THE Ryan Babel Thread

[dww]

Rafa likes him to come on his right foot from the left though as he has a fantastic shot on him. This skill would be somewhat restricted on the right IMO.

But on the other hand his ability to deliver a ball would be increased. I think his ball skills mean he should be able to perform on either wing reasonably well. Maybe the left is the best option but at the same time if we had the option of a top left sided player I would take them and switch him. To me he is potentially like a Hleb/Rosicky/Walcott type option who could fill anyone of three positions in the team depending on the other available options.

I think Benayoun is a similar type of player but doesn't seem to have what it takes to be a really top player. I like him a lot in many ways but he is an experienced player and he really needed to step up to the plate this season and has only done so occasionally.

[homer1]

I think he has everything in his locker to become a top top player

What I like most about him is how positive he is though & I think we have seen this more as his confidence grows. Yes he gives the ball away and runs down blind alleys at times, however it seems to me he only has one thing in his mond when he gets the ball and that is to drive forward and get a shot away on goal

He gets amazing power from ridiculously little backlift and yesterday nearly all of his shots were on target and forced saves from teh keeper, none of which he could hold

Desperately unlucky not to score earlier when Cahill got a toe in the way but his best performance for us to date yesterday - needs to keep progressing now

[The Barber]

Nice to Babel on about football

Nice to Babel on about football

Mar 3 2008

View From The Stands

by Sean Joseph, Liverpool Daily Post

A BIT of ‘magic’ by Steven Gerrard and ‘Jussi like that’ a difficult away clash turned into an easy afternoon.

Before the Bolton keeper’s Tommy Cooper-esque blunder it looked like being a typical away-day at the plastic Reebok bowl – El Hadji Diouf playing pantomime villain, set-pieces causing havoc and marvelling at Ivan Campo’s hair-do.

But once we went ahead Bolton’s rough and tumble football never looked like stopping the red tide, orchestrated superbly by Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

But it was Ryan Babel who really took the eye and the game to Bolton.

He definitely is a rough diamond and will only get even better. But for some superb goalkeeping and the ultimate air-shot he could have walked home with the match-ball.

He has been wisely used by Rafael Benitez this season. He had initially looked most effective off the bench, using his pace and footwork to outfox tiring defenders.

But he seems to be learning about the English game and his run of starts is justified.

He can still frustrate, but he can come out of Fernando Torres’s shadow and be a real star in his own right.

Three good goals (sort of), three points and things are suddenly looking up a bit.

Amazing! All those words and not a mention of off-the-pitch matters.

Hopefully with the happy Hammers and Kevin Keegan’s Soccer Circus coming to town we might be able to have a full week to talk only about football.

That would be magic!

[ufc43]

He who excites..........

It has been quite a while since a player really got me to the edge of my seat every time he got the ball out wide. Players like Mc Manaman, Barnes, and even Anelka during his brief spell to name but a few. After yesterdays performance I would have to add Babel to that list. I taught he was absolutely amazing. The kind of player we have badly missed. Most wingers have a bit of pace about them but are not always direct with it. Thats what I loved about Babel yesterday.

Setanta commentators were saying things like, just put him on his left foot and hes lost?? I wouldn't agree with that as Babel has ofter gone past defenders down the line (Torres like) and caused damaged. O.K he does like to cut in, but with all good players its one thing knowing what they are going to do and its another thing trying to stop them.

I hope after yesterdays performance, that Babel is encouraged to be as direct in the future. He is a great option out wide and in my opinion he would also do a great job up front. Either way, I'm glad we have him.

[bobbyfallon]

It has been quite a while since a player really got me to the edge of my seat every time he got the ball out wide. Players like Mc Manaman, Barnes, and even Anelka during his brief spell to name but a few. After yesterdays performance I would have to add Babel to that list. I taught he was absolutely amazing. The kind of player we have badly missed. Most wingers have a bit of pace about them but are not always direct with it. Thats what I loved about Babel yesterday.

Setanta commentators were saying things like, just put him on his left foot and hes lost?? I wouldn't agree with that as Babel has ofter gone past defenders down the line (Torres like) and caused damaged. O.K he does like to cut in, but with all good players its one thing knowing what they are going to do and its another thing trying to stop them.

I hope after yesterdays performance, that Babel is encouraged to be as direct in the future. He is a great option out wide and in my opinion he would also do a great job up front. Either way, I glad we have him.

torres and babel up front - pace power finishing = goals = points

great game for the lad. what was that his 8th goal ? not a bad return in his first year so far in fairness

[garymac]

MOTD said much the same thing about showing him the line.....easy to say, harder to do when a very quick winger is running at you.

They even hauled the full-back off at half-time cos he was being tortured so badly!

There have been plenty of one-footed players who've made it to the top. A true two-footed player is quite rare.........

Babel

[Joe Le Toff]

Thought he had a very good game yesterday, rough, yes without a doubt, but theres enough potential there to suggest we have a top class player in a year or 2.

[cled the red]

MOTD said much the same thing about showing him the line.....easy to say, harder to do when a very quick winger is running at you.

They even hauled the full-back off at half-time cos he was being tortured so badly!

There have been plenty of one-footed players who've made it to the top. A true two-footed player is quite rare.........

Babel

Thierry Henry had a great left foot didn't he??!!

[Pablo]

He's really come on since we changed to the dutch style 4-3-3 formation that he is more used to.

In fact I think part of the reason we have switched to that formation is for the benefit of Babel which says a lot about how highly Rafa rates him.

[Kenneth]

First three I expect us to win and I'll settle for a draw in Milan. Setanta Ireland are showing the Newcastle game next Saturday.

A 1-0 defeat in milan would do me.

[Johnny]

He's really come on since we changed to the dutch style 4-3-3 formation that he is more used to.

In fact I think part of the reason we have switched to that formation is for the benefit of Babel which says a lot about how highly Rafa rates him.

So rafa is a genius.

[Marky]

BABEL PROMISES MORE 'BEAUTIFUL' DISPLAYS

Ryan Babel today promised to follow up his best Liverpool display to date with even more 'beautiful' performances.
The Dutchman scored a fine goal in what was his first full 90 minutes in the Premier League against Bolton on Sunday.

Babel's wingplay was so good it prompted Trotters boss Gary Megson to substitute right-back Gretar Rafn Steinsson after just 42 minutes.

But despite being satisfied with his own performance, the 21-year-old insisted there was more to come from both him and the team.

He said: "I think that was one of my better games for Liverpool and I felt more confident as the game went on.

"I still think I will improve some more though because I am still getting used to football in this country.

"The game is a lot more physically demanding here than I was used to in Holland but I feel I am much stronger now compared to the beginning of the season.

"I am not where I want to be just yet but hopefully soon I will find my level and I can play beautiful football for Liverpool.

"But the most important thing was the performance of the team.

"We trained really well in the week leading up to the Bolton game and we took the confidence from that into this match."

Babel followed up what was his eighth goal of the season with an impressive somersault celebration – but it's not something he intends to make a habit of.

"I'm very happy with the goal because it was important that we scored the second to kill the game, so I am grateful for that," he said.

"We kept pushing forward for the second and I always felt it would come, even though Jaaskelainen made some fantastic saves.

"So when I scored my goal I was really happy and that was why I celebrated like I did.

"But I won't be doing it all the time. I will save it for the special moments."



Keep it going lad.

[Guest]

BABEL PROMISES MORE 'BEAUTIFUL' DISPLAYS

Ryan Babel today promised to follow up his best Liverpool display to date with even more 'beautiful' performances.
The Dutchman scored a fine goal in what was his first full 90 minutes in the Premier League against Bolton on Sunday.

Babel's wingplay was so good it prompted Trotters boss Gary Megson to substitute right-back Gretar Rafn Steinsson after just 42 minutes.

But despite being satisfied with his own performance, the 21-year-old insisted there was more to come from both him and the team.

He said: "I think that was one of my better games for Liverpool and I felt more confident as the game went on.

"I still think I will improve some more though because I am still getting used to football in this country.

"The game is a lot more physically demanding here than I was used to in Holland but I feel I am much stronger now compared to the beginning of the season.

"I am not where I want to be just yet but hopefully soon I will find my level and I can play beautiful football for Liverpool.

"But the most important thing was the performance of the team.

"We trained really well in the week leading up to the Bolton game and we took the confidence from that into this match."

Babel followed up what was his eighth goal of the season with an impressive somersault celebration – but it's not something he intends to make a habit of.

"I'm very happy with the goal because it was important that we scored the second to kill the game, so I am grateful for that," he said.

"We kept pushing forward for the second and I always felt it would come, even though Jaaskelainen made some fantastic saves.

"So when I scored my goal I was really happy and that was why I celebrated like I did.

"But I won't be doing it all the time. I will save it for the special moments."



Keep it going lad.

Come again Sydney eh ?

[DomL]

He is showing more and more signs of the player i have seen at Ajax and at under twenty one level.

He did well yesterday because we were using a more breaking tactic that suits him well mainly from his Ajax days again, t still does need alot of work in terms of practice and organisation, but the signs are their that he can adapt his game to beng in a rigid formation when we are soaking up the pressure.

I hope Rafa will look at having the three in the middle in a much tighter group with the full backs looking to get on ahead as wingers really, then the three in the middle swaping sides and possitions with pace if we are looking to dominate the play in terms of passing and creation.

But it would also work when we are the counter with e to four pacy players coming through the flanks and the middle swaping sides and posstions.

It would be total football and lovely to watch the players like Kuyt and Carragher cant be used in the system especially in the areas the areas they played on sun, it needs pace and alot of passing ability.

I can really see this side developing now and with a couple more additions and a injury free season to our defence we really could make a ****ing good team.

[Roboklopp]

A 1-0 defeat in milan would do me in of heart attack.