Liverpool FC Forum

[Effes]

I really dont get why people think players can only play in a specific role,
as thought football is an exact science.
Ray Kennedy would never have changed from striker to midfielder if that was the case.

Babel could be played up front, wide left and wide right - in my opinion.

[account deleted by request]

I really dont get why people think players can only play in a specific role,
as thought football is an exact science.
Ray Kennedy would never have changed from striker to midfielder if that was the case.

Babel could be played up front, wide left and wide right - in my opinion.

The reason is MOST footballers CAN only play one role, for every Kennedy there are 50 more footballers who don't play as well in a different position.

Always remembering that Kennedy didn't just move to that position and start playing great. He LEARNED how to play that position playing in the reserves, before being brought back to the first team.

Same with Carra playing full back, if you read his book he had to be taught how to play that role.

[stmichael]

To be honest I've lost count of the number of players who've been ruined at Liverpool over the last 18 years through being dropped and rotated (Berger was a good example, starts brilliantly then gets dropped for Leonhardsen).

I'm a fan of Babel, but it's genuinely impossible to tell whether he's stalled through not being played, or he's not being played because he's not performing in training.

[Petar]

:D Ah well at least I tried to have a sensible conversation with the bloke. All about opinions though at the end of the day, and he's as entitled to his as everyone else I guess  .

Sounds like you've got a stalker, mate, as he mentions you in another post.  He mustn't have paid close attention when he was lurking, though, because in all your 2834747474 posts, I've never seen you once say "I cannot decide." 

He didn`t say it exactly(you should think a bit more),but like his all posts about players,he did the same thing talking about Babel.
He don`t track back,he has awful first touch,bad decision making,but on the other hand,he is great in some things blablablabla...
He don`t want to make mistake he made with Kuyt,so he don`t want to slag Babel,but he will be good for him only after he wins golden boot. If he can`t see that Ryan is fantastic player with stubborn coach,he knows fukc all about this game. End of the story. Mark my words,Babel will be better than C Ronaldo for him after someone actually give him  40 starts per season,hahahaha

[Effes]

I really dont get why people think players can only play in a specific role,
as thought football is an exact science.
Ray Kennedy would never have changed from striker to midfielder if that was the case.

Babel could be played up front, wide left and wide right - in my opinion.

The reason is MOST footballers CAN only play one role, for every Kennedy there are 50 more footballers who don't play as well in a different position.

Always remembering that Kennedy didn't just move to that position and start playing great. He LEARNED how to play that position playing in the reserves, before being brought back to the first team.

Same with Carra playing full back, if you read his book he had to be taught how to play that role.

I get what you're saying S@int.
Im never one for waffling about football, but I'll just clarify.

Babel is being played on the left when he ever gets playing time.
I dont think playing on the right is gonna take a great amount of adjustment i.e. I think he could be played
there in a Premiership game without too much difficulty.

For example, Saturdays game, he could use his pace on the counter attack.

Up front - I would never put him there ahead of Torres or Keane, but if we had to choose between him
and Ngog (like against W Ham) - then I'd play him there.

When Ray Kennedy was learning his trade in the reserves I was
still sucking dummies - so I stand corrected there.

But Babel plays for the Dutch National side - surely he has the competence to play at a fairly competent
level in these positions, but not as a specialist.

[Bad Bob]

If he can`t see that Ryan is fantastic player with stubborn coach,he knows fukc all about this game. End of the story. Mark my words,Babel will be better than C Ronaldo for him after someone actually give him  40 starts per season,hahahaha

You, my friend, are comedy gold. Consider your words marked...I await the day when the footballing world acclaims Babel a better player than Christiano Ronaldo. 

[Fo Dne]

I get what you're saying S@int.
Im never one for waffling about football, but I'll just clarify.

Babel is being played on the left when he ever gets playing time.
I dont think playing on the right is gonna take a great amount of adjustment i.e. I think he could be played
there in a Premiership game without too much difficulty.

For example, Saturdays game, he could use his pace on the counter attack.

Up front - I would never put him there ahead of Torres or Keane, but if we had to choose between him
and Ngog (like against W Ham) - then I'd play him there.

When Ray Kennedy was learning his trade in the reserves I was
still sucking dummies - so I stand corrected there.

But Babel plays for the Dutch National side - surely he has the competence to play at a fairly competent
level in these positions, but not as a specialist.

Moving from one side of the pitch to the other is one of the hardest things to do in football, as is changing a position. For examples, Overmars and Pires where both right footed players but performed much better from the left wing. So assuming just because Babel's a right footed left sided midfielder he can play on the right is incorrect.

I myself (although on a completely different level admittedly) am right footed but have always prefered the left side of the pitch.

There are alot of reasons for this.

One I used to find was positioning myself readily for the ball and planning what I want to do when I recieve it. I always feel from the left like I can position myself better and use more of the pitch, where as from the right I feel like my only option is down the line.

Also in terms of dribbling, coming inside someone from the right wing is the easier of the two sides to go past a player unless you are blessed with Aaron Lennon like pace, however, from the left, you're still going inside a player but because of the position on the pitch you are effectively going outside them.

In terms of getting your baring and awareness people always have a strong side and a weak side and its not always what foot you are. I often spot things to left much better than my right on a football pitch.

Obviously, I'm speaking in terms of a Sunday league player here but It does apply at all level's to a differing degree.

If you also have a player who's been playing in a position since he's been 12 or so, then the habbits are already there and are neigh on impossible to change.

Its also a common thing that is wrong with the game at all level's. Players get moved out of position to make up for teammates lack of ability or to disguise weaknesses or because some smart coach thinks they can do better in a foreign position.

For example when I was at Whiston when I was 11, there was a lad called Neil Fitzhenry, he scored 157 goals in a season, was obviously signed up by Wigan, then some bright spark decided to play him at centre half... WHY? The lad scored more goals than Ian Rush and Michael Owen at that age so why change his position? End result anyway, he's now nowhere to be seen. Shows what the coaches at Wigan know really doesn't it.

[account deleted by request]

I really dont get why people think players can only play in a specific role,
as thought football is an exact science.
Ray Kennedy would never have changed from striker to midfielder if that was the case.

Babel could be played up front, wide left and wide right - in my opinion.

The reason is MOST footballers CAN only play one role, for every Kennedy there are 50 more footballers who don't play as well in a different position.

Always remembering that Kennedy didn't just move to that position and start playing great. He LEARNED how to play that position playing in the reserves, before being brought back to the first team.

Same with Carra playing full back, if you read his book he had to be taught how to play that role.

I get what you're saying S@int.
Im never one for waffling about football, but I'll just clarify.

Babel is being played on the left when he ever gets playing time.
I dont think playing on the right is gonna take a great amount of adjustment i.e. I think he could be played
there in a Premiership game without too much difficulty.

For example, Saturdays game, he could use his pace on the counter attack.

Up front - I would never put him there ahead of Torres or Keane, but if we had to choose between him
and Ngog (like against W Ham) - then I'd play him there.

When Ray Kennedy was learning his trade in the reserves I was
still sucking dummies - so I stand corrected there.

But Babel plays for the Dutch National side - surely he has the competence to play at a fairly competent
level in these positions, but not as a specialist.

Yeah I think thats a fair enough comment mate. I just get the feeling that rather than letting players do what they do best (and why they were successful in the first place) Rafa seems to have specific and set ideas, and they have to play as he wants them to. I am not saying he is wrong, but it makes it more difficult for players to adapt.

[RedEire]

Would also like to see Babel be given a start eup front or at least left mid.  The lad certainly has some skill and is definitely a better player than either Ngog or El Zhar.  The reasons for him not getting a fair crack must be something to do with how he is doing in training as compared to Benayoun or other two lads mentioned above.  This is the only explanation i can come up to explain why he is only get a few mins (if at all) in recent games.  As has been said before Rafa has proven that he is very stubborn and perhaps has he mind made up with Babel.  However back to the topic, Babel, if he doesnt start on Saturday or against Hull the following week, i can def. see him going in the January transfer window - why stick around if you are not even going to be given a chance to play - which he hasnt up to now.

[Effes]

I get what you're saying S@int.
Im never one for waffling about football, but I'll just clarify.

Babel is being played on the left when he ever gets playing time.
I dont think playing on the right is gonna take a great amount of adjustment i.e. I think he could be played
there in a Premiership game without too much difficulty.

For example, Saturdays game, he could use his pace on the counter attack.

Up front - I would never put him there ahead of Torres or Keane, but if we had to choose between him
and Ngog (like against W Ham) - then I'd play him there.

When Ray Kennedy was learning his trade in the reserves I was
still sucking dummies - so I stand corrected there.

But Babel plays for the Dutch National side - surely he has the competence to play at a fairly competent
level in these positions, but not as a specialist.

Moving from one side of the pitch to the other is one of the hardest things to do in football, as is changing a position. For examples, Overmars and Pires where both right footed players but performed much better from the left wing. So assuming just because Babel's a right footed left sided midfielder he can play on the right is incorrect.

I myself (although on a completely different level admittedly) am right footed but have always prefered the left side of the pitch.

There are alot of reasons for this.

One I used to find was positioning myself readily for the ball and planning what I want to do when I recieve it. I always feel from the left like I can position myself better and use more of the pitch, where as from the right I feel like my only option is down the line.

Also in terms of dribbling, coming inside someone from the right wing is the easier of the two sides to go past a player unless you are blessed with Aaron Lennon like pace, however, from the left, you're still going inside a player but because of the position on the pitch you are effectively going outside them.

In terms of getting your baring and awareness people always have a strong side and a weak side and its not always what foot you are. I often spot things to left much better than my right on a football pitch.

Obviously, I'm speaking in terms of a Sunday league player here but It does apply at all level's to a differing degree.

If you also have a player who's been playing in a position since he's been 12 or so, then the habbits are already there and are neigh on impossible to change.

Its also a common thing that is wrong with the game at all level's. Players get moved out of position to make up for teammates lack of ability or to disguise weaknesses or because some smart coach thinks they can do better in a foreign position.

For example when I was at Whiston when I was 11, there was a lad called Neil Fitzhenry, he scored 157 goals in a season, was obviously signed up by Wigan, then some bright spark decided to play him at centre half... WHY? The lad scored more goals than Ian Rush and Michael Owen at that age so why change his position? End result anyway, he's now nowhere to be seen. Shows what the coaches at Wigan know really doesn't it.

Appreciate the explanation Stu, but I emphasised competent.

It's quite often wingers switch.

Disclaimer: I know that maybe coaches may only do this with wingers who have lots of experience on both wings.
Is Robben totally sh!te on the left wing??? Or capable of being
competent?

But then again, asking a player like Babel to play on the right
shouldnt be too demanding when all is asked is a competent performance in that position.
I mean, surley he can offer a different and maybe more threat
than Kuyt?

[bigmick]

:D Ah well at least I tried to have a sensible conversation with the bloke. All about opinions though at the end of the day, and he's as entitled to his as everyone else I guess  .

Sounds like you've got a stalker, mate, as he mentions you in another post.  He mustn't have paid close attention when he was lurking, though, because in all your 2834747474 posts, I've never seen you once say "I cannot decide." 

He didn`t say it exactly(you should think a bit more),but like his all posts about players,he did the same thing talking about Babel.
He don`t track back,he has awful first touch,bad decision making,but on the other hand,he is great in some things blablablabla...
He don`t want to make mistake he made with Kuyt,so he don`t want to slag Babel,but he will be good for him only after he wins golden boot. If he can`t see that Ryan is fantastic player with stubborn coach,he knows fukc all about this game. End of the story. Mark my words,Babel will be better than C Ronaldo for him after someone actually give him  40 starts per season,hahahaha

Oh dear.

I can't help thinking you've got me confused with someone else here. Boring? yep (or at least quite a few on here say so ), repetitive? definately, analytical? you got me. A fence sitter though?   

It appears to me that you're obviously a re-incarnation of somebody else who spends lots of time on here or did previously. The bit they always get wrong though when they change their identity, is they never change the personality traits, the foibles, the imperfections.

I know it's early, but I thnik you are a at best a wind-up, at worst an idiot 

[Petar]

If he can`t see that Ryan is fantastic player with stubborn coach,he knows fukc all about this game. End of the story. Mark my words,Babel will be better than C Ronaldo for him after someone actually give him  40 starts per season,hahahaha

You, my friend, are comedy gold. Consider your words marked...I await the day when the footballing world acclaims Babel a better player than Christiano Ronaldo. 

hahahaha,I said for this Mick lik,it says Babel will be better for him. Because he can see only obvious things

[Petar]

I was never on this forum,never,ever. But if you don`t want to argue,ok. But didn`t you said once `ok,we slagged him including myself,but he seems to raise his form`-about Kuyt? What raising form,he was always player with no vision,but hardworker...

And that funny decision making thing... Never answered me,are Carrick,Scholes,Giggs,Ferdinand,Vidic,Hargreaves better in decision making than Ronaldo? Are Benny,Arbeloa,Xabi,Riera,Keane,Kuyt better than Babel in decision making. Ronaldo and Babel can do awful things,but they are appreciated because of their football abilities and skills. The difference between those two is that some managers aren`t afraid to put players that don`t track back,but are cracking footballers,and the others just put cautios and safer option.

[Bad Bob]

I was never on this forum,never,ever. But if you don`t want to argue,ok. But didn`t you said once `ok,we slagged him including myself,but he seems to raise his form`-about Kuyt? What raising form,he was always player with no vision,but hardworker...

And that funny decision making thing... Never answered me,are Carrick,Scholes,Giggs,Ferdinand,Vidic,Hargreaves better in decision making than Ronaldo? Are Benny,Arbeloa,Xabi,Riera,Keane,Kuyt better than Babel in decision making. Ronaldo and Babel can do awful things,but they are appreciated because of their football abilities and skills. The difference between those two is that some managers aren`t afraid to put players that don`t track back,but are cracking footballers,and the others just put cautios and safer option.

Let's clear this up once and for all, lad.  Babel is not nor will he ever be in the same league as Ronaldo--who makes great decisions, BTW.  The comparison is daft and does Babel no credit whatsoever so why persist with it?

You think Babel's a cracking player who is being hindered by Benitez and that's your prerogative.  I think he's a decent but ultimately limited player who may never have the mentality or game intelligence to make an impact at a top club.  Wildly divergent views and that's the beauty of discussion forums but let's keep it realistic, eh?  Babel's not in the same stratosphere as Ronaldo in terms of talent and we both know it. 

[Number 9]

I was never on this forum,never,ever. But if you don`t want to argue,ok. But didn`t you said once `ok,we slagged him including myself,but he seems to raise his form`-about Kuyt? What raising form,he was always player with no vision,but hardworker...

And that funny decision making thing... Never answered me,are Carrick,Scholes,Giggs,Ferdinand,Vidic,Hargreaves better in decision making than Ronaldo? Are Benny,Arbeloa,Xabi,Riera,Keane,Kuyt better than Babel in decision making. Ronaldo and Babel can do awful things,but they are appreciated because of their football abilities and skills. The difference between those two is that some managers aren`t afraid to put players that don`t track back,but are cracking footballers,and the others just put cautios and safer option.

You are absolutely deluded fella!
I think Mick is right,you are a WUM or another re-incarnated soul.Maybe even a successful escapee from newkit scrubs.
If you actually DO think Babel is or ever will be even comparable in any sense to Ronaldo you're off yer head!

It was you that said earlier that Babel could be a better player...right?
I and every other LFC fan alive would love nothing more than that to be true...but its not.In fact its Fu*king hilarious to think that someone could say that and actually believe it!
WISE UP!