QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Jul 23 2010, 10:41 PM)

Babel just isn't a talented footballer.
He's tall and quick, so throughout his youth days he could just beat people with either speed or strength. Now he actually has to have some sort of footballing ability he's failing badly.
Those criticisms are pretty fair to some degree... but I think he's better than you're giving him credit for. He fell out of favor with Rafa (shocking, half the team does this each year) and his game stagnated. He's pacey and has
a fantastic long shot.
He profiles like a decent secondary striker, but I'd have reservations. Basically:
-He disappears for long periods during a game
-He's maddeningly inconsistent
-Although he's pretty big and fast I don't know that he really
likes to play physical enough to fit well in the Italian game. Seems like a guy who Italian defenders could get out of his game very easily and quickly
-I've never really seen him use his head well (I do watch a decent amount of Liverpool)
-Not seen as a hustle player/sometimes seems to dog it
-For a supposedly creative player his tricks and moves don't work all that often.
-I don't think he's worth giving up Huntelaar
He's young and pretty talented though... and its hard to tell how much of his poor form was Rafa related (ie not playing enough nor being put in the right fit/position to succeed) and how much was what kurtsimonw said above. Rafa spent a lot of money each year at LFC... and each year he would end up hating half the signings 3 months into the season. Babel never really was given a nice stretch of starts to get in a groove and get comfortable. It started off as Rafa breaking him in slowly... then just continued. Used almost always as a sub & usually came in a the 60'-70' mark. I do see the appeal... especially from what I'm hearing about Allegri's preferred style.
On that point - football-lineups.com has him running a 4-3-1-2 most of the time (this was mentioned above):
http://www.football-lineups.com/team/Cagli...08-2009/fixtureSeems like a good fit for the personnel Milan currently has. Probably a big reason he got hired...
QUOTE (Fishdoll @ Jul 23 2010, 10:49 PM)

This fish would consider the other dutch striker who plays for the dirtyrottenscousers.
Kuyt would be a fantastic fit in Milan, I agree. Heady player and he works best in spaces no one else on the current team seems to. I don't think Hodgson is any rush to sell him, though. They are trying to raise enough money to afford Loic Remy... so maybe...