Liverpool FC Forum

by **Paul C** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:20 am

Liverpool new boy Ryan Babel has revealed Holland boss Marco van Basten tried to persuade the striker to stay in Holland.

Van Basten told Holland's Under-21 squad that in order to bolster their chances of making his Euro 2008 squad then they should remain in the Eredivisie.

But those words were ignored by the 20-year-old winger, who sealed a £11.5million switch to Anfield.

"Van Basten spoke to the squad before the Under-21 Championships and said it would be best for players to stay in Holland if they wanted to go to Euro 2008," said Babel.

"But, if I'm honest, his words did not even enter my mind when Liverpool said they wanted to sign me.

"I spoke to Rafa Benitez and I have enough confidence in my own ability to believe I will play enough games for Liverpool to convince van Basten and go to the finals."

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Surely Van Basten knows that the best leagues are Spain and England so why hold someone like Babel back, for a player to progress he needs to play at the highest level :no

Van Basten was one of the best strikers in his hay day but he's starting to p155 me off a bit the way he was ar5ey when Kromkamp joinned us and now doing the same with Babel :veryangry

by **FRfanatic** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:25 am

Van Basten only select players for the national team who are actually playing for their club. Probably he thinks when youngsters go to big clubs they won't be playing every week and therefor they have less chance to be selected for the national team. Makes sense.

by **The_Rock** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:29 am

The fact is holland always has good crop of players....Any half-witted manager can easily get them to win the world or european cup.

u have to then question van basten's credentials as a manager when holland struggles like they did in the recent world cup.

If he solely wants to pick players playing in Eredivisie (which is similar to the scottish league)....u got to wonder how holland are gonna win anything with MVB in charge....

by **Paul C** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:33 am

FRfanatic wrote:Van Basten only select players for the national team who are actually playing for their club. Probably he thinks when youngsters go to big clubs they won't be playing every week and therefor they have less change to be selected for the national team. Makes sense.

But surely thats doubting his tallent, if I'm correct Van Basten was the person who said Babel was the next Henry, he's 20 years old and not exactly 17, he's older than Cesc Fabregas who is playing his third season as a starting eleven player in a top 4 side, no disrespect to the Eredivisie but for Babel to inprove he needs to play against quality every week not just the 4/5 decent Dutch sides, surely Van Basten should know that

by **FRfanatic** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:41 am

Paul C wrote:
FRfanatic wrote:Van Basten only select players for the national team who are actually playing for their club. Probably he thinks when youngsters go to big clubs they won't be playing every week and therefor they have less change to be selected for the national team. Makes sense.

But surely thats doubting his tallent, if I'm correct Van Basten was the person who said Babel was the next Henry, he's 20 years old and not exactly 17, he's older than Cesc Fabregas who is playing his third season as a starting eleven player in a top 4 side, no disrespect to the Eredivisie but for Babel to inprove he needs to play against quality every week not just the 4/5 decent Dutch sides, surely Van Basten should know that

It is just the opinion of Van Basten that someone who is sitting on the bench of his clubteam won't be selected for the national team.

by **Rafa D** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:02 am

For me Van Basten is making an idiot of himself managing at international level. This is the most recent in a long line of gaffs that he has done.

I can see the mentality behind it. He wants the younger players to stay in their homeland where:

a) they grew up playing there
b) he has more chance to see them play
c) they have more of a chance to play regular football.

However if he wants the players and in turn the country to get even better then I am afraid they have to leave the Eredevise. Its not a particularly strong league and does not attract the world's best.

The fact is, the best Dutch players will have to leave if they wish to develop.

Van Basten is talking out of his ar.se, he's not experienced enough to manage where he is. Can anyone really say that Ruud shouldn't be in the national team?

by **Paul C** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:27 am

I find it weird, the Dutch people have a very good mentality and the are really nice people but as soon as they get together with the national team they seem to fight and fall out with each other.

Van Basten got rid of a lot of the senior players like Stam and RVN to make an example and improve team spirit which is a good idea, I just don't get their national team cos on paper their one of the best teams in the world but managers struggle to get them playing together, sound familiar :;):

by **kazza** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:36 am

Wasn't he the one who told Kromkamp (forgot his spelling already) the same thing. he was right though as he was a squad player for us and did not get picked for his national team. We did not spend 11 million on him though.

by **puroresu** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:42 am

His not saying players must stay in the dutch league. What his saying is "if u leave to go elsewhere and are not playing enough first team football u will not be picked". I understand that logic as he cant pick players who do not play wek in week out regardless if its in a stronger league.

Drenthe I believe also has the same dilemma as he can leave feynoord to go to England or Spain but again if he isnt playing week in week out he will not go to Euro 2008.

Van Basten has done well as Holland Coach. His got a young team and last year was too soon for them. Next year they will be very strong and will reach the semi's at least if not the final.

by **Paul C** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:43 am

kazza wrote:Wasn't he the one who told Kromkamp (forgot his spelling already) the same thing. he was right though as he was a squad player for us and did not get picked for his national team. We did not spend 11 million on him though.

Yeah, thats was at the top of the page :;):

by **kazza** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:49 am

Paul C wrote:
kazza wrote:Wasn't he the one who told Kromkamp (forgot his spelling already) the same thing. he was right though as he was a squad player for us and did not get picked for his national team. We did not spend 11 million on him though.

Yeah, thats was at the top of the page

Thats the trouble with A.D.D. I read the first couple of lines then started thinking about fishing

:laugh:

by **Paul C** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:35 pm

kazza wrote:
Paul C wrote:
kazza wrote:Wasn't he the one who told Kromkamp (forgot his spelling already) the same thing. he was right though as he was a squad player for us and did not get picked for his national team. We did not spend 11 million on him though.

Yeah, thats was at the top of the page

Thats the trouble with A.D.D. I read the first couple of lines then started thinking about fishing

LMAO, I have the same problem but b00bs instead of fishing :buttrock

by **LFC2007** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:39 pm

It's much ado about nothing, I think he really means that given Babel's age it may have been wiser for him to develop for at least another year with Ajax before moving on. You can interpret the comments however you like, but I wouldn't think he is being overly controlling. The latter part of the comments made by Babel suggests that Van Basten merely wants to ensure his players are playing and not sitting on the bench - which is perfectly understandable.

by **stmichael** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:54 pm

to be fair to van basten, he was right about kmomkamp

by **Big Niall** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:09 pm

Maybe he feels the England game is a bit too much kick and rush and not technical enough for a young player to develop.

Whether you agree or not, it is a valid point.

A player will always go to the money though.

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