Ryan Babel: Give me one last chance at Liverpool FC

[Jürgen4PM]

Ryan Babel: Give me one last chance at Liverpool FC
Jun 11 2009 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo


RYAN BABEL wants another chance to prove he can become more than just an Anfield supersub next season.

The Dutch youngster has struggled for consistency since his £11 million move from Ajax two years ago and looked likely to be made available this summer.

But after ending his season with a substitute appearance for Holland last night, he insisted he wants to stay at Anfield and fight for his future.

The Dutchman could fetch around £10m in the transfer market, but his agent Winnie Haatrecht said: “Ryan is very happy at Liverpool and clearly doesn't want to leave.

"He still has a three-year contract.â€

Babel's impact since he arrived at Anfield has been largely as a goalscoring substitute.

His goal at West Ham in May was his ninth from the subs' bench, halfway to David Fairclough's incredible club record of 18 supersub strikes. But boss Rafa Benitez made it clear he would be happy if Babel failed to match Fairclough’s achievement after challenging the player to establish himself as a permanent fixture in his starting line-up.

“Ryan has done well as an impact player, which is not easy when you are young, but we think he can do more than that,†Benitez said.

“Our view of Ryan is a player who starts games and has an impact from the beginning. But first of all he has to improve tactically.â€

I hope we keep him personally.

 

[ibromurph]

When he came, I thought he'd mature into a CF. In a way, I still think/hope he can. But with only 1 forward right up top and a 1 in behind.. and those two being Stevie and Nando, it's hard to see him getting games in his favoured position.

As for left wing, I don't think he'll ever make it there. So whilst i think binning him after only 2 years is a criminal waste of money/talent, I think the end is nigh for Ryan i'm afraid.

 

[Hansern]

The thing is, yesterday he looked like the player we want him to be. Using his pace, getting past the fullback, always looking for the ball and creating chances. Looking like he actually care.

Shame he doesnt to this every game.

 

[themn]

Good. Hope he stays.

He just needs a bit of confidence.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

In a forward three i still think he could be a very useful player indeed. It's clear that he has the potential, so with money being tight I'd give him one last chance to see if he can start to fulfil it with us.

 

[spider-Neil]

I hope we keep him. we'll make peanuts for him but if we nurture him into a consistant performer that value to us is much greater.

 

[Whitey85]

Im not really bothered if he stays or goes. Hes ideal to keep as an impact player but i was hoping that side of the pitch would be freshened up with one or two quality new additions. If he needs to go so we can bring in a top class performer then so be it.

 

[StevieM]

The thing is, yes he has ability but it's not happening for him.

He's had chances, but he needs to start taking them

Raw ability is one thing, putting it in to practice is another.

I think he should get rid. Talented, but the very fact he has to beg for another chance says it all.

 

[Jay]

I want him to stay. Yes, he hasnt lived up to his potential.... but im optimistic it's a 'yet'.

The price of a half-decent footballer is generally ludicrous. We will pay far more now, still without guranatee, for a foreign 'next big thing' with the reputation Babel had at the time we bought him.

Better to persevere for another year and remain hopeful that the effort Rafa has invested in him pays off.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I hope after next season most posters on the site say, 'how wrong was I about this lad ... lucky we didn't sell him' ... probably won't happen, but hey - I like Babel and hope he can get his act together.

 

[David Byrne]

I think he's a cracking player, just with the wrong manager. If Rafa puts a bit more faith in him upfront we could save a few bob.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=34107.msg886256#msg886256 date=1244717164]
I hope after next season most posters on the site say, 'how wrong was I about this lad ... lucky we didn't sell him' ... probably won't happen, but hey - I like Babel and hope he can get his act together.
[/quote]But we all said this last summer. If he was 17 then id buy it but hes the same age as Ronaldo and older than Messi.
He's like last years Williams, all the power in the world but no way to get it on the asphalt.
Last year i predicted he would be our catalyst, so this year i predict he'll do fuck all.....*crosses fingers*

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=34107.msg886261#msg886261 date=1244717514]
[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=34107.msg886256#msg886256 date=1244717164]
I hope after next season most posters on the site say, 'how wrong was I about this lad ... lucky we didn't sell him' ... probably won't happen, but hey - I like Babel and hope he can get his act together.
[/quote]But we all said this last summer. If he was 17 then id buy it but hes the same age as Ronaldo and older than Messi.
He's like last years Williams, all the power in the world but no way to get it on the asphalt.
Last year i predicted he would be our catalyst, so this year i predict he'll do fuck all.....*crosses fingers*
[/quote]

may the curse work, amen.

 

[Mors]

As long as we get the right money, lets bin him off.

 

[StevieM]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=34107.msg886261#msg886261 date=1244717514]
[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=34107.msg886256#msg886256 date=1244717164]
I hope after next season most posters on the site say, 'how wrong was I about this lad ... lucky we didn't sell him' ... probably won't happen, but hey - I like Babel and hope he can get his act together.
[/quote]But we all said this last summer. If he was 17 then id buy it but hes the same age as Ronaldo and older than Messi.
He's like last years Williams, all the power in the world but no way to get it on the asphalt.
Last year i predicted he would be our catalyst, so this year i predict he'll do fuck all.....*crosses fingers*
[/quote]

I'm with you. He's not going to do it.

Good bye and thanks for the memor👍ies.

 

[Jack D Rips]

To be honest Im not sure where all this " its clear he has potential" is coming from. Having watched him for two seasons Im sorry to say I cant see it myself.

Yes he has played a few good games and scored some important goals but in general most of the times I've seen him, all I've seen is someone who doesnt seem to be arsed.

Blame Rafa all you like but surely it is up to the player, when given the chance, (and yes he has been given many chances) to at least look interested.

Now hes looking for another chance. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that there doesnt appear to be a long queue of clubs looking for his signature.

I'll put it this way Ryan. If you do get another season then wake the fuck up and show that you want to take the chance. You're 23 ffs not a kid.

 

[mark1975]

He's worth keeping for the squad and the slightest glimmering hope that he just 'might' come good and get his head sorted, but this really is last chance saloon. No more talking Ryan, just play and show us what you can do.

 

[cochyn]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=34107.msg886256#msg886256 date=1244717164]
I hope after next season most posters on the site say, 'how wrong was I about this lad ... lucky we didn't sell him' ... probably won't happen, but hey - I like Babel and hope he can get his act together.
[/quote]

so wish you this could be true but i just cannot see his attitude and petulance changing enough, he needs to take a long hard look at himself and actually pull a finger out. But i just cannot see it!!

 

[Markeh]

I'd like to see him do a Baros - spend the whole summer working his ass off to be a slimmer fitter player and prove he wants/deserves a chance this season.

Then he needs to improve his attitude, if he showed half the enthusiasm of kuyt, yossi or mascherano he'd get more love from the fans and the manager. He actually looks a bit lazy or unfit sometimes which is not cool....

He also needs to improve his decision making, ronaldo became a better player when he figured out when to dribble and when to pass/cross, babel seems to take the wrong option a lot of the time.

He's a big boy, strong and fast and he must have had some decent coaching at Ajax, I still have hope for him

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=cochyn link=topic=34107.msg886272#msg886272 date=1244718714]
[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=34107.msg886256#msg886256 date=1244717164]
I hope after next season most posters on the site say, 'how wrong was I about this lad ... lucky we didn't sell him' ... probably won't happen, but hey - I like Babel and hope he can get his act together.
[/quote]


petulance?
so wish you this could be true but i just cannot see his attitude and petulance changing enough, he needs to take a long hard look at himself and actually pull a finger out. But i just cannot see it!!
[/quote]

 

[Rouge Penguin]

Loan him to Newcastle or back to Ajax, somewhere he's going to start twice a week. Get some confidence playing regular football, develop as a player and bring him back for the later stages of the CL in Jan.

Without a run of games, he's going to fester.

 

[TheBunnyman]

What I would like, really, is for us to sign a class LW and for Rafa to say, 'OK, Ryan, your big chance is here at last - you're going to be a striker for us. You'll only play as a sub, or when Torres is injured/rested, but you'll be his direct replacement. You'll have no defensive responsibilities and we'll be counting on you to score loads of goals. You've got the pace, you've got the talent, now show us you've got the nerve and the drive.'

I doubt it'll happen though.

 

[gkmacca]

There was a telling moment late last season when Babel came on and more or less immediately went on an aimless run that ignored two great little moves that other players were making, thus causing Sammy Lee to come flying out of the dugout, shaking his fist and screaming at Babel. He needs a chance, but he also needs to start THINKING. I hope he comes good, because the potential is there, but he needs to work far harder.

 

[LadyRed]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=34107.msg886289#msg886289 date=1244719903]
What I would like, really, is for us to sign a class LW and for Rafa to say, 'OK, Ryan, your big chance is here at last - you're going to be a striker for us. You'll only play as a sub, or when Torres is injured/rested, but you'll be his direct replacement. You'll have no defensive responsibilities and we'll be counting on you to score loads of goals. You've got the pace, you've got the talent, now show us you've got the nerve and the drive.'

I doubt it'll happen though.

[/quote]

No because Rafa would mention 'mentality' and 'options' in there a few times.

I do agree though. I'm one of the Babel 'willers', believing that he has got what it takes to make it big, and I'm convinced as soon as we sell him he'll finally show us all the player we all know he can be.

Unless we really need to sell him to finance other deals we need to make, I hope we keep him.

 

[keniget]

I've always been a fan of Babel and have hoped for him to come good but I'm no longer convinced that him staying at Liverpool would be in the best interests of anyone. If it's just going to be more of the same next season then we could do with the money and he could do with the games at a new club that can afford to let him learn on the job.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Rouge Penguin link=topic=34107.msg886286#msg886286 date=1244719789]
Loan him to Newcastle or back to Ajax, somewhere he's going to start twice a week. Get some confidence playing regular football, develop as a player and bring him back for the later stages of the CL in Jan.

Without a run of games, he's going to fester.
[/quote]

in all honesty I think preseason will be enough to restore his confidence. he had a very good first season after preseason and have a torrid season after missing preseason.

 

[Molbystwin]

Talented, no question. Attitude, lots of questions.

If we can realise a good transfer value for him we should sell him, he has not fulfilled his potential and ultimately i think that the fault for that lies with the player.

 

[LadyRed]

[quote author=Rouge Penguin link=topic=34107.msg886286#msg886286 date=1244719789]
Loan him to Newcastle or back to Ajax, somewhere he's going to start twice a week. Get some confidence playing regular football, develop as a player and bring him back for the later stages of the CL in Jan.

Without a run of games, he's going to fester.
[/quote]

I agree Rouge. But I think we need to send him on loan somewhere in the Premiership.

 

[gkmacca]

I don't mean to sound like an apologist for Benitez, but it does always strike me as a tad silly when fans suggest that the man who actually bought a player is the one who is too stupid to rate him highly enough, and not interested in seeing him improve. It's somewhat presumptuous.

 

[Molbystwin]

[quote author=Anita link=topic=34107.msg886306#msg886306 date=1244720659]
[quote author=Rouge Penguin link=topic=34107.msg886286#msg886286 date=1244719789]
Loan him to Newcastle or back to Ajax, somewhere he's going to start twice a week. Get some confidence playing regular football, develop as a player and bring him back for the later stages of the CL in Jan.

Without a run of games, he's going to fester.
[/quote]

I agree Rouge. But I think we need to send him on loan somewhere in the Premiership.
[/quote]

Loaning him is all well and good IF he performs but what if he is a lazy no mark when he's out on loan??

We lose cash.

Sell now.