Ryan Babel lifts the lid on 'confusing' life at Liverpool FC under Rafael Benitez

[Arn]

The problem is that if a player gets injured training on his own without the club allowing it then it won't cover insurances etc...

So he can't train on his own and Babel shouldn't even try to do it.

I don't have a clue why Rafa didn't allow him to train on his own. Probably something to do with that you never know if another player gets injured and you may need the player that trained extra. Then you would get a tired player on the pitch/bench.

[danperkins]

If Babel wasn't allowed to do extra training when he wasn't getting game time thats bad form and i do understand that he has been played out of position which can effect the best of players, but i'm kinda sick of hearing Babel's excuses, he has been a flop and in the end he has only himself to blame. Would have loved to see him succeed, was excited when we signed him but what a crock of **** he has been. Adios in January Ryan.

[Glenn Hysen]

If Babel wasn't allowed to do extra training when he wasn't getting game time thats bad form and i do understand that he has been played out of position which can effect the best of players, but i'm kinda sick of hearing Babel's excuses, he has been a flop and in the end he has only himself to blame. Would have loved to see him succeed, was excited when we signed him but what a crock of **** he has been. Adios in January Ryan.

You keep hoping he will come good but....time's up Ryan, pack your bags!

[Mostar]

At last Babel proves his consistency. He's confused about training, he's confused about how to control the ball, where to pass it, where the goal is...

If Babel wasn't allowed to do extra training when he wasn't getting game time thats bad form and i do understand that he has been played out of position which can effect the best of players, but i'm kinda sick of hearing Babel's excuses, he has been a flop and in the end he has only himself to blame. Would have loved to see him succeed, was excited when we signed him but what a crock of **** he has been. Adios in January Ryan.

Good post

[RedReet]

Ironically, I think that if Babel was in the same position at another club right now we'd probably be looking at signing him.

[Mostar]

Ironically, I think that if Babel was in the same position at another club right now we'd probably be looking at signing him.

Sadly you could be right. It only shows the degree of desperation we're in.

[DannyMan2006]

I understand why rafa stopped him training extra, as he could have been needed at any time. But it obviously didn't help ryans development. Ridiculous really but there you go. Can easily see why Ryan got frustrated.

[Shanks]

Ironically, I think that if Babel was in the same position at another club right now we'd probably be looking at signing him.

Had he gone to Arsenal, I believe he would have been a top player by now..

[Neil Young]

Based on what? The fact Wenger reportedly passed on him?

[TheElephantMan]

Babel is ****.

[vlahka]

Stole this from another site. Babels stats from beginning-

2007-08: Babel’s first season

53 appearances

Starts - 29
On the bench - 24 times
Subbed – 21 times
Unused sub – 4 games
Goals - 11
Assists - 6



2008-09

42 appearances

Starts – 13
On the bench – 29 times
Subbed – 4 times
Unused sub – 6 times
Goals - 4
Assists - 5



2009-10 (Until November 29th)

17 appearances

Starts – 4
On the bench – 13 times
Subbed – 4 times
Unused sub – 3 times

Goals - 3
Assists - 2

And they had a previous quote from the Holland manager

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.”

How does a player go from really good to really ****? I also really like this one babel says-

"I begged lots of times but it was simply not allowed and during the season you don't train very hard because you have lots games, so most sessions we had were without sweating.

Would totally explain our absolute crap movement on the field and set piece strategies. Top 10 teams free flowing attack compared to our clueless way of building up an attack. At least we know how to pass back to goal. We're pretty good at that.

[destinydude]

I agree with a few that said Babel really has nothing to complain about cos when he had the chances he didn't set the world alight even though they weren't proper chances or whatever.

Having said that, I also believe he was treated very unfairly by Benitez. He could have been given more chances and more games but he simply chose not to and let him rot on the bench. We could've sold him if we really weren't gonna use him as a proper player. A player who cost us 11.5m

[Fan65]

Rafa realised that sooner or later Ryan Babel would show some signs of skill that would prove that he was worth his huge transfer fee. However Rafa was worried that if he trained on his own that moment of skill might not be seen by anyone, hence the ban on training on his own.

[paulg]

How does Wenger deal with lazy players? I ask because most Gooners I know chant "Babel would be world class under Wenger". My issue with Babel is his attitude, mostly. He only looks interested when he has the ball, not Rafa's kind of player at all.

Aside from his poor decison making. (that applies to Babel and Rafa at times).

[dww]

How does Wenger deal with lazy players? I ask because most Gooners I know chant "Babel would be world class under Wenger". My issue with Babel is his attitude, mostly. He only looks interested when he has the ball, not Rafa's kind of player at all.

Aside from his poor decison making. (that applies to Babel and Rafa at times).

The thing is that I remember at the U21 tournament before we bought him there was an interview on 5Live where the journalist claimed he had been talking to the Arsenal people there and they had decided not to make a move for Babel after scouting him for a long time. Perhaps they just aim to catch the problem at the scouting stage?

I also don't buy this line about Wenger making any player with talent world class - Walcott looks more talented than Babel to me but hasn't progressed hugely since his arrival at Arsenal.