welcome ryan babel

[Red_Polo]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N156347070712-1814.htm

BABEL SET TO SIGN ON FRIDAY
Paul Eaton 12 July 2007
Liverpool have confirmed that they have now agreed terms with both Ajax and Ryan Babel ahead of Dutch international's transfer to Anfield on Friday.
The 20-year-old attacker will put pen to paper on his Anfield deal tomorrow after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical on Merseyside.

"Liverpool have agreed terms with Ajax and Ryan Babel himself and the player will sign a 5-year-deal on Friday."

Babel, who can play as a winger or in attack, saw his reputation soar after playing a starring role in Holland's triumph in last month's European Under-21 Championships. He was named man of the match after scoring a goal in his country's 4-1 final victory over Serbia.

He has been capped 14 times by the full Dutch team and scored on his debut against Romania in March 2005.

[Diego]

"Liverpool have agreed terms with Ajax and Ryan Babel himself and the player will sign a 5-year-deal on Friday."

if the deal is in place and all parties in agreement then why isn't it signed already. do they stop working at 4 like government officials...

[Red_Polo]

Just drawing up the contracts I expect.

[disco]

Annoying as the video was (about 5 goals in 6 minutes with irritating music and **** special effects), **** me does he look good.

Did anyone say John Barnes?

[mersey86]

-------------Reina
Finnan---Carra----Agger----Aurelio/Insua
------------Mascherano-----------
-----Gerrard-----------Alonso------
---Kuyt-------Torres-------Babel---

[RedProf]

Ian Cotton excels himself once again:

"Liverpool have agreed terms with Ajax and Ryan Babel himself," said Reds spokesperson Ian Cotton. (from the BBC).

[Gazzla]

Ian Cotton excels himself once again:

"Liverpool have agreed terms with Ajax and Ryan Babel himself," said Reds spokesperson Ian Cotton. (from the BBC).

I wonder how much Cotton gets paid? Must be the easiest job in the world coming out stringing a short sentence together once every 3 or 4 months

[Neil Young]

I wonder how much Cotton gets paid? Must be the easiest job in the world coming out stringing a short sentence together once every 3 or 4 months

It's the things he doesn't say that makes him worth the £250k a year he gets.

[kurtangle01]

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=476612&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=2&title=Babel+lured+by+Liverpool

Ajax striker Ryan Babel admits he was very easily persuaded to join Liverpool.

The Holland Under 21 international will join The Reds on a five-year deal on Friday after the two clubs agreed an £11.5million fee.

Babel believes he has an important role to play for Rafa Benitez's side next season and is excited by his move to Anfield.

"I am very happy with it," Babel told Ajax TV.

"I listened to what they had to say and I got a great feeling about the club.

"I have made a choice with my heart. The coach has big plans for me."

Babel is sad to be departing Ajax but says he will always remain attached to the Dutch giants.

"I am at Ajax to say goodbye to everyone, and I must say that's quite difficult," he added.

"I think I will miss the fans, the ones that have always supported me, the guys (Ajax team-mates) of course and the coach.

"I certainly leave Ajax with pain in my heart. I will come to Amsterdam quite often, and then I will come to visit the club."

[Neil Young]

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?...d+by+Liverpool

Ajax striker Ryan Babel admits he was very easily persuaded to join Liverpool.

The Holland Under 21 international will join The Reds on a five-year deal on Friday after the two clubs agreed an £11.5million fee.

Babel believes he has an important role to play for Rafa Benitez's side next season and is excited by his move to Anfield.

"I am very happy with it," Babel told Ajax TV.

"I listened to what they had to say and I got a great feeling about the club.

"I have made a choice with my heart. The coach has big plans for me."

Babel is sad to be departing Ajax but says he will always remain attached to the Dutch giants.

"I am at Ajax to say goodbye to everyone, and I must say that's quite difficult," he added.

"I think I will miss the fans, the ones that have always supported me, the guys (Ajax team-mates) of course and the coach.

"I certainly leave Ajax with pain in my heart. I will come to Amsterdam quite often, and then I will come to visit the club."

Surely this is just the sort of thing that should have shown up in the medical. More incompetence from LFC.

[rushscored4]

Surely this is just the sort of thing that should have shown up in the medical. More incompetence from LFC.

You'll remember we turned down Asa Hartford for the same reason...

[Flake]

Annoying as the video was (about 5 goals in 6 minutes with irritating music and **** special effects), **** me does he look good.

Did anyone say John Barnes?

I wouldn't ever jump to such an imulsive comparrison, but the way he hlds himself, and holds the ball certainly reminded me of the big man himself.

[Neil Young]

You'll remember we turned down Asa Hartford for the same reason...

One, two, 1-2-3-4...

All by myself I was fine
No-one else to remind me of all my pain inside
You looked at me and I knew you would be
The last thing I needed in my life

Oh I need you
Girl I need you
But I know it's gonna hurt
'Cause your love is gonna tear me apart
Oh I need you
Girl I need you
But I know we shouldn't start
'Cause I need you
Like a hole in my heart

Dont smile that smile
Say those words
Knowing I'll wanna touch you
Then it will be too late
Just walk away
Don't look back
Lets just say that were so much
Better off not temptin' fate

Oh I need you
Girl I need you
But I know it's gonna hurt
'Cause your love is gonna tear me apart
Oh I need you
Girl I need you
But I know we shouldn't start
'Cause I need you
Like a hole in my heart

I've been in and out of love and I thought I had enough
But there's nothin' in this world that I can do 'cause
Oh I need you
Girl I need you
But I know it's gonna hurt
'Cause your love is gonna tear me apart
Oh I need you
Girl I need you
But I know we shouldn't start
'Cause I need you
Like a hole
Like a bullet through my soul
Girl I need you like a hole in my heart

Yee haw and thank you.

[peekay]

I wouldn't ever jump to such an imulsive comparrison, but the way he hlds himself, and holds the ball certainly reminded me of the big man himself.

If he is half as good as the great man , he will be one helluva signing

[rushscored4]

Benítez happy to stake reputation on Babel’s talents

As a procurer of young talent, Rafael Benítez’s record has been somewhat hit and miss since he took over as Liverpool manager three years ago.

Daniel Agger, the accomplished young Denmark defender, may be one of Benítez’s better acquisitions, but the failures ring a little louder than the successes. Gabriel Paletta anyone?

Or how about Mark González, apparently so good that BenÍtez was willing to wait 12 months for the Chile winger to get a work permit but who has since been sent packing to Real Betis.

It is why Liverpool supporters might have greeted the news of Ryan Babel’s arrival at Anfield with as great a degree of trepidation as expectation, especially in light of the fact that the club have paid £11.5 million for the services of the 20-year-old Holland forward, who will put pen to paper on a five-year contract today.

There are many reasons for Liverpool fans to be optimistic, however, and that is because, for long stretches, Babel has been coveted by Arsène Wenger, a man whose eye for emerging talent is proven and remains largely unblemished.

Price, more than anything, may ultimately have prevented the Arsenal manager from challenging Liverpool for Babel’s signature, but Wenger is a keen admirer of a player that BenÍtez hopes will develop into a world-beater for the club.

His country’s star in the recent European Under-21 Championship, which Holland won, Babel has 14 full international caps and is fêted as one of the most promising young players in the Netherlands after exploding on to the scene with Ajax.

Indeed, the biggest problem for BenÍtez may be where to play Babel. The Liverpool manager had identified the need for two wingers in the wake of the club’s Champions League defeat by AC Milan in May, but in Babel and Yossi Benayoun, who has signed a four-year contract after his £5 million move from West Ham United, the Spaniard has signed two players who cannot be classed as out and out wide-men.

Although Babel is said to be comfortable on either wing, the player’s preferred position is up front, even though the jury is thought to be out on whether he can operate as an orthodox striker.

The player himself, though, appeared to shed some light on how he might be used yesterday after being told that he will probably compete with Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch, Andriy Voronin, Harry Kewell and Jermaine Pennant for a starting place.

“I was in Aruba at the end of last week when I was told to start thinking about Liverpool because a move could happen,” Babel said. “I have met Rafael Benítez and my conversation with him was the moment I knew the deal would get done.

“He is like the ideal father-in-law. He has a lot of football knowhow and he told me that I would be challenging with six other players for four positions. I have a good feeling about things.

“I met Dirk Kuyt at training, who I knew from the national team. At that moment he did not feel like a rival but I suppose that is what will happen. It was very important how the coach spoke to me, how I would fit in his team. After that conversation I knew it was the right decision.”

Meanwhile, Steve Finnan is poised to become the latest player to commit his long-term future to Liverpool after Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso, José Manuel Reina and Mohamed Sissoko. The Ireland defender has been offered a two-year contract with the option of an extra 12 months.

Jerzy Dudek has finally ended speculation about his future by joining Real Madrid on a free transfer. The Poland goalkeeper will serve as understudy to Iker Casillas at the Bernabéu.