Ryan Babel

[Woobus]

That's the biggest concern - Babel doesnt seem too fussed.

Dont know if I would agree with that, when he scores you can see the pure delight on his face. Keane gets talked about for moaning to much and Babel gets moaned about for not seeming fussed.

[Exiled_red]

I'm wondering how much injury in pre-season then going to the olympics effected him. But it seems he needs to get his head straight

[Liverpool]

I'm wondering how much injury in pre-season then going to the olympics effected him. But it seems he needs to get his head straight

Id like to give him another season.

[Craig_H]

Dont know if I would agree with that, when he scores you can see the pure delight on his face. Keane gets talked about for moaning to much and Babel gets moaned about for not seeming fussed.

He needs to give a **** about the other aspects of the game too though, not just the glory of scoring.

[Woobus]

He needs to give a **** about the other aspects of the game too though, not just the glory of scoring.

I doubt he would disagree with that either, I would say he knows he hasnt done enough and needs to improve. For me its a good sign when a player scores to see him so happy.
He hasnt shown it this season but we have all seen what Babel can do when in form. Maybe Torres being fit and having someone as fast up front might help him out.

[Craig_H]

I doubt he would disagree with that either, I would say he knows he hasnt done enough and needs to improve. For me its a good sign when a player scores to see him so happy.
He hasnt shown it this season but we have all seen what Babel can do when in form. Maybe Torres being fit and having someone as fast up front might help him out.

Yeah but he needs to put in a shift, not just express delight when he scores.

[el matador]

looking at the last 12 months things have certainly changed for ryan.

he joined us roughly the same time that ashley young joined aston villa and at the time we thought that liverpool had the better of the two deals. Babel was already a full international and ashley young had gone for about £4m more than most people thought he would.

12 months later no one can doubt that young has developped into the better player of the two and i believe this is down to a couple of things. Firstly Ashley young has been played in virtually every game that villa have played even when he wasnt performing as he is now. Secondly, he has the full confidence and backing of his manager and his teamates. Finally, he has played in the position he wants to play in.

This is where i think the problems lie for babel in that over the last year or so he has been played in 3 or 4 positions and hasnt started every game possible and clearly doesnt have rafa's confidence this season. Perhaps going to the olympics against rafa's wishes didnt help him.

If he had been played from the off in his preferred position then i believe he would have turned out to be a totally different proposition. As it is, he looks like a player without purpose or focus.

Also i think our rigid tactical systems dont suit him and his creative play. He looks stiffled and im not sure that we can ever develop him into the player he could potentially be.

I also dont think playing with gerrard helps him as Gerrard creates the 'fear' factor that henry did at arsenal especially with the younger players.

[honk]

he does well in a move and then puts in a useless cross or pass all the time. i think we are better with riera on the left and kuyt on the right at least they feed our front men.

Putting him up front is an option but one which rafa will not do. a player who unfortunately will not be missed if he went. i say this with slight sadness as i like him and want him to come good.

[wiw]

Slight overreaction. He wasn't that bad just didn't set the world alight. The same kind of performances Lucas put in a few times before he hit form. Hopefully the same will be true of babel too

Good point, hopefully he can take his head out of his arse and push on a bit

looking at the last 12 months things have certainly changed for ryan.

he joined us roughly the same time that ashley young joined aston villa and at the time we thought that liverpool had the better of the two deals. Babel was already a full international and ashley young had gone for about £4m more than most people thought he would.

12 months later no one can doubt that young has developped into the better player of the two and i believe this is down to a couple of things. Firstly Ashley young has been played in virtually every game that villa have played even when he wasnt performing as he is now. Secondly, he has the full confidence and backing of his manager and his teamates. Finally, he has played in the position he wants to play in.

This is where i think the problems lie for babel in that over the last year or so he has been played in 3 or 4 positions and hasnt started every game possible and clearly doesnt have rafa's confidence this season. Perhaps going to the olympics against rafa's wishes didnt help him.

If he had been played from the off in his preferred position then i believe he would have turned out to be a totally different proposition. As it is, he looks like a player without purpose or focus.

Also i think our rigid tactical systems dont suit him and his creative play. He looks stiffled and im not sure that we can ever develop him into the player he could potentially be.

I also dont think playing with gerrard helps him as Gerrard creates the 'fear' factor that henry did at arsenal especially with the younger players.

Agree with most of that How do you think Gerrard creates the fear factor though? If anything, Babel is his own worst enemy with his decision making - he seems to go between being over-confident, shooting from distance when someone else is better placed and pussying out and giving the simple ball to Gerrard or someone else to go and have a go.

I read this the other day which was part of a huge post, which references Saachi and how Rafa is emulating his philosophy

The player needs to express himself within the parameters laid out by the manager…Then the player makes decisions based on that…it’s about being a player. Not just being skillful or being athletic. I didn’t want robots or individualists. I wanted people with the intelligence to understand me, and the spirit to put that intelligence to the service of the team. In short, I wanted people who knew how to play football.

You say that our rigid tactical system doesn't suit his play, which is possibly the case defensively (in that we're very well organised so his mind can't be solely on attacking), but going forward we've been very fluid lately, with sharp passing and much better movement, something you would think suits him. If you refer to the Saachi quote, though, the key to a great player (in Rafa's eyes at least) I would think is one who can be creative within what he asks of him which obviously includes defensive duties, so maybe question marks over this aspect of his game is why Pako thought he was a panic buy? As you say though the Olympics and his injury can't have helped but he does seem to lack any sort of footballing brain whatsoever.

I did read a quote that Rafa and Babel agreed that he would ease him into the season due to him being pacey/injured. Personally I think he's hit rock-bottom mentally at LFC...he must know from his lack of games that his days are numbered unless he bucks his ideas up..the sad thing is he just doesn't look arsed. I've almost lost faith in him tbh

Regardless though we're being linked with wingers all over the place, so whether the plan is to sell Babel, shift him up top, shift Kuyt up top and play Babel on the right we don't know yet I guess. This is his last season on current form though I would imagine

lies down

[Joe King]

He lacks intelligence which is always going to be his downfall under Rafa. He has some fantastic attributes as a footballer. He physically can look after himself, technically is good but its mentally where he has let himself go in comparison to last season. If I was to look at someone who has improved who has had a similar timeframe to Babel, it would be Walcott and I know who I would rather have in my side. Babel possibly feels because he is in the Dutch side, he should be in the Liverpool but when given his opportunity, he hasn't proved himself. Riera hasn't been our most consistent performer which tells you everything you want to know about Babel.

[Charly]

Look as Lucas. He was pants to start with. Now he has had a run, and got some confidence, he looks a different player. Babbel is still young, and he just needs to improve his passing and decision making. Potentially great. Better than keane, anyway.

[Chewbacca]

I chose this guy to be in my dream team this year as i really thought he would come on. What do people think, will he develop into the player we bought him to be?

I think he is one of the worst players pound-for-pound I've ever seen in a red shirt. He can't pass, can't shoot, can't cross, can't see other team mates and can't beat a man.

I cringe everytime I see him on the team sheet. Utter garbage. He doesn't even try which is why I'm happy to slate one of my players. At least El Zhar, Ngog and Benny get stuck in.

BABEL IS ****E.

[TheElephantMan]

I think he is one of the worst players pound-for-pound I've ever seen in a red shirt. He can't pass, can't shoot, can't see other team mates and can't beat man.

I cringe everytime I see him on the team sheet. Utter garbage. He doesn't even try which is why I'm happy to slate one of my players. At least El Zhar, Ngog and Benny get stuck in.

BABEL IS ****E.

Couldn't agree more.

[Icon]

He needs to go........

[JPK]

He will come good yet. It's clear to see though that he is a striker and always looks more dangerous in the middle. I dont think we are getting the best out of him personally.