[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[philipl]

Agreed but you can do that outside administration if the creditors all agree.

The opportunity of avoiding administration is to convince the creditors that its third division penury with not even 10p in the £1 safe if the administrators walk in or 10p in the £1 and a healthy promotion dividend perhaps at the end of the season if you believe in the new owners' plans.

It then boils down to whether the creditors believe the new owners and how much value the new owners ascribe to the 10 points and then both lots' views on the chances of getting promoted. If there isn't a common view (difficult to achieve when there are bitter people who have lost significant amounts of money, careers and reputation) then it becomes a chess game with Ranson working out just how much of a wreck he wants to buy into if at all.

The lure of the gamble for a guarranteed £60m in the Prem (one season up plus two parachute payments) are beginning to make even a £20m injection into a Coca Cola club look not that much of a competitive advantage over the clubs which are picking up £10m war chests here and there (Burnley, Ipswich, Southampton when that mess is sorted).

[USRoverME]

Forgive me if my understanding of the issue is flawed, but doesn't Cov still have to pay 100% of their footballing debts, therefore potentially a good deal of the debt has to be paid at 100, not 10%, no matter what the creditors feel. However, I have no idea how much of the debt is footballing debt.

[modes98]

The bank and other creditors have given them the money on a loan. If i understand you correctly the only outstanding footballing debts would be transfer fees/clauses such as Leon Best's? (the reason they are embargoed) and maybe player/staff wages if it gets as far as the next pay day.

[rovers_rob]

According to newspapers this morning we are going to sell Benni because he spat his dummy out after Newcastle game and Jewell wants to buy Roberts. Sav has also been told he has a future at the club

The Roberts one I can believe but I don't think there is much chance of us selling Benni because of a temper tantrum.

[nicko]

According to newspapers this morning we are going to sell Benni because he spat his dummy out after Newcastle game and Jewell wants to buy Roberts. Sav has also been told he has a future at the club

The Roberts one I can believe but I don't think there is much chance of us selling Benni because of a temper tantrum.

These are going to be interesting times for those three players.

I think Benni's display and reaction suggest there is trouble ahead with him. I have further reason to believe he could be off, but I need to find out more about that.

Sav is an unhappy chappie and - before you ask - Roberts to Fulham was not mine but I suggest he is not too pleased at being a sub.

If there is to be a big buy in January there may have to be a couple of exits. I thought it was a bit quiet round here lately. That is about to change.

[mattjansen]

These are going to be interesting times for those three players.

I think Benni's display and reaction suggest there is trouble ahead with him. I have further reason to believe he could be off, but I need to find out more about that.

Sav is an unhappy chappie and - before you ask - Roberts to Fulham was not mine but I suggest he is not too pleased at being a sub.

If there is to be a big buy in January there may have to be a couple of exits. I thought it was a bit quiet round here lately. That is about to change.

Hughes on Sav

[Cocker]

Hughes on Sav

Those were my thoughts before he even said anything. Nicko, I understand Sav wants to play as much as he can but we must save him for when the Axe is off on his January Holidays. Hughes probably has in mind what players he wants to buy and buying a fill in for the axe while sav is injured probably isnt one of them.

I think without question Sav will still be with us at the end of the window.

What say you to that Nicko?

(Also, does anyone have a clip of Benni spitting the dummy? I havent seen it)

[Blueboy Downunder]

If there is to be a big buy in January there may have to be a couple of exits. I thought it was a bit quiet round here lately. That is about to change.

would you care to elaborate if possible on this sentence nicko?? "if there is to be a BIG buy"

[rovers_rob]

These are going to be interesting times for those three players.

I think Benni's display and reaction suggest there is trouble ahead with him. I have further reason to believe he could be off, but I need to find out more about that.

Sav is an unhappy chappie and - before you ask - Roberts to Fulham was not mine but I suggest he is not too pleased at being a sub.

If there is to be a big buy in January there may have to be a couple of exits. I thought it was a bit quiet round here lately. That is about to change.

Maybe Hughes has got his eye on another striker ? Benni seems like he is really high maintenance but I don't want him to leave.

I think a lot of clubs would be interested in him, West Ham and Man City spring to mind.

[USABlue]

Let's face it with Benni. He isn't scoring, some of his play is brilliant to watch but for every one of his cute moves that comes off there are 10 that don't and they usually end up breaking downa good attacking situation. He has been out of sorts since the whole Mourinho love affair,, although he has had a few good games. Mixed feelings here about Benni and whether I want him to stay or not.

In the few games Roberts has come on I think we have looked more of a threat up front, Roberts' more direct approach seems to cause a bit of panic in the opponents defence, he holds up the ball better and can really put some physical pressure on defenders.

The kicker for me in the Barcode game was the one attacking move with Benni and Cruz the Newcastle defence was well stretched Benni had bags of room and he played the ball way too early for Cruz. I am sure if Benni had brought the ball a little Cruz could have found a good position, it was shortly after that Benni was pulled off.

[nicko]

ON SAV...

I thought the give-away quote was the 'it's tough to get into the team' line from the boss. I don't think he wants to lose him but in the end the player won't take it if he is a sub. He is not that type.

ON THE BIG BUY POSSIBILITY...

Something I have heard makes me think that is a plan, but perhaps someone has to go first.

[Sandiway Blue]

Let's face it with Benni. He isn't scoring, some of his play is brilliant to watch but for every one of his cute moves that comes off there are 10 that don't and they usually end up breaking downa good attacking situation. He has been out of sorts since the whole Mourinho love affair,, although he has had a few good games. Mixed feelings here about Benni and whether I want him to stay or not.

In the few games Roberts has come on I think we have looked more of a threat up front, Roberts' more direct approach seems to cause a bit of panic in the opponents defence, he holds up the ball better and can really put some physical pressure on defenders.

The kicker for me in the Barcode game was the one attacking move with Benni and Cruz the Newcastle defence was well stretched Benni had bags of room and he played the ball way too early for Cruz. I am sure if Benni had brought the ball a little Cruz could have found a good position, it was shortly after that Benni was pulled off.

I agree,i thought we looked far more of a threat when Roberts came on.

Imo Roberts should start the next game rather than Benni.

Either way one of them will be more than a little ticked off!

[b12_simon]

ON THE BIG BUY POSSIBILITY...

Something I have heard makes me think that is a plan, but perhaps someone has to go first.

Last week I heard a rumour we're after Anelka. I dismissed it but if Benni's on his way...

[thenodrog]

Either way one of them will be more than a little ticked off!

Goes with having top strikers. I'm sure that Gallagher and Kuqi would be happy to sit on the bench all season.

[LeftWinger]

Benni is a match-winner, and unless you can replace him with someone of similar quality - I wouldn't sell. Even though he was poor against Newcastle - he opened them up brilliantly for the Santa Cruz chance in the first half. He's someone who can win a game with one moment of brilliance - like the Arsenal FA Cup replay last year. There are not many people around who can win a match like that.

Having said all that - I totally trust Hughes - so if he decides to sell him - it's for the best

[modes98]

Last week I heard a rumour we're after Anelka.

That would be great but big money for a player who has an attitude as well.

I would love us to get Robbie Keane, the guy scores for fun against us.

[thenodrog]

Last week I heard a rumour we're after Anelka. I dismissed it but if Benni's on his way...

I'd imagine a swap would be out of the question? Benni would be about as much use as a chocolate fireguard in a relegation scrap.

Lets face it Macarthy's no doubt well grumpy that SA have so ignominiously ferked him off and Sparky subbing him completed a miserable couple of days for him. If he gets over it fine if he doesn't then thats fine too. He is getting older and some of the daft billy big time clubs will pay him a kings ransom.

[Cocker]

I'd imagine a swap would be out of the question? Benni would be about as much use as a chocolate fireguard in a relegation scrap.

Benni rates himself far to highly to goto Bolton anyway. If he left he would demand that Chelski, Arsenal, Liverpool or Man U come in for him.

[thenodrog]

Benni rates himself far to highly to goto Bolton anyway. If he left he would demand that Chelski, Arsenal, Liverpool or Man U come in for him.

Can't see that happening but Man City would suit him best if they cannot get Berbatov and if not them then it'd have to be a foreign move I suppose.

[Lurid Coat]

It'd be madness to sell both McCarthy and Roberts, in my opinion. Roberts has proved that he's a useful, hard working striker, and I really don't think we can afford to let him go if McCarthy is to be sold.

[Sandiway Blue]

I think Benni will stay,he showed after being dropped,a great attitude in coming back into the side and working hard.I hope Hughes does it again on sunday and gives Roberts a deserved start.Benni needs to know that his place in the team isn`t guaranteed.

[philipl]

To the extent we have problems, they are nice problems-

We have four forwards who are good enough to get Premiership football every game- Benni, Roque, Jason, Matty. Thinking about it probably only West Ham, Portsmouth, Spurs and Liverpool have a foursome available up front as good as that.

Four midfileld places to be divided between Tugay, the Axe, Savage, Dunn, MGP, Bentley, Reid with Peter, Treacy knocking on the door and Emerton a valid option and one maybe two additional youngsters looking likely to be of the necessary standard a year or so from now.

A general perception that we will be strengthening in January.

Minimal injuries thankfully.

No suspensions after Sunday.

Probably players come to Blackburn thinking that at least competition for places won't be as fierce as at other top Prem clubs but as the commentators observed in the Newcastle game, you judge a squad's strength by who is sitting on the bench and on that basis Rovers now have a very strong squad. We won't end up rotating like Rafa but players will have to accept that being subbed at 60 minutes is quite possible and that no matter who you are, you are goiung to have to win your place off the player in posession of the shirt who likely as not is a full international playing top quality Premiership football.

[BlueMonday]

I think Benni will stay,he showed after being dropped,a great attitude in coming back into the side and working hard.

It was more likely a realisation that Sparky was not a man to suffer fools and that his chance of getting his 'dream move to WHUFC' when he wasn't even in our squad, were nil !

The clock is ticking on Benni but given his impact this season for a good price he wouldn't be a great loss. Give Robbo a good run and re-assess at end of December.

[EwoodGlory]

Roberts deserved to play some part in the game and when he came on he put himself about and had a big impact in my view, the same way he did at Fulham.

If I was Hughes I would of taken Benni off and brought Roberts on.

Benni should have more respect for his teammate and friend, who deservered his chance.

He would be a big loss, becuase he is quality.

That in mind, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it as im sure he would still command a good transfer fee, and I would trust the boss to spend it wisely.

Its just a shame he reacted the way he did.

[mattjansen]

ON SAV...

I thought the give-away quote was the 'it's tough to get into the team' line from the boss. I don't think he wants to lose him but in the end the player won't take it if he is a sub. He is not that type.

He is not happy sitting on the bench, i would be more worried if he was happy with that. But last time around when Sav,Gamst and McCarthy were dropped all of them took it the right way, whats different now?