[Archived] Nickos Thread

[Tom 1]

I don't think the Huddlestone thing will be for Gareth Barry, he might leave us for a top club but he certainly won't for Spurs, he's rejected them before and fan or no fan, his been at Villa since he was 15, his basically a Villa fan now, if not quite as official as the Agbonlahors and Zat Knights.

Diarra at Pompey would be my guess.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

I don't think the Huddlestone thing will be for Gareth Barry, he might leave us for a top club but he certainly won't for Spurs, he's rejected them before and fan or no fan, his been at Villa since he was 15, his basically a Villa fan now, if not quite as official as the Agbonlahors and Zat Knights.

Diarra at Pompey would be my guess.

I wouldn't think for a minute that Barry would go there. Wouldn't be surprised at Spurs trying for him though. They have plenty of previous for having ideas well above their station.

[EwoodGlory]

There's no way Vogel and Huddlestone could play together

I disagree, they would be a perfect match.

Vogel looks good sitting in front of the defence and breaking up attacks, and spreading play.

Huddlestone is one that needs someone like Vogel behind or around him, so he can do his thing, which is to normally look for the perfect ball, or move forward and look for the shot.

Vogel is a much better tackler aswell.

Huddlestone is no defensive midfielder, some people think this because he is big, and has played in defence when Spurs have been desperate. He should be played as an attacking midfielder.

[tony gale's mic]

4-5-1 with Bradley just behind Santa and Vogel and Huddlestone in centre mid would be immense potentially.

[Dunnfc]

I think we could see this next year a 5 man midfield.

Vogel-------Huddlestone

Bentley---------Reid/Dunn--------------Gamst

[Tom 1]

I wouldn't think for a minute that Barry would go there. Wouldn't be surprised at Spurs trying for him though. They have plenty of previous for having ideas well above their station.

Well it wouldn't surprise me mate, they've been in for Barry before as have Pompey and Newcastle in the past, we've always kept him....this is the real test.

Just read the Adam Johnson bit Nicko, but had already made a prediction afterwards! At least they've realized a left winger is a must.

[bob fleming]

Have to disagree. They're light weight IMO. Who's going to boss the midfield in those two? Not Vogel it would appear and certainly not BRFCS favourite Tom Huddlestone. Both are tidy on the ball, but work rate, getting stuck in and winning the ball back? I can't see it myself.

As for 4-5-1? This is Blackburn Rovers. 4-4-2 please.

[EwoodGlory]

------------------------ Friedel -------------------------

New RB ------ Samba ------ Nelsen------ Warnock

-------------- Vogel ------------------------------------

Bentley ---------------- Huddlestone ------- Pedersen

------------McCarthy -- Santa Cruz -------------------

Stick with 4-4-2

[they_think_its_all_rover]

I disagree, they would be a perfect match.

Vogel looks good sitting in front of the defence and breaking up attacks, and spreading play.

Huddlestone is one that needs someone like Vogel behind or around him, so he can do his thing, which is to normally look for the perfect ball, or move forward and look for the shot.

Vogel is a much better tackler aswell.

Huddlestone is no defensive midfielder, some people think this because he is big, and has played in defence when Spurs have been desperate. He should be played as an attacking midfielder.

Doesn't Huddlestone play higher up the field for the U21s? I'm certain I've seen him higher up the field linking up with Matty D quite a lot in a few of the U21 matches.

[AndyC]

------------------------ Friedel -------------------------

New RB ------ Samba ------ Nelsen------ Warnock

-------------- Vogel ------------------------------------

Bentley ---------------- Huddlestone ------- Pedersen

------------McCarthy -- Santa Cruz -------------------

Stick with 4-4-2

just one problem. bentley won't be here next season!

[RibbleValleyRover]

Looks like Sven is off to Benfica:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ity/7387397.stm

[American Rover12]

I think we could see this next year a 5 man midfield.

Vogel-------Huddlestone

Bentley---------Reid/Dunn--------------Gamst

I think that would defeat the purpose of having a Huddlestone. Vogel holding and Huddlestone moving while both technically play CM in a 4-4-2 variation would make quite a nice combo IMO. As Ewood Glory stated, I think they'd be a perfect pair while Huddlestone can move and find the lane to the center or the wing to place a pin point pass and Vogel holds down the fort while on the counter attack. I still don't think Bradley would be able to breach the starting lineup, but buying him now, giving him some minutes as a sub and preparing him for first team football a year or two from now would be a nice idea.

And the people against anything not a 4-4-2, I seriously don't understand where you're coming from. If MH finds that a variation of a 4-4-2 or thinks a 4-5-1 or whatever he finds works, I don;t see ho anything new or different can be a bad thing if it proves effective after a few games. Growth, innovation, and change are all part of the game that allow teams to grab the upper hand against opponents expecting something else. IE: The ManUre game.

[savage90]

Nicko, i mentioned it a while back. But i know for a fact from a Rovers player, that before the January window opened, Huddlestone said he wanted out of Spurs and would be very interested in joining Rovers. So now you say Huddlestone is available, there must be a pretty good chance of this one happening. So perhaps the ball is now in Rovers court on this one.

[Presty On Tour]

I'm still not convinced by all this Huddlestone hype, is he really any good?

Yeah he is an england u21 international, so presumably has potential but he he hasn't exactly hit the headlines or had rave reviews down in the capital.

[rebelzero]

for the people following Bradley...

Michael Bradley's pending transfer this summer is one of the most anticipated moves in American soccer, so when a report surfaced on Wednesday claiming that Bradley favored a move to the German Bundesliga over a move to the English Premier League, a few eyebrows were understandably raised.

As it turns out, that report was false. Ron Waxman, Bradley's New York-based agent, refuted the claims that Bradley prefers a move to Germany.

"There is no truth to the idea that Michael favors a move to the Bundesliga over a move to the Premier League," Waxman said. "Michael is interested in moving to a good club in any of the top leagues in Europe.

"Furthermore, I am Michael's agent, and I will not discuss the names of any clubs that have expressed an interest in Michael."

This is the story Waxman refuted. (was link to Skysports story)

Ironically, the story claiming Bradley preferred Germany to England came out on the same day that a story out of Liverpool linked Everton to a potential $9 million bid for Bradley. (link to Liverpool echo story)

What do you think of the reports? Where do you think Bradley should go? Everton? Blackburn? Stuttgart? Werder Bremen? Share your thoughts below.

taken from a popular US footie blog from someone based in the New York area

[Baggio]

I'm still not convinced by all this Huddlestone hype, is he really any good?

Yeah he is an england u21 international, so presumably has potential but he he hasn't exactly hit the headlines or had rave reviews down in the capital.

He's got the potential - Big, strong, good in the air, decent shot on him and an excellent passer of the ball for someone his age, the downside is that he's probably the slowest midfielder I've seen in a long time which has seen Spurs get over run in the middle of the park on plenty of occasions this season.

He would be quality in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 but he just hasn't got the mobility to get around the pitch well enough for a 4-4-2 IMO.

[Presty On Tour]

sounds like jan molby

[nicko]

Nicko, i mentioned it a while back. But i know for a fact from a Rovers player, that before the January window opened, Huddlestone said he wanted out of Spurs and would be very interested in joining Rovers. So now you say Huddlestone is available, there must be a pretty good chance of this one happening. So perhaps the ball is now in Rovers court on this one.

I think your info was right then, but things have changed slightly since with the arrival of Vogel.

However one thing is sure - Huddlestone can go.

Now it's up to Rovers to pick which one of the midfielders they fancy. It helps that there are two or three good ones to pick from, then you can play one against the other and decide.

On Bradley...I know there is a local agent who has been pushing him to come to England. However there will be others trying to fnd him homes in Europe.

Everton have watched but won't pay the £4 million fee, I don't know what Rovers thoughts are but they are obviously interested.

[Hughesy]

Is Enckleman out of contract this summer or or we due to get something for his move to Cardiff?

Nicko – have rovers actually made a move on any of our midfield targets yet??

[thenodrog]

sounds like jan molby

Or Campo

In either case he'll have to be a gud un to stand comparison.

[brian_gallagher85]

Any word on Keegan leaving Nicko?

[Cocker]

Any word on Keegan leaving Nicko?

I just wonder if Ashley thinks that Keegan has given him the perfect amo to fire him when he had his moan about not being able to compete with the big boys. Ashley may then look at Sven as a replacement.

Just my thoughts of course

[RibbleValleyRover]

If Keegan suffers the same fate as Sven then its total lunacy. I'm not a Keegan fan but he has clearly turned them around and has kept them up when at one point they looked doomed to be part of the relegation dogfight.

I'm so glad we have a sensible chairman and board at our club who are realistic about short and long term planning.

[tony gale's mic]

I'm not a Keegan fan but he has clearly turned them around and has kept them up when at one point they looked doomed to be part of the relegation dogfight.

When Allardyce left they weren't in danger of relegation at all, it's only after Keegan took over that they dropped like a stone.

Still agree that now he's got them winning he should be kept on and given a chance though.

[SAS]

Is Enckleman out of contract this summer or or we due to get something for his move to Cardiff?

Nicko – have rovers actually made a move on any of our midfield targets yet??

Encks will be on a free, his contract runs out....

Scotto