[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[RevidgeBlue]

If there was a change I think Paul Jewell would be favourite. They wanted him when Coleman was in charge. He is free and available...although a move to Middlesbrough could be top of his agenda right now.

I've heard (a bit bizarrely) that Jewell's next stop will be Sheffield United.

None of my previous tips have come off, but you never know, one might be due on the law of averages.

[Nate]

True. He's played in the Norwegian long enough to warrant that label though, pacey and skillful when on form, but lacks too much elsewhere

That's because he is 4 ft tall

[b12_simon]

Saw Bolton v Man City - the Eriksson bubble will burst soon. They have so little up front. Shocking penalty decision. Micah Richards got a bad injury too.

I'm not sure about that. They're just fragile away from home, in common with most teams outside last season's top 4.

[nicko]

I'm not sure about that. They're just fragile away from home, in common with most teams outside last season's top 4.

Weak up front. Compared to Rovers right now they are no threat in attack - and not strong enough to win away on a regular basis.

Eriksson will have to buy at least one striker in the window and someone who can tackle in midfield. Maybe even a new keeper and a left back.

That's four players short in my view. You are maybe one short - an extra midfielder. Two if you wanted a specialist right back.

[nicko]

Don't know if it's news, but your game with Bolton is now on Sky - on a Sunday. It's been put back 24 hours to January 13.

[Exiled_Rover]

Sky are really pushing it as some kind of derby aren't they. They put it on every year, despite it invariably being a dire affair.

[Ronin]

Only featuring in one game on sky up until December, then Rovers are on throughout December, bar 2 games and probably lots more in 2008 as well. Looks like they've finally noticed another team outside the "Top 4" although we could be in the top 4 by then

[EwoodGlory]

Weak up front. Compared to Rovers right now they are no threat in attack - and not strong enough to win away on a regular basis.

Eriksson will have to buy at least one striker in the window and someone who can tackle in midfield. Maybe even a new keeper and a left back.

That's four players short in my view. You are maybe one short - an extra midfielder. Two if you wanted a specialist right back.

Looks like this might be one they're signing.

Manchester City have reached agreement for the signing of Heerenveen’s prolific striker Afonso Alves in January, according to reports in Holland.

Dutch daily De Telegraaf claims that Sven Goran Eriksson has had a €20 million (£13.9 million) bid accepted for the Brazil international who made worldwide headlines when scoring seven goals in an Eredivisie game earlier in the season.

[Hughesy]

Sky picking us all of a sudden is a reflection of our good run and the media's suprise at how well we are doing - I think people are starting to take note!

Hopefully after saturday night they will really be sitting up and thinking 'they are actually a very good team'.

As for City, there bubble has burst - they were very lucky with the penalty and Micah could be out for a few weeks.

[nicko]

Looks like this might be one they're signing.

Man City are watching Alves - I did it in the Mirror on Wednesday.

But there are two big holes in the accuracy of this Dutch story and they are [1] Eriksson was not in Holland yesterday and [2] City won't pay £14 million. That's the fee Heerenveen want and I think there may be some revving up going on.

However Alves is a possible. As is Anelka and Benzema.

[EwoodGlory]

I've only seen Benzema a couple of times, but he impressed on both.

I would of thought the bigger European clubs will be in for him. If City could get him it would be a real capture.

[nicko]

I've only seen Benzema a couple of times, but he impressed on both.

I would of thought the bigger European clubs will be in for him. If City could get him it would be a real capture.

Man City are watching him which tells you about the money and ambition they have there. Eriksson will push for Thaksin to splash the cash.

I think Benzema will go elsewhere too, which makes Alves more realistic - but the fee seems a bit rich. They onlyh want to pay £9 million - and even that is a lot.

[EwoodGlory]

There was a dutch journalist on TalkSport in the last hour. He said that Alves wanted to move in the summer, and fell out with the club.

He went on a Van Hooydonk'esque strike for a short while, decided to come back and scored 7 in the next game

The journo was also saying that he does not like to play for the team, just himself, and does what he please's.

[nicko]

There was a dutch journalist on TalkSport in the last hour. He said that Alves wanted to move in the summer, and fell out with the club.

He went on a Van Hooydonk'esque strike for a short while, decided to come back and scored 7 in the next game

The journo was also saying that he does not like to play for the team, just himself, and does what he please's.

He was top scorer in Holland last season with over a goal a game. I can live with that kind of selfishness.

[Mozzer]

this alonso guy has scored goals in holland-but so did kezman and kalou(chelsea player), yet they couldnt manage more then 5 goals a season...i dont understand why man city haven't been using bianchi-he looks a good player..

[Eddie]

I've only seen Benzema a couple of times, but he impressed on both.

I would of thought the bigger European clubs will be in for him. If City could get him it would be a real capture.

Benzema has a huge amount of potential. If any club signs him now they will be onto a real star.

[BiggusLaddus]

this alonso guy has scored goals in holland-but so did kezman and kalou(chelsea player), yet they couldnt manage more then 5 goals a season.

I can think of another player who used to score goals for fun in Holland,and he did pretty well over here. Even if he was a donkey.

[Hypo-Luxa]

Benzema has a huge amount of potential. If any club signs him now they will be onto a real star.

I agree 100%. this guy looks like a keeper...

[Tim Southampton Rover]

I can think of another player who used to score goals for fun in Holland,and he did pretty well over here. Even if he was a donkey.

Scorer of 50 goals in Holland, now doing well in England at Blackpool......

[nicko]

On Afonso Alves. Man City are watching him, there is an agent working to do the deal at £9 million [maximum] but he is only one on a high-calibre list. So it is not a done deal by any means.

No word on the donkey.

[gumboots]

Saw Benzema play at Lorient in August, when he looked the best of a poor team. The French rate him very highly and I wouldn't think City, even for big money, would match the profile of the kind of team he'd want to go to, unless they had Champions League qualification sewn up by the time he moved.

[nicko]

You can't fault them for looking and maybe trying. They signed Elano when nobody knew he was or even thought about it.

Mind you, there is a Premier League boss who admits going to watch Elano and thinking he wasn't good enough.

He's an ex-Premier League boss now, by the way.

[Alex Rover]

You can't fault them for looking and maybe trying. They signed Elano when nobody knew he was or even thought about it.

Mind you, there is a Premier League boss who admits going to watch Elano and thinking he wasn't good enough.

He's an ex-Premier League boss now, by the way.

Paul Jewell

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Jose Mourninhooooooo

[nicko]

Paul Jewell

Correct. Found out he had admitted it on Sky recently, so I'm not talking out of school.

He signed Aghahowa instead.

Hmm.