[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[nicko]

Just out of interest, Nicko, who was the absentee you mentioned pre-match? Any clues on why Vogel wasn't included at all, was he injured or just overlooked? We had a really strong bench, showed once again why we need to make few and impressive signings and not squad players.

I heard Reidy was on the right wing and Mokoena in midfield, so I talked myself out of backing an away win...

Ho hum.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

i trust ince who has played centre mid for man u, inter milan liverpool and england, to be able to tell whether a centre midfielder is good enough to improve our team.

can anyone seriously suggest they have seen him play? if not - get over yourself and wait until you have and back the manager.

pathetic.

If Andrews is brought as a squad player and turns into another Super Atko - fair enough. However, the board and manager have said they will only bring in players that will add to the first team.

To improve our midfield we need a player of proven quality - we already have Dunny - England cap - under 21's , Reid - captained ROI, Vogel, 90 odd International caps, Mokoena SA captain, Emerton - countless Aussie caps, Tugay - legend, Pedersen, well capped by Norway.

To add quality we will need to pay £7million + on a proven International or rising star.

Name one Premiership midfielder starter that doesn't have any caps, is over 27, been signed from a lower league and has no prior Premiership experience???

Like I say - if he is brought in as a squad player, fair enough - but please don't tell me this is going to be our major midfield signing...

[Bobby G]

Anything this morning for us Nicko?

[nicko]

ANDREWS - The whole situation should become clearer shortly...I suspect he is pushing hard for the move. From his point of view it is a dream chance.

FOWLER - The way the manager is talking him up and putting him in the team pic suggests that is a formality.

GUERET - I think there is something in that too...you have lost one keeper and loaned out another.

GRELLA - Still checking, would imagine he would be watched in the Australia game in midweek. He will also talk up his chances in the next few days too. We shall see.

MCCARTHY - If it gets to £9 million there has to be the chance of a sale.

ROQUE - Daft Man U rumours, but I still think it will be Berbatov who goes to OT.

TARGETS - No feedback from weekend games that were covered...yet.

[briansol]

Nobody improves their finishing at 30. Its something natural, and can be trained on when you are young...Roberts will always be a hardworking player, and a decent striker, but he will never be clinical...

A bit harsh statement that nobody improves, although you're right that he'll never be clinical / natural finisher, which I think is mostly a mental thing. Roberts is in the Heskey bracket, going for power and pace rather than placement. Probably why neither has a good scoring record in PL. People like Van Nistelrooy, Shearer, Ian Wright, Solskjaer just made scoring so easy that you disregard how unique that ability is. People like Henry, Drogbra and Cole are great goalscorers in their own right, but I'm not sure if I would consider them natural finishers.

[Bobby G]

You are hearing things too about United wanting Roque?

I cant see IF they do offer us 20 million pounds or more, we could possibly reject it...It would be a suicidal footballing decision, but financially could the board say no? I hope so...

A bit harsh statement that nobody improves, although you're right that he'll never be clinical / natural finisher, which I think is mostly a mental thing. Roberts is in the Heskey bracket, going for power and pace rather than placement. Probably why neither has a good scoring record in PL. People like Van Nistelrooy, Shearer, Ian Wright, Solskjaer just made scoring so easy that you disregard how unique that ability is. People like Henry, Drogbra and Cole are great goalscorers in their own right, but I'm not sure if I would consider them natural finishers.

Completely agree.

[briansol]

Name one Premiership midfielder starter that doesn't have any caps, is over 27, been signed from a lower league and has no prior Premiership experience???

Easy, Jimmy Bullard. I think you'll find him to have quite the same career path, experiencing PL football for the first time at the same age.

(Not that I think Andrews will be the same success).

[JAL]

ANDREWS - The whole situation should become clearer shortly...I suspect he is pushing hard for the move. From his point of view it is a dream chance.

FOWLER - The way the manager is talking him up and putting him in the team pic suggests that is a formality.

GUERET - I think there is something in that too...you have lost one keeper and loaned out another.

GRELLA - Still checking, would imagine he would be watched in the Australia game in midweek. He will also talk up his chances in the next few days too. We shall see.

MCCARTHY - If it gets to £9 million there has to be the chance of a sale.

ROQUE - Daft Man U rumours, but I still think it will be Berbatov who goes to OT.

TARGETS - No feedback from weekend games that were covered...yet.

Cheers Nicko, after a great win at the weekend you dont half print a bleak outlook with this lot.

[modes98]

GUERET - I think there is something in that too...you have lost one keeper and loaned out another.

1 in (Robinson) and 1 out (Brad). We always loan out a keeper from our youth setup.

If he is going to bring in an average league 1 keeper then it won't boost Robinson's confidence much.

[Billy Castell]

I love the ignore list now i've found it. Even so, I am probably agreeing with JAL by saying that summary doesn't make me jump for joy. I hope we are doing what we did before by allowing ourselves to be linked with crap like Zamora.....................and getting RSC.

[herbergeehh]

Where is the ignore button?

[Poita]

ANDREWS - The whole situation should become clearer shortly...I suspect he is pushing hard for the move. From his point of view it is a dream chance.

FOWLER - The way the manager is talking him up and putting him in the team pic suggests that is a formality.

GUERET - I think there is something in that too...you have lost one keeper and loaned out another.

GRELLA - Still checking, would imagine he would be watched in the Australia game in midweek. He will also talk up his chances in the next few days too. We shall see.

MCCARTHY - If it gets to £9 million there has to be the chance of a sale.

ROQUE - Daft Man U rumours, but I still think it will be Berbatov who goes to OT.

TARGETS - No feedback from weekend games that were covered...yet.

I think Grella would be a fantastic signing. Really do believe he would be great in the Premiership and would suit ince's style of football.

He was by far the best player for Australia during the World Cup in 2006, and was the main reason why they went so far in the tournament.

I watched a few of his games over the past 8 months, and he still looks quality.

Offers alot more than the axe.

Grella is a excellent defender and passer of the ball.

Anyone else agree? hehe probably not knowing you lot.

[Ricky]

1 in (Robinson) and 1 out (Brad). We always loan out a keeper from our youth setup.

If he is going to bring in an average league 1 keeper then it won't boost Robinson's confidence much.

And Encks was released as well

[Bobby G]

I think Grella would be a fantastic signing. Really do believe he would be great in the Premiership and would suit ince's style of football.

He was by far the best player for Australia during the World Cup in 2006, and was the main reason why they went so far in the tournament.

I watched a few of his games over the past 8 months, and he still looks quality.

Offers alot more than the axe.

Grella is a excellent defender and passer of the ball.

Anyone else agree? hehe probably not knowing you lot.

The Aussie fans on this board arent so vocal about his "quality" though.

[nicko]

Cheers Nicko, after a great win at the weekend you dont half print a bleak outlook with this lot.

I don't see anything bleak in it. The manager has been after Fowler and Andrews since he came...like I have said countless times you have to let the manager manage.

Selling McCarthy - and replacing him with a quick striker - would be fabulous business. Do it.

And if someone came up with a silly offer for Roque, then that is just part of football. I think it is unlikely, but you never know.

This time last year there were similar concerns with Benni...no-one came in but many probably regret that now.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Easy, Jimmy Bullard. I think you'll find him to have quite the same career path, experiencing PL football for the first time at the same age.

(Not that I think Andrews will be the same success).

doh

[Bobby G]

I don't see anything bleak in it. The manager has been after Fowler and Andrews since he came...like I have said countless times you have to let the manager manage.

Selling McCarthy - and replacing him with a quick striker - would be fabulous business. Do it.

And if someone came up with a silly offer for Roque, then that is just part of football. I think it is unlikely, but you never know.

This time last year there were similar concerns with Benni...no-one came in but many probably regret that now.

Do you hear whether we would seriously consider selling Benni at the right price and is there any rumbling of interest in replacement strikers?

Where did you hear that we would look at a pacy striker if he left?

[nicko]

Do you hear whether we would seriously consider selling Benni at the right price and is there any rumbling of interest in replacement strikers?

Where did you hear that we would look at a pacy striker if he left?

Terrible cliche - but every players is for sale at the right price. Benni is no expection. £9 million for a 31-year-old who played a few minutes at the weekend is unbelievable cash.

And I know that quick strikers have been checked recently...just in case.

[Bobby G]

More than one? English-based or foreign-based?

So is Uche really on the radar?

Care to give us any clues at all Nicko?

[joey_big_nose]

Do you hear whether we would seriously consider selling Benni at the right price and is there any rumbling of interest in replacement strikers?

Where did you hear that we would look at a pacy striker if he left?

I just can't see how we could turn down a substantial offer for McCarthy. He looks off the pace, he is 31, looks disinterested. There is no way he can play with Roque as they both drop deep, potentially he could do a job with Roberts as he would do some of the running for him upfront. I can see the logic in keeping him if there was only 3 or 4 million the table but we are talking serious cash here.

I know Ince does not want to deplete the squad too much but if we have identified a quality younger player ship Benedict out!

[Billy Castell]

My dad is against selling Benni, and would rather sell Roberts. However, if Keane offered £8-9m I'd take his hand off. He seems to b a bit of a one-season wonder, and has lost interest like Dwight Yorke did a few years ago. Hopefully if the move does come off we can use the money to buy a really good quick striker to compliment RSC.

[Bobby G]

I would LOVE to sell Benni for anything over 7 million pounds! As long as we sign a good replacement which I believe is highly possible if we dip abroad. We desperately lack pace in this side. Imagine the style of football we saw on Saturday with one or two pacy outlets in the side too!

[modes98]

And Encks was released as well

Ah good spot. He wasn't exactly in the team but I still think the point stands that Jason Brown is a good enough replacement to last until the next transfer window, in the case of injury. He's no world beater because of his height but he does a good job.

[roverfanuk]

Nicko, someone over the weekend said we might be looking at Roman Pavlyuchenko as a replacement for Benni? Do you know if this might be true or not?

[rover6]

Do you hear whether we would seriously consider selling Benni at the right price and is there any rumbling of interest in replacement strikers?

Where did you hear that we would look at a pacy striker if he left?

I have heard that the club were ready to sell to Galatasaray. However, I think Nicko said otherwise, so who knows.