[Archived] Nickos Thread

[Russ]

Johann Vogel it is.

Been over today for a 'test' and thinks he is going to sign.

Decent player but hardly played for a year. He was in dispute at Real Betis and was due to sign for Everton last summer until they found there was a fee on his head.

Now a total free agent.

Interesting to see if he is fit either for now or next season, that's for the staff to decide.

By the way, there is no point rying to keep things quiet around here.

Still, it whiled away a few hours.

Tedious, eh?

In sparky we trust, as ever.

Good signing, especially on a free. nothing to lose, potentially everything to gain.

Got a run of games this month that will be easier to throw him into.

Only time will tell, but full of optimism on this one

[nicko]

So he's already been over?? Brilliant news!

Allround midfielder, capable of defending and also a good passer of the ball. Love it!

Any reason why the deal won't go through, Nicko?

His fitness would be a concern after so long without a game. However this may not just be a quick fix job. If he is right then it could be a longer stay.

[92er]

Thank you for the information.

[John]

Yes! Someone who can pass and keep the ball.

I know Everton wanted him in January but the deal did not go through.

[baxendenblue]

Has he actually signed for us or is he just rumoured to sign

[Russ]

Best thing if this one works out is it doesn't make a serious dent in any summer transfer budget.

There will probably be signing on fee and obviously wages but no massive initial outlay.

Leaves a bigger chunk of our modest budget to find a top young centre mid in summer.

Anything he does between now and the end of the season is a bonus in my eyes, as I had given up hope of getting anyone once the transfer window closed.

[RibbleValleyRover]

He is only 30, which aint bad IMO for his position.

From what i've read he is the sort of player we need badly, one that can be our holding player allowing the likes of a Dunny to make forward runs more often. Though his description on his wiki entry sounds more like a "box to box" midfielder.

I think its worth a gamble, and i hope it happens.

[Torgeir]

Exciting news indeed. He's proven and hopefully he has kept himself fit.

[nicko]

Just a minor line...

Dougie Freedman IS signing for Leeds. The 5-1 promotion bet just got better. Class signing.

[nicko]

Has he actually signed for us or is he just rumoured to sign

He's here and we will know soon if he has signed.

If anyone knows where he has been since he quit Betis it would be interesting...no record anywhere.

[Mozzer]

i suppose that means fortune wont be signing???or could we sign both???

[nicko]

i suppose that means fortune wont be signing???or could we sign both???

It's possible that both could sign - it would only be two wages, no fees.

However I suspect it will be one or the other. This might explain why the Fortune decision was delayed a few days. But that is maybe reading too much into it.

[Mozzer]

nicko, where you at the liverpool game tonight-how bad were west ham??? we play them shortly(we never win them)..

wasnt vogel linked to everton in the summer for quite a big fee, if we get him for free and can get his fitness up-he could be a shrewd signing..

[nicko]

nicko, where you at the liverpool game tonight-how bad were west ham??? we play them shortly(we never win them)..

wasnt vogel linked to everton in the summer for quite a big fee, if we get him for free and can get his fitness up-he could be a shrewd signing..

West Ham were poor, but Liverpool are starting to look like a team again. The system suits Gerrard and Torres. Mascherano also on his game.

Vogel was due to join Everton in August, but there was a snag. It will be down to what shape he is in...he is 30, nearly 31, and that will have to be considered too. But on a free he is worth a look.

[Oklahoma]

On paper, it is a great signing.

I trust Hughes and his staff can get the best out of him.

[Pinch]

Doesn't it seem odd for him to just disappear for half a season though (after leaving Betis)? Anyway, it will be exciting if we sign him. It is great to see our club take a chance like this. Low risk - potentially high reward.

[philipl]

Let's hope he kept himself in shape whilst taking his break otherwise he will be weeks away from being fit enough for Premiership action.

John Williams on why Rovers were inactive in January.

Looking at the players who moved for £140m, Diarra and Anelka would have strengthened us. Anyone else?

[Fife Rover]

He's here and we will know soon if he has signed.

If anyone knows where he has been since he quit Betis it would be interesting...no record anywhere.

Sitting at home watching the telly?

[rover6]

I'm confused about John Williams' mantra about only signing quality that will improve the starting eleven. Did Hughes reckon that Rigters and Bruno Berner were going to challenge and even take a first team place?

Secondly, this 'ready-made' signing approach goes against the philosophy of Arsene Wenger - the most effective dealer in the transfer market. Forget about the fact that he has much more money to spend and consider that spending money on potential and trying to develop it is one of the main ways (other than the academy and purchasing fallen stock...) that we can compete for the elite players.

As for Vogel - thumbs up. Anything that means that Aaron Mokoena will be forced to look elsewhere for football is bliming fantastic.

[Iceman]

Liverpool are beginning to show some form.although chelsea are not that far off Arsenal.might be a huge ask of chelsea,but they have a good squad.if united and arsenal slip up,the chelsea might just pip them both to the finishing line.i dont think it would be either vogel or fortune.they are completely different players.fortune more attacking mid,and vogel defensive mid.so no reason why hughes wont take both til the end of season.

[herbergeehh]

I'm confused about John Williams' mantra about only signing quality that will improve the starting eleven. Did Hughes reckon that Rigters and Bruno Berner were going to challenge and even take a first team place?

Secondly, this 'ready-made' signing approach goes against the philosophy of Arsene Wenger - the most effective dealer in the transfer market. Forget about the fact that he has much more money to spend and consider that spending money on potential and trying to develop it is one of the main ways (other than the academy and purchasing fallen stock...) that we can compete for the elite players.

What a rubbish comparison. First of all, "only signing quality to improve the starting eleven" is the right thing to do NOW - it wasn't six months ago when we had to replace players like Mickey Gray (Berner) and Francis Jeffers (Rigters) as squad players. We needed cover, we got cover. Rigters was a young striker with a good u21-championship behind him, and he came at a reasonable cost.

As for the Wenger parallel, Blackburn can't afford spending money like he has done. Why should we forget that? Williams and Hughes can't. Wenger has spent well, no doubt about it, but players like Denilson, Diaby, Bendtner and Clichy has all been BOUGHT - and that's without even checking those who didn't make the grade.. We don't have money to sign players for our reserves, we need strenghtening NOW! Do you not agree with that?

[philipl]

Let's not forget that the kids Arsenal beat Rovers with in the League Cup cost 50% more in transfer fees than the Rovers team that night.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I think Hughes planned to play Rigters more this season, as he was expecting us to have a pretty long run in the Uefa Cup and the FA Cup. But with us being dumped early out of both competitions the lad hasn't had the opportunity to get a run in the team.

It does annoy me when people bash the signing of Rigters, when he hasn't had the chance really to prove himself yet. I think he needs some games badly under his belt, a loan spell would be ideal.

[nicko]

The strangest use of the word 'exclusive' that I can recall...

http://www.thisisblackburn.co.uk/display.var.2097375.0..php

[waggy]

anyone else listen to the bentley interview on talksport,said he went to work for money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!said rovers had leaked contract talks to the press!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!sounded a little peeved to me