Topic: What Lucas brings to the team. What Babel might bring.

[Corkboy]

Yorky, just read your original post and enjoyed it muchly, particularly the Lucas bit. I have been desperate for him to do well, and I could also see the all action player you describe.

Manifest and Yorky, that stuff about Ryan Babel and his body posture is well spotted. He seems to have defined himself as a player who does not, for example, ever have to hit a thirty yard pass over a crowd (which is something quite hard to achieve if you don't lean back a bit). However, in this I yield to our very own Mr Pundit....

The develop of Rhine Bubble is natural a prime concern, He cost plenty dollar. The scouse wish to see the return on a invest. But the Bubble chin is STILL not show any sign off grow in manner we have hope. If any, is actual receded in recent minute. Sabu is a reasonable, but the chin remain unacceptable gormlessness retardly looks. Why, with all the plenty wage, he not got plastic surgical consult eg Connie Holby City. This women is master and easily give Bubble a solid Roger Moore or Bruise Forsooth.

[hassinator]

Thats where the confidence comes to play. All the talent and skills are there...the pace, the size, the power, the trickery, the shooting.

Stan Collymore - Emile Heskey - Ryan Babel. All 3 had otherworldly potential but 2 of them didnt have the mentality to step forward.
We cant let Babel follow in the footsteps of the previous 2.

bang.  this is what i've been thinking.  i know i've been hitting on ryan for not doing his defensive work and generally looking like its all a bit beneath him but he is really only lacking one thing and that's confidence.

i remember watching collymore play against queens park rangers and really not giving a shit for the entire game when suddenly he just went on a diagonal run, shrugged off two defenders and drilled a cracker into the goal with the nonchalance of a dad playing with toddlers. 

we know babel has that kind of ability but what he doesn't have is a guaranteed run in the side.  he is second choice on the left; second choice (at best) on the right and maybe fourth up front where ironically he did look at his best against preston - his movement suddenly seemed to make sense and he seemed unburdened by responsibility.

when he came to liverpool he was guaranteed games and did enough last year to make me expect he was really going to push on for us this season - maybe if we got barry instead of riera he would - but right now he is lacking opportunity.

for the record i think he is a striker.  i don't care where he has played in the past at other clubs but at liverpool i think he's been used on the flanks to get him game time but currently the lack of certainty about where to start him is probably contributing to his head down performances.

i think we all had a little rush of excitement when babel came to the club and we can't just give up now he's hit a shit patch.  dirk toiled for a long time before he persuaded me he brought something to the team and while we all like to see players roll up their sleeves if ryan comes good he will be an awesome piece of attacking kit.

[Mimi]

when he came to liverpool he was guaranteed games and did enough last year to make me expect he was really going to push on for us this season - maybe if we got barry instead of riera he would - but right now he is lacking opportunity.

--- Where did you hear that he was guaranteed games?

[hassinator]

--- Where did you hear that he was guaranteed games?

forgive me i just meant that as he'd just been bought for £11.5 million pounds and we weren't exactly overburdened with attacking options he was always likely to get a run in the side. 

now he has to compete with riera; kuyt; keane; el zhar has emerged... 

[b_joseph]

Those articles that you posted, Roy. They really give off the impression that he is still trying to find his identity as a person. Without trying to be Freud, its a concern.

[mercury]

excellent starting post from yorky and indeed posts from all around.

I was always bemused by the love of a big hard lad, of tackling and the ability to physically (rather than "technically" or tactically) to impose oneself but the time the more cultured players, unless for exceptional cases like Torres and Xabi, get appreciated in England.  Truly typical of a country which loved Bryan Robson but dismissed Glen Hoddle!

It's bang on to say that Lucas is a real footballer.  I like him from day 1 and the only question has been whether he can adapt to the English league.  He certainly has stepped up recently, although was a little disappointing against Preston in how deep he was and the failure to grab hold of the game like Alonso would have done.  He needs to work it out with Masch too (as Xabi did).  He should be able to directly compete for a place in the strongest area of the squad, and all will get their share of games.

Babel is strong, fast and has good feet but was - is - raw.  Game intelligence is a concern but he does improve in his decision making this season, but very very tentatively - a trait which is seeping into his game.  I said in another thread that he needs to get his head screwed on and stand by that.  Whether he got mental toughness (an essential quality to survive in a Rafa team), the apetite  is the BIG question and his desire to return to Amsterdam is not a great sign.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

But I would like to hear from those who went at Deepdale - in particular what they thought about Babel's movement off the ball. From the TV it looked very good when he moved into the middle near the end. And the lad was as instrumental as Gerrard in winning the second goal for Torres.

Am I being too kind?

It was woeful when he was on the flank.  We repeatedly worked positions where there were acres of inviting space avaliable behind their full back but Ryan kept turning to receive the ball with his back to goal.  I felt rather like Henk ten Cate:

In the beach hotel, Babel recalls the chastisements of Ajax's coach Henk ten Cate, another Surinamer. If Babel got too intricate trying to dribble past a defender, Ten Cate would scream: "Ryan, you're the fastest in Holland, dammit! Just kick the ball and run."

His contribution did improve when he moved into the middle, although given the state of the game with Preston committing men forward in numbers looking for the equaliser it was not as if his movement had to be particularly sophisticated. It was really just a case of getting on the shoulder of the last man and attempting to turn him and get in behind.  I'd be inclined to limit his use to similar situations for a while in the hope that he can be an impact sub, score a few goals and get some confidence back into his game.

[kaz1983]

However, in this I yield to our very own Mr Pundit....

 

[Yorkykopite]

Manifest and Yorky, that stuff about Ryan Babel and his body posture is well spotted. He seems to have defined himself as a player who does not, for example, ever have to hit a thirty yard pass over a crowd (which is something quite hard to achieve if you don't lean back a bit).

And yet Corky two of his crosses were hugely overhit on Saturday.

It was woeful when he was on the flank.  We repeatedly worked positions where there were acres of inviting space avaliable behind their full back but Ryan kept turning to receive the ball with his back to goal.  I felt rather like Henk ten Cate:
His contribution did improve when he moved into the middle, although given the state of the game with Preston committing men forward in numbers looking for the equaliser it was not as if his movement had to be particularly sophisticated. It was really just a case of getting on the shoulder of the last man and attempting to turn him and get in behind.  I'd be inclined to limit his use to similar situations for a while in the hope that he can be an impact sub, score a few goals and get some confidence back into his game.

OK, that's not good. I must say that in the first ten minutes he looked to be 'over-thinking' where he should be standing and moving to. You could almost see his thought bubbles.

Roy - thanks for those articles. The Kuper one's insightful (he's a good writer that bloke). Interesting comment about Baptista in there about a big guy lacking strength. I'll have to remember that category along with my favourite one:  'slow players who are quick' (Gazza, Zidane, Alonso etc). But Babel does have strength I think. It buys him time too because players who would barge in and take the ball from Kuyt (say) hang back when faced by Babel, fearing that in a fifty-fifty they'll just bounce off his hip. Of course he hasn't been able to exploit this advantage in anything like a consistent manner. Part of his problem, indeed, seems to be a certain cluelessness about what to do when a player jockeys him rather than  tries to tackle. When that happens he never does anything quick. If I were a coach instructing a defender against Babel I'd tell him - make sure he comes to a standstill when he has the ball. Mind you, that should still be easier said than done. But at the moment it seems too easy.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

It seems to me that Rafa's style is to drill his players on their defensive duties and patterns but rely on their "game intelligence" when going forward.  I don't see anything wrong with that.  However, it seems to me that Babel could actually maybe benefit from some of the micro-management so beloved of the 80's school of "percentage" managers who would plan all flair out of the game.

I remember John Barnes commenting that the only real advice that he'd received at Liverpool was Bob Paisley telling him that when he had beaten a man in the box and there was nothing immediately on, he should just go back and beat the man again as he might win a pen.  In contrast Graham Taylor used to give him a slip of paper before every half with instructions and measurable quotas on. 

"In this half you must:

a) Get in 10 crosses, five of which must reach one of our players
b) Beat your full back 5 times
c) Pull the balll back from the byeline twice.
d) Have three shots on goal"

It's not the way I'd play football, but it might be worth trying if only to focus the lads mind on what he needs to do. 

[b_joseph]

That check list stuff is interesting.

I remember playing under this Manager when I was 16 or 17 and he would say to his wide players. '' If you get in 20 crosses in the game from the byline, then it is up to the forwards to deal with the consequences of those crosses.''

Its sounds really simple but in reality, its actually quite hard to accomplish but it atleast gives you a goal to constantly strive for.
If I was Rafa, I would just tell Ryan to attack the full back every time he gets the ball. Even step into the territory of being greedy because he needs to realize just how much bigger, stronger and quicker he is compared to 99% of footballers out there.

Now, he could only do that playing from the right because on the left he would just constantly check back in order to fill his quota.
To his credit though, against the Geordies, he was very willing in crossing with his left foot. Not to much success mind but willing never the less.

[Yorkykopite]

Instinctively against the quota idea. It sounds like it might very badly distort a team's play. We all know what 'fulfilling the quota' meant in command economies like the USSR. Goods trains criss-crossing the Russian steppes for weeks on end without ever depositing their freight in order to fulfill some mileage quota.

Players should be encouraged to develop the skills to work out solutions once they know what the problems are, not tick pre-conceived boxes which may have no relevance to the situation on the pitch. That way Charles Hughes lies......

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Instinctively against the quota idea. It sounds like it might very badly distort a team's play. We all know what 'fulfilling the quota' meant in command economies like the USSR. Goods trains criss-crossing the Russian steppes for weeks on end without ever depositing their freight in order to fulfill some mileage quota.

Players should be encouraged to develop the skills to work out solutions once they know what the problems are, not tick pre-conceived boxes which may have no relevance to the situation on the pitch. That way Charles Hughes lies......

Totally agree mate.  I wasn't advocating it as a general footballing philosophy but perhaps as a temporary shock therapy for Babel that may help him to overcome his current mental blocks.

[Yorkykopite]

Totally agree mate.  I wasn't advocating it for as a general footballing philosophy but perhaps as a temporary shock therapy for Babel that may help one him to overcome his current mental blocks.

Ah well, I'd gladly give Babel a frontal lobotomy if I thought it might do any good.  Anything that helped kick start him into the player he's capable of becoming.

[hassinator]

Ah well, I'd gladly give Babel a frontal lobotomy if I thought it might do any good.  Anything that helped kick start him into the player he's capable of becoming.

no stone left unturned, eh? 

[b_joseph]

Instinctively against the quota idea. It sounds like it might very badly distort a team's play. We all know what 'fulfilling the quota' meant in command economies like the USSR. Goods trains criss-crossing the Russian steppes for weeks on end without ever depositing their freight in order to fulfill some mileage quota.

Players should be encouraged to develop the skills to work out solutions once they know what the problems are, not tick pre-conceived boxes which may have no relevance to the situation on the pitch. That way Charles Hughes lies......

I agree and players should be allowed to express themsevles.
But not all players are the same and there are some players that need to be set goals/targets in order to succeed. Ryan talked about how Rafa has allowed him to be who he wants to be in the attacking phases and only offers instruction in the defensive side of the game. But when we watch him play, it very rarely looks like he plays with any sort of freedom or even a plan in the attacking phase.

Its hard to really analyse him because we dont see what happens in training. But something has to be done about his inability to use the gifts that God gave him.
I gave up on Stan ( broke my 11 years old heart )...Gave up on Emile...I refuse to give up on Babel.

[manifest]

Quote from sabu pundit

The develop of Rhine Bubble is natural a prime concern, He cost plenty dollar. The scouse wish to see the return on a invest. But the Bubble chin is STILL not show any sign off grow in manner we have hope. If any, is actual receded in recent minute. Sabu is a reasonable, but the chin remain unacceptable gormlessness retardly looks. Why, with all the plenty wage, he not got plastic surgical consult eg Connie Holby City. This women is master and easily give Bubble a solid Roger Moore or Bruise Forsooth.

the pun dit first at the trough once again.....I don't know why I bother

 But something has to be done about his inability to use the gifts that God gave him. AYE

I gave up on Stan ( broke my 11 years old heart )...Gave up on Emile...I refuse to give up on Babel.

b_joseph     if rafa gets his way, and emile returns, you'd better make an appt. with your shrink now 'cos your childhood nightmares are about to be re-visited. that or 

emile. fuck that, I'll join you 

well I don't agree with those of you who say that this is a confidence issue....the lack of confidence is, imo, a symptom, not the cause. The cause is that he has hit a ceiling in terms of his technical limitations, which means that his manager is preferring others to play in the team who don't have those limitations. His lack of confidence is not the reason why riera is playing and he is not. So he either gets his head down and works on those limitations, and he will need help to do that, as I suggested above, or, most likely, move on to play in a team that can celebrate the gifts he has and not make him feel, as I'm sure he does when he sees our nabil getting more time on the park than him, like a failure....with the inevitable draining effect on his confidence.

Even though I tend towards psychological explanations, that is not where he needs the work imo as I've suggested above......he's obviously a very bright and enquiring lad, and if he could express himself on the field to his own and his managers satisfaction, the confidence issue would disappear overnight. I've seen him be successful at U21 level, and in the dutch league, where his pace and power and strength can dominate better technique, but he can't get away with that in 'the best league in the world' blah blah.
this dog needs to learn some new tricks.....no offence to jack the dog
<<<

oh and yorky.......frontal lobotomy? I see you're a fan of the souness management style, .......well I'll see you, and raise you a george graham with 10 electro shock therapies 

[manifest]

excellent starting post from yorky and indeed posts from all around.

I was always bemused by the love of a big hard lad, of tackling and the ability to physically (rather than "technically" or tactically) to impose oneself but the time the more cultured players, unless for exceptional cases like Torres and Xabi, get appreciated in England.  Truly typical of a country which loved Bryan Robson but dismissed Glen Hoddle!



 his desire to return to Amsterdam is not a great sign.

thank god there weren't any forums back in those days, I would have worn out 7 seven computers ranting about precisely that ..... fucking bryan robson....he'd get a red card every game nowadays. I know they'll never get any credit, but I for one am profoundly grateful that FIFA decided enough was enough after the 1990/94 world cups and decided to start to apply the rules of the game so that skill could breath over hacking.

return to amsterdam? not sure...it felt more like a 'threat' to rafa to signal his desire for more playing time than anything serious, yossi did the same thing on israeli tv just before right? then yossi suddenly starts getting games........it's a natural consequence of big squads that those on the fringes use media to 'invite' their manager to play them. don't like it meself but.....

[hassinator]

[quote author=manifest link=topic=234982.msg5218113#msg5218113 date=1231175756

well I don't agree with those of you who say that this is a confidence issue....the lack of confidence is, imo, a symptom, not the cause. The cause is that he has hit a ceiling in terms of his technical limitations, which means that his manager is preferring others to play in the team who don't have those limitations. His lack of confidence is not the reason why riera is playing and he is not. So he either gets his head down and works on those limitations, and he will need help to do that, as I suggested above, or, most likely, move on to play in a team that can celebrate the gifts he has and not make him feel, as I'm sure he does when he sees our nabil getting more time on the park than him, like a failure....with the inevitable draining effect on his confidence.

Even though I tend towards psychological explanations, that is not where he needs the work imo as I've suggested above......he's obviously a very bright and enquiring lad, and if he could express himself on the field to his own and his managers satisfaction, the confidence issue would disappear overnight. I've seen him be successful at U21 level, and in the dutch league, where his pace and power and strength can dominate better technique, but he can't get away with that in 'the best league in the world' blah blah.
this dog needs to learn some new tricks.....no offence to jack the dog
<<<

[/quote]

some interesting points here manifest and actually i wonder if babel is our new riise - someone capable of doing the business in the past but now being shown up by rising standards around him.

at the same time this is player we're supposed to have scouted for three years, also much desired by arsenal and for whom we paid top dollar - surely you don't become a crap player overnight and all these experts can't be wrong?

my main thoughts from reading roy's extensive interview quotes is that he is rather immature for his age and that despite his life experience so i do think confidence is a factor and we've all seen flashes of real ability like his back heeled goal - i think against Beşiktaş - that suggested great things to come.

i still don't want to write him off but i guess his card has been marked now and he needs to show us what he's made of.

[kaz1983]

You know what Babel is starting remind me of Pongolle ...

Both very talented young players at under 16, 17 and 21 level for France and Holland ... Pongolle was top scorer - hitting 2 hat tricks along the way and also scooped best player at the 2001 FIFA under 17 WC ... Babel didn't feature as Holland didn't qualify for the 2001 FIFA under 17 WC but 5 years later he help lead Holland to win the UEFA European Championship in 2007 and was seen as one of the best players along with Drenthe ...

Both have shown flashes of great individual skill, Pongolle's stunning goal against Betis and Babel debut goal against Derby are examples of their potential talent they have infront goal - Babel has yet to find his at LFC, Pongolle is finding it with Atlectico ... as for the ability to change games when the chips are down, both Pongolle and Babel have shown this in a red shirt - Pongolle against Luton Town and Olympiacos, Babel against Arsenal in the CL ...

It's strange as I defended Pongolle in his last season, I remember writing posts saying why he shouldn't be sold and needs to stay ... and recently I have detected that alot of people defending Babel sound or at least read like the way I and others who defended Pongolle in his last season read like ... I get this feeling if Babel wants to stay he has to really pull up stumps to prove his worth and scoring a goal here and there won't be enough ... but the worry is just like Pongolle, Babel might not get much of a chance to show more than a glimps of what he do, so he really needs to go all guns blazing when he an oppotunity ... 

[redbyrdz]

... I get this feeling if Babel wants to stay he has to really pull up stumps to prove his worth and scoring a goal here and there won't be enough ... but the worry is just like Pongolle, Babel might not get much of a chance to show more than a glimps of what he do, so he really needs to go all guns blazing when he an oppotunity ... 

I have just been thinking that Babel doesn't seem to be good at exactly this, grabbing an opportunity and go 'all guns blazing', just to show what he can do (as opposed to doing exactly that when it counts for the game, e.g. chasing a goal in an important fixture).

You'd think that against PNE, he'd go for it - starting place, first team around him, opposition he should be able to terrorise. And Riera on the other flank, so a chance to outshine his 'rival' teammate. But he had a poor game.

Reading those articles royhendo posted in here, there was this bit about him going for trials three times at Ajax, but never getting taken on. They took him on directly from his youth team three years later, but he never proved himself in direct competition with other players his age. Maybe that carries on, and he's still not good at 'standing out' for selfish reasons?

[hassinator]

You'd think that against PNE, he'd go for it - starting place, first team around him, opposition he should be able to terrorise. And Riera on the other flank, so a chance to outshine his 'rival' teammate. But he had a poor game.

yeah but he did seem to be really trying against pne it just wasn't happening.   

at least he was showing an effort though i'm aware that's not enough on its own.

[cjc9020801Beverly Hills]

to be honest I wasn't impressed with Lucas until recently - he has really begun to look the part. Babel has massive potential, but for some reason is not fulfilling it right now.

[MolbysBigBelly]

I'm sure I'm repeating stuff that's already been said, but my own thoughts over the course of several months.

I've thought for a while now that Babel appears immature.  There are of course a number of facets to this and how it might manifest itself on and off the pitch.

Confidence is defintely the main thing everyone seems to have picked up on.  However, I don't think it's a case that his confidence has been knocked by not getting played.  I recall an interview with him shortly after he joined where he said that Rafa had told him that he let the crowd and surroundings get to him while he was on the pitch.  This was something that had been picked up either by the scouts or very early in the pre-season.  So it looks like he's easily intimidated.

He also appears to be very shy and this is obviously a confidence issue.

Off field lifestyle:  He's a rap artist who still takes it very seriously.  By this time, you'd think he'd have made a choice.  He's also very religious and I do wonder when he talks about his faith, whether he's using it as a crutch to make up for what he lacks in maturity and confidence.  I have no problems with religion per se; in fact I'm quite religious.  There just seems something about Babel.

Decision making is quite poor on the pitch.  Also lacks the confidence in his own ability - why else does he shy from taking on the fullback?  BUT - Ronaldo took 3 years before he started to deliver - ask Roy Keane or the Utd fans.  However Ronaldo joined when he was only Utd 17?  I'm sure someone mentioned it earlier.  Just started reading Blink by Malcolm Gadwell and I think this might provide and insight or two in this area.

Recently there was the loan request.  You can kind of understand it with Benayoun who works hard and still can't get a starting berth.  The bloke behaves himself on and off the pitch, is an experinced NT captain who can't get past the competition. But again with Ryan, it sounds like an immature person not getting their way and looking for a way out - immaturity and lacking the confidence that his own ability will see him through.  Contrast this with Lucas' attitude after he was booed by the most knowledgeable fans in the world.

Even looking for other possibilities, it seems to come down to a confidence thing however I look at it.

Rafa realises this and again he told Babel last season that he would play out on the wing because he would be less involved in the physical side of the game out wide (or something like that).  As well as the fact that we needed a left winger, of course.  We now have a pukka LW and Babel needs to prove his worth, whther that be on the wing or upfront.

I also wondered early season, if Rafa had made a mistake in buying Robbie Keane when we have a striker in waiting, but Ryan seems to be taking a long time making his case.

[b_joseph]

BMW - I'd argue that Pongolle was even more talented that Babel. I still think he could have done a decent job as a right winger for us...especially in the 2 seasons before this one.

Its a good comparison though but the difference I see is that I never got the impression that Pongolle was lacking confidence. Pongolle just seemed to lack direction and understanding. His confidence to try tricks or beat defenders was always there.

It could be argued that he scored 3 of Rafa's most important goals as Liverpool manager. Olympiakos and the goals away to Luton in the F.A Cup.
Also, didnt he score the winning pen against Spurs in 2004-05?

[hassinator]

Its a good comparison though but the difference I see is that I never got the impression that Pongolle was lacking confidence. Pongolle just seemed to lack direction and understanding. His confidence to try tricks or beat defenders was always there.

good point.  but pongo wasn't a rafa player so i would expect him to be able to get more out of babel in that there is no way rafa wouldn't have signed him as part of a plan or a piece in the jigsaw.

[hesbighesred]

Great thread Yorky...beautifully written. Love the way you describe how Lucas plays, you've got a real aptitude with that kind of player...saying what I think about him better than I ever could.

You bastard

Will come back to this when I have time to give some thoughts worthy of the quality of this thread.

[b_joseph]

Babel's 50 yard burst past 2 of their players down the left side was interesting....He made it look so easy and ended up getting us a free kick in a great area.
Stevie hit the bar from it.

[-Sad Fuck-]

Definitely, although it was sad to see he only had 15 minutes, if he had 30 there might have been a different outcome.

After watching Lucas yesterday, and Chelsea today, and going back on what someone else said in the Level 3 thread, I do think it's possible to start with Lucas, Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard. However, the only problem with this is we lack any alternates when playing this many central midfielders. Chelsea currently have what are 4 midfielders in their normal starting XI, who conventionally like to play down the middle (Joe Cole would like to play there too if you asked him, but he does a more than suitable job on the wing). They're soon to have Essien back, which is a great alternate. We on the other hand, have Plessis and Spearing, as far as I'm concerned the jury's still out with those two.

I think the other problem we have if we wanted to have this midfield is lack of support from the full backs, especially the right side. The system Chelsea deploy relies quite heavily on their full backs bombing foward. I can see Insua making left back his own, and I have no doubt he has the ability to be a top class attacking defender. However, as reliable as he is, I can't say the same for Arbeloa. Were we to invest in someone like Johnson or Rafinha in the summer, I'd change my mind.

So what would the best system be? Personally, I'd have Mascherano in his usual role, with Alonso pushing up a bit more, along with Gerrard in the other central role. Riera's more than able to play on the left of a narrow midfield, so we're left with right midfield. Kuyt can do a job there, but it's Lucas I'd like to see have a crack on that side. He played there a couple of times this season, PSV if I remember correctly, and he was very good. He played there against Newcastle last season as well (away) and did an equally impressive job.

[hassinator]

Babel's 50 yard burst past 2 of their players down the left side was interesting....He made it look so easy and ended up getting us a free kick in a great area.
Stevie hit the bar from it.

yep i wonder why he didn't start him?  with stoke bypassing the midfield its clear we needed some pace and muscle up front to work off all those hurried clearances.  deeply disappointing performance at just the wrong time but we have to dry our eyes and move on. 

[ftsglfc1986]

Lucas i s a very inteligent player. And what Babel could bring is class there is a world beater in him but im not sure if we will see it here.

[royhendo]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N162838090113-1327.htm

Rafa has a 'heart to heart' with Ryan... (when I foyst met my boss, it was moydah)...

---

BABEL: I'LL RESPOND TO RAFA CHAT
Jimmy Rice 13 January 2009 

Ryan Babel has spoken of his determination to up his game after a heart to heart with Rafa Benitez. 
The Dutch winger lifted the lid on a chat in which the gaffer outlined areas he needed to improve to gain regular first-team football.
 
Babel is confident he can respond over the coming months and play a part in Liverpool's title charge.
 
The 22-year-old said: "I'm still young, but I want to play as many games as possible. We talked and the boss outlined the areas where I need to improve my game, and hopefully I can bring those areas up to the next level soon.
 
"My career has had a lot of ups and a few downs until this point. But I am confident it will be okay.
 
"When I was young I didn't get picked by Ajax after three trial games. After the third game, I thought I didn't want to play for them anymore. But when I returned to my club I did well and eventually Ajax came back for me again. I take a lot of strength and belief from that.
 
"I'm always confident. I know I have potential. It's up to me to work hard. Nothing good ever comes for free and I believe in my ability.
 
"But unfortunately only 11 players can start each week, and it's up to those who don't play as much to work even harder."
 
Babel added: "Somebody said recently that if the second half of the season goes the same way as the first, we'll be champions. Let's hope so.
 
"Right now we are top of the table and doing well.
 
"I want to do my bit for the team as we challenge for the title." 

[abhred]

That's really good to hear.

[millsymate]

Anyone see babels gob on satday ?
miserable bastard.
Clapped him and he just walked down the tunnel with his hood up.

[Corkboy]

I was watching that game from last night on a stream and I didn't get all of it, but I thought Lucas played well, until his moment of madness. Fair play to Koumas, who has talent, he did Lucas on the turn, shit happens. Apart from that, one of the things I noticed about Lucas is he has a lovely flat pass, in that his natural inclination is to hit the ball in a completely neutral way, no slice, no curl. Whereas Masch, for example, regularly hits a bumpy ball, Lucas always seems to skim it along the top of the sward, nice and easy to control.

Babel, on the other hand, seemed off the pace, from what I saw. But then he didn't give away a spotter...

[mugsy]

I know I am going to be slaughtered for this but reading about the wide players situation.  I wasn't always (still not) his greatest fan as he played for the Mancs but if Liverpool had more money I would have made a cheeky offer of trying to buy Beckham under the noses of Milan, he is not at is best but he can still make crosses and I always remember when we got Gary MCallister for free and how much an influence he made with the team.  I think he would have an explosive effect on the team with especially the young players Babel (imporving his crosses) and he played well with Gerrard in England, we had a better team when Beckham and Gerrard played in the middle than Lampard.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Beckham is the best crosser of the ball, but he can do the job and apart from Gerrard we seem to have problem on the right, yes he has played for the Mancs but so did Ince and is not one of favourite players however I think he would be a great short term buy.  While the youngesters improve.

Hmm who knows, I dislike our American owners as much as anyone but with him playing for an American team maybe they might be able to do the impossible if Rafa thought it was a good buy or not.   

[royhendo]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163310090219-1245.htm

BABEL: HOW I CAN LEARN FROM TORRES
Joe Curran 19 February 2009 

Ryan Babel has set his sights on taking up a more attacking role and forging a formidable strike partnership with Fernando Torres. 

The 22-year-old Holland international has played on both flanks and occasionally up front for the Reds since signing from Ajax in July 2007.
 
Now Babel believes he is ready to play as an out-an-out striker on a regular basis and is looking to learn from watching El Nino in action.
 
"I have to be realistic. I know Fernando is the number one striker here at Liverpool, there is no doubt about that," said Babel.
 
"But there are a lot of games and I want to prove that I can be a striker, too.
 
"Fernando has wonderful movement and that is what makes him the player he is. It's definitely an area where I can get better, so I look at him in training all the time.
 
"My shooting with my left foot could be better, too, and Fernando is good with both feet so I have been watching how he positions his body to strike the ball.
 
"I have to keep telling myself that I am only 22. It can be very easy to forget that.
 
"It is good for me that I have been playing more as a striker because that is where I feel most comfortable and I want to play in that position regularly.
 
"But I have time on my side and there are more players in the squad who have more experience and are good in that role, too.
 
"As long as I am playing, though, I am always happy being anywhere on the pitch."

[b_joseph]

For a guy who lacks in confidence. Babel doesnt half like to talk about himself and what he wants to do or can do.

[Mimi]

For a guy who lacks in confidence. Babel doesnt half like to talk about himself and what he wants to do or can do.

At least it's positive and Babel's tone sounds more positive rather than angry that's he's not being played in his preferred position. Everyone wants him to succeed, the question is if he has the mental strength. Let's hope this is a starting point.

I didn't think he did too badly in the game against Portsmouth---- yes, the missed sitter was awful--- but he was quite decent otherwise.  Passing was overall okay and it was heartening to see him using his strength to win a few knockdowns rather than being shrugged off.

[Ryan M]

At least it's positive and Babel's tone sounds more positive rather than angry that's he's not being played in his preferred position. Everyone wants him to succeed, the question is if he has the mental strength. Let's hope this is a starting point.

I didn't think he did too badly in the game against Portsmouth---- yes, the missed sitter was awful--- but he was quite decent otherwise.  Passing was overall okay and it was heartening to see him using his strength to win a few knockdowns rather than being shrugged off.

I disagree with you there mate. I thought Babel was poor against Portsmouth, and I believe that it is now to decide between either playing him as a striker he has the potential to be, or letting him go. The  lad is not a winger as he does not have the positional sense to play there. A decision needs to be made on Babel this summer.