[Archived] Nicko's Thread Part 3

[philipl]

8 in 66 for San Lorenzo. Not bad for a young wing back cum defensive midfielder.

[nicko]

Just before any hysterics start over Chelsea and the manager...

My best Chelsea contact tells me Roman wants someone who plays attractive football and is a 'glamourous' name.

It's showbiz.

Put it this way, I'm laying Sparky on Betfair until my nose bleeds.

[1864roverite]

Hughes to Chelsea ? Wont happen as CFC are seeking a far more high profile manager. As good as MH has been for Rovers he is NOT good enough for their club.

Bentley to Liverpool for £12m ? We all know that thieves are always linked to Scouseland but if RAFA the fat spanish waiter thinks he can rate Carson at £10m he had better rethink his £12m valuation of Bentley. If he starts with a dose of reality the opening offer shouldnt be any less than £15m PLUS Pennant.

[Sandiway Blue]

My guess would be phat Phil Scholari for the Chelsea job.

Do you know who would be considered Alan?

[nicko]

My guess would be phat Phil Scholari for the Chelsea job.

Do you know who would be considered Alan?

RIJKAARD was the choice when Mourinho was on the way out, but funnily enough the plan to bring in his sidekick Ten Cate in advance has rebounded as the players hate him. If he comes now it would have to be with someone else - and Ten Cate was the brains of the Barca operation as this season has probably proved.

MANCINI won Serie A but his Inter side is hardly attractive.

SVEN has got his allies in there and cannot be discounted. He certainly thinks he has a chance, but that maybe wishful thinking.

HIDDINK is a long-term candidate but are his sides that good to watch? South Korea ran all day, Russia were humped by England not so long ago.

MOURINHO was sacked because his side was boring...or are memories that short? If he was a power freak before what would he be like this time? Untouchable.

I would have a sneaky feeling that Gianfranco Zola may yet emerge here. Lovely guy, loved by the fans, nice footballer who might produce nice teams. I do also recall that Abramovich tried to bring him back the day he took over the club.

It's just a hunch, but at 60 to 1 it may yet be a very live runner.

[Mozzer]

peter crouch to portsmouth-is this definatly happening???

defoe and crouch upfront-thats pretty decent

is there any chance blackburn will be following any of the liverpool players able to leave liverpool-finnan, pennant, riise and arbeloa??

also whats happening with gareth barry??

i dont really want to see blackburn spend 12million on one player-especially when its not a major position we need

as for bentley-ive resigned myself to losing him this summer..

[Big Archie]

Have you heard anything about Keegan going Nicko?

Marcelino being tipped to take over in the local press

http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle...79310-20970575/

[nicko]

Have you heard anything about Keegan going Nicko?

Marcelino being tipped to take over in the local press

http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle...79310-20970575/

Keegan is not getting on with Wise and his mates at all. They wanted him to buy Gomis, he went to see him and said he didn't fancy him.

The Marcelino link has been around before - I did it for the People when Keegan was struggling to win about two/three months ago. There was definitely an approach to him by some of Newcastle's people back then.

I didn't realise he had quit. He isn't going to Valencia, so I can see the Newcastle link being very strong.

[brian_gallagher85]

I'm hoping you mean you're watching him play football..

Might have been more exciting

What a crap game, any thoughts of taking Duff back should have been well and truely dashed after that pathetic performance last night...he doesn't appear to have a left foot.

Back on topic, I don't think we'll be making any bids for the young CM player. In fairness to him he passed the ball ok but he only had around 10 touches all game , his teammates appeared to be scarried of passing him the ball! He also looks very lightweight

[Iceman]

Wel the new man at Chelsea,might just be Guus Hiddink.there are also rumours that Jurgen Klinsmann and Gianfranco Zola are on some short list.

[Tom 1]

Keegan is not getting on with Wise and his mates at all. They wanted him to buy Gomis, he went to see him and said he didn't fancy him.

The Marcelino link has been around before - I did it for the People when Keegan was struggling to win about two/three months ago. There was definitely an approach to him by some of Newcastle's people back then.

I didn't realise he had quit. He isn't going to Valencia, so I can see the Newcastle link being very strong.

Could have predicted the Keegan/Wise arguments really. Why do clubs always hire these people, always sticks managers noses out of joint.

[philipl]

No way will Abramovich do anything to upset the Russian Football Federation!! This explains why.

So unless the Russians want rid of Hiddink, no way is Abramovich taking him and if they do want rid, its not Abramovich's style to take sloppy seconds.

I think Nicko's call on Zola at 60/1 is very smart.

[brfcshabba]

Wel the new man at Chelsea,might just be Guus Hiddink.there are also rumours that Jurgen Klinsmann and Gianfranco Zola are on some short list.

Klinsmann is the new Bayern boss

[PAFELL]

So nicko's point about Rovers' scouts watching the Espanyol target yesterday was a red herring? Or was Zabaleta in action somewhere? Or is Zabaleta the red herring?

OOPS- SEE ANSWERS ABOVE!

Re Liverpool, Rafa reckons he is going to raise £50m cash from disposals of his cast-offs according to some press. The rejects include Arbeloa, Pennant and Crouch but Rafa will be doing well to receive half that figure net of transaction costs considering that he's not the only Prem manager trying to offload half a top-twelve finishing squad (Man City, Spurs and Newcastle come to mind).

Abramovich firing Grant and putting a huge ? over Ten Kate presumably means Roman himself is even more directly in charge of running the Chelsea sweetie shop. I guess that slips David Bentley's prospects of a move to Stamford Bridge down a notch or two not least with the Blatter 5+6 formula knocked out of play to all serious intents and purposes.

Must admit to having a horrible feeling that Rafa will eventually come calling for Bentley but it will be interesting to see if Villa set a precedent by retaining Barry which they have a decent chance of doing seeing as Rafa needs to sell to buy.

As for Hughes to Chelsea or Celtic- the former is far too sensible to happen and the latter is now a dead duck unless Strachan changes his mind about staying. Of course Sparky's house is for sale thanks to Bob the flipping builder Carrick.

Mark Hughes has also said in the past that he is a Chelsea supporter and would like to manage every club he has played for. IF Chelsea came calling, I think Hughes could go. But I believe that there is also a rolling contract that Mark Hughes has which means either party must give 12 months notice.

[Eddie]

Doesn't mean that he has to give 12 months notice, it simply means that he always has 12 months left on his contract. It makes it easier for him to leave and easier for us to get rid of him.

[Oklahoma]

Nicko, any news on Albelda from Valencia?

It seems he is negotiating a release so he will be free soon.

I know SL Benfica want him but his wages are too high.

Maybe he could be a good option for Rovers midfield.

[Silencio]

Nicko, what has Ten Cate done that the Chelsea players hate him so much? I think the Zola tip could be really smart. I think none of the names linked quite fit.

Rijkaard: Good guy but was at Barcelona at the right time and with good staff. Not sure about him being able to do it elsewhere.

Hiddink: Club record ain't great and not really a producer of the best football.

Hughes: Not happening.

Mourinho: No.

Mancini: Won 3 Serie A in a severely depleted league but not good in Europe and widely known as a bit of a ######...

Might put a bet on Zola...

[nicko]

Nicko, what has Ten Cate done that the Chelsea players hate him so much? I think the Zola tip could be really smart. I think none of the names linked quite fit.

Ten Cate is a shouter and a bawler. Some of the big heads among the players do not like his approach. These days that counts for a lot.

[bluebruce]

Seems our local paper has 'a reader' too Tris!

Anyone else reminded of Bill Hicks' Sane Man there?

[AndyR]

Zola is 40/1 with PaddyPower, 42 on Betfair and is as low as 14s with some bookies.

Worth a little flutter but I would only see him getting it to work alongside a Director of Football with experience

[nicko]

Zola is 40/1 with PaddyPower, 42 on Betfair and is as low as 14s with some bookies.

Worth a little flutter but I would only see him getting it to work alongside a Director of Football with experience

I did say it was big at 60s, it will drop, he won't rule himself out.

But I'm not saying he will get it.

And Mourinho has just pulled out...

[rovers_rob]

Teamtalk are reporting that Jewell is interested in Roberts :

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...3609242,00.html

Do you think Roberts will go nicko ?

Is there any update on the Micheal Bradley ? I know boro are favourites to sign him but I think he is just what we need. I hope we make a move for him.

[cn174]

Teamtalk are reporting that Jewell is interested in Roberts :

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...3609242,00.html

Do you think Roberts will go nicko ?

Is there any update on the Micheal Bradley ? I know boro are favourites to sign him but I think he is just what we need. I hope we make a move for him.

Must be looking at getting his "dream" partnership of Roberts and Ellington back together!

[nicko]

Teamtalk are reporting that Jewell is interested in Roberts :

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...3609242,00.html

Do you think Roberts will go nicko ?

Is there any update on the Micheal Bradley ? I know boro are favourites to sign him but I think he is just what we need. I hope we make a move for him.

Nobody is going to buy Roberts at £3.5 million and his wages - certainly not Derby County.

No more word on Bradley. He plays against England on Wednesday if his dad picks him, so that will be interesting.

[nicko]

Just checked Betfair and the Chelsea market...and something struck me.

There is obviously NO-ONE lined up for the job.

It's 24 hours-plus later and the favourite is at a big price. If there was someone set up the favourite would be odds-on.