King Kenny is dead, which is as good as any place to start this off. The close season is upon us and the rumblings of the transfer window engine has been kicked into full gear.

Lets get going...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/17/kenny-dalglish-sacked-premier-league-ayre


Kenny Dalglish sacked due to Premier League shortcomings, says Ayre
• Liverpool's managing director says focus is on league results
• 'Ultimately the backbone of football now is the Premier League'
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Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 17 May 2012 07.14 EDT

Kenny Dalglish was sacked by Liverpool on Wednesday. Managing director Ian Ayre said the club's league form was to blame. Photograph: Jon Super/AP
Liverpool's managing director, Ian Ayre, insists they had to sack Kenny Dalglish because results did not match up to longer-term expectations.

Dalglish won the Carling Cup, the club's first trophy for six years, and reached the FA Cup final but an eighth-placed Premier League finish resulted in Fenway Sports Group dismissing him after 16 months in charge.

Ayre said no matter how much work had been done off the pitch in terms of the structure and business of the club if results did not match up then change was inevitable.

"The most important element which isn't quite there is the football," said the managing director, who admitted they had already had numerous expressions of interest in the vacant manager's position but stressed their search had not yet properly begun.

"If you don't believe the results are right and feel 37 points off the champions and 17 points off Champions League pace is a long distance you have to make a change.

"You believe you have to improve that part because without it things begin to fall away. We have to get the football right. Should Kenny have been given longer? People will always have a different view.

"We had to make a decision as a board and we have to stand by it and move forward. The history the club was built on was about success and that means success in the league, which leads to Champions League football, and also winning trophies.

"No one is saying we didn't enjoy winning the Carling Cup and getting to the FA Cup final but ultimately the backbone of football now is the Premier League and European football at the highest level.

"It was important we moved forward in that direction and results are what mattered this year."

Ayre insisted that with strong foundations now laid by FSG the focus could be about football. "We set on a path here just over a year ago with new ownership to try to restore the club to a position it expects to be in English and European football," he added.

"Part of that process was building a foundation on which we could compete financially and therefore invest in our team to compete on the pitch.

"We have made big strides as a business, our revenues are as high as they have ever been and you take those revenues and then invest those into the team to invest on the pitch."

On the removal of Dalglish, an iconic figure at Anfield, from his second spell in charge Ayre said: "It goes without saying that these decisions are difficult but they are far more difficult when it is someone who is iconic and respected in the fabric of the football club.

"You have to make the same decisions for the right reasons but they are compounded when it is such a great person who has given so much to the club."

Finally justifies his place on the England squad

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which I'd be all behind. Rumored that Lambert and Martinez would both turn the gig down if offered; Poyet is also in the frame.

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"This (and every, actually) conversation needs more Chesterton and less Mike Francesa." - W

They're 10 games into their season, they have qualifying round for the Champions League in mid-late July, and he has said he doesn't want to move his family again until his kids are older. He's not the sort of guy that would move his family and chase a dollar (he's very wealthy) for a club that he doesn't care about and will be hugely restricted with.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/18/ole-gunnar-solskjaer-aston-villa-manager

There' a guy on the villaTalk forums that has access to flight records for Lerner's jet, and has been able to give clues for our last three manager searches based on where the plane goes. Around when I first posted, he had the story that the plane was scheduled to go from BhX to Kristiansund airport as soon as Lerner had come in from the states. Since then, it's been a gas to follow on twitter.

<--- USA! USA!

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Soccer Blog: www.fourfivetwo.com

"This (and every, actually) conversation needs more Chesterton and less Mike Francesa." - W

Italians back stabbing Italians...lovely...

Fabio Capello has made it known to Chelsea's hierarchy that he is eager to take up the reins at Stamford Bridge this summer as the former England coach seeks a return to top-flight club management.

The Italian is due to attend Saturday's Champions League final in Munich, which marks the last game of Roberto Di Matteo's impressive tenure as interim first-team coach. Chelsea are still evaluating who will fill the position vacated by André Villas-Boas in the first week of March but, with their chances of securing Roman Abramovich's first choice – Pep Guardiola – appearing remote, Capello has moved to promote his own candidacy.

The 65-year-old's availability had been explored by intermediaries apparently working with Chelsea's blessing earlier this year once it became clear that Villas-Boas's spell in charge was unraveling. That would have been on a short-term basis – the former Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez was also discussed at the time – and, like the Spaniard, Capello would have considered the role only on a more permanent basis. The Italian, who does not operate with an agent, has been contacted by brokers claiming to be working on behalf of the club and has expressed his desire to be considered. He has not as yet been offered the job.

Capello resigned as England coach in February and has spent the last three months between Italy, Spain, Dubai, London and at his family home in Lugano. He has received offers from Spain and Russia and, having opted against retirement, is seeking a return to an ambitious leading European club. He has accepted opportunities will be limited in Italy and Spain and, with his compatriot Marcello Lippi having been appointed by Guangzhou Evergrande – an £8m-a-year role for which Capello had also been considered – considers the Premier League his most likely route back.

His reputation may have been damaged in this country by England's toils at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but his record as a club manager remains impressive. He has won nine titles in 16 seasons with Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus – his two Juve titles having since been revoked – although his sole success in the Champions League remains the Rossoneri's victory over Barcelona in 1994. His appointment would find favour with the likes of John Terry, whose removal from the England captaincy had prompted the Italian's resignation earlier this year.

Capello still owns an apartment in Chelsea and recently expressed a desire to work in the Premier League. "England would be very interesting for me because I know very well the teams and the players and everything would be less difficult," he said in an interview with The Times this month. "I've refused some really good offers for a lot of money, from clubs in China and different places in the world. I want one more challenge.

"At the end of my career it would be interesting to find a team with big motivation to arrive at the top. I want to manage a team that is able to play in the Champions League and fight for lots of trophies. If I don't find the kind of club I want I'll return to being a pundit."

Chelsea had quickly identified Guardiola as their primary target following Villas-Boas's sacking but the 41-year-old has reiterated he will now be taking a year-long sabbatical from the game after leaving Barcelona. José Mourinho, another who was under consideration, is to remain at Real Madrid, leaving the likes of the France coach, Laurent Blanc, and Capello as viable alternatives.

Di Matteo, who has claimed the FA Cup and could win the club's first European Cup against Bayern Munich, has intimated in recent weeks that he does not expect to be offered the role on a permanent basis despite his successes during his 10-week spell in temporary charge.

Been a little gobshite the past month, but whew!

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respect the gift.

Too much indignation at him not going to Arsenal, even though his name has been linked to us forever.

I just assumed I'd get to check him out at the Euros, but apparently Belgium didn't make it

w/that said, not sure Chelsea is the best fit for him, I don't see him prosper with a predominantly defensive, plodding team.

EL DIEZ

>w/that said, not sure Chelsea is the best fit for him, I
>don't see him prosper with a predominantly defensive, plodding
>team.

We're adding a ton of firepower across the front lines with Hazard,Marin, probably Hulk as well and more than likely another CM.

------------------------------------

When I think of something clever or profound I'll put it here.

Blog--------> www.lmbao.org
Twitter-----> www.twitter.com/MoonwalkJenkins

would never had let that happen.

As to his style, he's a small outside-in winger that operates mainly on the left but is right footed. AKA, he's a hell of a lot like Mata, but faster and capable of some long hits. His ego is massive (Nasri times 10) and will be the most difficult thing for whomever the new manager is there to deal with.

He would have been a perfect at Arsenal under Wenger's tutelage but I knew it was an extreme long-shot because dude has been asking for 200k a week in wages....ahhh, damn. O well.

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<<<Sith Lord, Mitch Kupchak

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

Lakers, Dodgers, Eagles, Arsenal

Signings? I know there's been a system in place for years but when the rest of the world is inflating like crazy burying your head in the sand and holding ur guns isn't really the move

------------------------------------

When I think of something clever or profound I'll put it here.

Blog--------> www.lmbao.org
Twitter-----> www.twitter.com/MoonwalkJenkins

Shinji Kagawa's transfer to Manchester United moves a step nearer
• Japan midfielder yet to agree personal terms
• Borussia Dortmund player expected to cost £17.5m
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Jamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 29 May 2012 06.41 EDT

Borussia Dortmund's Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa is closing in on a deal with Manchester United. Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images
Shinji Kagawa's transfer to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund for a total of €22m (£17.m) has moved closer but the midfielder has yet to agree personal terms and sign for the club.

The Japanese midfielder is back in his homeland and it is understood that Thomas Kroth, the 23-year-old's agent, travelled there from Germany in the past few days to discuss the move.

An initial bid of €18m from United was rejected last week but Dortmund have now reportedly agreed a fee that will be worth €22m with add-ons for a player who cost them just €350,000 from the Japanese club Cerezo Osaka.

The United manager Sir Alex Ferguson watched Kagawa a fortnight ago when he scored in Dortmund's 5-2 win over Bayern Munich in the German Cup final. He scored 13 goals in 31 league games as Dortmund won the Bundesliga from Bayern by eight points and he fits the profile currently adhered to by United of a young player who could improve and not cost a premium price.

Kagawa currently earns a modest salary of between €750,000 to €1m and was offered up to €2.5m to re-sign for Dortmund. But as he is intent on playing in the Premier League it is not thought his wage demands to join United will prove a stumbling block.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/29/shinji-kagawa-manchester-united-dortmund



Everything else=bullshit until the Guardian reports it.

waits.

i have a fortune for you......

Andy Carroll is going to beast...The way he played against us in the FA cup showed me something.....He will always have that length which will allow him to win balls in the box, and he's a workhorse

He's like the white drogba .........I'm expecting him to have a great Euro run.

would also like Javi Martinez.


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It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

but they're already talking to Kaka, Higuain, Giovinco, Lavezzi and Dani Alvez, and there's a Eto'o rumor floating around

aka it's going to be a cluster fuck

EL DIEZ

------------------------------------

When I think of something clever or profound I'll put it here.

Blog--------> www.lmbao.org
Twitter-----> www.twitter.com/MoonwalkJenkins

unless a massive amount of money was involved

EL DIEZ

which would only bolster my lightweight rooting for them (and take me back 20 years when I was halfway following El Magnifico's career there)

EL DIEZ

Roman hasn't learned a single thing. He's still in love with the big names, and he is still into remitting loads of cash to achieve glory.



the AVB situation taught him nothing
Torres taught him nothing
Schevchenko taught him nothing.


More than likely, Hazard's transfer fee is going to be 30-35 million, and he is going to get a salary in the range of 150,000 to 200,00 weekly, so the total cost of the transfer is going to go for abut 50-60 million dollars.

terrible.

I cannot believe this tool is going to play for our side, and when you couple that with the self-centered Torres, well, the bridge is going to be diva central.



Hazard is talented, and he won player of the year 2 years in a row, but that was in the french league. The EPL is a totally different league, so there is no guarantee that he will put up great numbers. Can he deal with the physical play that he is going to see in every game?



Also, why on earth would Roman buy a young, 21 year old player, who he plans to build around, when he already has 2 young players with similar talents on the reserve team? Piazon/Mceachran play the same position, and they are mighty gifted. Why not build around them instead of forking over 60 million dollars for a guy who is going to cause friction on the pitch and off of it??.....Give the youth a chance



It's a slap in the face to the reserve team, and it proves that roman does not have faith in chelsea's youth. I could see if it were a veteran player in his prime, and the youth would learn under his wing, but it's not, so the move is totally illogical.



After what Torres said and did after the CL cup,and the fact that chelsea gave into his rants by giving him the keys to the main striker position, and now the signing of Hazard the Tool, it is going to be hard for me to watch chelsea next season



What is happening to my team?...Where is the leadership going to come from? Where is the toughness going to come from?


Also, RDM is not going to get the job. That is pretty much written on the wall, which is sad. RDM and Drogba literally saved our season, and now, those two will not be a part of chelsea anymore.

The next manager is going to have his hands full trying to figure out how to make everything work. We now have 14 mid/wingers:

raul, essien, malouda,mata,romeu,marin,kevin, piazon,mceachran,mikel, lamps, hazard, sturridge, ramires


Hazard expects to be the number 10, and he wants the jersey( yeah, just fuck mata and all the hard work he put in last year), and I know
marin has to be scratching his head right now regarding his role at the bridge.



All torres had to do was accept his new ability as a left winger, instead of crying and bitching about a position he is no longer gifted at. That would have allowed us to focus mainly on the striker position and the right back position( I still say we should move essien to right back. He played rb in 08, and it would help preserve his career):

They way it should be next year:

--ivan--luiz-terry-cole---

----ramires-mikel----

---marin-mata-torres--

---Lavezzi(Demba ba)----

(subs: mceachran, romeu, essien, piazon, sturridge, demba ba, kevin, bertrand, malouda, cahill, lamps, raul)



I prefer Lavezzi over Hulk( and it's not even close), and demba ba would be a good pick up considering his release clause is only 5-7mil, and newcastle refuse to give him an extension, so that means he is available. He would make for a nice insurance piece on top of getting a main striker. demba ba brings length, power and a nice aerial game, and there is no way a team can survive without an aerial game in the EPL. no way.


Hulk is overrated to me, and he is not worth the money. Lavezzi would be the better buy, and the way he played against us in the CL proved the he would be able to hold his own in the EPL if given the opportunity.

Roman is a blessing and a curse.....can't wait to see what the clean up job will be after the first half of the season.