[Archived] Nickos Thread

[rover6]

It sometimes takes him a while, Flamini has looked nothing more than an average player for years, but suddenly this season he looks the complete defensive midfield player. Personally, I don't think he would have achieved this level of performance under the guidance of any other manager.

I agree. Flamini is an excellent example. He was highly-rated in France and if I remember, rightly, his former club were deeply unhappy with the way Arsenal recruited him.

However, Flamini didn't make an immediate impact. Wenger persevered with him and kept giving him chances (in a number of positions) and now we see a fully confident Flamini playing very well. Never mind Gilberto's wealth of experience, it's performances and potential that matter to Wenger.

Wenger is unique in being a manager who is prepared to be patient with young players and take risks by playing them for a number of games to overcome their insecurities. Sometimes this attitude backfires but generally, especially financially, it has works a treat.

[thenodrog]

I thought it was interesting that Benitez admitted today he had TEN strikers on a list in case he didn't land Torres.

Hmmmm...... It's quite likely that Torres would not have been his first choice!

I guess we'd never get a truthful answer to that question though.

[nicko]

Nicko,

When you say shock, is that because the quality on show is of the highest standard or the opposite and you cant quite fathom out what they'd acheive by taking on one of these individuals.

High-calibre games, expensive players. But possibly a well-priced nugget or two.

At least it shows there is some ambition about which is good.

I think the summer will be active - and to be fair they are doing their homework. No complaints on that score.

[nicko]

Hmmmm...... It's quite likely that Torres would not have been his first choice!

I guess we'd never get a truthful answer to that question though.

I'm pretty sure Torres was always his first choice, but he wasn't sure if he would get the money from the Yanks. You may recall the post-Champions League rant.

Benitez gets his way an awful lot of the time. Can't figure out why he moans so much when he has been backed so well.

[thenodrog]

I'm pretty sure Torres was always his first choice, but he wasn't sure if he would get the money from the Yanks. You may recall the post-Champions League rant.

Benitez gets his way an awful lot of the time. Can't figure out why he moans so much when he has been backed so well.

Never heard the old saying Alan...... 'Much wants more'?

He should really be hearing 'I want never gets' more often from the septics.

[LeChuck]

I'm still disappointed we didn't sign FSP.

So am I, I've seen a bit of him in Spain and he seems to have developed very well...in fact, with his pace and movement, I'd say he'd be the perfect partner for Santa Cruz. Not signing Pongolle on a permanent basis has to go down as one of Hughes' biggest mistakes in my view, I'm sure he's worth a lot more than the £2.5 million that he cost now.

The youth team at Arsenal does represent some of the best youngsters in the country - but at a considerable price.

Of course it's all at a price, but it's investment. If the Arsenal board give Wenger £10 million to spend on a batch of youngsters, they're pretty safe in knowledge that they'll see a handsome return on that 4-5 years down the line. I think Hughes could do a similar thing (but obviously on a smaller scale), virtually all his signings increase quite drastically in value, which is why I'm hugely disappointed that the board aren't giving him money to invest because he should have earned that right.

Wenger earned all this money to invest in youngsters when he bought Anelka for £500k and sold him for £23 million right at the start of his reign. That allowed him to bring in Henry etc. and the rest, as they say, is history. In a few years they'll probably have a few more come through as well, Vela and Merida in particular are meant to be fantastic prospects.

[LeChuck]

My opinion is Sparky has done as big of a job for us as Wenger has done for Arsenal.

Absolutely no way, not yet anyway.

Hughes has the potential to be a great manager for us, but his achievements are nowhere near at the moment and I don't understand how he can be compared to some of the best in the busines.; 15th, 6th, 10th and (probably) 7-9th aren't miraculous achievements, in fact unless he achieves something with this talented bunch then his reign will ultimately be a disappointment in my view.

[rover6]

Hughes can, at a push, emulate David Moyes.

However, there's no way he'll emulate Wenger. Firstly, he doesn't have the advantage of having the foreign contacts and knowledge that Wenger has. Secondly, Hughes is too cautious by nature. He would not take the supposed risks with young players that Wenger does.

If Wenger was Rovers boss and had signed Rigters and really believed in his ability, he'd be giving him chances right now. That's even if the guy is not making a big impression. Look at how many games Wenger gave players like Aliadiere, Cygan, Senderos (who's not great), Hoyte. Admittedly, he tends to favour guys he signed.

[they_think_its_all_rover]

Any truth Keegan's getting sacked today?

[DudeAbides]

i doubt it...

[tony gale's mic]

unless he achieves something with this talented bunch then his reign will ultimately be a disappointment in my view.

Christ. What do you mean by 'achieves something'?! He's established us as one of the most consistent Premier League sides outside of the top 4 on a tiny budget. What more do you want?! Sure we could have won a cup but a lot of that is about luck and aside from Spurs winning the League Cup this year even the cups are usually dominated by the big 4. It beggars belief that anyone could see his reign as a disappointment.

[LeChuck]

Fair enough, I think I used the wrong phrase there. Of course Hughes has done excellently so far, I just think people get carried away with what he's actually achieved. If he's given time and a bit of money I think there's more to come, I have full faith in him, I'm just trying to point out that little has been achieved as of yet.+

[Eddie]

You're right and to compare him to someone like Wenger is going far overboard. Hughes is doing well, but really the 6th place finish is the only real achievement so far. He could build on that and turn this into a very special period for our club, but if he were to have a couple more seasons finishing 8-14th and then head off to another club I don't think we'd look back and say he was one of our greatest ever managers. Wenger will go down as one of the best managers of any side, no one can seriously compare Hughes to him, regardless of the budget he has had.

[tony gale's mic]

Fair enough, I think I used the wrong phrase there. Of course Hughes has done excellently so far, I just think people get carried away with what he's actually achieved. If he's given time and a bit of money I think there's more to come, I have full faith in him, I'm just trying to point out that little has been achieved as of yet.+

There may be more to come if he was given more money, but I don't know where this money will come from unless we find a backer from somewhere. How much more could he really do? I mean Everton have spent a lot and its only really because of Liverpool's ineptitude that they even have a chance of breaking that top 4, they're not even that far ahead of us.

It's silly to compare Hughes to Wenger obviously, but if Hughes leaves and we inherit even an average manager, we could be in serious danger of heading towards the relegation spots with the money we have to spend. In my eyes it's a minor miracle we're being kept comfortably in the top half when the clubs above and beneath us are spending so much more.

[American]

The interesting thing is that Wenger has spent less in the last 4 years than Hughes according to the chart someone posted recently. He might have a bigger fan base, but he also has an expensive new ground to pay for. And yes, he had players to sell for big money, but so has Hughes, but he's held onto MGP and Benni as their values plummet.

[Exiled_Rover]

The interesting thing is that Wenger has spent less in the last 4 years than Hughes according to the chart someone posted recently. He might have a bigger fan base, but he also has an expensive new ground to pay for. And yes, he had players to sell for big money, but so has Hughes, but he's held onto MGP and Benni as their values plummet.

I assume that's accounting for incomings and outgoings. Eduardo alone was £9m and the youth team that fluked a victory against us in the Carling Cup cost twice what our team did.

[tony gale's mic]

It's a little unfair on Hughes to compare him with one of the greatest managers of our generation who has much more experience than him.

[nicko]

Any truth Keegan's getting sacked today?

No, been at the game and he won't be leaving.

Jimmy Bullard goal just cost me 300 notes.

Not best pleased...

[1864roverite]

Now you need another exclusive Alan, just to sell a few more of those red tops !

How about an exclusive on a Rovers takeover, and sell the Peeps with a blue heading instead of its usual colour.

Something like this......

Russki trillionaire takes over at Ewood Park

[hollowsr]

Wow Nicko you weren't wrong about the high profile games. Getafe v Benfica, Porto v Schalke game (although Bruno Alves has just signed a new contract??) and Fenerbahce v Sevilla. Rovers are definitely looking high at least so all credit to them.

But Granero is apparently valued at around 18M! How ae we going to get this money? With no takeover looking likely imminently?

Also Nicko, any idea why they don't seem to sell The People in some parts of London? Newham area anyway? (near West Ham)

[nicko]

Wow Nicko you weren't wrong about the high profile games. Getafe v Benfica, Porto v Schalke game (although Bruno Alves has just signed a new contract??) and Fenerbahce v Sevilla. Rovers are definitely looking high at least so all credit to them.

But Granero is apparently valued at around 18M! How ae we going to get this money? With no takeover looking likely imminently?

Also Nicko, any idea why they don't seem to sell The People in some parts of London? Newham area anyway? (near West Ham)

Mike Rigg was at Sevilla v Fenerbahce [the strong left-sider] and Porto v Schalke [Alves I believe - and he IS available] before heading for Benfica v Getafe [not sure who he was watching].

The Granero story WASN'T mine. I wasn't sure who was looking at in that one. Granero is way too expensive for Rovers, but there are others...funnily enough Bolton thought they had Granero on loan for a year last summer. Strange how things work out.

The underlying theme is that they are looking everywhere and you won't find me criticising that as an idea.

As for the People and Newham, I can only hope it was sold out...

[Paul Mellelieu]

Hughes can, at a push, emulate David Moyes.

Hughes is too cautious by nature. He would not take the supposed risks with young players that Wenger does.

If Wenger was Rovers boss and had signed Rigters and really believed in his ability, he'd be giving him chances right now.

Which drugs do you take?

[adopted scouser]

Which drugs do you take?

Cannabis bonkers. Makes Skunk look like a joss stick.

[tony gale's mic]

Chelsea are set to make a £10m summer swoop for Blackburn winger David Bentley.

:lol: £10 million...yeah right.

[nicko]

:lol: £10 million...yeah right.

I try not to comment on stories like that, but rest assured it's garbage.

By the way, did anybody see Queen of the South's second goal last night...magic.