THE Ryan Babel thread

[Icon]

Beeb saying he wants to go out on loan to Ajax.....

BYE!

[red g]

Cant think of any Ajax players that are worth taking in Part ex for half a season?

only know Suarez who is there captain so no chance.....how about Rommedahl

[dww]

Being as nothing is going to happen until January I kind of wish people would lay off him. I've been a critic of his for a while now but if, as reported, he turned up to preseason hungry to play and willing to work I want to see him given a last chance to make it with us.

At the minute the team isn't really working in a way that is likely to get the best out of him. I have a feeling that by the Chelsea game we will start looking more cohesive. If then Babel makes no impact then I think it probably is the time to think about moving him on.

[red g]

Being as nothing is going to happen until January I kind of wish people would lay off him. I've been a critic of his for a while now but if, as reported, he turned up to preseason hungry to play and willing to work I want to see him given a last chance to make it with us.

At the minute the team isn't really working in a way that is likely to get the best out of him. I have a feeling that by the Chelsea game we will start looking more cohesive. If then Babel makes no impact then I think it probably is the time to think about moving him on.

then 3 games in he is whinging allready!!!

its almost as if it takes the tiniest thing for is head to go. I just not sure he is mentally strong enough for a top club

[dww]

then 3 games in he is whinging allready!!!

its almost as if it takes the tiniest thing for is head to go. I just not sure he is mentally strong enough for a top club

I know but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in that I knew he was a whinging gob****e and a bit of a fool before and this interview in that sense tells me nothing new. It isn't a positive sign but I'll judge him on how he does if/when given a chance on the pitch rather than what he says to the press. I can see why he might feel a bit pissed off being the only person to be dropped in the aftermath of the Spurs debacle. If he reacts in training positively I'm sure Rafa will give him a chance.

[Tee]

The word frustrated comes to mind with Babel. I think he is frustrated, Rafa is frustrated and the fans are frustrated.

Roll on the Carling Cup game v Leeds and I hope he gets to start that game and bangs in a few goals to help his confidence.

[red g]

it seems a pointless interview actually, transfer window is shut.....why come out a day after when you know you have to stay till January?

Seems he is inflaming a situation he cannot do **** all about

[dww]

it seems a pointless interview actually, transfer window is shut.....why come out a day after when you know you have to stay till January?

Seems he is inflaming a situation he cannot do **** all about

I get the impression he is an idiot trying to put pressure on Rafa to play him, possibly even just trying to create the impression that he wants to play. It is possible that the interview was aimed purely at a Dutch audience and he just wanted to seem desperate to play national football and it's just the context here is different. It's that sort of consideration that means I'm not going to judge him for it.

[Craig_H]

Complete nonsense, we all adapt to change, sometimes for better sometimes for worse. To say I don't is a ridiculous unfounded statement.

I didnt say you dont. I asked if you did. There was a question mark there.

Observation skills lacking a bit mate.

So if you agree that we sometimes need to adapt to change, then you ultimately agree with my basic point.

And if you think not criticising Rafa on the selling of Alonso is following blindly like a sheep then perhaps it is you that needs to accept that other posters on here have their own opinions that may differ from yours.

Nothing to do with the sale of alonso. It's the notion of simply NEVER disagreeing with any of his decisions.

Other posters do indeed have a different opinion to me, which is fine. For some of them though, it's not their own opinion, it's just Rafa's, which they'll agree with, come what may. I find that to be somewhat 'sheep-like'.

[red g]

I didnt say you dont. I asked if you did. There was a question mark there.

Observation skills lacking a bit mate.

So if you agree that we sometimes need to adapt to change, then you ultimately agree with my basic point.



Nothing to do with the sale of alonso. It's the notion of simply NEVER disagreeing with any of his decisions.

Other posters do indeed have a different opinion to me, which is fine. For some of them though, it's not their own opinion, it's just Rafa's, which they'll agree with, come what may. I find that to be somewhat 'sheep-like'.

you peddle this constantly, i havent seen anyone who follows Rafa as blind as you say.

[Craig_H]

There's a few mate, i'm hardly going to bother making it up.

[el matador]

interesting article about babel

Thursday, September 03, 2009
Ryan Babel - Another victim of the 'Benitez effect'?


In April 2009, Holland coach Marco Van Basten criticised Rafael Benitez’s handling of Ryan Babel, noting that the player had taken a step backward since his arrival at Anfield. This week, Babel himself has publicly stated he wants to leave. Has Babel failed or is Rafa Benitez to blame for not giving the player a consistent chance? In my view, there is only one answer.

In April, Van Basten argued:

“If you look at Ryan Babel, it is a mortal sin he now sits on the bench at Liverpool. He was playing well in Holland and for the Under-21s but now he has taken a step backwards.”

This week, Babel made his frustration clear:

"There have been a lot of things promised but they haven't been followed up," Babel said. "I would get to play for more minutes and have more chances but, after the first defeat, I lost my place.

"Half a season at Ajax with a view to the World Cup wouldn't be a bad idea. I can add something to their squad. Loaning me out was not an option in the summer. Now we have agreed to review the situation in January."

Babel cost £11.5m and inarguably has huge potential - the question is has he been given the chance to fulfil that potential?

I would argue that the answer is NO.

As we've all seen, Rafa loves his facts, so let’s consider some facts about Ryan Babel:

2007-08: Babel’s first season

53 appearances

Starts - 29
Subbed – 21 times
On the bench - 24 times
Unused sub – 4 games

Analysis

- Subbed or on the bench in 82% of games
- Subbed in 72% of games started
- Scored 11 goals. On 10 occasions, dropped to the bench for the next game.

2008-09

42 appearances

Starts – 13
Subbed – 4 times
On the bench – 29 times
Unused sub – 6 times

Analysis

- Subbed or on the bench in 79% of games
- Subbed in 30% of games started
- 70% of games won with Babel starting
- Never started more than 2 games in a row for the entire season

GRAND TOTALS

95 appearances

42 Starts
Subbed – 25 times
On the bench – 53 times
Unused sub – 10 times

Analysis

- Subbed or on the bench in 82% of games
- Subbed in 60% of starts

Taking into account unused sub status

- In the squad 95 times
- Subbed or on the bench in 93% games

With these figures in mind, consider the following questions:

1. Has Babel been given any kind of chance to establish himself at Liverpool?

2. Has he been allowed to flourish in any way?

3. Has he been allowed a consistent run of games *ever*?

4. Given the fact that in his first season, he was dropped to the bench TEN TIMES after scoring goals, has he been treated fairly in this respect?

5. Is there any justification for such treatment of the player?

6. Has Benitez developed Babel's undoubted potential in the last 2 years?

The most important question for me is this: Do we want players to be treated this way at Liverpool FC?

The answer has to be no, yet some pigheaded fans just refuse to accept the truth that Rafa’s treatment of certain players over the years has been inexcusable.

Fans often seem to criticise Babel for his alleged lack of drive during his sporadic appearances, but how would you react when your manager has damaged your career, never given you a fair chance, constantly played you in the wrong position and made it abundantly clear that he has no faith in you?

For some reason, the 'Rafa can do no wrong' brigade are unwilling to accept that it is practically impossible for a player to get into any kind of rhythm/build understanding with team-mates/build confidence etc when subjected to the kind of treatment meted out to Robbie Keane, Babel, and before them, Peter Crouch.

This kind of treatment is one of the principal reasons I am not a fan of Benitez and his way of doing things. Fans might not care about the likes of Keane and Babel, but just watch them change their tune when one of their favourites starts suffering from the Benitez effect.

If Ryan Babel wants to save his career and actually progress as a player, he has only one option: leave Liverpool and go to a club where he will treated fairly and given a consistent chance to prove himself.

For any player, leaving Liverpool can only be a step down, but Benitez has made it unambiguously clear that he is NEVER going to give Babel a proper chance. And after the player's comments this week, Benitez is unlikely to be persuaded to give him a run of games in the future.

Benitez apologists will predictably be on Babel's back over his comments, but I totally support him and completely understand his frustration.

And I hope that Babel does actually move in January, because to stay at the club under the Benitez regime would be continued career suicide


By Jaimie Kanwar

http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/09/ryan-babel-another-victim-of-benitez.html

I dont think he has been treated fairly because he has always been played on the left. The guy doesnt even have a left foot whereas he does have a decent right foot.

Play him on the right or up front but at least play him in a position that suits him better than on the left. He's proven time and time again that he isnt a left winger but we still persist with him there.

Until I see him play regularly up front or on the left I cant say anything against him. its not fair to him. i agree with this article because i dont think rafa likes flair players - they're not really his cup of tea.

I believe that someone like hiddink could make babel into a world class player - but not rafa.

[red g]

Torres, Reina, Gerrard, Masher, Alonso, Arbeloa, Insua, Hyppia, Carragher all have suffered massively from the benitez effect as well

to name but a few

[Roboklopp]

Nonsense. Have I been given a fair chance at LFC?

0 apperances (on pitch).
0 goals.

Probably cos I am not good enough you would expect.

Even in his 1st season when RB played pretty well, he really struggled after 60 mins. That is why he was taken off- even he admitted it. There was no vendetta, it was a cold logical decision. Ever since he has been nothing more than dreadful & disinterested, so Rafa hasnt given him time.

Rafa shouldve given Crouch more time in his final season, but not Babel. Mentioning RCDNW sums it all up really.

[red g]

I also think that using the technology as Benitez does when he looks at the stats after the game and sees certain players running 6/7 miles a game and Babel running 6/7 metres its bound to make benitez think about choosing babel next game