[Archived] Nickos (newer) Thread

[RibbleValleyRover]

Castillo is a get-about-the-park midfielder who can score too.

He is on the 'hot' list at the moment but I know of at least two alternatives to him who are being looked into.

It's the same with right backs. There will be four or five watched shortly.

The keeper thing will be sorted...and obviously there is the Bentley issue.

I think they are looking at possible right wingers but won't go in until Emerton gets a game or two to impress.

If you get enough for Bentley you could buy a right winger anyway...and let him compete with Emerton.

He sounds like he has some qualities we do need though I'd be disappointed if he was our only signing in midfield, I was hoping for a more creative, more attacking player in mind if we are just signing one midfielder.

[Iceman]

Nicko,whats the average age,that a keeper normally retires at?im a keeper myself,and generally you would have keepers,going well past an outfield player.at 37, Brad is young stil for a keeper.thats the only reason other clubs are interested,and baffles me that we think its time to replace somebody who has stil much to offer.if its about money,then i would make all the effort to match any offer other clubs might make.BRAD IS MR BLACKBURN ROVERS.i dont respect any other player as much as i respect Friedel

[Parsonblue]

The point is Brad WANTS to leave, do you want to deny him a final big pay day after the service he has given us? £2.5 million is then a good fee for him.

I want him to STAY but only if he wants to.

Brad has not asked for a transfer. Aston Villa have come along with a big offer and the Rovers appear to have said to Brad you can go if you want to. As with Hughes, we don't appear to be doing an awful lot to persuade him to stay. I'm sorry, but he has been a great servant to this club and if Villa put a higher price on his capabilities I don't see why we can't. But of course, we have all these extra backroom staff to pay for and no doubt Ince will do his level best to get his mate Fowler on the payroll.

I've been supporting the club since 1961-62 and I can't remember a time when I looked forward to a season with less optimism than this one - even including those dark days in the third division in the early seventies. I believe Howard and Steele are decent appointments but if Knox wasn't good enough for a struggling Bolton team why is he suddenly good enough for us? Ray Mathias may well be a decent bloke, I wouldn't doubt it, but he has reached the age of 61 without working any higher than the Third Division. The assistant first team coach as had part of one season working at first team level and prior to that was at Liverpool Academy and our chief scout has spent the last few years looking at schoolboys to sign up for Liverpool's Academy.

We finished 7th in the Premier League last season. When Hughes left, and honestly who could blame him, and took the backroom team with him we should have been headhunting the very best. Instead of which we have opted for the cheaper option.

Of course, it's early days and Ince may prove a revelation and, like others, I shall be at Macclesfield tomorrow night supporting the team to the hilt. However, I can't help feeling as disappointed as I do over the way things have developed in recent months. Ultimately, Ince will have to win the fans over and the departure of Friedel will not aid him in that cause unless he does all that he can to match Villa's terms and then leave the decision to Brad.

[nicko]

Please expand on what "a mature relationship" means.

Are we at the stage where we say "You are a legend Brad, you deserve this last big payday. Go with our best wishes."

I think they are talking sensibly about the thing. There is no need for tantrums.

Brad did his last one or even two deals without an agent, so he is liked and respected.

He IS under contract, but he wouldn't go on strike or sulk if he did not get his way.

When this goes through it will be an amicable parting.

Sure, there will be theories and questions - and why not? - but the bottom line is, like I said before, that all three parties are happy with the final arrangement.

[tonyoz]

Thank you Nicko.

[nicko]

Nicko,whats the average age,that a keeper normally retires at?im a keeper myself,and generally you would have keepers,going well past an outfield player.at 37, Brad is young stil for a keeper.thats the only reason other clubs are interested,and baffles me that we think its time to replace somebody who has stil much to offer.if its about money,then i would make all the effort to match any offer other clubs might make.BRAD IS MR BLACKBURN ROVERS.i dont respect any other player as much as i respect Friedel

I don't think there is an age as such...they are all different. This is just a particular set of circumstances.

It's hard, it's emotional, but sometimes it just happens.

I know how you feel - I was distraught when Partick Thistle sold all of my heroes.

But then you meet the players in later life and find out why they moved.

In this case, the guy is happy with what is happening because he will get a huge final pay-day. I don't think anyone can blame him - even if it hurts you which is equally understandable.

[Beta Ray Bill]

I think they are talking sensibly about the thing. There is no need for tantrums.

Brad did his last one or even two deals without an agent, so he is liked and respected.

He IS under contract, but he wouldn't go on strike or sulk if he did not get his way.

When this goes through it will be an amicable parting.

Sure, there will be theories and questions - and why not? - but the bottom line is, like I said before, that all three parties are happy with the final arrangement.

You are talking like this is definite.

If it isn't and he stays, will you say you've been wrong all along, Brad's had a change of heart, or Rovers are refusing to let him leave? Or will it be some combination of the three?

[Ricky]

Nobody wanted Brad when we signed him, very similar to the way nobody wants Robinson now. Robinson is just low on confidence and a move may do him good.

Brad is still one of the best keepers in the league but on his day so is/was robinson.

I trust JW with this.

[Iceman]

Nicko or anybody else,if friedel wants a final big pay day,why cant he have that at ewood park.we were willing to stretch the bank for that prick bentley to stay,so why cant we stretch the bank for a true legend and veteran of what nearly 10 years?if he is stil capable,in top form,happy at Rovers and wants sum more money,and doesnt want to leave,then open up the cheque book and show him the money.

[MancVillan]

Man City are not awash with cash. Signing Brad Friedel right now would need a £2.5 million fee plus a three-year contract probably worth around £8 million.

City will NOT reach those levels.

You may not know but City had to BORROW money to pay for your old manager and his staff.

Most of the deals they do and will do are on HP terms that you would scarcely believe.

If the Thai gets jailed put money on them self-destructing.

£8m over three years? £55,000 a week from the top of my head. That would go against alot of what Martin O'Neill has said previously. We do have a wage structure at Villa, and when you consider our captain is on £45k - this deal doesn't seem realistic. It's not like he's a striker, who tend to command bigger transfer fees and wages.

[nicko]

You are talking like this is definite.

If it isn't and he stays, will you say you've been wrong all along, Brad's had a change of heart, or Rovers are refusing to let him leave? Or will it be some combination of the three?

Brad will go to Villa if and when Rovers have a replacement.

Cut that out and keep it.

[nicko]

£8m over three years? £55,000 a week from the top of my head. That would go against alot of what Martin O'Neill has said previously. We do have a wage structure at Villa, and when you consider our captain is on £45k - this deal doesn't seem realistic. It's not like he's a striker, who tend to command bigger transfer fees and wages.

I was working on a figure of around £50,000-a-week including bonuses and such like.

Not bad at all and not unreasonable.

Villa see this as a big signing.

[Hughesy]

Nobody wanted Brad when we signed him, very similar to the way nobody wants Robinson now. Robinson is just low on confidence and a move may do him good.

Brad is still one of the best keepers in the league but on his day so is/was robinson.

I trust JW with this.

Me too. Robinson was class before the media started to try and pick holes in everything. Typical media tried to shatter him, and they have wrecked his Tottenham career, im sure elsewhere he will regain his top form. If Friedel is to go then we could do much, mcuh worse than Robinson.

[bats]

I was working on a figure of around £50,000-a-week including bonuses and such like.

Not bad at all and not unreasonable.

Villa see this as a big signing.

Do you know if Brad wants to leave?

[MancVillan]

I was working on a figure of around £50,000-a-week including bonuses and such like.

Not bad at all and not unreasonable.

Villa see this as a big signing.

Cheers Nicko.

[tonyoz]

Parsonblue........I enjoy reading your posts but I think you have got it all out of proportion. Nothing at all has happened yet. If Brad leaves, I think it will be his choice. (Assuming we don't nail him to his contract!)

As far as Ince is concerned.........as a manager, he has done everything that could be expected of him. He brought with him the team that helped him to success - what is wrong with that? I'm afraid I won't be with you at Macclesfield but I think the future is better than you think.

[nicko]

Do you know if Brad wants to leave?

Brad WILL go if Rovers get a replacement...you will get an answer to that soon enough.

[tony gale's mic]

Brad WILL go if Rovers get a replacement...you will get an answer to that soon enough.

But then Rovers will only get a replacement if Brad wants to leave....

[American]

Here's a better question, Alan, will Brad be traveling to Germany on Tuesday?

[Mozzer]

so we are targetting paul robinson as the keeper to replace friedal???

i know he has had a terrible year and his confidence is completely shattered-but maybe a move for him will show him to be the good goalkeeper he can be...

will be gutting to lose friedal-hes saved us on numerous occasions, but maybe 2.5million for a 37 yr old is too much to turn down for ince..

[Beta Ray Bill]

Brad will go to Villa if and when Rovers have a replacement.

Cut that out and keep it.

So if this doesn't come out, is that the stance you will take for the story not panning out? That Rovers didn't find a replacement?

Seems like you are hedging your bets Alan.

[roverfanuk]

I think i speak for everyone on here when i say. we wish Friedel all the best, whether he is playing for us, or has moved on for one final cash injection.

I met the guy in London a great many years ago, and i must say, i have never met a funnier, more subtle and genuinely nice guy in my life.

I respect he will make the right decision for the club he loves and himself.

One thing i will say though, and again, speaking for 99% of everyone else...

We dont want Robinson, and we dont like him...

Please Rovers, if Friedel is going, spend the money wisely and don't go and sign a goalkeeper who has been leaking poor goals, and is majorly majorly overvalued...

My choices if we have to get a replacement for Brad would be:

- Diego Benaglio

- Rüştü Reçber

- Jaroslav Drobný

[Iceman]

Nicko we got a replacement in Brown.so whats his future like,that is Brown if we looking for a replacement for Brad.

[67splitscreen]

Shinwatra is on trial right now. If he is jailed and his assets stay frozen there is going to be an awful knock-on effect for Man City.

Football is just a little crazy at the moment.

I am sure, that the main threat to rovers players, will not come from city.

As each day passes Shinawatra's, coffin get's another nail hammered into it.

True he has still not been found guilty.

It only takes, one finding of guilty, for fraud, and bang goes city's dream,

I believe he then have to reduce his share holding, in city down to 30%.

If you wish to read more, the link tells of the latest charges he could be facing.

These are far more serious, for him, and city, than the current court csae which resumes on the 15th July.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=6630

[imy9]

Seriously cannot take you seriously now with the suggestion of Rüştü Reçber, did you watch Euro 2008?