[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[nicko]

Not sure if anyone else spotted Nicko's write up on Rovers in Sunday' Mirror (I think it was the mirror anyway)

Very nice piece indeed, lots of compliments towards the Rovers players (think we're starting to convert him)

I give credit when it is due. And stick.

That was an important performance on Sunday, I liked the fact that the tactics have been tinkered with because the side had become a little too easy to read.

Big performances by several, Bentley, Roque, Sav, Benni when he came on and, of course, the wonderful Samba.

It would have been goal of the season if the big man had scored...and I thought the fact he took five minutes to get back to his own box was funny in an amusing way.

The reason for that was that he had a virus and was a doubt for the game. He's some player.

[bob fleming]

He's some player.

Indeed he is Nicko. However, surely it's only a matter of time before the big guns come sniffing around after him? Let's be honest, they don't deserve him. They don't seem to have cottoned on just yet though. If you could throw in some words such as "ungamely", "down right clumsy" and "appeared to be wearing clowns shoes" when commenting on Samba in your match reports, that would be a big help.

[nicko]

Indeed he is Nicko. However, surely it's only a matter of time before the big guns come sniffing around after him? Let's be honest, they don't deserve him. They don't seem to have cottoned on just yet though. If you could throw in some words such as "ungamely", "down right clumsy" and "appeared to be wearing clowns shoes" when commenting on Samba in your match reports, that would be a big help.

You might want to risk that approach, I for one will err on the side of caution. He is a big lad after all.

If there is a better centre half around just now I have not seen him. You just wonder how he was missed, his CV is ordinary but his performances have been top drawer.

Interesting to see if the players he faces have noticed it and stick him in the PFA team at the end of the season. We should maybe start a campaign.

[Oakland]

Blackburn tracking Grenoble whiz Feghouli

Who?

[nicko]

Blackburn tracking Grenoble whiz Feghouli

Who?

It's an old story, but I believe he has been watched by Rovers...and several others.

[bob fleming]

You might want to risk that approach, I for one will err on the side of caution. He is a big lad after all.

Good point. If asked just say that Andy Nield put you up to it.

[Mozzer]

nicko, just wondering if you have any news when our injuried players could return?? ie roberts, reid, nelsen, berner..

[rovers_rob]

You might want to risk that approach, I for one will err on the side of caution. He is a big lad after all.

If there is a better centre half around just now I have not seen him. You just wonder how he was missed, his CV is ordinary but his performances have been top drawer.

Interesting to see if the players he faces have noticed it and stick him in the PFA team at the end of the season. We should maybe start a campaign.

Was there anybody else looking at Samba when we bought him ?

It makes you wonder what Hughes sees in these players that other managers don't. Am I right in saying Charlton had the chance to buy Nelsen ? and Steve Bruce has just said that he had the chance to buy Bentley (not the brightest thing to say when you are trying to impress your potential new owners )

[b12_simon]

nicko, just wondering if you have any news when our injuried players could return?? ie roberts, reid, nelsen, berner..

Ok I'm not Nicko but the latest on Reid (AFAIK) is he's due to start light training in 2 weeks.

Whatever you've got, cross it!

[tcj_jones]

Light training in twoweeks?! Didn't the club say about a month ago that he was on the verge of a return? If he's starting light training in two weeks, he probably won't be featuring in the first team squad for another 4 - 6 weeks!

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Samba who

I think we should put a Dominic Matteo mask on him during games to make sure big clubs avoid him.

[Mozzer]

i find it odd about steven reid, i thought about a month ago he was back in training also..has he taken a slight knock or something..im sure i read someone say he is playing behind a closed doors match this week also..does any body know for sure when he is back??

[ABBEY]

he said on lancs the other night they were trying to arrange a game for him

[JAL]

Was there anybody else looking at Samba when we bought him ?

I'm not 100 % sure but i think Bolton Wanderers wanted to have a look at Christopher Samba as well.

[nicko]

Was there anybody else looking at Samba when we bought him ?

It was hard to watch him because he was left on the bench at Hertha Berlin - and then sent on to play striker.

Funny how things work out...I think Rovers were probably taking him for a look without having too much anticipation.

As for Ryan Nelsen, he was offered everywhere and nobody wanted to know because of his age. Charlton looked at him and treated him like dirt. Rovers was just abut his last shot before he went back to the USA.

Funny how things work out volume two.

Agents take a fair bit of stick at times, but the people who brought those two in and stood by their players deserve credit - as do those at Rovers who gave them the chance.

[Mozzer]

ryan nelsen was made to train with charlton reserves werent he????

samba will attract the top clubs soon-especially with the age he is now, 23 and he has everything..how he wasnt even in hertha berlin side is beyond me...

[JAL]

Agents take a fair bit of stick at times, but the people who brought those two in and stood by their players deserve credit - as do those at Rovers who gave them the chance.

Sambas agent 'scouse' is relatively new to the professional side of football, i think hes only been the game about three years or so, so your going to get a new breed of agent even though the agency he is linked to is set up and run by an ex professional footballer.

[Neil Weaver]

nicko, just wondering if you have any news when our injuried players could return?? ie roberts, reid, nelsen, berner..

Crack open that champagne............. Bruno returns for reserves tonight

[bluebruce]

samba will attract the top clubs soon-especially with the age he is now, 23 and he has everything..how he wasnt even in hertha berlin side is beyond me...

It makes you think, the two lads who were keeping him out of the side must be worth a look too!

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Yeah I agree, they must be as good as Beckenbauer!

[thenodrog]

Yeah I agree, they must be as good as Beckenbauer!

I guess so .... but remember he is in his 60's now!

[nicko]

I guess so .... but remember he is in his 60's now!

Rigters has told his pals in the Dutch press that he fancies going out on loan if he does not get a game soon.

I'm not sure that will happen, but in a way it's good to see he wants to play football.

If Roque is genuinely injured - and not just ducking a long flight home to Paraguay - I can't see Rigters being allowed out.

[joey_big_nose]

Rigters has told his pals in the Dutch press that he fancies going out on loan if he does not get a game soon.

I'm not sure that will happen, but in a way it's good to see he wants to play football.

If Roque is genuinely injured - and not just ducking a long flight home to Paraguay - I can't see Rigters being allowed out.

Any information from your contacts about how the staff rate Rigters? A slow burner?

I got the impression that he picked Rovers instead of Celtic or Newcastle becuase he felt he would get first team football. So maybe he is a bit depressed being fourth in the pecking order, and Hughes preferring 451 and Derbs on the right when Benni was not cutting the mustard?

[Fife Rover]

Any information from your contacts about how the staff rate Rigters? A slow burner?

I got the impression that he picked Rovers instead of Celtic or Newcastle becuase he felt he would get first team football. So maybe he is a bit depressed being fourth in the pecking order, and Hughes preferring 451 and Derbs on the right when Benni was not cutting the mustard?

If all our strikers are fully fit and firing on all cylinders, I would place Rigters 5th in the pecking order. That is as he is at present, but he does look to me like a boy with plenty of potential, and he does need to get some football at a reasonable level and on a regular basis. The obvious thing is to send him out on loan, but where to? If we send him to another PL club, he will get the right level of football but may decide he wants to stay with them. So the answer will probably be to fix him up with a good Championship club, but then will he actually progress? It is a difficult one, but it is a real problem that needs to be adressed both for the players sake and for BRFC's sake. Another little problem for Sparky to solve!

[nicko]

Any information from your contacts about how the staff rate Rigters? A slow burner?

I got the impression that he picked Rovers instead of Celtic or Newcastle becuase he felt he would get first team football. So maybe he is a bit depressed being fourth in the pecking order, and Hughes preferring 451 and Derbs on the right when Benni was not cutting the mustard?

I think he is taking his time to find his feet. He can also play wide in a three, so the fact he has been overlooked during MGP's form dip suggests he is a but short yet. But it takes time to find your feet, so I would give him a lot longer before deciding on him.

The fact he wants to play is a good thing.