Babel: I'll respond to Rafa chat

[el matador]

The main bonus Messi and Ronaldo have over Babel is that they are allowed to go on the pitch and do what they like. They in effect have minimal responsibilities at the back. They are there to win games by attacking and that is it. Babel is expected to do a lell of a lot more by Rafa.

Both Ronaldo and Messi can drift out of games and the main criticism Ronaldo got was that he goes missing in the big games. This was down to tight marking when he had the ball. As his only contribution came on the attack, in games Man utd struggled in (Barca) it seemed he was not on the pitch. Again, this would not be accepted by Benitez.

Babel is more than ready to play the role they carry out, but not quite there to do what is required at Liverpool.

it would be nice to see him given a more central role in the lesser games so that he plays where gerrard plays for us - just behind the front man.

The only place up for grabs in our side you feel is right back, left back (although we have high hopes for insua) and right side of the 4321 where kuyt plays now. If babel can learn to play that role and excel at at it then we might just have the answer we were looking for.

Potentially he is brilliant but he needs to take that step for himself from being a good young player into a world class operator like torres has done and fabregas. As gerrard said about him last season - its all up to him because he has everything in his locker - but its now down to ryan. But i have belief that he can make the breakthrough.

[Mike]

Thats very good to hear. If Rafa has had a personal chat with him, it shows Babel is in his future plans which is a good thing because I personally think Babel can only improve. He hasn't shown that so far this season but he strikes me as a young player who needs a bit of loving and thats expected coming into a different country with competition for places in one of the elite teams in Europe.

Apart from that i agree

[anfieldanfield]

Sounds a bit hollow to me.

I was a massive Babel fan, but his apathy, lack of confidence and collection of **** performances have caused me to lose a lot of faith in the lad.

I think he'll leave in the summer.

[merv]

Sounds a bit hollow to me.

I was a massive Babel fan, but his apathy, lack of confidence and collection of **** performances have caused me to lose a lot of faith in the lad.

I think he'll leave in the summer.

Have to agree mate, for a so called professional to decide "oh i'll try and start to perform now that the boss has had a chat" is a disgrace after the money the club shelled out on him. and he has a serious problem with not being able to pass the ball to robbie keane, ****. or maybe its just the dutch in him