Kuyt or Babel on the right?

Ok, you pick the starting line up in a 4-4-2 formation and you need someone to play on the right. Riera is playing on the left and you've got Torres and Keane starting up front.. so who would you play on the right, Kuyt or Babel?

Can we have this as a poll please?

Poll Added

To be honest it depends on who we are playing Kuyt offers better defensive qualities and Babel is more dangerous going forward, as I would generally prefer us to be trying to kill teams off I would say Babel.

I thought Kuyt was fantastic on Saturday, are best player on the day and one who works his ass of, no matter who we are playing. However, he is not a winger and Babel is. This is a very tricky one and i will leave the decision to Rafa

Wait a minute. 4-4-2, Keane & Torres up front ... Riera on the left. Assuming we have Alonso and Masch as our two holding midfielders, where does Gerrard go?

Wait a minute. 4-4-2, Keane & Torres up front ... Riera on the left. Assuming we have Alonso and Masch as our two holding midfielders, where does Gerrard go?

He could play on the right side but gerrard is a typ of player wo isn't playing the whole match on the same  side. He changes the sides time and time again playing in the centre i think is the best for the team. But Alonso out of? Or Mascherano? Or changes the system?

There is no simple answer to this as each option has it's advantages. I don't think it's really a case of one or the other but more who, where and when we play a side.

I think babel is more of an impact player ie bring him on when things aren't going to well and he can change a game.

I think babel is more of an impact player ie bring him on when things aren't going to well and he can change a game.

A bit like David Fairclough used to be 

Welcome to the forum karljd 

A bit like David Fairclough used to be 

Welcome to the forum karljd 

thanks Msgerrard always daunting with your first post

I think babel is more of an impact player ie bring him on when things aren't going to well and he can change a game.

Go and find another forum

Joking, welcome


Anyway back on topic, just say either Alonso or Masch is dropped or we are still playing with two wingers.. who'd you play on that right? I would really play Ryan Babel there, if anything it looks like he plays better there then he does at LM!

Babel without question, then bring on either Pennant or Kuyt later.

Poll Added

To be honest it depends on who we are playing Kuyt offers better defensive qualities and Babel is more dangerous going forward, as I would generally prefer us to be trying to kill teams off I would say Babel.

And your a mod now? Good to see that!

thanks Msgerrard always daunting with your first post

Don't be scared...........were dead nice on here  well I am anyway 

Right am going with Rafa on this one and going with good ol' Dirky.

Babel more of an impact player coming off the bench at the moment.

Interesting to see no Gerrard on that poll!

I think Venison got it spot on in the first answer to this topic. Babel for me...offers much more of a goal threat.

babel...

I put JP. He is the only winger we have that can play out there nd therefore his movement is more natural and has the best delivery.

I think Babel as super sub or if theirs an injury then start him because lets face it he cant get through a full match with his stamina.

Kuyt should play out there in CL matches, he can break them up

Yossi, should worse come to worse but usually play him in lower matches like FA and Carling Cup matches and come off the bench should we need him.

Stevie is my absolutely definately last resort. He is too valuable in the middle.

That new signing in January is abit too broad so i stayed clear of it. It could end up being anyone.

Interesting to see no Gerrard on that poll!

I did considered it but I thought he might send the boys around if I suggested it  perhaps that's a debate in its self

And your a mod now? Good to see that!

Someone gave me a minus for this post...

Pathetic person

Someone gave me a minus for this post...

Pathetic person

Stop the boards, a minus! Forget it mate, they mean nothing anyway...unless you REALLY love your rating.

Stop the boards, a minus! Forget it mate, they mean nothing anyway...unless you REALLY love your rating.

I may love you though? Honestly I don't really care, I just want to know who did it so I can do the same to them. Yeah childs play too right

I may love you though?

Sorry to disappoint but i dont swing that way mate

And too right thats childs play

Very different players with different qualities. Therefore they'll play in different situations.

Babel is far more talented, Kuyt is like a man on a mission who gives 100% for every minute of every game.

I'm happy with either. If I had to choose, I'd like to see Babel play on one wing and Riera on the other against the sh*te teams at home, but Kuyt might be a better option in different games.

And there will also be games that Riera sits out and Babel plays on the left.

Same view shared there i think. Babel is a pacey player and therefore he would not be able to last the full game. Also, Kuyt tracks back alot more and this can surely only benefit the team. Tricky pair to choose between but i agree that Babel in some matches and Kuyt in other games and situations depending on how important the game is and if we have to attack or play with a normal mentalilty ( defending or attacking wise ).

Dirk Kuyt works hard but cannot go past players,also Babel never ever plays on the right.For Holland he is played as a striker.Pennant has fallen out of favour and Yossi is not consistent enough,go for a new signing in Jan i think.  

Gone for JP, our most natural winger, can beat people and get a quality cross into the box. Babel needs easing in, because at the moment he isn't having an effect when he starts games. Dirk as Crouchino said in the CL, but also against the rest of the top 4, constant harassment. They IMO are our only real options for the right, but JP is the best there.

I'm going to tell you something.

I'm warming to Kuyt.  Warming big time.

I've been taking a lot more interest in that right wing recently because I feared it was our only weakness in the side.

I thought against Everton Kuyt and Arbeloa worked well together.

If Kuyt could just rediscover that goalscoring instinct then we could be well on the way.

I think Kuyt works his socks off and you could'nt fault him for commitment.

However i feel it's time Babel was given an extended run in the team and right side could just be the spot.

He has pace to burn can beat players and score goals, the only thing he could improve on dramatically is crossing but hopefully that would come with confidence and the only way he's gonna get that is by playing regularly.

I've thought for a long time that Kuyt has been our best option out there. He works hard, he's creative as anything.

As JD said, if re-discovers his goalscoring then no-one can grumble.

The best option is Babel cause he is the only class player from that list.

kuyt runs so much creates space for the man torres and backs up arbeloa
i dont think babel will run as much as kuyt which is what rafa wants
babel has much more qualty but i think the work kuyt puts in is invaluble

I'm going to tell you something.

I'm warming to Kuyt.  Warming big time.

Kuyt i feel is one of the most likeable guys in the team. He doesnt get himself into the public eye for all the wrong reasons, gets his head down and plays amazing IMO, out of position. I think Kuyt's great form since last season (when he played quality on the right then too ) has been a key factor to keeping Babel out of the team.

I have to agree about Kuyt.  Yes, he's frustrating sometimes and technically he's not the best footballer, but his commitment and work rate is second to none.  Over the past few games I have been very impressed with his link up play with Arbeloa, and with Keane and Torres.  He causes havoc against most defences with his never say die attitude and now we're starting to reap the rewards of Rafa's persistance with him.

What lets Babel down I reckon is his stamina and he is quite lazy.  We all know that Rafa likes grafters and thats what Kuyt brings to the team.  As for Pennant, well I still rate him and he's the best out and out winger but I still believe Kuyt is more suitable to the setup Rafa deploys.

I'm going for Kuyt, and Babel as a substitute if the match isn't going well.

Dirk Kuyt is the weakest link, yes he'll run his heart out but his passing, crossing and goal return just sren't good enough for Liverpool FC!

i think pennant sould get a game now

Ryan Babel with Dirk Kuyts workrate and self belief would be unstoppable

Dirk Kuyt is the weakest link, yes he'll run his heart out but his passing, crossing and goal return just sren't good enough for Liverpool FC!

I have to agree with you.
Pennant is the only one who can consistantly put good balls into the box.
He deserves a chance to prove he can do it week in week out.

Ryan Babel is very good player but his crosses do let him down on occassions, but he has a better eye for goal than JP. 

So, a bit long winded, but, my thoughts are Pennant to start with Babel coming off the bench in the 2nd half as an impact player.

That is a hard one to pick, but Benayoun i thought had a great game againest the Mancs. Babel or Kuyt...Kuyt because he works very hard just keeps going.

Pennant is the only one who can consistantly put good balls into the box.

Disagree, Pennant was dropped for his inconsistancy and inability to run at his man.

I think Babel has a fantastic effect from coming on as a substitute in the second half but i think he's just too good not to be a starting player
Dirk Kuyt gets far too much criticism if you ask me
He's not a goal scorer like Torres but he's playing as a winger now, not a striker.
And he does pop up now and then in really important games with really important goals, plus no-one can knock his work rate.
So i would like to see Babel and Kuyt playing left and right wing respectively, with Riera and Pennant on the bench to change things around if necessary.
I,m not really keen on Benayoun as a winger but does seem to have good effect in games against lower table teams when no-one can make the break through, so maybe as a substitute to come on behind the striker/s.
As for a new signing in January, i don't think we need one if we use the players we have right now to good effect...
Well, maybe if we signed Quaresma that would do

Dirk kuyt or Ryan Babel ?  Who are we playing ? surely that makes a massive difference don't it ?

Dirk kuyt or Ryan Babel ?  Who are we playing ? surely that makes a massive difference don't it ?

Good point
In a CL game kuyt is surely one of first people picked for the starting XI
When we are playing teams with slow(ish) defenders it would be Babel
But if it were up to me they would both play

Disagree, Pennant was dropped for his inconsistancy and inability to run at his man.

Funny, thats the 2 of 3 points i'd say he is best at, consistency and runs at his man along with a great ball in. Just doesnt have that heart Rafa looks for and no goal threat (including cutting in, drifting in to set up plays when need be).

Doesnt put a foot wrong but isnt flash like your Stevie G's or Nando's. He is a good player, just no edge that makes him stand out. If he cut in more he would be a much better player.

Funny, thats the 2 of 3 points i'd say he is best at, consistency and runs at his man along with a great ball in. Just doesnt have that heart Rafa looks for and no goal threat (including cutting in, drifting in to set up plays when need be).

Doesnt put a foot wrong but isnt flash like your Stevie G's or Nando's. He is a good player, just no edge that makes him stand out. If he cut in more he would be a much better player.

He can't cut in though Crouchy, his left foot is for standing on and nothing more. If he cuts in he looks lost and has to go back out on his right.

He can't cut in though Crouchy, his left foot is for standing on and nothing more. If he cuts in he looks lost and has to go back out on his right.

I beg to differ. The only match i recall that he hasnt hugged his touch line was against Birmingham last season and look what happened, he was instrumental, pulling the strings from the wing. Had a hand in every thing and really showed what he could do.

Not saying he should be put in the first XI right now but the guy isnt as bad as some think, just deemed to be a knob when he doesnt have the red shirt on.

I don't think he's a bad player Crouchy, just don't think he has a left foot which isn't a bad thing in all honesty. David Beckham is rated the best crosser of a ball in world football by many and he can't kick with his left foot.

If you look at the Birmingham game last season, you'll see Pennant drifting in yes but all on his right. That's all good providing he can always get back on his right, drifting in so often it's more difficult to do it than just staying out wide.

I don't think he's a bad player Crouchy, just don't think he has a left foot which isn't a bad thing in all honesty. David Beckham is rated the best crosser of a ball in world football by many and he can't kick with his left foot.

If you look at the Birmingham game last season, you'll see Pennant drifting in yes but all on his right. That's all good providing he can always get back on his right, drifting in so often it's more difficult to do it than just staying out wide.

I remember this clearly, he switched play 3 or 4 times with his left cutting in and using his swinger as well as one ball which was just cleared that he provided with his left. I dont expect him to have a left peg capable of scoring but its not that bad when it comes to passing it about. Just doesnt do it and its holding him back because all good wingers have that aspect to their game.

Yeah didnt think you thought of him that way. I think if JP cleaned his act up abit he could be in with a shout of cementing a spot in the side. Too bad he cant be arsed because he has talent and shows it when he's called upon, abit of work on and off the pitch and he would silence alot of critics.

Pennant is still our best RM at hugging the touchline and getting the ball in the box.