[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[thenodrog]

It's a fair question to pose SG, but the extra TV money amounts to c 10m p.a. whereas the cheaper tickets are reputedly costing us 1m p.a.

I did think people were being overly optimistic earlier in the summer with estimates of 15m to be spent being freely bandied about but I really did think we would be able to bring in one exciting signing in the 7-8m bracket given of course transfer fees aren't payable up front.

Future salary demads from the players will swallow a lot BUT if we have any sense we'd make sure Hughes and his men get a seriously huge chunk of it too.

[Alan75]

So Alan, you'd rather have a guy who scored 2 last season in 35 appearances than one who scored 7 in 26?

People forget that Nonda was as effective a goal scorer for us last season as Roberts.

Yes,

Nonda,s overall stats dont look so clever when you look at them that close.

NONDA2006-07

Games started 24

Games came on as sub 12

Total 36

MINUTES ON PITCH 2133

Goals 8 = A goal every 266.6 mimutes

Assists 1 = 1 assist in 2133 minutes

Shots on target 19 = 1 in 112min

Total Shots 41 = 1 in 52 min

BEATTIE2006-07

Games started 16

Games came on as sub 19

Total 35

MINUTES ON PITCH 1571

Goals 2 = A goal every 785.5 miutes

Assists 3 = An assist every 523.5 minutes.

Shots on target 14 = 1 in 112.2 min

Total Shots 38 = 1 in 41.3 min

However you can turn stats in all directions. they dont show the full picture.

Personally I wasnt impressed with Nonda last season, especially the number of opportunities that he missed. From a personal point of view I dont think he contributed a great deal to the team. For a big lad he wasnt good in the air and went down to easy for my liking.

[philipl]

Beattie at his most productive scored 60 in 120 games for Southampton across four seasons. Despite all injuries and a very stop/start career, he is averaging a goal every three games or so.

[John]

Hughes always thought Nonda was exceptional during training sessions and further to this, thought he would come on stronger this year (2nd year in the Prem league).

Obviously Hughes has changed his mind on Nonda, or thinks he can bring someone better in.

[RevidgeBlue]

Most of our Rovers supporting careers would have seen us ecstatic at signing the likes of Rigters and Beattie.

I wouldn't be surprised if the club's market research shows that a significant reason for falling attendances has been players the fans see as alien. So the Rovers sign Dunn and quite possibly Beattie and the fans still howl like banshees.

philip, does the signing of Beattie improve the first choice starting eleven - yes or no?

If you're being honest, it's the latter, and I suspect that is the reason for the indifferent response.

[Eddie]

I'd much rather keep Nonda than bring in Beattie.

[John]

I remember feeling unimpressed last summer with our transfer activties. Similar sort of feeling so far this summer, even though it is still early days

However, we picked up our act in January with some good signings.

Seems like the players Hughes wants are simply not available at the moment, or within our reach.

[jannerman]

Err, because he's been crap? I guess it's a sign of the times that we now consider 2.5 Mil bargain basement shopping. Beattie, though he does not excite me, has good potential (there is that word again) The lad has looked to me like he has just stopped enjoying his football. I would trust Sparky to bring the joy back in his game. If he can do this then we could be on a winner.

2.5m and pushing 30? Surely it'd be a better option to take a punt on a younger, lower league target man? All this so called investment in youth and we still look at players who have got fewer years ahead of them than behind them....

Of course not that I'd know of anyone from the lower leagues but there must be an unrefined target man out there for less cash somewhere?

[thenodrog]

philip, does the signing of Beattie improve the first choice starting eleven - yes or no?

If you're being honest, it's the latter, and I suspect that is the reason for the indifferent response.

In fairness that does depend on who we are playing Simon. Hughes does like to select 'horses for courses'. Thats why Roberts partnered Benni and edged out Derbyshire for the more physical encounters. Roberts was not to be bullied even by Terry and matched him for strength and aggression in both cup encounters when Terry would have had Derbyshire / Nonda for breakfast. Don't forget Hughes knows the value of physical strength and intimidation only too well from his playing days..... just ask Darren Anderton!

[Eddie]

The thing is the problem we have is a distinct lack of pace, signing Beattie doesn't fill that gap, it simply gives us a slightly different version of the Roberts style of player. I would not be happy if this turns out to be true.

[JAL]

Most of our Rovers supporting careers would have seen us ecstatic at signing the likes of Rigters and Beattie.

I wouldn't be surprised if the club's market research shows that a significant reason for falling attendances has been players the fans see as alien. So the Rovers sign Dunn and quite possibly Beattie and the fans still howl like banshees.

Alien players - Its that none of the players or management live amongst the local community anymore.. which aint suprising considering its state, i think theres only Matty Debyshire flying the flag in Blackburn, theres no trustees living in Blackburn, theres no John Williams or Tom Finn living in Blackburn, none of the marketing department live in Blackburn, seems like its just me and my muslim brothers.

[nicko]

Just a couple of updates.

First, cracking tip on the French lad in the ressies. I will get you a name as soon as I can.

The takeover is still moving forward, not enough to do a newspaper story on but still going the right way. When it all happens there may be a lot of background to come out that will explain what has been going on. I wish it was solved sooner rather than later myself.

On Beattie, I can see tha attraction. Every manager thinks he can bring the best out of a player who has had a sag in his career. He is not entirely my cup of tea, but there is enough about his game to have a 'punt.'

On Santa Cruz...it might be best to watch what Manchester City can manage. It sounds like a minefield. Let them agree the price and talk to the player...then step in and take him once you know the deal.

[Eddie]

So is Beattie our first choice at the moment?

[ihateburnley]

I think those who are calling the possible signing of Beattie should come up with a realistic alternative.

My opinion is that Nonda was very disappointing last season. Yes he scored seven goals, and with the exception of his first against Middlesbrough, I can't remember being impressed by any of them. He looked too laid back and non-committed - not what you'd expect from a player who is battling back from an injury layoff and possibly looking for a transfer.

I'm divided on the Beattie transfer. If he IS a swap for Roberts then I wouldn't be best pleased, but by no means has that been confirmed as the case. If Rigters and Beattie are simply swaps for Jeffers and Nonda then I would be very pleased. £2.5m sounds slightly steep, but lets remember the prices being paid at the moment. It isn't really a lot in the grand scheme of things, and I'm sure with a bit of the Williams magic we can haggle that down to £1.5m-£2m.

Yes we would all like to go out there and sign the next Dean Ashton or Darren Bent from the lower leagues, but it's all about risk-assessment. We know Beattie has the quality in there - if we are going to buy him I say make a move NOW and let's get a proper pre-season out of him and tell him it's upto him to work with Dunn and show us that they are worth a regular place in a top ten Premiership XI.

You never know we might be pleasantly surprised.

[EwoodGlory]

Someone on the official forum says the trialist is from Paris Saint Germain.

[John]

The takeover is still moving forward, not enough to do a newspaper story on but still going the right way. When it all happens there may be a lot of background to come out that will explain what has been going on. I wish it was solved sooner rather than later myself.

Nicko - You say "going the right way", does that mean the takeover talks are progressing?

Any ideas if these takeover talks are holding us back in the transfer market?

[Eddie]

I think those who are calling the possible signing of Beattie should come up with a realistic alternative.

My opinion is that Nonda was very disappointing last season. Yes he scored seven goals, and with the exception of his first against Middlesbrough, I can't remember being impressed by any of them. He looked too laid back and non-committed - not what you'd expect from a player who is battling back from an injury layoff and possibly looking for a transfer.

I'm divided on the Beattie transfer. If he IS a swap for Roberts then I wouldn't be best pleased, but by no means has that been confirmed as the case. If Rigters and Beattie are simply swaps for Jeffers and Nonda then I would be very pleased. £2.5m sounds slightly steep, but lets remember the prices being paid at the moment. It isn't really a lot in the grand scheme of things, and I'm sure with a bit of the Williams magic we can haggle that down to £1.5m-£2m.

Yes we would all like to go out there and sign the next Dean Ashton or Darren Bent from the lower leagues, but it's all about risk-assessment. We know Beattie has the quality in there - if we are going to buy him I say make a move NOW and let's get a proper pre-season out of him and tell him it's upto him to work with Dunn and show us that they are worth a regular place in a top ten Premiership XI.

You never know we might be pleasantly surprised.

I'd rather us sign no one than sign Beattie. We've had Hughes talking about how he doesn't want to rush things and we've all quietly sat by as the players we all know would move have been and gone, this smacks of a panic buy signing if it goes through to me. 2.5 million is a lot, we saw that last year with Benni, but this is a waste of it, I'd much rather we pay slightly over the odds for a younger player with potential than overpaying for one with no sell-on prospect, quite high wages and who will only be good enough (if he even is now) for a year or two.

[92er]

What doesn't quite add up with the Beattie scenario is that current policy is to buy players who can go straight into the first team, whereas I would presume Beattie would become a squad player. It sounds quite a lot for a squad player, but clubs are wasting a lot of money at the moment.

On the other hand, I also presume Beattie was at Southampton when MH was there. Again, presumably he feels he knows him, maybe has kept in some sort of touch with him, and maybe thinks he can get something out of him. After all, Everton paid £6,000,000 approx for him.

[nicko]

The takeover is progressing towards the conclusion it should have reached two or three weeks ago.

I think there is a chance a price will be agreed - and then they can officially check each other out.

It will be a push to bring in money before the window shuts, but it would be possible with co-operation on both sides.

I don't think it is holding up things just now. It is just a case of waiting for the right one at the right price.

Obviously if the Nuttall Group get the club cheaper there would be more money left in their kitty for players, so that would help. But, to be fair, they never promised silly money to spend anyway.

[ffan]

you don't know about rodrigues no?

[stuwilky]

you don't know about rodrigues no?

Its not rodriguez on trial with us.

Well, unless he's been busy with the shoe polish.

[Eddie]

Back in January I said that I had run into an agent for several European based (mainly French) African players, he had mentioned that a couple of English clubs had been looking into Albert Baning. Unlikely to be him, but you never know.

[RevidgeBlue]

In fairness that does depend on who we are playing Simon. Hughes does like to select 'horses for courses'. Thats why Roberts partnered Benni and edged out Derbyshire for the more physical encounters. Roberts was not to be bullied even by Terry and matched him for strength and aggression in both cup encounters when Terry would have had Derbyshire / Nonda for breakfast. Don't forget Hughes knows the value of physical strength and intimidation only too well from his playing days..... just ask Darren Anderton!

Fair comment Gordon but would Beattie bring anything worthwhile to the party if Roberts is staying at Ewood?

Can't see it myself.

[herbergeehh]

Roberts has more pace and trickery, but Beattie is a better finisher and a much better header of the ball. They're both strong players, and they might not be the perfect foil for each other, but alongside McCarthy or Derbyshire I think they can both do a good job.

[RevidgeBlue]

The takeover is progressing towards the conclusion it should have reached two or three weeks ago.

I think there is a chance a price will be agreed - and then they can officially check each other out.

It will be a push to bring in money before the window shuts, but it would be possible with co-operation on both sides.

I don't think it is holding up things just now. It is just a case of waiting for the right one at the right price.

Obviously if the Nuttall Group get the club cheaper there would be more money left in their kitty for players, so that would help. But, to be fair, they never promised silly money to spend anyway.

Thanks for the updates on the potential takeover nicko, but what you say there about the financial situation is completely contradictory three times over!.

"Rovers transfer policy isn't dictated by the result of the takeover, but it's going to be a tight squeeze for the takeover to be completed before the end of the transfer window in order that there'll be some money available!"

"Then again even if the takeover does happen in time they never promised mega bucks anyway!"

Huh!