[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[roverthemoon]

Read the comments they are not very flattering.

Tom Huddlestone

[Exiled_Rover]

Read the comments they are not very flattering.

Tom Huddlestone

Hopefully that means we get him on the cheap.

[1864roverite]

Some of the comments clearly quantify the notion that Spurs fans of this day and age know absolutley nothing about football !

Huddlestone is a class player, yes he may be on the big size but look at the way he passes the ball, he can move box to box and given a run in any team he could easily be the ultimate central midfielder.

Comparing him to carrick of manure, I would say he is a far better player and look at the absurd amount of money his transfer generated !

Sign him up, for me he is the man Rovers could do with to send us into the top 5.

[Sandiway Blue]

Also given the shape Dunny was when he came to us in January,and the shape he is now,i suspect Hughesy wouldn`t find it a problem to get Huddlestone in to shape.

[joey_big_nose]

I find the fact Savage isn't playing suprising. If Reid was starting I could understand it but, whilst I don't think Mokoena is a bad player he clearly isn't as good as Robbie.

As for Benni, he is a quality individual who would be hard to replace. I guess the only way we would let him go is if we can get someone as or nearly as good but more committed for the money he would generate. Roberts is a great hold up striker but no finisher and while Derbyshire is a fantastic mover and finisher he lacks other qualities like nous and technique. Someone like defoe could play off Cruz very well but could we really convince him to move to Rovers when I am sure a huge amount of clubs would be interested? I feel that Benni will probably stay, even if he isn't loving it as alternatives don't promise much better. None of the top four will be interested and moves to West Ham, Man City etc all probably offer more money he will be in the same situation of competing against two or three high quality strikers.

If we lost savage and got Huddlestone thats great business mainly due to the Welshman's age. All the talk of it being a done deal is very reminiscent of the run up to Dunn joining (where I was initially sceptical) so I have real hope about that one. Could be a coup of Bentley style proportions. All the quality, lacks discipline but Hughes is one of the best in bringing that to players.

Sounds like the ship is rocking a little with all the rumours. Need to keep ourseslves focussed.

Its funny that all these names are being circulated. I was thinking that if anyone is going to leave it would be Pedersen. Due to his inflated profile thanks to a spectacular goal history we could still get c. 8m for a player who has offered very little to the team since the end of last season.

Whats the betting on a Huddlestone plus cash for Pedersen? Ramos might not be that daft though, seems to have his head screwed on. West Ham still have a bit of buying lunacy in them though and Newcastle are pretty desperate.

And I am not sure who who could get for the left wing.... Treacy to get a chance?

[LeftWinger]

And I am not sure who who could get for the left wing.... Treacy to get a chance?

Maybe we don't need a left winger. You look at how well Warnock did when MGP played very narrow against Fulham.

We could use Warnock and Emerton to give us width, and then play three central midfielders from Huddlestone, Reid, Dunn, Savage, Tugay and Mokoena. Then you can use Bentley in a free-role.

[joey_big_nose]

Maybe we don't need a left winger. You look at how well Warnock did when MGP played very narrow against Fulham.

We could use Warnock and Emerton to give us width, and then play three central midfielders from Huddlestone, Reid, Dunn, Savage, Tugay and Mokoena. Then you can use Bentley in a free-role.

I guess you could do that. I would imagine Bentley wouldn't play free though, rather we would look more like this:

-----------Cruz--Benni

------Dunn--Reid---Bentley

----------Huddlestone

-Warnock--Nelsen---Samba---Emerton

-----------------Freidal

Dunn, Reid and Bentley would all attack the space behind the strikers with the full backs overlapping while Huddlestone picks up the ball from the defence and tick s things over. However width has been one of our strong points over the last two seasons and it could get awfully congested in the middle. You would really need the strikers to float into the channels to compensate and the only one we have who likes doing that is Derbyshire. Also over commiting the full backs to make up the ground could leave us exposed out wide when defending

If Pedersen goes we need a left footed left winger to give us all the options. Or move Warnock up and play Olsson or Berner at LB (less than ideal as Warnock has been outstanding there).

[Jan]

If Pedersen goes we need a left footed left winger to give us all the options. Or move Warnock up and play Olsson or Berner at LB (less than ideal as Warnock has been outstanding there).

True, but he goes past players better than Pedersen, and is crossing a LOT better than Pedersen. He's ideal left wing material (oh, and he CAN shoot straight!!)- and according to the official site has scored as many goals- albeit that instead of Boy band's 5 sub appearances in 21, he has only made one in 21)

[joey_big_nose]

True, but he goes past players better than Pedersen, and is crossing a LOT better than Pedersen. He's ideal left wing material (oh, and he CAN shoot straight!!)

One thing on that would be that Warnock, due to being a left back, always picks up the ball facing goal and drives up the wing, and rarely needs to hold it up and link up play with his back to goal. Also he is used to having a ton of space in front of him to fly into at speed. Being that much higher up the pitch drastically reduces the amount of room you have to work with.

Could be a tricky proposition. Emerton's excellence at full back and averageness on the wing highlights the problems of moving position. At full back youcan be much more "head down" than in midfield.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

The only 'big' striker I know is Peter Crouch.

[thenodrog]

True, but he goes past players better than Pedersen, and is crossing a LOT better than Pedersen. He's ideal left wing material (oh, and he CAN shoot straight!!)- and according to the official site has scored as many goals- albeit that instead of Boy band's 5 sub appearances in 21, he has only made one in 21)

Your hatred of Pederson appears to be fast becoming an obsession. Most odd cos he is a valid squad member who is obviously above Sergio Peter in Hughes's pecking order. OK he is having a poor run of form but the latter half of last season he enjoyed a very good run of form. The prob with BRFC is that we do not have big club squad depth so that players who are off form can be taken out of the spotlight a while in order to rebuild confidence.

We all know that MGP posesses lots of ability cos we have seen what he is capable of in the past. His effort can never be faulted as according to the stats he covers more ground than just about any other of our players. Yet you home in on every opportunity to slag him off and sling more mud in his direction. Hughes fought to keep him here last season so he is obviously a valued member of our squad. You really need to cut him some slack instead of banging on like some vengeful harpie at every possible opportunity.

[thenodrog]

Also given the shape Dunny was when he came to us in January,and the shape he is now,i suspect Hughesy wouldn`t find it a problem to get Huddlestone in to shape.

And if he can't then they can play 45 mins each.

[Taggart]

I agree. He was having a frustrating afternoon too. Nothing was coming off for him, and the ref kept pulling him up for niggling things. You could see the frustration building - and being subbed probably just completed a miserable few days for him. He's still far and away our biggest goal threat.

I don`t understand how fickle some of you guys are being about Benni ! He was fantastic last season, 2nd top scorer and his play was still frustrating.

this season, he hasn`t quite reached those peaks, but he hasn`t played every game and has been substituted more, bu ti still thing we owe him some respect for what he can achieve. If he is p1ssed off at being subbed, then thats good, becasue when i played I used to get p1issed off when I didn`t play a whole match when i thought i could still influence or impact a game.

the hissy fit, however, is something different, and Hughes can sort that out in his own way, doesn`t mean that us, as fans should start wanting his head on a plate and him shipped out of Ewood, when he is the best finisher the club has had for a long long time !

once you start to build up a squad and increase the resources, there is always going to be a settling in period, as people are used to playing every week and suddenly they find that they are having to prove themselves again - the resentment arises from here, ala Savage, McCarthy.

I personally want to keep Benni at the club, he offers somehting that we don`t have, or have a replacement for at the current time and i would be gutted to see him leave the club.

[EwoodGlory]

The only 'big' striker I know is Peter Crouch.

Nikola Zigic hasn't done great things at Valencia since he joined in the summer.

He's taller than Crouch at 6 foot 8

[USRoverME]

But with an attitude like that, despite the goals, is he worth keeping?

Abso-friggin'-loutely yes he's worth keeping.

Roque looked a worldbeater when he came over, and although he's a decent player, he's not a 20 goal scorer, he's a provider and holder who sets up others. We aren't payin 10+ mil anytime soon for a world class scorer with 20 goal potential, so where are the goals going to come from if we lose benni. Bentley to score a brace each week? unlikely. Unless we get quality in return for the money, we are not capable of losing someone of Benni talents and still compete for top 6 like we want.

[EwoodGlory]

How about a swap deal

McCarthy and Pedersen to Spurs in exchange for Defoe and Huddlestone.

[Fife Rover]

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.

Those are my thoughts too Azuri. The way I see it is if Benni REALLY wants to play for us, he is just going to have to get his head round the fact that he has genuine competition, and Hughes is not the kind of manager to play baby-arse with any player. If Benni wants his place he is going to have play for it EVERY week and EVERY game. Failure to do so means he risks getting dropped. There are many better players than Benni in the game that week-in, week-out, have to accept these facts of life, and they do exactly that.

[Dunnfc]

How about a swap deal

McCarthy and Pedersen to Spurs in exchange for Defoe and Huddlestone.

Id still want 4 mill from spurs.

[Eddie]

So who then plays left midfield for us? You can't seriously want to swap the second top goalscorer in the premiership last season (and our top so far this year) as well as one of the top-rated left midfielders in the league (despite his poor start to the season you know that almost every other team would love to have him) for Defoe, who is very good but can't make their side, and Huddlestone who is a good prospect with weight issues.

We don't even know the true or full story about Benni, but I'm sure he can sort himself out.

[Flopsy]

Your hatred of Pederson appears to be fast becoming an obsession.

signed by Souness -shhhhhhh

[LeftWinger]

So who then plays left midfield for us? You can't seriously want to swap the second top goalscorer in the premiership last season (and our top so far this year) as well as one of the top-rated left midfielders in the league (despite his poor start to the season you know that almost every other team would love to have him) for Defoe, who is very good but can't make their side, and Huddlestone who is a good prospect with weight issues.

We don't even know the true or full story about Benni, but I'm sure he can sort himself out.

A 25 year old Defoe who only scored 4 less than a 30 year old McCarthy last season in less games? And a player who has been "just out of form" for about 2 years now in Pedersen - for a player with the potential to be absolutely top class at only 20. Don't get me wrong - I prefer McCarthy to Defoe - but from an age point of view - MGP and Benni for Huddlestone and Defoe would be a great deal for us IMO.

[Eddie]

No, it wouldn't because it would leave us with a massive hole to fill at left midfield. Defoe for Benni I would take, but we can't get rid of MGP unless we have someone lined up and have the money to bring them in.

[LeftWinger]

No, it wouldn't because it would leave us with a massive hole to fill at left midfield. Defoe for Benni I would take, but we can't get rid of MGP unless we have someone lined up and have the money to bring them in.

As has been mentioned above - we don't have to play with a left sided midfielder.

[RovertheHill]

As has been mentioned above - we don't have to play with a left sided midfielder.

Hmmm, like England

[Hasta]

True, but he goes past players better than Pedersen, and is crossing a LOT better than Pedersen. He's ideal left wing material (oh, and he CAN shoot straight!!)- and according to the official site has scored as many goals- albeit that instead of Boy band's 5 sub appearances in 21, he has only made one in 21)

The reason full backs look good going forward is because generally the player they have to 'beat' is the opposition winger. The opposition full back is normally following your winger. That's why a lot of full back can look good overlapping.

When full backs play in midfield they tend to find it a lot tougher. Emerton is a great example. He finds a lot of space, charges forward and overlaps brilliantly at full back. When he plays on the wing he looks less effective as a proper defender starts marking him. I think Warnock would suffer the same if he played on left of midfield.

For the same reason it's also worth looking at that in reverse. The full backs look spectacular going forward if the opposition midfielders on that wing don't track and allow them space. I feel Hughes has drummed this into Bentley, Pedersen and anyone else who plays that role. This is why I beleive hughes perseveres with MGP, because despite tackling like a tart he does show willingness to track back, help out and keep the team solid. It's a good job he does because going the other way he's gone rotten.

One thought. Eddie believes every other club in the league would want to have Pedersen. I don't. However whilst this myth still holds some truth maybe getting £5mill for him now is better than have him warm the bench and losing reputation / value.