[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[Rover 'til I die]

I have today's People but can only find the take over story. What page is it on?

found it...that is so small it usually means nothing

[den]

Take City off the list and there is some attractive competition there. Will this fella feel he is up to the bump and grind of the prem?

City will be a bigger attraction than us now. Eriksson, Shinawatra's fortune, bigger crowds and all that stuff.

[Antgrad]

Did you not read the part about "other qualities"?

Did you not see the smilie?

[Saf]

have u got any more news on santa cruz niko. are rovers interested, how much are rovers willing to pay for him

[they_think_its_all_rover]

Who are the front runners for his signature, Nicko?

[USABlue]

Did you not see the smilie?

No, was looking for info on a Rovers prospect is all.

[nicko]

I agree that the story should have got more space, but what's new?

As I understand it Manchester City are in the strongest position. They have a mandate from Bayern Munich for £4.5 million. The price is quite low because he only has a year to go on his contract.

City are well-placed because agent Jerome Anderson, who has the 'paper' is well in at City since the takeover and the new manager's arrival. So that gives them a start.

However it was when I was chasing this story that I discovered another agent has been into the conversations with Bayern and the player, so you are in the hunt.

Santa Cruz has an agent but is also influenced but his father, so he will take a lot of time and listen to many opinions before he decides.

If Rovers decide to match the bid they will have a fighting chance. There is Europe to offer and the fact that McCarthy and Bellamy scored so many goals shows it is not a striker's graveyard.

I think he is a decent player and a good idea, but you can see for yourselves on the Copa America Sky TV show tonight. Or tape it.

At the moment City are in front of the race, but it will be a week or two before any deal is done. He is in Venezuela, so that gives everyone time to get their ducks in a row...

Of course it could come to nothing, but it's a chase worth being in.

[Saf]

where ar u niko, are u hiding from us, you were spot on again looks like we could be after santa cruz, quality name he has, wil have to see what tommorows LET throws, more garbage or at last some nicoming transfer news. your a top man niko keep up the good work, hope to hear about this transfer soon

[nicko]

Incidentally I hear Rigters was tasty in a first team v reserves game yesterday. He scored for the reserves and looked sharp.

By the sounds of it the manager knows his team for the Inter Toto Cup - and it is pretty strong.

[modes98]

By the sounds of it the manager knows his team for the Inter Toto Cup - and it is pretty strong.

Although we don't appear to have a right back with emerton in the asia cup and ooijer injured.

Good to hear Maceo is settling in well.

[they_think_its_all_rover]

Right back will be Khiz

[Rover 'til I die]

Right back will be Khiz

Could be Oijer

[nicko]

Ooijer played right back for the first team yesterday in the bounce game. Came through OK.

[modes98]

Ooijer played right back for the first team yesterday in the bounce game. Came through OK.

Good to hear, didn't think he would be back that quickly. Savage and Reid back in contention as well?

[TugaysMarlboro]

Santa Cruz is coming, to town.

There's one for the new season.

[nicko]

Sav is back and fit, but Reid is not quite there yet.

I think the side that starts against Wrexham will be the Inter Toto team. Taking it very seriously.

[Lathund]

Reid won't start taking part in every aspect of training until later this week, so I don't think he's in contention quite yet. I think Savage is though. He said in an interview that he'd never felt fitter this time of year, due to all the effort put in during rehab.

[Saf]

hi nicko, seen an article on skysports.com saying galatasry are interested and they had talks to, to your knowledge is true, and were reserves in action and vs who. thnks nicko

[bellamy11]

hi nicko, seen an article on skysports.com saying galatasry are interested and they had talks to, to your knowledge is true, and were reserves in action and vs who. thnks nicko

The reserves played the first team.

[Roar of the Rover]

If we put in an offer it will be hard for him to turn us down as we have European football but the only thing that can make him move to City is the recent takeover and the 'big' name Manager, Sven.

[RevidgeBlue]

I've never seen Santa Cruz play but I'd be extremely worried if he was being brought in as the "big" summer signing.

His career stats indicate he was in sparkling form in Paraguay in 1999 - 2000 (at age 17 ?) with four goals in four games, and in the following season he produced his best return, which was still only an unspectacular seven goals from 32 appearances.

Since then:

- He's never scored more than five in a season. (Even in Paraguay)

- He's only scored five goals since the end of the 2004 season three years ago.

- One Cup goal last season only.

- His career total is thirty three goals in eight and a bit seasons.

- His Bayern tally is eleven goals in four seasons.

All this tends to indicate a player:

a) Whose best years are behind him and/or

b ) Who is extremely injury prone and/or

c) Who can't adapt to the more physical style of the European Leagues

Brings to mind a cross between Grabbi and Jeffers this signing potentially.

Might be worth a gamble if Rigters/Santa Cruz are direct replacements for Nonda and Jeffers but I wouldn't like to have to put much more store on it than that.

I would hope we have other irons in the fire personally.

[Saf]

hi nicko, just wanted to ask is there gonna be any interesting transfer news tommorow, if so when will we get it, thnks nicko

[tchocky]

Oh dear.

[thenodrog]

come on niko whos the player gives us a clue mate iv been sat next to my pc all day waiting, put me out of my misery

I bloody well wish somebody would!

[philipl]

The Times ranking of all (not just England's) WAGs came up with:

7 Giselle Santa Cruz The pin-up boy of Paraguayan football, Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Cruz, married the equally, yet very differently striking, Giselle in 2003 at their country’s equivalent of Westminster Cathedral. Handily from a footballing point of view, Giselle is the sister of Santa Cruz’s former teammate at the Olimpia Asuncion club, Ricardo Tavarelli, a goalkeeper who almost made the World Cup squad this year. In a reversal of a post-second world war trend, this pair of Paraguayans moved to Germany and, seemingly not feeling the Munich chill at all (but with little else to do since a succession of injuries put his career on hold), they have already managed to produce two children. But when he went 1,565 minutes without a goal for Bayern in 2004, general manager Uli Hoeness said: “I think he’s on maternity leave, not his wife.”