[Archived] Nickos (newer) Thread

[ThatRabbitsDynamite]

Brad Firedel leaving would be my worst day as a football fan. Shearer and Duff were nothing compared to him.

It certainly is a sad prospect. Lets hope it works out that Mr. Friedel stays a Rover until he retires, all the while keeping the goal mouth free of footballs foreign to our nets.

[AJW]

NICKO

you've already told us spurs are hawking round players to raise some cash and you've already told us they've offered a variety of players in a player plus cash exchange , is one of the players paul robinson? , does ince fancy him ? is that why rovers are considering selling freidel?

[nicko]

NICKO

you've already told us spurs are hawking round players to raise some cash and you've already told us they've offered a variety of players in a player plus cash exchange , is one of the players paul robinson? , does ince fancy him ? is that why rovers are considering selling freidel?

You could have Robinson if you wanted him. But he is valued too high - around £5 million - and his wages are huge.

This is NOT the reason why Brad could be going.

[Pinch]

We don't have lot of cash to splash and its not set in stone that Bentley is leaving so we might not have more than £10-12 mill plus to spend.

Can you see us buying a top quality attacking mid and a decent right back if the reports are true and then using whatever is left to buy a top quality goalkeeper?

Keep Brad at least another season, strengthen the areas we have to improve on e.g. the midfield then reassess at the end of the season. Why make it harder for ourselves on the transfer front?

Exactly. This is not the place that Ince needs to put his stamp on the club. He will likely have the opportunity to replace Brad with a new keeper in a season or two...why now? People are commenting that he will break down in the coming years, but can't we just phase him out in a season or two (esp. if we are currently tracking possible replacements that we can afford)? I'm more concerned that we won't find a keeper who can find to fill his boots. Robinson!? - (thanks Nicko, I'll rest now). Let's just keep our best player.

[toetoe]

I don't know if this already has been mentioned(and its highly speculative),but Ince and Friedel were team mates at Liverpool,weren't they?Could it be something personal?

[Solberto]

Nicko, how is your feelin about our future this season ?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Ince has been a chancer all his life , what do you expect when you put a chancer in a position of authority ? Logical decisions ? He'll be thinking "How do I stamp my authority on this club" ? I know I'll get rid of the most popular member of the staff.

I know Brad will be past his sell by date some time but that time is not this season.

Even Souness wouldn't have been this foolish.

[Inta Beaver]

I would be gutted if we sold Friedel, I dont think we could replace him staight away, look how Utd struggled after the Great Dane.

Also i named my Bulldog after Friedel so i would be really annoyed if Ince let him go!!

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Even Souness wouldn't have been this foolish.

This the same Souness that brought Friedal to the club - at a time when many Rovers fans questioned the decision when we already had two decent keepers in Kelly and Filan ?

I'll be sad if Brad goes - but (whatever the reasons for his exit) I will thank him for his loyal and great service and wish him all the best at his next club.

£2.5m for a 37 year old that we got on a free transfer has to be seriously considered - no matter what the reasons behind the decision. If this was a Footie Manager game - we would all sell him !

Every decision that Ince makes will be a gamble - he has to weigh up how much longer Brad can continue at the top of his game, and whether he can bring in anyone nearly as good. The opportunity to get a fee for a keeper of Brads age must be tempting.

BUT - nobody knows the reasons behind Brad possibly leaving Rovers - so lets just give Ince a break till we know the facts.

[Wild Irish Rover]

You could have Robinson if you wanted him. But he is valued too high - around £5 million - and his wages are huge.

This is NOT the reason why Brad could be going.

I still don't understand why on earth Brad could be going in the first place. I've read back over the thread and, apart from other clubs showing an interest, there appears to be nothing in this story. Personally I've come to regard Brad as Mr Blackburn Rovers - his performances in recent years have epitomised what I love about the club (spirited, won't lie down and die despite the Rovers haters in the sarf, able to spring surprises and take your breath away etc). So for me, Brad leaving would be the end of an era.

Let's just hope it is just the media circus and that there is nothing in the story, eh Nicko??

:rover:

PS please could we have some GOOD NEWS.... soon

[benlloninho]

I am of the opinion that there is no legitimate reason to sell Brad Friedel.

No club will pay us the amount of money he is worth to our club.

That is all.

'Course I don't know all the details.

[S15]

I say fair play Ince if he decides to make such a bold move. He has to build his on team, and if his new keeper fails and we struggle, Ince takes the flack, but we can't keep Hughes' team and Hughes' ideas/philosophies forever.

How about a change in perspective people, new manager, new chapter.

[tony gale's mic]

I say fair play Ince if he decides to make such a bold move. He has to build his on team, and if his new keeper fails and we struggle, Ince takes the flack, but we can't keep Hughes' team and Hughes' ideas/philosophies forever.

How about a change in perspective people, new manager, new chapter.

How about a new division too while we're at it?

Friedel predates Hughes. He was probably the best in the league last season, despite what the PFA voted for.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Keep Brad at least another season, strengthen the areas we have to improve on e.g. the midfield then reassess at the end of the season. Why make it harder for ourselves on the transfer front?

Exactly,why on earth sell when there is simply no need.Friedel has been and continues to be an immense presence for us between the sticks.....I'll even go as far as to say he always seems to be one of a VERY few who actually gives a toss about the club and fans.

This is not welcome news....yet again this miserable summer.

[Alan75]

No offence Nicko, but I hope your wrong about Brad.

Older supporters will remember the Jim Iley / Dave Wagstaff transfer saga and the outcome.

[nicko]

Let's just hope it is just the media circus and that there is nothing in the story, eh Nicko??

PS please could we have some GOOD NEWS.... soon

Media circus? Get real.

And, by the way, if you check back you will see the names of at least two players you are looking at...

[nicko]

Nicko, how is your feelin about our future this season ?

A lot will depend on what happens in the transfer window.

I don't think any club - apart from Spurs - looks stronger now than they did at the end of last season.

You could either strengthen or weaken. You won't stay the same. Bentley has to be sorted out, now Friedel too.

You needed two new players at least and at this rate may need four.

That is a mighty big ask for any club, never mind one with a new manager and a tight budget.

A big few weeks ahead.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

This the same Souness that brought Friedal to the club - at a time when many Rovers fans questioned the decision when we already had two decent keepers in Kelly and Filan ?

I'll be sad if Brad goes - but (whatever the reasons for his exit) I will thank him for his loyal and great service and wish him all the best at his next club.

£2.5m for a 37 year old that we got on a free transfer has to be seriously considered - no matter what the reasons behind the decision. If this was a Footie Manager game - we would all sell him !

Every decision that Ince makes will be a gamble - he has to weigh up how much longer Brad can continue at the top of his game, and whether he can bring in anyone nearly as good. The opportunity to get a fee for a keeper of Brads age must be tempting.

BUT - nobody knows the reasons behind Brad possibly leaving Rovers - so lets just give Ince a break till we know the facts.

I know Souness brought Brad to the club, your point is ?

[Eddie]

Where?

[BRFC1995]

why do people say£2.5 should be considered, i ain't remotely worried about his age. He's a goalie for the love of god he'll still be top draw in 2 years, £2.5 is an insult to the players standing in the game out and out trouble making by whoever is bidding. If its hughes bidding i will suddenly develop a hatred for the man, leave it alone. Sunderland goalie had a shocking first premier season after being touted as world class and for a snip at £9m, was'nt kirkland a similar£9m gamble that backfired.

Don't rock the boat, he simply cannot be replaced......A 40 year old brad would still be better quality than we have a hope of attracting!

Joke,Sick joke!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hawkiiz]

one the sidenote Luton will have to start 30 points behind this season.

it could be worse for us than selling a player or two

[rovers si]

The reaction to the Friedel news is over the top in my opinion.

The guy is 37, and if were offered 2.5 million then we should consider it. Yes he has been a great servant to the club and is a fan favourite, but he isn't perfect these days and can be frustrating at times, he doesn't come off his line to collect the ball when we defend set pieces which cost us quite a fair few goals last season. I haven't felt as confident with him in goal this past season as I did a few seasons ago, and at 37, you don't improve. Like shillito15 already said, Ince has to build his own team and should be judged on these decisions at the end of the season.

Of course there would be disappointment, but nobody is more important than the club, not even Brad Friedel.

[Wild Irish Rover]

Media circus? Get real.

And, by the way, if you check back you will see the names of at least two players you are looking at...

It is a circus, all baggy pants and slapstick (your good self excepted, of course) - I mean, remember the shenanigans when Hughesy was off and SSN were reporting 'facts' based almost entirely on information posted on this site. And of course no journalist has ever, ever started the unravelling of player and fans' confidence by publishing rumours that unsetlle folk....

I appreciate your good work and look forward to your post much more than most others. What I was asking for in my previous post was simply for something concrete and positive to happen to lighten the mood for us long suffering folk. And no, before you come back at me with an incisive quip - concrete and positive does not mean me ending up weighted down by the boots in Galway Bay.

BTW. surely the Luton punishment is unreasonable and unfair? The loons at the FA just get worse.

[brfcshabba]

BTW. surely the Luton punishment is unreasonable and unfair? The loons at the FA just get worse.

It's the football league not the FA. The FA rightly deducted them 10 points, then the football league have deducted them another 20.

[doctorryan]

I say fair play Ince if he decides to make such a bold move. He has to build his on team, and if his new keeper fails and we struggle, Ince takes the flack, but we can't keep Hughes' team and Hughes' ideas/philosophies forever.

How about a change in perspective people, new manager, new chapter.

Go sell somebody a house Rock.