This summer Liverpool supporters were almost unanimous in opposing the manager and his quest to land the signature of Carlton Cole. Fan forums were practically audible in their protests against a player that was deemed unworthy of donning the red shirt. Most were of the opinion that not signing a striker at all was preferable to being lumbered with a Chelsea reject of unfulfilled potential and limited versatility. Now the focus is on the intrinsic potential of the club and two individuals that have left fans far more divided: Ryan Babel and David Ngog.
Ryan Babel, so persistently inconsistent, is the more enigmatic of the two. The price and prominence of the 19-year-old player from Ajax sometimes seems incongruous to his Liverpool performances. He was used sparsely but to devastating effect by Benitez in his first season and perhaps became too comfortable in his role as an impact substitute. How he is a regular for the Dutch national side often perplexes; he sometimes seems more of a fickle than a Flying Dutchman.
But when he turns it on, he can be quite unstoppable. The Champions League has borne witness to various moments of Babel ingenuity, not least the stunner against Lyon last season that brought us so tantalisingly close to progressing. So often he has provided those moments of inspiration that can spark a good team performance. With the ball out of his feet he has a cracking shot and with his pace and athleticism he can leave many a fullback in his wake. It is when he lacks urgency and gets too tangled up with the ball that his game suffers. Hopefully Roy can awaken the “confident and positive” individual that Babel was quoted on yesterday and fulfil the undoubted potential of this still-young player:
“The manager has told me he would like to use me up front more than normal, so hopefully that will give me enough chance to show how much I like that position. I was very pleased to hear this. I have always said my ambition was to play in that position, but at the same time I am very realistic. Fernando is very important for the club and he will always be our No.9, but you know you can also be very important for the club too if you are used well.It will be a long season and we will need every player. Hopefully I can give the confidence and the trust back to the club that they have shown in me.”
Last season David Ngog was the second-choice spearhead of the attack. He should not be used as the scapegoat for what was a ubiquitously dismal effort, but he did manifest many of the problems of the campaign. Far too wasteful with the limited possession we had and impatient with the unfruitful toils of the team, he would often hesitate too long or run at a sea of defenders when we would have benefited far more from simple passes and fluid interplay.
If he is going to develop from being Torres’ understudy, from only coming into contention when the Spaniard is rested or injured, the first thing Ngog must develop in his game is forethought; he needs to constantly keep his head up and read the situation before he is thrust into it. The instinctive movement and positioning is promising, but greater finishing foresight needs to be cultivated by Hodgson and his coaches before Ngog can be consistently relied upon. The way he lashed home the goal against Arsenal is demonstrable of the growing prescience that is necessary for him to improve, something Carragher made reference to the other day:
“We are looking for Fernando Torres to stay as fit as possible but I think David Ngog in the last 12 months is a completely different player, and his start to the season has been fantastic.”
Two unfinished but promising products. Which one do you think is more capable or deserving of the striker role? And in what formation or strategy do you think they should be deployed? Where Babel is more inspiring but transient, is Ngog a better spearhead player with less creative clout? Leave your thoughts below.
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babel, persist wih
ngog in europa league last game looked lost
Babel by miles, leave N’gog to the reserves and the occasional carling cup-game…
Babel for me….ngog looks very lightweight at times, and wasteful too.
Although got to give him props for that goal against Arsenal.
Babel needs more games as a striker, we know he is hiding a hot shot! Even if on the wing needs to keep control when things are not going good for the team,also needs to pass quicker, as he often takes on one, two, three, fou…oh lost it!(I think he is actually better on the right)needs to stay wide (he has shown some good whips from wide positions when he actually stays there!)! Ngog is getting better and just needs to be stronger and stop falling over so easy and should be more confident cos he did his apprenticeship last season!
would love to see babel get a run of games through the middle, no point giving him one game where he runs around like a headless chicken trying TOO hard to impress for fear of being dropped!give the lad a decent run in the team and if he bombs, then he can’t say he didn’t get a fair crack.
I would still like to bring in a quality striker in january and send ngog out on loan (possibly WBA) where he will play every game and gain experience and hopefully a bit of weight!
Ngog is coming along well and has started this season well so keep encouraging him with games. Babel has to be the first choice (ahead of Ngog) as replacement for/alongside with Torres as he’s older stronger and can do real damage when it falls well for him.
In saying that I believe more and more that Babel lacks the ‘footballing brain’ Hansen was going on about re: Theo Walcot. This is why, I believe that Rafa didn’t play him too much or up front of that matter.
Ngog seems more switched on mentally but still has alot to learn.
Play Ngog in Europe and in the odd home game against weaker EPL teams (eg Blackpool) and rely more on Babel when Torres is unfit/rested…
January needs to bring a new top class second striker.
Babel has with out doubt got the greater potential, but far to often he fails to produce what we all know he can and in all honesty has been a major disappointment since joining. Also I know he prefers playing in a central role or as the main stiker but he doesn’t posses the ability to hold up the ball or link the play and therefore is far more suited to using his pace and running at defenders from a wide left/right position and striking from distance. Although in the past I have to admit that I have been one of Ngog’s biggest critics (and still not sure he’s good enough to play for liverpool to tell the truth) but after his start to the season and grabbing himself a few of goals he has to be Roys first choice to partner/replace (when not fit obviously) Torres surely.
babel all the way, he’s better, got pace, skilled, and need games to develop put him upfront and let’s see the flying dutchman unleash!!!
he actually deserves it, Ngog is a good back up he might grow in a fine finisher with time but right now liverpool need strong guys who can make an impact and i think if roy playing the 4-4-2 it’s babel who should be upfront with toress.
give Babel time and chance and sell ngog . Babel is a good player but Benitez never liked him
The worst individual performance I have seen in 35yrs of watching Liverpool was Ryan babel played up front away at spurs first game of last season. He was so lazy it was contemptible…. Thankfully rafa recognised it and subbed him at half time. What annoyed me most was that the lad has bags of raw talent and if his head is straight he could be great. As for wash, well he is developing nicely, is defo lots stronger this season, and will do a good job when called on. In summary if babel is training well and his head is right then I would just play him ahead of wash. They are two big IF’s though!
It is alright to have all the ability in the world but Babel does not even come close to realizing his potential.
Ngog is doing just that he may never be a world beater but gives it his best.
So sell Babel he has had enough chances, and let Ngog develop.
Glad to see everyone has common sense and prefers Babel to Ngog. There is no doubt he is superior by a long distance.
However, Woy will probably do the same stupid thing as Benitez and play Ngog ahead of Babel.
Shoulg be BABEL and not ngog.Roy give chance to BABEL and see the difference from previous years
Babel may have a greater potential than Ngog but he’s lazy as all get up .. i’d rather have a player out there willing to give his all the someone who “might be good….one day” ..
Ngog is by far my choice.
Really its a no brainer Babel all the way. The poor bloke has not been given a decent chance..always coming on for drips and drabs 10 mins here 5 mins there. There is noway a player can perform given those types of minutes. Just look at Torres even he needed a few games under his belt after coming back from injury. Ngog is wasteful , weak and should not be in a Red shirt. Sure he has scored a few goals this year but how many more has he waisted? He is not built strong enough either he gets pushed around far too easily. GIVE HIM A DECENT RUN ROY!!