Ryan Babel is one of many 'what if' stories that occur in football when a player with unbridled potential fails to meet expectations due to a variety of reasons.

The Dutchman joined Liverpool in 2007 and appeared to have it all - pace, strength, trickery - but for the most part seemed intimidated by the size of the club he had signed for.

Since his departure in 2011, Babel has had a career that fits the term 'journeyman' perfectly, moving from England to countries such as Spain, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Now 32, Babel has wiser and more mature head on his shoulders and appears to be using his experience from the plethora of clubs he has played for to try and strike second-time lucky in the Premier League with Fulham.

The winger impressed on his debut for the Cottagers in there 2-1 defeat to Tottenham, so much so that many Liverpool fans' began talking about Babel once again.

"There were situations in my career where I played much better than another player in my position, but that player had a better name in terms of commercial appeal," Babel said, per the Liverpool Echo.

"At that time, I didn't really take it seriously, I thought it was just about who was training better, and the manager told me 'We have to play him, because of this reason'."

It's quite an obscure explanation to say the least, although it's obvious that for Liverpool a player like Jamie Carragher will be more of a success commercially due to his ties with the club  or a player like Fernando Torres due to his global appeal, or even Steven Gerrard for both reasons.

But to say that Liverpool put commercial appeal over player performance is some claim indeed.

"That was a big slap in the face to understand and think you need to be a little more lucky to survive in football. I guess it is what it is, but if you know that up front, you can make better decisions by knowing not to join certain teams," Babel added.

The Dutchman also pointed to the thing that every person struggles with when they move away from their family for the first time, and that is having to deal with independence and fending for yourself.

"There are things I would have done differently. I remember my parents asking me if they needed to join me and I said I could handle it - maybe that would have made a major difference, to have them around and give you a transition into living by yourself.