QUOTE (Jack Sparrow @ Apr 13 2012, 01:38 PM)
I dunno. I look and Kroos and I look at Merkel...and I think we're diluting quality if we keep him on.
Wrong comparison to make, for starters.
And besides, the amount of injuries we get it is vitally important, and importantly vital that we secure our positions with not one but two players for each key position. In fact, all positions. And keeping people like Merkel at 1m or less per season, with a few scattered minutes is a must.
If nothing more, youngsters like him can come in at the 60-70-80 minute marks, to give our starters a rest.
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Apr 13 2012, 08:18 PM)
Merkel is a very promising prospect. Giving him away to Genoa would be idiotic, to say the least. I'd keep him, Strasser and El Shaarawy without thinking twice.
Exactly. All three must be kept without thinking once, not twice in my opinion. Once the senior leave, what are you going to have as cover?! Bring in more Flaminis?! Nah, I'd rather keep all three. And besides, at least Merkel displays a bit of a natural talent, that minimal hint of swagger, and more importantly a wee drop of flair.
Which is much more than that can be said of someone like Emanusleon.
There I said it.