THE Ryan Babel thread

[Neil Young]

David Prentice: Why Liverpool FC's Ryan Babel only has himself to blame

Sep 4 2009 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

RYAN BABEL feels let down by his manager at Anfield over a series of “broken promises.”

So let me just remind you of the words Babel himself uttered on the day he was unveiled at Liverpool two summers ago.

“It’s a great feeling to be compared to Thierry Henry and a goal for me to work hard every day to get to that level or to be even better.

“Henry was a big hero for me. I think I can have the same in England he had, but we will see in the years to come.

“I see myself as a fast player who likes to dribble and play beautiful football. I like combination football and I like to score goals.”

Babel’s Anfield career has been an exercise in frustration.

He is powerful, pacy, can shoot fiercely and accurately and is decent in the air as well

The perfect striking package almost. Yet he’s spent more time in a dug-out than Stig of the Dump.

A whopping 63 per cent of Babel’s meagre 59 Liverpool appearances since he arrived have come from the subs’ bench.

And there’s only one person to blame for that.

If it’s Rafael Benitez, I’m the Dutchman, not Ryan Babel.

Did Stig of the Dump use a canoe then? I'm not saying the article is wrong, I just don't remember it.

[DannyMan2006]

I really don't think Babel is played out of position. He has been a left sided forward most of his career and currently he is playing in much that role.

Babel played on the left in a 433. A very different role to what he is asked to do in England. In Holland they don't play with wingers and as such do not have to be able to cross a ball. Nor do they in particular have to track back and defend.

You say he has played the role all his life. IMO that is a million miles from the truth. But if he can't adjust after two years................

What annoys me the most is that he has had good games against Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea in cameo roles and against Real madrid from the start. Clearly he is capable of making an impact. Surely there is a way to get his best form on a more regular basis.

[MrMichael]

interesting article about babel

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

By Jaimie Kanwar

Kanwar is a muppet, he peddles the most constant anti-lfc ****e on the web under the guise of "critical realism". That article is so myopic and unbalanced there's not even any point discussing it imo. Liverpool supporter my arse

[PTP]

ryan babel! where do we start - i was critical of babel most of last season but the last few months have sat back and just watched everyone else sling mud at him

Anyway - this is how i see it....he only has himself to blame, he has had chances but has not taken them.

Around jan last iirc - we had both babel and benayoun out of the starting XI - neither we're happy and if i am right there were even rumours yossi was offski, both of them were given similar chances - one kept his head down, worked hard on the pitch, and made sur that when given a chance he took and gave the headache all managers want, ie this player is in form, is up for it and i can't leave him out.....the other when given a chance did nothing to suggest that he should in the first X1 - since all he has done is whinge - ryan babel is fighting for place, doing a lot moaning so whether he is given 2 mins at the end of a game or starts - he should be killing himself on the pitch, fighting for every lost ball, chasing and harrasing defenders and working harder than anyone else on the pitch - forget about talent and ability for any player, if they aren't in the team they have to put 110% to get back in favour even if it just for a 2 min cameo when 4-0 up at home - Babel has just done himself no favours.

[dww]

Babel played on the left in a 433. A very different role to what he is asked to do in England. In Holland they don't play with wingers and as such do not have to be able to cross a ball. Nor do they in particular have to track back and defend.

You say he has played the role all his life. IMO that is a million miles from the truth. But if he can't adjust after two years................

What annoys me the most is that he has had good games against Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea in cameo roles and against Real madrid from the start. Clearly he is capable of making an impact. Surely there is a way to get his best form on a more regular basis.

I don't think particularly this year we play our nominally wide players as wingers though (other than Riera and even he this season didn't really play that way). There may be more demands defensively but I'm not sure that he isn't accepted to cut in from a wide position in the way of say Rooney at United last year. It may not be exactly the position he played in a 4-3-3 in Holland but it is much closer to it than that of a striker for example.

I just think the problem is mentality. he won't work to make things work when it is difficult. Hence he has been good in cameo roles when there has been space to exploit but not more regularly. I'm not sure there is any way you can make him change - either he grows up and cops on or he doesn't.

[BG1973]

He's had 2 seasons to make an impact and his competition was Benny, kuyt and Riera. To have as much 'potential' as he does and not be able to make that impact says it all. No disrespect to those players mentioned above but they are good players not great players.

Saying that the guy's confidence must be shot to bits. He's under huge pressure to perform every time he steps on the pitch and that's not the best environment to perform in. Especially for a young kid living away from home.

He may well make it but if he does he's going to do it somewhere else. He'll never make it at Liverpool.

[-V-]

Play 442 against Burnley and let Babel partner Torres

Its hardly a risk

[Shaggy]

Kanwar is a muppet, he peddles the most constant anti-lfc ****e on the web under the guise of "critical realism". That article is so myopic and unbalanced there's not even any point discussing it imo. Liverpool supporter my arse

Kanwar is a complete and utter tool and should be banned from spouting his inane, blinkered drivel on the internets.

[Craig_H]

Kanwar is a complete and utter tool and should be banned from spouting his inane, blinkered drivel on the internets.

He should be given a membership to these foums

[Yozza]

Kanwar is a complete and utter tool and should be banned from spouting his inane, blinkered drivel on the internets.

I'm convinced he's Rashid in disguise. Honestly.

[red g]

I'm convinced he's Rashid in disguise. Honestly.

or whatabout that DJ SYD fella?? dont see him around much

[red g]

Kanwar is a complete and utter tool and should be banned from spouting his inane, blinkered drivel on the internets.

they need some writers for there ****e site......but not blinkered RCDNW fans who just say all is great.

How can anyone with so much negativity call themselves supporters?

its just an anti Rafa site

[Shanks]

Didn't even get a look in against Japan..

Dutch won 3-0. Kuyt subbed after 63 mins.

[DannyMan2006]

ryan babel! where do we start - i was critical of babel most of last season but the last few months have sat back and just watched everyone else sling mud at him

Anyway - this is how i see it....he only has himself to blame, he has had chances but has not taken them.

Around jan last iirc - we had both babel and benayoun out of the starting XI - neither we're happy and if i am right there were even rumours yossi was offski, both of them were given similar chances - one kept his head down, worked hard on the pitch, and made sur that when given a chance he took and gave the headache all managers want, ie this player is in form, is up for it and i can't leave him out.....the other when given a chance did nothing to suggest that he should in the first X1 - since all he has done is whinge - ryan babel is fighting for place, doing a lot moaning so whether he is given 2 mins at the end of a game or starts - he should be killing himself on the pitch, fighting for every lost ball, chasing and harrasing defenders and working harder than anyone else on the pitch - forget about talent and ability for any player, if they aren't in the team they have to put 110% to get back in favour even if it just for a 2 min cameo when 4-0 up at home - Babel has just done himself no favours.

Agree with that. I do see hope for Babel but you are spot on with that comparison.

[peekay]

It's the ones left behind I feel sorry for.

The David James and David Bentleys, who thought they were moving on to new clubs this summer but have to carry on enduring their own personal hell on a couple of mill a year.

And Ryan Babel. There he was happily under-performing his heart out at Anfield, living off an Under-21 tournament two years ago which enticed Rafa Benitez (or was it Rick Parry) to splurge £11.5million on him.

True to form he was picked for this season's opening game against Spurs only to do his usual Invisible Man impression and go back to warming the bench. And now it's dawning on him that he'll struggle to make the World Cup.

So the cool rapper does what comes natural. Blames his manager for not recognising his genius and floats a plan to move back to Holland on loan in January (thus picking up Premier League wages for Championship-standard work) and flatter to deceive his way to South Africa.

Here's some advice Ryan. Remember all the opportunities you've been given to live up to your inflated reputation. Then ask whether anyone believes you have.

Remember the team-mate who was unveiled at Anfield on the same day as you, Yossi Benayoun. Someone who also doesn't command an automatic shirt, but imposes himself on games whenever he gets the chance.

Remember Craig Johnston. The last Liverpool player to write a (c)rap song. A man arguably blessed with half your natural talent, but who possessed 10 times your desire to knuckle down and succeed.

And remember the word that comes before footballer on your passport. Professional.

Then attempt an impression of one.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/brian-reade/The-power-of-Babel-Don-t-believe-the-hype-article145233.html

Brian Reade : What a superb reporter and a columnist