Ryan Babel

[StevieH]

Isn’t it time that Rafa Benitez gave Ryan Babel a run in the team as a striker? Fernando Torres is crying out for a regular partner up front and for some reason Babel doesn’t appear to have been given a chance to stake his claim by Benitez.

He is clearly not best suited to playing on the left wing as his crossing is poor and he always looks to cut inside on his right foot all the time. Babel is 6ft 1“, lightning quick and has the upper body strong to match, but I feel that his talent is being wasted sitting on the bench or playing on the left wing. I can understand Rafa wanting to carefully nurture him along in the 1st half of the season as he has only just turned 21 and is still a bit raw; but his confidence must now be sky high having scored a few goals and having made a real impact coming off the bench in most recent league games. There may be games where Babel is ineffective, but he has the qualities to make something happen with his pace, power and trickery making him a genuine threat to opposition defences.

Harry Kewell has performed quite well lately and with each game that he plays, his stamina and fitness levels will significantly improve. If Kewell can stay fit between now and the end of the season then there is no reason for Babel to play on the left wing. I would like to see Rafa not rotate the forwards as much as he does, as players like Voronin and Kuyt for all their hard work and endeavour are not up to the required standard. Providing they all stay injury free, I would like to see Rafa only select 2 from 3 out of Torres, Babel and Crouch as his main strikers between now and the end of the season.

[G Richards]

Yes. Babel should get a run alongside Torres. He's not a winger, and his impact from the bench has generally been very good. We know what our other strikers can do, and without debating thier relative merits, we seem to be in agreement that Torres needs a class partner and the others are not quite up to scratch.

Time to see what Babel can do. Who knows, the lad could be so good that we stop talking about the strikers we need to sign to partner Torres.

[StevieH]

Originally Posted by G Richards Yes. Babel should get a run alongside Torres. He's not a winger, and his impact from the bench has generally been very good. We know what our other strikers can do, and without debating thier relative merits, we seem to be in agreement that Torres needs a class partner and the others are not quite up to scratch. Time to see what Babel can do. Who knows, the lad could be so good that we stop talking about the strikers we need to sign to partner Torres.

Exactly, but there seems to be a reluctance from Rafa to give him a chance up front. Apart from Cardiff at home in the cup, Babel hasn't been given a chance to play as a striker. I'm sure there will be games where he will have a stinker as he is still young and learning the game, but he has all the attributes to be a match winner for us. He is an impact player and someone who could share the responsibiity of scoring goals with Gerrard and Torres.

Babel played as a striker in the U21 championships last summer and formed an excellent partnership with Maceo Rigters and I feel he deserves a chance in tandem with Torres.

[Unrighteous]

I think Babel and Torres upfront would be genius stacked upon genius... Both are very strong and lightning fast. I would suspect that defences wouldn't be able to cope at all if they formed a solid partnership.

[StevieH]

Originally Posted by Unrighteous I think Babel and Torres upfront would be genius stacked upon genius... Both are very strong and lightning fast. I would suspect that defences wouldn't be able to cope at all if they formed a solid partnership.

Dunne and Richards handled Torres very well the other day, but may not have had such an easy ride if Torres had a partner like Babel up there with him.

[Unrighteous]

Originally Posted by StevieH Dunne and Richards handled Torres very well the other day, but may not have had such an easy ride if Torres had a partner like Babel up there with him.

That's basically my thinking. If we lined up Kewell, Torres, Babel, Pennant across the front... That's a good amount of pace. I'd be terrified of a counter attack or a lost possession in midfield.

Give any of them room and it could easily be lights out.

[StevieH]

Originally Posted by Unrighteous That's basically my thinking. If we lined up Kewell, Torres, Babel, Pennant across the front... That's a good amount of pace. I'd be terrified of a counter attack or a lost possession in midfield. Give any of them room and it could easily be lights out.

What I like most about Babel is that he isn't scared to shoot. Too many of our players dillydally, whereas Babel doesn't hesitate in pulling the trigger. He has a lethal shot on him, and I am convinced if he played regularly he would score 12-15 league goals a season.

I admire Kuyt a lot and you cannot fault his workrate, but he and Voronin are medicore and are not a goal threat. Rotating players and selecting those 2 along with the likes of Sissoko and Riise are partly the reason why we have droped silly points away at Reading and home to Birmingham etc. A Torres and Babel / Crouch and Babel / Crouch and Torres partnership would score goals.

[PaddyBerger15]

If anything, Babel looks more dangerous on the right wing than the left anyway, but I agree that he looks better suited up top.
I still think he is an impact player for a while to come though.

[Unrighteous]

I think we need to have Babel, Torres, and one more Top Class strike threat in our four strikers to really guarentee that we will ALWAYS have a massive threat on the pitch.

I reckon that Babel, Torres, INSERT SCARY STRIKER HERE, and Kuyt would be a good top four, IMO.

If we do that.. then our strike position would be totally shored up for years and we could focus on fixing our wings.

[StevieH]

Originally Posted by Unrighteous I think we need to have Babel, Torres, and one more Top Class strike threat in our four strikers to really guarentee that we will ALWAYS have a massive threat on the pitch. I reckon that Babel, Torres, INSERT SCARY STRIKER HERE, and Kuyt would be a good top four, IMO. If we do that.. then our strike position would be totally shored up for years and we could focus on fixing our wings.

Signing a top quality winger once we have hopefully secured the long-term future of Mascherano and signed cover at centre half, should be the priority. A Torres and Babel partnership could be just as effective as Tevez and Rooney, but we lack that Ronaldo type winger to provide guile, creativity and goals.

[Unrighteous]

I agree Steve... but I feel that our three most important signings are CB cover, A world class winger, and a top class striker.

The big problem is that there are far more top strikers than World Class wingers.

[PaddyBerger15]

Originally Posted by Unrighteous I agree Steve... but I feel that our three most important signings are CB cover, A world class winger, and a top class striker. The big problem is that there are far more top strikers than World Class wingers.

Aye, plus we haven't got the funds for one of the above mentioned, never mind all 3.

[StevieH]

I think we are all speculating with regards to the funds. The potential sales of Sissoko and Carson would cover the bulk of a potential permanent deal for Mascherano, while we should still have the money reserved for Heinze left to play with. Also, presumably now that we have qualified for the next stages of the CL, one would hope that monies generated would go into the transfer kitty.

[PaddyBerger15]

Originally Posted by StevieH I think we are all speculating with regards to the funds. The potential sales of Sissoko and Carson would cover the bulk of a potential permanent deal for Mascherano, while we should still have the money reserved for Heinze left to play with. Also, presumably now that we have qualified for the next stages of the CL, one would hope that monies generated would go into the transfer kitty.

Aye, but theory and reality could well be 2 entirely different things.
If they are scrabbling about for the dough for the stadium, which it seems is their only priority, they aren't going to be sanctioning much spending on the team whether we bring in money from sales or not....although admittedly it is all conjecture at this stage.

[Red Nick]

I think there is a very good reason Rafa isnt playing Babel as a striker and thats because he's under pressure and asking money for transfers etc etc.

Think about it logically he would have to justify to two idiots why he spunked 11m on a player who isnt good enough for the position he was bought. Also it then highlight the money wasted on Kuyt.

I think if he was more secure in his job he would be more inclined to play Babel but at this stage he doesnt want to give those two bafoons any amunition to sack him with

Just my view on things

[cochcaer]

I think Rafa is handling Babel just right and is now trying to build up the guys confidence. Reminds me a bit of Pennant, took him a while to settle.