[Archived] Other Premier League Happenings

[RevidgeBlue]

What are peoples opinion on Kieran Richardson and Kenwyn Jones? Could they add something to our squad, or at least improve it if Sunderland should get relegated.

I like Jones and he strikes me as a "Sam type" player.

However, without looking it up, hasn't he been extremely injury prone this season?

[Hughesy]

Id prefer Richardson & Cisse to be honest. Would add some pace to our team...

[DE.]

Kenwyn Jones is an excellent player, but his injury record is a little worrying. He's a goalscorer and would do well if given service... something we've by and large failed to give our strikers this season. Richardson has the odd good game but have heard enough to not want him here, ditto Cisse.

[Amo]

The only decent signing we'll make from Sunderland is Ricky Sbragia.

[gumboots]

I actually sat there watching Sunderland and asked my husband if we could come up with a list from the teams below us we'd like to see at Ewood if we survived and they didn't and we struggles to find more than a handful. There were a few from Middlesbrough who'll go to bigger clubs but beyond that it was perhaps one from each team and possibly not even that.

[Stuart]

He has already got 2 new highly rated scouts & 6 youth players

I was going to attempt some sad cub scout joke but decided to go with a genuine response: That's got to be good news considering how critical it is going to be for us to make good choices when bringing in new players. Our revenue is going to come from bringing through young players and selling them for big money. I guess it will be heart-wrenching for a while. (Probably be a while off that though!)

I actually sat there watching Sunderland and asked my husband if we could come up with a list from the teams below us we'd like to see at Ewood if we survived and they didn't and we struggles to find more than a handful. There were a few from Middlesbrough who'll go to bigger clubs but beyond that it was perhaps one from each team and possibly not even that.

I did a similar exercise today looking at the teams which might miss out on promotion. Struggled to come up with any. Surprised at the number of ex-Rovers players knocking about at that level though.

[The Prof.]

Can't believe some of the similarities in the Rovers team and Newcastle team. Talented forward line, very basic midfield, some scary lapses at the back. We've just managed to muscle into games we've needed to win.

[Stuart]

Can't believe some of the similarities in the Rovers team and Newcastle team. Talented forward line, very basic midfield, some scary lapses at the back. We've just managed to muscle into games we've needed to win.

Quite ironic then that the difference is that we have Sam Allardyce and they booted him out...

[tonygreenbank]

No team from the bottom half has won this weekend! last week we were the only team from the bottom 8 to win. Lady luck is smiling.

[Parsonblue]

Yes it's too much to ask for perhaps wanting a decent transfer budget from owners with a considerable fortune. Now people with virtually no money like Bill Fox get sit down protests staged against them. How exactly does that policy work out then?

If you knew anything about the history of the club or had actually been there you wouldn't have to ask. I also note from the latest Times rich list that our owners lost £350 million of their fortune in the last twelve months. Perhaps you could lend them a bob or two Vinjay.

[Parsonblue]

Other results couldn't have gone any better for us this weekend. I'm not even sure that we need a win anymore. A couple of draws should be more than enough. In fact, 37 points might do it if Newcastle and Middlesbrough draw next week. Sunderland look to be in real trouble - two away games and a home game against Chelsea to come. If Villa can beat Hull tomorrow it would be a perfect weekend - apart from our defeat at City of course.

[American]

This week was an opportunity lost. We could be sitting VERY pretty right now (12th?) with an extra 3 points.

[Eddie]

We should be safe by now, it is really as simple as that.

[Bobby G]

We should be safe by now, it is really as simple as that.

We arent. Simply put the first half of the season cost us. Last few weeks we have been stumbling over the finish line but like I say, this season should simply be about staying up. Judge the manager next season.

[broadsword]

Long injury list, chronic lack of investment, terrible manager to start the season with ... I'd say we've done brilliantly to not be down by now.

I'm definitely feeling in a gloomy mood at the minute.

[Guest Vinjay606]

If you knew anything about the history of the club or had actually been there you wouldn't have to ask. I also note from the latest Times rich list that our owners lost £350 million of their fortune in the last twelve months. Perhaps you could lend them a bob or two Vinjay.

I probably would have had to ask about the 1990 protests (shortly before Jack took over) had I been there. Might have been a little too young to understand at the time. I don't know the exact reason for the protests (not being a BRFC encyclopedia though I believe my historical knowledge of the club is reasonable) but I've heard it was financial related.

If they had made 350 million it would make no difference. I don't think Fox ever had 350 million to lose but didn't stop the protests against him.

Long injury list, chronic lack of investment, terrible manager to start the season with ... I'd say we've done brilliantly to not be down by now.

I'm definitely feeling in a gloomy mood at the minute.

Hopefully a major change in the summer.

[The1mattjansen]

Vinge. How many times? If you don´t have any money to put in yourself then unfortunately you´re not in a position to dictate things.

I can understand people sitting here dictating what team is picked, who should be the manager etc etc, but to feel you have the right to tell the inherited owners who are running the club very efficiently to put more money in is just wrong.

(At this time of night I have no idea were those commas go.

[yoda]

I probably would have had to ask about the 1990 protests (shortly before Jack took over) had I been there. Might have been a little too young to understand at the time. I don't know the exact reason for the protests (not being a BRFC encyclopedia though I believe my historical knowledge of the club is reasonable) but I've heard it was financial related.

If they had made 350 million it would make no difference. I don't think Fox ever had 350 million to lose but didn't stop the protests against him.

Hopefully a major change in the summer.

you really are clueless about the Rovers, some people may not have liked Bill Fox but he stopped the Rovers from going under on more than one occasion which gave JW the chance to take over and move forward.

[rover6]

What an embarrasment to the glorified English football.

Arsenal field a second string of, admittedly, expensive youngsters and comfortably beat a Portsmouth first choice side that has invested millions upon millions to recruit established international footballers and placed them on incredibly high wages. (Am I right in think that Pompey's wage bill matches or even surpasses Arsenal's?).

People often blame the inequality of finances for the uncompetitive Premier League. Maybe we should start looking at the seriously inept management that is rife throughout the league. English managers seem to be the worst of the lot and make the likes of Wenger and Benitez look like geniuses. Terrible.

[Hughesy]

People seem to forget that srsenal pay alot for most of thier kids Rover6 - we cant afford to splash out £5m for some kid that we wont get to see for 3-4 years.

[Guest Vinjay606]

you really are clueless about the Rovers, some people may not have liked Bill Fox but he stopped the Rovers from going under on more than one occasion which gave JW the chance to take over and move forward.

Did I criticise Fox? I just said there were protests against him.

[rover6]

People seem to forget that srsenal pay alot for most of thier kids Rover6 - we cant afford to splash out £5m for some kid that we wont get to see for 3-4 years.

Apparently, Diaby cost £2 million and Denilsion £3.4 million.

Whilst these are expensive investments for young players, look at how Redknapp spent Gaydamak's money: £11 million Crouch? Rumoured£70-100k wages for Sol Campbell? £6 million Nugent. Defoe £9 million.

DJIMI TRAORE £1 MILLION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I emphasise).

The Premier League's uncompetitiveness is not merely down to unequal finances. There is some downright wretched management going on at these lower clubs and no-one is picking up on them. For the likes of Southgate, Redknapp, Hughes and so on, it hides their failures to promote the idea that the chasm-like financial gap is the reason that they so pathetically succumb to the big guns.

[Eddie]

There are enough good footballers in the world that with millions to spend (even if it isn't anywhere near the amount the top sides have) it should be possible to put out a very good side. Unfortunately there aren't more managers like Wenger.

[RoyRover]

Long injury list, chronic lack of investment, terrible manager to start the season with ... I'd say we've done brilliantly to not be down by now.

I would agree with all of this. It doesn't make it easier to watch though.

[Grabbi Graeme]

Villa leading Hull 1-0 suspicion of offside for the goal but who care's.