[Archived] Nicko's Thread Part 3

[gazsimm]

just been listening to Talk Sport and they are saying Blackburn are going to let Man City to speak to Sparky!!

[Guest Kamy100]

The Sun's Neil Custis is running an exclusive story that after a meeting between Williams and Hughes Rovers have given premission to City to talk to Hughes.

[Bobby G]

Absolutely BS. Disgraceful that he will leave us for Man City.

Its a joke. Chelsea yes but Man City!?

Now the biggest worry would be Hughes coming in for some of our key players. I dont mean Bentley who will leave either way but players like Samba, and Roque are more what worries me. We would be foolish to sell them to clubs near us.

This is an important crossroad in Blackburn Rovers recent history. Anyone not willing to admit it is a fool. We have stabilized the ship for a top half club pushing on to UEFA Cup each season, but to make it to the next level we need investment, but we cant offer the ambitious manager that luxury. He has spent not more than 3-6 million a season almost, which is nothing in the PL. We cant compete with yoyo clubs like Man City, Villa, Newcastle and the sorts in the long run so we will end up being the stepping stone club which makes me sick.

[krislu]

If he decide to talk to them then he surely have some interest in the job. At ManC he would get a higher wage, bigger crowd and more money for players. Having said that, the current City team ain't that good and what about their owner, he seems like a bloody fool to me!

Oh, well, thats life at Rovers. No-one really expects or want us to have any success because of the whole small club/town/crowd thing...

[krislu]

Now the biggest worry would be Hughes coming in for some of our key players.

players like Samba, and Roque are more what worries me. We would be foolish to sell them to clubs near us.

Haha, Samba? I can drive him to the City Of Manchester Stadium myself...

[EwoodGlory]

Hopefully this is all from the Hughes camp to hurry Chelsea up into making a decision?

If he is staying or going, the quicker it is resolved the better for everyone, including Sparky, as he has a job to do and players to bring in.

It also highlights that City would offer £3m a year, which would be a nice pay rise for him, if Rovers were to offer a new deal?

[ally]

what worries me is that if hughes does go then we are being linked with Sam Allardyce!!

PLEASE NO!!!!!

I am hoping that it is down to some poor journalism on the sun's part

[Lathund]

Well to take the only slight positive out of this (if true); We don't have to agonize until after the Euros to see if Scolari accepts the Chelsea job.

[krislu]

what worries me is that if hughes does go then we are being linked with Sam Allardyce!!

PLEASE NO!!!!!

Agree, his style of football is pretty much awful. I just hope we appoint a decent manager and not just some former player like; Berg, Newell or Colin Hendry.

[modes98]

I honestly find it difficult to see Hughes going to Citeh. Not only because he is a utd boy but also for the fact that he wouldn't have any more funds than he currently has and he would have to rebuild the entire team, something he has almost completed with us and can move us forward this summer.

To quote my mate last night "sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don't".

The Sun article

Rovers are expected to give the go-ahead in an official statement today

[gazsimm]

Haha, Samba? I can drive him to the City Of Manchester Stadium myself...

then you would be a fool, just becasue samba lost a bit of form to the end of the season, does not mean he is a poor player.

[krislu]

then you would be a fool, just becasue samba lost a bit of form to the end of the season, does not mean he is a poor player.

Just because a player does very well in a couple of games does not mean he is a good player.

[krislu]

The Sun article

This will come as a major shock to Chelsea, who had Hughes high up on their shortlist to replace the axed Avram Grant.

It would leave the beaten Champions League finalists and Premier League runners-up desperately short of world-class candidates for their hotseat.

So, Hughes is a "world-class" candidate then?! I admit he has done very well at Rovers, but to call him a world-class manager after finishing 6th, 10th and 7th in the league...

[gazsimm]

Just because a player does very well in a couple of games does not mean he is a good player.

i seem to think there were a couple of big clubs sniffing round him as well. He was also nearly selected in the prem team of the season, so he can't be that bad of a player can't he.

[BrianPotter]

Rovers boss Hughes eyeing 'top job'

Headline is taken from Teamtalk this morning!

Apparently MH has set his heart on a top managerial post and it therefore being head hunted by Man City.

Since when has a top managerial job and manager of Man City been the same thing

I must say if this mornings press rumours are confirmed I will be totall shocked! Hughes taking a job at Chelsea / Utd etc then as hard as it would be I could accept it. But to leave rovers for city, I just can't get my head around that one. He must need his head testing if he takes the City job.

[krislu]

i seem to think there were a couple of big clubs sniffing round him as well.

Perhaps so, the big fellow took the Premier League by storm. Then after a good couple of games he did show us all why his transfer fee wasn't more than roughly £400k. I reckon its how you see it. Either he has "just lost some form after the first couple of games", or he was playing way above his standard in the beginning. I think the latter is correct...

[thenodrog]

You appear to know some Latin but not much English. When I say "salary is not an issue for people who work in the PL" I mean an adequate level of salary is guaranteed, it's just a question of how much. £3m, £4m, £10m per annumn - what difference does it make? For most people earning an extra £10k a year, for example, would make an enormous difference. If you're already earning, say, £3m, what difference does earning £4m per annum make?

So you're suggesting a poor season for Arsenal or United would put Wenger and Ferguson out of work? Seems unlikely to me. I agree Rafa would be under threat if Liverpool failed to qualify for the CL and the same might apply to the new Chelsea man, so that's 50% of EPL rather than EVERY CL manager - I haven't a clue about foreign clubs.

I'd guess they were probably set up for life before going to Chelsea. PL salaries are such that for most players or managers 2 or 3 seasons sets one up for life. I'm presuming both Ranieri and Mourhino will have had "reasonable" salaries at their previous clubs. If you give me a million today I wouldn't need to work for the rest of my life - though I don't need to live at the level footballers do.

Have the last three failed? Ranieri was doing OK before Abramovich came along though all he achieved was a losing Cup Final (makes Hughes a failure as well if trophies are the ultimate test?). Ranieri got 11 months under Abramovich, Grant lasted 9 months and came second in three major tournaments (makes Hughes look a real success?) and of course we all know about Jose with 5 trophies in 27 months (another failure there).

So the last three managers failed? More like the owner is totally unrealistic in his targets and similarily unrealistic in his belief money can buy anyhting one desires. It's unlikely Chelsea will achieve the success he craves (i.e dominating Europe at the very least) as the club will be managed by men who have an attitude that failure doesn't really matter because failure represents financial success. Would you employ someone on that basis?

To select a line from The Times article: "Scolari remains in pole position for the job and he would relish one final pay-day;" Excellent start.

BTW I'm not knocking Hughes or suggesting he is a failure at Rovers. Far better to have a man like Hughes in charge and sensible owners / senior management. Hughes will go when the time is right for him, I simply don't think Chelsea is the right move for a man of his apparent ability. I also feel he has the intelligence to know that.

Another thing that you are forgetting is the considerable influence into Hughes's decision from Bowen and Niedswicki. They are his team, they likely will go with him so there personal situations and requirements will also count for much in his decision.

[thenodrog]

Perhaps so, the big fellow took the Premier League by storm. Then after a good couple of games he did show us all why his transfer fee wasn't more than roughly £400k. I reckon its how you see it. Either he has "just lost some form after the first couple of games", or he was playing way above his standard in the beginning. I think the latter is correct...

400,000 still represents good business. Don't forget also that when asked Mourhino commented that he was a 'very good player' after he'd bumped his head.

[Bobby G]

I dont want to see Sam Allardyce bring journeymen into this club. It would sicken me...We have to have some investment pumped in. And we cant lose Roque Santa Cruz under any circumstances.

[EwoodGlory]

Finally confirmed that Sven has left.

Sven-Goran Eriksson leaves Manchester City

02/06/2008 08:56

Sven-Goran Eriksson and Manchester City Football Club have parted company by mutual consent, the Club announces today.

Chief Executive, Alistair Mackintosh said, “The Board of Directors and all at Manchester City would like to thank Sven for his efforts and contributions throughout the season and we wish him all the best for the future. Sven remains a friend of the Club.”

Sven Goran Eriksson added, “I have enjoyed my time at Manchester City very much indeed and in particular, I would like to thank the fans, players and staff for their amazing support over the season. I wish the Club, and everyone associated with it, much success in the coming years.”

The Club will make no further announcement in relation to the managerial position until after a successor is appointed.

[vintageadidas]

I think MH has taken us as far as we can go. I think he knows that in the back of his mind and is maybe after a fresh challenge.

However, as mentioned it is is whole team that have been part of the success. Mark Bowen is exceptionally good at his job.

If he does go, i hope it is to a big club and not Citeh.

Replacement wise my first choice would Billic from the Croatian national team.

[gazsimm]

Perhaps so, the big fellow took the Premier League by storm. Then after a good couple of games he did show us all why his transfer fee wasn't more than roughly £400k. I reckon its how you see it. Either he has "just lost some form after the first couple of games", or he was playing way above his standard in the beginning. I think the latter is correct...

first couple of games i don't think so, he was one of our best players till christmas. With us only paying £400k, i think we got a bargain, just like what we got when payed £3.5m for Rocky

[nono91291]

Good interview with Hughes here

Lot of what ifs in there made to seem like facts regarding the Man City job.

[ihtd]

Nicko, is this defo true then, MH to leave for Man Citeh? I can understand him leaving for Chelski, just not for Man Citeh, surely a man of his intelligence can see that their owner will sack him within 12months.

[nicko]

The source of the Man City stuff this morning is the Daily Mail.

If you look closely you will see some clues.

There has been NO approach. There is the suggestion of talks with Rovers - I have my doubts.

I know - and told you before - that Garry Cook likes Sparky. He used a middle man to sound him out again and he said no...now that could change, but the timing of this piece is deliberate.

You will also find that the writer Lee Clayton is very good friends in Mark Hughes's team. Draw your own conclusions.

The deadline for this Man City move, they say, is THURSDAY...are you getting warm yet?

The story also says Chelsea may make a late move as they want him but are also considering Scolari.

In other words Chelsea have to move fast or Sparky might go to Man City by Thursday.

It's game on not game over.

End of translation.