He had a bit of everything as do all Dutch players. He could spot a pass, beat people on the dribble and score goals. Babel could play in a variety of forward positions, left, right or as a second striker. He showed the Kop what he was capable of in his first season and more was then expected of the young 20-year old in future seasons.
This is Babel at his flying best during his Ajax days.
Fans' high expectation of a player who was then 20, proved to be too much for a fragile personality like Babel's. Coupled with the strict disciplinarian style of Rafael Benitez, it needed a much tougher (mentally) Ryan Babel to succeed. In his years as Liverpool boss, Benitez is best known as a brilliant tactician and strategist but not as a man manager. Ryan Babel's Premier League future could have been best preserved at Manchester United or Arsenal.
