Babel and Rafa

[blacky]

I think Rafa treated Aimar in a similar way at Valencia. He didn't trust Aimar to play at the required level for a full season so used him sparingly at the strat of the season then unleashed him for the title run in. The rest is history. Babel could be a huge player for us after xmas.

[lucas]

I think Rafa treated Aimar in a similar way at Valencia. He didn't trust Aimar to play at the required level for a full season so used him sparingly at the strat of the season then unleashed him for the title run in. The rest is history. Babel could be a huge player for us after xmas.

I hope so. But Babel is going to get more pissed off if this continues. He looked like the only attacking player who knew where the goals where on Monday, even though he was only on for about 12 mins.

Why Rafa picks N'gog ahead of him baffles me though.

[Sarb]

The problem is that he isn't fit enough to last the full 90 minutes. Fitness is a big part of his problem.

I'd disagree AFII

I saw a quote from Rafa a few days ago saying that Babel has the ability to last 90 minutes in a game. Fitness isn't an issue and I'd be surprised if it was considering the fact that Babel has been around a long while and was probably playing 90 min matches in Holland also

[barnes10]

maybe he has the abilty to last because he does fook all tracking back and therefore half the running of his teammates...

seriously, time to play him and robbie up front or give robbie bench time and have gerrard and babel up top

[Sarb]

maybe he has the abilty to last because he does fook all tracking back and therefore half the running of his teammates...

seriously, time to play him and robbie up front or give robbie bench time and have gerrard and babel up top

Babel needs to be given two or three games up top

[barnes10]

i'd give it a shot only because robbie just isnt cutting it and we can't afford to keep missing out on the points just because of that.

having babel up front tho really is going back to where we started with cisse isnt it. he'd thrive on the counterattack but wont be great if we're dominating on the edge of the opposition box which i thought is the kind of game we wanted to play...

[Mike]

Babel up front with Torres would be so threatening with pace; would pose a real threat.

[Ben_Itez]

I'm pretty certain he's gonna get his chance in the next 5-6 games. I'm a big fan but he needs to start delivering more consistently and work on his ball retention.

[MrMichael]

[/B]

I hope so. But Babel is going to get more pissed off if this continues. He looked like the only attacking player who knew where the goals where on Monday, even though he was only on for about 12 mins.

Why Rafa picks N'gog ahead of him baffles me though.

Jeez... not picking on you specifically Lucas, several others in this thread have made similar comments.... and its total and utter balderdash.

Rafa brought N'gog on as a sub before Babel, like once (or maybe twice, but anyhow). That isn't picking him ahead of him, that's chosing one sub ahead of another, probably for tactical reasons in the circumastances of an ongoing game. Wrong, yeah, Rafa probably was. But not until N'gog has actually started at least a few games for us ahead of Babel is it even remotely accurate to suppose that Rafa "prefers" N'gog to Babel. Babel has had far more time on the pitch this season than N'gog has, not enough time perhaps, but still far more than the frenchman. And perhaps, in that really important thing a lot of us tend to forget about because we don't get to see it, training, Babel isn't pulling his weight right now. Like he isn't when he gets on the pitch.

[SB]

Jeez... not picking on you specifically Lucas, several others in this thread have made similar comments.... and its total and utter balderdash.

Rafa brought N'gog on as a sub before Babel, like once (or maybe twice, but anyhow). That isn't picking him ahead of him, that's chosing one sub ahead of another, probably for tactical reasons in the circumastances of an ongoing game. Wrong, yeah, Rafa probably was. But not until N'gog has actually started at least a few games for us ahead of Babel is it even remotely accurate to suppose that Rafa "prefers" N'gog to Babel. Babel has had far more time on the pitch this season than N'gog has, not enough time perhaps, but still far more than the frenchman. And perhaps, in that really important thing a lot of us tend to forget about because we don't get to see it, training, Babel isn't pulling his weight right now. Like he isn't when he gets on the pitch.

Mr M. Imagine you are the gaffer and you need a goal asap. Who do you turn to when you check your bench.
a Babel or
b N'Gog

Remember Babel was thought to be the new Fairclough last season and has proven at times to be a match winner, compare that with N'Gog's less than flattering stats, albeit from his last season in France where he scored about 2 in 20 something matches. I think this is why a few of us are surprised that Rafa puts N'Gog on the other day instead of Babel.

I also agree that we are not privy to what goes on at training. But I am aware that Rafa is a stubborn guy bordering on pig headed. That's where the confussion/ frustration comes from in me. Is he right or is Babel being hard done by? I don't know but I want to see the guy given a chance to prove himself up front in Torres's absence. I think he deserves that much.

[Harv]

I'd disagree AFII

I saw a quote from Rafa a few days ago saying that Babel has the ability to last 90 minutes in a game. Fitness isn't an issue and I'd be surprised if it was considering the fact that Babel has been around a long while and was probably playing 90 min matches in Holland also

he can last 90 minutes, but he's not very effective after HT. I think Rafa states something like "Players with speed find it difficult to sustain their performance over 90 minutes" or to that effect. Babel needs to do this, or he will always be an impact sub IMO.

[Harv]

Also Babel is not a centre forward! Why do people keep saying this? He's a left sided attacker in the Ajax system. Its the only way he knows how to play. Rafa tried to turn him into a Left winger, but he just doesnt track back as much as Rafa needs.

He doesnt seem like a very hard worker to me, he looks lazy. Won't be surprised to see him shipped off.

[Sarb]

Babel is a left sided forward, not a left winger. Totally different role imo

[MrMichael]

Mr M. Imagine you are the gaffer and you need a goal asap. Who do you turn to when you check your bench.
a Babel or
b N'Gog

Remember Babel was thought to be the new Fairclough last season and has proven at times to be a match winner, compare that with N'Gog's less than flattering stats, albeit from his last season in France where he scored about 2 in 20 something matches. I think this is why a few of us are surprised that Rafa puts N'Gog on the other day instead of Babel.

I also agree that we are not privy to what goes on at training. But I am aware that Rafa is a stubborn guy bordering on pig headed. That's where the confussion/ frustration comes from in me. Is he right or is Babel being hard done by? I don't know but I want to see the guy given a chance to prove himself up front in Torres's absence. I think he deserves that much.

Oh, it was a bafflingly strange sub, I have no qualms about admitting that. I stand by Rafa's decisions not to start Babel recently, but it was truely a strange decision both to take keane off again, and then to bring on N'gog in his place. However, that doesn't mean N'gog has suddenly become Rafa's favourite player all of a sudden.

I think its probably about 50/50. Rafa is stubborn, but he's not a fool, and babel has not impressed in his cameos, and rare starts, this year. In fact, last time he was played as a central striker (I forget the game), he was abjectly poor. Deserves a chance? Yeah. he probably does, but his fitness and his aptitude are both rightly in question currently.

[dww]

Oh, it was a bafflingly strange sub, I have no qualms about admitting that. I stand by Rafa's decisions not to start Babel recently, but it was truely a strange decision both to take keane off again, and then to bring on N'gog in his place. However, that doesn't mean N'gog has suddenly become Rafa's favourite player all of a sudden.

I think its probably about 50/50. Rafa is stubborn, but he's not a fool, and babel has not impressed in his cameos, and rare starts, this year. In fact, last time he was played as a central striker (I forget the game), he was abjectly poor. Deserves a chance? Yeah. he probably does, but his fitness and his aptitude are both rightly in question currently.

Why was taking off Keane (who had been poor and wasn't stretching their defense at all) a questionable decision? Rafa had to bring on a pacy player to move their defense around in the hopes of creating space for others to work in as well as trying to get a goal with that player in particular. I would have been tempted to do a double substitution or Babel first but I don't think trying a player that Rafa obviously thinks is more suited to the central forward role than Babel is all that strange.