The Babel Ultimatum

[Modo]

"The thing about Ryan is that for three years here he has not had much of a look-in," said Hodgson.

"He was brought into the club with a lot of pomp and ceremony after winning the European Under-21 championships.

"I saw him play several times because I was working for UEFA at those championships and he was the player who was being chased by clubs all over Europe at that time.

"Since coming here he has not fulfilled that potential, hasn't had the chance to.

"So when there were offers for him (in August) we were prepared to allow him to go down and speak to those clubs.

"But we made it perfectly clear that other things would have to slot into place before we were able to allow him to go.

"The other things we had in mind did not slot into place and now it is up to him to convince me.

"No doubt if, by January, he hasn't succeeded in convincing me that he is the player we need then he will have to accept we will be in the transfer market for a centre-forward once again.

"But at least he has this period of time. He is working very hard, he is very determined to take this chance he has got so that last-minute transfer thing was perhaps something we will all be glad did not come about.

"In the meantime we will have the chance to do our thorough scouting so if money was available (in January) we would be able to look into the situation again."

"I am more than happy to work with Ryan but I haven't seen enough of him," said the manager.

"He came back very late from the World Cup so I've worked with him for three or four weeks and he has done very well, applied himself well and he obviously wants to immerse himself into the type of work we are trying to do - which is very commendable.

"But it is far too early for me to have a strong opinion on him as a player, especially since he has been at the club three years and people have made judgments on him.

"As far as I am concerned it is a fresh start for everyone at the club. It is a chance for him to wipe the slate clean and show what a good player he is and there will be opportunity to do that.

"At the moment I can't ask any more than he is doing but I am not prepared to make any bold statements about him until I know him better and have seen him in some games."

---------------

Will there be another sequel?

 

[Avmenon]

I like that Hodgson is prepared to speak out what has been obvious from the start though.

There's no point keeping a player who hasnt played well, but he's got a chance now.

I don't hold out much hope, not because h has no talent..because I tink he does,but I dont know if he'll ever have the mental ability.

Would like to be proven wrong though.

 

[Farkmaster]

Decent enough way to frame things, but we all know, including Hodgson, that he HAS been given the chance to fulfill his potential.

 

[dmishra]

Also indicates that he sees him as a striker. More of Babel and less of N'gog is perfectly fine with me. I don't want to see him on the wing ever again though. Straight back-up for Torres is what he should be given a chance at.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=dmishra link=topic=41828.msg1172261#msg1172261 date=1284198834]
Also indicates that he sees him as a striker. More of Babel and less of N'gog is perfectly fine with me. I don't want to see him on the wing ever again though. Straight back-up for Torres is what he should be given a chance at.
[/quote]

Ngog has been everything Babel hasn't in terms of his application and desire. N'gog has also steadily improved.

 

[keniget]

This kind of last chance saloon scenario has probably come too late for Babel now (although he may have already been privately told this in the past by Rafa for all I know). I don't think he'll get the opportunity to get a run in the side and really convince Hodgson.

Unless there is some kind of amazing turnaround (which would really please me to see), it looks as though he'll be a goner in January.

 

[Squiggles]

What I disliked about the Benitez regime is players did not appear to know where they stood with the manager.

There appeared to be a gross lack of communication between management and staff, and this can be poisonous in any working environment.

Hodgson has corrected this flaw at Liverpool, and I think it will be important in getting the best out of our younger or more average players.

 

[keniget]

Well, I don't know what went on in the Benitez regime with regards to this sort of thing, but in the specific case of Babel, I think it's probably something that needed to be said (hopefully it has no bearing on the eventual sale price).

Babel himself has often admitted he's failed to live up to the hype and now he's been given a rather public kick up the ass. Maybe it'll do him some good.

 

[RolandG]

Roy has spoken to Babel about his role and Ryan confirmed that he'll get more opportunities in his preferred striking role.

If he comes good then hooray. If not then he is off in January like I mention in the other Babel post.

Its like that if he is sold then we'll recoup most of the fund used to bring him in.

Roy rightly points out that he didn't get much of a look in under Rafa. Now let's see if Babel has what it takes. He seems determined enough. That's a good start.

 

[Woland]

Summary: Everyone has got a clean slate, he's dove everything right, but we'd have flogged the fucker if we could.

Doesn't add up.

 

[Squiggles]

Ha, I think the slate was wiped after we tried to sell him!

Given we've got no money I would have tried to offload him too.

 

[Modo]

I can't agree with the clean slate thing, I mean Riera, Insua etc didn't get a chance.
I'm not saying that they should but...

 

[Squiggles]

The squad needed a clear revamp.

We couldn't afford not to buy anyone, and we had to sell to buy.

Riera and Yossi wanted out anyway, so I doubt they gave a shit and forced Roy's hand.

 

[Modo]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=41828.msg1172320#msg1172320 date=1284205075]
The squad needed a clear revamp.

We couldn't afford not to buy anyone, and we had to sell to buy.

Riera and Yossi wanted out anyway, so I doubt they gave a shit and forced Roy's hand.
[/quote]

Well good riddance then.

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=crump link=topic=41828.msg1172297#msg1172297 date=1284202760]
Summary: Everyone has got a clean slate, he's dove everything right, but we'd have flogged the fucker if we could.

Doesn't add up.
[/quote]

IMO it actually does. Ideally we'll be getting shot of him, so Roy's talking up the merchandise. If in the meantime he suddenly comes good, so much the better - either we keep an improved player or we sell him for an increased price.

 

[ragehard]

let him start all the carling cup games as a striker. make him first choice torres replacement until xmas, whether that be through 20 min sub appearances, starts against weaker teams or when torres is injured.

n'gog can have all the application and hard work in the world but i'd rather give babel a genuine run for a dozen games and then if it doesn't work out we can sell him at xmas.

 

[gene hughes]

I'm far happier with Babel in the last chance saloon than with Carlton Cole in the first chance saloon.

 

[Modo]

[quote author=gene hughes link=topic=41828.msg1172402#msg1172402 date=1284211759]
I'm far happier with Babel in the last chance saloon than with Carlton Cole in the first chance saloon.
[/quote]

Good man.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=crump link=topic=41828.msg1172297#msg1172297 date=1284202760]
Summary: Everyone has got a clean slate, he's dove everything right, but we'd have flogged the fucker if we could.

Doesn't add up.
[/quote]

Reading between the lines...........
Everyone thought he was a good player at one point, he probably isn't as good as was hoped, he seems to be trying now though.
He is still a gamble and one that £9m would have seen off.
Still, as we didn't sell him, lets try and make the best of it , and build he confidence a bit and let him try and prove everyone wrong ,you never know he might prove us wrong. Fair do's Roy

Prediction: We will try selling again in January , we have seen more of him than Roy


regards

 

[dmishra]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=41828.msg1172458#msg1172458 date=1284216578]
[quote author=crump link=topic=41828.msg1172297#msg1172297 date=1284202760]
Summary: Everyone has got a clean slate, he's dove everything right, but we'd have flogged the fucker if we could.

Doesn't add up.
[/quote]

Prediction: We will try selling again in January , we have seen more of him than Roy

[/quote]

That's quite likely. But there's a tiny chance that he might come good if he's given a consistent run, as a striker. No more fucking around and putting him out wide. He doesn't have the skillset of a winger. Give him a shot for 15 games as first-choice back-up to Torres, and see if he makes the most of it. If he doesn't, flog him in January.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

Id rather Fernando doesn't get injured and Babel never has to play.

 

[MaBigTip]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=41828.msg1172508#msg1172508 date=1284221160]
Id rather Fernando doesn't get injured and Babel never has to play.
[/quote]

like button

 

[Oncy]

"The thing about Ryan is that for three years here he has not had much of a look-in," said Hodgson.

"He was brought into the club with a lot of pomp and ceremony after winning the European Under-21 championships.

"I saw him play several times because I was working for UEFA at those championships and he was the player who was being chased by clubs all over Europe at that time.

"Since coming here he has not fulfilled that potential, hasn't had the chance to...........

.......What? Ha ha ha...ME give him a chance? Dont be fucking ridiculous. You dont draw games away at teams like Birmingham if you throw attacking players at it willy nilly"

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=41828.msg1173438#msg1173438 date=1284328363]

"The thing about Ryan is that for three years here he has not had much of a look-in," said Hodgson.

"He was brought into the club with a lot of pomp and ceremony after winning the European Under-21 championships.

"I saw him play several times because I was working for UEFA at those championships and he was the player who was being chased by clubs all over Europe at that time.

"Since coming here he has not fulfilled that potential, hasn't had the chance to...........

.......What? Ha ha ha...ME give him a chance? Dont be fucking ridiculous. You dont draw games away at teams like Birmingham if you throw attacking players at it willy nilly"





[/quote]

babel will get his chance midweek and will drop to the bench for manu regardless if he has a good, bad or indifferent game.

 

[ragehard]

babel is better than wankovich

 

[Oncy]

@ryanbabel 'Last session just me and a keeper'
@ryanbabel 'Giving up my day off for extra training sessions'

ITS BABELTIME ROY YOU SAGGY FACED PALTROON!!

 

[manwithnoname]

If the budgie-faced old bastard doesn't start giving Babel some starts soon, I'm going to saw the legs off his bath chair

See also: dropping Cunt 1 and Maxi

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=41828.msg1173749#msg1173749 date=1284384041]
If the budgie-faced old bastard doesn't start giving Babel some starts soon, I'm going to saw the legs off his bath chair

See also: dropping Cunt 1 and Maxi
[/quote]He does look like a fucking budgie doesnt he? Or some old fucked up kestrel. He wears a suit like an ill fitting gimp costume too, he looks like a fucking krankie.

 

[spider-Neil]

roy talks about babel's lack of appearances in midweek and then at the weekend gives babel...zero minutes.

hopefully babel will figure in europe and put in a decent performance.

 

[Cerberus]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=41828.msg1173751#msg1173751 date=1284384196]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=41828.msg1173749#msg1173749 date=1284384041]
If the budgie-faced old bastard doesn't start giving Babel some starts soon, I'm going to saw the legs off his bath chair

See also: dropping Cunt 1 and Maxi
[/quote]He does look like a fucking budgie doesnt he? Or some old fucked up kestrel. He wears a suit like an ill fitting gimp costume too, he looks like a fucking krankie.
[/quote]