Portsmouth (H) Post Match Reaction

[MrMichael]

If Babel is so unsuited to how we play, why would Rafa have been so keen to sign him in the first place?

Dont get me wrong, i'm not criticising the signing, i like Babel. It just seems unlike Rafa to get someone who doesnt suit his system and style of play.

Just hypothesizing here, maybe its just because of that; every team needs "something" different from time to time and maybe Rafa's good enough to know what that involves. And its obviously hoped that sooner or later Babel will physically develop into the player quite a lot of people seem to think he has the ability to become. And for the meantime, he does make a very effective sub for the last 25 mins of a game when its getting stretched... that is a very "Rafa" idea imo.

[BG1973]

in a word...no.

in another word...apologies.


bloody Metro...

[Craig_H]

Just hypothesizing here, maybe its just because of that; every team needs "something" different from time to time and maybe Rafa's good enough to know what that involves. And its obviously hoped that sooner or later Babel will physically develop into the player quite a lot of people seem to think he has the ability to become. And for the meantime, he does make a very effective sub for the last 25 mins of a game when its getting stretched... that is a very "Rafa" idea imo.

Spose.

[DannyMan2006]

Just hypothesizing here, maybe its just because of that; every team needs "something" different from time to time and maybe Rafa's good enough to know what that involves. And its obviously hoped that sooner or later Babel will physically develop into the player quite a lot of people seem to think he has the ability to become. And for the meantime, he does make a very effective sub for the last 25 mins of a game when its getting stretched... that is a very "Rafa" idea imo.

I think he was bought to start games. He just hasn't adjusted as quick as Rafa would like.

[El Jefecito]

If Babel is so unsuited to how we play, why would Rafa have been so keen to sign him in the first place?

Dont get me wrong, i'm not criticising the signing, i like Babel. It just seems unlike Rafa to get someone who doesnt suit his system and style of play.

By that definition you could argue that no player is suitable for us, because no other team, that I know of, plays the way we do. No-one presses all over, for the whole game, no team switches tactics / formations 5 times in a game for example.

Any player who comes in is going to have to adapt and I'm sure that the players ability to adapt is one of the factors Rafa considers.

Besides Babel's issue is one of conditioning which is something that is more easily addressed than some other factors. We have world class conditioning coaches so I have no worries that given time Babel will be OK. It's just a pity we didn't have the extended pre-season period to work with him.

[dww]

I think he was bought to start games. He just hasn't adjusted as quick as Rafa would like.

To be honest I think he was always bought as something of a gamble. He had all the qualities we needed in a player - ability to score goals, pace, positional/tactical flexibility and he has played out wide but needs to learn to use them. At the price there was no one who was as good at those things but he needed to develop to be a top player, he hasn't yet but is still a valuable squad member capable of changing games.

[rage]

To be honest I think he was always bought as something of a gamble. He had all the qualities we needed in a player - ability to score goals, pace, positional/tactical flexibility and he has played out wide but needs to learn to use them. At the price there was no one who was as good at those things but he needed to develop to be a top player, he hasn't yet but is still a valuable squad member capable of changing games.

i like babel but the more i see him the more i think he was a panic buy.

[memzey]

i like babel but the more i see him the more i think he was a panic buy.

Interesting how people can see things so differently. I see HUGE potential in him, and his signing really smacks more of foresight than panic for me, although everyone has a right to their opinion

I expect big things from him as the season progresses.

[pondus]

Interesting how people can see things so differently. I see HUGE potential in him, and his signing really smacks more of foresight than panic for me, although everyone has a right to their opinion

I expect big things from him as the season progresses.

Agree with that, he has massive potential, but I don't think Rafa is a big fan of playing the youth regularly, maybe he is protecting them making sure they don't burn out. Think this is especially important with explosive and fast players, like Owen.

[wiw]

haha I think rage sits behind us in the Paddock. Never stops ****ing moaning

[wiw]

Liverpool's Sami Hyypia and Portsmouth's Boupa Diop wince in terror as the magnitude of the Finn's anal beard becomes apparent

[El Jefecito]

i like babel but the more i see him the more i think he was a panic buy.

I wouldn't say panic buy, but I would say it was a high risk buy. But we needed someone for the left and Babel was about all that was available that had the potential to become good enough for us. He played his part last year, but the fundamental question remains. Does he have the mentality to kick on. Rafa mentioned his mentality in his first interview about Babel. And to be fair that question still has not been answered.

If he doesn't kick on, we'll continue to use him as an impact player and he WILL win us games and eventually we'll get someone more consistent and he'll move on. If he steps up, he'll be devastating. Now that we have Riera we're in a pretty good position if Babel doesn't make it.

[El Jefecito]

Liverpool's Sami Hyypia and Portsmouth's Boupa Diop wince in terror as the magnitude of the Finn's anal beard becomes apparent

Is it just me or does that seriously NOT look like handball?

[wiw]

Is it just me or does that seriously NOT look like handball?

I think you're right to be honest, I wasn't sure at the game, MOTD didn't really help either. Who knows eh

[El Jefecito]

I think you're right to be honest, I wasn't sure at the game, MOTD didn't really help either. Who knows eh

Or more to the point, cares? I sure don't