Ryan Babel - has he turned the corner?

[Molbystwin]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077928#msg1077928 date=1269855711]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=39531.msg1077926#msg1077926 date=1269855134]
He played pretty well ysterday IMO although he did run into a few defenders which is just poor, he also was seen to tackle back which for him is unbelievable.... he played well and was a threat.... what saddens me is the realisation that the only reason he is putting the effort in now is the fact that without it he wouldn't be going to SA for the world cup.... its got fuck all to do with LFC, he couldnt give a shit about LFC.

We should get rid if we can.
[/quote]


I don't think the world cup has got anything to do with it to be honest.
[/quote]

Really? well i hope you are right, sincerely i do, it just strikes me as unusual that a player who has barely featured for nearly two years, and who has given the impression of being completely disinterested in anything other than tweeting and rapping should all of a sudden become a starter a couple of months before a big international tournament.... maybe i'm cynical. It just reminded me of Malouda at Chelsea only starting to play when his big fat contract was up for renewal...

As is say i hope i'm wrong and he's finally seen the light. Many would use Babel as another stick to beat Rafa with but the truth is no manager would choose to play the cunt on the majority of his showings to date... he has been gash more often than average.

But fuck it! Whether he is playing for the good of the club or for himself and his international ambitions the end result is the same, he has always had ability so its good to see him using it on the pitch.

i aint gonna slate him for a good performance.

 

[El Pistolero]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077928#msg1077928 date=1269855711]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=39531.msg1077926#msg1077926 date=1269855134]
He played pretty well ysterday IMO although he did run into a few defenders which is just poor, he also was seen to tackle back which for him is unbelievable.... he played well and was a threat.... what saddens me is the realisation that the only reason he is putting the effort in now is the fact that without it he wouldn't be going to SA for the world cup.... its got fuck all to do with LFC, he couldnt give a shit about LFC.

We should get rid if we can.
[/quote]


I don't think the world cup has got anything to do with it to be honest.
[/quote]

You seriously don't do you? Ryan Babel has been banging the world cup drum all year, he has been shite for the majority of his Liverpool career. The world cup is a couple of months away and his form improves slightly. Coincidence I think not Spider, real come on.

The lad has played slightly better than his usual dross, but he hasn't been a world beater.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077930#msg1077930 date=1269855982]
Hahahaha. An assist. Behave yourself Neil. That's grasping at straws mate.
[/quote]

what is an assist? is an assist the last person who passes to the goal scorer, yes or no?
the goal was all down to torres' brilliance but it WAS babel who passed him the ball. when strikers are quiet what is always the defense on the forum, 'they weren't given the ball' you don't give the strikers the ball they can't score unless of course they are messi who can collect the ball on the edge of his own box and dribble all the way to the opposition penalty box.

 

[keniget]

I was thinking along very similar lines when I made reference to the World Cup on the first page Molby.

My view is that when we came very close to selling him to Birmingham in January, he had a sit down with Rafa and both agreed to do their part to make him look good in the second half of the season so that he can a) go to the World Cup and consequently b) get a move to a good club in the summer who will offer Liverpool a decent fee.

Maybe I am being cynical, but given the relationship Babel has enjoyed with Rafa thus far, this seems more plausible to me than him and Rafa turning a corner.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Redshrek link=topic=39531.msg1077935#msg1077935 date=1269856284]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077928#msg1077928 date=1269855711]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=39531.msg1077926#msg1077926 date=1269855134]
He played pretty well ysterday IMO although he did run into a few defenders which is just poor, he also was seen to tackle back which for him is unbelievable.... he played well and was a threat.... what saddens me is the realisation that the only reason he is putting the effort in now is the fact that without it he wouldn't be going to SA for the world cup.... its got fuck all to do with LFC, he couldnt give a shit about LFC.

We should get rid if we can.
[/quote]


I don't think the world cup has got anything to do with it to be honest.
[/quote]

You seriously don't do you? Ryan Babel has been banging the world cup drum all year, he has been shite for the majority of his Liverpool career. The world cup is a couple of months away and his form improves slightly. Coincidence I think not Spider, real come on.

The lad has played slightly better than his usual dross, but he hasn't been a world beater.
[/quote]

nope I think it is all down to improved playing time and not thinking you'll disappear from the team at the drop of a hat. lack of playing time will effect anyone's confidence just as extra playing time would give any player a boost.

 

[Sunny]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077936#msg1077936 date=1269856325]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077930#msg1077930 date=1269855982]
Hahahaha. An assist. Behave yourself Neil. That's grasping at straws mate.
[/quote]

what is an assist? is an assist the last person who passes to the goal scorer, yes or no?
the goal was all down to torres' brilliance but it WAS babel who passed him the ball. when strikers are quiet what is always the defense on the forum, 'they weren't given the ball' you don't give the strikers the ball they can't score unless of course they are messi who can collect the ball on the edge of his own box and dribble all the way to the opposition penalty box.
[/quote]

Even if he did clip the ball Torres still went on an individual run to score the goal. There's no assist in it.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=39531.msg1077937#msg1077937 date=1269856421]
I was thinking along very similar lines when I made reference to the World Cup on the first page Molby.

My view is that when we came very close to selling him to Birmingham in January, he had a sit down with Rafa and both agreed to do their part to make him look good in the second half of the season so that he can a) go to the World Cup and consequently b) get a move to a good club in the summer who will offer Liverpool a decent fee.

Maybe I am being cynical, but given the relationship Babel has enjoyed with Rafa thus far, this seems more plausible to me than him and Rafa turning a corner.
[/quote]

I think its a combination of a falling out with riera, injuries to yossi and a drop in form with kuyt that has given babel more games rather than any 'deal' rafa and babel have struck up with frankly sounds ridiculousl given rafa's aloofness with players.

 

[Molbystwin]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=39531.msg1077937#msg1077937 date=1269856421]
I was thinking along very similar lines when I made reference to the World Cup on the first page Molby.

My view is that when we came very close to selling him to Birmingham in January, he had a sit down with Rafa and both agreed to do their part to make him look good in the second half of the season so that he can a) go to the World Cup and consequently b) get a move to a good club in the summer who will offer Liverpool a decent fee.

Maybe I am being cynical, but given the relationship Babel has enjoyed with Rafa thus far, this seems more plausible to me than him and Rafa turning a corner.
[/quote]

Pragmatist that Rafa is it's a win win situation, if he can begin to play towards the level that his ability warrants then finally we get some value from him, whether we sell him or not. I can't stand his lazy attitude but attitudes change, if he can continue to play well and stay in the side then i'm happy enough with that whatever the reason for the turnaround.

As for Rafa i think and hope that he will still be manager next season.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077939#msg1077939 date=1269856609]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077936#msg1077936 date=1269856325]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077930#msg1077930 date=1269855982]
Hahahaha. An assist. Behave yourself Neil. That's grasping at straws mate.
[/quote]

what is an assist? is an assist the last person who passes to the goal scorer, yes or no?
the goal was all down to torres' brilliance but it WAS babel who passed him the ball. when strikers are quiet what is always the defense on the forum, 'they weren't given the ball' you don't give the strikers the ball they can't score unless of course they are messi who can collect the ball on the edge of his own box and dribble all the way to the opposition penalty box.
[/quote]

Even if he did clip the ball Torres still went on an individual run to score the goal. There's no assist in it.
[/quote]

what the fuck are you going on about? so if babel was in your fantasy football team he WOULDN'T have been credited with that assist? fuck sakes I'll leave it there, whatever, it wasn't an assist.

player dribbles the ball from his own half to the edge of the opposition penalty area, squares to team mate to score = assist

player passes to team mate on the edge of his own area to a team mate, team mates the ball dribbles the length of the pitch and beats the keeper = assist

 

[Sunny]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077942#msg1077942 date=1269856773]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077939#msg1077939 date=1269856609]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077936#msg1077936 date=1269856325]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077930#msg1077930 date=1269855982]
Hahahaha. An assist. Behave yourself Neil. That's grasping at straws mate.
[/quote]

what is an assist? is an assist the last person who passes to the goal scorer, yes or no?
the goal was all down to torres' brilliance but it WAS babel who passed him the ball. when strikers are quiet what is always the defense on the forum, 'they weren't given the ball' you don't give the strikers the ball they can't score unless of course they are messi who can collect the ball on the edge of his own box and dribble all the way to the opposition penalty box.
[/quote]

Even if he did clip the ball Torres still went on an individual run to score the goal. There's no assist in it.
[/quote]

what the fuck are you going on about? so if babel was in your fantasy football team he WOULDN'T have been credited with that assist? fuck sakes I'll leave it there, whatever, it wasn't an assist.
[/quote]

It's not an assist Neil. You're seeing things that aren't there. And Babel would never be in my fantasy football team.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077947#msg1077947 date=1269857311]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077942#msg1077942 date=1269856773]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077939#msg1077939 date=1269856609]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077936#msg1077936 date=1269856325]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077930#msg1077930 date=1269855982]
Hahahaha. An assist. Behave yourself Neil. That's grasping at straws mate.
[/quote]

what is an assist? is an assist the last person who passes to the goal scorer, yes or no?
the goal was all down to torres' brilliance but it WAS babel who passed him the ball. when strikers are quiet what is always the defense on the forum, 'they weren't given the ball' you don't give the strikers the ball they can't score unless of course they are messi who can collect the ball on the edge of his own box and dribble all the way to the opposition penalty box.
[/quote]

Even if he did clip the ball Torres still went on an individual run to score the goal. There's no assist in it.
[/quote]

what the fuck are you going on about? so if babel was in your fantasy football team he WOULDN'T have been credited with that assist? fuck sakes I'll leave it there, whatever, it wasn't an assist.
[/quote]

It's not an assist Neil. You're seeing things that aren't there. And Babel would never be in my fantasy football team.
[/quote]

so explain to me what an assist is because I obviously have the wrong definition of what it means.

 

[Sunny]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077948#msg1077948 date=1269857445]

so explain to me what an assist is because I obviously have the wrong definition of what it means.
[/quote]

OK. Firstly, stop getting all worked up. Secondly I see where you're coming from:

In the FIFA Technical Study Group's report on the 1986 World Cup, the authors calculated for the first time unofficial statistics for assists, developing the following criteria:[3]
An assist was awarded to the player who had given the last pass to the goalscorer.
In addition, also the last but two holder of the ball could get an assist provided that his action had decisive importance for the goal .
After goals from rebounds those players were awarded an assist who had shot on target.
After goals scored on penalty or by a directly converted free-kick the fouled player received a point .
In case that the goalscorer had laid on the goal for himself (dribble, solo run), no assists were awarded .
No assists were awarded, either, if the goalscorer took advantage of a missed pass by an opponent

So if Babel had made the last pass to Torres you have a point but it's negated by the fact Torres went on a solo run and laid the goal on for himself. Even if it was a deliberate flick on it wasn't decisive to the goal.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077950#msg1077950 date=1269857897]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077948#msg1077948 date=1269857445]

so explain to me what an assist is because I obviously have the wrong definition of what it means.
[/quote]

OK. Firstly, stop getting all worked up. Secondly I see where you're coming from:

In the FIFA Technical Study Group's report on the 1986 World Cup, the authors calculated for the first time unofficial statistics for assists, developing the following criteria:[3]
An assist was awarded to the player who had given the last pass to the goalscorer.
In addition, also the last but two holder of the ball could get an assist provided that his action had decisive importance for the goal .
After goals from rebounds those players were awarded an assist who had shot on target.
After goals scored on penalty or by a directly converted free-kick the fouled player received a point .
In case that the goalscorer had laid on the goal for himself (dribble, solo run), no assists were awarded .
No assists were awarded, either, if the goalscorer took advantage of a missed pass by an opponent

So if Babel had made the last pass to Torres you have a point but it's negated by the fact Torres went on a solo run and laid the goal on for himself. Even if it was a deliberate flick on it wasn't decisive to the goal.




[/quote]

I wasn't in anyway shape or form saying babel had anything to do with the brilliance of torres' goal I was just saying he had an assist.
I apologise for flying off the handle 🙂

 

[jan]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077942#msg1077942 date=1269856773]
what the fuck are you going on about? so if babel was in your fantasy football team he WOULDN'T have been credited with that assist? fuck sakes I'll leave it there, whatever, it wasn't an assist.
[/quote]

No, because Reina was credited with that assist.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077948#msg1077948 date=1269857445]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077947#msg1077947 date=1269857311]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077942#msg1077942 date=1269856773]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077939#msg1077939 date=1269856609]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077936#msg1077936 date=1269856325]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077930#msg1077930 date=1269855982]
Hahahaha. An assist. Behave yourself Neil. That's grasping at straws mate.
[/quote]

what is an assist? is an assist the last person who passes to the goal scorer, yes or no?
the goal was all down to torres' brilliance but it WAS babel who passed him the ball. when strikers are quiet what is always the defense on the forum, 'they weren't given the ball' you don't give the strikers the ball they can't score unless of course they are messi who can collect the ball on the edge of his own box and dribble all the way to the opposition penalty box.
[/quote]

Even if he did clip the ball Torres still went on an individual run to score the goal. There's no assist in it.
[/quote]

what the fuck are you going on about? so if babel was in your fantasy football team he WOULDN'T have been credited with that assist? fuck sakes I'll leave it there, whatever, it wasn't an assist.
[/quote]

It's not an assist Neil. You're seeing things that aren't there. And Babel would never be in my fantasy football team.
[/quote]

so explain to me what an assist is because I obviously have the wrong definition of what it means.
[/quote]

It's an assist Neil, and we've done the old statistics thing to death with regard to how reliable they are. They don't tell a story for starters. I think you need to sit back and read the thread and be a bit objective about it all.

Babel has improved of late and deserves a run, but he's by no means proved anything just yet, the signs are good, that is all. By your reckoning, on the back of a handful of improved performances he's proved beyond doubt that he's a World beater and that Rafa, most of the forum etc were wrong all along. I don't think so. Confidence, desire etc have always been a negative factor, and there is some plausability in the notion that the World Cup could also be a factor - so could the potential for a Summer move (or a Summer stay of execution).

He's done well, you don't need to go overboard as though a flick on or him barely even touching the ball is an act of brilliant creativity, it wasn't, but he played his part in a good display and should continue to be allowed to show what he's worth.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=jan link=topic=39531.msg1077954#msg1077954 date=1269858325]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077942#msg1077942 date=1269856773]
what the fuck are you going on about? so if babel was in your fantasy football team he WOULDN'T have been credited with that assist? fuck sakes I'll leave it there, whatever, it wasn't an assist.
[/quote]

No, because Reina was credited with that assist.
[/quote]

I suggest you watch the highlights again

 

[jan]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077956#msg1077956 date=1269858433]
[quote author=jan link=topic=39531.msg1077954#msg1077954 date=1269858325]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077942#msg1077942 date=1269856773]
what the fuck are you going on about? so if babel was in your fantasy football team he WOULDN'T have been credited with that assist? fuck sakes I'll leave it there, whatever, it wasn't an assist.
[/quote]

No, because Reina was credited with that assist.
[/quote]

I suggest you watch the highlights again
[/quote]

I was talking about a fact in actim stats

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=39531.msg1077955#msg1077955 date=1269858371]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077948#msg1077948 date=1269857445]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077947#msg1077947 date=1269857311]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077942#msg1077942 date=1269856773]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077939#msg1077939 date=1269856609]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077936#msg1077936 date=1269856325]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077930#msg1077930 date=1269855982]
Hahahaha. An assist. Behave yourself Neil. That's grasping at straws mate.
[/quote]

what is an assist? is an assist the last person who passes to the goal scorer, yes or no?
the goal was all down to torres' brilliance but it WAS babel who passed him the ball. when strikers are quiet what is always the defense on the forum, 'they weren't given the ball' you don't give the strikers the ball they can't score unless of course they are messi who can collect the ball on the edge of his own box and dribble all the way to the opposition penalty box.
[/quote]

Even if he did clip the ball Torres still went on an individual run to score the goal. There's no assist in it.
[/quote]

what the fuck are you going on about? so if babel was in your fantasy football team he WOULDN'T have been credited with that assist? fuck sakes I'll leave it there, whatever, it wasn't an assist.
[/quote]

It's not an assist Neil. You're seeing things that aren't there. And Babel would never be in my fantasy football team.
[/quote]

so explain to me what an assist is because I obviously have the wrong definition of what it means.
[/quote]

It's an assist Neil, and we've done the old statistics thing to death with regard to how reliable they are. They don't tell a story for starters. I think you need to sit back and read the thread and be a bit objective about it all.

Babel has improved of late and deserves a run, but he's by no means proved anything just yet, the signs are good, that is all. By your reckoning, on the back of a handful of improved performances he's proved beyond doubt that he's a World beater and that Rafa, most of the forum etc were wrong all along. I don't think so. Confidence, desire etc have always been a negative factor, and there is some plausability in the notion that the World Cup could also be a factor - so could the potential for a Summer move (or a Summer stay of execution).

He's done well, you don't need to go overboard as though a flick on or him barely even touching the ball is an act of brilliant creativity, it wasn't, but he played his part in a good display and should continue to be allowed to show what he's worth.
[/quote]

I didn't SAY it was an act of creativity.
I often find myself arguing and thinking why the heck am I arguing this point?
I watched the highlights just THIS MORNING and clearly see babel flicking the ball onto torres, torres then makes a moment of genius out of absolutely nothing but the point is it WAS an assist so what's to argue about? JEEZ!!

 

[spider-Neil]

I think a lot of the time the reason I go overboard with the defense of babel is because people go overboard to disparage him.

 

[keniget]

Oncey aside, has anyone been that disparaging in this thread?

You're arguing even with the other Babel fans.

 

[manwithnoname]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=39531.msg1077876#msg1077876 date=1269848099]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39531.msg1077855#msg1077855 date=1269844505]
Oncey sick of accepting average dross at our club

Hahahaha, you get it wrong about Liverpool players more often than anyone
[/quote]Youre opinion about ANYTHING to do with Liverpool is of no interest to me these days. Away and wish injury on a youth teamer or something, it's the ONE thing you're still half decent at. Repetetive, boring and predictable like, but halfway decent.
[/quote]

One only has to read some of your toe-curling diatribes about Alonso or Kuyt to know that you have an unearthly habit of castigating good players, flip-flopping when - SHOCK! - good player plays well, but at the same time bizarrely championing utter fucking shit like Tennants and Insua.

And who could forget your delight in replacing Alonso (all he does is pass) with Aquilani (all he does is be injured), and loud proclamations that you were delighted with our summer transfer business, only to shout just as loudly last week that it had been a fucking disaster.

The ONLY thing predictable about you is that you'll write something incredibly, embarassingly wrong, and then six months later say almost the opposite.

Which is about the best news Ryan Babel could have right now.

 

[mark1975]

I said it was an assist, I think you're missing the point, you're just labouring it a bit, "2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games", yet he was probably among our three best players in what? One of those games?

He's improving and most people are giving him credit for that, even his biggest detractors, you'll find people pointing out his flaws simply to counter the people who are going overboard with comments like the above. The common ground is somewhere in between, he's doing well and I wish him well, he now needs to show he can do this consistently and push on with his 'threat'.

 

[spider-Neil]

twas an early monday morning and all was still, until bren laid the smackdown.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=39531.msg1077963#msg1077963 date=1269859088]
I said it was an assist, I think you're missing the point, you're just labouring it a bit, "2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games", yet he was probably among our three best players in what? One of those games?

He's improving and most people are giving him credit for that, even his biggest detractors, you'll find people pointing out his flaws simply to counter the people who are going overboard with comments like the above. The common ground is somewhere in between, he's doing well and I wish him well, he now needs to show he can do this consistently and push on with his 'threat'.
[/quote]

my post wasn't really directed at you, I think I was just getting angry because I was arguing what constitutes an assist when I think everyone on this forum knows full well what an assist is.

 

[Sunny]

It wasn't an assist

"In case that the goalscorer had laid on the goal for himself (dribble, solo run), no assists were awarded ."

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39531.msg1077972#msg1077972 date=1269860215]
It wasn't an assist

"In case that the goalscorer had laid on the goal for himself (dribble, solo run), no assists were awarded ."
[/quote]

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/M/rules.mc

Assists
These are awarded to the player from the goal scoring team who makes the last pass before a goal is scored.

If during this pass, an opposing player significantly alters the speed or direction of the ball, then no assist is given except if this intervention directly results in an own goal.

If a goalkeeper does not have control of the ball and parries a shot or drops a cross or the ball rebounds off the woodwork, the attacking player shooting or crossing the ball receives the assist if a goal directly ensues.

In the event of a penalty, the player earning the penalty gets an assist if it is successfully scored, but not if he takes it himself in which case no assist is given. No assist is given for a player who earns a free kick that subsequently results in a goal.

All assists are reviewed within 24 hours of the game finishing.

 

[manwithnoname]

Spide, is this all really necessary?

We all know you love Ryan Babel. Christ, I quite like him myself, but this isn't helping anyone.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39531.msg1077988#msg1077988 date=1269861576]
Spide, is this all really necessary?

We all know you love Ryan Babel. Christ, I quite like him myself, but this isn't helping anyone.
[/quote]

this has moved beyond babel dammit!! people must recognise what an assist is!!
only messing, I'll stop now 🙂

 

[manwithnoname]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077989#msg1077989 date=1269861662]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39531.msg1077988#msg1077988 date=1269861576]
Spide, is this all really necessary?

We all know you love Ryan Babel. Christ, I quite like him myself, but this isn't helping anyone.
[/quote]

this has moved beyond babel dammit!! people must recognise what an assist is!!
only messing, I'll stop now 🙂
[/quote]

I once had an argument with a flatmate about what constituted a volley that lasted hours.

He - amazingly - seemed to think that any ball hit while in the air (no matter how many times it had bounced) could be called a "volley"

Have you EVER heard anything that mad? A true volley is a thing of beauty and skill largely because it involves hitting a moving ball that has yet to touch the ground (because once it HAS bounced, it naturally allows you to better gauge its speed and trajectory)

What he was describing was simply striking a ball which wasn't on the ground

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39531.msg1077994#msg1077994 date=1269861956]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39531.msg1077989#msg1077989 date=1269861662]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39531.msg1077988#msg1077988 date=1269861576]
Spide, is this all really necessary?

We all know you love Ryan Babel. Christ, I quite like him myself, but this isn't helping anyone.
[/quote]

this has moved beyond babel dammit!! people must recognise what an assist is!!
only messing, I'll stop now 🙂
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I once had an argument with a flatmate about what constituted a volley that lasted hours.

He - amazingly - seemed to think that any ball hit while in the air (no matter how many times it had bounced) could be called a "volley"

Have you EVER heard anything that mad? A true volley is a thing of beauty and skill largely because it involves hitting a moving ball that has yet to touch the ground (because once it HAS bounced, it naturally allows you to better gauge its speed and trajectory)

What he was describing was simply striking a ball which wasn't on the ground
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a half volley is when the ball bounces before you strike it right?