Magix

Amen to that. No more bending over when it comes to wage agreements.

Playing CL footie is still a huge lure for a player, even on loan. More so for someone like Sahin who's entering his footballing prime, someone who wants to play football at the highest level all the time. Even if he doesn't make it at Madrid or chooses to depart, he would have more options after having performed on the biggest stage for the year on loan. Less so with us in the Europa league.

Yeah, it's poised that way. I'm suddenly deflated after hearing the latest round of rumours concerning Sahin.

Agree. Just throwing it out there cos size is a consideration but hardly an obstacle if the mentality and size of the fight is bigger. This fella seems a fighter; too early to tell perhaps, but I think that's how every Roger signing is going to be like in terms of attitude. Well, I am making the observation from some YouTube compilations after all! Maybe it's more accurate to say he appears to be as fast with the ball as without.

Rather that than be a Gregory O' Gloom. Just voicing the typical pint-sized-being-new-to-the-league concern. Those two are pint-sized but were brought up in the league.

I'm loving this personally, getting a player in on the sly. Looks boss. Really like the way he is seemingly faster with the ball than without. Seems genuinely two-footed and from the match compilations I have seen, also puts himself about and does his fair share of defensive work. While he is pint-sized, which might be an initial concern, I have little doubt he will, eventually, come good. After Brendan pulled the plug on Sigurdsson after the player prioritized money over hunger, I'm confident that any player that does make it past Brendan's estimation will demonstrate the necessary mentality, hunger and will to succeed.

Not sure. Forgot to add that I read it off another forum, so it's a rather unsubstantiated rumour.

Tiny rumour doing the rounds is that Jose Callejon might be signing together with Sahin from Real.

Maybe Lucas can recover his box-to-box goal-scoring days from Gremio and provide that drive from midfield. Just figuring a way to fit all these awesome players onto the pitch at the same time!

Sahin and Allen have a good turn of pace and are fleet-footed enough to offer penetration from deep. A midfield trio of Allen, Lucas and Sahin would offer an awesomely balanced wall of offence and defence. If Gerrard plays on the top, can envisage two false 9s in him and Suarez.

If the Tello bid doesn't pan out and the Walcott option is just plain expensive (or s***), Lee Chung Yong is a player I feel we should consider for the pacey, creative wing-forward position. Wouldn't break the bank. Just read Stoke are after him.

Adam the only out with Sahin, Tello, Dempsey as the ins would make the summer transfer for me. A realistic scenario in my book. Downing and Henderson have the tools to play in BR's system. While a costly option to have off the bench, Carroll should be given a chance to stake a claim in the starting 11. His goal and general head kept down, socks pulled up performance against Leverkusen shows promise. Unless a very good late offer comes in that is -- which we should only take up if we have a scouted, considered replacement already in mind. (No more Carroll for Torres kind of panic buys.) Keep Agger, even if he doesn't sign an extension. Rather take the financial hit then take the gamble on our fortunes on the pitch. Coach the hell out of Coates, Sama and Wisdom and have them make the grade soonish. If all three make the leap to the first team picture, the Agger situation can be more easily resolved later.

Gylfi, Dempsey and his teammate, Dembele would be my three. Wouldn't break the bank and free up transfer funds for the likes of Ramirez, Jovetic, Suarez-esque potential -- and cost -- players.

I read that as Spearing isn't first-team material, playing the bulk of the games and the key matches, and can only give good performances alongside Lucas or Lucas-type player, aka limited. Spearing + Lucas while solid as a midfield pair wouldn't give us enough guile and goals in the long run. I believe that person to be Downing.

Agree with that. Spearing looked good alongside someone as disciplined and assured in the DM role as Lucas. Spearing looked gash and lost when paired with Adam or even Gerrard.

Which is a good thing really. Shows he's been assessing the squad, its strengths, and, more importantly, its weaknesses, long before the ink has dried on his contract.

Dempsey is pacier, a more physically robust player than Maxi. He'd be a good fit for the right price and wage. Don't think Shelvey has near-enough pace to play in the wider areas. While he has good hold-up play, it doesn't translate to dribbling and ghosting past the opposition on the flanks.

Can see Rodgers going for two first-team wide players. Out of the current lot who can play wide -- Suarez, Downing, Bellamy, Cole -- probably only Suarez fits the bill of his Swansea template. The rest either don't have the legs or are s***/bottlers. There's a good chance the 3-4 players he's been quoted as having in mind will be moneyball-esque signings. Sigurðsson matches the profile: young, talented, yet to peak, without a ridiculous transfer fee over his head. Allefay and Krasic, both in their mid-twenties, match the fallen-by-the-wayside-a-little-but-still-potentially-awesome profile too.

On paper the Rodgers and van Gaal pairing works like a charm: The former plays possession-based high-tempo football requiring youth and speed (of thought and foot), the latter has a record -- and passion -- for bringing youths through the ranks, and an eye for sporting talent.

That's definitely the hope. If van Gaal is on board as well, overseeing the transfers and getting the players steeped in the same brand of progressive, technical football we know he can attract, there's a lot of room for hope, anticipation at the least.

Wouldn't that be van Gaal's remit? (If things pan out as they are supposed to.)

Given the rumblings in the media those two are the current front runners. Coming down to a Hobson's choice.

Lee Chung Yong -- we should be there in a flash if he's made available. Would improve us.

Which in turn suggests Rodgers would be the better candidate for the proposed 'European-styled' structure such as ours.

Having a respected, powerhouse DOF like Txiki Begiristain or Louis van Gaal in place would go a long way in allaying fears of appointing a young, unproven manager. Problem is, the position is as up in the air as the manager's. Like to think DOF is sewn up -- with someone like the aforementioned two at the helm -- and will be officially unveiled alongside the new manager.