DAVID PRENTICE: Is it time for Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez to indulge the enigma that is Ryan Babel
LIVERPOOL'S recent interest in Kenwynne Jones was curious.
Because the Reds already possess a striker who has exactly the same qualities, if not more, than Sunderland's occasionally effective centre-forward.
He is quicker, trickier, he has a better shot, and while his aerial ability isn't quite as good, he's certainly no slouch upstairs.
Like Kenwynne Jones he's also woefully inconsistent, but Rafael Benitez appears ready to give Ryan Babel another chance.
"Ryan was able to play the other day and he got some minutes as a striker, in the position that he likes," said Benitez.
Babel clearly has talent, but I would suggest he needs more than "minutes" to show it.
Babel's three seasons as a Liverpool footballer have been more fragmented than Humpty Dumpty.
He has never completed two 90 minute matches back to back. That's right. Never.
The longest run of his Liverpool career came in the spring of 2008, when he started six successive matches - and was substituted in all except one.
Coincidentally - or maybe not - the single game he remained on the pitch until the end he scored.
Soon after that brief run he started another five in a row - and was substituted in every one.
The longest run he has enjoyed in the Liverpool team since then is two successive starts - and even that paltry 'run' has happened on just three occasions.
With Fernando Torres still out injured for some time and David Ngog continuing to learn his striking art, there will never be a better time to give the Dutchman a decent run of games.
Rafa Benitez has showed his indulgent side in the past - most notably when Peter Crouch couldn't hit a cow's backside with a banjo - and eventually his patience was rewarded.
Perhaps now is the time to throw a similar arm around Ryan Babel's shoulders.
There could just be a rough diamond there waiting to be polished.
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Babel (unlike Crouch) has no concept of hard work. His performances have been consistently poor. If he wants time in a red shirt he needs to impress Rafa in training. If he wants to complete 90 minutes he needs to work throughout a match and not now & again. We've indulged him enough. Let's play Pacheco instead. He's a real diamond.
ohhh shut it Rob, i'm surprised you didnt say anything about Lucas (thats what every deluded LFC fan seems to want to talk about, while the boy is playing his socks off and getting closer to the form that saw him win the equivalent of Player of the Season in Brazil aged just 18/19, with every game he plays), Babel is a very good player, maybe not consistent but still a very good player and all he needs is a run of games where he doesn't get hauled off before 90mins just like this article illustrates about Crouch who wasn't scoring goals or playing well but was kept in the side regardless. Please Rafa give the boy a chance and i'm sure he'll get goals and start playing with the same hunger as the rest of the squad, he's just a typical 'confidence player' and will play well when he's feeling the love from the coaching staff, players and fans alike. YNWA Babel but stop the rap music nonsense and focus on your footie career because you are at a VERY BIG CLUB that is LFC!!!
Sorry Denzil but I have to agree with Rob on this one. Difference is Crouch worked hard. Wanted to impress for manager and fans. If you have reasonabe talent and Babel lets face it has it by the bucket loads, and you work hard then the performances will come one way or another. Being lazy, not only produces frustration for the individual concerned but it creates a bad atmosphere when it comes to fellow fans. Everyone especially now needs to pull together and sing from the same hymn sheet. Having said this I believe Rafa should really get behind Babel and give him another chance. Persistence may prove fruitful for manager and player at a time our club needs it most.