[Archived] Nickos Thread

[VillaSimon]

Saviola was a free transfer to madrid so any money they make will be pure profit, I'd agree at around £10M tops, Cheers Nicko for the villa update.

[Hughesy]

What about Eidue Gudjohnsen? Cisse? Or how about we trigger Oblefemi Martins clause in his contract, although im not sure if he would want to join

[herbergeehh]

If McCarthy goes, we need another striker. Simple as that, we can't have Derbyshire and Roberts as the only two players capable of playing up front if Santa Cruz picks up an injury. Saviola is a decent shout, he probably wouldn't cost all that much in transfer fee - would probably need big wages though, but not astronomical. We actually have a decent package to present at the moment: Premier League football, new manager with fresh ideas, an excellent partner in Santa Cruz.

I want Benni to stay, I think he is capable of finding his old form again, and "lack of interest", "lazyness" aside, he is a brilliant footballer. If we get 5m it is a really good deal for us, but he still needs to be replaced - and to be honest, we have enough positions to fill as it is, replacing good players can wait till January, when Ince (maybe) has improved his general knowledge of players available.

Continuity was Sparky's winning formula by the way, you don't get a good TEAM together if you sign 5 new players to your starting eleven each and every window.

[Torgeir]

I agree Benni didn't have a good season but second seasons are known to be tougher than the first. Benni will be the second proven player we sell and we need to replace those proven players with guarantists of quality, and they don't come cheap. If not we will never maintain our position. I'm all for replacing an unhappy Bentley and a lazy Benni but I disagree with some others on this board that we have the luxury to wait until the January window. So far this window has been full of worries

[thenodrog]

I agree Benni didn't have a good season but second seasons are known to be tougher than the first. Benni will be the second proven player we sell and we need to replace those proven players with guarantists of quality, and they don't come cheap. If not we will never maintain our position. I'm all for replacing an unhappy Bentley and a lazy Benni but I disagree with some others on this board that we have the luxury to wait until the January window. So far this window has been full of worries

Straight swop for Kenwynne Jones would do!.... providing his knees OK that is. BUT should we get big bucks for BM then it's yet another feather in Mark Hughes cap and another reason to rue the events that lead him to leave and end up at Dodge City.

It takes years to build a good reputation but only a short time to lose one!

[Oklahoma]

[ThatRabbitsDynamite]

Unless there is a deal already in the making for a comparable striker then, letting McCarthy go would be playing with fire. If Santa goes down we'd be in big trouble. Otherwise we've got to keep Benni at this point.

Can anybody remember if Rovers players have ever been so popular before this summer? I'm not talking about rumour but, confirmed attempts at grabbing our players. Friedel, Bentley, Warnock, McCarthy, Santa Cruz, and also Samba rumours. I guess it makes for real excitement but, personally i'd rather do without so much of it. Everytime you turn around someone's making a play for one of our players.

[Ninja Boi]

And for Villa fans...Shorey has a medical tomorrow morning and Luke Young may follow soon after.

OMG! awesome, some sign of life in the Villa transfers at last!!

[steverovers]

So when you sit down at night and sip softly on your whiskey, thoughts turn to old Uncle Trustee don't they? You know. That old cranky nutcase who lives in Jersey. We never send cards or let him be seen by our mates. Still less talk admiringly of the @#/? son of the True Uncle. I mean. Just how mean is he? £40m in 7 years? Pah. What a tight old goat. The True Uncle spent at least 3 times that. And all he wanted was a bronze statue. Uncle Trustee now actually wants us not to spend more millions than we have. WHAT? DOES HE NOT UNDERSTAND THE PRICE OF BUSHMILLS THESE DAYS? It's at least £15m a year.

Jesus wept. I mean... I know he has never said he wants some of the gazillions currently irrationally ploughing into the ungrateful coffers that is our bar round back... but you know. He's a right bifter. Sack him. What we would really like is one of those NICE uncles who say LOVELY things to us....like that Uncle Gillett. He said to those Scousers 'would you like to see my puppies? They're worth £250m' OK they got bummed by the nutter but what a nice thing to say. And that big cuddly old Uncle Ashley, or snuggly old Uncle Glazer... ...er.. actually.

ER..Uncle Trustee?? Er..Mind sticking round for a while. I get scared on my own.

This has to be the post of the year so far. First Prize Sir!

[philipl]

Brilliant post iamarover.

And the asking price for a Champions League-winning 35 goals in 74 appearances forward damned well should be the £10m Rovers are asking for. £1m per tummy roll if current reports are correct.

Just watch him start smacking them in for Sunderland if he goes there- would far rather him planting flags in Turkish centre circles.

[Bobby G]

Mark my words, if Benni leaves, we wont sign anyone other than Robbie Fowler to replace him. Id like to be proven wrong.

[hawkiiz]

if (god forbid!!!) benni leaves, and we get around 10m, which we should. then bring in andy johnsono. but why on earth should we sell benni? he is proven quality.

the first season he scored on average a goal every other game. and thats when he played week in week out. last season he scored a goal every 2.8 games, and that was NOT playing every week + being unsettled at the start + having a injury for some time + it was the hard second season. i'd say he did pretty well!

GET REAL!

[philipl]

I was looking forwards to a fit head-sorted Benni having a tremendous season alongside RSC.

However. it appears he is neither fit nor head=sorted and if Ince is looking to play fast attacking football, the question is how does Benni fit in that scenario?

I have always been a big Benni fan and would start him ahead of Jason Roberts 99.99% of the time but perhaps it is time for a parting if £10m goes onto the table.

As for replacement, there is another three weeks before the window closes and for Fowler to rise to the opportunity.

The player I am now looking at is Matty Derbyshire. He is 23, had his operation and if he is to become a big time Premiership forward, this is the season for him to do it espaecially as the Ince style would seem to fit his natural game better than Hughes' did.

Final point on replacing Benni, IF he goes, why do we need to if we are likely to play with one up (RSC?).

[hawkiiz]

Final point on replacing Benni, IF he goes, why do we need to if we are likely to play with one up (RSC?).

because if we dont bring in someone exciting, both fans and players will be complaining about lack of ambition.

[philipl]

because if we dont bring in someone exciting, both fans and players will be complaining about lack of ambition.

OK then, Micah Richards as the ANOTHER on Nicko's formation?

[joey_big_nose]

I was looking forwards to a fit head-sorted Benni having a tremendous season alongside RSC.

However. it appears he is neither fit nor head=sorted and if Ince is looking to play fast attacking football, the question is how does Benni fit in that scenario?

I have always been a big Benni fan and would start him ahead of Jason Roberts 99.99% of the time but perhaps it is time for a parting if £10m goes onto the table.

As for replacement, there is another three weeks before the window closes and for Fowler to rise to the opportunity.

The player I am now looking at is Matty Derbyshire. He is 23, had his operation and if he is to become a big time Premiership forward, this is the season for him to do it espaecially as the Ince style would seem to fit his natural game better than Hughes' did.

Final point on replacing Benni, IF he goes, why do we need to if we are likely to play with one up (RSC?).

If anyone gives us more than 5m i will chew my arm off in delight!

McCarthy just hasn't been effective for us since RSC arrived, for a number of reasons. On top of that he has lost a lot of his interest in the game as far as I can see. Roberts was a much more effective, even though he had his faults, player last season.

If we can get pace to play alongside Roque we will be doing very well. I love the suggestion of Saviola...

[S15]

So Benni ''feels he needs a new challenge.''

Then why the frig did he sign a new four year contract a couple of months ago?

The mind boggles, really; What is the point??!

[hawkiiz]

OK then, Micah Richards as the ANOTHER on Nicko's formation?

ok by me

If anyone gives us more than 5m i will chew my arm off in delight!

McCarthy just hasn't been effective for us since RSC arrived, for a number of reasons. On top of that he has lost a lot of his interest in the game as far as I can see. Roberts was a much more effective, even though he had his faults, player last season.

If we can get pace to play alongside Roque we will be doing very well. I love the suggestion of Saviola...

a goal per 2.8 games, a lot of them as a sub is not effective? pleying second fiddle and still bang them in is exceptional.

[AussieinUk]

I feel stupid now suggesting 2 mil would be a fair price !!

Hang your head in shame.. what if Benni gets wind of this

[philipl]

Hang your head in shame.. what if Benni gets wind of this

A few posters were all for taking £5m for Bentley, remember?

[AussieinUk]

A few posters were all for taking £5m for Bentley, remember?

Who were they Philipl - Name and shame time!

On Benni - IMO, £8m should do the trick, only on the condition that all the money goes back into the kitty. (those cheap trustee barstewards!!)

[Antgrad]

a goal per 2.8 games, a lot of them as a sub is not effective? pleying second fiddle and still bang them in is exceptional.

Come on, who are we trying to kid that he did well last season. He started 21 league games and came on as sub in 10 (including the last 6 of the season). In those games he scored 8 goals, 5 of them penalties! The last goal he scored for us that wasn't a penalty was in October 2007! Hardly "exceptional".

[philipl]

Come on, who are we trying to kid that he did well last season. He started 21 league games and came on as sub in 10 (including the last 6 of the season). In those games he scored 8 goals, 5 of them penalties! The last goal he scored for us that wasn't a penalty was in October 2007! Hardly "exceptional".

When motivated, Benni is one of the best strikers in the game. That is what any potential buyer is purchasing.

[Antgrad]

When motivated, Benni is one of the best strikers in the game. That is what any potential buyer is purchasing.

And the last time he was motivated for us was even longer ago.

[imy9]

Nicko- How much is Benni likely to cost any buyer and how much money is Benni on at Rovers?

Benni is 31 years old, he is a proven goal scorer in one season thus far, last year, as has been shown already, he scored 5 pens from his 8 goal tally!!

We need pace up front anything over £5 million and I would sell him.