Back in the summer of 2007, during and after the U21 European Championships, Liverpool’s Ryan Babel was lauded as the next best thing since sliced bread. With his performances for the Holland U21 side, who could argue with that?
Not surprising that many of Europe’s top clubs were after the Dutch sensation, including Arsenal, one of our oldest rivals. Quotes in the media suggested he would sign for Arsenal in a year or two. Next thing you know Liverpool agreed a fee with Ajax and very quickly Anfield club pulled off a sensational signing, well it seemed like a great deal at the time any way!
All sounds familiar to the Diouf transfer during the 2002 World Cup, after he ran France ragged with his dazzling performance. Diouf was a hit after a few games, particularly when he scored against Southampton at Anfield, but this turned out to be a false dawn.
The two transfers have plenty of similarities from both players personalities to the positions they had/have been asked to play at the club, though both signed by different managers. To look at the position scenario a bit more, Diouf started out as a striker and was then “converted” to playing as a winger by our then manager Gerard Houllier. Similarly, Rafa Benitez played Babel as a winger, albeit on the opposite side to where Diouf was deployed.
So was the indifferent form of both players down to the change of position?
Well, it’s quite possible that Babel could have turned out to be a different proposition, had he been played as a striker to start, instead of being thrust out to the wings. Though, the difference between him and Diouf is that Babel actually has the potential to be a class winger; a glimpse of which saw last season at Upton Park, where he dropped the ball on to Torres’ head for one of our goals. This talent can only be realised though with improvements to his attitude and his general play.
Played upfront as a striker (his preferred position), against Trabzonspor last night provided Babel with the perfect opportunity to seize his chance and prove to the new boss that he is indeed a striker. Did he take it though? Well, for the first 40 odd minutes of the game he looked anything but a quality striker. The defender was on top of him for virtually every through ball and long ball played in his direction. Similarly his first touch and passing were erratic to say the least.
All of this can be put down to a lack of match practice, which in all fairness is probably true, but you could see his head dropped every time something didn’t go quite right for him. It was almost as if he’d given up before even trying or was he trying too hard? What he did show though at the end of the first half was his potential, quality run and finish having been played through by the instrumental Joe Cole.
So, is Babel another Diouf? I don’t think so, there are many similarities between the two players but Babel has shown a lot more potential than Diouf ever did. Rafa couldn’t seem to get the best out of the Dutchman but Roy Hodgson actually could. Roy has proven himself to be a good man manager, someone that can put his arm around Babel and say “look son, you’re good but you need to show it”.
I for one would love to see Babel getting regular football this season, and consistently putting performances of high quality. Probably the most important season in his career, let alone his Liverpool career (assuming he’s not sold before the window closes), I genuinely think he could come good.
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He’s crap; How many chances does he need? Get rid quick and use the money for a player who can give us results now not some hypothetical point somewhere in the future.
Well written. (y)
How many chances does he get? obviously a hell of a lot more than Aquilani.
I think it’s really cruel to compare Babel and Diouf. Diouf was an utter scumbag and I was ashamed that he ever wore the Liverpool shirt. He doesn’t have 1% of the raw talent that Ryan Babel posesses. Diouf’s attitude makes Babel look like a saint.
Babel needs to have a regular run in the team without the fear of being given the hook if he has a bad game. He needs to be let of the leash and given freedom to express himself. He has the languid look on the pitch like Thierry Henry or Berbatov, looking a bit like he doesn’t care at times. I think he does try, but it’s just how he looks on the pitch. But that goal proved that he has that amazing spark quality to come alive and do something magical. Babel needs to believe in himself and just express himself. He also has the priceless quality of getting big goals in big games. Come on Ryan – DO IT FOR US THIS SEASON!!
Look, how many time do you have to encourage somebody making the dosh that he makes every week? I think his mind is not a football tactical mind and that is why he doesn’t make the needed jump from Holland to England! He has had enough chances and Rafa did talk to him to encourage him. Now he either puts up or shuts up!
GET RID OF BABEL he has done nothing for liverpool he has had chance after chance and failed to shine !steve mclaren has gone on record as an admirer so that must say something,sell him and get someone in for the money,I WOULD LOVE FORLAN BUT THERE ARE MANY MAYBR BENT OR ZAMORA
Well said ynwa as for the last guy not a clue darren bent yeah real Liverpool quality
he had a terrible start to his first game in months, continually rushing his movements and consequently giving the ball away but for the second 15-20 mins his flicks were coming off and he looked decent. He then had another shaky 5 mins before producing an excellent run off the ball and finish, for which he is not getting any credit.
We have adequate backup strikers but we do not have even one top class winger. As such a quality winger should DEFINITELY be our priority
SOME OF THE MUPPETS WHO ARE TOO QUICK TO SLATE BABEL,REMEEMBER HE HAS HAD NO RUN IN THE TEAM EVER, RYAN IS A RIGHT WINGER OR STRIKER NOT A LEFT WINGER AS RAFA PLAYED. THE SAME RAFA WHO WOULD NOT DROP DIRK KUYT EVEN WHEN IT WAS CLEAR WE NEEDED RYAN ON THE WING. well said ynwa and Matt.
Drop kuyt? He’s been one of our more consistent players!!
That’s why even Roy does not want to sell him after being offered £15m for a 30 yr old 🙂
And Roy has good man management skills?
That’s explains aquas loan deal….
Great man management skills that is :s
Babel has till jan in my book…. If he performs it’s about time, if not then he can go!
I think this article is fair.
We can’t expect all our players to be like steve gerrard, playing in any and all positions. its a simple fact that plenty of great players are only good in 1 or 2 position.
I think if Ryan gets a few chances up front, gets his confidence back and scores a few goals he could be great. The way he took his goal in the UEFA cup spoke volumes about his striking skill, he had a bit of the thierry henry’s about him, which can only be a good thing.
Also Roy is a good man manager. Better than Benitez anyway. He was straight up and honest with aqua, unlike benitez who probabaly would have sat him on the bench for the next year and then sold him for half the money when he didnt perform! Roy’s management skills are borne out in the fact that he thought of the player in his decision, instead of his own ego.
wud play babel on thr rte as he poses more of a threat than kuyt,
This article is well worth the read but the author and the follow up contributors have only hinted at the main problem with Babel . which is well known at the club and at home in the Netherlands .
Unlike 99.9% of Premiership players , he does not enjoy playing professional football one little bit , in fact , he has a strong dislike of it . He treats it as an irritation that gets in the way of his life and will continue to do so whilst someone is prepared to pay him £70,000 per week .
Good luck to him !!!
Boys
I’m sorry, I sit in the main stand and he is rubbish.
He reminds me of Baros.
Both play with their heads down with no concept of what is happening around them.
Additionally he seems more intent on becoming a rapper than a footballer
I’d play him as a Striker alongside Torres and give him a run of games. We don’t have anough central mid players to keep with the 4-2-3-1 formation. Mascherano & Aqualani are are on their way and should any of Poulsen, Lucas get injured we’d have to turn to Spearing and then Plessis (if he is still at the club). Crazy days just as things were looking good they weaken the squad by loaning out Aqualani!!!!!
As proven with Diouf it is all down to attitude, if Babel concentrates more on his football and less on rapping he will do fine.