[Archived] Nickos Thread

[USABlue]

What would I know? Just broke the tale in another classic case of 2-bob journalism.

That time of the month nicko? you seem a little "sensitive" to day, not like you mate.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

Neither reading nor writing are a strength of your's are they?

Lying, twisting, manipulating, dreaming and exaggerating are obvious personal strengths’ of your own?

Firstly ,id go back and check some of your own postings; in regards to typos & spelling errors before criticising my postings.I will admit that my postings are far from perfect, but for someone who is in possession of a “sperior intellect "the amount of errors in own postings is astounding

Secondly, find me any evidence where MR Williams has stated that we have spent anywhere near the extra 15m from this seasons rev.

[Baggio]

Nicko:

I've seen that you've done a story about Newcastle having a bid rejected for Gomis, any more news on that? Keegan was sat in the stands watching the PSG vs St Etienne game yesterday so it doesn't look like he's given up yet.

[philipl]

OK, what is the underlying story?

Quite simply in the face of static average gates, the Rovers gambled last year by spending some of the 2007/8 windfall from the new BskyB and Setanta deal ahead of time. John Williams explained that the club foresaw the rapid rise in transfer fees so structured itself by bringing in players last year and letting the wage structure adjust ahead of time.

So the percentage of income spent on wages which had been falling reaching 76% the previous season shot up to 85% in 2006/7 and John Williams forecasts wages reaching £40m in 2007/8. However, with turnover likely to be over £50m this season, the ratio will again fall below 80%.

The crunch is, Rovers spent £7m more cash during 2006/7 than it received. This is after three years during which the net cash flow (irrespective of accounting losses) had remained in balance.

This is the simple answer to where has the media income gone?- the club has gone out of its way to smooth the impact of this sudden massive rise and used what financial strength it had to buy ahead of a rising transfer market whilst keeping the club competitive in wages paid for the players within its bracket.

The crawling and regular increases in wages for star players and management linked to contract extensions is all part of the tactics of keeping wages competitive yet under control whilst maintaining the value of the players to the club over a longer period.

But, this also means the club is now looking to pay down its external bank borrowing as the higher media income is coming in and putting itself back into a position of being able to react to a rainy day (threat of relegation or the media deals beginning to fall in value). Hence the current reluctance to gamble on transfers when there clearly was no value available in the market. The early FA Cup exit won't have helped either.

From here

[Russ]

I think if Bents did go and we had to replace him, that James Milner is the most natural replacement out there.

He seems to be a similar player, been a success for England U21's and has every chance of challenging Bents for the England RW spot in the future.

I think Hughes could get more out him than he's currently showing.

Didn't Nicko say a few weeks back he was available for £5m and Villa were interested? I would assume he'd command less in wages too?

Might be good business if we can sell (an unhappy) Bents for £15m and replace with Milner for £5m. I don't think it would weaken us as much as some might think??

... and enable us to get a couple more players with the £10m left over.

Milner (5m), Bradley (4m) and Farfan (6m) in for Bentley?? Looks a great deal on paper, altho I have clearly estimated the figures involved and fully accept they could be way out!!!

That's without touching the reported £10m transfer kitty, except for wages, but then people also need to remember that their contract is paid over the years not in a lump sum, so it can be fitted into the budget.

The club are making a huge mistake by only asking for £15m for Bentley, if that is indeed the case.

With Wright-Phillips going for £21m two seasons ago and with Liverpool themselves demanding £15m for Crouch (don't get me started on that one) then we should be looking nearer the £20m mark. It's as if our players are seen as cheaper alternatives and easier to buy.

With no ready made replacement for Bentley, a large chunk of that transfer fee will go on finding a replacement and that player will no doubt be far inferior.

[PAFELL]

Why are you bothering to read this thread then???

Seems a bit rich of some people jumping on Nicko's back just because he told us something we didn't really want to hear. He is here to give good and bad news, and by most it's appreciated.

If his story had been Bents had signed a new 5 year contract, you'd probably be thanking him for setting your mind at ease?

Correct - I also have noticed the negative comments with regards to Nicko. Something that should interest Rovers supporters from Nicko's article is that Rovers are able to pay £50.000 a week in wages, therefore the money situation is not as bad as some on here may think.

What Bentley should realise is that spurs paid £16mill for a player to sit on the bench - Bentley has also been quoted on saying that Theo Walcott would be better at another club where he would play regular football, that is in it self an insight into Bentley's thinking. I believe Bentley as well as his agent are just curious to see who 'maybe' interested in buying Bentley. If nobody seriously comes in Bentley will realise that he is still not yet good enough for a bigger club - which means he would stay at Rovers and try even harder to play better, which is also good for Rovers.

Rovers would not lose out in anyway what ever Bentley decides - if he moves they get £15mill and save £30.000 a week in wages - get other players with the £15mill.

Bentley will decide today what he will do, European football or not next season - if Bentley leaves Rovers he will keep other people happy on the substitutes bench of a so called bigger club.

[trueblue]

but what can you do when you're punching above your weight with the only willy we've got and lady luck playing silly beggers?

Bob.. that line cracked me up mate ! good one

[American]

Philip and Baz, could you 2 get a room?

[doctorryan]

I think anyone and everyone recalls it been £17m.

I could have put 20 souces all giving that figure. Not one quoting £17.7m. He had a release clause for £17m, and that's what he left for. You talk about negotiation, it pretty much came down to every offer being rejected until the clause figure was met.

I'd find it odd if every related souce on the internet, combined with most peoples collective memory was wrong, and you were right.

Quote 40 sources if you'd like (just keep googling!). I stand by my story.

[S15]

And there was me thinking you didn't have a 'fragile ego.'

[tony gale's mic]

You people seriously need to get out more if you're having such a heated argument over £17.7 million versus £17 million.

[doctorryan]

You people seriously need to get out more if you're having such a heated argument over £17.7 million versus £17 million.

[DanLad]

I recall that we sold Duff for £17 million, but that wasn't the release clause fee. That was around the £17.5 mill mark, ISTR.

We sold him before the release clause was activated.

[philipl]

Look back to Nicko's post on this thread- he got it right as to why we got more than £17m in the end.

[Bobby G]

Ill be really ###### off if Bentley leaves and all we have is 15 million to spend from his transfer. We better already have something like 10 million to be added to that if we want to really freshen things up.

[nicko]

That time of the month nicko? you seem a little "sensitive" to day, not like you mate.

I get a bit peeved with people who can't read a story and work out what is going on and what is happening - and, for that matter, the work that goes into the background.

Fortunately there are those who do...

[nicko]

Nicko:

I've seen that you've done a story about Newcastle having a bid rejected for Gomis, any more news on that? Keegan was sat in the stands watching the PSG vs St Etienne game yesterday so it doesn't look like he's given up yet.

I think KK is under orders to look at the guy.

St.Etienne want that sum. Mike Ashley may yet be daft enough to pay something like it.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

I think the overall feeling is that this can't keep rumbling on. If he is going, get the money in and spend it fast. You don't want to go on fretting about the subject until August - that's when it becomes genuinely disruptive.

Totally agree

[gumboots]

I think that what is really annoying people here is not the fact that it looks like Bentley may go but that you are the bringer of the bad news that he probably will, because until recently you've been so positive and then today, when we need to feel good about our chances, you break this one. I'm not annoyed with the story and like many on here I've generally found you get more right than you get wrong. It's just rotten timing. Now I know that if you've picked this up someone else will run with it soon so I even understand why it had to go to print today, but that doesn't mean to say we have to be happy about the story or the timing.

[nicko]

I think that what is really annoying people here is not the fact that it looks like Bentley may go but that you are the bringer of the bad news that he probably will, because until recently you've been so positive and then today, when we need to feel good about our chances, you break this one. I'm not annoyed with the story and like many on here I've generally found you get more right than you get wrong. It's just rotten timing. Now I know that if you've picked this up someone else will run with it soon so I even understand why it had to go to print today, but that doesn't mean to say we have to be happy about the story or the timing.

I think I should point out that the club have brought this to a head - not me.

In fact, after a couple of calls I have had since the story came out, I believe that the contract offer was actually withdrawn in a meeting between Bentley, his agent and the club LAST WEEK.

As for the timing of it, I waited until I was sure it was coming to a head.

It would have been easy to do the 'Bentley wants to go to Liverpool' stuff a few weeks ago but I never believed that one despite what he had said in a very public place. Players can run off at the mouth sometimes and my info was that he is not Liverpool's first choice.

My info since last January was that he was likely to sign - the only delay was this problem of paying the agents fees in the wages - but in recent weeks there has been a change from the player himself.

Bentley and his agents now think Chelsea want him. I have my doubts, but there you go.

Now the club want a straight answer and have gone about it in a strong way.

When something concrete and significant like this has happened/is happening then it is a story. In Bentley's case he works for The Sun - do you want me to wait until he or his agent drops a story in there when I know about it? Unlikely...

I think I've said before that you can be happy/unhappy about what gets written. That's just the way it goes.

If Bentley wants to move and Chelsea want to pay the money it won't be because of anything in a paper. Like I've said before and will repeat...I'm not sure that offer is going to come.

[Sandiway Blue]

I think I should point out that the club have brought this to a head - not me.

In fact, after a couple of calls I have had since the story came out, I believe that the contract offer was actually withdrawn in a meeting between Bentley, his agent and the club LAST WEEK.

As for the timing of it, I waited until I was sure it was coming to a head.

It would have been easy to do the 'Bentley wants to go to Liverpool' stuff a few weeks ago but I never believed that one despite what he had said in a very public place. Players can run off at the mouth sometimes and my info was that he is not Liverpool's first choice.

My info since last January was that he was likely to sign - the only delay was this problem of paying the agents fees in the wages - but in recent weeks there has been a change from the player himself.

Bentley and his agents now think Chelsea want him. I have my doubts, but there you go.

Now the club want a straight answer and have gone about it in a strong way.

When something concrete and significant like this has happened/is happening then it is a story. In Bentley's case he works for The Sun - do you want me to wait until he or his agent drops a story in there when I know about it? Unlikely...

I think I've said before that you can be happy/unhappy about what gets written. That's just the way it goes.

If Bentley wants to move and Chelsea want to pay the money it won't be because of anything in a paper. Like I've said before and will repeat...I'm not sure that offer is going to come.

Is this because you think chelsea are chasing a target who might be cheaper,but just as good if not better?

[EwoodGlory]

I would expect if Chelsea are looking for someone on the right then, Aguero and Quaresma would be way ahead of Bentley on their list, both of them are more suited to Chelsea's 4-3-3 formation, and better quality.

[brian_gallagher85]

My info since last January was that he was likely to sign - the only delay was this problem of paying the agents fees in the wages - but in recent weeks there has been a change from the player himself.

Bentley and his agents now think Chelsea want him. I have my doubts, but there you go.

If this is true then I can understand the delay in signing the deal to be honest, who the hell will be making the decision on who comes and goes over the summer?

[Mozzer]

so its between liverpool and chelsea??

who would bentley prefer to go???

i didnt think he would leave this season, but his performances recently havent looked good-he looks disinterested..also the lap of honour he didnt look that happy..

[1864roverite]

Alan, I hope your not put off by the misery floating around here at the moment. Todays sorry result has brought the big black cloud over from dingleland and it is currently pouring down with bad news !

I dont want you to go off without repaying your side of the bet we had, after all i did promise to buy The Mirror for a year if they made the play offs. Now its your turn, and your part of the bet is this.

[size="6]I want you in a Rovers shirt and I want you to post the picture on this site[/size]