[Archived] Nickos (newer) Thread

[philipl]

Joaquin is a very smart move by Rovers- If it is for real it signals Rovers are confident that Villa will meet the £17m price for Bentley and are going for Spurs number 1 right wing target before Spuds sell anybody to release the cash to buy. It will certainly ruffle the WHL chickens.

Cassillo, Beletti and Maria are more in the class of player Rovers should be associated with this window. It might take some pressure off the automatic assumption that Rovers are simply a quarry waiting to be blasted.

[S15]

Seems Brads' 'Special Affinity' with 'His Club' isn't quite as strong as the promise of Randy, erm, Randys' green buck eh.

That'd be some erotic thriller. Big Brad and the Randy Lerner.

[S15]

Joaquin is a very smart move by Rovers- If it is for real it signals Rovers are confident that Villa will meet the £17m price for Bentley and are going for Spurs number 1 right wing target before Spuds sell anybody to release the cash to buy. It will certainly ruffle the WHL chickens.

Cassillo, Beletti and Maria are more in the class of player Rovers should be associated with this window. It might take some pressure off the automatic assumption that Rovers are simply a quarry waiting to be blasted.

Philip, it's the monthly post I agree with.

Now tell me United are going bust and please, tell me just how dead and meaty the Guvnor is.

[T4E]

It's hard to take anything concrete at all out of the Nicko-Brad story. It reads like political mish-mash written by a committee, which if you check the bottom of the article, appears to be the case. Not to be revisiting the "Duff Days" of July 2003, but I think we'll breath easier come Tuesday if whatever has to happen happens with regards to Rovers making sure Brad is on the plane to Germany, after having appeared against Macclesfield of course.

I expect Nicko will be on shortly to fill in the gaps.

[The Prof.]

this summer has turned into a joke, every player we are linked with is garbage. The names we are linked with are normally associated with the likes of sunderland and hull and the richer championship clubs. Why are we being linked with strikers, we've got 4, its not even remotely a priority. Fowler and mcfadden? seriously if they are never good enough to play why put them on the wagebill.

taking bentley,brad, and roque out of our team is frightening---as the rest of the team is, taking my blinkers off, nothing special....next season could be shocking. IF THEY ARE UNDER CONTRACT DO NOT SELL!!!!!!!!!

Correct - at least have a look at the other players we've got for 6 months or so.

[The Prof.]

Correct - at least have a look at the other players we've got for 6 months or so.

I like Nicko but can't help feeling he ain't much to write just at the mo'.

Okay - £2.5 million for a 37 -40 year old might just be good business. He's worth more playing though. However:

- £5m for Robinson is WAY OFF THE MARK.

- MON giving a big 3 year contract to him - well he's daft enough to (Good squad - barmy ides cost them a higher finish)

- Think the Brads have got crossed over. How many games will Friedel play if he goes - could be paid retirement.

So in that case what's with

'Brad does not want to go..' If Ince certainly doesn't want to sell him it leaves us with a give me more money or I'm off. No time for players with that attitude myself even if they are hero's.

I wonder if it's MON's odd logic that £2.5m is a good way to ensure we finish below Villa? Maybe he's becoming more than a little Nurotic about us given all the money he's spent and still didn't get a Euro place!

[John]

I just cannot believe the Brad story...........surely Eric 'I am nearly 90' Steele won't advocate this.

[Fife Rover]

No, just reiterating how things stand.

If you can't cope with information - good or bad - best look away.

Theno get's a bit over-excited now and again Nicko......think it's his age!

[imy9]

This is the story in The People:

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

There is still no reason as to why Big Brad wants to leave, also states we are interested in Robinson, the kid has lost confidence but there is no doubt he has the making of a top class keeper, he was England No 1 and is only 28 years old.

[John]

Like Ten Cate, I can only think this story is bullsH!t.

Selling Brad is so wrong for many reasons.

[Fife Rover]

Santa Cruz was a gamble nonetheless.

The manager obviously does and he has more of a feel for what he wants and needs...plus it's HIS neck on the line.

One thing is sure, Paul Ince is obviously a strong-minded guy.

AND he certainly knows how to turn 20,000 season ticket holders aginst him without really trying!

[den]

Question for Nicko:

You said Brad doesn't want to leave. JW has said that Ince wants Brad at Ewood for the start of the season. I suggested that Brad has asked for the same deal that Villa/City have offered to stay and you said that's not the case.

What is the truth?

[John]

Give it up Den, its not his style.

[Beta Ray Bill]

I'm interested to know what the unusual twist in the Brad story is, that's been hinted at over the last few days.

Den suggested that he wants Rovers to match the Villa deal on length and pay - but this has been denied.

So, reading the People story, the only new elements seem to be

- the other Brad might get a permit delay, so Villa still need someone : but why would this persuade our Brad to go ?

- the story suggests he is 'guaranteed' top flight football until he's 40 : if that means a contract, how is that different to Den's suggestion? if it's actual first team starts, don't think Brad or Villa would be that naive to believe this can be guaranteed

or is it the astonishing fact

- Brad won't need to move house? : in which case, it he fancies a change, pop down to the Rovers shop and get some of the tins of paint on offer. Hell, I'll even decorate his house for him if he likes and it persuades him to stay.

[nicko]

BRAD FRIEDEL - Villa are prepared to pay Brad a huge deal in salary and length of contract [three years] that no-one else can match. I didn't think Man City had the money - that seems to be correct. Rovers COULD have offered him the same but have not. That's fine, no problem. It is SUCH a good deal that no-one can object to him leaving and making one final 'jackpot' in his career. He has given Rovers plenty and the money makes it an easy decision all round. We could argue all day about whether the manager and chairman should have kept him, but when a deal is THIS big then it makes those arguments irrelevant. The size of the Villa terms only became obvious as things moved on behind the scenes last week. That's what I meant about 'developments.' Brad does not WANT to leave, but he would be an idiot not to take this contract offer. You will also make money on someone who was a free.

PAUL ROBINSON - Now looks firm favourite to come in - by some distance. It will depend on what Tottenham want. The obvious next question is 'will Bentley go the other way?' and that will be answered soon.

TARGETS - There are so many in the papers today that I don't know where to start. I know that Osorio is still alive, Castillo is still complicated, but some of the other names have big question marks. I am not sure that either Pennant or Joaquin are in the frame if they want a right winger - which is still an IF - and I heard another and better name for that position which is currently being discussed.

[S15]

AND he certainly knows how to turn 20,000 season ticket holders aginst him without really trying!

20,000 season ticket holders??!!!!!!

[thenodrog]

Some of us think that Ince has left a season too early

Yeah and quite a few here do also.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I see Roque is being lined up as a replacement to Berbatov if the papers are correct.

Yeah lets sell both Bents and Roque to a rival for the Uefa cup spots.

We shouldn't be selling Brad and dear god Robinson as a replacement...

I know people are saying you need to give Ince time and wait and see, but you can't help but feel we are going to make huge steps back not forward.

[thenodrog]

On the other hand, who'd have ever thought Super Atko would have played 36 games for a Premiership title winning side ....

Or that David May would gain a Champions League winners medal. But I'm sure that neither would nowadays.

[Sandiway Blue]

TARGETS - There are so many in the papers today that I don't know where to start. I know that Osorio is still alive, Castillo is still complicated, but some of the other names have big question marks. I am not sure that either Pennant or Joaquin are in the frame if they want a right winger - which is still an IF - and I heard another and better name for that position which is currently being discussed.

Ronaldo?

[The Gull]

Having family in Seville I follow Real Betis as much as possible and watched Joaquin play a few times before his move and he was awesome. He also had a good start at Valencia untul things started going wrong for them in all departments and his confidence went, which is a major part of his game.

He has been off the boil for a season or so now, but so had Santa Cruz and a few others that have graced Ewood over recent years.

[John]

If the Robinson story is correct, then I will have to try and control my anger.

He simply is not good enough. After watching him play 'live' on many occasions, I am certain in my mind he is a very average keeper.

Again, I will not believe this story until it becomes reality.

EDIT: sorry, my standards are quite high, so he is probably good enough.

[Bobby G]

I believe he is better keeper than Carson, Foster or Kirkland though and if he is average then they arent even that.

He has had the most potential and I still seem to recall his breakthrough season with Leeds in the Champions League a few years ago.

[Sandiway Blue]

If the Robinson story is correct, then I will have to try and control my anger.

He simply is not good enough. After watching him play 'live' on many occasions, I am certain in my mind he is a very average keeper.

Again, I will not believe this story until it becomes reality.

For me he seems to be another player who plays a lot on confidence,i personally think he is worth a chance,for the right money of course.

I don`t think anybody was too keen on Friedel when he came to Rovers,me included!

This may well be Ince`s first masterstroke.

[RibbleValleyRover]

This may well be Ince`s first masterstroke.

Don't see how it can be, we sell one of the top two keepers in the league to a rival and we get Robinson.

Sounds far from a masterstroke to me.