[Archived] Nickos Thread

[American]

I see us signing Annan now and Nicko saying we changed our mind on the loan, even though in the players interview, he never mentioned that we wanted a loan, just that we wanted to see him in a competitive match, which backs up what Hawk says.

Interesting Man City story - finding the whole affair amusing, to say the least.

[steven]

Nope, don't want him back or anywhere near the club. Let him sink in his own filth (or the filth of the people around him!)

That's a bit harsh don't you think!!

[tonyoz]

A few thoughts on the Andrews situation....

I'm not pro or anti Andrews - I'd like the manager to make the decision - that's what he's there for!

I remember us signing Nicky Marker, Nicky Reid, Mark Atkins etc. All were thought of as 'average players' and just 'squad members' at the time.

Marker did a great job for us, likewise Reid. Mark Atkins was a revelation. In our promotion year he was always there, with tackles, goals, great defending...what a great 'box to box' player he was. He almost single-handedly carried Rovers in the play off final - even winning a late penalty (which Newall missed) - which would have calmed all our nerves!

Nobody expected him to make the step up to the Premier league but he did. With style, goals and eventually a championship medal which he will be proud of. Rightly so, he stood in when we had injuries and suspensions and it was hard to leave him out in the end - check out how many games he played. Look back at the video of the championship season if you don't believe me.

What I'm saying is Andrews could be similar. Ince has obviously seen something there which we have not (most of us haven't seen him play anyway). Let's face it, he's played with and managed him, so he must have seen something. Would he put his first 'big job' on the line for an old team-mate? I think not! He obviously feels he can do a job for us...much like Atkins did a job for us in the championship season.

Give the guy a chance, he may just surprise some of you.

Good post.

My bit of speculation goes like this. Ince needs particular types of midfield players to facilitate the type of football he wants Rovers to play. He hasn't got them at the moment and has been seriously searching out and trialling the main candidates. No one to-date has come up to the mark and so he has gone back to a guy he knows inside out - he must know exactly what he is going to get with Andrews and he obviously feels that he can do a job (for now).

[tonyoz]

And well said Paul Ince:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4500445.ece

[LeChuck]

And well said Paul Ince:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4500445.ece

I'm even more convinced we're signing Andrews now...that's the verbal equivalent of donning the tin hat.

[Silencio]

Hardly confidence inspiring talk is it? When Hughes came he set an objective for the start of each season and we were usually there or there about. He left us as an established top ten club.

Ince has only set the vague target of playing "attractive football" and the comment that he is trying to "build something". It sounds to me like he expects us to plummet and he is going to use the excuse that we are playing more "attractive football". It has horrible echoes of Sammy Lee last summer and we know what happened there.

I think Ince knows deep down that this has come too early for him and that he is too thick to manage a Premier League club, todays article claimed that he is trying to "quell the unrest" but his comments suggest he is really struggling.

Is Ince going to put himself out of his and our misery or is JW going to admit his mistake and give him the bullet?

[roverthemoon]

Hardly confidence inspiring talk is it? When Hughes came he set an objective for the start of each season and we were usually there or there about. He left us as an established top ten club.

Ince has only set the vague target of playing "attractive football" and the comment that he is trying to "build something". It sounds to me like he expects us to plummet and he is going to use the excuse that we are playing more "attractive football". It has horrible echoes of Sammy Lee last summer and we know what happened there.

I think Ince knows deep down that this has come too early for him and that he is too thick to manage a Premier League club, todays article claimed that he is trying to "quell the unrest" but his comments suggest he is really struggling.

Is Ince going to put himself out of his and our misery or is JW going to admit his mistake and give him the bullet?

Bloody hell ! You would interpret Churchills " we will fight them on the beaches" speech as a declaration of surrender. Get a grip man.

[tonyoz]

Hardly confidence inspiring talk is it? When Hughes came he set an objective for the start of each season and we were usually there or there about. He left us as an established top ten club.

Ince has only set the vague target of playing "attractive football" and the comment that he is trying to "build something". It sounds to me like he expects us to plummet and he is going to use the excuse that we are playing more "attractive football". It has horrible echoes of Sammy Lee last summer and we know what happened there.

I think Ince knows deep down that this has come too early for him and that he is too thick to manage a Premier League club, todays article claimed that he is trying to "quell the unrest" but his comments suggest he is really struggling.

Is Ince going to put himself out of his and our misery or is JW going to admit his mistake and give him the bullet?

Well your interpretation is very different to mine!

I was particularly referring to this bit:

“If we lose the first five games of the season then, yes, you can have a go at me, but until then you have to give me a chance.”

Hughes decided that he had taken us as far as he could........and moved to where the grass seemed greener. JW went for a guy who has been a success at everything he has put his hand to footballwise. Everyone who has worked with him speaks highly of him. What more can you ask for? Wenger and Ferguson were unavailable.

We appointed him to manage......and that is what we should let him do. In my opinion he is a risk well worth taking and I am confident that he will prove successful sooner rather than later.

[Silencio]

Well your interpretation is very different to mine!

I was particularly referring to this bit:

“If we lose the first five games of the season then, yes, you can have a go at me, but until then you have to give me a chance.”

Hughes decided that he had taken us as far as he could........and moved to where the grass seemed greener. JW went for a guy who has been a success at everything he has put his hand to footballwise. Everyone who has worked with him speaks highly of him. What more can you ask for? Wenger and Ferguson were unavailable.

We appointed him to manage......and that is what we should let him do. In my opinion he is a risk well worth taking and I am confident that he will prove successful sooner rather than later.

Do you really want our manager discussing the possibility of losing the first 5 games of the season whilst having to try to deny that our players don't like him? It sounds like he thinks we are in turmoil already, his job is to instill a winning mentality. Wether we played well last season or not, Hughes did install that mentality, did set targets and never had to defend himself or talk about losing games to the press. He was in control...

[Silencio]

Bloody hell ! You would interpret Churchills " we will fight them on the beaches" speech as a declaration of surrender. Get a grip man.

So you think the comments Ince has made are confidence inspiring? Sounds to me like he knows his players aren't impressed and losing the 1st 5 games is a possibility, Ince should never let the thought enter his players heads.

I wouldn't say his comments are uo there with Churchill myself. They sound more like comments from someone who is overwhelmed, out of his depth and onto a loser.

Sad thing is he is managing yours and my club...

[tonyoz]

Do you really want our manager discussing the possibility of losing the first 5 games of the season whilst having to try to deny that our players don't like him? It sounds like he thinks we are in turmoil already, his job is to instill a winning mentality. Wether we played well last season or not, Hughes did install that mentality, did set targets and never had to defend himself or talk about losing games to the press. He was in control...

Sorry, we obviously read different articles.

[S15]

With all due respect, I think certain people would be better off sticking to their day jobs rather than trying to analyse potential contexts of a (selectively) transcripted text.

[hawkiiz]

if anything i think Ince has confidence. isnt he known to be so confident he almost comes off as arrogant? you have to read what he says based on the questions. if he thought we would lose 5 games in a row, he would have resigned already. get a grip

[alexanders]

Is Ince's way of saying:

Shut up - Give me some real competitive matches before you judge me.

BTW - I must say I am looking forward to this guy in our midfield:

Keith Andrews

[briansol]

Hardly confidence inspiring talk is it? When Hughes came he set an objective for the start of each season and we were usually there or there about. He left us as an established top ten club.

Ince has only set the vague target of playing "attractive football" and the comment that he is trying to "build something". It sounds to me like he expects us to plummet and he is going to use the excuse that we are playing more "attractive football". It has horrible echoes of Sammy Lee last summer and we know what happened there.

I'd rather have attractive football then the underwhelming dross delivered last season. 7th place covered up what was a largely dissapointing season with persisting with off form players. Awful tactics against Larissa and going out of the UEFA cup. Playing a narrow 4-5-1 against tight defensive opposition at home when you're trying to come back from a 2 goal defeat, must be the worst tactical decision I've seen on that level. Even a 15 year old playing Football Manager would've understood there wouldn't be any room for Bentley in the hole.

Last season was the first that I wondered for all his cultured tea-talk, whether Hughes had the tactical ability and motivation skills to perform at the highest level. (by that I mean, good enough for us of course, but taking over Man U and competing in Champions League.). There was too many first half that we didn't bother turning up for. Going out of the cups in dissapointing fashion. Stale tactics and subs...

He built a good squad, and good training enviroment. He had respect of the players and good management skills. But was he really that good when it came to matches?

[Guest Kamy100]

Lancashire Telegraph running an interview with Paul Ince regarding Annan. Ince was impressed with him but the club will not be held to ransom regarding transfer fees. So it seems that it was the transfer fees etc rather than Annan.

[Cocker]

Lancashire Telegraph running an interview with Paul Ince regarding Annan. Ince was impressed with him but the club will not be held to ransom regarding transfer fees. So it seems that it was the transfer fees etc rather than Annan.

Well if we are reported to be giving MK Dons 2m for Andrews then this doesn't make any sense? Unless the really wanted a shocking amount of money for Annan.

Wonder if Nicko can shed any light on the money that they wanted.

[philipl]

Lancashire Telegraph running an interview with Paul Ince regarding Annan. Ince was impressed with him but the club will not be held to ransom regarding transfer fees. So it seems that it was the transfer fees etc rather than Annan.

That is going to make rolling over and paying £2m for Andrews even more difficult to justify. Let's hope a good deal has been done with MK Dons.

[jim mk2]

I'd rather have attractive football then the underwhelming dross delivered last season. 7th place covered up what was a largely dissapointing season ?

With the prospect of a relegation battle ahead you're on yer own there matey.

[Silencio]

I'd rather have attractive football then the underwhelming dross delivered last season. 7th place covered up what was a largely dissapointing season with persisting with off form players. Awful tactics against Larissa and going out of the UEFA cup. Playing a narrow 4-5-1 against tight defensive opposition at home when you're trying to come back from a 2 goal defeat, must be the worst tactical decision I've seen on that level. Even a 15 year old playing Football Manager would've understood there wouldn't be any room for Bentley in the hole.

Last season was the first that I wondered for all his cultured tea-talk, whether Hughes had the tactical ability and motivation skills to perform at the highest level. (by that I mean, good enough for us of course, but taking over Man U and competing in Champions League.). There was too many first half that we didn't bother turning up for. Going out of the cups in dissapointing fashion. Stale tactics and subs...

He built a good squad, and good training enviroment. He had respect of the players and good management skills. But was he really that good when it came to matches?

I understand your opinion on Hughes and to an extent I agree with you. I was actually positive about getting a new manger as Hughes had gone stale but he had left us in a significantly better position than Souness did.

The foundations were good when Ince came, we were in 7th and needed to tweak the squad and possibly play more attractively. Ince does not need to build something he needs to take the baton. He seems to be setting us up for the kind of "season of consolidation" that newly promoted managers talk about.

I am not disputing that Hughes had gone stale but I am sure Paul Ince and his crew are not the people who can carry on his work...

[Silencio]

I'd rather have attractive football then the underwhelming dross delivered last season. 7th place covered up what was a largely dissapointing season with persisting with off form players. Awful tactics against Larissa and going out of the UEFA cup. Playing a narrow 4-5-1 against tight defensive opposition at home when you're trying to come back from a 2 goal defeat, must be the worst tactical decision I've seen on that level. Even a 15 year old playing Football Manager would've understood there wouldn't be any room for Bentley in the hole.

Last season was the first that I wondered for all his cultured tea-talk, whether Hughes had the tactical ability and motivation skills to perform at the highest level. (by that I mean, good enough for us of course, but taking over Man U and competing in Champions League.). There was too many first half that we didn't bother turning up for. Going out of the cups in dissapointing fashion. Stale tactics and subs...

He built a good squad, and good training enviroment. He had respect of the players and good management skills. But was he really that good when it came to matches?

I understand your opinion on Hughes and to an extent I agree with you. I was actually positive about getting a new manger as Hughes had gone stale but he had left us in a significantly better position than Souness did.

The foundations were good when Ince came, we were in 7th and needed to tweak the squad and possibly play more attractively. Ince does not need to build something he needs to take the baton. He seems to be setting us up for the kind of "season of consolidation" that newly promoted managers talk about.

I am not disputing that Hughes had gone stale but I am sure Paul Ince and his crew are not the people who can carry on his work...

[tonyoz]

With the prospect of a relegation battle ahead you're on yer own there matey.

Not true.

[alexanders]

As i thought. I think Start (Owners of Annan and his Agent) are trying to push the price as high as possible.

Remember he is unproven in the prem and he isn't even that young (22 yrs) old. He is also very small built.

Start have been trying to push Annan through for a long period of time. They were absolutely sure that Annan's price had gone up high when he played a vital part for Ghana in ACN.

I don't think all hopes are up. And IF Ince liked what he saw and thinks he might be a useful addition to our squad the best thing to do might be to wait Start out and hope that he doesn't go anywhere. Start is in financial problems and will have to sell, until then they are trying to get as much as they can for Annan.

[nicko]

Well if we are reported to be giving MK Dons 2m for Andrews then this doesn't make any sense? Unless the really wanted a shocking amount of money for Annan.

Wonder if Nicko can shed any light on the money that they wanted.

£1.5 million or thereabouts.

I believe that was the fee before he arrived too and didn't change during the week.

The only thing that changed was the manager's opinion of him - and the fact he wanted Andrews instead.

[joey_big_nose]

£1.5 million or thereabouts.

I believe that was the fee before he arrived too and didn't change during the week.

The only thing that changed was the manager's opinion of him - and the fact he wanted Andrews instead.

If it really is 1.5m for Annan and 2m for Andrews thats seems a bit strange.

Oh well. It is possible that Andrews is a decent player. But it is hard to think that at the moment!

I am getting worried about finances. We should have at least 15m to spend but it does not seem to be happening?