Ryan Babel

[Mike]

Wing imo.

[saj]

up front

I've seen him play manys times up front for the Dutch (in particular at the Olympics) and every performance has been poor. He's far better on the left wing/ inside left position.

[El Jefecito]

I've seen him play manys times up front for the Dutch (in particular at the Olympics) and every performance has been poor. He's far better on the left wing/ inside left position.

I reckon he could play up front as long as he is not expected to play with his back to goal. That's not his game as the Olympics proved. If he could learn to stop tripping over his own feet he could play the second striker role pretty well though.

But given how much FBs push up these days, to make the most of his pace, you want him up against them (and all the space they leave behind them), so on the wings it is for me.

[anfieldanfield]

Just found out 8 of Ryan's 11 goals for us have come after coming off the bench.



Pretty amazing stat.

[nbryan1764]

Just found out 8 of Ryan's 11 goals for us have come after coming off the bench.



Pretty amazing stat.

good be a good case to keep him there

[Mike]

Babel wont want to be put on the bench week though.

[El Jefecito]

Just found out 8 of Ryan's 11 goals for us have come after coming off the bench.



Pretty amazing stat.

It's cause that Rafa guy, is pretty smart when it comes to making late subs to get goals. It always makes me laugh when people piss and moan about Rafa's subs, when time and time again, his late Subs win us games e.g. Yesterday, Arsenal in the CL, etc etc

Still I'm sure that will be forgotten the next time we lose/draw and the subtelty of Rafa's thinking evades the maxipad mafia.

[anfieldanfield]

It's cause that Rafa guy, is pretty smart when it comes to making late subs to get goals. It always makes me laugh when people piss and moan about Rafa's subs, when time and time again, his late Subs win us games e.g. Yesterday, Arsenal in the CL, etc etc

Still I'm sure that will be forgotten the next time we lose/draw and the subtelty of Rafa's thinking evades the maxipad mafia.

Smug doesn't suit you.

[spider-neil]

good be a good case to keep him there

no its not as he wont improve.

[El Jefecito]

Smug doesn't suit you.

I like to think with a bit more practice I can pull it off. Practice makes perfect after all.

[dww]

Out of interest where does everyone see his "long term" position ?

On the wings in a 4-2-3-1 ? Or up front ?

Wide positions in a 4-2-3-1 is probably his best position at the minute. Ideally he would evolve into a Ronaldo type player who could play anywhere in the attacking line and a more conventional wide midfield 4-4-2 type position. He is adding a lot to his game at the minute and I don't think it is entirely unlikely he will develop that way. Flexibility for me is key in modern attacking players and he has all the raw attributes to make it at the very top level.

[slimbimjim]

I just rewatched the match and did you see that great bit of skill on the byline to go round the Man Utd defender? It almost ended up with a chance.

Man this guys is skillful! He will be the next Barnes with the right coaching no doubt

[-V-]

Rafa has said so many times in the past that the best way to utilize pacey players like Babel is to hold them back at the early part of the season and bring them in slowly so that they can be strong towards the end of the season when they are needed most to do damage.

He is bringing him into the season slowly because he wants to build up his fitness and because he knows he can be dangerous late on in games when defences are tiring

[Johnny]

Rafa has said so many times in the past that the best way to utilize pacey players like Babel is to hold them back at the early part of the season and bring them in slowly so that they can be strong towards the end of the season when they are needed most to do damage.

He is bringing him into the season slowly because he wants to build up his fitness and because he knows he can be dangerous late on in games when defences are tiring

Babel will be a monster on the wing or as striker this season.But he`ll play in only 50% of the minutes we play in.

[Nicey]

I like the role he's doing for us at the moment. Wouldn't mind seeing him start up front a few games, if Keane continues to struggle.

Yeah flip it I say ... give him 60 minutes and let a hungry Keane come on ..either way .. I would play him in a much more advanced role rather than on the wing