Kewell/Babbel

[D.Boon]

Kewell surprised me yesterday. The game was too fast and too physical for him. Considering he was up against that s****hawk Brown i thought he was terrible. He is normally a good keeper of the ball and we were desperately lacking in that department yesterday. Why did we constantly try to hit Torres and Kuyt whenever we got the ball in our own half? Too predictable especially with Ferdinands pace.

 

Given Babbels recent form and ability to get a goal i was amazed that Kewell came back on in the second half. Babbel created more and really troubled them in his short spell on.

 

 

Will Kewell ever be the influential player we hoped for? i think Babbel is well worth a few games run as a starter.

[vish]

When's Babbel signing?

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

Babel is more of an impact player. He has yet to be convincing as a starter, maybe due to the fact he is being played out of position.

 

A few games upfront with Torres would be great to see.

[Hieronymus Bosch]

Looks like his pace has deserted him. Hopefully that will come with more match fitness.

[D.Boon]

Edited December 17, 2007 by gackwilliams

[Rich Gobey]

Kewell surprised me yesterday. The game was too fast and too physical for him. Considering he was up against that s****hawk Brown i thought he was terrible. He is normally a good keeper of the ball and we were desperately lacking in that department yesterday. Why did we constantly try to hit Torres and Kuyt whenever we got the ball in our own half? Too predictable especially with Ferdinands pace.

 

Given Babbels recent form and ability to get a goal i was amazed that Kewell came back on in the second half. Babbel created more and really troubled them in his short spell on.

Will Kewell ever be the influential player we hoped for? i think Babbel is well worth a few games run as a starter.

 

I think Kewell has done pretty well sonce he came back, he didnt shine yesterday but he wasnt on his own.

 

Babel looks great, I think Rafa's policy of introducing him late in games is paying off.

 

I think we're doing OK with those two.

[D.Boon]

I think Kewell has done pretty well sonce he came back, he didnt shine yesterday but he wasnt on his own.

 

Babel looks great, I think Rafa's policy of introducing him late in games is paying off.

 

I think we're doing OK with those two.

 

I thought the Mancs were deliberately trying to rough Kewell up and succeeded far too easily.

 

Babel imposed himself much more.

[IgPig]

Strong as an ox is Babel.

 

He's not been great most of the time when playing full matches, but has started to really look dangerous when coming on. Gonna be a player.

 

Hope he starts up front on Wednesday

Edited December 17, 2007 by hamstrung

[Rich Gobey]

I thought the Mancs were deliberately trying to rough Kewell up and succeeded far too easily.

 

Babel imposed himself much more.

 

We wont play ManU every week and Kewell had a bad day. I wouldnt throw him out just yet.

[RafaShanks]

Yesterday was a physical encounter.

 

Kewell and Benyoun weren't physically capable of this.

 

Babel and Pennant (injury permitting) would have been better.

[owenthomas]

personally, i felt Kewell s*** out a bit yesterday..

[Coyler]

Yeah, Kewell's ball-retention was woeful yesterday really.

 

When it's good, and it has been since he came back, he still offers something better for the first 60 minutes than Babel does, and it's shape.

[Skillz]

Kewell surprised me yesterday. The game was too fast and too physical for him. Considering he was up against that s****hawk Brown i thought he was terrible. He is normally a good keeper of the ball and we were desperately lacking in that department yesterday. Why did we constantly try to hit Torres and Kuyt whenever we got the ball in our own half? Too predictable especially with Ferdinands pace.

 

Given Babbels recent form and ability to get a goal i was amazed that Kewell came back on in the second half. Babbel created more and really troubled them in his short spell on.

Will Kewell ever be the influential player we hoped for? i think Babbel is well worth a few games run as a starter.

 

Disagree with the bit in bold. For me if we were passing and moving quicker it would allowed Kewell to shine a lot more. Slow movement was our problem yesterday, we never got it going properly and for that we have to give MU credit.

 

Or not if you don't want to.

[lfc003]

Every ball we played in the 1st half was a long hopeful punt up field im not suprised he was poor, That is not what his game is about. I was really disappointed with our tactics yesterday why play Kewell and Benny if our tactic was to hit it long as quick as possible and overpower them?

[Guest Sabre]

He was ok in parts but generally below average. When he did get time and space he was picking out some decent passes. Reminds me a little of Paddy Berger now with the way he is just 'tidy'. A fully fit Kewell would have provided a genuine goal threat yesterday, something Babel had in spades

[CarraLegend]

The only time yesterday that something looked like happening - when Babel got the ball.

 

Thought that shot was going in.

[CaptainXabi]

I really think we need to stop babying our young players. Babel has gotten the customary 5-6 months of easing in. He's almost 21 years old, not 17. He's not going to learn how to be a 90 minute player on the bench or in training. Put him out there, let him be inconsistent for 10 games and find his feet, and then watch him blossom. He's going to gain more confidence from that first time he scores an early goal to put us in command, or scores the only goal in a tight 1-0 match than he is from twelvety substitute goals when we're 3-0 up.

 

I'd put Lucas in the same category.

[alias75]

But some players are better used as subs, Babel at the moment is one of them, coming on when defenders are tired and the games a bit stretched hes perfect for that role. Not sure about Kewell i think hes looked off the pace in most of the games hes played since injury, but because the opposition hasnt been as good as Utd hes been able to get away with it. I may be wrong but i dont think he has that burst of pace to be a top class winger anymore, like Barnsey maybe he'll end his career playing a different position. He still has the touch and quality but has lost that zip.

[Skillz]

I really think we need to stop babying our young players. Babel has gotten the customary 5-6 months of easing in. He's almost 21 years old, not 17. He's not going to learn how to be a 90 minute player on the bench or in training. Put him out there, let him be inconsistent for 10 games and find his feet, and then watch him blossom. He's going to gain more confidence from that first time he scores an early goal to put us in command, or scores the only goal in a tight 1-0 match than he is from twelvety substitute goals when we're 3-0 up.

 

I'd put Lucas in the same category.

 

That's a fair point. Babel deserves a chance upfront now and Wednesday is the perfect time IMO. Lucas needs to start said game. Not sure if he is ready to displace anyone but he should be given time when appropriate.

[Coyler]

I really think we need to stop babying our young players. Babel has gotten the customary 5-6 months of easing in. He's almost 21 years old, not 17. He's not going to learn how to be a 90 minute player on the bench or in training. Put him out there, let him be inconsistent for 10 games and find his feet, and then watch him blossom. He's going to gain more confidence from that first time he scores an early goal to put us in command, or scores the only goal in a tight 1-0 match than he is from twelvety substitute goals when we're 3-0 up.

 

I'd put Lucas in the same category.

Who would he displace for 10 games in a row, bearing in mind that Alonso is coming back any day now? And what about Lucas? Do we experiment with him for the same 10 games or do we bench Gerrard/Alonso/Masch for the ten games after Babel's experiment?

 

It must of necessity be done piecemeal and cleverly. Babel is working out grand and getting a good bit of playing time; I'd love to see us working Lucas in more.

 

(And who in the name of God would give Rafa 10 games' grace if it wasn't working ...?)

Edited December 17, 2007 by Coyler

[Guest RedLegend]

Babel did more in 20 minutes than Kewell did in 70. Harry just got dispossessed and shoved off the ball far too easily. Seems to have lost a fair bit of his pace and zip which I guess isn't surprising after his run of injuries. Don't want to be to hard on him as he's been unlucky but I can't ever see him regaining his old form. He could improve though if he gets a run of games.

 

Babel was our only player yesterday that scared the mancs. Even more so than Torres and Gerrard. He came on got on the ball and was fast and direct. For a second I thought his shot was going to sneak in just inside the far post. His future though definitely is being played more centrally than out wide.

Edited December 17, 2007 by RedLegend

[Frosty Jack]

I can't wait for Torres and Babel to start against some lower opposition so we can see if there's a partnership there, it could be lethal if they developed an understanding.

[muleskinner]

I can't wait for Torres and Babel to start against some lower opposition so we can see if there's a partnership there, it could be lethal if they developed an understanding.

 

Chelsea in the cup this week would do for me.

[Molby]

I think Kewell should have roamed around more yesterday

 

what's best about him is that he can keep the ball; if he couldn't manage an orthodox wing role yesterday then he should have swapped with Kuyt and gone looking for the ball wherever he could

[CaptainXabi]

Who would he displace for 10 games in a row, bearing in mind that Alonso is coming back any day now? And what about Lucas? Do we experiment with him for the same 10 games or do we bench Gerrard/Alonso/Masch for the ten games after Babel's experiment?

 

It must of necessity be done piecemeal and cleverly. Babel is working out grand and getting a good bit of playing time; I'd love to see us working Lucas in more.

 

(And who in the name of God would give Rafa 10 games' grace if it wasn't working ...?)

I don't think it has to be 10 games in a row. We're entering a period of two games per week and I think he should start one per week, not one per month as he is now. In regards to who he could displace, I think Kuyt, Voronin, Benayoun, Pennant (when he comes back) are all fair game.