[Archived] Nickos Thread

[BRFC1995]

Thinking on i want andrews to sign as it sends the message to reid, dunn etc to buck up and start to earn a starting place as a 2nd division player is seen as an improvement.

[67splitscreen]

He explained recentley in Four Four Two that the West Ham incident wasn't his fault. A naive mistake as a youngster and a bad agent.

Oh yeh,

We'll just take a picture, with a man U shirt on just in case, it's not worth bringing you back off holiday for.

If you believe that, then we are signing Arishavin tomorrow.

[paddy]

Hi nicko, I just wondered what was happening to the Kaboul deal as that seems to have stumbled. Maybe we could come in with a bid ?

Also, what about Joaquin to solve our RM problem - I've herd rumours of Prem teams interested.

And are Villa actually interestd in RSC ?

Cheers

[steverovers]

I think he'll go for both, after all, have we ever seen a bigger ego......who cares what the fans want?

I sincerely hope that the club have a plan B in case, as we all seem to be predicting, the sh!t hits the proverbial fan.

I hope and pray in certain times of desperation that Ince will have the last laugh over all of us and I will quite happily accept that I was wrong but come on, which other premiership manager would try and sign Andrews? really?! I can see the benefit of Fowler as an extra squad player with a seven sub bench but Andrews? Who is he going to replace?

He aint fit to wear the shirt Mr. Ince

Speak for yourself, not everyone else!

[Hughesy]

Nicko - apparently Arsenal are going to turn their attentions to Johnson for £8m from city - surely this would end the Annan interest?

Apparently the club are going to watch him on sunday, and his performance is what will decide the value. They want £2.5m euros and we only want to pay £1.4m euros upfront.

[daren]

Interesting that our Norwegian friend is adamant that the Annan->Arsenal is agent talk. Not that it matters really, why the hell should the player care if the club looking for him want him on loan first. It's his opportunity to make his point, the chance he's been waiting for in the Premier League. If he gets upset about that, you have to wonder how professionally he'd act in other situations (such as being dropped). He has to understand that if he comes to England he's going to be a small fish in a big pond until he proves he's more.

If the club are seriously considering Zigic, I'd be very disappointed. For the money that Valenica are looking for (or so I heard ~ €10 million) there's Couch, who, frankly, is better by some way. If we were at the Valencia match I'd hope we were watching others. Obviously we can rule out David Villa and Silva

Vanger Love is highly rated and does well in Russia but every time I've seen him in Europe he has not been impressive at all. There's question marks there for me. If we were looking around for a striker, Fred from Lyon would be a decent shout for me. Or Roque's international strike partner. Or even Beattie before Zigic. Seriously.

On the Andrews thing, I think people would be much less annoyed if A. we'd got some exciting names (aside from Villanueava who to be fair, will have a lot of adjusting to do) and B. his price tag wasn't so outrageous. the £2m quoted eariler is simply mind boggling. If it was 150k, we'd shrug and move on and expect others to be brought in, but for a 4th division player who flopped in the Championship that's a dose of cash that just cannot be justified in my head.

I really get the impression that Ince is not confident in his ability to judge a player fit for the premiership just yet. There seems to be a bit of humming and hawing going on. I hope he gains that confidence quickly because the premiership is unforgiving and a bad start would make his life misery.

[steverovers]

If it was 150k, we'd shrug and move on and expect others to be brought in, but for a 4th division player who flopped in the Championship that's a dose of cash that just cannot be justified in my head.

Spot on!

[DeadlyDirk]

Oh yeh,

We'll just take a picture, with a man U shirt on just in case, it's not worth bringing you back off holiday for.

If you believe that, then we are signing Arishavin tomorrow.

Welll if me believing it is going to make Arshavin come tomorrow then I definitely believe it!

In all seriousness though he said that his agent made him believe it had already been completed, he was young and naive and didn't know any better. Who knows it may not be true, it is strange that he waited so long to give his opinion, its not like WHAM fans were ever going to forgive him.

But it just shows there are two sides to every story.

[RoverJoexx]

Been a silent reader here, a great thread this for (2 season??) thanks to the contributer in nicko. Hope all should appreciate having more of the 'inside' info in here.

On this Ince bashing even before a competitive ball is kick! I would like to ask Is Rome being built overnight? Ince said he is here for long when he came and a learning curve for himself from lower tier to the top he is in now. So who dont need that? Although we hope he get to learn it fast but before that transition over. Do we as the club loyal fans give him all the support he really needs and make him feel more at home?

I dont really want to mention names here, but some sounds like they really want Ince to fail to prove them right. Is this what they really want to see I hope not.

On Ince current signings, Andrew's imminent signing and this Zigic IF Benni goes. I see it that he is moulding his own playing style now and those on the table are the best he could get atm. I do see Andrew in as an all action midfielder with a good engine which I am afraid we only have one which is Reid(Pre-injury) in our current playing squad.

Like I said, lets give him our full support. I am sure there'll be ups and downs in his first season. But if he can show/give us a style that entertains(much more than Hughes gives) attacking football which he emphasis while finish at mid of table say 13th to 10th pos. I am willing to ride the tides with him and I do hope most willing too.

Remember -- Futures bright futures Blue and White!

[alexanders]

Just like we wanted:

Ince Larsson Alert

[imy9]

This is a year ago, when Zigic moved to Valencia for £10.1 million pounds after a brilliant first season in Spain:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_2651547,00.html

He is only 27 and has a good scoring record, he only played 15 times last year but then Valencia were in turmoil last year, on a loan deal would be an excellent signing!

[alexanders]

BUT if we sign Zigic , we clearly have to play 4-5-1 where Zigic is backup for Santa Cruz on top.

I wanna cry when I think about a partnership with 2 basketball players.

[nicko]

Roque is going nowhere, so why do you stir up disquiet, by mentioning something that hasn't happened?

You could equally mention that none of the other 18 Premier League clubs have bid for him either.

What day was it Warnock signed for Newcastle again by the way?

Really don't understand your agenda recently.

I didn't break the Roque story, it would have been very easy to say it's rubbish and trash anothe newspaper.

But after making calls yesterday I have established that O'Neill is dreaming about trying this.

I am not sure that he will pull it off...if Rovers have any sense they won't sell. I think you will see - if you get the glasses on - that I described it as a 'sideways step.' Did you miss that one? Again?

And are you trying to tell me Newcastle United didn't bid TWICE - at least - for Warnock?

Get a grip.

Nicko - apparently Arsenal are going to turn their attentions to Johnson for £8m from city - surely this would end the Annan interest?

Apparently the club are going to watch him on sunday, and his performance is what will decide the value. They want £2.5m euros and we only want to pay £1.4m euros upfront.

Johnson's agent is trying to get Arsenal interested.

Rats leaving sinking ships etc.

Wenger wants Inler and Annan...

[imy9]

Of course Nicko obviously stirred up Brad and Bentley too!

Nicko- is Ince likely to make a signing for the right sided position before Everton next week? Any tasty names to excite the fans?

[nicko]

but stabæk have no say in this. Start own him. they have said he CANNOT go on trial anywhere else. they have told every interrested party to watch him this weekend. and no bid have been made, if Svein mathisen is to be trusted - which he is.

annan is on loan. start need money, and want a bid-war. if arse have made a bid Start would have made sure it was known all over europe.

and the "annan is wanted by arse" is agent talk. svein mathisen said "some agent told me arsenal wants him"

i have a feeling your norwegian source is doing a poor job.

Start own the player and want to sell. They have big bids already in.

Stabaek do have a say as they are paying his wages. They are entitled to expect him to play in Europe this week.

Arsenal HAVE to move in fast - and that is why THEY have contacted Start through an agent they use a lot of the time.

Annan would rather NOT go to Arsenal as he would be in the squad and not playing in all probability. He wanted to come to Rovers, which is why he came over on trial.

My Norwegian source seemed to have been on the money about Annan going home from Rovers in a huff when they moved the goalposts and suggested a loan...and he assures me that the Arsenal thing is very real.

My Norwegian source also heard - and has been proved correct from calls I have made - that the manager wants Keith Andrews.

[Bobby G]

I seriously would like to know what John Williams is thinking. Fair enough you support the man you bring in, but is it Ince who is back tracking on permanent deals and then offering loans? Was Annan Ince's player, or did JW push it through as we had looked at him in the past? Maybe Ince wants to be his own man and not have any regrets if things go pear-shaped...Fair enough. But this is our club, and I dont like what I am seeing. I am ready to be proven wrong but have lost all optimism at the moment as there is no feel good factor around the club...

[DingleBaiter]

Jack Walker blocked Dalglish from signing Thomas, so John Williams and the Trustees should put their foot down and block this one.

Thomas who? Also, is that a fact, or another urban myth like Alan Shearer being put in goal when at Newcastle?

[Alan75]

Thomas who? Also, is that a fact, or another urban myth like Alan Shearer being put in goal when at Newcastle?

Geoff Thomas - Rovers were on the verge of buying him from Crystal Palace

[DingleBaiter]

Geoff Thomas - Rovers were on the verge of buying him from Crystal Palace

Hold on, didn't Rovers bid 3million plus-and have it accepted?? Wasn't it around the time he won his one cap? So what is the actual story-maybe we changed our minds, rather than JW, based on him being pants? Surely if JW had blocked it, they wouldn't have bid, with KD not really being involved in the deals?

I've still yet to see objective reasoning as to exactly what the problem is with Andrews, either from the club dithering acquiring him or from 'fans' making him a scapegoat for their Ince prejudices already. More money has been wasted on lesser players by Rovers before, methinks it's just more ammo for the pitchforkers. If Ince wants him so much, whats took so long? If he fancied other players more - say Castillo or Annan, and they didn't happen, it's for a reason. If Ince wants him, even if he proves to be a pudding, so be it - make it so. Something doesn't add up with it all, maybe we're just getting too much information about nothing ultimately. Just want it putting to bed sooner rather than later. Nicko's put lot of updates about it, but it's almost made situation worse as he clearly isn't welcome by some folks on here, and it's took a lifetime to even get to this point, which is still no closer. Let's just buy him, or put the transfer funds into a Mafia 'cleaner' to do a hit on him, least there will be closure then.

On the loan thing, is Carlos then classed as an 'international transfer', and does that mean we could still effectively loan from another English club?

[Wiggy]

I seriously would like to know what John Williams is thinking. Fair enough you support the man you bring in, but is it Ince who is back tracking on permanent deals and then offering loans? Was Annan Ince's player, or did JW push it through as we had looked at him in the past? Maybe Ince wants to be his own man and not have any regrets if things go pear-shaped...Fair enough. But this is our club, and I dont like what I am seeing. I am ready to be proven wrong but have lost all optimism at the moment as there is no feel good factor around the club...

Yes, I'm beginning to wonder if the purse strings are being held a little tighter than originally intended. The minimum priorities were supposedly, a right back, right winger and defensive midfielder. With 6 days to go we have a right back on loan. With all the money swilling around does PI have to prove himself before getting access to it? If so it's a chicken and egg situation. ( if his priority is Keith Andrews, that stance by the board would be entirely justified!)

[AussieinUk]

On the loan thing, is Carlos then classed as an 'international transfer', and does that mean we could still effectively loan from another English club?

It means that we can bring in another loaned player from an English club. : )

[philipl]

Don't have any sources to give you but I think it is very well documented that Jack Walker refused to finance KD's interest in Geoff Thomas. Poor bloke was roundly booed by the thousands of Rovers fans on the open terrace at Selhurst every time he touched the ball in that heady 3-3 draw on the first day of the Premier League.

The clear inference is that Carlos Villanueva is classed as an international transfer and yes we can go and ask Spurs if they will lend Bentley back to us....

[The Prof.]

I seriously would like to know what John Williams is thinking. Fair enough you support the man you bring in, but is it Ince who is back tracking on permanent deals and then offering loans? Was Annan Ince's player, or did JW push it through as we had looked at him in the past? Maybe Ince wants to be his own man and not have any regrets if things go pear-shaped...Fair enough. But this is our club, and I dont like what I am seeing. I am ready to be proven wrong but have lost all optimism at the moment as there is no feel good factor around the club...

Much more of this and we'll never get anyone coming down to Rovers. If we aren't sure we should be having players watched in real games.

If City become KICK ON THE TICK We'll become sort of RENT-A-ROVERS (you can use these Nicko if things go downhill) which in my view is worse. Spend the bleedin' money JW. Ince should put his foot down if he wants a player.

[JAL]

Hold on, didn't Rovers bid 3million plus-and have it accepted?? Wasn't it around the time he won his one cap? So what is the actual story-maybe we changed our minds, rather than JW, based on him being pants? Surely if JW had blocked it, they wouldn't have bid, with KD not really being involved in the deals?

I've still yet to see objective reasoning as to exactly what the problem is with Andrews, either from the club acquiring with him or from 'fans' making him a scapegoat already. More money has been wasted on lesser players by Rovers before, methinks it's just more ammo for the pitchforkers. If Ince wants him so much, whats took so long? If he fancied other players more - say Castillo or Annan, and they didn't happen, it's for a reason. If Ince wants him, even if he proves to be a pudding, so be it - make it so. Something doesn't add up with it all, maybe we're just getting too much information about nothing ultimately. Just want it putting to bed sooner rather than later. Nicko's put lot of updates about it, but it's almost made situation worse as he clearly isn't welcome by some folks on here, and it's took a lifetime to even get to this point, which is still no closer. Let's just buy him, or put the transfer funds into a Mafia 'cleaner' to do a hit on him, least there will be closure then.

On the loan thing, is Carlos then classed as an 'international transfer', and does that mean we could still effectively loan from another English club?

On Andrews what we are saying is how can he be any better a player than what we've currently got when the criteria is we need better players in. His playing career so far doesnt suggest hed be better plus the standard required has to of International class or potential International class, that is if we are to remain competitive in the premier league.

Which begs the question do Rovers really want to remain competitive in the premier league .

[The Prof.]

I am being sorely reminded of the Jim Iley days. I remember a situation with a forward called David Gregory we took on loan from Bury - he looked as though he could keep us up (sort of a big Simon Garner. They wanted £8,000 for him and we wanted to extend the loan I think (could have been Robert Coar). We lost him to Rochdale I think. We went down and came back up by spending what was quite a bit of money those days by bringing in Howard Kendall as player manager and people like Duncan McKenzie (who would have been on very high wages then).

The bottom line is you can be too over cautious.

Funnily enough I remember talking to JW after Roque signed and said 'what's it like signing a cheque for three million?'

- he said "you do it."

and then motioned his hand in a shaking movement,

"and then pray it works out."

Wonder if he's getting cold feet?