Outperforming Babel Out Of National Team

Ryan Babel admitted that he
'failed personally' as Liverpool
crashed out of the Carling Cup in
humiliating fashion on
Wednesday.
The forward's fortunes have
plummeted to a new low after he
was left out of Holland's
provisional squad for the
resumption of their European
Championship qualifying
campaign next month.

Already reeling from the defeat at
the hands of League Two
Northampton, the 23-year-old
suffered another galling setback
after failing to make even the 32-
man line-up that will be whittled
down by Holland coach Bert van
Marwijk, prior to facing Sweden
and Moldova.
It is a further indication of his fall
from grace after once being
hailed as another Thierry Henry
by former Holland great Marco
van Basten and his mood was
evident from a message posted
on Twitter yesterday.
Babel landed in trouble with
previous manager Rafa Benitez
last January, for revealing on
Twitter that he had been axed
against Stoke, but he was
unrepentant, as he reflected on a
penalty shoot-out defeat by a
team 69 league places below
Liverpool, and wrote: 'No
excuses for last nite .. We weren't
good enough .. And I failed
personally .. Haven't lost faith, so I
keep working..'
Signed from Ajax for £11.5million
three years ago, the winger looks
likely to be made available to
potential buyers again in the
January transfer window after
being linked with Tottenham and
West Ham last month. Manager
Roy Hodgson's dismay over the
failings of senior players like
Babel against Northampton was
evident enough, and he seems
certain to try to instigate a
significant overhaul of his squad
in the New Year.