babel...

[spider-neil]

thought he was off the pace yesterday but there was a 10-15 minute burst from him that I thought was electric and he absloutely roasted ferrier when he went down the outside.

[coop]

He does this in most games and if Babel can find some kind of consistency then he could be a world beater.

 

He has the pace and skill to beat any full back but i dont know if its a confidence issue or sometimes he appears lazy but i am expecting big things from Babel.

 

They were times during the first leg when Aurellio had the ball and i was thinking that Babel should now be bombing down the wing to give an outlet ball but he was holding back waiting for a ball to go inside.

 

I think we have a top player on our hands but he is going to take some shaping into the player he can become but i think it will be well worth the effort.

[JohnnyH]

He's a kid, and as you say, if he can start producing that for 60-70 mins in a game then we have a world beater on our hands.

 

I think, when all things are taken into consideration, he's had a very good first season.

[spider-neil]

don't know whether or not its best to start him from the bench next week, chelsea will almost certainly push up looking for the killer goal and babel's pace can hurt them on the counter but his pace against tired legs may also be key.

[JohnnyH]

I think we should go at Chelsea from the get go like we did against Juventus at home. Frighten the fuck out of them with Babel and Torres and Gerrrard running at them.

[G Richards]

I'm undecided if Babel will fall into the 'good player' category or 'world beater' category. Right now he is a good player, inasmuch as he occupies any defence because of his pace and power. I see teams frequently putting two men on him, so that tells its own story.

 

Obviously his stamina needs to improve, as does his game intelligence, so he can use his attributes to their utmost.

 

All in all, so far so good.

[spider-neil]

I'm undecided if Babel will fall into the 'good player' category or 'world beater' category. Right now he is a good player, inasmuch as he occupies any defence because of his pace and power. I see teams frequently putting two men on him, so that tells its own story.

 

Obviously his stamina needs to improve, as does his game intelligence, so he can use his attributes to their utmost.

 

All in all, so far so good.

 

chelsea certainly attacked more when he went off but that could have just been coincedence.

[Scouse_Datcha]

Same team next game. With Riise on the left.

 

2-2 and we are trough.

[Mr T]

I thought Babel was terrible to be honest.

[Monkeywool]

For a first season, being mainly a substitute he has had a good season. Hasn't he scored a few goals too? More from anyone else we have had on the left wing for a fair few years anyway.

[Section_31]

Babel reminds me a bit of Overmars in the first half of Wenger's first double season. He'll be on the outside looking in for long periods and then BANG you're fucking dead.

 

I think he's one of our most talented players and I'd rather have him in the first XI any day of the week than on the bench.

[navbasi]

I thought Babel was terrible to be honest.

 

Really? I wouldn't say terrible. I thought he had an ok game last night. He had the beating of Ferria every time, but I suppose that experience and confidence will come with more games. I would expect him to really kick on next season though.

 

I like him, but for next Wednesday's game I would start him on the bench as the game may even go into extra time and that's when his pace and power could be the real turning point.

[t1971]

Thought he did ok. He WILL get better when he settles and gets experience.

[Brownie]

He infuriated me in the first half and then did quite well in the second. He's an enigma at the moment but I do think he'll go on to be a great player.

 

He just needs confidence and experience.

[TheBajan]

Its as if he waits till Rafa signals him to say he will be taken off shortly to finally turn it on. So when Rafa does take him off, I'm thinking 'why are we taking him off now?' I think Babel needs a small dose of 'harden the fuck up' and to perform for more than just the odd patch in games

[TG3]

He tired amazingly quickly given his age don't you think? He isn't even 21 yet and he can't play for more than 70 minutes, what's that all about?

 

I do like Babel and think he is going to continually improve, playing with the likes of Gerrard & Torres every week who wouldn't. but he has got the right attributes to excel in this league and our formation.

 

I would consider his first season a fairly good one, nothing outstanding like but flashes of brilliance that show his potential.