What should be done with Ryan Babel?

Everyone knows the situation that Liverpool are in, if there is no new investment this summer Rafa Benitez will have to sell before he buys, and one of the primary contenders to be sold this summer is Ryan Babel.

Everyone knows the story of Ryan Babel, a raw talented youngster with pace to burn and a venomous shot, he can strike fear into opposition defences if he utilised his attributes in the right way. The unfortunate thing since his arrival in 2007 though is that he has for one reason or another not hit the heights expected of him.

Blame can be attributed to many sides as to why the 23 year old Dutch international hasn’t quite performed to the highest level. In respect to Rafa Benitez, the Liverpool manager hasn’t always been the most patient of bosses and after a promising first season, where he scored 10 goals in 27 starts, his second and third season’s have been less than convincing as Rafa has opted to use him as an impact substitution rather than starting matches. Such things can hamper a player’s development and I have advocated that the Dutch forward should have had more game time over the last couple of years.

Another factor has been the issue of where to play him. During his breakthrough season at Ajax he played as a striker before being moved out wide in his second campaign to make way for Klass-Jan Huntelaar in the striker’s berth. Liverpool purchased Babel on the basis of his abilities to play out wide, and Rafa has subsequently rarely played the player up front. Babel has stated himself that his preferred position is as a striker and he has become frustrated at the manager’s refusal to play him there.

This is where Babel himself is far from blameless though. With his pace and ability, he does have the capabilities to play as a wide man but he has fundamentally failed to adapt to the position and use his strengths to his advantage. He runs too many times into dead ends and his crosses from his left foot leave a lot to be desired. He loses the ball too readily and his decision making can at times be very questionable. He really needs to mature as a player and that was why Rafa sidelined him as a starter for so long. Such lack of progress has certainly led to frustrations on Babel’s part and have sometimes exacerbated his poor form. Babel said recently:

“I have made some mistakes during the season so I have learned a lot from this season and I will take that with me into the future. I think the turning point was that I could focus on the football and not rumours and different sayings of people and the media. . . It is a situation where both sides have to work with each other. It has given me confidence recently and I’m now trying to give something back. Liverpool have confidence in me and I have confidence in Liverpool.”

The talk with Rafa did do Babel a world of good though, and he began to start matches. Since his return to the starting eleven he has tried very hard to regain his top form. His efforts especially in the second leg against Atletico Madrid were absolutely phenomenal as he ran the length and breadth of the pitch for the best part of the night. Despite starting and working hard though, he has yet to find that spark which will up his level, and with Liverpool’s finances so tight, it maybe time to let the 23 year old go to pastures new, so the Reds can rebuild the team. He may only be a short time away from realising his potential but we cannot know that, and Rafa will have to make the tough choice over whether to sell him to find a more accomplished and complete player.

PROS – One of the most saleable assets in the Liverpool squad, Babel is relatively young at 23 and should have quite a few admirers for his signature who still believe they can revitalise the Dutch winger’s career and make him a star player.

– The sale for let’s say £10m (maybe a bit optimistic) would free up funds for a player who’s more of a finished product. As well as having the pace of Babel, the player will need to be technically sound, accomplished on the ball and have great vision

CONS – Could live to regret the sale of the Dutch winger if he turns out to be a superstar in a couple of years. May just be a late developer and needs greater encouragement from a manager to get the best out of him. We all know he has lightning pace and fantastic shooting abilities, but if he becomes more consistent, he would be a threat to any defence.

– May not be able to sell for a high price if suitors believe that both Liverpool are desperate to get rid of him to raise money, and that Babel has not performed consistently well over the past few years, leaving them less convinced about his future prospects.

What would you do? Sell Babel and risk losing a potentially very good player or keep him and hope he realises his potential soon with the Reds needing instant results next season?

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