[Archived] Nicko's Thread Part 3

[philipl]

Panathinaikos will no doubt be getting a shift on now if its true that talks have broken down with Laudrup.

Their statement on Laudrup was they were now going to go back and reassess their whole approach to the managerial appointment.

They were offering E2.5m for a season which is a stratospheric number for a Greek club. Their statement either means they are confident they will wrap up someone else under the radar or (and this is quite likely) their Greek pride was so affronted by Laudrup basically writing a clause saying he could walk out whenever he wanted that they have decided paying an internationally competitive wage wasn't actually buying them anything. If the latter scenario, a Greek or Eastern European will turn up earning a fraction of the money offered to Laudrup.

The amount they were offering is Hughes' old salary at Rovers by the way.

[Spansterkid]

By reading his other posts on 606, he's just getting Nicko's information and making his own topics on 606

God bless Vinjay, after all this time he's still an avid BRFCSer at heart. Bring him back!!!!!

[Hasta]

Why hasn't Vinjay started a 'Most people on BRFCS think I'm a bit of a tool' thread on 606 I wonder?

(surely I can't get warned for insults against former members can I??)

[1864roverite]

There has to be some optimism for breaking into the top 4 and I am certain that will be City's ambition.

HOWEVER, from a purely footballing perspective, a minor miracle is going to be needed to reach the hallowed ground of Champions League football.

The big 4 are commonly known as Manure, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpoo. Here is some indication as to why these 4 well and truly established teams will not be over challenged in the top 4 spots for next season, the season after and the season after that.

Manure - have the inbred footballing empire that is virtually unrivalled. have the power to spend £50m on 1 single player, have the worlds finest players on baited hooks, play to 78000 visitors each weekend with th capacity to go to a startling 89000 in the next 2 years. Have a turnover of some £300m per season with some big backers in the finance game. Only rivalled by Chelsea off the pitch and footballing wise by Arsenal.

Chelsea - unlimited spending power ensures that they will either be 1st or 2nd in the league UNLESS the club implodes and RA leaves. Will pay the prices for the best to ensure their place in footballs heirarchy. They dont have the fans or the turnover but with RA they have the money.

Arsenal - fantastic footballing ethic, massive turnover now they are settled at The Emirates with a turnover of some £200m per year. With Wenger at the helm the football they play is just simply mesmerising, better than both Chelsea and Manure. The only thing about them is inconsistency on the pitch.

Liverpoo - Will always have spending power and when they move grounds their income will almost double overnight. Add to this a potential buy out by DIC and you have a powerfully built footballing outfit. Only inconsistency has cost them in the league with thei inability to beat hardworking teams like Rovers at crucial points in the season. Liverpoo are a firmly established outfit with a good sqaud of players.

Now lets compare what Man City are and WHAT they hope to do to break this top 4 club.

There is no doubt that plenty of money will be available. There will have to be as simply, their current squad is nowhere near good enough for a top 10 finish. They only achieved that last year with the home run of results in the first half of the season.

Lets take a look at the squad.

Goalie - Joe Hart - plenty of potential and will no doubt make a name for himself.

Defence - Ball, Dunne,Corluka,Ji Hi,Garrido,Richards,Onuoha and Mills - This has to be Hughes first port of call as we know he builds his defence first. They will have to first secure Dunne and then hope Richards doesnt take the bait on offer from United or Chelsea. The rest are poor so MH will need at least 1 centre back and 2 full backs. I suspect he will take the Espanyol defender he was looking at for Rovers.

Midfield - Hamman, Fernandez, Johnson,Ireland,Elano,castillo,Petrov and Etuhu - Hamman is now too old like our own Tugay. Johnson is perplexed and wants out, Elano is a player with skill but who faded big style, Ireland wants to leave whilst Fernandez was a Sven signing and may not be a Hughes favourite. So, IMO MH will need to buy big. We are talking big money which he has now. I would expect this area to be his second priority. We are talking at least £20m for 3 players just to even get on he same footballing plane as Liverpool never mind the other 3 teams.

Forwards - Dickov, Sturridge,benjani,samaras, Evans and Vassell - frightening aren't they ? Dickov is leaving whilst Samaras is going to stay at Celtic. Evans is a player with a future but probably wont feature under Hughes (ala Derbyshire), Sturridge wants out whilst vassell is getting older and slower. We know from history that Mh will go out and buy two maybe three strikers. £20m for Ronnie fatboy from Spain plus big money for another Brazilian in Jo makes it a cool £40m plus for just 2 players.

So, even with major backing, we are still talking some figures being spent in the region of £80m JUST to make them better on the pitch. Then they have to gel and learn to play together. There is a language barier to get over, new set up, new tactics and so on. It is not going to be easy.

Fans will say that it will take at least 2 seasons to establish themselves. They are right, it might even take all 3 years of his fat contract to get it right. In respect of the 4 teams mentioned above, all 4 are already established and will only get better and better whilst City are just trying to get themselves established. This is not even taking into consideration a team like Spurs, another team that will see themselves as a potential challenge to the top 4.

So, above are my views as why City wont achieve MH ambition's in the immediate future.

City will challenge Rovers, Villa, Spurs, Everton, Portsmouth and maybe Newcastle for the 5th, 6th and 7th spot in the league because it is these established teams that will feture in the second tier of The English Premier League.

[EwoodGlory]

Why hasn't Vinjay started a 'Most people of BRFCS think I'm a bit of a tool' thread on 606 I wonder?

(surely I can't get warned for insults against former members can I??)

Did he get banned in the end?

IP him and then he won't be able to view

[Lathund]

As for the assessment of City:

Corluka is good as both a RB and centre half, so what they urgently need is a LB.

Nery Castillo and Valeri Bojinov may be unproven in the PL, but they've both shown a lot of talent elsewhere. Both were injured very early on in their City careers, so one can't really deem either one a failure. ETA: Although neither has exactly set the world alight... but maybe a full pre-season will do them good?

Agree with most of the rest though.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Nicko, is it true that Benitez is looking at Milner? I thought he was Villa bound?

[1864roverite]

Rafa the fat spanish waiter as said that Bentley is too expensive at £15m so he may be seeking a cheaper option

[Hughesy]

Where did he say that??

[1864roverite]

YNWA are reporting that he has moved onto another player due to the fee being touted by Rovers.

[Gav]

Rafa the fat spanish waiter as said that Bentley is too expensive at £15m so he may be seeking a cheaper option

It was reported in the liverpool press yesterday that Rafa thinks he can get Bentley for 7million due to him having only 1yr left on his contract

[bats]

Would it be possible for someone to give me a quick summary of whats been said today, as I haven't been on it this afternoon! Thanks!

[frosty]

Forwards - Dickov, Sturridge,benjani,samaras, Evans and Vassell - frightening aren't they ? Dickov is leaving whilst Samaras is going to stay at Celtic. Evans is a player with a future but probably wont feature under Hughes (ala Derbyshire), Sturridge wants out whilst vassell is getting older and slower. We know from history that Mh will go out and buy two maybe three strikers. £20m for Ronnie fatboy from Spain plus big money for another Brazilian in Jo makes it a cool £40m plus for just 2 players.

And Valeri Bojinov they have.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Would it be possible for someone to give me a quick summary of whats been said today, as I haven't been on it this afternoon! Thanks!

Henk Ten Cate is candidiate B, according to Nicko he sounds interested in the job but Panathanikos are interested in him as well.

Some people are reflecting on Hughes and Bowen's comments to the media, and aren't happy.

A quiet day really.

[philipl]

This table of season-end form shows that Sparky quite possibly has a similar job to do at Wastelands as he had at Rovers nearly four years ago.

[bats]

Henk Ten Cate is candidiate B, according to Nicko he sounds interested in the job but Panathanikos are interested in him as well.

Some people are reflecting on Hughes and Bowen's comments to the media, and aren't happy.

A quiet day really.

Thanks

[Brownie]

I know youre being peppered with questions, Nicko, but when do you reckon an indication on Shearer's intentions be possible ?

[nicko]

Nicko, is it true that Benitez is looking at Milner? I thought he was Villa bound?

I know that Villa offered 7 million for Milner, Newcastle want around 9.

So Newcastle might have put this out as a trick to get Villa to offer more - or Liverpool might have leaked it to scare Rovers into selling Bentley.

Either way it won't work.

The story won't be from Milner's camp as he is with the PFA and they wouldn't be clever enough to play games.

There is another club interested in Milner - Everton - but as David Moyes has 24 targets it's no surprise he is one of them.

[nicko]

I know youre being peppered with questions, Nicko, but when do you reckon an indication on Shearer's intentions be possible ?

I'm going to save the next bulletin on the managerial front until the papers drop on Sunday,

.

By then we should know who fancies it, who is in the frame and who will be interviewed.

I know some have been contacted, others will be...and there will be a short-list and a strategy by Monday evening.

Quite comfy with the whole thing.

[Hughesy]

Good candidates nicko??? Can we sleep safe in the knowledge

[Craigman]

I reckon we will know whether Shearer wants the job or not tomorrow when the Euros are on, someone is bound to ask him in the studio.

[nicko]

Good candidates nicko??? Can we sleep safe in the knowledge

Quality.

[Brownie]

I'm going to save the next bulletin on the managerial front until the papers drop on Sunday,

.

By then we should know who fancies it, who is in the frame and who will be interviewed.

I know some have been contacted, others will be...and there will be a short-list and a strategy by Monday evening.

Quite comfy with the whole thing.

Thanks for that Alan, just praying that Sam and McClaren are nowhere to be seen.

Personally my hopes are

1 Shearer/Newell/Flowers

2 Ten Cate

3 Ince

Good luck with your digging Nicko

By the way, do you have Alan Shearer's mobile number ?

[Hi Mack]

All these names are being mentioned but im resigned to the fact

that BFS will be here next season! it just seems the easy option!

[Brownie]

All these names are being mentioned but im resigned to the fact

that BFS will be here next season! it just seems the easy option!

Although he has drifted to 7/4 form 1/2 on Betfair, he must be figuring high in JW's thoughts otherwise his price would drift much further, everyone time it goes near 2/1 there is a bundle of money on it.