David N'gog

[TheBunnyman]

That's 6 goals in 7 matches so far this season. He's 21 years old, and improving visibly all the time.

Still far from perfect, of course, but even Torres has plenty of matches where his touch lets him down and he can't hold the ball up.

I wasn't Wash's biggest fan when he first arrived, but you can't really argue with strikers who score goals like his second one last night. He's a very good finisher, and he deserves more respect than he gets on here.

I wonder how many he'd score if he was playing for a team who kept the ball properly and created lots of chances?

 

[SaintGeorge67]

He's certainly improving. The problem is when he's not scoring he's not doing much.

Still, it's all about scoring I suppose so who cares.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=41918.msg1176112#msg1176112 date=1284708199]
He's certainly improving. The problem is when he's not scoring he's not doing much.


[/quote]

Other than his first season for us, you could say pretty much the same about Torres.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41918.msg1176111#msg1176111 date=1284708112]
That's 6 goals in 7 matches so far this season. He's 21 years old, and improving visibly all the time.

Still far from perfect, of course, but even Torres has plenty of matches where his touch lets him down and he can't hold the ball up.

I wasn't Wash's biggest fan when he first arrived, but you can't really argue with strikers who score goals like his second one last night. He's a very good finisher, and he deserves more respect than he gets on here.

I wonder how many he'd score if he was playing for a team who kept the ball properly and created lots of chances?
[/quote]

Like we did against Dr. Robotnik and he missed bucket loads of chances ?


He's doing well for now, but let's see how the rest of the season goes before we get excited.

 

[spider-Neil]

n'gog is an out and out striker and as such is doing his job everytime he scores regardless of how little he offers in every other aspect of play.

 

[keniget]

I've always liked N'Gog.

Thought he was garbage last night, but can't argue with two goals.

 

[Spionkop69]

Isn't this just what we need so far?

A lesser striker scoring for fun against teams where we rest Torres. This is only a good thing and strikers get their confidence by scoring goals.

This is exactly what we require him to do, take away our reliance on Torres (and to a lesser extent Gerrard) to score goals in games against lesser European opposition. Long may it continue. Also, considering the way the game was poised, that penalty was dispatched in a very cool manner.

Well done David.

 

[FoxForceFive]

[quote author=Spionkop69 link=topic=41918.msg1176128#msg1176128 date=1284710501]
Isn't this just what we need so far?

A lesser striker scoring for fun against teams where we rest Torres. This is only a good thing and strikers get their confidence by scoring goals.

This is exactly what we require him to do, take away our reliance on Torres (and to a lesser extent Gerrard) to score goals in games against lesser European opposition. Long may it continue. Also, considering the way the game was poised, that penalty was dispatched in a very cool manner.

Well done David.
[/quote]

Spot on mate.

I'm still not won over by the lad, but he is doing exactly what we want & need, so who the fuck can complain?

If Babel were in his place last night we'd have lost, & Torres forced to play the away leg no matter what.

Meanwhile his confidence is growing & he's hopefully gonna keep improving as a result.

 

[Sunny]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=41918.msg1176125#msg1176125 date=1284710326]

Thought he was garbage last night, but can't argue with two goals.
[/quote]

This. His overall play last night was shite. He scored a penalty. Whoopee. And a goal that presented itself by means of a lucky bobble. He finished it well but overall he was pretty poor.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=41918.msg1176131#msg1176131 date=1284710706]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=41918.msg1176125#msg1176125 date=1284710326]

Thought he was garbage last night, but can't argue with two goals.
[/quote]

This. His overall play last night was shite. He scored a penalty. Whoopee. And a goal that presented itself by means of a lucky bobble. He finished it well but overall he was pretty poor.
[/quote]

Can't disagree with that Mr Sunny. My problem with him, amongst other things, is that he is far too easily pushed around and surprisingly lightweight for quite a big lad.

regards

 

[Jürgen4PM]

I really don't know what to make of N'Gog. Most of his game time this season he's been pretty shite in all areas, but then he's coming up with goals and is producing some lovely touches that i wouldn't of thought him capable of.

Jury still out.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

I think that's fair Rafa.

Unlike my jury on Babel, who says "Guilty"

Guilty of spurning every chance to show what he can do (if he can do) that is handed to him on a silver salver.

Time to forget Babel Roy, I know you want to keep his profile up and therefore his ludicrous perceived value, and give Pacheco, Amoo, Eccleston their chance now.

regards

 

[Jack D Rips]

[/quote]

Spot on mate.

I'm still not won over by the lad, but he is doing exactly what we want & need, so who the fuck can complain?

If Babel were in his place last night we'd have lost, & Torres forced to play the away leg no matter what.

Meanwhile his confidence is growing & he's hopefully gonna keep improving as a result.
[/quote]

You do realise that this is a league dont you? I heard the commentator say last night that Steua had scored an away goal. I dont know where they get them.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Yeah i'm with you Vlad. I had Babel down as the worst player on the pitch for us last night. I kept faith with him for ages on the "potential" basis, but now i just see a clumsy oaf devoid of a brain.

 

[dmishra]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41918.msg1176113#msg1176113 date=1284708295]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=41918.msg1176112#msg1176112 date=1284708199]
He's certainly improving. The problem is when he's not scoring he's not doing much.


[/quote]

Other than his first season for us, you could say pretty much the same about Torres.
[/quote]

Torres puts the fear of god into defenders. N'gog, while being fairly quick, does not have any of the acceleration or the explosiveness that Torres has or his ability to run at defenders. So that's pretty much off the mark. Torres even on off days forces the defence to play a deep line. N'gog doesn't. He rarely ever looks a 'threat'.

What he does have is a good attitude and a knack for scoring goals, whether through opportunism or moments of brilliance, but his play otherwise is largely mediocre. His strength and ability on the ball is particularly woeful, which means he is an awful player to have in a two man attack. And his finishing is NOT that good. His greatest strength is getting into goalscoring positions but anyone would have noticed that he often scuffs shots and makes a mess of good chances.

I would agree that Torres, not unlike N'gog, possesses a very ordinary back-to-the-goal game. But comparing them for that reason alone is ridiculous given that Torres' face-to-the-goal game is absolutely murderous and his finishing is amongst the best on the planet.

Laud N'gog for his attitude and his rich vein of form but don't for a moment think that he is ever going to be better than an average back-up for Torres.

 

[TheBunnyman]

Depends on your definition of average, I suppose. I'm not suggesting he'll ever be in Torres's class - far from it - but I do think he could score a lot of goals in a side that was functioning better than ours is at the moment. Personally I'm kind of glad we didn't spend £10m on Carlton Cole because I think Wash's potential is much higher.

 

[Fabio]

I honestly believe n'gog will be an absolute solid premier league striker. He just needs polishing

 

[ibromurph]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=41918.msg1176134#msg1176134 date=1284710940]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=41918.msg1176131#msg1176131 date=1284710706]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=41918.msg1176125#msg1176125 date=1284710326]

Thought he was garbage last night, but can't argue with two goals.
[/quote]

This. His overall play last night was shite. He scored a penalty. Whoopee. And a goal that presented itself by means of a lucky bobble. He finished it well but overall he was pretty poor.
[/quote]

Can't disagree with that Mr Sunny. My problem with him, amongst other things, is that he is far too easily pushed around and surprisingly lightweight for quite a big lad.

regards

[/quote]

+1000

Word for word.

 

[spider-Neil]

if you're going to praise n'gog then do so but there's no need to knock babel whilst doing so. n'gog played through the middle and scored, the last time babel played through the middle he scored. how would n'gog do on the left or right wing?

babel preferred position is as a striker, he said so himself when he first joined but has been used as a winger, he isn't a winger and never claimed to be and before someone chimes in with 'he played as a winger for ajax' he didn't, he played as a left sided forward, there's a huge difference between the two.
I'll also add henry was rubbish when utilised as a winger as well.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41918.msg1176166#msg1176166 date=1284715532]
if you're going to praise n'gog then do so but there's no need to knock babel whilst doing so. n'gog played through the middle and scored, the last time babel played through the middle he scored. how would n'gog do on the left or right wing?

babel preferred position is as a striker, he said so himself when he first joined but has been used as a winger, he isn't a winger and never claimed to be and before someone chimes in with 'he played as a winger for ajax' he didn't, he played as a left sided forward, there's a huge difference between the two.
I'll also add henry was rubbish when utilised as a winger as well.
[/quote]

He played wide in Holland, and does so for the National team too. He's played games more centrally in the League Cup and done shite, one goal through the middle doesn't mean he can do it every week. He had a good game last night mind, but N'Gog has shown he's a good instinctive finisher in the box despite his obvious shortcomings (and for the price, who can really complain?), Babel's proven hit and miss throughout his Liverpool career.

 

[dmishra]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41918.msg1176172#msg1176172 date=1284716210]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41918.msg1176166#msg1176166 date=1284715532]
if you're going to praise n'gog then do so but there's no need to knock babel whilst doing so. n'gog played through the middle and scored, the last time babel played through the middle he scored. how would n'gog do on the left or right wing?

babel preferred position is as a striker, he said so himself when he first joined but has been used as a winger, he isn't a winger and never claimed to be and before someone chimes in with 'he played as a winger for ajax' he didn't, he played as a left sided forward, there's a huge difference between the two.
I'll also add henry was rubbish when utilised as a winger as well.
[/quote]

He played wide in Holland, and does so for the National team too. He's played games more centrally in the League Cup and done shite, one goal through the middle doesn't mean he can do it every week. He had a good game last night mind, but N'Gog has shown he's a good instinctive finisher in the box despite his obvious shortcomings (and for the price, who can really complain?), Babel's proven hit and miss throughout his Liverpool career.
[/quote]

I can count on my fingers the number of games Babel's played as a striker for us Mark. Too much is made of Babel's inability to make the most of his opportunities. I'd argue that he's hardly been given a chance at the position which he claims he's best at. And this is coming from someone who's hardly a big Babel fan.

His skillset is that of a striker and not a winger. It's intriguing to know what he could do at that position and we won't know it until he's given a shot there.

 

[ibromurph]

I think Babel might actually make a good right winger. As he can beat his man on the outside far more easily. He's also got a half descent cross on him too. Whilst it might take away from his shooting chances, I'd rather him on the right swinging in crosses to the box (good or bad) than trying the same old shimmy he does before cutting inside and unleashing a thunderous goalbound shot in the nearest right backs' midrift (as per usual).

The obvious problem with having him there, is that you move out Maxi/Dirk who are currently far better all round players than Ryan (though possibly with time, Ryan could be more effective on the right; unfortunately, we don't have that time). Also, GlenJo is our RB and we'd need a lot more protection behind Ryan if he were played there.

 

[dmishra]

He would make a better right winger than a left winger, but I'd rather not play him as a winger at all. He's not skilled enough on the ball to be an effective winger. Pace, strength and instinctive finishing - that's a skillset of a striker, not a winger.

 

[ILD]

I've always wanted Babel to get a run on the right. With Dirk out we had the opportunity to test this out.

I'm not ready to give up on Babel just yet. He has played wide left for Ajax in the past but it doesn't seem to working for us. At least on the right he would be on his natural foot and perhaps get at defenders without constantly trying to come inside or back onto his right.

 

[6TimesaRed]

[quote author=Fabio link=topic=41918.msg1176157#msg1176157 date=1284714353]
I honestly believe n'gog will be an absolute solid premier league striker. He just needs polishing
[/quote]

^ this..

To elaborate more.. he is 21 and scoring goals for fun at the moment, couple more years and I think you will have a very good premiership striker.

The Europa League is an ideal tournament this season to blood our youngsters. Something of which will help with Ngog enhancing his game.

You get the feeling Roy is going to be using this tournament to see what we have got in terms of talent in the young player department

 

[ILD]

Has anyone ever found a link for the U-21 game against England where he had a stormer?

Would like to see it.

 

[LadyRed]

He's clearly a confidence player, like most.

He was awful until the penalty, he scored it and suddenly looked a different player, his touch improved, his passing was better and he looked more of a threat. When he's good, he's alright, but the problem is when he's bad, he's awful.

Let's not get carried away, yeah he's scored 6/7 goals, which is great, but look at who he's scored them against. I just fear a few goals and good performances will paper the cracks and kid everyone into thinking we don't need another striker in January, which we desperately do.

 

[manwithnoname]

He still looks really, really terrible at times, even when he does score. But you cannot argue with goals, and if he continues to score them, he'll have a chance.

He's never going to be a top player, but he could be one of those good, shit players: they often look terrible at football, but still produce results.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=41918.msg1176193#msg1176193 date=1284719099]
He's clearly a confidence player, like most.

He was awful until the penalty, he scored it and suddenly looked a different player, his touch improved, his passing was better and he looked more of a threat. When he's good, he's alright, but the problem is when he's bad, he's awful.

Let's not get carried away, yeah he's scored 6/7 goals, which is great, but look at who he's scored them against. I just fear a few goals and good performances will paper the cracks and kid everyone into thinking we don't need another striker in January, which we desperately do.
[/quote]

A bit harsh, he's scored against good teams in the last season and a half, Arsenal and United anyway.

 

[FoxForceFive]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=41918.msg1176200#msg1176200 date=1284719702]
He still looks really, really terrible at times, even when he does score. But you cannot argue with goals, and if he continues to score them, he'll have a chance.

He's never going to be a top player, but he could be one of those good, shit players: they often look terrible at football, but still produce results.
[/quote]

Cisse fell into that category. I still to this day have no idea how that eternally offside fucker scored so many goals for us.