[Archived] Nickos Thread

[RevidgeBlue]

Youare supposed to drink AT the pub not BEFORE you get there. Sad situation really isn't it? I mean come on show a bit of backing for the Boss, we were within a stroke of Barcode nostalgia of losing him, champions league is NOT an impossible dream right now and we do squat for Sparky and the fans. It's ###### to me, never in recent memory have we shown such a lack of ambition IMHO. We could have sent a real statement of intent.

Never have we been in such agreement USA.

Do you want to have my babies?

[RevidgeBlue]

Can't help but feel something more sinister is going on. Don't know why, just a gut feel.

There are only two possible reasons I can think of:

1) The Trustees are trying to wind the club down. Quite what the long term benefit of that would be I don't know.

2) Might be relatively good news in that a takeover is imminent and they sensibly don't want to squander any funds.

Quite what Jack would have made of all this I don't know.

[No Nay Never]

Don't have freeview - only sky. Er if you want to be totally correct, it would not be called SKY sports news if it didn't belong to SKY. Even though freeview air it.

What the hell, we didn't need to sign anybody anyway. 3pts on Saturday is enough for me.

I reckon we needed a midfielder, but Hughesy must be confident we have enough in that area, massive game Saturday though and 3 points needed.

[TugaysMarlboro]

it's ok everyone. Andy Burton exclusive:

"I've got the text through, Deal done, long term contract, undisclosed fee. There you go you heard it here first."

[Silencio]

People are saying there were no players available at good prices but I'm sure if the board had given Hughes more backing there would have been someone he could have gone for abroad. As it is they decided to give him none just like they did in the Summer.

Williams said not to expect any signings. Williams should not expect a European place or Mark Hughes to be manager next season.

A midfield made up of Dunn, Reid, Tugay and Mokoena is just not good enough.

It's time John Williams gave an interview to the Telegraph and explained the role and ambition of the Trustees.

[USABlue]

There are only two possible reasons I can think of:

1) The Trustees are trying to wind the club down. Quite what the long term benefit of that would be I don't know.

2) Might be relatively good news in that a takeover is imminent and they sensibly don't want to squander any funds.

Quite what Jack would have made of all this I don't know.

Seems like we missed the old cliche about striking while the Iron is hot.

On the babies bit, you sure I did'nt

[JamieUK]

Benjani deal has fallen through: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3098185,00.html

[LeChuck]

Benjani deal has fallen through: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3098185,00.html

I bet Gaydamak isn't happy about that, I'm sure he would have only been agreeing to finance the Defoe thinking that Benjani was going as well.

For a team that plays 4-5-1 a lot of the time, they now have a lot of strikers. I can't see 'Arry being able to keep Defoe, Benjani, Baros, Kanu, Utaka and Nugent happy...

[philipl]

Ok chaps and chapesses, that was all very exciting wasn't it?

A reasonably accurate list of ins and outs is here. They have missed our Flynn signing given the names of spotty kids they have allowed to slip in there and Mancini's son to City is not on the list either.

To my eyes, that looks like:

Arsenal, Villa, Rovers, Liverpool, City, United, Newcastle and West Ham have all more or less done nothing in net and real terms- that is getting for half the EPL.

Derby, Fulham, Sunderland and Wigan have held deckchair moving parties on the Titanic but there are only three icebergs to go round and two of them are claimed already.

Bolton are seriously weakened- you cannot replace class with several journeymen. Reading- sorry but I don't know who the new names are.

Which leaves us with:

Birmingham City- over paid for McFadden, Zarate looks good so an improvement overall without going mad with the porn cash.

Chelsea- significant strengthening with the two purchases but that's another £25m spent which was around 25% of the total spending this window.

Everton- 3 in, 3 out, but looks like an improvement given they play 4-5-1 more often than not so an extra striker was surplus.

City- gone backwards given they couldn't get Benjani done in time. Four players who have appeared in the first team have gone. Castilo is out for a long time and they must be hoping Cacedo does an awful lot better than most Ecuadorians have done in the EPL but he is only 19.

Boro- significant improvement. They have enough uncompromising lumps at the back to cover for Woodgate but they lacked a finisher and they have possibly got one of the best there is.

Pompey- Diarra and Defoe represent a major strengthening. But that squad looks over big now and D and D might have simply swapped benches when the ANC is over. I would think listening to 'Arry's jokes is only going to head off unrest for so long.

Spurs - a lot of clearing out and four very high class signings. A significant strengthening.

So £100m or so spent altogether and just six clubs (Brum, Boro, Chelsea, Everton, Spurs and Pompey) looking the better for it.

Looking at the players who have actually moved, Routledge, Zarate, Fernandes, Prica in the sensible price brackets might well have helped had they come to Rovers but I am not looking at that list seeing any striking bargains or feeling envious.

And what was all that fuss at dingle dell?

[Manchester Blue]

Benjani deal has fallen through: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3098185,00.html

Looks like Nicko has one less thing to be smug about then. What was that about Benjani being up in Manchester the night before and it being a done deal long before the deadline?

[philipl]

Another transfer window list summary. This time the Guardian's.

In all the 92 pages of this thread, there is scarcely a whisper of concern about Rovers having any difficulty hanging onto our star players this window.

If the players we have are so sticky at our club, is it any wonder it proved difficult to unstick the players we wanted from their current clubs?

[Cocker]

For a team that plays 4-5-1 a lot of the time, they now have a lot of strikers. I can't see 'Arry being able to keep Defoe, Benjani, Baros, Kanu, Utaka and Nugent happy...

Sod Harry keeping them happy, he has upset me. My Fantasy team is going to need a rethink after his wheeling and dealing.

[Ewood and I Would]

Looks like Nicko has one less thing to be smug about then. What was that about Benjani being up in Manchester the night before and it being a done deal long before the deadline?

..that gotta hurt after last night's tirade from nicko about Sky.

[farhanology]

who is the mystery free agent/trialist and which position does he play in? is Sparky gonna make a desicion about him?

[jim mk2]

Another transfer window list summary. This time the Guardian's.

In all the 92 pages of this thread, there is scarcely a whisper of concern about Rovers having any difficulty hanging onto our star players this window.

If the players we have are so sticky at our club, is it any wonder it proved difficult to unstick the players we wanted from their current clubs?

Eh ?

Candidate for pseud's corner that one philip.

[Hughesy]

I think if Pompey had sold Benjani then they would of actually weakened, swapping him for Defoe. Hopefully now that they have plenty of strikers, 1 who was due to leave, it may cause some unrest between them.

Im suprised by the lack of activity at Villa

[G Somerset Rover]

who is the mystery free agent/trialist and which position does he play in? is Sparky gonna make a desicion about him?

I don't see why everybody's so concerned with this free agen't chap. No doubt he'll come for a trial before being told "don't call us we'll call you" and to never see Brockhall again.

[nicko]

Hard to believe but true department.

Benjani missed two flights from Heathrow to Manchester - he's going to have to explain that one shortly - and could not get a medical done in time.

He had been told the deal was on after the game at Man U on Wednesday but chose to string it out...again he is the only one who can say why.

Sky had been saying Benjani was in Manchester having a medical from lunchtime. That was because Portsmouth had told him to go and thought he was there.

Man City were convinced they were getting him - confirmed that to me as late as 7pm.

There are NO conspiracy theories here. Man City wanted him, Pompey wanted to sell. The player may just have been having second thoughts.

Bottom line with relevance to Rovers...it leaves Man City short of a striker and finishes their top-six chances. Shocker.

[Flopsy]

If thats true (and I've no reason to doubt you) its bloody funny

[nicko]

If thats true (and I've no reason to doubt you) its bloody funny

It's true, just spoken to some of the people involved...there are some very unhappy chappies about.

Portsmouth are absolutely livid. They could not pull out of the Defoe deal, especially on the day they were denying Gaydamak was looking to sell the club. Now they are down by £9 million [that was Benjani's fee].

Man City have once again failed at the death. They did it with Mido a year ago. If they slump I think Sven will go.

Benjani will be asked some awkward questions and the explanation should be good.

Someone involved said to me he didn't know whether Benjani had second thoughts and deliberately missed the flights or he is just, sorry to say, a bit dopey.

[Craigman]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3098702,00.html

Sky reckon the deal will still go through !

[Eddie]

Would sort of make a mockery of the transfer window. If he hasn't had his medical yet then they can hardly have put all the necessary paperwork in.

[nicko]

Would sort of make a mockery of the transfer window. If he hasn't had his medical yet then they can hardly have put all the necessary paperwork in.

There is a way. If the clubs can prove that the move was in process and there was a genuine reason for it not happening then it can happen.

Portsmouth need the money, Man City need the player.

Money talks.

Birmingham signed Walter Pandiani in very similar circumstances two years ago...

[brian_gallagher85]

...quick someone tell Hughes and JW their last ditch talks with David Villa and Gerrard weren't all in vain !

City will be screwed if they don't manage to bring him in, watched them against West Ham in the cup replay, never have I seen such a one demensional team, all "pass the ball to Petrov and watch him: a) Kick it against their RB or put it into the box only to find there's nobody in there.

[Exiledfan]

My bro wants to know if you're ready to reveal all about McDingle farm Nicko?

He's not happy at all.