"Why haven't we signed a left winger"?

[snez1]

Two words.

 

Ryan Babel.

 

Next season if he continues his progress he's going to be fucking immense. So stick your Downings, Silva's and Riera's were the sun don't shine because it's Babel Time.

 

Dun dun dun dun dun, dun dun dun dun.

[mickyc1973]

i hope so , cos we need a winger or hes goin to put barry there

[Ged B]

i hope so , cos we need a winger or hes goin to put barry there

 

No, he's not.

[hamstrung]

No, he's not.

 

I don't think you can rule it out.

 

Logically, its either move Barry to the left or play Gerrard on the right. Only one of them can play alongside Mascherano if Keane is playing up front.

 

Unless he plans on playing Keane wide, which I doubt.

[Ged B]

I don't think you can rule it out.

 

Logically, its either move Barry to the left or play Gerrard on the right. Only one of them can play alongside Mascherano if Keane is playing up front.

 

Unless he plans on playing Keane wide, which I doubt.

 

True, I can see him playing there at time's but I certainly don't think it will be a regular occurrence.

I think we'll see Gerrard on the right quite a bit this season, which is something I wont mind at all. Whether Gerrard will mind is the key issue though.

[Guest LFD]

I think we have some good options for the left.

 

If we want a direct attacking player we have Babel, possibly Ngog. Benayoun is also an attacking option on the left.

 

Should we want a left midfielder in a 4-4-2 we've got Barry or Aurelio as two good options. As they are both comfortable at left back this should give Dossena more freedom to bomb forward as they can cover.

 

We've got some nice options, attacking-wise and more defensive ones. Ideally we'd have Silva or another left wide player, but given Benitez is raising most of the funds this summer through sales, we're not really in an ideal situation.

[Red Nick]

Because Rafa has spent the money where its needed least or if you prefer where he thinks it will do the best for the team

[spider-neil]

because we don't play with wingers any more.

 

its almost a case of the fullbacks are now our wide midfielders and the wide midfielders are now our strikers.

[dennis tooth]

You can't trust left wingers they have no respect for authority.

[Red Nick]

because we don't play with wingers any more.

 

its almost a case of the fullbacks are now our wide midfielders and the wide midfielders are now our strikers.

 

Not that again, we need wide creative players but they dont have to be wingers, players like Ronaldo, Tevez, Rosicksy, Cole & similar arent wingers but they play in wide positions

[JohnnyH]

I really think he's going to be excellant for us this year. When he was on his game he was superb last year and experience and consistency could see him be a star for us. He will continue to learn so much from Torres and Gerrard and now Keane can be a great teacher also.

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

I reckon if Xabi, Pennant, Voronin and possibly Yossi is sold, this will allow Rafa to buy David Silva after Barry is signed.

[kopitegaz]

I dont get this obsession with wingers. We've not had many successful out and out wingers in modern times. If we count modern times as from Shanks onwards, the only ones who were a success are Cally (before his injury and reinvention as a midfielder), Peter Thompson, Steve Heighway and Digger. A lot of other left or right sided wide men players have been wide midfielders, and not wingers. If we have attacking full backs and Gerrard and Babel bombing all over the place, supporting Keane and Torres, I dont know that we need a specialist winger. Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt be against one signing, but Rafa is going to stand or fall by these signings he has made or is still trying to make, so I am going to back him. We get told (and I dont necessarilly mean on here) we sign too many players who dont settle immediately, and need more premier league based players. So when Rafa goes after Premier League based players (which to me says he is going to concentrate more on the league), then he gets moaned at for paying to much. I think by now we probably all know everyones opinion of Rafa (good, bad or in between - where having a view in between is allowed occasionally), so cant we just actually see what happens when we've actually played some proper footy? Apologies that this turned into a rant. I will climb off my soapbox now, but I will have to do it slowly, due to swollen ankles.

[spider-neil]

Not that again, we need wide creative players but they dont have to be wingers, players like Ronaldo, Tevez, Rosicksy, Cole & similar arent wingers but they play in wide positions

 

so our forwards aren't capable of playing in wide areas in similar way to the above? well they can because I saw it with my own eyes last season.

[drewy]

I dont get this obsession with wingers. We've not had many successful out and out wingers in modern times. If we count modern times as from Shanks onwards, the only ones who were a success are Cally (before his injury and reinvention as a midfielder), Peter Thompson, Steve Heighway and Digger. A lot of other left or right sided wide men players have been wide midfielders, and not wingers. If we have attacking full backs and Gerrard and Babel bombing all over the place, supporting Keane and Torres, I dont know that we need a specialist winger. Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt be against one signing, but Rafa is going to stand or fall by these signings he has made or is still trying to make, so I am going to back him. We get told (and I dont necessarilly mean on here) we sign too many players who dont settle immediately, and need more premier league based players. So when Rafa goes after Premier League based players (which to me says he is going to concentrate more on the league), then he gets moaned at for paying to much. I think by now we probably all know everyones opinion of Rafa (good, bad or in between - where having a view in between is allowed occasionally), so cant we just actually see what happens when we've actually played some proper footy? Apologies that this turned into a rant. I will climb off my soapbox now, but I will have to do it slowly, due to swollen ankles.

 

Quality, suitably repped.

[t1971]

I like Babel and im expecting him to be a lot more settled and mature this season. I really do think we will see a lot from him. I expect him to play on the left of the attack, but not as a "left winger". Double figures for goals.

[Chuck Fadanoid]

I dont get this obsession with wingers. We've not had many successful out and out wingers in modern times. If we count modern times as from Shanks onwards, the only ones who were a success are Cally (before his injury and reinvention as a midfielder), Peter Thompson, Steve Heighway and Digger. A lot of other left or right sided wide men players have been wide midfielders, and not wingers. If we have attacking full backs and Gerrard and Babel bombing all over the place, supporting Keane and Torres, I dont know that we need a specialist winger. Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt be against one signing, but Rafa is going to stand or fall by these signings he has made or is still trying to make, so I am going to back him. We get told (and I dont necessarilly mean on here) we sign too many players who dont settle immediately, and need more premier league based players. So when Rafa goes after Premier League based players (which to me says he is going to concentrate more on the league), then he gets moaned at for paying to much. I think by now we probably all know everyones opinion of Rafa (good, bad or in between - where having a view in between is allowed occasionally), so cant we just actually see what happens when we've actually played some proper footy? Apologies that this turned into a rant. I will climb off my soapbox now, but I will have to do it slowly, due to swollen ankles.

 

Logical posting sir; well done.

[spider-neil]

in regards to babel I think he will be rotated with yossi (or whoever replaces yossi) until he is ready for a run of first team games. I don't think his stamina is up to 90 mis yet, he is almost always explosive then fades bady which is why the role of a sub suited him more last season, but fingers crossed he adds consistantly to his attributes.

[MLB]

The left wing position is the one I'm most worried about. I have a good feeling about Babel and I can see him really developing this season, but we could definitely use a bit more competition there. Barry could definitely play there in the case of injuries but I'm not sure I'd want to see him there every week. I suppose we just have to hope that Babel continues progressing and that we can either bring someone in to compete with him or maybe use Pennant there.

[spider-neil]

The left wing position is the one I'm most worried about. I have a good feeling about Babel and I can see him really developing this season, but we could definitely use a bit more competition there. Barry could definitely play there in the case of injuries but I'm not sure I'd want to see him there every week. I suppose we just have to hope that Babel continues progressing and that we can either bring someone in to compete with him or maybe use Pennant there.

 

I don't think pennant will be here to be honest.

[Red Nick]

so our forwards aren't capable of playing in wide areas in similar way to the above? well they can because I saw it with my own eyes last season.

 

But we dont have wide creative players that are good enough, Keane, kuyt and Babel are all better in the striking positions wheras Cole, Rosicky and Ronaldo are creators as well as having the quality to finish.

 

Its such a silly debate that we dont play with wingers, Cole and Ronaldo would walk into our team in the wide areas as would Rosicksy and a fit Duff.

[Red Spartan]

Dont need any wingers in the current liverpool squad. Rafa has an idea of how the team is played and who plays in the team. Admitelly he is going all out and is gambling on the team and how its played with the playes that he is signing this summer.

 

In this idea of his, he is not going for wingers as alreay he has enough creativity and attacking players in his team.

 

Why should he add another inflated ego in the team to unstable it??

[Jose Jones]

I dont get this obsession with wingers. We've not had many successful out and out wingers in modern times. If we count modern times as from Shanks onwards, the only ones who were a success are Cally (before his injury and reinvention as a midfielder), Peter Thompson, Steve Heighway and Digger. A lot of other left or right sided wide men players have been wide midfielders, and not wingers. If we have attacking full backs and Gerrard and Babel bombing all over the place, supporting Keane and Torres, I dont know that we need a specialist winger. Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt be against one signing, but Rafa is going to stand or fall by these signings he has made or is still trying to make, so I am going to back him. We get told (and I dont necessarilly mean on here) we sign too many players who dont settle immediately, and need more premier league based players. So when Rafa goes after Premier League based players (which to me says he is going to concentrate more on the league), then he gets moaned at for paying to much. I think by now we probably all know everyones opinion of Rafa (good, bad or in between - where having a view in between is allowed occasionally), so cant we just actually see what happens when we've actually played some proper footy? Apologies that this turned into a rant. I will climb off my soapbox now, but I will have to do it slowly, due to swollen ankles.

 

Even John Barnes wasn't a classic winger for us in the same way some people seem to think wingers should play. He started from the left a lot, but played all over the forward line linking up with Beardsley and Aldo, creating and scoring goals. Quite a few games Beardsley was on the bench and Barnes was the second striker as well.

That said, that kind of player is exactly what I think we need. I think Red Nick agrees with me too so I must be spot on.

[StevieH]

Not that again, we need wide creative players but they dont have to be wingers, players like Ronaldo, Tevez, Rosicksy, Cole & similar arent wingers but they play in wide positions

 

I think we would benefit hugely from having a creative, naturally left footed playmaker playing on the left hand side of our attack. Babel is very talented, but he tends to always cut inside on his right foot all the time into congested areas. All of the above players that you name have subtlety, craft and guile and we haven't got enough of those types of players at Liverpool.

 

Also, we haven't got any natural left footers in our squad who can play as a left sided forward should Babel be out for any period of time once he returns from the Olympics.

[Rashid]

I think Babel will rule next season but I still think he looks better down the centre.