Ryan Babel

[Tee]

I really hope this is the beginning of a new and improved Ryan Babel because he was excellent last night.

He was very dangerous and was always looking to take the full back on. Babel has pace to burn and could really be a key player against the Scum on Saturday.

Riera had gone off the boil big time for me and I hope Rafa gives Babel the confidence by starting him on Saturday and giving him a decent run in the team now.

[dww]

I didn't think he was excellent but he does add pace and hence threat on one wing when he plays half decently. He did a decent job last night but his decision making remained crap all too often. He showed with the assist why he might be worth persevering with but we have had so many false dawns with him in his short career I'm not holding my breath.

[PTP]

yeah i agree dave - he wasn't excellent - but he started doing the one thing I have been screaming at him to do and if you look through all my posts on this site about babel i mention it!!

once or twice over the past year and half or so, every now and then, he has the ball on the left wing, the defender square on, and he shapes/jinks/stepovers to cut in onto his right that he does 99% of the time he has the ball, but that 1% he goes the other way, onto towards the bye line and completley ****ing rapes the defender and leaves him eating dust!

iirc he did this in one big game and won us a penalty up at the annie road, as the defender all he could do was stick a leg out, and I have seen him do it a handful of times and caused serious problems for the defenders - And then last night, he actually did a few times causing and got his reward by setting up a great goal

I have been critical of Babel, mainly cause he doesn't seem to be all there, and he certainly has ability but doesn't have brain to us it - hopefully that last night will make him realise that he doesn't always have to cut inside on to his right

[dww]

Yeah, that was noticeable. I wonder if he is a bit like Joe Cole who seemed to need a while of Mourinho seeming to do all his thinking for him before doing useful things with the ball became more instinctively to him. I guess that Babel is young enough to kick on but I do wonder if he gets enough games to really progress (although I don't think his performances have deserved playing much more).

[PTP]

Yeah, that was noticeable. I wonder if he is a bit like Joe Cole who seemed to need a while of Mourinho seeming to do all his thinking for him before doing useful things with the ball became more instinctively to him. I guess that Babel is young enough to kick on but I do wonder if he gets enough games to really progress (although I don't think his performances have deserved playing much more).

yeah he is young so has time on his side, but as you say has he done enough to DEMAND a first team place - for me not really - don't want to be negative or criticise too much after a massive win like that - but i have seen him come on, half hour to play, when he has been struggling to get a game and should be fighting for his shirt, running himself into the ground and chasing every ball and harrasing the defenders to show rafa he is hungry, fit, and raring to go

and......he just floated through the time on the pitch looking like he had played for 10 hours straight and was carrying an injury so just floated about hoping to get through to the final whistle!

[Norbs]

He may have pace but with the ball he actually holds up play. He's got a low level cross on him but he needs to know when to move the ball on quickly. Reminds me a little of Milan Baros, without the goal threat

[PTP]

He may have pace but with the ball he actually holds up play. He's got a low level cross on him but he needs to know when to move the ball on quickly. Reminds me a little of Milan Baros, without the goal threat

aye - he has the attributes, if you could throw a bit of kuyts attitude and say a brain transplant from jari litmanen - then we would be getting somewhere

[Matt]

I thought he was ok and credit for a great assist.

He was still doing his 'kick and run' thing though which never would have worked against a team that afforded him less space.

[Tee]

Well, he looked pretty threatening against a world class full back in Srgio Ramos. Right now I think he is a better option than Riera who just does not look like he can get beyond full backs.

Babel is still very young and these matches are all part of the learning process, but there comes a time when you can see a player is ready. I am not saying that time is now, but I just saw signs that that time could be nearer than we might have thought.

[PTP]

Well, he looked pretty threatening against a world class full back in Srgio Ramos. Right now I think he is a better option than Riera who just does not look like he can get beyond full backs.

Babel is still very young and these matches are all part of the learning process, but there comes a time when you can see a player is ready. I am not saying that time is now, but I just saw signs that that time could be nearer than we might have thought.

aye - but it would just be typical of babel in his next outing to float about the pitch looking like he has never played a game of football in his life!

[Tee]

Or he could tear Gary Neville a new one.

[Subby]

almost a "mods only replies" to this thread

[Reece]

almost a "mods only replies" to this thread

Apart from Norbert, Matt, Tee and yourself you mean

[Matt]

One day Reece, one day...

[Tee]

Yes, one day...