[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[tcj_jones]

I would actually go as far as to say that there is no chance that either Santa Cruz or Warnock will be leaving this summer. To sell them in addition to Bentley and Friedel would be suicide.

[Hughesy]

Roverfan - with Brad & Bentley we have little choice - so we are trying our best to get £20m out of the situation. Nothing wrong with that.

Other than that its just speculation and nonesense

[roverfanuk]

I would actually go as far as to say that there is no chance that either Santa Cruz or Warnock will be leaving this summer. To sell them in addition to Bentley and Friedel would be suicide.

Im guessing you would have bet your hard earner cash on Friedel starting for us next season. Who'd have thought he wouldn't?

All im saying is, you never know in this pathetic league?!

Roverfankuk, we have agreed a fee with Villa for Friedel. I'd say he's as good as out the door.

What made you think i didnt know that?

[Hughesy]

I would actually go as far as to say that there is no chance that either Santa Cruz or Warnock will be leaving this summer. To sell them in addition to Bentley and Friedel would be suicide.

Id say warnock has his price, because yes he is good, but not irreplacable. RSC however must stay no matter what.

Im still excited for the new season. We needed freshening up and some pace adding, hopefully we are doing that, adding abit of flair and also making our overall squad age younger too, which means more for the future.

[tcj_jones]

Im guessing you would have bet your hard earner cash on Friedel starting for us next season. Who'd have thought he wouldn't?

All im saying is, you never know in this pathetic league?!

What made you think i didnt know that?

Firstly, my point was more that it would be suicide to sell Warnock IN ADDITION to Friedel and Bentley.

Secondly, you referred to Friedel leaving as a 'possibility', but Bentley as definite. I was just pointing out that Friedel is more of a done deal than Bentley right now. I wasn't sure if you were behind with the news or not.

[LeChuck]

tcj...I think you need to look at the commas in his post more carefully.

[roverfanuk]

tcj...I think you need to look at the commas in his post more carefully.

Indeed. I will agree though. Selling Cruz, Bentley, Friedel and Warnock would be managerial suicide for Ince...

[Mr. E]

Indeed. I will agree though. Selling Cruz, Bentley, Friedel and Warnock would be managerial suicide for Ince...

They can all go to hell as far as I'm concerned. Fire everyone who isn't fully committed to Rovers and start from the conference. Football has become an utter disgrace and we will never be anything but dirt-rags people use to "step-up if we continue functioning like this. We need to go back to being a football club, not a feeder club for the entire premiership. I'd rather we play football at the bottom rather than do business at the top.

[thenodrog]

They can all go to hell as far as I'm concerned. Fire everyone who isn't fully committed to Rovers and start from the conference. Football has become an utter disgrace and we will never be anything but dirt-rags people use to "step-up if we continue functioning like this. We need to go back to being a football club, not a feeder club for the entire premiership. I'd rather we play football at the bottom rather than do business at the top.

You're on your own with that matey.

[Mr. E]

You're on your own with that matey.

I realize that. But I don't see what possible enjoyment any real football fan takes from today's business.

[roverfanuk]

They can all go to hell as far as I'm concerned. Fire everyone who isn't fully committed to Rovers and start from the conference. Football has become an utter disgrace and we will never be anything but dirt-rags people use to "step-up if we continue functioning like this. We need to go back to being a football club, not a feeder club for the entire premiership. I'd rather we play football at the bottom rather than do business at the top.

So that leaves John Williams in goal/midfield/up front...

I think were getting relegated!

[steverovers]

just hope this whole drama ends before Chinese Democracy is released

Fat chance!

[Mr. E]

So that leaves John Williams in goal/midfield/up front...

I think were getting relegated!

Williams as coach, Tugay as GK, Dunn an all-purpose midfielder and maybe Derbyshire in attack. I'm sure we'd win a throw-in at least once during the season.

[USABlue]

VILLANUEVA and CASTILLO still on too. The Chilean should be in today, so we should know more. Castillo is here and still trying to complete his move.

This seems to have been dragging on is it going to happen or do we have pitfalls here. Been reading the posts on these tow and frankly I'm confused as to whether we are signing them or not. Really tired so maybe that doesn't help

[RevidgeBlue]

At this rate, Ince is going to sell more players in the space of 2 months then Hughes purchased in his whole stay at the club...

So Hughes didn't sell Ferguson and Bellamy?

FACTS:

1) Bentley wanted to leave when Hughes was here. Long before Ince arrived.

2) Villa offered Friedel far more money than we could sensibly afford to. After Hughes left.

Nothing to do with Ince other than the fact Villa might have thought they'd chance their arm given we'd had a change of manager.

[thenodrog]

Nothing to do with Ince other than the fact Villa might have thought they'd chance their arm given we'd had a change of manager.

Is it not? The fact that Friedel wanted out in the direction of Eastlands rather than see his career out at 'his' club Blackburn under new manager Paul Ince was the green light that alerted Villa imo.

[RevidgeBlue]

Is it not? The fact that Friedel wanted out in the direction of Eastlands rather than see his career out at 'his' club Blackburn under new manager Paul Ince was the green light that alerted Villa imo.

But that would have happened whoever took over imo. Presumably Friedel had an affinity with Hughes and his staff.

[thenodrog]

So Hughes didn't sell Ferguson and Bellamy?

FACTS:

1) Bentley wanted to leave when Hughes was here. Long before Ince arrived.

Nicko stated more than once that there was no danger that Bentley would sign as far back as January but in hindsight he got it very wrong. Could it be that Bentleys agent had been alerted somehow that Hughes was likely away come the close season? Williams reckoned to notice Hughes wanting away in the middle of last season so I'm sure that a shrewd agent would have come to a similar same conclusion.

Even I had concerns about Hughes leaving and remarked more than once to my mate in the JW stand that Hughes match day demeanour had worsened markedly in the spring.

[American]

With regard to work permits

This is from a earlier post on CV thread.

I thought Philipi would have stepped in when the debate started as to the above.

So I have copied for you all.

This is why it could be a slower process, than with previous applications.

The old rule being the, played in 75% of international matches selected for, And the country must be in the top 70 FIFA world rankings.

Home office is also a ways behind. They have faster service standards for sport permits, but regular work permits are running almost a month behind schedule right now. As of Monday they were considering applications submitted on June 16th. (Mine was submitted on the 25th.)

Best way is Bentley goes for £14m, we pay £500k for Robinson in seperate deal. Same profit of £13.5m on bentley, only difference is Arsenal only get a cut of £11m (14-3) rather than £14m.

Im sure Tottenham would be happy to screw Arsenal over too!

Nicko - Thanks as always.

Do you think its likely that Spurs will offer for Bentley before they look at Arshavin? Just a horrible thought they may try to drag our deal out and complete that one first?

That will make it easy for us to make deals in the future - clubs will really trust us and want to do business with us.

I like this new double quote thing!

[blue/white]

Hasn't been the same since Marlon Harewood assaulted him in all honesty.

Steve Harper outperformed him last season, plus Tim Krul and Fraser Forster are meant to be two of the best keeper prospects out there.

Furthermore, there have been reports in Argentina that Estudientes signed keeper Barbossa from Villareal because Mariano Andujar is going to Newcastle.

Therefore there could be legs in these rumours.

This is true. what I don't understand is that Argentine sides have been at training for nearly 3 weeks and Barbosa & Andujar are still on the Estudiantes roster-- odd that (for Argentina). San Lorenzo's GK Agustin Orion is a similar case. An unnamed english side came in for him (nearly 5 million US) duing the middle stages of the Libertadores Cup and everyone assumed that he'd be off at the end of season-- which has not been the case, much to the dismay of most supporters.

At that time, it was believed the likely lads were Spuds and the Barcodes ---

[roverfanuk]

Nothing to do with Ince other than the fact Villa might have thought they'd chance their arm given we'd had a change of manager.

I think you will find that i said that...

[Ninja Boi]

I think its a great move for Brad. At this time in his career, good for him and if he gets help with the soccer schools then even better.

I would hate to see Roque S Cruz leave though, he has been terrific and who would you replace him with?

[philipl]

I think Revidge is looking at it the right way.

The FACTS are:

- this transer window is very slow so far

- many of the usual big players are NOT playing or are in a big squeeze themselves

- Sunderland turning out to be the potential transfer wheel lubricant says it all

- in the window of 2008, if you hold desirable players, for once you are in the strongest position

So for Rovers:

- we are in the course of bringing in an exciting play-making midfielder and a midfield strongman who also gets forwards AND despite Nicko's misgivings, looks like we are bringing them in on our own terms by having a good look before committing ourselves and in one case even delaying the actual transfer commitment by half a season at no apparent risk to Rovers.

- we have accepted an amazing £2.75m offer for our 37 year old wonder keeper (who was a tad eccentric at the end of last season and had a nightmare in his last game for us sadly) and look like we could get him replaced by the best English keeper of his generation (ie 28) for a NET cost of perhaps £1 and a bit m

- we have a 33 year old who was a goal machine in his prime on trial

- we have the Bentley problem but it is being nowhere near as disruptive as Villa's Barry problem. At the moment Man U and Villa are showing a good example in holding onto chased wantaway stars. Because of the Arsenal sell-on, Bentley even in a strop is worth more to Rovers as a Rovers player than as a transfer fee as we are sure not to be able to replace him with as good or better plus in any transfer there is the risk of the replacement being a flop

Incidentally, I have just looked through all the headlines in the Newsnow search on Tottenham. ONLY ONE HEADLINE MENTIONING BENTLEY TODAY which has to be a first for Spuds for months (Independent-see links above).

- Newcastle chasing Warnock is a pain but their numbers are ridiculous and it is probably causing far more concern here than in the Rovers camp

- no actual move for RSC so far and only 5 weeks to the end of the window is a miracle in itself

- Stoke going for Mokoena in the light of the incomings is a helpful boost as is the likely sell-on cash for young Joe Garner.

Seriously guys, we are having a great transfer window so far and weshould chill out.

[S15]

You've raised the bar as far as Blue and White tinted @#/? goes Philip.

[hawkiiz]

excellent post, philipl!

we are in a very strong position at the moment. brad will NOT go untill we have a replacement.

we are getting the chile kid on loan, and then on the cheap if we want to. brilliant.

castillo is only signing if he is good enough/right man for rovers. excellent bit f biz!

fowler cost us nothing other than a few bottles of sports drinks, and CAN be a threat if he get his fitness right.

bentley will only move if we get loaded with money.

we have put the andrews move on hold.

we might get rid of moko!

santa and warnock stays. period.

it looks quite positive right now!

AND i dont see how our rivals have really gotten any better so far.