[Archived] Summer Transfer Window

[Hughesy]

They obviously felt that he hadnt spent money wisely in the past!?

Not sure where the list was - a sunday paper. Bolton were 2nd from bottom i think.

Drifting off topic here, but that's a real kick in the swingers for Coleman.

He's kept that club in the top flight on a shoestring for years. As soon as he's out of the door, then they start spending serious money. Nasty!

[USABlue]

Ah yes, the convincing logic of "One player of nationality X did poorly, so this one will too". Not all Mexicans are exactly the same you know.

As opposed to the convincing logic "he's a star in that league so he'd be good here?

[Fife Rover]

I'd rather have anybody than Mido!

[USABlue]

Whatever the case is sparky has to say that hasn't he, I mean he can't come out and publically say that he hasn't been able to compete in the transfer market this summer because he hasn't been given any money to spend.

No he doesn't and why wouldn't he? He's spot on. I think, as I had mentioned before although not so bluntly, I think Hughesy is a bit of a tight git. I don't think he likes to spend.

[Lathund]

As opposed to the convincing logic "he's a star in that league so he'd be good here?

Please point out where I've argued for that line of reasoning? Oh right, you can't, because I haven't. And while I don't subscribe to the logic you mention there, it at least says something about his quality as a player; that he's better than most players in that league. Doesn't mean he will, or won't, succeed anywhere else, but your reasoning says nothing of his quality at all.

I prefer to make a judgment on more than just someone's nationality, or which league he plays in. Such as actually watching him play, goal scoring record and such. But we all have different ways of judging quality I guess.

[Kai]

Man City have signed Geovanni - the one who used to play for Barcelona on a free transfer.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ity/6903326.stm

I just cannot believe that he's only 27! On a free transfer too... Wonder what's his story?

[John]

Got a feeling Sven will recruit well for Man City - I am sure there are plenty more players to come.

He said be wanted to bring ten new players in a couple of weeks ago.

[tcj_jones]

He's looking at Bresciano as well according to Sky Sports.

[92er]

Boro improved?????

Is this your shortest ever posting???

[USRoverME]

I have to disagree with the "Rovers are sitting still" posts, honestly.

The side hasn't yet seent eh full benefit of all their recent important signings, with Reid, Ooijer, Nelsen, Roberts and Savage all missing significant time last season, in my mind, its not so much a case of "they'll be like new signings" its more along the lines of we'll improve because we underacheived last season, we were a better squad,a nd will be if we stay healthy.

[92er]

According to teletext, Lincoln are taking Gary Croft on trial-I think it's Jan that likes him!!

[JAL]

I have to disagree with the "Rovers are sitting still" posts, honestly.

The side hasn't yet seent eh full benefit of all their recent important signings, with Reid, Ooijer, Nelsen, Roberts and Savage all missing significant time last season, in my mind, its not so much a case of "they'll be like new signings" its more along the lines of we'll improve because we underacheived last season, we were a better squad,a nd will be if we stay healthy.

Ooijer according to the LT is 33 years of age coming off a broken leg, Robbie Savage is 32-33 years of age coming off a terrible broken leg, Steven Reid still hasnt fully recovered, Roberts seems like the party line is hes homesick and has a up for sale sign above his head if the price is an acceptable one, and now saving the best till last Ryan Nelsen quality player an absolute star especially for Samba now your talking USroverME.

Sorry to paint a dull picture for you ex-pats but its a very realistic one, hopefully football can change in an instance and Rovers end up putting some more quality into the squad with a few quality additions then we'll really be talking.

[joey_big_nose]

Ooijer according to the LT is 33 years of age coming off a broken leg, Robbie Savage is 32-33 years of age coming off a terrible broken leg, Steven Reid still hasnt fully recovered, Roberts seems like the party line is hes homesick and has a up for sale sign above his head if the price is an acceptable one, and now saving the best till last Ryan Nelsen quality player an absolute star especially for Samba now your talking USroverME.

Sorry to paint a dull picture for you ex-pats but its a very realistic one, hopefully football can change in an instance and Rovers end up putting some more quality into the squad with a few quality additions then we'll really be talking.

I do agree we look like we will have to do major rebuilding next year but I think we will be alright for the coming saeson. Too many changes at once will cause problems. The spine of our side is Freidel-Nelsen-Reid Savage-McCarthy and we want to retain that not completely rejig it. It really is as a determined lot (Benni aside) as you are likely to find and that counts for so much.

I have complete faith in Sparky's assessment that Savage and Reid are recovering well. If those two are anything they are fighters.

[Eddie]

Yes, but do we want to be in a position next season where we may need to find replacements for several players? Isnt' it better to do it now so that any young replacements can have time to learn and adapt and clubs know that we don't have to sign the replacements right now.

[RevidgeBlue]

I have to disagree with the "Rovers are sitting still" posts, honestly.

The side hasn't yet seent eh full benefit of all their recent important signings, with Reid, Ooijer, Nelsen, Roberts and Savage all missing significant time last season, in my mind, its not so much a case of "they'll be like new signings" its more along the lines of we'll improve because we underacheived last season, we were a better squad,a nd will be if we stay healthy.

Whilst it's real quality we need, it's not only a question of whether the new signings are top notch, a couple of new faces keeps the dressing room fresh and players know they have to be on their toes to retain their places.

If no-one of any significance comes in, at best players could get complacent knowing their place is safe, at worst the better ones thnk we have no ambition and decide to leave.

This close season feels like the summer of 1995 all over again, - after which we start to motor backwards at a rate of knots.

[Oklahoma]

Man City have signed Geovanni - the one who used to play for Barcelona on a free transfer.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ity/6903326.stm

I just cannot believe that he's only 27! On a free transfer too... Wonder what's his story?

Well, he is a player I know well. He played for Benfica after he was in Barça.

He is a good player but he "disapears" for most of the season. He can be brilliant at times.

[Florida Rover]

Would the money we could pay entice Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Ajax to come to East Lancashire?I wouldn't mind seeing it if it could come to fruition.

[Texan Rover]

As opposed to the convincing logic "he's a star in that league so he'd be good here?

This is nonsense, comparing Borgetti to Castillo.

For one, they're completely different sorts of players. Borgetti is a big, slow target man from a footballing culture that doesn't typically produce target men. He came to a country where players like him were a dime a dozen, didn't settle, and was unsuccessful. Castillo is all pace and technical ability, and bears almost no resemblance to Borgetti besides playing up front (and in a different role, even!). Would you ever suggest that Van Nistelrooy and Kuyt or Robben were the same type of player or had similar chances of success just because they played up front in the same orange shirt?

Further, Castillo doesn't play in the Mexican league, he plays for Olympiakos. He's hardly even Mexican, if we're going to base assumptions about ability on his nationality (he was born in Mexico to Uruguayan parents and grew up playing in the latter country); he only recently decided to play for the Mexican national team, picking the country of his birth over Uruguay and Greece.

Castillo was spotted and approached by Man United at the age of 16, but didn't move to England because he couldn't get a work permit. I don't know about you, but I'm not sure the Mancs were thinking much about Jared Borgetti when they tried to sign up Nery.

Having said all that, the chances of Rovers signing him seem extremely low. He's been linked with moves to several big clubs with figures up close to €10-12m. I'm not even sure he qualifies for a work permit, seeing as he's only recently been brought into the Mexican team. Castillo is not an unknown, and his performance in the Copa America (picked in many Teams of the Tourney) has almost certainly earned him a big contract with a big team, and earned Olympiakos a sizable chunk of change.

And yes, he has a rather unimpressive scoring record in a weak Greek league, so he must be crap. Oh yeah, and Mexicans are crap in England, too. But USABlue already told us that.

[Eddie]

He doesn't need a work permit because he has a Greek wife now.

[Eddie]

Whilst it's real quality we need, it's not only a question of whether the new signings are top notch, a couple of new faces keeps the dressing room fresh and players know they have to be on their toes to retain their places.

If no-one of any significance comes in, at best players could get complacent knowing their place is safe, at worst the better ones thnk we have no ambition and decide to leave.

This close season feels like the summer of 1995 all over again, - after which we start to motor backwards at a rate of knots.

Agreed. I also think it is about showing everyone that we have ambition. If we don't sign anyone then it will make it appear as if we are content with life as it is and that trying to sneak 6th spot is fine by us (which we didn't even manage last season). If we can pull off a good signing then it lets our current players and any players we might be interested in that we are seriously trying to move the club forward. Almost anyone could have predicted that the injection of extra cash this summer was going to lead to players moving for larger fees, it is common sense, our club can't try and pretend that it didn't happen and sit around waiting for an international striker to be going for £2 million.

[philipl]

Eddie so what message did all the signings in January send?

Hint-it answers this question: "Almost anyone could have predicted that the injection of extra cash this summer was going to lead to players moving for larger fees, it is common sense, our club can't try and pretend that it didn't happen"

You are completely up the wrong tree on this one.

[Jan]

According to teletext, Lincoln are taking Gary Croft on trial-I think it's Jan that likes him!!

Yep

He told me a few days ago. He's been to two other clubs too

[Eddie]

Eddie so what message did all the signings in January send?

Hint-it answers this question: "Almost anyone could have predicted that the injection of extra cash this summer was going to lead to players moving for larger fees, it is common sense, our club can't try and pretend that it didn't happen"

You are completely up the wrong tree on this one.

In January we signed one player who is guaranteed a spot in our starting line-up and who was essentially a replacement for a player we had lost. We then signed another left back who we have yet to see really and a centre back who has turned out to be a great signing. That still leaves two major areas of our side that have yet to be addressed (central midfield and up front). If Rigters turns out to be a 10 goal or more a season striker then that is fine, but everything we have heard about him suggests that he is certainly a good prospect, but probably isn't ready for that sort of thing yet.

[philipl]

...and David Dunn? I think he will be the central midfielder you are hoping for.

You are forgetting we bid high for Bellamy and that we are still in the market to strengthen the front line.

Twelve months ago it was Bellamy, Kuqui, Dickov, Pongolle, Gallagher

Now it is Benni, Roberts, Derbyshire, Rigters, Gallagher with Jeffers' sale about to pull in over £500K and up to £10m in the chest for the right guy if he comes available.

And you say the club is not moving forwards?

There are six weeks before the window closes so don't panic.....

[Eddie]

No, I'm talking about the beginning of this season versus last, there is no point comparing the end of the previous season. At the beginning of last season we had the same front line except we had Nonda and didn't have Rigters, which means the young Dutchman has 7 goals to replace. As for David Dunn, he has yet to show himself to be fully up to it and I certainly don't think that he will be able to hold down a spot in the first team all season, which means that the need for true creative quality in central midfield is only being filled by Tugay.