[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[G Somerset Rover]

Pace but little to no skill = low cost.

Skill but no pace = medium cost.

Skill plus pace = huge cost.

No skill and no pace = Morten Gamst Pedersen

Edit: You just beat me to it with the Rovers comparison Fife!

[they_think_its_all_rover]

Pace but little to no skill = low cost.

Skill but no pace = medium cost.

Skill plus pace = huge cost.

Neither pace nor skill = Blackburn Combination.

Chris Samba anyone?

[ihateburnley]

Plus can I add that with our two main priorities (striker and creative midfielder) I feel we should be buying these for our longer term future, but there is no reason why we can't get a rightback on loan from one of the bigger Premier League clubs or from Europe? Someone above mentioned Everton's dealings with Steven Pienaar - this was a brilliant arrangement really. It's the way forward for a club like ours because this way we get topclass players boosting the squad without breaking the bank.

[Mozzer]

i know its only tribal football but

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=68727-that russia player arshavin we are battling to sign..

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=68721-young irish man has a trial...

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=68757-about two norweigns who had blackburn trials...

and apparntly we want a second look at that winger Dino Djiba according the the daily mail..

also us and newcastle are keen on lance davids from daily mail also..

got the two above from bbc gossip page...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/g...ers/7135838.stm

[nicko]

Arshavin would be great, but highly unlikely.

The Irish kid and the two Norwegians were part of a Sunday People article - courtesy of a good tip-off from a magic mole around here.

And I think Djiba is coming back for a second 'trial,' but that was in the Mirror...and won't be changing the shape of the universe. Likewise Lance Davids.

[Mozzer]

so the two coming back maybe impressed in the first trial???

are these norweign players young or would they come to improve the first team??

[nicko]

Djiba is not in the Metz side just now, so he can come and go as he likes - almost.

Davids is the same, with the Swedish season over.

I would have to class both as possible squad men.

The Norwegian kids are fringe men at the very best in the near future...but they are probably worth a look to make a better assessment.

[Mozzer]

have you heard anything about hughes-ie regarding yesterday, does he feel he needs to buy a few players, freshen things up , any players he wasnt happy with yesterday???

[nicko]

have you heard anything about hughes-ie regarding yesterday, does he feel he needs to buy a few players, freshen things up , any players he wasnt happy with yesterday???

It's easy to get down about a performance and sometimes read too much into it.

Overall, I'd say the stars of last season - Bentley and MGP - have not been the same success this time. Their crosses and quality have not been as good as they were, paticularly MGP but also Bentley which might seem strange but I feel is true.

The rest of the side is pretty much the same. The defence is good but has the odd lapse, the central midfield could do with improving but is no worse, the two strikers have their ups and downs.

In the past two seasons the team has come on strong in the second half of the campaign. I am not convinced that will happen again this time. There may just be signs of tiredness.

It could do with freshening up and changing in some areas. But I would not go overboard either way right now, it's been a decent start - but you do have to always keep an eye on the future.

[modes98]

The Norwegian kids are fringe men at the very best in the near future...but they are probably worth a look to make a better assessment.

17 and 16 according to the clubs wikipedia entry, so future purchases indeed.

Any word on the england job? Capello has moved ahead of Jose as favourite and Jurgen's odds are falling.

[Mozzer]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport...ot_a_target.php

anelka not a target apparntly..

seems like we have to go for bargain deals unless we get a takeover..

we will have to provide mark hughes with some money sometime soon, otherwise he will probably leave us and go somewhere a club will back him ie spending more then 6million on a player..

[nicko]

An unnamed board source...saying Anelka has been mentioned in the past?

It's called hedging your bets - both by the club and the local paper.

We'll see what happens in January.

[Hughesy]

Nicko where has the anelka rumour come from? Any truth do you know?

[nicko]

Nicko where has the anelka rumour come from? Any truth do you know?

Here and yes...

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

[Mozzer]

for where rovers are now is brilliant-what i mean by this is we have spent hardly any money and yet are up there with the likes of everton, aston villa, west ham and newcastle-i do feel we need to be given some money to go that one step further, and i do think bringing in anelka will prove our ambition..

like my above comment, we need to back mark hughes..there are players who like darren fletcher given the money we could realistically sign, but we need that backing..

we need to be able to start going out and spending 6 or more million on a player..

i know we can pick up great bargains and probably would turn out better then clubs who pay 6million for a player, but we need to make that step up...

i do like the unknown player signings tho...

robbie savage's future uncertain aswell?? given the right bid i would consider it...but that would mean 2 central midfielders needed in the summer...

[briansol]

robbie savage's future uncertain aswell?? given the right bid i would consider it...but that would mean 2 central midfielders needed in the summer...

Unless Reid rediscovers his previous form, I don't feel we have any centre midfielders that are top PL class. Savage and Tugay are on a downslope agewise and physically, while Mokoena will never be good enough. Dunn showed some promise centrally but has lost his way on the wing, I'm a bit unsure on his defensive qualities as well.

The previous games has shown that you need a driving force in the centre, with Tugay and Mokoena both to happy to sit back. Reid did very well but he's been out for 1,5 years, and a big question mark on his return to that level.

2 new midfielders sounds right to me.

[ihateburnley]

Nicko I was always brought up to believe you should never even consider believing a newspaper story if it doesn't have a credible quote...

[herbergeehh]

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

REPORTING TEAM: ALAN NIXON, DAVE KIDD, STEVE BATES, NEIL SILVER, ALAN BIGGS, SCOTT PIECHA, TOM HOPKINSON, MARTIN HARDY, JACK STEGGLES, TOM EVANS

Whoa! Do you write a paragraph each, or..?

[nicko]

Whoa! Do you write a paragraph each, or..?

No, some a lot more than others. Too shy to say who that might be.

[G Somerset Rover]

I heard Hughes say that we've got our best squad for years again recently, which is true. The problem is that aside from a rejuvinated Reid (fingers crossed) none of our central midfield would get into any of the other top 8 or 9 clubs. I'd imagine this being Sav and Tugs' last season with us and add this to the problematic left wing position and your looking at the possibility of paying out for a whole new midfield if we want to progress. If funds are as tight as believed then this isn't going to happen. I think weve got to be realistic and realise that Citeh, Pompey, Villa and probably Everton are going to improve their squads vastly again in January and therefore resulting in us battling with Newcastle and the Hammers for 9th.

Nicko do you know if these clubs in and around us will be going transfer crazy this January?

[gazsimm]

Nicko

i have heard a rumour today going around london that Jose is going to take the england job, with Shearer has his number 2, do u know anything about this

[Cocker]

Nicko

i have heard a rumour today going around london that Jose is going to take the england job, with Shearer has his number 2, do u know anything about this

My word, who makes this stuff up

[gazsimm]

My word, who makes this stuff up

a newspaper in london could be true though u never know

[nicko]

I think weve got to be realistic and realise that Citeh, Pompey, Villa and probably Everton are going to improve their squads vastly again in January and therefore resulting in us battling with Newcastle and the Hammers for 9th.

Nicko do you know if these clubs in and around us will be going transfer crazy this January?

I think the big movement will be at the bottom end. There is a lot at stake down there.

Mind you, if Derby and possible Wigan are adrift by January 1 they might just settle for going down - and the rest have to buy to avoid the final place.

Sunderland will spend a few quid and Bolton need players but that will depend on Anelka leaving. Tottenham will do a fair bit of business too with a new manager keen to get his people in. Birmingham will shuffle a few about.

In the middle - I don't think Newcastle will allow Allardyce too many signings, Villa's buys are mixed but they will probably get a right back, Man City will sign a striker and Mascherano if they can find the cash.

Rovers will finish anywhere between sixth and 11th. I think the top four and Portsmouth are just that bit stronger. Obviously the better signings they make the higher they finish. The big question is - is it worth the cash?

[LeChuck]

a newspaper in london could be true though u never know

Of course it COULD be true, but it's not very likely is it?

If (and it's a small 'if') Mourinho does take the job, I'm positive one of the conditions would be that he'd have full control over his backroom staff. Why he'd want Shearer there I'm not sure, it's not like he'd need an ego or a name to appease the English fans as he seems to be first choice anyway.