[Archived] Nickos (newer) Thread

[Martin]

A Top Quality premiership striker that has proven his worth, ove 300 premiership games and has bags of experience, I think Derbyshire might be pleased to get a lesson or two of the scouser. I know I would be.

I'm sure Derbyshire will be delighted to learn from him in training. Derbyshire will develop best by playing and being involved in the matchday squad. If Fowler signs his chances of doing so decrease.

If his only worth is in teaching then make him a coach!

[T4E]

FRIEDEL - if any other journalist other than Alan Nixon had penned that article in the Mirror they would be kicked from pillar to post on here for "trying to sell our players in the newspapers". There is hardly a substantive fact in the piece.

Don't get deceived by the spin - Friedel is certainly not being pushed through the exit door by anyone at Rovers. If Friedel leaves Ewood it's because he decides that's what he wants to do. It would be no coincidence if he ends up at Man City.

So there's no substance in the Mirror article, yet you've made a claim as though it's fact to the contrary. Where's the substance for what you've said?

[Drunx2002]

Yeah right.

Not a story at all.

My apologies, I did just go back and read it - it wasn't as positive as I recalled......Hope the strong drink helped!

That "find post" tool is rather good isn't it?!

I'ts probably because I'm a bit anti-Mirror at the moment....mainly because the Mirror took a press release about one of my wildlife enforcement cases last week, chopped out 4 lines, put them back together and made a completely different story out of it. Perhaps the actual facts were rather dull, but the reassembled version has made my working week a living hell! Still, at least it made a good story....

Fowler for England

[Blue n White Rover]

How many questioned Sparky when he bought in Youri Djorkaeff on a free transfer??

[tony gale's mic]

Don't get deceived by the spin - Friedel is certainly not being pushed through the exit door by anyone at Rovers. If Friedel leaves Ewood it's because he decides that's what he wants to do. It would be no coincidence if he ends up at Man City.

What makes you so sure?

[roverfanuk]

Are we sure that the wires have not got crossed somewhere, and Robbie Fowler is in fact 'on trial' in Blackburn..?

Never been so unimpressed in my life!

[waggy]

STOP PRESS

ROBBIE FOWLER HAS NOT SIGNED FOR THE ROVERS

[rovgers]

I know this might seem a stupid question but if Brad doesn't want to go, which our journo friend Nicko suggests, and he does not accept the personal terms offered at other teams or simply refuses to go, what would happen??

[Earlydoors]

13/1 for Rovers to get relegated on Betfair. It's looking tempting..........

.... now as short as 7/1

[modes98]

and he does not accept the personal terms offered at other teams or simply refuses to go, what would happen??

He would stay. and would most likely outstay Ince at this rate.

Only isssue would be if Ince signed another keeper, but the board would have to talk some sense into him at that point.

[waggy]

INCE may think brad is too old,but surely you bring in a replacement keeper first.roberts could not get in the welsh team when their keeper was injured,they picked burnleys reserve keeper over him

[LeftWinger]

roberts could not get in the welsh team when their keeper was injured,they picked burnleys reserve keeper over him

brown?

[cn_barlow]

some of the posts recently on here have been farcical! Does anyone think for one minute that Fowler is being brought in to replace Santa Cruz? waht planet do you live on!! Its more likely that Ince see's the opportunity to bring in someone he knows, trusts, and who has a wealth of experience on a pay as you play deal as backup just in case - i'd rather have Fowler than Righters.

Its pretty obvious that some people are going to be on Inces back for everything he does....why dont you just wait to hear what he says about Fowler before assuming he has been brought in as new number one striker! If he starts in the opening games then fine, moan away but until then keep a bloody lid on it!

Ince has shown with his other targets that he has some good, imaginative ideas on who he wants to bring in.

on Friedel...strikes me as good business by Ince...we wont be looking for a replacement for £2.5m but it will go a lot further towards one than the nothing we would get in one or two seasons.

[waggy]

brown?

your right he's that poor i thought he was jason

[Eddie]

.... now as short as 7/1

I'm going to lay that all the way to the bank.

[nicko]

I think a 'calm down, calm down' call might be in order here.

The Fowler affair is strange, but if he is fit then he is worth having around.

The Friedel affair is strange, but you have to let a manager make the call.

There are several players being pursued all over the place right now - and some of them are quite exciting.

Obviously there could be a controversial capture or two, but so it goes.

There will also be a new chief scout - or 'general manager' type - joining and a reserve team coach.

There is a LOT going on, not just one eye-catching move for a hero of yesteryear and the possible departure of a genuine legend.

[RevidgeBlue]

"Friedel is shocked to find out his long-serving job in the Rovers goal is no longer secure, with new boss Paul Ince looking around for younger replacements."

Ince is fast losing credibility in my eyes.

Can't agree with that at all. If Ince is bringing in another quality keeper to keep Brad on his toes he is to be commended. It would not be like Brad to spit his dummy out, he's far too professional for that. More likely he would knuckle down again and make the new man bide his time.

I still haven't seen any evidence that Ince wants to sell Brad. I think nicko is being more than a bit mischievous on this one.

The Fowler stuff is extremely strange, but really is an identical sort of signing to the one Hughes made in Franny Jeffers - and I don't recall the same level of protest then.

[mattyboy6000]

i never liked him, he always refused to pass to sutton in england games, especially when he was unmarked, on side and waving his arms like a madman

[socngill]

I think a 'calm down, calm down' call might be in order here.

The Fowler affair is strange, but if he is fit then he is worth having around.

The Friedel affair is strange, but you have to let a manager make the call.

There are several players being pursued all over the place right now - and some of them are quite exciting.

Obviously there could be a controversial capture or two, but so it goes.

There will also be a new chief scout - or 'general manager' type - joining and a reserve team coach.

There is a LOT going on, not just one eye-catching move for a hero of yesteryear and the possible departure of a genuine legend.

Spot on. Fowler isn't yet a signing and even if he is he isn't replacing anybody. Brad would be a shame but people and clubs move on. Let's see who Rovers ACTUALLY sign and sell first.

[hawkiiz]

jeffers and fowler is not the same. franny was fairly young. still in his mid 20's right? he was a huge talent, then got injured. his history is much like santa cruz'. jeffers could have been a hit with some luck. and then we would have had a good striker for many many years.

Fomler has been out of it for quite some time now. if he is sooo good, why did he have to play for cardiff at the age of 32? hes lost it. and have not played since christmas due to a operation on his back. for me he is a total waste of time.

[Parsonblue]

FOWLER - I really don't understand the massive over reaction to this. It's not like he's going to be offered any sort of deal in the next few days or even weeks. Let him go to Germany with the team - what harm can that do??

FRIEDEL - if any other journalist other than Alan Nixon had penned that article in the Mirror they would be kicked from pillar to post on here for "trying to sell our players in the newspapers". There is hardly a substantive fact in the piece.

Don't get deceived by the spin - Friedel is certainly not being pushed through the exit door by anyone at Rovers. If Friedel leaves Ewood it's because he decides that's what he wants to do. It would be no coincidence if he ends up at Man City.

If Friedel leaves it will because INCE wants him to leave. When Ince arrived he said he would keep his best players. How does selling one of the top three 'keepers in the Premier League tie in with that. Who is he going to get to replace him - some 34 year old reserve from Chelsea or is he going cap in hand and borrow someone? Wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't go to Man Utd and help develop one of their 'keepers for them by giving them a first team place at Ewood for a season.

Fowler should not even be allowed anywhere near the club. Clearly, if he's given up a contract at Cardiff there is obviously more than just a training stint on offer at Blackburn.

I didn't want Ince as manager but was prepared to give him every opportunity to see how he developed. However, I can't say I have been impressed with his backroom choices and now the Fowler/Friedel news just confirms the views I had that he is a poor appointment. I hope he proves me wrong but the signs aren't good.

If Friedel goes and Fowler stays I would be hugely disappointed. As a statement of intent it shows the direction in which the club is headed.

[Martin]

How many questioned Sparky when he bought in Youri Djorkaeff on a free transfer??

At that point we were struggling. He was Hughes' first signing. We are at a different level now.

Fowler has not signed yet, so I must remember to calm myself down.

In fact I think it's the Friedel stuff that is making everyone angry/p****d/depressed. The Fowler story merely gives everyone a chance to vent their feelings. In all honesty I'm probably guilty of that.

Still, I would like something to get excited about. This summer has been bad news after bad news, and that includes Ince's appointment.

[Eddie]

jeffers and fowler is not the same. franny was fairly young. still in his mid 20's right? he was a huge talent, then got injured. his history is much like santa cruz'. jeffers could have been a hit with some luck. and then we would have had a good striker for many many years.

Fomler has been out of it for quite some time now. if he is sooo good, why did he have to play for cardiff at the age of 32? hes lost it. and have not played since christmas due to a operation on his back. for me he is a total waste of time.

Youri? Hughes' first signing wasn't he?

[gumboots]

Can't agree with that at all. If Ince is bringing in another quality keeper to keep Brad on his toes he is to be commended. It would not be like Brad to spit his dummy out, he's far too professional for that. More likely he would knuckle down again and make the new man bide his time.

I still haven't seen any evidence that Ince wants to sell Brad. I think nicko is being more than a bit mischievous on this one.

The Fowler stuff is extremely strange, but really is an identical sort of signing to the one Hughes made in Franny Jeffers - and I don't recall the same level of protest then.

I'm not getting hysterical and nor am I calling for Ince's head. the Franny Jeffers thing was a bit different though in that he was a fair bit younger than Fowler is now at the time. I just feel concerned that the moves Ince appears to be making at the moment seem to be those most designed to upset fans or make us look poor in the eyes of other fans who can't believe what seems to be going on. I know it's one of their business what we do but we deserve respect and seem to be losing it. I'm hoping we're getting the bad bits out of the way first and then there'll be some more positive news before I go on my hols in a couple of weeks. I don't even really need the quite exciting news that nicko mentions because I'll probably not have heard of the players anyway (I don't play footy manager) I think, like many Rovers fans, that I just need a bit of something positive to get me optimistic or at least neutral again.

[Parsonblue]

How many questioned Sparky when he bought in Youri Djorkaeff on a free transfer??

The transfer deadline had already gone, Hughes had inherited a poor squad and was short of numbers AND we were at the bottom of the League. It was a totally different situation.