Ryan Babel - has he turned the corner?

[LeTallecWiz]

Mark & I have been going back n' forth on this one forever. Less so in the past few months as I'd essentially gotten off the bandwagon and 'accepted' that Babel's future and how far he'd go as a player would depend on where he moved.

However, the past month has been very good for Babel. I'm not sure if it's the player suddenly believing in himself, or the manager creating a situation where he can only rely on him (the riera situation or Rafa suddenly sees something in the kid) - but he's been a very good asset on the wing for us.

His pace scares defenses. He can still score and create chances, but what's changed, to me at least, is the effort and passing.

1 - He's making more of an effort to track back - He's not leaving the LB (normally Insua) exposed and that will undoubtedly gain brownie points with Rafa.

2 - 'Back in the day,' Babel used to have one option - run fast into the corner and hopefully get a cross off (ie, standard liege or the real madrid cross to Stevie G) or lose the ball. Nowadays, he'll happily take the ball back and look for an easier/simpler pass.

I don't think he was that great today (granted, I only saw the first 55 minutes) but he again contributed to some dangerous attacking plays and didn't leave Insua exposed once. Maybe this is just me getting excited because I lost all hope in this kid's ability to forge a career with us, I dunno - but the last month has left me very tempted to get back on the 'Babel will make it at Anfield' bandwagon again ...

I still think his best position may be playing just off Torres ...

 

[spider-Neil]

I'd play him in every game for the rest of the season and I still think rafa dropped the ball by dropping him last week.
I think ryan his done enough to get into the dutch squad

 

[Hansern]

If he'd just learn how to do one dribble. ONE! How many times during a game does he get the ball and run straight at the defender?
He got very little out of all the possesion he had today, but still it's encouraging though, don't get me wrong.

 

[keniget]

I've always liked Babel - had just given up on the situation this year - but I'd say this is a little premature. If there was no World Cup in the summer and I could feel there was some genuine plan to get Babel performing in the team, I might be a little more convinced.

 

[ILD]

I like Babel, i'm a sucker for a bit of pace though.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=39531.msg1077658#msg1077658 date=1269802372]
If there was no World Cup in the summer and I could feel there was some genuine plan to get Babel performing in the team, I might be a little more convinced.
[/quote]

Maybe you're right Ken - I dunno ... but I always liked him at Ajax, was extremely excited after a very good debut season and have been rather disappointed/frustrated with the last two years. The past month has just been good - so maybe I'm jumping the gun ... hopefully not! 🙂

 

[Stulikesdrums]

Yeah, it would appear so Wiz. I was full sure he would be off in the summer after the Jan offers for him were rebuffed. He has started to show the kind of effort and desire it takes to play for Liverpool. I, like Neil has said, would play him in every game from now until the end of the season and see what we can get from him. With Reira being fucked off and Maxi and Yossi not being left sided players it is all opening up for Ryan, he needs to step up and show he's up for it. God knows, we could do with a pacey outlet out wide. Keep it up Ryan.

 

[Skullflower]

i thought he was brainless today, as always, but he should start the rest of games this season.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

He needs to use his left foot more

 

[red_maradona]

i have lost hope that he will make it - his decision making has not improved enough and he does not seem to have the delicacy in his play in terms of passing and guile to make it at the highest level.

 

[manwithnoname]

Played pretty well today, and showed why he should play more often; he has pace, power and a goal threat.

Well done Ryan.

 

[Peatcheo]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39531.msg1077691#msg1077691 date=1269807390]
Played pretty well today, and showed why he should play more often; he has pace, power and a goal threat.

Well done Ryan.
[/quote]

...but his sheer pace slows the team down.

 

[Squiggles]

Ryan Babel hasn't improved at all since he's been here, in fact I'm not sure he ever will.

But his current combination of pace and power makes him a useless outlet and gives us a different dimension up front.

Deserves to stay in the team for sure.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=39531.msg1077707#msg1077707 date=1269811353]
Ryan Babel hasn't improved at all since he's been here, in fact I'm not sure he ever will.

But his current combination of pace and power makes him a useless outlet and gives us a different dimension up front.

Deserves to stay in the team for sure.
[/quote]

freudian slip? 😉

 

[Squiggles]

Haha, oops.

*useful.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=39531.msg1077731#msg1077731 date=1269813917]
Haha, oops.

*useful.
[/quote]

I know, I'm messing 😉

 

[Squiggles]

Hopefully this means the last of seeing Yossi on the left.

When supporters know something is shit, Benitez usually follows suit 6 months later.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

I thought he was better today, but still not showing the demeanor of a man trying to convince everyone that he should be indispensable.


regards

 

[Oncy]

He's fucking rubbish.
No goals, no assists, can't beat a man. He's a punt n run merchant who couldn't pick a pass out of a box of snakes.
Why we didn't take birminghams 15m and laugh all the way to the bank I'll never know. I love the way his 'fans' cite the one or two games against fucking muck oppossition as evidence of how he must be in the side, completely ignoring the fact he's done two bits of fuck all for the last two years. He's just utter fucking rubbish, if he wasn't fast he'd be a fucking windmill repair man.

 

[Halmeister]

Hahaha.

I do like him, though. Yes he's not very good, but I think spidey mentioned it in another thread, he makes the opposition worry because of his pace. Pace is a massive asset to have, and he's direct, and has a great shot on him from time to time. I'd keep him as an option and play him in most home games like todays. Especially if we wouldn't see the money from selling him.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Halmeister link=topic=39531.msg1077802#msg1077802 date=1269821840]
Hahaha.

I do like him, though. Yes he's not very good, but I think spidey mentioned it in another thread, he makes the opposition worry because of his pace. Pace is a massive asset to have, and he's direct, and has a great shot on him from time to time. I'd keep him as an option and play him in most home games like todays. Especially if we wouldn't see the money from selling him.
[/quote]He worries fuck all Hal. All of our best play came from Maxi tonight or when Torres pulled out left. Babel as usual shit out of every single challenge and ran around like a headless chicken. I'd rather watch a elephant doing a shit than watch him play football.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

If Babel thinks about what he is going to do he fucks it up. If he doesn't have time to think and just reacts naturally he is much better.
The problem for Ryan with this scenario is that thinking about things is about 90% of it.

regards

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=39531.msg1077805#msg1077805 date=1269822338]
If Babel thinks about what he is going to do he fucks it up. If he doesn't have time to think and just reacts naturally he is much better.
The problem for Ryan with this scenario is that thinking about things is about 90% of it.

regards
[/quote]Hes just so mediocre. Faaaar better players than Babel have recieved faaar less column inches in regard to the heights they have hit for LFC.
I'm just so sick of accepting average dross at our club. Ryan Babel is the embodiment of our problems. We'll all get old wither and die while were waiting and hoping for him to suddenly stop being shit.
He won't. He'll play one decent game in 20 and then we'll listen to his apologists bleating on about pace and him turning a corner and he's just about to finally proove us all wrong.....then he'll do fuck all for 10 games while they tell us 'just you wait...just you wait'

 

[Vlads Quiff]

I wouldn't disagree

regards

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=39531.msg1077808#msg1077808 date=1269823075]
I wouldn't disagree

regards
[/quote]I know Vlad. That's coz you know your stuff.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

innit

 

[Halmeister]

Yeah I agree with you Oncy, I just think he can be of affect from time to time. His physical attributes cause problems. Pace is a very important component to have, it causes problems even if you have nothing else. Much like Babel.

He needs to stop fucking running into people, though. Run FUCKING around them!

I tell you what, though, I've got a couple of season reviews on DVD, seasons 07/08 and 08/09, and when you just watch the goals through the whole seasons it's surprising how many Babel plays a part in.

 

[Dreambeliever]

[quote author=ILD link=topic=39531.msg1077663#msg1077663 date=1269802820]
I like Babel, i'm a sucker for a bit of pace though.
[/quote]

LIkewise.

 

[manwithnoname]

Oncey sick of accepting average dross at our club

Hahahaha, you get it wrong about Liverpool players more often than anyone

 

[spider-Neil]

the problem is people see babel as a winger, he isn't a winger and we are doing our best to turn him into something he is not because he has searing pace.
babel is at his best when there are players buzzing around him and he can give quick give and go and lightning fast one touch moves.

he is the sort of player that is ideal for breaking down teams no because of solo brilliance but because he was in involved in a flowing passing move and personally I think it is no coincidence that when liverpool have absolutely battered teams the chances are he started the game (the obvious exception being the manu 4-1).