Ryan Babel - A Head Trip

I’m a big fan of Ryan Babel. He’s one of my favorite Hoffenheim players. He comes across as just a really good guy – and it’s a thrill to watch him play when he gets the ball EXCEPT he’s not making as many goals as he clearly could. Why? Why not? I believe it’s all in his head because it’s certainly not in his feet.

I’m sure his problem is in his head because, unlike when he started with the team, Babel is in good physical condition now. That’s one of the things I admire about this guy. He joined the team and he immediately played a game with them. I’m not even sure he had time to practice with them before that miserable game against Cottbus.

We just heard from Stanislawski in the press conference before the Mainz game about how we should all be more patient with poor Obasi because the poor guy hasn’t played football in an entire year (all the while collecting his full salary, I might add). Well, only Pezzaiuoli accorded the same patience to Ryan Babel when he joined Hoffenheim after not playing for a year and also not even having had regular practice due to the English schedule. The press, especially the local press, was far less tolerant which leads me to believe that certain other members of the Hoffenheim team did not want Babel there and, as usual with Hoffenheim, started whispering in journalists’ ears.

Now THAT will build confidence if anything will, especially when your only support (Pezzaiuoli) is ousted by the same parties who are campaigning against you.

So it’s like this: Ryan Babel has an injury (like half the Hoffenheim team at any given time). In his case, it’s called a mental block and it’s as debilitating as a meniskus injury. So why not get a Dutch-speaking sport psychologist in there and TREAT IT. They’re not that hard to find, the Netherlands is only a four hour drive from Hoffenheim, and when one thinks of the amount spent on physical therapy for every other injured player on the squad, this treatment would be peanuts. If I were Babel’s agent, I would pay for it myself as an investment in one of the best potential players in the Bundesliga.

It’s a real shame that Alaba left because he was Babel’s anchor and buffer in the team. Now Babel’s under pressure to speak German which he does not know, to kick goals which he’s having a hard time doing, and to be a leader on a team which is unwelcoming and, much like a dysfunctional family, has a minefield of internal politics, not the least of which is the Balkan faction as well as the „old-timers“ who feel entitled as well as Teflon management who will find scapegoats whenever and wherever needed. 

Babel needs help to break the logjam in his head and Stanislawski is not the guy to do it. He doesn't have the personality for it, and his public statements about Babel in recent weeks indicate he doesn't have the inclination for it either. So bring in someone who can help him – for the team, for the fans, for Babel.