The buzz is that we have “handshake” deals with Garay and Lahm, and Poulsen is all atwitter about our interest. There are a number of other things, such as Dani Alves, that flared up then died just as quickly, which means they were either nothing, or quashed to keep the bidding down.

I would bet that we are talking to a LOT of people, including coaching candidates. I’ll believe the Mourinho to Inter thing when it happens. It’s on one day, and then Mourinho is calling BS on that stuff, the next day. Today it’s back on, and Drogba, Carvalho, Lampard, his mama and the Chelsea team bus driver are all going to join Mourinho at Inter.

Meanwhile, Soriano (vice-president) says that Ronaldinho is “under review,” as part of a major evaluation of the coaching and player staffs. Further, that being in the business of winning, “changes will be made for the better.” More comments follow:

“…the important thing is to win and everything revolves around this.”

“When the team’s performance is not what is desired, as has happened this season, we have to consider everything….with all members of the workforce.”

“The decisions about the players will be made without any drama because Barca is a winning club and what we do not want is to suffer like this season. Undoubtedly, all of the first team players are very professional and have technical merit, but some of them cannot continue here.”

Whoa. That’s serious talk, kids.

The way I see it, if Rijkaard stays, Ronnie’s gone faster than yesterday’s bread. If Rijkaard leaves Ronnie’s a bigger unknown. I don’t want to see a fire-sale either, but I see Edmilson, Oleguer, Thuram, and Ezquerro gone. Ronaldinho, Dos Santos, Deco, Zambrotta and Gudjohnsen are the bigger questions and I can’t see them all going. I think your right about Dos Santos and I haven’t heard anything about Gudjohnsen leaving. Of the five, I see Ronnie and Zambrotta bidding farewell, not something I really want to see.
What of the Barca youth squad? Are there options in the up and coming?

Jenny, the obvious name missing from that list of yours is Dani Alves, but I can understand if you omitted him on purpose because he’s the hot target for clubs willing to spend 30million plus on player, which I sure as hell hope Barcelona isn’t willing to do.

I think the most likely of your list, though, is Philipp Lahm, especially since he plays both left and right. However, I imagine he’s pretty settled at Bayern Munich considering how well they’re doing in all competitions right now.

Poulsen, a DM, would seem to be the name out there that should be on the way according to all those reports earlier, but if Marquez sticks around, I don’t believe that he’ll be coming due to lack of playing time staring him in the face.

Garay is a fantastic option if we can get him for cheap. We need at least a backup to Zambrotta, who is both aging and likely to return to Italy either this summer or the next at the latest.

Lucio, Ribery, and the rest of the Munchen squad are both not likely and probably out of the question. Lucio is 29, which isn’t quite the time to buy a defender if you’re looking to replace your defense (the year or two extra that you get from being 27 or 28, which is how old Milito and Abidal are, is a vital time) — and anyway, I disagree that we need to find replacements for our defense. Perhaps competent backups, such as Thuram, if they can be found for cheap. Disrupting the continuity of a defense is a much more serious issue than disrupting the front line, I think.

The “Deco issue” would be solved with Samir Nasri, really, but that begs the greater question of whether or not we should buy anyone else. I’m not convinced that we need wholesale changes in the squad, though we may be forced into the transfer market depending on what happens with various players.

Kevin’s list of who is leaving is probably pretty solid, though I disagree that Dos Santos is leaving. Perhaps he’ll be loaned out, but I doubt it. Give him some time before calling for his transfer. He’s 18, not 28. As for Ronaldinho, well…that’s the question, isn’t it? I’m confused by what’s going on with him because…because it’s a confusing situation! We’re moving away from Ronnie in favor of Thierry Henry, I think, which is not something I’m okay with at all. It’s probably — almost certainly — not that simple, but that’s how it feels right now. And I, for one, don’t like it. Perhaps I’m in the minority here.

I wonder if Pedrito is going to become the next Maxi Lopez/Ezquerro bench-warmer type or if he’ll jet at the first opportunity or if he’ll come through. We’ve seen so little of him on the field that there’s been no way for me to judge him in the least.

I’m not sure about Deco. I think that depends on the special one. I’ve heard so many rumors on other possible replacements. Could someone tell me if any are true. I’ve heard P. Lahm and Lucio, Poulsen, and Garay. Did I miss anyone? I’d like to have a chance to preview the possibilities for next season. I watched the Bayern Munich/Nuremberg game, it was quite a match. How about F. Ribery? What a commanding midfielder! That would solve that Deco issue for me. Too much dreaming! Back to reality…does Poulsen play defensive mid or would he be up front? I know too many questions, but I’m in a need to know state of mind.

You’re spot on about Laporta, as well. I think he’s even on the hot seat for this season if we crash out of Champions League and finish third in the league.

The expectations are too high right now and that’s not going to work for anyone. I know that I want championships, but come on, you can’t reasonably expect both good games and constant championships at the same time. The Yankees and Real Madrid have tried it and it’s earned them a fat load of trouble — Capello won by being Capello, which means not giving a rat’s ass about whether or not anyone cares for his style. The man wins and win he did (though not really) and suddenly he’s out? Schuster is just riding his coattails and getting quite lucky that he’s in charge of one of the highest spending clubs in the world. I’m going to argue for continuity here and that includes both Rijkaard and Ronaldinho at the moment. I’m no more (or less) sentimental than the guys and gals arguing for their dismissal, but rather more willing to accept a measure of “failure” in order to win in the end. And I’d like to point out that finishing second because you’re tied on points and have a substantially superior goal differential, but lost 2-0 away and drew 3-3 at home to the second placed team is not disgraceful for anyone but the RFEF, who set these silly rules.