[Archived] Nickos Thread

[FourLaneBlue]

I was told that the Intertoto had been scrapped. Is there any truth in this?

Yes but not until the season after next...so we have one last chance to qualify that way should we fall outside the Uefa Cup places.

[G Somerset Rover]

Just imagine if we'd been able to replicate our away form at Ewood this season.

One shocking stat from that website is that we have scored a paltry 13 goals in 13 home games which is nothing short of woeful (only Derby have scored less at home). I know that we've played some decent teams at Ewood already, but surely it's time for a more cavalier approach at home? Otherwise as a result our attendances will slide even further and any hopes of a top 6 finish this season can be forgotten. I know it's tricky with teams such as Everton playing a 4-5-1 and restricting us from playing but to adopt the same formation at home is an extremely negative tactic unless your playing one of the 'big four'.

[MarkBRFC]

Just imagine if we'd been able to replicate our away form at Ewood this season.

One shocking stat from that website is that we have scored a paltry 13 goals in 13 home games which is nothing short of woeful (only Derby have scored less at home). I know that we've played some decent teams at Ewood already, but surely it's time for a more cavalier approach at home? Otherwise as a result our attendances will slide even further and any hopes of a top 6 finish this season can be forgotten. I know it's tricky with teams such as Everton playing a 4-5-1 and restricting us from playing but to adopt the same formation at home is an extremely negative tactic unless your playing one of the 'big four'.

Especially when you look at the fact that 7 of those goals were scored in 2 games, it makes it look even worse.

[philipl]

Martin O'Neill talking to BBC WM after reading this thread. Sounds familiar.

Pompey's home record if you remove the Reading 7-4:

won 2 drawn 7 lost 2 for 8 against 6

[T4E]

Especially when you look at the fact that 7 of those goals were scored in 2 games, it makes it look even worse.

Agreed, thats a bad old statistic. I would guess the amount we've scored away from home would cast us in a favourable light?

[herbergeehh]

Koumas apparently had a chance to join Monaco the last day of the window, but opted to stay at Wigan. Any idea of the price agreed, Nicko?

[herbergeehh]

Also, Ooijer's injury, any news?

[Cocker]

So, City get Benjani. I think that this breaks what rules there were in place.

Time to blow the window open again me thinks

[den]

So, City get Benjani. I think that this breaks what rules there were in place.

Time to blow the window open again me thinks

What an absolute load of cobblers. City have used the extra time to restructure the deal They have agreed a reduced fee of £5m and also reduced the length of contract from 4 yrs to 2.5 yrs.

The FA have said that if both clubs are happy, the deal can go through.

I thought transfers had to be completed before midnight on the last day of January. Depends who you are I suppose. Don't think Bury would have got away with that one.

Corrupt.

[BiggusLaddus]

So City have been allowed to back out of a confirmed transfer, renegotiate a better deal for themselves and then signed the player outside of the transfer window?

And the FA think this is ok? Anything for an easy life, eh Mr Barwick?

Corrupt is the word Den.

[den]

Daily Mail article on the Benjani transfer..

[den]

So City have been allowed to back out of a confirmed transfer, renegotiate a better deal for themselves and then signed the player outside of the transfer window?

Corrupt is the word Den.

As well as double check the medical.

[Fife Rover]

So what happens if a less fashionable club such as Wigan or Rovers find themselves in similar circumstances at the end of the next transfer window; will they be allowed to complete the deal outside the window? What do you think Nicko?

I think we all know the answer to that one now. These concessions only apply to BIG clubs, or should that be rich clubs?

[USRoverME]

With all the dirt that got exposed on SGE while the England Manager, makes you wonder what he might have in his back poscket to work this out!

[nicko]

I think I might have mentioned that this was a big one when it first broke...Man City are getting the player on different terms to what was agreed...Portsmouth are getting some of their money...and all of the details of the original deal have been altered.

So that makes it...

Corrupt.

[nicko]

The target of your disgust is misplaced.

This is NOT an FA matter.

The Premier League were the referees and the one who let the deal go through in its altered state.

That would be the same Premier League who allowed the Tevez and Mascherano affair last season.

Know your enemy...

[USABlue]

The target of your disgust is misplaced.

This is NOT an FA matter.

The Premier League were the referees and the one who let the deal go through in its altered state.

That would be the same Premier League who allowed the Tevez and Mascherano affair last season.

Know your enemy...

Again some useful info I wasn't aware of, I had assumed them to be under the same Umbrella

[nicko]

Also, Ooijer's injury, any news?

Call me Mister Cynical, but an international injury if ever I heard one.

There will be hardly be any other defenders available for Arsenal, so why risk him in a meaningless friendly for Holland?

[nicko]

Koumas apparently had a chance to join Monaco the last day of the window, but opted to stay at Wigan. Any idea of the price agreed, Nicko?

Koumas to Monaco? About £39.99 on Easyjet is the only price that springs to mind on that one.

[Lurid Coat]

Call me Mister Cynical, but an international injury if ever I heard one.

Thank goodness. We really need Andre at the back if we are to stand a chance against an extremely impressive Arsenal side.

[Cocker]

So what happens if a less fashionable club such as Wigan or Rovers find themselves in similar circumstances at the end of the next transfer window; will they be allowed to complete the deal outside the window?

Well, it kind of did already happen as Paul Jewell has found out. He signed Danny Mills on loan until the end of the season. Befrore Mills steps through the door they find out that he is injured for the rest of the season and try and send him back - the FA wont allow it. Jewell phones them up and they say "Rules is rules" (that quote came from Paul Jewel)

The whole thing stinks. City will be better off with Benjani and we will suffer for it

[nicko]

Well, it kind of did already happen as Paul Jewell has found out. He signed Danny Mills on loan until the end of the season. Befrore Mills steps through the door they find out that he is injured for the rest of the season and try and send him back - the FA wont allow it. Jewell phones them up and they say "Rules is rules" (that quote came from Paul Jewel)

The whole thing stinks. City will be better off with Benjani and we will suffer for it

The Premier League is NOT an independent body. It is a group of 20 member clubs.

If the clubs think a rule has been bent or broken they should come out and say so - and demand that the League stop Benjani from playing.

That's what the Gang of Four/Five/Six did when Tevez was scoring for West Ham last season.

Mind you if there was not enough solidarity then, I don't know what chance you have now.

[philipl]

My recollection is that the gang of four or however many received a very decent amount of non-publicity seeking support from fellow Prem clubs over the Tevez affair but the FA worked a flanker to protect their initial decision. I wonder if the FA would have been so anxious to help now having seen how dispensable to West Ham the UEFA big wig Eggert was as soon as his usefulness to his fellow Icelanders was done.

Having seen such a perversion work for West Ham (plus the failure to nail charges relating to agents) I guess the Benjani transfer is an example of what we will see now of clubs chancing their arm and getting away with it. No way is the Benjani situation as bad as Tevez so what is anyone going to do about it?

The fact that Sheffield United and West Ham United are in arbitration indicates that the legal processes of the country is where clubs feeling wronged have to go and FIFA's desire/dictum to keep it within the football "family" doesn't work in England, nor most other places for that matter.

There is not even a pretence of moral authority within the structure of the English game governing the Premiership any longer.

[Cheshireblue]

I'm not normally one to support a Journo, but Nicko is quite right in that the transfer shenanigans are regulated by the Premier League. They are basically a self regulating body made up of the 20 memebers of the premier league. Corrupt may not be the right word, but self serving would certainly seem appropriate.

Ironically, if it was the FA that regulate these affairs we would probably get on very well as Rob Coar is on the FA committee and extremely well connected within Soho Square. The FA could never be described as corrupt. Inefficient, ineffective, spineless and ponderous yes, but not corrupt.

[LDRover]

13 goals in 13 games?!! Bloody hell.

Mind you, a mate of mine bought a half season ticket and he's understandably delighted at his return of 2 goals in 4 games.