't score 4 and it's babel this time. Nobody should be singing his praises, but people are moaning too much. He did, afterall, have one of our two shots on goal.

[Jack D Rips]

Seems so. Yossi was worse if anything and gave the ball away a lot. Kuyt's touch was shocking at times too and cost us a couple of breaks. Babel didn't have a good game, but there's always a need to slate someone if we don't score 4 and it's babel this time. Nobody should be singing his praises, but people are moaning too much. He did, afterall, have one of our two shots on goal.

I agree. All I've done is say that he was very poor last night. Shocking in fact. I still think he will make it and hope he does. But people defending him cos he was doubled up on is just plain wrong. He had a mare. And next day he may be MOM

[el matador]

Aye, thank **** our captain never screws up a cross field ball or a pass back to the keeper...

Pick on Babel week is it?

finally some fekkin perspective.

you have to acknowledge that wenger played toure out of position to cater for his threat. in addition he also had another right back eboue closing him down every time he got the ball.

There were 2 arsenal defenders on him all night. Not even Torres was faced with that he only had gallas and senderos ! I think any player would struggle to make an impact when faced with toure and eboue. He tracked back and did his bit defensively as well.

he has talent and will benefit from this settling in season. He has already shown us what he is capable of (in short spells). well done ryan keep up the good work.

[Chrono]

finally some fekkin perspective.

So because you agree with someone it is "perspective"?

Babel played ****e and made no effort however anyone wants to defend him. If Stevie had done something similar I might have commented on that too.

[el matador]

So because you agree with someone it is "perspective"?

Babel played ****e and made no effort however anyone wants to defend him. If Stevie had done something similar I might have commented on that too.

gerrard was **** up until he got his finger out and set up kuyt and changed the game in an instant. up until that moment he looked like he did in the man u game - disinterested.

Babel is young, he is a player for the future.

He himself has said that he doesnt see himself as a left winger, he doesnt even have a left foot. Arsenal defended very well against him last night by using Toure and Eboue on their right hand side, babel tracked back with his marker and defended the best he could. Why dont you blame rafa for playing him there.

He didnt have the best of games, but i didnt see ronaldinho set the world alight when he played against arsenal in the final the season before last. They are a hard side to play against. Torres didnt have a lot of joy against gallas either.

give him a break.

[bigfooty]

Since the move to 4-2-3-1 he's seen a lot more of the ball because we often find ourselves dropping deep, Kuyt in particular, leaving only Babel or Torres as an out ball on the counter-attack. With Torres central and on his own that further reduces the options so it all goes through Babel and for me he's not doing nearly enough with the ball. Yossi was no better really and has looked out of place in a red shirt for quite some time now.

For the money we spent on him, Babel and Lucas we really haven't gotten a good season out of any of them for the 20M+ they cost which is worrying. Were it not for Torres Rafa's Summer signings would look like a pretty poor bunch.

[dww]

he shouldnt be on the left because he doesnt have a left foot.

He can only go one way and that's inside onto his right bang into the middle where he's being harassed by the fullback, the central midfielders and the central defender.

Id play him on the right. He would have much more impact there no question about that. He has pace, can penetrate defenses and on his right has a ferocious shot. Im sure he'd be a better crosser on the right too.

Other thing people have to understand is that i dont think he's even played in the champions league before this season. The dutch league isnt the english league, so he hasnt played against this quality of defence, at this pace and intensity and in such tactically fought battles before.

sometimes its frustrating watching a player who we know has so much more to offer but he is still only 20. He will be a player for us no doubt about that. Just give him time.

I disagree I think best case scenario for Babel is that he becomes a more athletic version of Pires. His pace and skill are best used to engineer shooting opportunities on the left cutting in.

He spent a lot of the season getting used to the physicality of the English game. Hopefully now he is more ready for that he can start thinking more about his composure and decision making.

[Roboklopp]

Since the move to 4-2-3-1 he's seen a lot more of the ball because we often find ourselves dropping deep, Kuyt in particular, leaving only Babel or Torres as an out ball on the counter-attack. With Torres central and on his own that further reduces the options so it all goes through Babel and for me he's not doing nearly enough with the ball. Yossi was no better really and has looked out of place in a red shirt for quite some time now.

For the money we spent on him, Babel and Lucas we really haven't gotten a good season out of any of them for the 20M+ they cost which is worrying. Were it not for Torres Rafa's Summer signings would look like a pretty poor bunch.

Disagree.

Yossi is worth what we paid in today's market & is a reasonable squad player.

Mucas has offered some very slick performances & will live up to the £6 we paid as he is only very young & needs time to adapt to a challenging & physical foreign league.

Babel has the same advanteges as Mucas in this respect, but he has a much loftier price tag hanging over his head. He does offer a goal threat though even in the short term.

[Shaggy]

He was up against Eboue.

Although he obviously came up against Eboue during the game, it was Toure at right back who is of course a very good defender.

I agree with the posters who reckon his problems are mental. There's no real evidence for it of course but he does seem to me to lack self-belief, which can sometimes appear to be a lack of commitment.

I think Babel is gonna need some seriously good man-management and, while I love Rafa and he's obviously a top manager, man-management doesn't seem to be his forté. Maybe I'm wrong but I can't see him giving Babel too much of an 'arm around the shoulder'.

[Shaggy]

Eh?? Eboue played in midfield, he was up against Toure (an excellent defender by the way) with Eboue doubling up on him, not easy.

were you pissed AF?? Eboue played wide right. he was up against kolo toure, imo the BEST defender in the league and he was actually double teamed most of the game

sorry mate - hadnt read as far as your post

Nor had I.

[Monty]

Babel needs time, the talent is there and he is only young, I'm not surprised a lad his age get's overawed on games as big as this. That said, if he plays at Anfield I think he'll do better. Time will tell, I won't slate the lad just yet. As some have pointed out, the worry is that he does sometimes drift in and out games but then again so does Ronaldo esp in the big games!