[Archived] Summer Transfer Window

[USABlue]

Your reputation??? I've just wet meself

[budha]

Spanish daily AS claims that Berlusconi is prepared to pay the 125 million Euros required to trigger Ronaldinho's buy-out clause at Barca.

The report claims that Milan will make a series of bids for the Brazilian forward, but if they do not succeed then such is Berlusconi's desire to bring him to the San Siro, he will meet the enormous buy-out clause.

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...2490483,00.html

£85M, well that's quite a lot.

[joey_big_nose]

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...2490483,00.html

£85M, well that's quite a lot.

lunacy. Absolute lunacy.

How can he be worth that?

[RevidgeBlue]

Portsmouth have announced the signing of two new strikers, Nugent, and a Nigerian named Utaka.

[Fife Rover]

Portsmouth have announced the signing of two new strikers, Nugent, and a Nigerian named Utaka.

Hmmm......Looks like Preston have given up on the idea of getting promoted!

[RevidgeBlue]

The Sun this morning published a summer spending table which makes extremely grim reading in the sense of the lengths most clubs are seemingly prepared to go to try and improve their squad.

As at this morning it read:

1) Man U 52m

2) Liverpool 33.1m

3) Spurs 33m

4) West Ham 20.5m

5) Arsenal 19.5m

6) Chelsea 13.5m

7) Fulham 11m

8) Portsmouth 9.5m (now plus a further 6m for Nugent and whatevever for the Nigerian guy as well)

9) Newcastle 8.8m (Don't think that figure includes Geremi and a further 3m also planned imminently taking it up to 13m)

10) = Villa, Boro, 8.5m

12) Derby 8.25m

13) Birmingham 7.7m

14) Wigan 6.35m

15) = Everton, Sunderland 4m. (Now 9m for Sunderland following Chopra's signing)

17) Reading 1.8m

18) Bolton 1m

19) Rovers 750k (Shouldn't that actually be 550k?)

20) Citeh nil. (But of course they have the 8.8m signing of Bianchi imminent and a reputed 50m in total to spend)

Now I know prices are inflated at the moment and a lot of the signings made won't be roaring successes. However all things being equal, it will only take another season or two of that before we're really struggling.

Is the case for new ownership and direction (not necessarily the Yanks) becoming more and more compelling?

[brfcshabba]

If it is still 750k at the end of August then it may be a cause for concern

[philipl]

No

1) The market is all over the place and there are exuberant buyers and ordinary players out there

2) Who signed the most players in the January window (begins with a B and a R)?

3) Were those signings any good (I think all 4 strengthened us plus Henchoz came back)?

4) Rigters replacing Nonda (the reality so far)- good move?

5) We don't know what injuries lie in store for us but last season we missed 1 Reid and half each of Nelsen, Ooijer, Savage and Roberts. At least they are back.

Compare the squad today with this time twelve months ago (no Bellamy or Benni, Dickov all but out of the door leaving Kuqi as our main striker)

Point made?

[Sandiway Blue]

i think the time to worry would be if we spent £5.3m on an average player like jason koumas or £6m on kamara.hughes has gone on record as saying he doesn`t want to buy squad players,he wants first teamers which i think is fair comment.i wouldn`t be too surprised if hughes went for someone like jermain defoe within the last couple of weeks of the transfer window or someone unknown who could be a player like samba,(in terms of success rather than playing position) keep the faith! hughes is no souness thats for sure.....

[Eddie]

No

1) The market is all over the place and there are exuberant buyers and ordinary players out there

2) Who signed the most players in the January window (begins with a B and a R)?

3) Were those signings any good (I think all 4 strengthened us plus Henchoz came back)?

4) Rigters replacing Nonda (the reality so far)- good move?

5) We don't know what injuries lie in store for us but last season we missed 1 Reid and half each of Nelsen, Ooijer, Savage and Roberts. At least they are back.

Compare the squad today with this time twelve months ago (no Bellamy or Benni, Dickov all but out of the door leaving Kuqi as our main striker)

Point made?

Those are all very fair and well reasoned points and it would be the logical thing to think like that, but in order to progress, particularly with others around us buying, we need to seriously address the weakness up front and in the centre of midfield. If we try and have a go with the squad that we have today then we will need to avoid any serious injuries or suspensions and we will be banking on Rigters fitting in, Roberts being the player he was for the last 10 games and not the player he has been at times during his career and Derbyshire not having the usual second season slump. We can make our squad sound very strong, but it is also possible to make it sound very average. Personally I would like to see the another top quality striker, a creative central midfielder and if possible (but by no means essential) a first choice or young right back.

[philipl]

You writing out the cheque for £100m then eddie (transfer fees plus wages for four years plus top ups to avoid distortion to the current wage structure)? Simply to cover five or six players who might have a stinker this season?

For what its worth, my guess is that Rovers will make signings but perhaps at the end of the window. A casual look at the accounts suggests there could be bank borrowing headroom even if the Trust declines to finance an acquisition but they would probably back most investment suggestions brought to them by JW and MH.

[Bing]

I certainly don't see central midfield as a priority area and don't see us having a great need for a creative player in there. We've got two options in Tugay and Dunn who are excellent players technically. Dunn was looking like his old self towards the end of last season and the ability to take the ball from central midfield and run at people is a rare one. Reid also adds something different with his dynamic running and athleticisim bursting forward.

Our wide areas are our strength. Most of our creativity and goals will come from the Warnock/MGP and Emerton/Bentley combinations.

People can look at the figures spent and panic but I don't see that any of the players being transferred for £5-10m this summer would have significantly improved us with the obvious exception of Bellamy. At the end of the day we're as strong as the likes of Everton and Spurs and ask any fan of another club and they'd put us in that bracket too.

[LDRover]

I tell you what, I'm far happier as a Rovers fan with my club having spent 350k on a promising youngster than I would be if I was a Pompey fan having spent 6 million on Nugent.

For me Hughes is bang on keeping his powder dry than spending these ludicrous sums of money on mediocrity such as Nugent, Kamara and Chopra.

The market has gone well and truly doo-lally.

[Eddie]

£100 million over 4 season? I'm talking about giving Hughes a transfer budget of £10-15 million now to see what he can work with. Now let's say all three signings were top earners at our club and were on 40k a week, over 4 years each that would be just over £33 million in wages, let's call that £40 million with bonuses and things of that sort. You then have to say that if that gets us European football every season and possibly even a chance at the top 4 then in footballing terms it isn't a huge expense for a large step forward. I don't want him to buy unless he has found the right man, but I also don't want people to be thinking that things are perfectly fine as they are.

[Sandiway Blue]

the problem is finding the right kind of player who is the right age and has the right attitude at the right price.with the players we have it will be hard to find better players willing to come to ewood.

i agree with eddie with regards to finding another right back (someone in the same mould as stephen warnock). however the question is who do we buy? that is where the problem lies. there aren`t many right backs we could name that would be the right kind of player we want.

i must admit i can`t think of any......

[Sandiway Blue]

I tell you what, I'm far happier as a Rovers fan with my club having spent 350k on a promising youngster than I would be if I was a Pompey fan having spent 6 million on Nugent.

For me Hughes is bang on keeping his powder dry than spending these ludicrous sums of money on mediocrity such as Nugent, Kamara and Chopra.

The market has gone well and truly doo-lally.

you have hit the nail on the head, i think we will make a surprise signing by the end of the transfer window.hughes isn`t daft he knows what we need.

[78]

'Chippen' is excellent on his day, but like herbergeehh says consistency isn't his forte. If Pedersen or Bentley was to leave, he'd be a good replacement, but as it is we don't need him.

I rate Chippen and think he would do a great job in the Premier League despite similar players (eg Rommedahl) struggling to cope with the rigours of the Premiership.

Also think it would give MH the option of giving Bentley an extended run in central midfield where it's starting to look like Dunn may not be the Messiah we were all hoping for.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

Nugents career stats are hardly mind blowing and before people point out his youngish age they have been at a level below the premiership.

Bury 88 (18)

Preston North End 94 (33)

That’s 182 games & only 51 goals just under a goal every 4 games at tiers below the prem!. Is he really worth 6 million?

[Sandiway Blue]

Nugents career stats are hardly mind blowing and before people point out his youngish age they have been at a level below the premiership.

Bury 88 (18)

Preston North End 94 (33)

That’s 182 games & only 51 goals just under a goal every 4 games at tiers below the prem!. Is he really worth 6 million?

the answer to this is definitely no! however he has played for england which over inflates the asking price for him.

compare it with defoe`s record last season it really is no contest.if defoe was available for around £10m i know which player i would prefer.

[krislu]

1) The market is all over the place and there are exuberant buyers and ordinary players out there

Yes it seems there are some crazy prices going around. But the clubs spending money are improving, they ain't getting worse (quality wise) buying all these players

2) Who signed the most players in the January window (begins with a B and a R)?

With Dunn, Warnock, Samba and Berner I guess that would be us. Injury problems and the falling out with Todd was the main reason buying these players, Warnock not included.

3) Were those signings any good (I think all 4 strengthened us plus Henchoz came back)?

Dunn did next to nothing, while Berner did nothing. Samba did his part while Warnock has been very good. Henchoz came back in august.

4) Rigters replacing Nonda (the reality so far)- good move?

One squad player being replaced by another. I reckon Rigters can't be much worse than Nonda (which did ok)

5) We don't know what injuries lie in store for us but last season we missed 1 Reid and half each of Nelsen, Ooijer, Savage and Roberts. At least they are back.

With pressure on "at least". It's a good thing they are back, but Emerton and Samba did a great job in defense and Mokoena have been doing well in midfield. Not sure we would be THAT much higher up the table with all players being fit. Perhaps one or two places.

Compare the squad today with this time twelve months ago (no Bellamy or Benni, Dickov all but out of the door leaving Kuqi as our main striker)

Agree, it is way to early starting to panic, I think Hughes will pull off some signings before the start of the season. Just hope it will be of real quality, because don't kid yourself, we need it!

Point made?

No, not really.

[greggyk]

cheers for the exclusive Krislu!

[herbergeehh]

I rate Chippen and think he would do a great job in the Premier League despite similar players (eg Rommedahl) struggling to cope with the rigours of the Premiership.

Also think it would give MH the option of giving Bentley an extended run in central midfield where it's starting to look like Dunn may not be the Messiah we were all hoping for.

He's certainly far superior to Rommedahl, whose only real asset is pace, and a total lack of end product.

[LWX]

its going to be an interesting few years...........its seems like nearly every half decent premiership side will soon have a big pot for transfers through outside investment.......will anybody really turn into title contenders as rovers did over a decade ago?.......will the prem, at last, become a more competitive league?.......time will tell.........but it would be a bit of a waste if all this disgraceful amount money being thrown around (and it is a disgrace....millions of pounds on footie players) only makes the competition for fourth place more interesting......having said that, i love the rovers, and if we can step up a level and truly compete (albeit only for 4th spot)....then....bring it on, lets get some money in and buy some players....coz lets be honest, its a miracel our club is where it is anyway.....RIP JW

[Eddie]

Also, those who feel that we don't need another striker need to remember that Nonda scored 7 goals (I believe) with a relatively good goal to minute played ratio. That will have to be replaced and even improved upon if we want to even stay in the same position (especially when you consider that Benni would need to have another fantastic season and Derbyshire and Roberts would have to continue good form).

[LWX]

Also, those who feel that we don't need another striker need to remember that Nonda scored 7 goals (I believe) with a relatively good goal to minute played ratio. That will have to be replaced and even improved upon if we want to even stay in the same position (especially when you consider that Benni would need to have another fantastic season and Derbyshire and Roberts would have to continue good form).

i agree...i never thought nonda looked that bad....and it can take time adjust to the prem....no doubt...........as for the others.....derbyshire should, fingers crossed, just get better and better....and if roberts continues where he left off last year....we should be fine up front.........obviously if benni goes.....we need a new 15 plus centre forward....not an easy thing to find nowadays.