[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[nicko]

Franny Jeffers may just be stuck. Cardiff were interested - despite what Ridsdale might have said - but now they have Fowler that exit route is closed. I hear he wants a big wage and a three-year contract, so it will be hard to find him a home. Ipswich could come back on if they get money from selling Alan Lee to Hull that might help.

Pretty quiet all round, although there could be some takeover news shortly.

I believe Dan Williams and his allies have been sounded out by a couple of clubs since the story broke about them. I'm pretty sure I know one of them. However from what I gather they are still determined to get Rovers.

That saga will end when the price is finally agreed, but it would not surprise me if it was close.

I know this one has dragged, but if you remember how long it took Liverpool to sort theirs out and the current Arsenal drama then it is just part of modern-day football.

[RevidgeBlue]

That saga will end when the price is finally agreed, but it would not surprise me if it was close.

Nicko, Do you mean "close" in the sense that it should be close to going through, or touch and go as to whether it goes through at all, or in the sense that Danny boy gets poached by another club?

Also, what do you think of continued references in our local paper (the Lancashire Telegraph) that there are numerous parties interested, given that you have previously claimed Daniel Williams realised he "was bidding against himself"?

Cheers.

[nicko]

I used the word 'close' because I hear that the valuations are not that far apart now.

There could be other bidders, but I do not think they are willing to pay anything like the original £67 million figure, which included picking up the debts.

That was what I meant by 'bidding against themselves' because I do not believe there were other bidders at that kind of price. They were being 'wound up' a bit to use a layman's term.

It is the job of the Rovers negotiators - or those who represent the Walker Trust - to get as much as possible, so if they claim there are other bidders that is part of the process.

That kind of haggling happens in all forms of life never mind football.

The bottom line is if you want to buy the club you have to pay the asking price. With Rovers it should be simple because there is only really one shareholder to satisfy.

If it all happens there are other twists and turns that will be revealed, but is a bit sensitive just now.

As for Dan Williams and his chums going elsewhere...I still think they want Rovers above any other option. It is 'his' club and it is also an attractive purchase if the price is right and that leaves them as much cash possible to buy players now and in the future.

Bolton, for instance, is a lot cheaper but you would probably have to spend more on new players. And Southampton is a total financial mess, with so many different people having chunky slices of shareholdings.

[Hughesy]

Bolton dont have a great academy and im sure they have alot more debt - so no worries about him going there instead. Maybe he could buy wigan and Whelan can then buy us?!

Shame there is no transfer news - it is becoming quiet frustrating! I just wish we could sign 1 big name signing for the summer!

[broadsword]

I think Righters is quite an exciting signing. Could turn out to be excellent for us, he's an unknown quantity.

Would you rather we pished our money up against the wall by signing Alan Smiff? he is vastly over-rated, they signed hi9m as a striker and ended up playing him in midfield.

And there's still about 5 weeks of the window left ...

I think fans forget the days of our major summer signing costing 30-45 K.

[Hughesy]

I think Alan Smith would be a great signing if we could get him for around £6 million. Over-rated? I dont agree, play him in most games and he can make a massive difference. He was vital to United's title drive at the end of last season! Just ask Fergie!

Rigters has alot to prove so dont pin all your hopes on that kid yet.

[Eddie]

I think fans forget the days of our major summer signing costing 30-45 K.

It always rather annoys me when that sort of thing is brought up, it means nothing. Ok, 350k is a lot by old standards, but it's pretty much nothing by today's standards and that is the only way to judge it.

[pleasure]

He was vital to United's title drive at the end of last season! Just ask Fergie!

fergie's selling smith.

[Hughesy]

Because he now has a fully fit squad + Hargreaves, Anderson, Nani & soon to be Tevez!

Muppet!

[broadsword]

It always rather annoys me when that sort of thing is brought up, it means nothing. Ok, 350k is a lot by old standards, but it's pretty much nothing by today's standards and that is the only way to judge it.

Eddie, the point is, for a long time we weren't in the top division, and we scrimped and scraped. Then we got spoiled by multi-million pound signings, and some fans get rather irate if we don't make them regularly (even if it is on rather second-rate hooligans such as Smith).

The only way to judge "it" is by the quality of the squad, not the size of the transfer fee. With millions being spent willy-nilly on players, size of transfer fee is not a reliable indicator of player quality.

But still I expect you spend £350K on new slippers and a dressing gown, so it's nothign to you. Only joking, but you asked for it!

[pleasure]

Because he now has a fully fit squad + Hargreaves, Anderson, Nani & soon to be Tevez!

Muppet!

so he cant have been that vital then... ? :ph34r:

[Hughesy]

I said he was vital at the end of last season. Not that he is vital to the team.

They had a few injuries to the likes of Saha/ Ole etc and he played a big part at the end. With the strengthening they have done, he will no longer be seen as a key squad player.

But one thing is for sure - a player who was around the top 16 squad players of the league champions isnt to be over looked in my opinion.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

I think Alan Smith would be a great signing if we could get him for around £6 million. Over-rated? I dont agree, play him in most games and he can make a massive difference. He was vital to United's title drive at the end of last season! Just ask Fergie!

Rigters has alot to prove so dont pin all your hopes on that kid yet.

???

He didnt score in the league did he?, he a striker afterall thats what he is measured on goals & assists not workrate thats what CM's like savage & Heargraves base their game around not strikers

[pleasure]

I said he was vital at the end of last season. Not that he is vital to the team.

They had a few injuries to the likes of Saha/ Ole etc and he played a big part at the end. With the strengthening they have done, he will no longer be seen as a key squad player.

But one thing is for sure - a player who was around the top 16 squad players of the league champions isnt to be over looked in my opinion.

i'm not sure ole/ saha will be around for much longer, either.

it's all about opinions, hughesy.

my opinion is.... we cant afford to blow stupid money on players, who aren't that good, like luke young, yakubu and mr smith.

thankfully we'll be staying well clear.

[jannerman]

It always rather annoys me when that sort of thing is brought up, it means nothing. Ok, 350k is a lot by old standards, but it's pretty much nothing by today's standards and that is the only way to judge it.

I think 350k is near the club record transfer fee for Plymouth Argyle - some perspective when talking about fees, the Championship isn't that far off

(Connection made because I'm sat in Cornwall - but it's still a relevant point)

Didn't someone mention before that the club might not be spending that much money at the moment to remain attractive to the investors? Not quite sure how it all works meself, if, say, we have 10m to spend this season I guess that's provided by the PLC? So if it gets sold to a 3rd party will that money disappear?

Maybe the board are just minimising the overheads at the moment?

Anyway, it's not like we don't already have a decent squad right?

[Mozzer]

are we any nearer to buying someone??

any new players we are being linked with??

[philipl]

If sparky sees a player he is convinced of and we can get him, he will go to JW/ the board and I am absolutely certain up to £10m or perhaps more would be made available.

Two caveats-

1) What strikers are available on the market at around £10m just now? Are you reasonably sure those strikers are good enough to pay off the £10m lay out (roughly equates to being the difference of two and a half places in the EPL in each season over four seasons)? Which strikers at £10m are vastly better than Beattie at £3m ish or Rigters at £350K?

2) The £10m striker doesn't wreck the Rovers' pay structure causing everyone to seek a justifiable rise.

[LeftWinger]

I'm not even sure I'd want another striker. It's bad enough sticking Derbs out on the right as it is. How is he and Rigters supposed to develop if they had McCarthy, Roberts and AN Other in front of them.

[Tris]

I just wish we could sign 1 big name signing for the summer!

I think Alan Smith would be a great signing

Alan Smith's a really small name though. There can't be many strikers with smaller names than his.

You need Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to keep you happy.

[Ozz]

Ian Rush?

[rover_groo]

Ali Dia

[percy]

Fred

[Ozz]

Pele

[Fife Rover]

Pele

Is this the latest anti-boredom game chaps; seeing who can paint the largest/smallest black rectangle?

[Tris]

Is this the latest anti-boredom game chaps; seeing who can paint the largest/smallest black rectangle?

It's a reflection of the depths to which this thread has plumbed, like all other transfer rumour threads based upon spurious nonsense from the tabloid press!