[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[they_think_its_all_rover]

Lance Davids, the 'versatile' South African who was in on trial last week, is now due to go to Newcastle for training too. My mate in Sweden says he is ordinary, but maybe there is something that he missed...

The bottom line is that there is not much cheap talent about.

Is there odds on wether he'll get injured or not on trail?

[modes98]

Coventry Deal "Almost Done" , basically the exact same article to yesterday but re-hashed. Lazy Cov Telegraph who obviously have not got much insight into the deal. Friday 4pm is the deadline mentioned in this article.

Any further Nicko?

[nicko]

Deadlines all the time, but nothing seems to happen. It seems to be the story with takeovers everywhere...

[Eddie]

Come on Eddie your not stupid.

Hughes knows exactly where the weaknesses in our team/squad are, but if he hasn't got the money to buy them why would he come out shouting about it, that would only knock the confidence of those players he wants to replace.

You say that, but as far as I'm concerned there has been a weakness at central midfield for quite a long time and it has not been addressed apart from the signing of Dunn a year ago. It was obvious to myself and a large number of others this summer that we may well struggle unless we could bring in another one, now money may be tight, but some sort of a signing in that area would have been a good idea, at least on loan. I'd like to think that this is just the message being given to the media, but I do have a horrible feeling that he is actually happy with his current squad. I'm not overly impressed by the job Hughes has done this year and last year was hardly a stunner.

[LeftWinger]

I'm not overly impressed by the job Hughes has done this year and last year was hardly a stunner.

There really is no pleasing some people.

[Eddie]

No, I'm just being realistic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling for him to be sacked, but take a step back and look at the cold hard facts of this season and last and then try and tell me that he is doing a fantastic job. There have been some great results, great performances, great signings and great improvement, but when everything is said and done we end up simply being a mid-table side.

[LeftWinger]

No, I'm just being realistic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling for him to be sacked, but take a step back and look at the cold hard facts of this season and last and then try and tell me that he is doing a fantastic job. There have been some great results, great performances, great signings and great improvement, but when everything is said and done we end up simply being a mid-table side.

I appreciate your points - but compare what he has spent compared to Villa, Portsmouth, Everton, Sunderland, City, Newcastle etc etc - and we're not doing badly at all.

[Mozzer]

No, I'm just being realistic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling for him to be sacked, but take a step back and look at the cold hard facts of this season and last and then try and tell me that he is doing a fantastic job. There have been some great results, great performances, great signings and great improvement, but when everything is said and done we end up simply being a mid-table side.

okay we all want europe, but with the funds hughes has had and to be where we are now is brilliant..everton, west ham, villa, portsmouth and newcastle can all go out and spend 6million on a player we cant..we have done really well to be where we are..

however i do say this-we do need a takeover to go further..we need to back mark hughes and given him funds otherwise he will get annoyed and might leave..

the board are keen on selling to the right owner-they just dont want someone who is in it for the money, they want someone for the love of the club...

[Dunnfc]

Good post Mozzer,

I want to know what has happend to the TV money are the "Walker" family sat on it because if they are they can dish out abit the greedy bast$rds. The club needs to get sold to go further and that is what Hughes and the fans want! Sell the club for whatever weve had enough of all this Dan Wank3r Williams talk which is probs about dead now. We need to buy players to progress because sooner or later we will slip down the league with injuries etc. Derby have spent 20 mill this year and i want to know how they can spend that and we cant?

[modes98]

Deadlines all the time, but nothing seems to happen. It seems to be the story with takeovers everywhere...

Takeovers do take time though, if you think about all the details involved.

So no real new info then? Compared to the Cov papers who seem to be really bigging every tiny bit of "info" up.

Ranson's offer would have to be vastly higher than his previous one to make it acceptable to the bank and it would be strange to make such a big jump in valuation, but if Ranson wants a club so badly

[stuwilky]

I want to know what has happend to the TV money are the "Walker" family sat on it because if they are they can dish out abit the greedy bast$rds.

I dunno, maybe its paying our overpaid footballers. I think its fair to say the Walker TRUST havn't seen any of it, given that they give us £3m a year directly, plus unspecified gains through interest free loans (one of £18m was effectively written off only 18 months or so ago).

I can see how you think they are "greedy" though.

[The1mattjansen]

Good post Mozzer,

I want to know what has happend to the TV money are the "Walker" family sat on it because if they are they can dish out abit the greedy bast$rds. The club needs to get sold to go further and that is what Hughes and the fans want! Sell the club for whatever weve had enough of all this Dan Wank3r Williams talk which is probs about dead now. We need to buy players to progress because sooner or later we will slip down the league with injuries etc. Derby have spent 20 mill this year and i want to know how they can spend that and we cant?

Jack Walker meant more to this club than any other supporter in the history on the English game in my opinion, the money and the support he put in has left us in a far greater position than we could have ever dreamed of and even to this day the trust he setup provides us with further funds to top up our poor attendances. Why should his family continue to give from there own pocket if they don't want to? Are you going to sell you're house and give it all to the Rovers?

We are now one probably one of the best run clubs in the league financially, with our relatively low income and the simple fact is that until we get an injection of cash we simply don't make the profit to fund any major spending.

Think on.

[Dunnfc]

Jack Walker meant more to this club than any other supporter in the history on the English game in my opinion,

Yes i never doubted that but 7 years on weve established ourselves in the league again now we need to establish our selves as a european team and we need funds and i dont think Jack (RIP) will give us any so lets move on and get some investment in.

the money and the support he put in has left us in a far greater position than we could have ever dreamed ofyes i never doubted that.

and even to this day the trust he setup provides us with further funds to top up our poor attendances.

mmmmmm probs true but debatable.

Why should his family continue to give from there own pocket if they don't want to?

If we are a burden sell us and dont keep us hanging and take the money of us

We are now one probably one of the best run clubs in the league financially,

True thanks to J Williams

with our relatively low income and the simple fact is that until we get an injection of cash we simply don't make the profit to fund any major spending.

I think the TV money is enough for a new addition.

[speeeeeeedie]

If we don't spend money in the summer then one of two things has (and I mean HAS) to go: the board or Hughes. If the board really cannot give Hughes any money then the club has to be sold, because it will be only a matter of time until we find ourselves in the championship. If Hughes seriously thinks that we don't need new and better players in some areas then he has lost the plot and we need a new manager. I don't see anything wrong with him saying this in the media, it is probably better for morale and it doesn't let teams know where we are looking, but I hope it is just a front and not actually the opinion of those at the club.

Have you been drinking? Daft post indeed.

Good post Mozzer,

I want to know what has happend to the TV money are the "Walker" family sat on it because if they are they can dish out abit the greedy bast$rds. The club needs to get sold to go further and that is what Hughes and the fans want! Sell the club for whatever weve had enough of all this Dan Wank3r Williams talk which is probs about dead now. We need to buy players to progress because sooner or later we will slip down the league with injuries etc. Derby have spent 20 mill this year and i want to know how they can spend that and we cant?

This one isn't all there either.

I don't want the club to be sold to some fly by night looking for a bit of profile and some quick cash (that won't happen). Blackburn Rovers are a very stable club sitting pretty in the Premier League, with a solid board, a savvy chief exec, a trust that keeps them viable, an astute manager who has an eye for a bargain, a good ground, and a great tradition. Takeovers are flavour of the month right now, it's only natural that people look at us. As long as we can sustain life in the top league, dazzle in cups, and qualify for Europe now and again I'll be a very happy Rovers supporter.

I'd rather be in our position with the Walker family "sitting on cash" than spend silly money like most other teams have done. Sunderland spent £9million on a keeper who got dropped, £5million on a striker who doesn't score, and £3million on another one who sits on the subs bench. Derby and Fulham spent millions on no hopers and look where they are. Portsmouth have spent wisely so far, but half their team will be gone after Christmas. The only team justifying outlay so far are Man U. They are ratcheting up results but should be as their outlay was ridiculous.

Can someone do a "point per £" table showing how much each squad cost versus how many points they have? I'll wager our total is by far the best in the league. Man U starting 11 on Saturday cost over £120million, ours roughly £20million. Is £100million worth 10 points?

[stuwilky]

If we are a burden sell us and dont keep us hanging and take the money of us

They arent taking money off us, quite the opposite as repeatedly demonstrated, should you choose to continue ignore that FACT that is entirely your choice of course.

[EwoodGlory]

Why should his family continue to give from there own pocket if they don't want to?

If we are a burden sell us and dont keep us hanging and take the money of us

The Walker family do not own the club, the Trust Fund do.

The Trust Fund also runs other businesses which make a profit, the football club does not. The Trust Fund gives the club a donation of around £3m per season, this means we can compete in the Premiership with teams who get much higher attendances.

They are trying to find a buyer for the club, so it's not as if they are 'keeping us hanging'. Its just that no-one has put a suitable offer in for the club yet.

[Hughesy]

I too cannot understand where all the extra TV money has gone? Ok we have improved some contracts and used £1 million to reduce ticket prices, but what about the rest?

Surely there is £10 million around for this season if Hughes needs it? What extra TV money do we now get, is it an extra £15 million a season or something like that?

[stuwilky]

Has it gone anywhere?

All this talk of disappearing money is amusing. The Trust have given us millions since 2001, the transfer window is still slammed shut, we have improved the contracts of some high performing players, no doubt costing millions in increased salaries, we have bought Santa Cruz at a cost of £3.5m (give or take the lose change!)

Remember that the club has been posting losses over the last 3 years (picked for no other reason that I can remember the figure) running to almost £20m, even after the £3m donation from our owners.

[EwoodGlory]

I too cannot understand where all the extra TV money has gone? Ok we have improved some contracts and used £1 million to reduce ticket prices, but what about the rest?

Surely there is £10 million around for this season if Hughes needs it? What extra TV money do we now get, is it an extra £15 million a season or something like that?

It wasn't an extra £15m a season we get, I don't know the exact figure but it wasn't that much.

Contract extensions would have cost a bit, plus a transfer fee of around £3m for Santa. Sparky has also got a well deserved payrise.

Also we may of paid some debts off, which would be a good idea when attracting possible investors.

[Dunnfc]

Thats what my points have been about, or at least how i got them to try and come accross like.

Wheres the money gone is what ive been trying to get accross? Nicko perhaps you could shed some light?

Wheres all the "investors" apparently looking at us?

maybe im sounding like Vinjay

[EwoodGlory]

maybe im sounding like Vinjay

Your not related to him are you

[nicko]

There have been plenty looking to buy - but nobody who has done the business.

The figures mentioned above are pretty accurate in terms of the level of debt, the amount of trust funding and the running costs of a club.

The bottom line is that the club has to run a tight ship because of its size - which is inescapable - and buy sensibly.

Even if there was a takeover I don't think it would mean masses of cash coming in.

So any time you want to buy big, you probably have to let one leave.

The idea that there is a magic pot of gold out there - either from TV money of trustess - is just wrong.

The TV cash gets swallowed up with increased wages and the trustee input seems steady and helpful, but not evenough to buy superstars.

If I was buying the club - I wish - the best plan would be to start 'growing your own' again and bring better players through the ranks. Remember the the Damien Duff sale probably paid for a lot of incomings since.

If you look at the team and the cost of them it's a miracle you are in the top half. The trouble is you have to keep performing them.

[EwoodGlory]

If you look at the team and the cost of them it's a miracle you are in the top half. The trouble is you have to keep performing them.

Very good point, miracle is the word.

Looks at the money that likes of Man City, Pompey, Newcastle, West Ham, Fulham have spent.

Even Sunderland spent £30m in the summer, which is more than Hughes has spent since he has been at the club.

Hughes most expensive signing so far has been Santa Cruz, which is well below the the average price of a striker at other clubs, and Benni was aswell.

When you look at other signings such as Chopra (£6m), Jones (£6m), Bent (£16.5m), Kamara (£6m), Bellamy (£6m), Mido (£6m), Bianchi (£9m), Martins (£10m) we are doing alright.

[Mozzer]

this trialist Dino Djiba , he must of done good to have a second look at him???

lance davids going to train with newcastle-i persume not to get asked back for a second trial he might not of impressed???

[nicko]

this trialist Dino Djiba , he must of done good to have a second look at him???

lance davids going to train with newcastle-i persume not to get asked back for a second trial he might not of impressed???

I think it's just a case of the two of them being available for people to look at. Signing squad men in this country would be expensive, so if you can get someone cheaper to fill a jersey...why not?