Tuesday, 5 January 2010

LIVERPOOL FC: Is Rafa Benitez right to keep Ryan Babel?

NEWCASTLE V LIVERPOOL

RAFA BENITEZ'S decision to rule out selling Ryan Babel in the transfer window has caused abject disbelief among some Liverpool fans.

'He's had his chance,' some say. 'Cut our losses,' say others. Yet more...well, let's keep it clean, eh?

The Dutchman was widely tipped to be one of the players shown the Anfield exit door this month but Benitez, it seems, has other ideas.

"Babel will have a chance to play," Benitez told the BBC after the 1-1 FA Cup draw with Reading.

"He has to work hard. He's our player and he will have his chances. At this moment we are not trying to sell him."

The 23-year-old was signed from Ajax for £11.5million in 2007 and agreed a five-year deal. Now - halfway through his contract -  it's safe to say he hasn't lived up to expectations.

Ten goals in his first season promised much but moments like his peformance in the quarter final of the Champions League against Arsenal - when he won a penalty and scored a goal after coming off the bench - have been few and far between.

So, why not get rid?

I think there's a few reasons behind Benitez's stance. While players like Andrea Dossena (reportedly on his way to Napoli), Philip Degen and, particularly, Andry Voronin look lost causes, Babel  could  still prove valuable.

With pace, skill, strength and a thunderbolt of a shot in his armoury, he has the tools to do the job. What's been in doubt, is his attitude and commitment.

But even this season he's shown in flashes what he could  offer - think his superb goal against Lyon and his impressive run and cross for Fernando Torres's goal against West Ham.

There is something there. Kenny Dalglish saw it, saying Babel could "terrify" Premier League defenders. Marco Van Basten saw it too, saying he had the potential to be "the next Thierry Henry".

Arsene Wenger clearly rated him as well. In fact, a move to Arsenal looked nailed on before Liverpool upped the bidding (how times have changed).

Then there's the World Cup. Babel is running out of time to secure a place in the Holland squad and perhaps Benitez thinks this will fire him up to finally turn potential into performance.

If it does, and he ends up in the Dutch squad and making a contribution in South Africa, wouldn't Liverpool claw back more of that huge fee with such achievements on Babel's CV?

As it is, he's a flop. And flops come cheap - not what's required considering Benitez can only spend what he generates - a situation that looks unlikely to change anytime soon under owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Netherlands v Denmark - International FriendlyWhich leads me to my next point. Think what you like about Babel, but he's versatile. Benitez clearly thinks so, why else would he have played him on the left, the right and up front?

With money tight, perhaps Rafa thinks a Holland regular with 33 caps is better off on the books than off them - because who (realistically) would he get in to replace him this month?

So now (again) it's up to Babel. But  Benitez could play his part too. Give him a run in the team - then, once and for all, there can be no excuses if he blows his chance.

Because, as it stands, Babel has never played in a long run of games for Liverpool. Ok, maybe his performances haven't warranted it. But he certainly has never been afforded the patience offered to other underperforming players.

In 106 appearances, Babel has started 47 games, coming on as a sub in 59. And he's been given the hook 31 times.

The most games Babel has ever started in a row is six, that was in his first season. Last season the figure for most consecutive games was two. This season he has started just five games - and they have never been in a row.

Benitez is often criticised for playing safe. If he keeps Babel this transfer window he has to throw caution to the wind and gamble on him coming good. And that means consecutive games and minutes on the pitch. 

If he's never given that opportunity, we'll never know.

Comments (30)

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it seems that out of the three choices, Rafa consistently plays him in the worst possible position, on the left. Babel should be played up front alongside another striker or on the right, like he did quite well against Newcastle last season.
I think the best thing is to sell him so he can release his potential and not just spoil it. Everyone knows he got the potential but when he get so few chances on the pitch he wont get in shape. Why not try him out in at least 5 matches in a row, kuyt is shit this season anyway so what to loose? 4.4 for dossena, GREAT!
2 replies · active 792 weeks ago
ke epi treal's avatar

ke epi treal · 792 weeks ago

Sack Rafa now and save the most important club in England..
is he really any good??
1 reply · active 792 weeks ago
great points, great article
Makesure Rafa Need to play him if Rafa want to keep him. Talented & potential also need to be trained & polished. Right now babel really in bad shape. Everytime i looked at him played in the field, i felt that he is losing something. It is better to let him go, so he can spread his talent else way compare to sit on the bench at Liverpool. (Really a waste). If i am Babel, i will leave Liverpool....
I'm confused. Whilst he's versatile, has pace and a thunderbolt of a shot, I don't think he is a rafa's players material. He don't have any sense of defensive duty, didn't track back, and everytime he play he usually loose possesion. In a diffrent team I don't think that will be a problem (i.e arjen robben never track back), but that attribute is clearly something rafa wants from a player. In my mind, that's why Kuyt always start ahead of Babel or Yossi. Kuyt always stick with Rafa's vision of a team.

I think Rafa's comment should be emphasized more on the "he has to work hard" part, rather than the "not selling part".
Antirafite's avatar

Antirafite · 792 weeks ago

Babel hasn't been given a chance due to Rafa's negative tactics and sheer stupidity.I watched Babel at Ajax and to all those blinkered fools that think he is "Crap" clearly have no idea about football.Would a "Crap" player make it through the ranks of one of the World's best youth academies and then go on to become a full Dutch international?What was it Rafa said last year? Oh yeah "Babel needs to work on his defensive game".Says it all really,I hope this is Rafa's last season in charge we pay absolute dire football under him and it won't change in the foreseeable future.
3 replies · active 792 weeks ago
I think Rafa's down in the mouth attitude is catching.....look at Steve G for instance. A more upbeat attitude might help those with fragile confidence like Babel. And give him a decent run in the team (an tell him he'll get a run of at least 6 games on the trot) as second striker (like N'gog tried to do last week). Then if he still fails - let him go.
I just wonder if it's a bit of smoke and mirrors from Rafa. Which for once, is a good thing.

If he came out and said yes he can go, that weakens his negotiation position and drives down the fee.

If he says, no, no, he's staying then it alters his bargaining position. It happens all the time. How many times have managers said there's no way they are interested in Player X and then go and sign him the next week. It's all games.

I wouldn't be surprised if Babel does go this January. I hear the argument for a good World Cup pushing up his price but that's too dependent on other factors outside Rafa's control, like will he play games and then be any good?

Your first loss is always your best loss so I reckon Rafa will get shut over the next few weeks.
2 replies · active 792 weeks ago
@socialknight's avatar

@socialknight · 792 weeks ago

For me yes, but as you say he needs his chance and a run in the team. Maybe Rafa will surprise us and play him against Spurs.
I like Babels directness, something we havent had for a while, he needs confidence, better control and a better eye so he doesnt give the ball away cheaply, but his strength, pace, shot etc have the potential to scare the crap out of defences - along side Torres there is massive attacking potential
How is this any different to Robbie Keane and Benitez saying he's not for sale and then selling him to Spurs a week later?

If you're looking to sell a player you don't announce it publicly as it puts you in a weak negotiating position.

If we get an offer for Babel that is big enough, he'll be sold. And it'll probably be best for all involved.
1 reply · active 792 weeks ago
Hey Mate. At the age of 23 he should be providing more consistency than he does. You mention the Lyon goal (which was superb) but then 10 minutes later he had a free kick outside the box which went out for a throw in! His wage would cover another 1 or 2 players who could play with consistency and offer a threat IMO.

There is no doubting his ability but the lack of consistency can only come from his own mentality and attitude.

It is feasible, given our current financial situation, that Rafa is having to keep him. We would no doubt have to sell him at a loss at a time when the club can't stomach it. The remainder of his contract sitting on the balance sheet could well be worth more than what clubs are willing to pay.

So he'll stay until the summer and Rafa is no doubt hoping a run in the World Cup will increase his value to allow him to offload. The downside is that after being offloaded he will no doubt then have 'something to prove' which will drive him to play with consistency and everyone will ask Rafa why he got rid!

Should Babel go? For business reasons, no. For football reasons, yes.
1 reply · active 792 weeks ago
This playing out of position nonsense really does my head in! Why not instead of saying that player A is a winger/forward/defender can't we say that he has a certain skill-set, and by playing him in position X we can have him apply it in a certain way, while when he plays position Y he does it in another way. Like the notion that right back can't play on the left and vice verca.

Babel's main skills are a great right footed shot and straight-line speed. The way teams played us last season, where they would sit deep counters his pace, and playing up front there would be little space for him to use that magic foot of his. So the logical thing to do is to move him out left where he can cut in onto his better (only?) foot and open up lots of space for the fullback to move into.

Whether he should be sold depends on a few factors. The first one is what would it cost to renew his contract. It has now come to the point where he should either get an extension or move on. The second is if we feel that we have enough option to cover those positions he plays, and if not then what would it cost to sign replacements.
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
Now that we have Aurelio on the left wing everything is solved!!! LOL!
harrygreen's avatar

harrygreen · 792 weeks ago

Babel will be gone by the close of the window. Rafa knows how much Brum have to spend and he's playing hard ball. If McLeish or anyone else is prepared to stump up 10 mill then he'll go. I firmly believe this will happen. Babel has enough qualities to encourage someone to take the risk that they can bring the best out of him, which Rafa hasn't done.
i think that babel could be a great player, and i'm agree with rafa that he must continue in the team this year to show his best play, he has very good qualities and, like Van Basten said, he could be the next Henry.

good blog, cheers from nunca podre tener un dinosaurio
Babel has the ability to be a a great player, but like so many strikers in the last twenty years who have come to Anfield, I fear we're not the team to get the best of him.
I think we're all rooting for him to show his genius. He seems like a nice bloke but is lacking the swagger and self-belief to dominate games.
It's a risk but if he fails and we can get the same money for him in the summer then it's surely worth it, but therein lies the problem.
Nik Gresham's avatar

Nik Gresham · 760 weeks ago

Rafa was right to keep him but wrong not to play him, Ryan will be a great player for us if played on the right or up front.
Last night showed it

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