S
Squiggles
Guest
Hmmm, personally I'm content to see him stay, but I'm surprised Rafa and the club are.
Ryan Babel
- Thread starter LeTallecWiz
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babel gets a stay of execution. hooray!!!
eat it you mother fucking babel haters!
eat it you mother fucking babel haters!
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029452#msg1029452 date=1262945322]
Hmmm, personally I'm content to see him stay, but I'm surprised Rafa and the club are.
[/quote]
I think it's me, you and spidey that are content to see him stay.
I'm utterly bemused by this, unles it's just the usual negotiating shenanigans.
Hmmm, personally I'm content to see him stay, but I'm surprised Rafa and the club are.
[/quote]
I think it's me, you and spidey that are content to see him stay.
I'm utterly bemused by this, unles it's just the usual negotiating shenanigans.
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=36813.msg1029438#msg1029438 date=1262943730]
Fucking hell McLeish's mail must have been held up by the weather and the video's have now got through.
We should have snapped their hand off.
I bet any money we will be lumbered with him until the summer now
regards
[/quote]
I think it was a joke from the beginning.
"HAHAHA....let´s offer Liverpool 10m for Babel!"
Fucking hell McLeish's mail must have been held up by the weather and the video's have now got through.
We should have snapped their hand off.
I bet any money we will be lumbered with him until the summer now
regards
[/quote]
I think it was a joke from the beginning.
"HAHAHA....let´s offer Liverpool 10m for Babel!"
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=36813.msg1029456#msg1029456 date=1262946409]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029452#msg1029452 date=1262945322]
Hmmm, personally I'm content to see him stay, but I'm surprised Rafa and the club are.
[/quote]
I think it's me, you and spidey that are content to see him stay.
I'm utterly bemused by this, unles it's just the usual negotiating shenanigans.
[/quote]
I can't tell if you're being serious ... You can add me to the list only because our squad is so thin as is we cannot afford to sell and not replace a player who has SOME capability in the last 1/3 of the pitch.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029452#msg1029452 date=1262945322]
Hmmm, personally I'm content to see him stay, but I'm surprised Rafa and the club are.
[/quote]
I think it's me, you and spidey that are content to see him stay.
I'm utterly bemused by this, unles it's just the usual negotiating shenanigans.
[/quote]
I can't tell if you're being serious ... You can add me to the list only because our squad is so thin as is we cannot afford to sell and not replace a player who has SOME capability in the last 1/3 of the pitch.
S
Squiggles
Guest
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=36813.msg1029456#msg1029456 date=1262946409]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029452#msg1029452 date=1262945322]
Hmmm, personally I'm content to see him stay, but I'm surprised Rafa and the club are.
[/quote]
I think it's me, you and spidey that are content to see him stay.
I'm utterly bemused by this, unles it's just the usual negotiating shenanigans.
[/quote]
He isn't worth 10M to us, I'll concede that. But like I've stressed before, his off the field activities like Twitter and Rapping have pushed peoples perspective into believing he's in the same category as Degen, Dossena, Voronin, et al, which I don't think is fair.
He certainly has some issues and isn't developing like we'd all hope. But he's one of the only players with any pace, dribbling or shooting ability, which makes him an ideal impact sub. And given the constant shit team performances at the moment, having at least one person on the bench who can make a difference isn't a bad thing at all.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029452#msg1029452 date=1262945322]
Hmmm, personally I'm content to see him stay, but I'm surprised Rafa and the club are.
[/quote]
I think it's me, you and spidey that are content to see him stay.
I'm utterly bemused by this, unles it's just the usual negotiating shenanigans.
[/quote]
He isn't worth 10M to us, I'll concede that. But like I've stressed before, his off the field activities like Twitter and Rapping have pushed peoples perspective into believing he's in the same category as Degen, Dossena, Voronin, et al, which I don't think is fair.
He certainly has some issues and isn't developing like we'd all hope. But he's one of the only players with any pace, dribbling or shooting ability, which makes him an ideal impact sub. And given the constant shit team performances at the moment, having at least one person on the bench who can make a difference isn't a bad thing at all.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029452#msg1029452 date=1262945322]
Hmmm, personally I'm content to see him stay, but I'm surprised Rafa and the club are.
[/quote]
I'd be content too if he got games. If we keep him to just see the odd appearance here and there then we might aswel sell up now.
I had such high expectations for Babel and wanted to sign him before we were even linked to him. He had pace and power and from what I saw he had a few tricks up him sleeve. Instead we managed to get a lazy, clumsy, heavy footed player with poor decision making skills. However, saying all that I'm a sucker for a bit of pace and love watching a few fleeting moments when he breezes past a player. Sadly these moments we're becoming less and less frequent. To be honest if Rafa was given the money to re invest back in to the transfer kitty then i'd have to concede defeat and throw in the towel. Babel doesn't seem to have a future here so it will be very frustrating if Rafa keeps him yet doesn't play him.
Hmmm, personally I'm content to see him stay, but I'm surprised Rafa and the club are.
[/quote]
I'd be content too if he got games. If we keep him to just see the odd appearance here and there then we might aswel sell up now.
I had such high expectations for Babel and wanted to sign him before we were even linked to him. He had pace and power and from what I saw he had a few tricks up him sleeve. Instead we managed to get a lazy, clumsy, heavy footed player with poor decision making skills. However, saying all that I'm a sucker for a bit of pace and love watching a few fleeting moments when he breezes past a player. Sadly these moments we're becoming less and less frequent. To be honest if Rafa was given the money to re invest back in to the transfer kitty then i'd have to concede defeat and throw in the towel. Babel doesn't seem to have a future here so it will be very frustrating if Rafa keeps him yet doesn't play him.
If Rafa is keeping Babel for any reason other than the fact that he wouldn't be able to reinvest then you'd have to question his motives. If he holds any genuine concern that Babel would be a hit elsewhere in the Premiership then it would represent a rather frank admission of his own failure to get the best out of the player.
Babel is worth about 3.5mil. No more.
I'd be happy to hear why he's worth more but it would obviously be be bullshit as he's crap.
I'd be happy to hear why he's worth more but it would obviously be be bullshit as he's crap.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029460#msg1029460 date=1262946987]
I've stressed before, his off the field activities like Twitter and Rapping have pushed peoples perspective into believing he's in the same category as Degen, Dossena, Voronin, et al, which I don't think is fair.
[/quote]
I would like to think that most if not all of the posters on this site can look beyond that and form an opinion on Babel from watching him play.
I know that my opinion of Babel is based on countless appearances where he contributed fuck all and has nothing to do with his
At the start he used to have an impact when he came off the bench but looked completely useless when he started a game. No problem, I thought, he's young and he can improve that. Then that 'impact sub' tag started to slip slowly. It got to the point where he would come onto the pitch when we were chasing the game and he would do fuck all. No running, no tackling, nothing. I remember one game where he came on at 83 minutes and didn't touch the ball once before the final whistle. His attitude and laziness wouldn't be tolerated at any other club and he would be bombed out.
Like Rosco said, shit or get off the pot.
Play him at every oppurtunity and if he delivers or at least show signs of turning into first team regular, based on merit, then happy days.
We paid £11.5 million for him at the end of the day, we could do with someone who cost a lot of money making it in our starting XI.
If Rafa has actually turned down £10 million quid for him and then plays him in 5/6 games and a scattering of sub appearances between now and the end of the season, I'll be pretty pissed off about it.
I've stressed before, his off the field activities like Twitter and Rapping have pushed peoples perspective into believing he's in the same category as Degen, Dossena, Voronin, et al, which I don't think is fair.
[/quote]
I would like to think that most if not all of the posters on this site can look beyond that and form an opinion on Babel from watching him play.
I know that my opinion of Babel is based on countless appearances where he contributed fuck all and has nothing to do with his
At the start he used to have an impact when he came off the bench but looked completely useless when he started a game. No problem, I thought, he's young and he can improve that. Then that 'impact sub' tag started to slip slowly. It got to the point where he would come onto the pitch when we were chasing the game and he would do fuck all. No running, no tackling, nothing. I remember one game where he came on at 83 minutes and didn't touch the ball once before the final whistle. His attitude and laziness wouldn't be tolerated at any other club and he would be bombed out.
Like Rosco said, shit or get off the pot.
Play him at every oppurtunity and if he delivers or at least show signs of turning into first team regular, based on merit, then happy days.
We paid £11.5 million for him at the end of the day, we could do with someone who cost a lot of money making it in our starting XI.
If Rafa has actually turned down £10 million quid for him and then plays him in 5/6 games and a scattering of sub appearances between now and the end of the season, I'll be pretty pissed off about it.
I can see the logic, keep the player and you have a half decent sub and some cover for any injuries that may occur (and he must want to prove himself for the WC). Why sell and lose that option, if you cant go and reinvest the cash this window?
Long term he might have seen some of it, but in a season that he must be fighting for his position he needs players not an IOU.
Long term he might have seen some of it, but in a season that he must be fighting for his position he needs players not an IOU.
But why keep hold of a player who you have absolutely no faith in? As a winger or a striker? The injuries argument isn’t really valid considering he'd rather play Aurelio on the left and wash up front when first team starters like Riera, Yossi and Torres are out. I know the money wouldn’t be re-invested in picking up a replacement but at least it would go towards softening the blow on transfer cuts during the summer. It also might give the like of Pacheco a chance or even that young Buchtmann lad. At least they show effort and passion when I’ve seen them play.
[quote author=Stu link=topic=36813.msg1029565#msg1029565 date=1262955424]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029460#msg1029460 date=1262946987]
I've stressed before, his off the field activities like Twitter and Rapping have pushed peoples perspective into believing he's in the same category as Degen, Dossena, Voronin, et al, which I don't think is fair.
[/quote]
I would like to think that most if not all of the posters on this site can look beyond that and form an opinion on Babel from watching him play.
I know that my opinion of Babel is based on countless appearances where he contributed fuck all and has nothing to do with his
At the start he used to have an impact when he came off the bench but looked completely useless when he started a game. No problem, I thought, he's young and he can improve that. Then that 'impact sub' tag started to slip slowly. It got to the point where he would come onto the pitch when we were chasing the game and he would do fuck all. No running, no tackling, nothing. I remember one game where he came on at 83 minutes and didn't touch the ball once before the final whistle. His attitude and laziness wouldn't be tolerated at any other club and he would be bombed out.
Like Rosco said, shit or get off the pot.
Play him at every oppurtunity and if he delivers or at least show signs of turning into first team regular, based on merit, then happy days.
We paid £11.5 million for him at the end of the day, we could do with someone who cost a lot of money making it in our starting XI.
If Rafa has actually turned down £10 million quid for him and then plays him in 5/6 games and a scattering of sub appearances between now and the end of the season, I'll be pretty pissed off about it.
[/quote]
The thing is, if he can fetch the best part of £10m now, what's to say he won't be worth that in the summer? It's his third year here, and since the first season, he's been largely shit, and occasionally brilliant. Managers and fans can still see the potential in him. I don't see why another six months of the same should drastically change that. And if Benitez isn't allowed to reinvest the funds, why should he get rid?
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029460#msg1029460 date=1262946987]
I've stressed before, his off the field activities like Twitter and Rapping have pushed peoples perspective into believing he's in the same category as Degen, Dossena, Voronin, et al, which I don't think is fair.
[/quote]
I would like to think that most if not all of the posters on this site can look beyond that and form an opinion on Babel from watching him play.
I know that my opinion of Babel is based on countless appearances where he contributed fuck all and has nothing to do with his
At the start he used to have an impact when he came off the bench but looked completely useless when he started a game. No problem, I thought, he's young and he can improve that. Then that 'impact sub' tag started to slip slowly. It got to the point where he would come onto the pitch when we were chasing the game and he would do fuck all. No running, no tackling, nothing. I remember one game where he came on at 83 minutes and didn't touch the ball once before the final whistle. His attitude and laziness wouldn't be tolerated at any other club and he would be bombed out.
Like Rosco said, shit or get off the pot.
Play him at every oppurtunity and if he delivers or at least show signs of turning into first team regular, based on merit, then happy days.
We paid £11.5 million for him at the end of the day, we could do with someone who cost a lot of money making it in our starting XI.
If Rafa has actually turned down £10 million quid for him and then plays him in 5/6 games and a scattering of sub appearances between now and the end of the season, I'll be pretty pissed off about it.
[/quote]
The thing is, if he can fetch the best part of £10m now, what's to say he won't be worth that in the summer? It's his third year here, and since the first season, he's been largely shit, and occasionally brilliant. Managers and fans can still see the potential in him. I don't see why another six months of the same should drastically change that. And if Benitez isn't allowed to reinvest the funds, why should he get rid?
[quote author=Cerberus link=topic=36813.msg1029595#msg1029595 date=1262957117]
But why keep hold of a player who you have absolutely no faith in? As a winger or a striker? The injuries argument isn’t really valid considering he'd rather play Aurelio on the left and wash up front when first team starters like Riera, Yossi and Torres are out. I know the money wouldn’t be re-invested in picking up a replacement but at least it would go towards softening the blow on transfer cuts during the summer. It also might give the like of Pacheco a chance or even that young Buchtmann lad. At least they show effort and passion when I’ve seen them play.
[/quote]
Good post.
Del, in answer to the initial question in your last post, I reckon Babel's value would certainly go down if during those six months he continues to perform as he has up till now, which is all we have to go on to try and predict what might happen. I'd suggest the more pertinent question would be: what's to say he WILL still be worth then what he is now? At least currently some clubs can still see potential in him. Another six months on a fast track to nowhere and that may very well change for the worse.
But why keep hold of a player who you have absolutely no faith in? As a winger or a striker? The injuries argument isn’t really valid considering he'd rather play Aurelio on the left and wash up front when first team starters like Riera, Yossi and Torres are out. I know the money wouldn’t be re-invested in picking up a replacement but at least it would go towards softening the blow on transfer cuts during the summer. It also might give the like of Pacheco a chance or even that young Buchtmann lad. At least they show effort and passion when I’ve seen them play.
[/quote]
Good post.
Del, in answer to the initial question in your last post, I reckon Babel's value would certainly go down if during those six months he continues to perform as he has up till now, which is all we have to go on to try and predict what might happen. I'd suggest the more pertinent question would be: what's to say he WILL still be worth then what he is now? At least currently some clubs can still see potential in him. Another six months on a fast track to nowhere and that may very well change for the worse.
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=36813.msg1029625#msg1029625 date=1262959616]
[quote author=Cerberus link=topic=36813.msg1029595#msg1029595 date=1262957117]
But why keep hold of a player who you have absolutely no faith in? As a winger or a striker? The injuries argument isn’t really valid considering he'd rather play Aurelio on the left and wash up front when first team starters like Riera, Yossi and Torres are out. I know the money wouldn’t be re-invested in picking up a replacement but at least it would go towards softening the blow on transfer cuts during the summer. It also might give the like of Pacheco a chance or even that young Buchtmann lad. At least they show effort and passion when I’ve seen them play.
[/quote]
Good post.
Del, in answer to the initial question in your last post, I reckon Babel's value would certainly go down if during those six months he continues to perform as he has up till now, which is all we have to go on to try and predict what might happen. I'd suggest the more pertinent question would be: what's to say he WILL still be worth then what he is now? At least currently some clubs can still see potential in him. Another six months on a fast track to nowhere and that may very well change for the worse.
[/quote]
He's been shit for ages though JJ, and we're still receiving decent bids for him. The fact is, he's young, and as we've seen in this thread, much of his ineptitude can be (rightly or wrongly) explained away by pointing the finger at Benitez. I don't see how another six months of fleeting appearances will affect his reputation when he's been playing shit for a year and half. Managers who think they can turn him around now will still be there in six months time. So long as he gets another couple of goals for the highlight reel I expect he'll still fetch a decent fee.
More to the point however, Benitez's primary concern is with achieving a top four place this season (and presumably preserving his job), so if he's not going to get any further assistance from the board, then why would he sell a player who may yet play a part in that?
The notion that Benitez should sell for the good of the club only really works if everyone at the club is on the same page. At the moment however, it doesn't look much like they are and I think that breeds an atmosphere of self-interest.
[quote author=Cerberus link=topic=36813.msg1029595#msg1029595 date=1262957117]
But why keep hold of a player who you have absolutely no faith in? As a winger or a striker? The injuries argument isn’t really valid considering he'd rather play Aurelio on the left and wash up front when first team starters like Riera, Yossi and Torres are out. I know the money wouldn’t be re-invested in picking up a replacement but at least it would go towards softening the blow on transfer cuts during the summer. It also might give the like of Pacheco a chance or even that young Buchtmann lad. At least they show effort and passion when I’ve seen them play.
[/quote]
Good post.
Del, in answer to the initial question in your last post, I reckon Babel's value would certainly go down if during those six months he continues to perform as he has up till now, which is all we have to go on to try and predict what might happen. I'd suggest the more pertinent question would be: what's to say he WILL still be worth then what he is now? At least currently some clubs can still see potential in him. Another six months on a fast track to nowhere and that may very well change for the worse.
[/quote]
He's been shit for ages though JJ, and we're still receiving decent bids for him. The fact is, he's young, and as we've seen in this thread, much of his ineptitude can be (rightly or wrongly) explained away by pointing the finger at Benitez. I don't see how another six months of fleeting appearances will affect his reputation when he's been playing shit for a year and half. Managers who think they can turn him around now will still be there in six months time. So long as he gets another couple of goals for the highlight reel I expect he'll still fetch a decent fee.
More to the point however, Benitez's primary concern is with achieving a top four place this season (and presumably preserving his job), so if he's not going to get any further assistance from the board, then why would he sell a player who may yet play a part in that?
The notion that Benitez should sell for the good of the club only really works if everyone at the club is on the same page. At the moment however, it doesn't look much like they are and I think that breeds an atmosphere of self-interest.
Or he's hoping he has an amazing world cup and sells him to Madrid for 20m.
[quote author=Rouge Penguin link=topic=36813.msg1029646#msg1029646 date=1262961242]
Or he's hoping he has an amazing world cup and sells him to Madrid for 20m.
[/quote]
or its more likely a dozen other left wingers will impress at the world cup and become available to buy. then what do you think birmingham will opt for? babel will sink like shit to the bottom of the pile of wingers on the market and we'll be lucky to get 5million for him
Or he's hoping he has an amazing world cup and sells him to Madrid for 20m.
[/quote]
or its more likely a dozen other left wingers will impress at the world cup and become available to buy. then what do you think birmingham will opt for? babel will sink like shit to the bottom of the pile of wingers on the market and we'll be lucky to get 5million for him
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=36813.msg1029625#msg1029625 date=1262959616]
[quote author=Cerberus link=topic=36813.msg1029595#msg1029595 date=1262957117]
But why keep hold of a player who you have absolutely no faith in? As a winger or a striker? The injuries argument isn’t really valid considering he'd rather play Aurelio on the left and wash up front when first team starters like Riera, Yossi and Torres are out. I know the money wouldn’t be re-invested in picking up a replacement but at least it would go towards softening the blow on transfer cuts during the summer. It also might give the like of Pacheco a chance or even that young Buchtmann lad. At least they show effort and passion when I’ve seen them play.
[/quote]
Good post.
Del, in answer to the initial question in your last post, I reckon Babel's value would certainly go down if during those six months he continues to perform as he has up till now, which is all we have to go on to try and predict what might happen. I'd suggest the more pertinent question would be: what's to say he WILL still be worth then what he is now? At least currently some clubs can still see potential in him. Another six months on a fast track to nowhere and that may very well change for the worse.
[/quote]
Especially when you take into account he'll be entering into the last year of his contract (i think).
[quote author=Cerberus link=topic=36813.msg1029595#msg1029595 date=1262957117]
But why keep hold of a player who you have absolutely no faith in? As a winger or a striker? The injuries argument isn’t really valid considering he'd rather play Aurelio on the left and wash up front when first team starters like Riera, Yossi and Torres are out. I know the money wouldn’t be re-invested in picking up a replacement but at least it would go towards softening the blow on transfer cuts during the summer. It also might give the like of Pacheco a chance or even that young Buchtmann lad. At least they show effort and passion when I’ve seen them play.
[/quote]
Good post.
Del, in answer to the initial question in your last post, I reckon Babel's value would certainly go down if during those six months he continues to perform as he has up till now, which is all we have to go on to try and predict what might happen. I'd suggest the more pertinent question would be: what's to say he WILL still be worth then what he is now? At least currently some clubs can still see potential in him. Another six months on a fast track to nowhere and that may very well change for the worse.
[/quote]
Especially when you take into account he'll be entering into the last year of his contract (i think).
[quote author=monsieurdantes link=topic=36813.msg1029652#msg1029652 date=1262961829]
[quote author=Rouge Penguin link=topic=36813.msg1029646#msg1029646 date=1262961242]
Or he's hoping he has an amazing world cup and sells him to Madrid for 20m.
[/quote]
or its more likely a dozen other left wingers will impress at the world cup and become available to buy. then what do you think birmingham will opt for? babel will sink like shit to the bottom of the pile of wingers on the market and we'll be lucky to get 5million for him
[/quote]
Not all shit sinks though dantes.
[quote author=Rouge Penguin link=topic=36813.msg1029646#msg1029646 date=1262961242]
Or he's hoping he has an amazing world cup and sells him to Madrid for 20m.
[/quote]
or its more likely a dozen other left wingers will impress at the world cup and become available to buy. then what do you think birmingham will opt for? babel will sink like shit to the bottom of the pile of wingers on the market and we'll be lucky to get 5million for him
[/quote]
Not all shit sinks though dantes.
do you think rafa came to the same conclusion on the toilet this morning and that's why he's had a change of heart?
S
Squiggles
Guest
[quote author=Stu link=topic=36813.msg1029565#msg1029565 date=1262955424]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029460#msg1029460 date=1262946987]
I've stressed before, his off the field activities like Twitter and Rapping have pushed peoples perspective into believing he's in the same category as Degen, Dossena, Voronin, et al, which I don't think is fair.
[/quote]
I would like to think that most if not all of the posters on this site can look beyond that and form an opinion on Babel from watching him play.
I know that my opinion of Babel is based on countless appearances where he contributed fuck all and has nothing to do with his
At the start he used to have an impact when he came off the bench but looked completely useless when he started a game. No problem, I thought, he's young and he can improve that. Then that 'impact sub' tag started to slip slowly. It got to the point where he would come onto the pitch when we were chasing the game and he would do fuck all. No running, no tackling, nothing. I remember one game where he came on at 83 minutes and didn't touch the ball once before the final whistle. His attitude and laziness wouldn't be tolerated at any other club and he would be bombed out.
Like Rosco said, shit or get off the pot.
Play him at every oppurtunity and if he delivers or at least show signs of turning into first team regular, based on merit, then happy days.
We paid £11.5 million for him at the end of the day, we could do with someone who cost a lot of money making it in our starting XI.
If Rafa has actually turned down £10 million quid for him and then plays him in 5/6 games and a scattering of sub appearances between now and the end of the season, I'll be pretty pissed off about it.
[/quote]
Opinions changed dramatically after GKMacca's twittering thread. His rapping was hugely laughed at before then, now it's combined with his 'tweeting' to show he doesn't give a fuck about LFC and he gets insulted more than Voronin and Dossena as a result. I accept that he's more frustrating than some of the other shitcunts who play for us, but that's because he's actually got talent and so we feel more greatly let down when he fails to deliver. But all in all Ryan gets a tough ride on here.
The things you mention are all common themes when discussing Babel, but rarely is the other side mentioned - which given he's an enigma type player is slightly unfair. In that sense I think Luis Garcia is a worth comparison; take a look at his leaving thread, or any thread when he becomes the centre of attention, and you all see a massive sway of opinions, labelling him from 'sublime', 'to hero', to 'inconsistent' & 'rubbish'. And whilst Babel hasn't cut it at the higher levels as Garcia, he has done some notable achievements in his time here; scoring the winner against the mancs, that European goal the other night, etc, and I'm sure there's more from his first season I'm forgetting. But the difference is any Babel thread is usually an insult-fest and not a scale of opinions you would expect, and I don't believe it's just down to performances.
Also, after a promising debut season he was frozen out completely by Benitez in preference for Riera, causing him to stall greatly and perhaps grow frustrated. Last seasons team performances vindicated the decision to a degree, but his lack of game time was still overly harsh given the promise shown.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36813.msg1029460#msg1029460 date=1262946987]
I've stressed before, his off the field activities like Twitter and Rapping have pushed peoples perspective into believing he's in the same category as Degen, Dossena, Voronin, et al, which I don't think is fair.
[/quote]
I would like to think that most if not all of the posters on this site can look beyond that and form an opinion on Babel from watching him play.
I know that my opinion of Babel is based on countless appearances where he contributed fuck all and has nothing to do with his
At the start he used to have an impact when he came off the bench but looked completely useless when he started a game. No problem, I thought, he's young and he can improve that. Then that 'impact sub' tag started to slip slowly. It got to the point where he would come onto the pitch when we were chasing the game and he would do fuck all. No running, no tackling, nothing. I remember one game where he came on at 83 minutes and didn't touch the ball once before the final whistle. His attitude and laziness wouldn't be tolerated at any other club and he would be bombed out.
Like Rosco said, shit or get off the pot.
Play him at every oppurtunity and if he delivers or at least show signs of turning into first team regular, based on merit, then happy days.
We paid £11.5 million for him at the end of the day, we could do with someone who cost a lot of money making it in our starting XI.
If Rafa has actually turned down £10 million quid for him and then plays him in 5/6 games and a scattering of sub appearances between now and the end of the season, I'll be pretty pissed off about it.
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Opinions changed dramatically after GKMacca's twittering thread. His rapping was hugely laughed at before then, now it's combined with his 'tweeting' to show he doesn't give a fuck about LFC and he gets insulted more than Voronin and Dossena as a result. I accept that he's more frustrating than some of the other shitcunts who play for us, but that's because he's actually got talent and so we feel more greatly let down when he fails to deliver. But all in all Ryan gets a tough ride on here.
The things you mention are all common themes when discussing Babel, but rarely is the other side mentioned - which given he's an enigma type player is slightly unfair. In that sense I think Luis Garcia is a worth comparison; take a look at his leaving thread, or any thread when he becomes the centre of attention, and you all see a massive sway of opinions, labelling him from 'sublime', 'to hero', to 'inconsistent' & 'rubbish'. And whilst Babel hasn't cut it at the higher levels as Garcia, he has done some notable achievements in his time here; scoring the winner against the mancs, that European goal the other night, etc, and I'm sure there's more from his first season I'm forgetting. But the difference is any Babel thread is usually an insult-fest and not a scale of opinions you would expect, and I don't believe it's just down to performances.
Also, after a promising debut season he was frozen out completely by Benitez in preference for Riera, causing him to stall greatly and perhaps grow frustrated. Last seasons team performances vindicated the decision to a degree, but his lack of game time was still overly harsh given the promise shown.
[quote author=monsieurdantes link=topic=36813.msg1029670#msg1029670 date=1262963440]
do you think rafa came to the same conclusion on the toilet this morning and that's why he's had a change of heart?
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Haha. Like a eureka moment? If only you had a spot at his next press conference you could ask him.
do you think rafa came to the same conclusion on the toilet this morning and that's why he's had a change of heart?
[/quote]
Haha. Like a eureka moment? If only you had a spot at his next press conference you could ask him.
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