Ryan Babel signs 5 year deal at Liverpool joined by Benayoun

Tweedle wrote:Babel>>Berbatov

At sprinting, yes.

Understandable why you think that, being an Arsenal fan. Athletic prowess is all you care about

Luis wrote:we've spent

20 on Torres
7 on Lucas
4 on Benayoun
10 on Babel

41 mil

and sold

Bellamy 8 mil
Cisse 6 mil (probably)
garcia 3 mil
pongolle 3 mil

20 mil

so 21 million expenditure

Mucking about with the figures slightly, aren't you?

Torres was £21.5 million
Benayoun will be £5 million
Babel will be £13.5 million

So that's an extra £6 million spent.

You've added on an extra £500,000 for Pongolle, Garcia and Bellamy as well.

COTR's Garcia and Bellamy figures are right. Pongolle is 2-2.5, not 3.

Lucas was 5 or 6.

How can anyone be 100% sure of their own figures, the one's I wrote are the one's Ive seen, no one knows more or less than me unless they work for Liverpool or any of the clubs negotiated with.

Luis wrote:How can anyone be 100% sure of their own figures, the one's I wrote are the one's Ive seen, no one knows more or less than me unless they work for Liverpool or any of the clubs negotiated with.

Where have you seen £20 million for Torres, Luis?

It's been said by many pundits 'well they've signed Torres for 20 million' it's probably slightly more, maybe 21 million, but why be so pendantic?

But I wouldn't go round saying we've signed Hargreaves for £14 or 15 million when it's nearer £17 million.

it was around 20 million though, Benitez said it's not as much as people had been reporting, i.e 27 million, and 20 million is the figure I've heard being quoted since the deal went through

The Hitman wrote:

Tweedle wrote:Babel>>Berbatov

At sprinting, yes.

Understandable why you think that, being an Arsenal fan. Longstocking diva pace merchants is all you care about

Over the last week, Skysports news have always said Torres cost us £20mill...

anyway it is a pedantic argument

how much was carrick?

according to wikipedia:
£14 million basic fee, potentially rising to £18.6 million depending on club and player success

so if you're talking about him do you say he was 14 million or 19 million? or even 15, 16, 17 or 18 million? and is a fan of another club obsessed with your club going to jump and start a pedantic argument about it?

It was 20 m plus Luis Garcia , Atletico didnt payed for Luis as far as I know.

As far as I'm aware Torres was £21m.

Not that it matters, its still a hell of a lot too much

Most popular Dutch footy website VI.nl had a poll "Is Ryan Babel ready for a move to Pool?"

45% voted yes
55% voted no

http://www.vi.nl/vi/show/id=62802/contentid=94690/sc=8f1b23

I voted no. He could have done with one more season at Ajax. Its not that he won't make it at Pool or in the prem, its that the probability of him developing further in the player that could become are lesser at Liverpool than at Ajax.

How much more is he going to develop at the age of 20?

maybe playing in a higher standard of league against better players is the next step?

At the age of 20 he has lots of room and years to develop. He is still showing steady progression, that's why it would have been better for him to at least stay one more year at Ajax. Not that he wouldn't progress at liverpool, its just likely to be more slowly.
At 20-24/25 you need to progress as fast as possible, and don't go for the option that might hamper your devlopment. That's my take on it.

At this moment he already has enough class to impact and improve Liverpool, but it would indeed be a shame if heis development froze (permanantly, and just stay as an good above average player and passing the opportunity of becoming a great player). This is the worst case scenario of course, which even I don't think will happen, but still, the better choice would have been to stay put for another year.

At the moment Babel (at his worst, mind) is international class, not top class or world class. He can certainly become top class.

The Liverpool fans will give Babel a chance that's for sure, if he works hard and looks eager to improve then there will be no problem, I still don't know where he will play though because if he's been brought in as a winger then does that mean Kewell will miss out? and if he's been brought in a forward he will hardly play unless there's a 4-3-3 from Rafa and that is very unlikely unless Benitez changes the whole system

I'm sure it will work out. He still should have stayed at Ajax one more year though.

Apparently he works better as a support forward, so if you don't change the system I imagine he'll be back up to Kuyt,or if Benitez changes the system he can play as the left sided forward

SSN say its done £11.5m ! 5yr deal.

Sgoater1 wrote:SSN say its done £11.5m ! 5yr deal.

VI also claims it's a done deal : 17M euros

Our 4th most expensive signing ever after Torres, Alonso and Cisse

Welcome to Liverpool Babel!

Liverpool agree £11.5m Babel deal
Liverpool are set to sign striker Ryan Babel from Ajax after the two clubs agreed an £11.5m deal for the player.

"The striker, who had a contract until 2010, will sign a five-year deal with the Champions League finalists," said a statement on the Ajax website.

The 20-year-old was a member of the Dutch team that won the European Under-21 Championship in June.

More to follow..

£11.5m?

Isn't that bit steep?

Amazing though. Ritgers goes for 500k

Why are SSN wanking over Beckham FFS

Luis wrote:Why are SSN wanking over Beckham FFS

What's new??

So is Babel going to be a starter? Or a sqaud player?

Calidad wrote:So is Babel going to be a starter? Or a sqaud player?

All depends on the system

If it's a 4-4-2 then I don't think he'll start unless Rafa's going to use him as a first choice left winger..

Calidad wrote:£11.5m?

Isn't that bit steep?

Amazing though. Ritgers goes for 500k

Rigters didnt came from ajax

Allthough Babel is more talented, the difference in price between them is insane.

Now! Here is one for you all. If Holland did $h!t at the U-21 would Liverpool bought Babel? Rigters and Drenthe wouldnt be sold for sure.