Sport Liverpool Football Club

[dogsout]

I'm very confident that we'll beat them at Anfield anyway. Our remaining fixtures are Atletico at home, Marseille at home and PSV away. We should win the group comfortably.

[Meat]

Pity about all these injuries, but it's a blessing in disguise, Babel is going to tear Chelsea to shreds

[rjpageuk]

Pity about all these injuries, but it's a blessing in disguise, Babel is going to tear Chelsea to shreds

As long as he decides to be interested. I really dont like the way Babel looks most of the time he plays for us, last night he looked pretty disinterested too.

Maybe I have just been watching Kuyt too much or something.

[V3zna]

As long as he decides to be interested. I really dont like the way Babel looks most of the time he plays for us, last night he looked pretty disinterested too.

He comes across as disinterested and lazy most of the time. So does Berbatov to be fair and he's a fairly class act.

[Kelthink]

He comes across as disinterested and lazy most of the time. So does Berbatov to be fair and he's a fairly class act.

Didn't he say he didn't want a career in football? He seems to just be doing it 'cause he's good at it. It's a shame but that's his perspective, I guess. EDIT: Babel, I mean.

[V3zna]

Didn't he say he didn't want a career in football? He seems to just be doing it 'cause he's good at it. It's a shame but that's his perspective, I guess. EDIT: Babel, I mean.

He prefers to rap according to Van Basten.

[dogsout]

He said he'd love to be a rapper if he wasn't a footballer in a couple of translated articles I read. Going from interviews he's done in Holland I think it's safe to say that his heart is in the game. He's got a lot of belief in his own ability and I think the way he struts about on the pitch is akin to Henry and his whole effortless swagger. Coincidentally, Henry is the player he believes he's most similar to. I have every confidence that given time he'll become one of the best players in the league.

Edit: I remember that article and Van Basten talks a lot of shit about a lot of people. I'm not saying he's wrong or lying in this instance, just that he also said Babel shouldn't move to Liverpool, has a terrible attitude and would probably ruin his career here.

[V3zna]

He's got a lot of belief in his own ability and I think the way he struts about on the pitch is akin to Henry and his whole effortless swagger. Coincidentally, Henry is the player he believes he's most similar to. I have every confidence that given time he'll become one of the best players in the league.

I agree and it's fair to say we can easily accomodate one 'luxury' player in our first 11.

[DC]

He said he'd love to be a rapper if he wasn't a footballer in a couple of translated articles I read. Going from interviews he's done in Holland I think it's safe to say that his heart is in the game. He's got a lot of belief in his own ability and I think the way he struts about on the pitch is akin to Henry and his whole effortless swagger. Coincidentally, Henry is the player he believes he's most similar to. I have every confidence that given time he'll become one of the best players in the league.

Edit: I remember that article and Van Basten talks a lot of shit about a lot of people. I'm not saying he's wrong or lying in this instance, just that he also said Babel shouldn't move to Liverpool, has a terrible attitude and would probably ruin his career here.

FourFourTwo had an article on Van Basten and mentioned that he has had fallings out with a high number of his players.

[Sng]

He prefers to rap according to Van Basten.

And Youtube - http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query..._type=&aq=f

[ras el hanout]

I'm not so sure about Babel. Apart from his body language this interview from a while back struck me as pretty negative. He's got the talent for sure but he also seems to have that dutch thing going on.

World Soccer: Do you feel settled at Liverpool?

Ryan Babel: Naturally, I miss my family, friends and my home city, Amsterdam, but it isn't as if I'm homesick. My new life is far too good, too exciting and attractive for that. From the moment I arrived at John Lennon airport [in July last year] with my girlfriend, parents and agent and I saw a chauffeur with a board with my name I felt something special. After talking to Rafael Benitez at the training complex it only confirmed I had made the right choice.

What did Benitez say to you?

That he had signed me because he wanted more players in the squad who can get past opponents. He also told me that I'd get the time to familiarise myself with the level of football in the Premier League. That was very important for me as this was a huge step I had made. Of course, my status as a young talent carries certain expectations but Liverpool see me as a rough diamond that needs to be cut and polished.

Everything seems to happen naturally for you.

I try to keep calm. People think I'm insensitive and that nothing affects me but the exact opposite is true. After Marco Van Basten selected me for the World Cup squad in 2006 someone asked me if I had jumped for joy. That wasn't the case and I said so. I was happy inside, but with me you don't see that.

Were you surprised how quickly the transfer happened?

I never thought for a moment that I'd have to leave Ajax to make the next step in my development. Two years ago [when Babel was 19] Liverpool were interested in me but then I didn't have a good feeling. I didn't know anything about them and the club didn't inspire me, but that was pure ignorance on my part.

Last summer the situation was different because Liverpool had reached the Final of the Champions League twice in three years. My agent told me that they had already bought Fernando Torres, and that made it even more interesting. Along with [girlfriend] Lindsay, we discussed this intensively for a week. We were both living with our parents at home and wanted to live together, and along with the transfer it would be a gigantic step. Eventually we decided that we would do it, and Benitez insisted that I call him personally with my decision.

My agent gave me his number and after four attempts I finally got him. We had a good, open conversation. Benitez was completely honest and told me about his rotation system, but from his way of talking I felt he knew a lot about me as a player. He was very well informed.

How important have your family been?

The opinions of my father, mother and agent are very important for me. Since I was 14 when I first met Winnie [Haatrecht, his agent] we planned together what the goals were. Every two months we meet up and write down what the new objectives will be. You have to see this as a performance contract with standards I have to meet. Everything is saved on the computer by my parents.

Not many youngsters take such a serious approach, do they?

After my first match with Ajax we realised I had to deal with so many issues. At the time I was going out after training and having fun with friends in the evening. I covered up my tiredness and kept going into the city but after a few months I discovered I lacked energy sometimes during training and matches. That's why my performances were so erratic.

My parents and Winnie made this clear and told me I had to get to bed earlier, get more sleep, be careful with my diet – eat a good breakfast and not a loaf of bread late in the evening after having a big evening meal. Sometimes I thought, have I got to listen to all this crap again?

My father is very critical, and from the 10 things we spoke about, if eight were good he'd be going on about the two that weren't. We've had a lot of confrontational discussions over the years but the result was that I've had to live for my profession. I enjoyed a good last season [at Ajax] thanks to the extra work and a sober lifestyle.

And have you carried on with that approach at Liverpool?

Yeah, I'm learning so much here, and again I see that it's often the small details that make the difference. After a match we have to stand in an ice bath for five minutes. You can be affected with cramp or lactic acid, and that causes small tears in the muscles, but by applying cold water it repairs the damage immediately.

During pre-season I had to do it after every training session and it was so cold, really horrible. In the beginning I could only suffer it for half a minute and sometimes I stood with my tracksuit and socks on or I tried slyly to miss it. Even during training I was thinking about the dreaded cold water but now I'm used to it – and it certainly works as I'm more flexible and feeling a lot better the following day.

Are you happy with your progress this season?

I'm reasonably content, but of course I have wanted to play more, and that's normal. Sometimes I have been very disappointed, but Benitez has his reasons. He always rotates, and I knew that before, so I accept it. We hear who's playing only an hour before the match. From the training sessions you have no idea who'll play, and I've had to familiarise myself with the changes.

People will probably find these stories strange but Benitez is a good coach and a very fine man. It's understandable I'm not playing 90 minutes. Physically I'm not yet at the point that I'm able to play 90 minutes in the crazy tempo of the Premier League. Even against the smaller clubs it's difficult for me.

[Sng]

I think he comes across really well there?

[ras el hanout]

I think he comes across really well there?

I think he comes across quite negative.

[Reynard]

So do you.

Have you been on holiday? Your return to this thread has coincided with our first dropped points in a fair while.

EDIT: That sounds quite hostile - I'm being playful, but am trying to kick the habit of using emoticons.

[V3zna]

I hope Babel's odd sort of body language eventually manifests into arrogance as I think he's the kind of player that will thrive on that kind of attitude. Henry was certainly like that, as is Ronaldo today.

[Kelthink]

I hope Babel's odd sort of body language eventually manifests into arrogance as I think he's the kind of player that will thrive on that kind of attitude. Henry was certainly like that, as is Ronaldo today.

Maybe, but those players were the best in their teams. I'm not sure if Babel could reach those heights, and it may make him a bit of a twat who'd want to leave the team some day (like Anelka, Ronaldo, Arsenal).

[ras el hanout]

I hope Babel's odd sort of body language eventually manifests into arrogance as I think he's the kind of player that will thrive on that kind of attitude. Henry was certainly like that, as is Ronaldo today.

BUT! Where's he going to play?? Riera looks awesome, like Harry Kewell should have been. Riera's made that position his own in a couple of games. Is he going to play upfront? What about Keane? You know?

[V3zna]

BUT! Where's he going to play?? Riera looks awesome, like Harry Kewell should have been. Riera's made that position his own in a couple of games. Is he going to play upfront? What about Keane? You know?

Babel's a forward. He's certainly not a winger and like Walcott he's only been used out wide to gain experience.

Riera's been fantastic so far. Such a skillful player.

[dogsout]

Babel's a forward. He's certainly not a winger and like Walcott he's only been used out wide to gain experience.

I'm not sure of that. He's definitely not a proper winger but he has predominantly been played as a wing-forward. His whole career with Ajax was spent filling this role and he didn't play as a centre-forward until he played in the U-21s Euros. I think he will feature in the centre more when he's matured but he's versatile enough to play pretty much anywhere in attack, and Rafa loves to exploit a player's versatility.

[ras el hanout]

But where is he going to play, if everybody is fit? He's not in the starting line-up.

[phresh]

I quite like Babel, he's got that sort of lanky skilful thing that when he's on form looks awesome. I would say he is a far better wide player, predominanlty because I don't think he's going to get you 20 goals a season that you really need from your front men.

[dogsout]

But where is he going to play, if everybody is fit? He's not in the starting line-up.

He doesn't have to be. He'll play wherever Rafa's tactics on the day dictate. We don't really have a first 11, do we? He's still young and there's plenty of time for him to develop and make a claim for a regular first team place.

[ras el hanout]

He doesn't have to be. He'll play wherever Rafa's tactics on the day dictate. We don't really have a first 11, do we? He's still young and there's plenty of time for him to develop and make a claim for a regular first team place.

Impossible to know but I just don't think he'll sit around waiting for that to happen, though. I mean, it's Riera that must concern Babel. Riera looks great. Last season we were saying Babel was being broken in gently. So what's happened this season? We bought Riera and Keane, players for Babel's possible roles. And Riera looks great and Keane cost £20m. It's tricky for Babel. Will he put up with being a super-sub?

[dogsout]

Judging by his recent interviews, he still doesn't feel like he's fit enough to play with any regularity in the Premier League anyway. There's a lot of competition for places, Rafa rotates, there will be injuries and we'll hopefully be playing 60-odd games this season. There will be games where his pace and shooting ability will be preferred to one of the other players' attributes. I'm sure there will be enough games for him to continue his development and enough to keep him happy.

[V3zna]

I see Babel as a second striker with Torres playing on ahead of him on the shoulder of the last defender. Obviously I don't want Keane dropped but ultimately I don't see Babel staying out wide forever. Once again, the exact same as Walcott.

[Meat]

For me, Babel-Torres is our ultimate attack. They'd literally murder defences.

[Reynard]

Was hoping that the silence regarding Torres was going to mean that he'd make a surprise appearance on Sunday.

Sadly not.

[Meat]

Noooooooooooooo

I really hope Babel starts

[Meat]

Massive game, I'm very excited, aroused even.

[dizogg]

We could be 8 points ahead of Man Utd tomorrow! Although to be honest i'd be very happy with a draw.