[Archived] Nickos Thread

[Russ]

Hi Nicko,

I read today that Everton have been to watch Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St. Petersburg)

So I just wondered if Rovers have ever watched him, and is there a cat in hell's chance we would be able go for him?

I assume the fee we be the stumbling block, any idea how much they would want for him??

I think he would be an amazing signing for us and just what we need,

Thanks.

[EwoodGlory]

On the Modric to Newcastle move....

Linkage

- Modric and co. were flown into Newcastle by private jet to negotiate the sale of Luka Modric.

- They arrived at midday and arrived home by 6.40pm

- There is still a while until the transfer window opens but newcastle face competition from pool, chelsea, spurs and barca etc. but are said to be in the lead for his signature

- Its the first contact which we’ve made since December

- Dinamo know that Owens contract is the first priority, and expect Modric’s signature to be the second due to Nicky Butts age and Emre’s injuries.

- Newcastle’s good relations with Dinamo are expected to play a part, after the transfer of Silvio Maric (big money for Dinamo). Mark Viduka’s history there is also expected to be a factor (Mark Viduka play for Dinamo Zagreb and he is Modric's cousin).

This is not the first time it has been reported we have been in contact with Modric.

For one I hope they don't get him, I don't want us to drop below Newcastle in the league next year, I can't go round bragging to my mates then

[nicko]

I read today that Everton have been to watch Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St. Petersburg)

So I just wondered if Rovers have ever watched him, and is there a cat in hell's chance we would be able go for him?

I assume the fee we be the stumbling block, any idea how much they would want for him??

I think he would be an amazing signing for us and just what we need,

Moyes was supposed to go and see a game in Russia last week, but didn't make it. Arshavin was one of two or three he was due to see again. In his case Everton saw him in the UEFA Cup - and like everyone else - liked him.

I'm not sure Everton have that much money - unless they sell first.

And I think there would be a few after Arshavin if he was available. Top drawer player.

[philipl]

Two questions for you nicko-

A foreign consortium are reported to be doing a £40m deal for Sheffield Wednesday to avert Wednesday going into insolvency. Is this the same group who looked at Rovers?

Matt Hughes in the Times is running the story to the effect that Bentley wants to leave Rovers with new contract negotiations broken down and Chelsea and Liverpool are vying for his signature. This is not the first time that this story has appeared with his by-line yet has not been widely echoed by other media- so far. Does Matt Hughes have a particular "in" on this one?

[nicko]

Two questions for you nicko-

A foreign consortium are reported to be doing a £40m deal for Sheffield Wednesday to avert Wednesday going into insolvency. Is this the same group who looked at Rovers?

Matt Hughes in the Times is running the story to the effect that Bentley wants to leave Rovers with new contract negotiations broken down and Chelsea and Liverpool are vying for his signature. This is not the first time that this story has appeared with his by-line yet has not been widely echoed by other media- so far. Does Matt Hughes have a particular "in" on this one?

Lancastrian Geoff Sheard and his mystery foreign money men are still trying to buy Sheff Wed. But they seem to be taking their time. If they are waiting to see what division they will be in next season I suppose you could understand why. I believe some of his team were involved in talks with and about Rovers roughly three or four months ago. However as most consortia change shape and personnel I don't know if it's exactly the same people after Sheff Wed. I can't imagine they will pay £40 million for them anyway...far too much.

As for the Bentley stuff, I find it tedious now. But this was always going to drag because Rovers don't want to pay the higher wages and include the agent's fees in that amount. If that makes Bentley look elsewhere, then so be it. I don't see there being too many takers at £15 million. He's not that good.

One thing is sure - someone in the Bentley camp is using the press. He has quite a few hangers-on attached and I believe he has someone who does his media as well as someone who does his contract. If there WAS a bid I suspect Rovers would get him to sign the new deal fast.

[nicko]

Oh, and Stan Ternent got the Huddersfield job.

I believed it leaked out yesterday...

[Eddie]

Long-term I think we might have a bit of a problem with Bentley. Bit of a billy-big-time.

[T4E]

I'm sick of him now. I hope we're already doing the deal to sell him so we don't have to go through a Summer of speculation, denial, fence sitting and eventual departure. It gets boring after a while.

[Eddie]

I don't mind that part so much, I just don't like that it all appears to have gone to his head (which isn't really surprising if you look at how he was at Arsenal). I also think he's slightly over-rated by most Rovers fans. Very good player and he will improve, but his style is such that he'll never be able to carry a team like a real great would be able to (Duff for example). I don't think Bentley will win that many games by himself and I also think that if you replace Bentley with a slightly above average right winger with a bit of pace who can put a decent ball in 1/3 times then our results would probably be the same. Don't get me wrong, he'll have a good career and for the right team he could be a very useful player, but he won't carry us to the next level and we'll never have a team that is good enough where he can simply be a good part of a fantastic group.

[Cocker]

Long-term I think we might have a bit of a problem with Bentley. Bit of a billy-big-time.

As long as he carries on playing well for us I dont care if he tells the world that he can walk on water - keep him I say. If Benni can have 40k then Bents should be on more than that.

[nicko]

I've just read The Times article. There is always a little subtle give-away in these things.

It sounds more like an attempt to get Blackburn to pay him the money he wants...around £60,000 by the looks of it.

If Chelsea and Liverpool wanted him they would pay that and more. I think we can take it that is what his team wants from Rovers now.

[they_think_its_all_rover]

60k!??

I thought he said it wasn't the money he was bothered about?

[Fife Rover]

I'm sick of him now. I hope we're already doing the deal to sell him so we don't have to go through a Summer of speculation, denial, fence sitting and eventual departure. It gets boring after a while.

I know exactly how you feel about this Bentley business Tugs, and am in complete agreement with everything you said except your last sentence. It doesn't get boring at all; it gets upsetting and frustrating, but never boring.

It is high time that Rovers applied a little pressure to the situation and told Bentley to sort his head out and make a decision one way or the other. This should include some strong advice to him to make his own views crystal clear to his agent(s) and tell them to act in accordance with HIS instructions, what ever they are.

[den]

I doubt rovers need any advice on how to deal with contract negotiations Fife. They have quite a lot of experience in that kind of thing and I doubt that giving someone an ultimatum - with there still being three years left on his contract, is the way they'll go.

[joey_big_nose]

We have to be careful with this one. What we can't do is "apply some pressure to him" and ###### him off and make him decide to leave. If that happens our bargaining position for a transfer fee radically declines. Chelsea are mugs in the transfer market but Liverpool are not. If they know that Bentley wants out the they will offer a low fee (8m?) and let him force Rovers hand.

We will find ourselves in the conundrum that if we don't accept that money at the end of the window we will be looking at carrying an annoyed player for at least six months who won't play well and whose value will diminish.

Bentley holds the cards in this.

All that said if he wan't to go and we have an appropriate fee and replacements lined up then no reason to stand in his way. Its to no ones benefit. I don't think we can afford £ 60,000. He isn't Bellamy.

[T4E]

You are correct Fife. Perhaps my choice of wording wasn't the best - I should have really said 'tiresome'. This situation is just one of many reasons why Rovers will never better their current position. I cannot believe that the game has been allowed to get to such a state where the playing field is completely skewed, and no one seems to be doing anything about it.

It's said too often, but its totally 100% correct. Money has ruined football.

[Wild Irish Rover]

You are correct Fife. Perhaps my choice of wording wasn't the best - I should have really said 'tiresome'. This situation is just one of many reasons why Rovers will never better their current position. I cannot believe that the game has been allowed to get to such a state where the playing field is completely skewed, and no one seems to be doing anything about it.

It's said too often, but its totally 100% correct. Money has ruined football.

Actually, I think it isn't said often enough. The money side of the game is obscene and totally out of proportion to the value created by these so called professional entertainers. Its a case of the emperor's new clothes in reality, except that there are a lot more emperors these days (with their staff of advisors and hangers on). That is the real reason that all the talk of contracts and wages rankles with the ordinary supporter - we can all see through the vanity and vacuous greed, yet very few are prepared to call it what it is - wrong.

As for Bentley, if he wants to stay, brilliant. If he'd rather move to a bigger stage then I'll be happy as long as the club is rewarded for the value added we have created in him. Either way it would be better for all if he'd just sort himself out, quickly.

Rant over

[Fife Rover]

I doubt rovers need any advice on how to deal with contract negotiations Fife. They have quite a lot of experience in that kind of thing and I doubt that giving someone an ultimatum - with there still being three years left on his contract, is the way they'll go.

I disagree Den. It most certainly is the way to go. At this moment in time we have a player on our books of great potential but one who is (for whatever reason) stringing us along, and making it impossible for Rovers management to plan ahead with any certainty. It needs to be resolved one way or the other NOW. If the decision is he wants away, fair enough we can get him sold for a very good price and will not have to pay him exortionate wages for another 2 or 3 years only to find out he still wants away then. Or, on the other hand, if he DOES clear his head and makes a genuine comittment to Rovers, we can plan ahead with Bentley as part of it. This is one of those times when management has to make a critical decision for the good of the club in the medium term. It may be dificult, and even unpleasant, but it IS necessary.

[Blackpool_Rover]

The great thing about the Bentley situation is hes under contract, and hes under contract for 3 more seasons. There is no buy out clause...so basically it's in our hands. If we want to keep him, we can. What's he gonna do? he can't play badly or sulk because this will ruin his world cup chances. Unfortunately for him the ball is in our court.

[den]

With respect Fife, I'm glad rovers will be in charge of contract negotiations and not your good self.

Why can't rovers plan ahead, any more at this time, than any other time?

How do you know he's "stringing us along"? None of us know the state of negotiations.

How do you know we would get a good price now? That depends on who wants him.

Knee jerk reactions from people who don't have a clue as to the state of any negotiations. The signs might be there that he's stalling, but do you immediately sell someone who has three years to go - when they don't sign a new contract immediately.

[joey_big_nose]

I disagree Den. It most certainly is the way to go. At this moment in time we have a player on our books of great potential but one who is (for whatever reason) stringing us along, and making it impossible for Rovers management to plan ahead with any certainty. It needs to be resolved one way or the other NOW. If the decision is he wants away, fair enough we can get him sold for a very good price and will not have to pay him exortionate wages for another 2 or 3 years only to find out he still wants away then. Or, on the other hand, if he DOES clear his head and makes a genuine comittment to Rovers, we can plan ahead with Bentley as part of it. This is one of those times when management has to make a critical decision for the good of the club in the medium term. It may be dificult, and even unpleasant, but it IS necessary.

Giving him an ultimatum does nothing for anybody.

It weakens our hand and it will cause unrest in the squad. It is also unfair to him. He is playing at the moment and doing a good job for us. He has three years on his contract. Being aggressive will only make him want to walk out the door. If he wants to walk out the door then we will get less money for him.

[philipl]

The club and not Bentley has taken the initiative to offer an extended contract with a higher wage as far as I understand it.

[den]

Isn't that the clue though, den? I think it'd be a little naive to not read into that and come up with the possibility that Bentley isn't signing anything that's been offered for a couple of months now because he may have a chance to move to a bigger club this Summer. I honestly think it's that simple...

It's a massive leap though, to suggest that we sell him now, simply based on suspicions.

[philipl]

Nicko has apparently explained the reason why.

[T4E]

Nicko has apparently explained the reason why.

Well if he wants £60k per week then he has to go.