THE Ryan Babel thread

[dww]

I would go further and say that our squad is that rubbish there was only one position we could drop someone. It is ridiculous that we have three saleable assets on the left fighting for one position, yet only have Kuyt and El Zhar on the right.

I'd consider Yossi just as good an option of the right as he is on the left though. Nonetheless I take your point that we have players who are really fighting for one position and if you include Dossena too then it is slightly unbalanced. I am however not sure how salable an asset Babel is at the minute at least in terms of getting the sort of value we would want to improve the team.

I must say I am very suprised that Rafa has kept Babel if he is not going to give him a chance to prove his worth. In fact as we have Yossi and Riera on the left I would say it was worthless keeping Babel unless he gives him a chance up front, because he obviously sees Babel behind Yossi and Riera in the pecking order.

I think Babel can be a good player for us, but on the evidence of how Rafa is going to use him this season, I think he would have been better of selling babel and Voronin and signing someone who he would consider playing.

I think a bit like Yossi there is both a blessing and a curse in Babel's ability to play a few positions. However unlike Yossi who has developed as a player and knows what to do in a number of situations Babel looks confused and lacking in understanding in all three positions he can play.

I really think that Rafa must have felt that Babel had come back with something to prove and that he offered the pace we maybe wouldn't have otherwise in our attacking options (other than Torres). Personally I have a feeling that if Babel is to come good it will be once we have sorted out the teething problems with our currently slightly evolving tactics (and possibly with Aquilani coming into the team).

[rudedog]

I think we could potentially get around £8m for him.

£16m if Peter Ridsdale was still at a big club.

I think around £5m is a more realistic value for Babel.

[DannyMan2006]

). Personally I have a feeling that if Babel is to come good it will be once we have sorted out the teething problems with our currently slightly evolving tactics (and possibly with Aquilani coming into the team).

Agree with the whole post, especially that bit.

[red g]

I personally think he's a confidence player. If he lucked out and had a good game or cameo performance it could set him on the right track.

I would say that for his personality he has the wrong manager. He needs building up and Rafa only tends to do that with Lucas, who we all know is "A good lad".

hence why he looked good in a **** league.....

[DannyMan2006]

hence why he looked good in a **** league.....

No that would just be lack of ability. I think he can do it in this league but needs something to kick start him. When he is focused he does things no other player in our squad can. (awaits ridiculous comment from someone).

[Craig_H]

I personally think he's a confidence player. If he lucked out and had a good game or cameo performance it could set him on the right track.

I would say that for his personality he has the wrong manager. He needs building up and Rafa only tends to do that with Lucas, who we all know is "A good lad".

Yeah agree with that. Rafa generally isnt interested when it comes to players who need motivating and confidence boosting. He takes mentality as a given.

[Tee]

Yeah agree with that. Rafa generally isnt interested when it comes to players who need motivating and confidence boosting. He takes mentality as a given.

Is that not completely detrimental to the development of young players though? Clearly Babel has the raw talent and by now he should have been producing.

My concern is that deep down I genuinely think he would have succeeded at one of our rivals.

[tomasjj]

Yeah..I can see it now...when Aki comes into the team...suddenly Babel will:

1) grow a set
2) develop a football brain
3) develop vision
4) develop a first touch
5) be able to make the correct decision on the pitch

ad infinitum

[Craig_H]

Is that not completely detrimental to the development of young players though? Clearly Babel has the raw talent and by now he should have been producing.

My concern is that deep down I genuinely think he would have succeeded at one of our rivals.

Yes it is pretty detrimental. And you can see that partly by how few young players we've brought through.

[DannyMan2006]

Is that not completely detrimental to the development of young players though? Clearly Babel has the raw talent and by now he should have been producing.

My concern is that deep down I genuinely think he would have succeeded at one of our rivals.

Too some, yes. But he had success at Real as a youth coach and has had success as a manger at senior level.

He is obviously sure in his mind of what is required to play for a top club and is happy that his methods bring success. Why should he change it just to suit the odd player?

[red g]

Yeah..I can see it now...when purple Aki comes into the team...suddenly Babel will:

1) grow a set
2) develop a football brain
3) develop vision
4) develop a first touch
5) be able to make the correct decision on the pitch

ad infinitum

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YAL4QFXDRI"]YouTube - The Cartoon Adventures of Purple Aki[/ame]

[DannyMan2006]

Yes it is pretty detrimental. And you can see that partly by how few young players we've brought through.

Come off it. It would only be detrimental to certain players who can not handle that style of management. That includes both senior and youth players.

But it's too early to judge whether Rafa was right or not in releasing the youth players who didn't come through. For most that is anyway.

I remember one young fringe player who started making demands. It didn't turn out so well for him and judging by where he is now he wasn't as great as he thought he was. He got his wish to move and never transpired to anything thus far.

See if you can guess the player i speak off.

[Craig_H]

Too some, yes. But he had success at Real as a youth coach and has had success as a manger at senior level.

He is obviously sure in his mind of what is required to play for a top club and is happy that his methods bring success. Why should he change it just to suit the odd player?

Surely it's beneficial to be flexible when necessary though, rather than completely set in stone?

[-V-]

Sell him to Man City. Im sure they will take him

[Craig_H]

Come off it. It would only be detrimental to certain players who can not handle that style of management. That includes both senior and youth players.

But it's too early to judge whether Rafa was right or not in releasing the youth players who didn't come through. For most that is anyway.

I remember one young fringe player who started making demands. It didn't turn out so well for him and judging by where he is now he wasn't as great as he thought he was. He got his wish to move and never transpired to anything thus far.

See if you can guess the player i speak off.

The point i was making, was that different situations require a different way of dealing with them.

By being completely set in your ways, you risk potentially losing the benefit of players who could turn out to be very good, and save you millions.

Dont you think it's better to be adaptable enough to suit the needs of different types of personality and handle each case according to what it requires?