[Archived] Nickos Thread

[rover6]

* All the plonkers who took the p1ss out of Garry Flitcroft's ability for years must surely now concede that we have never improved on him.

I assume you are not talking about Flitcroft in his last few years at Rovers when he was a pedestrian freeloader, wearing a mantle of immunity in the form of the captain's armband.

Martin Andresen was an improvement on the aged waster Flitty.

[colbert]

http://www.footymad.net/storytext.asp?article=269142

Interesting....

[tonyoz]

The Annan fiasco though has just about blown my lid off simply because Ince and JW had both gone public and said he was a good'un and the player wanted to come. Then to go and blow it through sheer stupidity (no other word for it) is downright unprofessionalism and crass mismanagement on the part of all all concerned in Rovers camp. I am so angry; think it will take a lot of getting over for me.

I know what you mean..........but couldn't it just be that he is a good 'un but maybe not quite good enough. I get the feeling that Ince knows precisely what kind of players he wants for the sort of game he wants Rovers to play.

In his footballing career (playing and managing), he has been a success in everything he has done. JW backed him to continue the trend at Ewood.......I think that was a good decision. One thing is for sure, Ince knows what a good midfielder looks like.

[92er]

IF we sign Andrews and Not Annan then il be writing a letter of complaint to JW personally.

I would be very suprised if this is the case. Maybe the chant at the game tomorrow should be 'We do not want Keith Andrews'

Or, "Keith Andrews?

Keith Andrews?

You're having a laugh."

[Bazrakats]

I know I'm not Nicko, but I wanted to reply.

He is awesome and would be a great defensive midfielder.

He came to Zenit in 2007 for a fee of £10m. I think now after making his Zenit UEFA CUP Champions his Value might be £15m.

I saw it in the sun dismorning so thought i would ask. Figure was £7million.

[rover6]

Really?

And how is that then?

How I wrote in my post - i.e the bit that you removed when you quoted it.

[Roar of the Rover]

Nicko, If Arsenal are to sign Inler, would they still want Annan? They already have denilson and Diaby. 4DM would be too much dont you reckon?

If Rovers decide to put in a bid, would Annan come to us or would he have to chose between us and Arsenal?

[92er]

Ultimately if Ince is saying I want to get the very best for our money - then I would be fine with that. Where I struggle with that argument are the continued rumours around Andrews. I can't believe that Andrews can be any better than what we currently have. Lets be honest - and if anyone close to Ince ever reads these pages - this is the single rumour that does the biggest damage to his credibility in the eyes of many Rovers fans. Without the link to Andrews - the rumours of the problems with Annan would not be viewed half as badly.

Whilst agreeing with your totally valid point about Andrews, the other huge question mark around Ince concerns his perserverance with Fowler. Signing him would not cost an awful amount, it would just send the wrong signal about our club's ambitions etc, on the basis that it is years since Fowler was effective at this level, and , according to reports on here, Fowler has been ineffective in the warm up matches. Ince also has to get the message, which MH clearly had, that we can't afford to waste money on wasters.

[92er]

its just like de ja-vous (smell check)

vu

[BRFC1995]

don't really buy the Tymoschuk rumour, but its very refreshing to be linked with proven quality. Unless ther is a clause i don't know about i buy the rumour of roque for anything less than £23-25m even less.

[hawkiiz]

Nicko, If Arsenal are to sign Inler, would they still want Annan? They already have denilson and Diaby. 4DM would be too much dont you reckon?

If Rovers decide to put in a bid, would Annan come to us or would he have to chose between us and Arsenal?

IK Start was told by some agent that Arse was keen. they have not made an official approach. neither have rovers. arsenal wanted him on trial, but he was meant to work with the reseves.

waiting for updates.

[roversmum]

If Cruz goes to either I'll personally be on the brink of a mutiny never mind the ruddy players!!

Right with you, 194. Gggggggggggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[DeadlyDirk]

Roque isn't going anywhere

Tymoschuk would be excellent but probably doesn't want to leave european football and would be very pricey.

Annan obviously wasn't good enough to definitely give 2 million for just yet, one for Ince to still consider I guess, fair enough.

Andrews I don't really get but there must be something good in him if Ince is that desperate to get him. It's not like Ince is after all their players and Ince wasn't the one who made him captain.

[RevidgeBlue]

If Cruz goes to either I'll personally be on the brink of a mutiny never mind the ruddy players!!

Going to be interesting hearing the reaction Ince gets today................................

Cruz isn't going anywhere SG, just as Warnock isn't.

Calm down dear.............it's only preseason.

[BRFC1995]

i really want us to sign andrews now just so we can get past this topic. At any other club even the likes of stoke 1-2m is naff all, lets just do this and get past it already. Then we can consider more realistic first team targets without the sniping and bitching.

at least we won't be shelling out 6m to get him off the books if he really can't cut it.

[Fife Rover]

I know what you mean..........but couldn't it just be that he is a good 'un but maybe not quite good enough. I get the feeling that Ince knows precisely what kind of players he wants for the sort of game he wants Rovers to play.

In his footballing career (playing and managing), he has been a success in everything he has done. JW backed him to continue the trend at Ewood.......I think that was a good decision. One thing is for sure, Ince knows what a good midfielder looks like.

I don't dispute what you say Tony, I did indeed run all that through my head before exploding, but my point is that if Rovers (or any club) identifies a possible signing target and gets the chance to bring them in on a trial, then having decided that the player is worth pursuing they should immediately assume a complete embargo on ALL communication to the outside world by any means at all. This should continue until the player is signed and has already become a Rovers player. It is the only way to stop poaching happening in these days of dog-eat-dog.

[RevidgeBlue]

I don't dispute what you say Tony, I did indeed run all that through my head before exploding, but my point is that if Rovers (or any club) identifies a possible signing target and gets the chance to bring them in on a trial, then having decided that the player is worth pursuing they should immediately assume a complete embargo on ALL communication to the outside world by any means at all. This should continue until the player is signed and has already become a Rovers player. It is the only way to stop poaching happening in these days of dog-eat-dog.

I don't think it's the comment from JW that's the problem Fife, it the fact we seem to have more or less agreed terms for a permanent transfer then seemingly bottled out, preferring to see if we could get away with a loan instead.

I know Souness wasted 7m on Grabbi seven years ago, but we're going to have to take one or two risks at some point.

[Majiball]

Which begs a big question of Blackburn Rovers. Where was/is the transfer market support for Ince? The man has come from the lower leagues, he doesn't know his Vincent Kompanys from his Mario Fricks. He needs help. Don't ROvers have a centralised and permanent player database that records all players that have been tracked and their merits? It seems not because Ince has been working like a man blind-folded.

The scouting system and player database is letting the club down badly when it is most needed. It's almost as if Ince has walked into a knowledge vacuum at Rovers. No-one knows anything about anyone - so Ince is off haring after agents and old friends. Just a dire situation.

OK the Scouts buggered off to city with him, taking all there contacts at the same time. So a new group of scouts appointted by ince comes in, he will still want them watched etc. Even if we had a central database, Ince would not trust it, he would want his own people to watch the players and prob himself before formulating an opinion. Hughes strip mining our staff has left us in a very arkward situation, its quite rare for the whole team to leave.

As I've said before we are 6 months behind in the transfer race, we must be patient.

Is there any truth that with the link Anatoliy Tymoschuk nicko?

Given they that they want 30M for Arshavin, then I would highly doubt we are in for him, they'd want bentley money surely.

As for Andrews it does smack of Ince surrounding himself somewhat in the cotton wool of his mates and associates to get through what will probably be a very major culture shift for him as a trainee premiership manager.

I hope he does do well and that we do rise to better things than last year and as for Santa he ain't going nowhere, heaven's sake he has family here now!

Does anyone remember when a certin frenchman paid 10M (smashing the club record) for a Juventus reserve!! People at the club where baffled and questioned his sanity. 8 years later his judgement is unquestioned.

I've seen Andrews play againast swansea and he did well, good passing range and engine, but as to whether he is a step up on what we have, I don't know I only saw him for 90 mins.

Todays game will be the changing factor, we have to put on a good display, and produce a positive result. It will go a long way to calming the nerves out there.

NICKO - can you tell us the rules on loans please, I was under the impression you where allowed two domestic loans from different clubs and any number from out side our borders???

[hawkiiz]

the fact we seem to have more or less agreed terms for a permanent transfer then seemingly bottled out, preferring to see if we could get away with a loan instead.

i wonder how many times i will have to say this.

NO bid have been made for Annan. not by rovers or anyone else. if it was made a bid, Start would have told everyone on the planet by now. a lot of clubs will be watching on sunday, so we will have to wait and see. a lot will probably happen on monday or late sunday.

[Claytons Left Boot]

In an effort to calm those of you who are contemplating suicide over the fact that we may not be signing Annan after all - having seen this guy play a numerous times in Norway, I'd say that he wouldn't mark a very significant improvement on the other central midfielders we already have. He's decent, sure, and he's also talented, but he's not the world beater some of you claim he is. I know Arsene is excellent in spotting talent, but still - I think most Norwegians on this forum will agree that Anthony Annan is no more than a decent enough prospect at this point in time.

Spot on! Ince has seen him close up for the best part of a week and is unsure. Those in Norway who have seen him are also not singing his praises from the rooftops, albeit he appears ok.

Meanwhile, 12,698 people sat at home in England by their keyboards and who have never seen him play are having hissy fits/orgasms/migraines because he does not yet wear the blue and white. Nothing has yet been decided. If he comes, all well and good but if he is deemed not good enough, so be it.

I assume he played for Start when they were relegated last season. If he were as good as everyone here thinks, why weren't the vultures then circling for his signature. Where was Arsene "If He's Black and Moves I'll Sign Him" Wenger?

[den]

OK, this is from a 20 seconds clip on youtube, which is as good as it gets nowadays, - BUT in my opinion, he doesn't look like someone who could hold down a place in a 4 man midfield. He looks far too frail.

[American]

It usually takes you less than that to rubbish a player!!

[almuncle]

Spot on! Ince has seen him close up for the best part of a week and is unsure. Those in Norway who have seen him are also not singing his praises from the rooftops, albeit he appears ok.

Meanwhile, 12,698 people sat at home in England by their keyboards and who have never seen him play are having hissy fits/orgasms/migraines because he does not yet wear the blue and white. Nothing has yet been decided. If he comes, all well and good but if he is deemed not good enough, so be it.

I assume he played for Start when they were relegated last season. If he were as good as everyone here thinks, why weren't the vultures then circling for his signature. Where was Arsene "If He's Black and Moves I'll Sign Him" Wenger?

12,697 people! It's not my day is it? Missed out on the orgasms and someones dug up K Andrews again

[den]

It usually takes you less than that to rubbish a player!!

What you on about you silly old fool?

[tonyoz]

then having decided that the player is worth pursuing they should immediately assume a complete embargo on ALL communication to the outside world by any means at all. This should continue until the player is signed and has already become a Rovers player. It is the only way to stop poaching happening in these days of dog-eat-dog.

I can't disagree with that.