Ryan Babel

[Nicey]

Rafa has said so many times in the past that the best way to utilize pacey players like Babel is to hold them back at the early part of the season and bring them in slowly so that they can be strong towards the end of the season when they are needed most to do damage.

He is bringing him into the season slowly because he wants to build up his fitness and because he knows he can be dangerous late on in games when defences are tiring

Intelligent post mate

[Yozza]

With a little help from above, Babel aspires to central casting

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/nov/15/liverpool-premierleague

Liverpool's thoughtful Dutch forward says he is in a hurry to succeed - and in his favourite role

Abiting November's day on Merseyside. A kettle is boiling in the background and the windows are beginning to steam up as Ryan Babel takes his seat and offers a polite handshake. First impressions? That he seems remarkably unassuming for a star footballer at one of Europe's bigger clubs. But then there is the story of him berating a team-mate - "where's your touch?" - in one of his first training sessions at Liverpool so maybe there is more to him than meets the eye.

He is an intriguing character. Babel is 22 next month, but you could easily think he was younger. He has a boyish, slightly buck-toothed smile and you want to put an arm round him when he explains how, before moving to Liverpool, he had never lived away from his parents and how, 16 months in, he is still trying to find a church where he feels totally comfortable. Babel often carries a copy of the Bible and has a routine before every match where he finds a quiet spot for his prayers.

But Babel is streetwise. He had to be to survive in the Bijlmermeer, the unloved district of Amsterdam where he was brought up. Just click online and watch the videos of him rapping. Babel has a studio at home and has put out a number of records under the name Rio, including one collaboration with his Holland international team-mate Royston Drenthe. His lyrics could make Eminem blush - sample: "you can see this nigga with number 19/I can't even spend all my money/keep your daughter inside or you will be my family" - but the Dutch seem to like it. "The last one was called Eeyeeyo and went to number one in Holland over the summer," he says. "Music has always been an important part of my life."

The Biljmermeer, or colloquially Bijlmer, is a cluster of tower blocks close to the Amsterdam Arena and home to many of the city's 70,000 immigrants from the former Dutch colony of Surinam. "I don't want to use the word 'ghetto' but that is one way people describe it," says Babel. "I was lucky. My parents were very strict and had rules for me and, if ever I was playing outside, I always had a set time to come back in. But the Bijlmer had a lot of problems and I had other friends who chose the wrong road. There were a lot of drugs and crime and when you get into that scene it can be difficult to get back out."

This was also the place where El Al flight 1862, on the way from New York to Tel Aviv and having refuelled at Schiphol airport, crashed in 1992. "The plane came over our flat [he uses his hand to show how close it was] before crashing into the next high block. It could easily have been us." Thirty-nine people from his neighbourhood were killed, along with the three crew members on the plane and the only other person on board, a non-paying passenger. "It's a horrible memory. I was very young at the time [two months short of his sixth birthday] but I can still remember it. There was this almighty bang and when we ran out we could see all the flames and smoke. We were so close to it we had to leave our flat because it was not safe and we ended up at my grandma's. Then, when we were allowed to go back, I can just remember this terrible scene of complete devastation. It was like something out of a film."

His upbringing makes him more interested in real life than celebrity life. Babel is not just an accomplished footballer for Liverpool but a fine ambassador. He has been involved in an anti-racism workshop run by the Anthony Walker Foundation and this week devoted himself to another of the Premier League's Creating Chances events, at the launch of Liverpool's Respect 4 All centre. The project, funded in part by the Premier League Professional Footballers' Association, is for 12- to 16-year-olds with different types of disabilities.

Babel moved easily among the children, starting off with a game of wheelchair basketball before a target-practice routine with visually impaired children and a penalty shoot-out with youngsters with severe learning difficulties. Two hours of what would ordinarily be post-training rest time had elapsed by the time he had finished, but he was happy. "It's always a good feeling if you can make these kids happy. Not everyone has the life they expect but I still think they can make the best of it and, with this kind of centre, we want to help to inspire them."

Babel has sporting genes. His father, Guno, is a basketball coach. His mother, Asta, was an accomplished athlete and his sister, Janice, almost made it to the Olympics as a 100m and 200m sprinter. As fast as her brother? "Close," he smiles.

His own athleticism was first spotted by Ajax when he was 11, although it was not a straightforward process. "They used to have selection days for all the local kids and I went to these trials three times and got turned down every time," he recalls. "On the third time I was so upset because I thought I was not good enough. I was eight years old and I had the feeling, 'That's it, I don't want to play for Ajax any more!' But I kept doing well at my amateur club and, in the end, Ajax came to me."

No community on the planet, per capita, produces more top footballers than Surinam. In their day, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids and Patrick Kluivert - all of Surinamese heritage - could all fit in a world XI. Babel is seen as the latest in a long distinguished line. He made his debut for Ajax shortly after his 17th birthday and, at 18, became Holland's youngest international goalscorer since the 1930s.

He cost Liverpool £11.5m and, in his first season, won their young player of the season award. Yet there are glimpses of frustration. Babel made 20 of his 48 appearances last season from the bench and, since the start of this one, has found himself on the edges even more. Of his 14 appearances, 10 have been as a substitute, making it difficult for him to fulfil the great Marco van Basten's prophecy that he could be "the next Thierry Henry".

"I'm satisfied with my level of performance but the situation is clear - that I'm not going to be one of the regular 11 starters," says Babel. "It's difficult. I do get frustrated. I can tell myself that I'm still only 21 and at the start of my career. But it is making it hard for me because, as time goes on, they keep telling me that I'm young and that my time will come. Well, OK, but I'm not a player who wants to wait. I want to be involved now rather than in three or four years' time."

While Rafael Benítez has used Robbie Keane to partner Fernando Torres, Babel has mostly been employed on the wing. His pace could trouble any full-back, but Babel is a reluctant wide man. "I have always said that I want to play as a striker," he says. "Of course, it would not help me improve if I wasn't able to play, or train, in another position a couple of times. But all the time? I used to play as a striker in Holland. I grew up as a striker. That's the position I want to play.

"But I'm working on it. I look at myself before I blame others. I'm going to do something about it. It's not something I'm scared about." As the children at Respect 4 All know, Babel likes a central role.

[el matador]

I dont think he is the next thierry henry. He definitely isnt a winger and did look decent when he was playing inside in the second half.

He's got time yet but he's going to have to pull something out of the hat fairly quickly.

[Rich]

I'd like to seem him given more time through the middle. It would be criminal if we let such a talent waste away.

[MrMichael]

He needs to step up a bit in his time on the pitch though, better to force your way into the reckoning with consistently vibrant play than mope about not starting.

At the moment he isn't justifying a starting role imo.

[Tatterdemalion]

Have you read his rap lyrics?
Needs to grow up a bit imo.

[el matador]

with babel its not a question of talent because he clearly has it. I think its a question of desire.

To be a top class player you have to have desire to win games and have a steely determination which i dont think he has shown yet. In the second half against spurs he got booked for dissent and that spurred him into action. He needs to be riled beforehand.

Carra needs to slap him a couple of times before the game starts.

[Philosophia]

Wow, I am shocked by the negativity on here. Babel is a good player who is going to be great: there's an excitement every time he gets the ball. And, as the interview suggests, he seems like a decent guy, I certainly don't think he needs to "grow up."

[Robster007]

Wow, I am shocked by the negativity on here. Babel is a good player who is going to be great: there's an excitement every time he gets the ball. And, as the interview suggests, he seems like a decent guy, I certainly don't think he needs to "grow up."

100%

[Shanks]

Ryan Babel admits he is getting frustrated with life at Liverpool.

The Dutch forward has been restricted to bit-part roles this term and has largely made his impact from the substitutes bench.

Babel sprung from the sidelines to score the winner as Liverpool beat Manchester United earlier in the season and also came from the bench to change the game as Liverpool overcame Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final last season.

But a cameo role, or a place on the wing, is not what Babel wants.

He told The Guardian:

"I'm satisfied with my level of performance but the situation is clear - that I'm not going to be one of the regular 11 starters.

"It's difficult. I do get frustrated. I can tell myself that I'm still only 21 and at the start of my career.

"But it is making it hard for me because, as time goes on, they keep telling me that I'm young and that my time will come.

Well, OK, but I'm not a player who wants to wait. I want to be involved now rather than in three or four years' time."

With Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres the preferred strikers at Anfield, boss Rafa Benitez has deployed Babel on the wing, but the 21-year-old prefers to go through the middle.

He added: "I have always said that I want to play as a striker.

"Of course, it would not help me improve if I wasn't able to play, or train, in another position a couple of times. But all the time?

"I used to play as a striker in Holland. I grew up as a striker. That's the position I want to play.


http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football...t_Anfield.aspx

[Tatterdemalion]

Wow, I am shocked by the negativity on here. Babel is a good player who is going to be great: there's an excitement every time he gets the ball. And, as the interview suggests, he seems like a decent guy, I certainly don't think he needs to "grow up."

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has a recording studio at his house and has put out a number of rap records under the name Rio. Sample lyrics: "I can't even spend all my money, keep your daughter inside or you will be my family." (Guardian)

That's why I said it. Talented player- but not happy with him allowing those sort of comments to come out, artistic license or not.

[Roboklopp]

FFS anelka

[Shanks]

FFS anelka

Eh??

[Roboklopp]

Chavs winning 2-0. Just scored. Couldnt be arsed changing the thread I was in.

[Vermilion]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4502124,00.html

Babel airs Anfield frustrations
Dutchman would rather play as a striker

Last updated: 15th November 2008
Ryan Babel Liverpool Manchester United Premier League

I grew up as a striker. That's the position I want to play.

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has admitted his frustrations at a lack of opportunities at Anfield.

The Dutchman has earned a 'super sub' reputation on Merseyside due to his consistent match-winning impact from the bench since an £11.5million move from Ajax in 2007.

Babel helped Liverpool edge out Arsenal in a thrilling UEFA Champions League quarter-final last season and scored the Premier League winner against Manchester United in September after entering both games from the sidelines.

But the 21-year-old, who is usually deployed on the wings by manager Rafa Benitez, confesses that he is unhappy with a deficiency in first-team starts.
Competition

"I'm satisfied with my level of performance but the situation is clear - that I'm not going to be one of the regular 11 starters," Babel said in The Guardian.

"It's difficult. I do get frustrated. I can tell myself that I'm still only 21 and at the start of my career.

"But it is making it hard for me because, as time goes on, they keep telling me that I'm young and that my time will come. Well, OK, but I'm not a player who wants to wait. I want to be involved now rather than in three or four years' time."

Babel has also stated that he would rather compete with strikers Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres than be deployed in a wide role.

"I have always said that I want to play as a striker," he added.

"Of course, it would not help me improve if I wasn't able to play, or train, in another position a couple of times. But all the time?

"I used to play as a striker in Holland. I grew up as a striker. That's the position I want to play.

"But I'm working on it. I look at myself before I blame others. I'm going to do something about it. It's not something I'm scared about."