"The Championship is not an option" - I Love Football off-season and transfer speculation thread 2012

lol apposite but unrelated display name

even though Park is kind of a low-key guy he's still something of a god in Korea. But yeah, he's a total Fergie signing

Sure Kagawa's appeal is some sort of factor in going for him (most properly reflected in his price imo). But he's a good player too! The media's making like Utd have signed some sort of prodigiously efficient travelling salesman.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2012/5/30/1338376943545/Leighton-Baines-008.jpg

look at that fucking head

not my fault he's a typical fergie signing, tbh

is he still running his drownedinsound 2004 column on the everton website

"this week i have discovered an exciting new band called Northside"

randle mcmonkey

that small boot thing is insane, i had no idea

esp being like slippers the way they are these days anyway, ballerina otm

Rodgers to be confirmed in next day or so, seems pretty solid, BBC guys tweeting it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18235961

I'll take that, I think.

yeah i'm tentatively pleased.

Him turning down the first interview because he didn't get assurances about shipping out dead wood, assuming it's true and he's stood by it, potentially turns into a massive positive.

idk i would still bet martinez although this whole process has been bizarre

what of sigurdsson? will brendan just leave him as bargain parting gift and then go off to work with charlie adam?

i wouldn't bet martinez because... it's on the bbc?

I'm assuming that if 'dead wood' means anything, it means Charlie Adam

Gerrard

and Adam, tbf

well, we could go on

good in the transfer market and has a long term ethos but if it's gonna be an overhaul i find it unlikely he'll get top 4 immediately

but then this is the moon on a stick fsg will have to deal with not getting from any candidate

I'm curious which Swansea player would be most welcome at LFC if Rogers could bring one with ... suppose Gylfi would be consensus pick? Britton, Sinclair? I quite liked Danny Graham last season.

ok this makes me legit excited about liverpool.

I'm curious which Swansea player would be most welcome at LFC if Rogers could bring one with ... suppose Gylfi would be consensus pick? Britton, Sinclair? I quite liked Danny Graham last season.

― boxall, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 14:21 (1 minute ago)

they could do with ashley williams as a solid 3rd choice centre half.

poor overlooked Seb Coates

Top 4 is unlikely, but not that unlikely imo. Newcastle nearly made it immediately after an overhaul, from a worse position than Liverpool - though arguably the way Bren's going to do it will be a bit more difficult.

... who I've just learned is half-Scottish, and he still couldn't get a match under Dalglish. (xp)

joe allen but then there's henderson ahead, neil taylor a decent back up for enrique

vorm for reina is an improvement too these days tbph

brendan is a maximiser of ability (someone like britton is talented but not outlandishly so) therefore in theory it's what he could get out of what's already there. i do find it a little exaggerated if he's thinking "must get andy carroll out for danny graham"

idk though tbh it's hard to assess swansea given every time they've come to loftus road they've been blown right out the water and the whole thing's felt like a big joke

What on earth is he going to do with Carroll?

They lose Kuyt this summer and Bellamy's getting old for a pacy striker, they should look to get someone in even if they hold on to Suarez and keep AC for the retrograde option.

he's prob the best korean player ye could find, no doubt

We've got one yous can have, Korean footballer of the year. £4m.

Actually we've got two and we'll throw in the other one for free.

I'll get rid of these surplus players yet.

"A lot of players watch videos of others. I'm not scared to say I watch videos of Messi and Ronaldo, I try and inspire myself from them.

"Great players inspire you. The best player I played with was Gervi [Gervinho].

"We didn't have the same qualities, but we both tried to make the difference. He taught me some things. He makes the right runs."

Hazard went on to reject suggestions he is a poor trainer, adding: "What I like best is the nutmeg. I don't go out on the pitch thinking I'm going to do it because it comes instinctively. My left foot's not quite as strong as my right.

'It is very exciting to hear the news. I haven't seen so much of the French football but everyone I speak to says he is a very top player, a very top young player,' Lampard said.

"He taught me some things. He makes the right runs."

Wisely stops at that point in describing Gervi[Gervinho].

everyone I speak to says he is a very top player

Not since David Kelly has a source's identity been so compromised

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmVBtMkN6CQ

Hazard went on to reject suggestions he is a poor trainer, adding: "What I like best is the nutmeg. I don't go out on the pitch thinking I'm going to do it because it comes instinctively. My left foot's not quite as strong as my right.

Was it Davids or Seedorf who liked nutmegging people so much their coach called it a form of masturbation?

Anyway, Rodgers would be cool and if he rates Sigurdsson then maybe all is not over for Aquilani. Poor old Martinez though, fsg would rather give the job to the guy who didn't want an interview. Feel like the first season of the job will be quite nice cos it really shouldn't take much too improve the league form by 12 points or so. Of course that's not gonna make CL but it means the manager can point to progress made.

telegraph says:

The clubs are currently discussing compensation for the 39 year-old, with Swansea likely to receive a payment of between £4m and £5m.

It is also understood that Liverpool will not now be appointing a director of football.

Reports had suggested the club were seeking to install a high-profile figure such as Johan Cruyff or Louis van Gaal, as well as a manager, but it appears Rodgers will be in sole control.

So we had a plan, and then tore up the plan. Nice start.

perhaps the plan was predicated on covering perceived shortcomings of some non-Rodgers candidates

imagine it might have been rodgers' condition

Mohamed Diame, Martínez's former midfielder at Wigan, has revealed he was set on a free transfer to Liverpool until Dalglish was sacked as manager.

The Senegal international, who is out of contract this summer, said: "I met Kenny Dalglish and we talked about next season but God decided to finish this situation. It is true. I was very sad in my head as I was thinking to go there but that is okay as I think I have got other opportunities to go to another club."

ay, you may both be right there
xxp

All these managers Liverpool have been linked with - Martinez, Rodgers, Villas-Boas, they all play broadly the same way and none of them play in a way that will work with Liverpool's existing midfield, so I dunno how much money the owners are planning on throwing at them to sort the problem out.

hope diame doesnt get in trouble for accidentally revealing the shadowy david stern figure ruling over the epl

xp £30m reportedly (but most likely made-up)

Not really sure I agree with that Matt, 3 of the back 4 are decent on the ball and look to pass. The midfield can be guilty of trying difficult passes when simple ones are available but I don't think they lack the ability to do so if instructed?

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2012/5/29/1338322889033/Swansea-City-manager-Bren-008.jpg

lol at the paperback now a major motion picture brad pitt edition of moneyball on his desk.

xposts. in theory a midfield three of lucas, henderson and aquilani would be perfect for our bren, but with lucas out for maybe half of next season and aquilani probably on his way that just leaves hendo for the time being. and adam.