IMPROVEMENT NEEDED

[Nebbiolo]

If you look back to what iv wrote, iv said at least 3 times i think he's good on the ball!! Its everything else he can't do. pass,head,tackle an most of all his first touch is the worst iv ever seen.

Have you ever really watched him for 90m?? Oh no sorry he never gets a full game. Wonder why!! An his reading of the game is poor. Full backs always pass him, the r/s lose plenty of goals from his side.

Right now, he's just not good. IMO

I have seen him on TV only, but have been impressed. As TB said, he's usually out on the left and for right-footer to still pop up, often off the bench, and knock in 10 or so goals is pretty impressive. Imagine someone with his technical ability playing through the centre.

Okay, he's not the polished end product but at 21 years old, very few people are.

 

[zero]

I have seen him on TV only, but have been impressed. As TB said, he's usually out on the left and for right-footer to still pop up, often off the bench, and knock in 10 or so goals is pretty impressive. Imagine someone with his technical ability playing through the centre.

Okay, he's not the polished end product but at 21 years old, very few people are.

He should be given a chance in his natural position alongside Torres.

Cracking player to have in the middle but I agree with sharpy I think he's hopeless out wide as he doesn't do enough defensively as a wideman.

 

[Chris]

I have seen him on TV only, but have been impressed. As TB said, he's usually out on the left and for right-footer to still pop up, often off the bench, and knock in 10 or so goals is pretty impressive. Imagine someone with his technical ability playing through the centre.

Okay, he's not the polished end product but at 21 years old, very few people are.

Babel ain't a bad player. But he is one footed completely. He can't even pass with his right foot.

He doesn't do enough really other than attack down one wing with one foot, easy to force errors from due to his one footedness, hard to defend against unless played properly. An expensive player to put in your team but LPool can do this as they have other players that will make up for where he is lacking.

If he was available for £3-4m I'd take a punt. But he'd have a lot of work to be getting on with on the training ground.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I rememver Branch as a 20 year old. Just like bable. ok with ball at feet running but otherwise [Poor language removed]. I said then he was [Poor language removed] an guess what.........he was!!

Im not a fan of bable, in my eyes he'll never make it a a top footballer. But i could be wrong, But so could you.

Michael Branch and Ryan Babel are hardly comparable. Branch started about 20 games for us over 5 years and never proved himself. I think he scored 3 goals. He's now playing for no one.

Babel on the other hand came through one of the best academies in the world, is capped at every level for his country and was a first choice starter for AJax. He kept Pienaar out the team over there. He's also get medals and trophies that Branch and alot of youngsters could only dream of.

Babel will never be a Ronaldo or someone in that catogary but he is by no means [Poor language removed] and will become a good player. I have no doubts about that.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

I have seen him on TV only, but have been impressed. As TB said, he's usually out on the left and for right-footer to still pop up, often off the bench, and knock in 10 or so goals is pretty impressive. Imagine someone with his technical ability playing through the centre.

Okay, he's not the polished end product but at 21 years old, very few people are.

Dont get me wrong Neb, i see what your saying about age. But i cant talk about what he 'will' be like, only what iv seen so far.

Iv seen hundreds of player that show huge potential as a youngster an never make it. So no point talking about what he might end up like.

Iv seen enough to think their is somethink about him, but that means nothing right now.

An as it stands i think he's quite poor. Especily for 11m.

 

[Nebbiolo]

Looks like I'm getting my head kicked in on the Babel thing.

Luckily, I'm right and you're all wrong.

 

[zero]

Looks like I'm getting my head kicked in on the Babel thing.

Luckily, I'm right and you're all wrong.

 

[McBain]

Im in the PRO HOWARD CAMP but hes a confidence cat and when the chips are down he'll likely not lead. He's no Nige and he's certainly no Nev, but the fact is that Fergie was always looking for his Schmeichel and we are always looking for our Nev.

God like Keepers will do that to you.

For FCC i think the last thing we wanna do is get rid of the Tater. He's bounced around and come good with us so we should repay him with some faith. We need a better free kick taker granted but until one comes along and takes seniority on the dead balls its up to the creamy spaniard. Weve all looked into his eyes Chico, and thought the very same thoughts you naughty, naughty man you.

Johnsons a nice guy, but we should only move him on if we get someone ace, like Owen. Put Owen under the Moyesescope (you like that one!) and he'll come good.

Moyes is apearing Wenger-esque with his ability to get the best from players, moulding their young minds and all.

Babel? You dont pay alot of money for crap, and if he was playing at capacity against us Id be worried. But he's not so Im not, but if he was...Id be worried. He really is a good player, but then again Jags was [Poor language removed] whe he joined us....right...?

Loving this thread too... memorable highlights were Chico's swift defence of the little spanish love muscle and the reference to Cech headf$% from Hunt.

Class. Carry on.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

Im in the PRO HOWARD CAMP but hes a confidence cat and when the chips are down he'll likely not lead. He's no Nige and he's certainly no Nev, but the fact is that Fergie was always looking for his Schmeichel and we are always looking for our Nev.

God like Keepers will do that to you.

For FCC i think the last thing we wanna do is get rid of the Tater. He's bounced around and come good with us so we should repay him with some faith. We need a better free kick taker granted but until one comes along and takes seniority on the dead balls its up to the creamy spaniard. Weve all looked into his eyes Chico, and thought the very same thoughts you naughty, naughty man you.

Johnsons a nice guy, but we should only move him on if we get someone ace, like Owen. Put Owen under the Moyesescope (you like that one!) and he'll come good.

Moyes is apearing Wenger-esque with his ability to get the best from players, moulding their young minds and all.

Babel? You dont pay alot of money for crap, and if he was playing at capacity against us Id be worried. But he's not so Im not, but if he was...Id be worried. He really is a good player, but then again Jags was [Poor language removed] whe he joined us....right...?

Loving this thread too... memorable highlights were Chico's swift defence of the little spanish love muscle and the reference to Cech headf$% from Hunt.

Class. Carry on.

Mcbain, thats the daftest thing you'v ever said on here.

veron...26m
rebrov....11m
shevchenko.....??m
kuyte....11m
koldrup....5m

I could go on all day mate. Everyone buys players for big money who are [Poor language removed].

 

[FCConnecticut]

FC C: Lashing out at Arteta just because they didnt rate an American player smacks of wrongness.

The sometimes sexual Spaniard has carried the team enough times and played through a groin strain for at least 12 years. And you would wouldnt you? Maybe after a couple of eggnogs too many, when you looked into his dreamy eyes.

Dont deny yourself.

I wouldn't say I was lashing out nd I don't deny he is very good, just not special. that's been my beef with him for two years now, I want/expect hinm to be special but I just haven't seen it. His service is very inconsistent and I want someone else lining up over the ball on free kicks, someone who can net it straight away.

So, in this thread that started with the basic premise of why our squad isn't offended that we need better players despite their success Mr Baines pointed out that the lads want to improve, period. So as we scan our line-up looking for weak links I wanted to offer up our fan favorite as a position we can improve on. I don't think a special midfielder would relegate Arteta to the bench but it is precisely that linkage between the midfield and the forwards that we are looking for to improve on.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I wouldn't say I was lashing out nd I don't deny he is very good, just not special. that's been my beef with him for two years now, I want/expect hinm to be special but I just haven't seen it. His service is very inconsistent and I want someone else lining up over the ball on free kicks, someone who can net it straight away.

So, in this thread that started with the basic premise of why our squad isn't offended that we need better players despite their success Mr Baines pointed out that the lads want to improve, period. So as we scan our line-up looking for weak links I wanted to offer up our fan favorite as a position we can improve on. I don't think a special midfielder would relegate Arteta to the bench but it is precisely that linkage between the midfield and the forwards that we are looking for to improve on.

Do we have any special players?

 

[FCConnecticut]

That's my point, I don't think we do. I think Fernandes could become one, Arteta too for that matter and perhaps Yak is pretty special up front but it is in the middle of the field where we need this ace to create that linkage in open play.

Our central D is the closest we have to beiing special now we need to build that thread through the field. Next is the holding mid spot on through to the attacking mid spot.

I'm sure we all like to look at right back as a weak spot and I'd love some taller players at a few positions but what I think DM is trying to get at with a 'splash out' kind of player is a special attacking midfielder who can impose his will on most teams and hold his own against the top 3.

Oh... and enough of the Babel talk, he's a red!

 

[TX Bill]

Wow, talk about throwing a can of gasoline on to a bonfire !!!

Maybe I just caught the matches where Babel played well but I rarely saw a match he was in where he wasn't involved when he was on the pitch. Many times I can recall him flying down the wing (left hand side) with the ball and getting around his marker as well as a few powerful shots.

I'd use him in midfield on the outside and let him do his thing. I would imagine that Yakubu would get some decent service from him as well as clean up with a few extra goals from the havoc he'd create.

I think he'd fit in well with us. But I've been known to be wrong before.

 

[FCConnecticut]

Wow, talk about throwing a can of gasoline on to a bonfire !!!

Not me! Wyness and Moyes are by way of extension saying exactly this which is what the article points out. I'm just connecting the dots. It's worth wondering if it is meant to be slap at Arteta or a wake up call or something.

I fully agree with the assessment that we need a big time and therefore likely expensive, player to get us to the next level. Shrewd acquisitions can only take you so far unless you are lucky enough to uncover the kind of talent that doesn't generally go unnoticed.

Then again, maybe all we need is a healthy Cahill or someone of his ilk and a good right back!

 

[chicoazul]

I wouldn't say I was lashing out nd I don't deny he is very good, just not special. that's been my beef with him for two years now, I want/expect hinm to be special but I just haven't seen it. His service is very inconsistent and I want someone else lining up over the ball on free kicks, someone who can net it straight away.

So, in this thread that started with the basic premise of why our squad isn't offended that we need better players despite their success Mr Baines pointed out that the lads want to improve, period. So as we scan our line-up looking for weak links I wanted to offer up our fan favorite as a position we can improve on. I don't think a special midfielder would relegate Arteta to the bench but it is precisely that linkage between the midfield and the forwards that we are looking for to improve on.

I would say he's special pal, in the past two years you mentioned he has won us many games - he possesses quality that we've been sadly lacking for many years. Unpredictability and class, thats special to me. And to the vast majority of blues I would think too.

For the latter part of the season just gone, he was generally underwhelming - perhaps due to his injury, maybe bad form even. But over the past two years you have mentioned, he has been the most important player to the team and during a large part of that the one player we would look to for something special to win a game.

Anyone consider selling him needs to have a word with themself.