Ryan Babel

[AnOldBrownie]

how many people at his age regain there form though? I can't think of one.

I know what you're saying...but even losing some of his form...I'd give him a shot over Cav and Knock because I don't think those two players play as well in Scott's system. 

[fulhamben]

how many people at his age regain there form though? I can't think of one.

I know what you're saying...but even losing some of his form...I'd give him a shot over Cav and Knock because I don't think those two players play as well in Scott's system. 

well I agree with that. It's just there will be a transfer fee and probably decent wages, let's go find some young exciting player.

[rebel]

Someone posted this right as he signed with us last time...

Oh God where to start with this.

I currently live in Istanbul and whilst here my local team are Besiktas and I go to see them fairly frequently. For roughly 12 months or so I've wanted this useless waste of space to leave the Vodafone Arena. to say he is piss poor, or has been piss poor, is to talk up his abilities. The Tukish top division is as bad now as any time over the past 10 years or so and clubs are losing players due to FFP.

Over the past couple of months or so, as decent players go (Pepe had his contract cancelled in December from Besiktas), and lesser equipped Turkish players replace them in the team, Babel was fairly in unique in finding himself just dropped due to being fkin rubbish.

All I can say is Besiktas's loss is Fulham's loss. When he signed he was asked that after playing in both the premier league and la liga which one was best he cited the latter because his game was more suited to it than to the Premier league. He is slow, lazy, rarely likes to take a player on (because of the first two), always takes the easy option - rolls the ball back to someone else rather than doing what you want a winger to do and attack a player or space. he does and has chipped in with a goal or two but that is mainly due to playing for one of the better teams here where more chances are created.

I expect him to play well in the first few games - as many new signings do - but then for him to revert to type. Christ, he's awful. Thank feck (as a Besiktas fan) he's gone.

And then Ryan proved to be one of our better players on the pitch while he was here.

Sure, he's old...and sure...for whatever reason it's not working at Gala... for him.    Doesn't mean he wouldn't be a valuable piece to help us stay up.

Again, as long as he's not the only signed attacking option I'd bring him back.

how many people at his age regain there form though? I can't think of one.

We potentially have a better squad, so I expect he will do a better job, age and experience will work in our favour. There are quite a few. 

[AnOldBrownie]

how many people at his age regain there form though? I can't think of one.

I know what you're saying...but even losing some of his form...I'd give him a shot over Cav and Knock because I don't think those two players play as well in Scott's system. 

well I agree with that. It's just there will be a transfer fee and probably decent wages, let's go find some young exciting player.

And I agree with that.   I don't want to go backwards...but I think Ryan is good depth.  He'd probably be ok simply coming in on loan.    If he doesn't earn a starting spot during training, no harm no foul.

[Jem]

He's a very good player. Someone we absolutely should not turn our nose up at. Surprised by that attitude considering how good he was last time and speaks volumes that at his age he can still cut it at international level.

hes had a poor season for Galatassari, plus he's really old. Why should what he did two years ago trump his current ability

Really old at 33! Put your dukes up matey!

[fulhamben]

He's a very good player. Someone we absolutely should not turn our nose up at. Surprised by that attitude considering how good he was last time and speaks volumes that at his age he can still cut it at international level.

hes had a poor season for Galatassari, plus he's really old. Why should what he did two years ago trump his current ability

Really old at 33! Put your dukes up matey!

for a footballer I meant. Plus he will be 34 in December. He's probably even too old for the mls 😂

[Yamus]

Wouldn't thought Scott would contemplate anybody without having him watched or seen videos of him first

[hongkongfulham]

Said so in another thread, but I would much prefer for us to go for someone like Deulofeu.

[AnOldBrownie]

Said so in another thread, but I would much prefer for us to go for someone like Deulofeu.

Well...yeah.  If he's completely recovered I'd take him all day.  Him or Sarr...heck, ask Watford to loan them both. 

I'd sign Ryan, yet also get Deulofeu OR Sarr as well.   Watford might be willing to loan one of them to us.   

[alfie]

An attacking midfielder, winger, whatever- but i thought him outstanding for us, his quality stood out,and he seemed   very fit, and able to fit straight into the side, make an impact, and develop an understanding with the others that  our  expensive pre-season signings seemed to find difficult to do.

Forget his age, he was only playing for us a season ago, and is still playing at a top level.
Should snap his up if we get the chance..

Agree 100%, some of the poster's have a short memory scored 6 goals in 15 games.

Yes but that wasn't last week was it, 2 seasons ago

[Jeroen]

With Khan saying that the soul and spirit of the squad is more important this year, I'm inclined to believe that we will make a move for Babel.

Scott knows him, he knows the club and more important I think several players have tweeted him about coming back when he was in London recently.

[AnOldBrownie]

An attacking midfielder, winger, whatever- but i thought him outstanding for us, his quality stood out,and he seemed   very fit, and able to fit straight into the side, make an impact, and develop an understanding with the others that  our  expensive pre-season signings seemed to find difficult to do.

Forget his age, he was only playing for us a season ago, and is still playing at a top level.
Should snap his up if we get the chance..

Agree 100%, some of the poster's have a short memory scored 6 goals in 15 games.

Yes but that wasn't last week was it, 2 seasons ago

He's not going to cost a lot as a loanee though, no?   That means we can still purchase or loan a younger attacking player (like a Sarr or Deulofeu) and still have Ryan's experience.

He could be our new Kmac (who I don't expect to be with the squad next season)

[Whitestone]

Babel impressed me immensely in that nightmare relegation season. To be honest I really didn't expect much from him but despite our poor season he really was a pleasure to watch. He showed a passion and determination to fight for the cause along with a great skill level. If he can still perform at the levels of just 15 months ago he must be worth considering. Most of the players have worked with him and with such a short close season he would surely fit in to the squad very easily. I guess Scott Parker knows whether he wants him or not. Let's wait and see.

[Statto]

It's the sort of signing we made the in the last years of the MAF era. No thanks.

[YankeeJim]

I thought Babel played well when getting those thru balls from Johnny Haynes but he might be a tad grey for service in 2020.

[ffccornwall]

Babel impressed me immensely in that nightmare relegation season. To be honest I really didn't expect much from him but despite our poor season he really was a pleasure to watch. He showed a passion and determination to fight for the cause along with a great skill level. If he can still perform at the levels of just 15 months ago he must be worth considering. Most of the players have worked with him and with such a short close season he would surely fit in to the squad very easily. I guess Scott Parker knows whether he wants him or not. Let's wait and see.

+1

[Twig]

I might be in the minority but sadly it's a no from me. He was superb two years ago but he will be 34 in 4 months time. As Statto points out it's the sort of signing of the latter MAF days.

[FFC1987]

I might be in the minority but sadly it's a no from me. He was superb two years ago but he will be 34 in 4 months time. As Statto points out it's the sort of signing of the latter MAF days.

I don't think this is at all to be honest. He's still playing at the very top level, it would be a short term deal and a player who knows the set up, the team and would be relatively cheap. His experience alone would be great in a position we already have ample people in albeit, he'd still be an upgrade. Really surprised a short term loan like this has people saying no really.

[fulhamben]

I might be in the minority but sadly it's a no from me. He was superb two years ago but he will be 34 in 4 months time. As Statto points out it's the sort of signing of the latter MAF days.

I don't think this is at all to be honest. He's still playing at the very top level, it would be a short term deal and a player who knows the set up, the team and would be relatively cheap. His experience alone would be great in a position we already have ample people in albeit, he'd still be an upgrade. Really surprised a short term loan like this has people saying no really.

i don't think I've ever heard anyone class the Turkish league as a top level. And yes he might have been playing in it, but by all accounts he was playing very badly in it

[Statto]

I might be in the minority but sadly it's a no from me. He was superb two years ago but he will be 34 in 4 months time. As Statto points out it's the sort of signing of the latter MAF days.

I don't think this is at all to be honest. He's still playing at the very top level, it would be a short term deal and a player who knows the set up, the team and would be relatively cheap. His experience alone would be great in a position we already have ample people in albeit, he'd still be an upgrade. Really surprised a short term loan like this has people saying no really.

"short-term deal"
"relatively cheap"
"experience"

When Jol went to MAF to approve his signings circa 2012, I expect that most of the time those were the exact words he used