Can we now see the best of Babel?

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first of all, I’d like to wish Antoine a very Happy Birthday :D have a good one.

Babel at Melwood

During the 2007 under-21 European Championships, Babel was simply sensational. He was the player of the tournament by a mile. he was fast, clinical and his first touch was exquisite. but most importantly, he was confident. Benitez bought him for around £11 million and ever since, he’s looked nothing like how he did when he first came into the limelight. I hate Benitez for what he did to Babel, no offence. he DESTROYED Babel’s confidence and forced him to change his style of play, hardly gave him any game time, limiting it to mere 5-10 minute cameos and ultimately, destroyed his effectiveness. Now, with a new gaffer, Babel has the chance to shine again. I believe he has tremendous potential and I’ve always supported the lad. i can understand how he feels. My respect for him increased when he publicly reiterated his commitment and love towards our club and I hope that we can see his best this season. I’d prefer if Hogdson played him as an out and out striker, which is his favored position, rather than on the left wing.

YNWA

19 Comments

  1. I really hope we see Roy mix things up a bit. I could see Babel and Ngog forming a good attack. I think Nando likes to be the lone striker with a supporting midfielder like Cole or Gerrard. I’d say we should give a Nando/Babel strike force a try though. If Ryan could consistently perform, he would certainly be a danger and could exploit the holes Torres would create.
    I gained respect for Babel as well after his recent comments and wish him all the best this season. I’m damn excited for the season to kick off.

  2. He has the wrong attitude. He always talks about wanting to try but then never does. He’s more interested in his rapping.
    Appalling first touch too.

  3. Rafa bought babel and gave him enough chances to prove himself. It is ridiculous to say Rafa destroyed Babels confidence. Babel should have taken his chances. How can anyone be blamed for him losing his first touch? The harsh truth is that Babel can only blame himself. Bad rapper and poor footballer. Dutch under 21 is a massive step down from Anfield. He couldn’t make the step up. Sell him.

  4. Jaidev,
    I agree, to a certain extent that Benitez “undermined” Babel’s confidence (destroyed is too strong a word to use and is inaccurate) and he should have played more last season. But, your assetion about his best position is not based on any past history or facts.
    Babel is not and has never been “an out, and out striker”. Your view of his potential to play as one, stems from him playing in that Uunder 21 tournament as a 2nd striker. At Ajax he played predominately on the left, with the license to cut in and shoot.
    This view of him being a striker was his and his alone. He has never played as a striker for the Dutch national team

  5. Happy Birthday Antoine! && Jaidev I totally agree with your article. I loved Rafa and what he did for our club but he didn’t handle some players in the right way. Babel one of them!

  6. Towards the end of last season when nothing was going right, several times Rafa brought on Babel for the last 10 minutes. He often looked extremely dangerous & you got the feeling he’d score if he was given more time. I think he deserves more of a chance & if he is used off the bench give him 30 mins at least.

  7. Antoine for manager… :p happy birthday.
    May Allah give and your family all the happiness and you have many more while celebrating Liverpool’s triumphs!

  8. Personally, apart from rare flashes of brilliance, the lad never really inspired me or the team. Having said that this is a new chapter with a new manager, and sooner rather than later, new owners. So let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and see if Roy manages to rub some magic onto him to make him sparkle.

  9. And then I got to think ‘Had I made a comment like that about Rafa I would have been crucified….unless ‘The Inquisition’ is all asleep’!

  10. i have thought for along time that babel is a very good player as all the comments above say, he has pace and skill with the ball he should be on alot more to prove if he is or isnt worthy of wearing the red top

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