It looks official: Babel inked

By: Brian | July 12th, 2007

You go for a little jog, you come back, and your team has a new left winger. Not bad.

Despite Chelsea fans calling us the New Chelsea, which is a bit odd when you think about it considering they will never be the new Liverpool and, well, it’s basically insulting yourself when you insult someone by calling them you (okay, I just confused myself there), where was I? Oh, yeah, no, we’re not the new Chelsea, we bought two young players at pretty decent prices, we didn’t buy fifteen at twice their value. We have local boys, you have, uh, the senior West Ham squad? (No offense to West Ham, btw) Not even a decent attempt to insult.

£11.5m, not bad at all. Anyhow, he’s signed. A defender next, please.

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Category: Liverpool, Rafa Benitez

Tags: Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam, Chelsea, Liverpool, Netherlands, Rafa Benitez, Ryan Babel, Transfers and Player Moves

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• kes |  July 12th, 2007 at 10:16 am

  
  
  

  Hope it’s not heinze though!!

  Posted from France

  

• Chris |  July 12th, 2007 at 10:37 am

  
  
  

  Great signing for the Anfield boys. This Liverpool side looks like it could be very dangerous this year…….and that makes me very happy.

  Posted from United States

  

• kes |  July 12th, 2007 at 10:58 am

  
  
  

  Yeah i want ONLY ONE THING THE LEAGUE..Then i can die in peace

  Posted from France

  

• Andy |  July 12th, 2007 at 11:06 am

  
  
  

  Actually Brian read it again. It is a question rather than a statement and the answer is no. And the fan(s) is singular rather than a plural.

  You wont even ‘buy’ the League cos Benitez has proved in the Premiership he hasn’t got a clue. If anything he is the new ‘tinkerman.’

  Posted from United States

  

• raist |  July 12th, 2007 at 11:39 am

  
  
  

  i hope we get Kompany. there was some news a while back that we were thinking about him right. now that is some class defender.

  personally i think riise is a good enough left back that we don’t have to worry that much. and maybe let’s give aurelio another chance. he was becoming better till the injury last season

  and finnan is solid. not spectacular, certainly, but he’ll turn in 7/10 every week. he doesn’t get injured or burnt out either so i guess we’re fine there.
  but do we even have a single cover for him?

  Posted from Singapore

  

• Brian |  July 12th, 2007 at 2:06 pm

  
  
  

  Andy, I actually kind of agree with you on Benitez, but the thing is, how he won La Liga was just nuts. If that (the 2nd championship) happened in the Premiership, I don’t know what would happen. Off the top of my head, he came back from eight points in five weeks against Real? Again, not sure if that’s right, but it was something crazy like that. Anyhow, wait until you read my preview for next season, you might be mildly surprised. Or not. Chelsea, you have to admit, bought their titles.

  Raist, we have Arbeloa to cover for Finnan. We also have Jack Hobbs, if he steps up. We do really need to sign a defender and it looks like Milito is out of the picture. Kompany would probably be perfect, but I don’t know what kind of money we have left and what Hamburg wants for him or if they would even let him go.

  Posted from United States

  

• raist |  July 12th, 2007 at 6:20 pm

  
  
  

  oh yea how could i have forgotten about Arbeloa
  yea, he does provide cover for Finnan (as well as the left back position if needed)

  i don’t think Hobbs is ready to step up and Paletta hasn’t impressed either the few times he’s played. good thing he’s going on loan. maybe he will be sold eventually

  but if Kompany comes he’s not likely to get much playing time unless either Carra or Agger gets injured, and even then i think Hyppia is gonna be first choice replacement so i’m not sure he’d come even though it would be great for us

  finally, on a completely different note, what’s up with Le Tallec? are we keeping him? for the past 4 years, i’ve been feeling completely disgusted at the waste we’ve made of Le Tallec and Sinama-Pongolle. Here are hte 2 best players of their generation (Golden and Silver Ball respectively) and we had completely no idea how to develop them

  i am still harbouring hopes that Le Tallec may eventually come good although it seems the remotest possibilty now… he’s kinda like a Benayoun isn’t he.

  Posted from Singapore

  

• Awesome |  July 12th, 2007 at 10:45 pm

  
  
  

  I think we need an winger as well. What if JP doesn’t deliver. Hope we pursue Alves and may be a Center Back for cover……….

  Posted from United States

  

• Brian |  July 13th, 2007 at 11:38 am

  
  
  

  raist, as of this moment Le Tallec is still part of the squad. He hasn’t been sold nor loaned out and have no idea where he stands with Rafa, but he’s not Rafa’s boy, he was Houllier’s. He played for Sochaux last season and was crucial in them capturing the Coupe de France for the first time in 70 years.

  You probably already know, but Pongolle was sold to Recreativo de Huelvo last year. He’s not strong enough for English football.

  Le Tallec has no place on this squad, so something is going to have to be done with him. I wouldn’t be surprised if they just straight released him and he ended up at Lyon.

  Posted from United States

  

• Brian |  July 13th, 2007 at 11:40 am

  
  
  

  Awesome, I’m not concerned about JP. If he doesn’t get it done, we can play Stevie G, Yossi, and even Finney over there, if we have too. If Pennant avoids injury, I think he’ll be fine.

  Posted from United States

  

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