[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[JohnS]

No chance he'll come here, I would prefer Milner. I think its a risk bringing him over, he could either end up like Fabregas/Torres or Luque. I think he would be like the latter. He would think he is a big fish in a small pond. Anyway thats my negative spin out of the way. The positive is, what a statment it would bloody send out to everybody in the league, he is a decent player but its how well he adapts to the pace and strength of our league.

[hawkiiz]

he is a decent player but its how well he adapts to the pace and strength of our league.

in your world, what is a world class player? and what is our other players?

[Ossydave]

Very loosely linked to a couple of top notch players.

Hardly wet dream tackle at this stage, akthough it is good to have some positive news.

[Bobby G]

Look forward to a nicko update especially on Benni as nicko said Sunderland were close to the figure quoted in the papers.

nicko, any idea how much Olic would cost? Cant see it being more than 5 or so million Euros.

[JohnS]

in your world, what is a world class player? and what is our other players?

Ronaldo/Messi/Torres/Kaka are WORLD CLASS, they are few and far between.

[vintageadidas]

Ronaldo/Messi/Torres/Kaka are WORLD CLASS, they are few and far between.

Torres? Ronaldo, Messi and Kaka are world class, torres is not. Yet.

[LDRover]

Sorry vintageadidas, Torres IS world class, in fact IMO he's the best striker in the world, certainly the best in the Prem.

[Silencio]

Torres? Ronaldo, Messi and Kaka are world class, torres is not. Yet.

I'd say Torres is certainly world class, confirmed by his brilliant goal in the final of Euro 2008. Which centre forwards are there around who are better than him (even if there are not so many great ones there days)?

[JohnS]

Torres is World Class, Currently the best forward in the World in my opinion.

[joey_big_nose]

Very loosely linked to a couple of top notch players.

Hardly wet dream tackle at this stage, akthough it is good to have some positive news.

We have been more than linked. It appears we will make an offer.

I don't see why Joaquin would not come to be honest. No different than Fernandez to Everton or Cruz to us. He has had, by his extremely high standards a poor season and fallen out of the national team. Valencia need to sell. We can probably offer considerably more in wages than a Spanish club. All the bits and pieces are there. It will come down to 1) how much he wants European football 2) Whether he fancies moving to NW England.

I can easily see it happen. I can also easily see it not happen. So we will wait.

As for the Benni out Olic in I'm pretty sure that the figures have to be wrong? I can't see how Sunderland would offer 7m+ for McCarthy even allowing for Keane's madness in the transfer market. And I can't see how we wouldn't accept any offer over 5-6m? I guess it will all come out in the wash.

I don't know much about Olic but if he is a worker and has pace then that is going to suit Cruz much more than McCarthy.

[Billy Castell]

Isn't Joaquin a bit of a prima donna? If he is, I expect he'll be demanding a move to Liverpool if he gets subbed.

[vintageadidas]

Well this proves why football is so great. Everyone has their own opinions. I personally don't think he is world class yet hence why he is playing for Liverpool. Will he become world class, yes he will.

Will he play for a better club, yes he will.

[hawkiiz]

Isn't Joaquin a bit of a prima donna? If he is, I expect he'll be demanding a move to Liverpool if he gets subbed.

at least we will get a couple of seasons out of him. and it wil no doubt push us towards europe. he can demand whatever he wants. if nobody wanna pay, he will stay.

[The Rover of Finland]

We are linked Joaquin and possibly Olic and you guys are writing is Torres great or not. Well, Joaquin is and would be very magnificent signing. Olic is a very hard worker and would be a great partner for RSC. Benni should be sold if Keane offers more than £5m. £9m would be a robbery!

[den]

City were all set to sell £15m of talent a week ago until Hughes pulled the plug. I'd expect that would be where the £25m loan is going. If City were so keen on Santa, why has the MEN changed completey to a stance of a move is now doomed to fail as he is set to sign a new contract? This new contract that nobody has heard about from our side. Nothing cynical about it, they needed a bit of good pr and they got it. Sadly it didn't help them for long.

Well, the MEN is saying City have pulled out because of a new contract offer, but the truth is they know rovers wont sell.

As for them having money for new players or not, we'll see over the next couple of weeks. My bet is that they DO have money available for Hughes.

[Ricky]

Den, I was under the impression that they had to shell out quite a bit in payments for the players they bought last year. I'm sure it was rumoured on here that it was around the 15m mark. I may be wrong but I'm guessing that's where most of their new money will be going.

[imy9]

Torres' record is good for a striker but not outstanding:

Excluding his first season with Liverpool he has scored a goal every 2.5 games (Benni has a similar record)

He is not in the same league as Eto'o-yet whose overall record for the last 3 years is 79 goals in 108 games or Drogba 50 in 109.

When he scores the same number of goals for TWO or THREE seasons he can be classed as a world class striker IMO.

[Veevs]

Torres' record is good for a striker but not outstanding:

Excluding his first season with Liverpool he has scored a goal every 2.5 games (Benni has a similar record)

He is not in the same league as Eto'o-yet whose overall record for the last 3 years is 79 goals in 108 games or Drogba 50 in 109.

When he scores the same number of goals for TWO or THREE seasons he can be classed as a world class striker IMO.

Although this is slightly off the topic of this threat I had to answer..

I reckon Torres is world class, its not all about scoring statistics, the dude has a great all round game, hell Eto was not even in the plans for his own team and is valued allot less.

[RoyRover]

Olic would be a class signing. He is one of the stars of the Croatian team. He has serious pace and works like a trojan. I know Hamburg have just signed his international strike partner Mladen Petric from Borussia Dortmund, so this may be an attempt to replace Olic or pair them up. I'm not sure how likely this is to happen. Hamburg have already let one of their stars go in Van Dar Vaart, so I doubt they will want to lose another one. Either way, I'm glad that we we are being linked with a class player like him.

As for Joaquin, he would be a good player to bring in. With Valencia looking like they will hold on to David Villa and David Silva, they may be more willing to sell Joaquin. He's a world beater on his day, but he seems to have gone back a bit since moving from Real Betis. If we are looking at right winger, then I think Borussia Dortmund's Jakub Błaszczykowski would be a great addition. The guy missed Euro 2008 through injury and with it so did Poland's chances of qualification. This guy is seriously good. Has pace, skill and scores goals. If we are willing to splash out on Joaquin, then we should definitely look at this guy.

I don't know if anyone saw Sky Sports News last night, but there was a big piece on Steve Finnan and how he has basically been frozen out at Liverpool. I've always looked at this guy as one of the best right backs in the league and even at 32, he's still class IMO. We've been in need of a good right back for a long time so would it be worth trying to bring him in, even if we bought Simpson in and have Ooijer and Emerton who can play at right back? I think that signing a player of his quality would make a real difference to the the quality of our team.

[Bobby G]

I am told my someone i know in Germany that there is no way HSV would consider selling Olic having sold vDv to Real Madrid.

[vintageadidas]

I am told my someone i know in Germany that there is no way HSV would consider selling Olic having sold vDv to Real Madrid.

I was told by someone while i was away on holiday that there was no way Rovers would sell Brad.

[Antgrad]

Drogba 50 in 109.

When he scores the same number of goals for TWO or THREE seasons he can be classed as a world class striker IMO.

Drogba's 50 in 109 is in the last 4 seasons not 3. Torres has 51 in 105 in the last three.

Torres scored 24 last season, Eto'o has managed to beat 20 league goals twice and Drogba has NEVER done it.

Drogba and Eto'o are world class, but so is Torres.

[den]

Den, I was under the impression that they had to shell out quite a bit in payments for the players they bought last year. I'm sure it was rumoured on here that it was around the 15m mark. I may be wrong but I'm guessing that's where most of their new money will be going.

It is a confusing situation Ricky. One or two things make me fairly confident that City will find money for new players. The fact that City made a bid for Rocky is one fact. I really can't believe they did that without having the money available. Another fact is that Hughes himself said they had money to spend. Can't see him coming out with that and leaving himself open to criticism if City don't strengthen and continue to struggle on the field. Thirdly, THIS article in the Times, backing up a similar story in one of the Sunday's.

[Ewood and I Would]

Just asked a Spanish collegue (and massive La Liga follower) what he thought, he said...

"As far as I know he asked this weekend to Valencia's president for an increase in the salary and the president answered with a strong: "NO"

So....why not spanish power playing for Blackburn!!?"

Anyone know how much he is on at the moment at Valencia? If it's less than 60k (what we were offering Bentley) it could improve our chances.

[incy wincy little spider]

Just reading and wondering have we ever signed a world class player? Cant decide who the best player we ever signed was at the time of signing. Joaquim was close to world class 3years ago i reckon