[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[nicko]

nicko anything on the Rovers front today?

Hows the trial for El Tanko going?

I believe Pinto has the next few days to impress. I don't know if his chances have been hit by Benni staying and Roque signing.

The Israeli keeper has a day or so too.

And obviously there is the Andrews issue to settle. For him to go to the Rovers game suggests it is VERY close. If not, why not?

[The Rover of Finland]

Anything in this: Bolton boss Gary Megson is ready to make a new move for Jimmy Bullard

We should gamble on him and his knee if less than £4m is enough. Kind of player we need. And bring Pennant in Ince!!! Yesterday proved we need a winger desperately.

[nicko]

Nicko - do you know which club has made a bid for Pennant?

Might be Rovers...but won't be £6 million.

[DeadlyDirk]

Might be Rovers...but won't be £6 million.

Any other names cropped up for Rovers today nicko? Just over a week away for the window so you'd think some signings would start to make progress now.

The Andrews one is strange that it's dragged on this long, surely just a matter of time? (It's like the whole will Ronaldo go to Madrid saga just ever so slightly less high profile!)

Not a BRFC question but just curious, what's happening with that moany, grumpy old git who plays up front for Spurs, when he's in the right frame of mind that is.

[Russ]

Hi Nicko, I wondered if I could get your opinion on something?

With regard to our winger situation and particularly 'the one that got away'... i.e. the quality right winger who you personally rated highly, but who opted to stay with his club for another year. You kept his name to himself for some very obvious and understandable reasons so as not to spoil our clubs chances in the future, as I recall.

What I wanted to know was who you would rate as the better signing for Blackburn Rovers, between him and Joaqin?

Is it case of one potential good player against one established good player?

I know you can't and indeed shouldn't say anything about the guy, but I am wondering whether we should wait for him til next year rather than spend a large sum on Joaqin now, and potentially not be able to afford the other guy. In your opinion...

[daveoftherovers]

We should gamble on him and his knee if less than £4m is enough. Kind of player we need. And bring Pennant in Ince!!! Yesterday proved we need a winger desperately.

How many times do we need to be told "He will not pass a medical" Bullards not the man.

[DingleBaiter]

Hungry players only please.

You've got one - Benedict, how many more pies?

How often does he have his day though.

Every day it's the 29th February.

[DingleBaiter]

When the Bentley saga was ongoing and people were comparing him to Lennon / SWP etc I pointed out that Bentley is worth more than any of them as he can play right across the middle with ease and can offer so many more options to a manager. From the TV highlights Bentley was instrumental in most of Spurs attacks. It's also well documented that Bentley prefers playing attacking center midfield rather than right wing. 'The new Bergkamp' prediction may yet come to fruition.

Dead right Theophilus, Bentley was a great player for us, and no doubt will be elsewhere. His talent was never in question - far more in his locker than the triumvirate of AL-SWP-JP, and that's just as a right winger. Add in MH moving him more infield, still to good effect, shows why he was so highly rated as a player.

This was why I think there's a lot of hypocrisy in footy fans - Bentley plays for us, he's great. He moves, he's now not actually that good some will say. We missed him yesterday, if he came back (somehow) - the same folk criticising him would laud him no doubt.

Still hoping Nicko's going to break the news we've signed some real rasper of a winger, a winger so good you couldn't buy him on Blackburn market (to paraphrase a certain Rovers highlights commentator from the 80s).

[Eddie]

Or, some of us said, Bentley plays, he's good, he left, he's still good, but we can replace him.

Theno loves to have Rovers be wrong and him be right (usually he's not right, he just looks for where Rovers are wrong or bad). We ALL know that we need more creativity, does that mean we can't replace Bentley? No. We just need to add creativity, until the window closes I remain hopeful that we will do that.

[John]

John in the summer you often yielded information suggesting mass unrest and star players being unhappy with the new management team.

Would you say now that perhaps these people (giving you the info) were causing mischief, or do you still hold the same concerns?

I only posted this type of information on two occasions over the summer.

On the first occasion, it was before Ince took over, and I heard that 4/5 first teamers wanted to leave. Well, looks like that one was right.

More recently, I posted information on someone within the club leaking information with regards to players leaving. I still hold these concerns.

To be fair, looking back, both of my so called 'relevations' are hardly massive shocks....

[DingleBaiter]

Not exactly surprisng news, but Ray Mathias suggests in his interview on BBC Sport website that they were looking at strikers to replace Santa Cruz before he committed himself by signing a new contract (hence the links with strikers, e.g Zigic etc).

Any chance of any substance to your interpretation? How exactly did this 'suggestion' manifest itself? Quotes would be good. Otherwise it sounds like someone seeing the face of Jesus in a McD burger wrapper.

[Eddie]

I only posted this type of information on two occasions over the summer.

On the first occasion, it was before Ince took over, and I heard that 4/5 first teamers wanted to leave. Well, looks like that one was right.

More recently, I posted information on someone within the club leaking information with regards to players leaving. I still hold these concerns and also after hearing this info.

To be fair, looking back, both of my so called 'relevations' are hardly massive shocks....

Um...think time has shown you to be wrong on both counts. That's ok though, I'm sure you had a fantastic source.

[John]

Players leaving: Brad, Bentley obviously. Oijer was not a happy chappy a few weeks ago, along with Warnock.

Not going to reveal who told me this information, just thought I would share it at that time. I have NO reason to bullSh*t. If you look throughout my history on this MB, it is not my style.

Any chance of any substance to your interpretation? How exactly did this 'suggestion' manifest itself? Quotes would be good. Otherwise it sounds like someone seeing the face of Jesus in a McD burger wrapper.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/e...rem/7565042.stm

[T4E]

Um...think time has shown you to be wrong on both counts. That's ok though, I'm sure you had a fantastic source.

Has it? Friedel went, Bentley went, Warnock was strongly linked and it's thought that Newcastle were given some encouragement, Matthias admitted that we looked at alternative strikers in case RSC went, and Benni has said he would go if given a chance.

[Eddie]

Ooijer had come out months before and said that he would look to leave if he wasn't in the plans (was the BBC or SKY your source on that?). Bentley had said he wanted to leave ages before (again, is your source your computer or TV?). Warnock? Still no proof. Brad, maybe, but I think you got lucky on that one more than anything. Basically, your inabiltiy to provide names at the time was your major problem, in the end you are able to back it up by saying "hey, he left", or "hey, BBC has no said he's unhappy". On that basis I can say "sources close to Rovers tell me that a player will leave in January, he's really unhappy". Bet you I'll be right. Still, you said 5 or 6, you've managed to name 4, two of whom who well publicised long before you made any comment. So your "source" was able to "predict" that two players might be unhappy or leave during the transfer window. Don't give away his name now...he's obviously very close to the inside of things.

[briansol]

How many times do we need to be told "He will not pass a medical" Bullards not the man.

I also find it a bit funny that people are suggesting Bullard because:

1. He couldn't cut it at West Ham, and was shipped out as a 22 year-old.

2. Then spent a couple of seasons in League One before being picked up by another League One Team, Wigan. Surely a better team would've picked him up by then.

3. He didn't play Championship football untill nearly 25 and Premier League close to 27.

Hmm that CV reminds me of someone we've been linked to.........

[Eddie]

Has it? Friedel went, Bentley went, Warnock was strongly linked and it's thought that Newcastle were given some encouragement, Matthias admitted that we looked at alternative strikers in case RSC went, and Benni has said he would go if given a chance.

As I just said, we all know Bentley was leaving, he can't claim credit there. Benni being unhappy, umm...hasn't that been the case for over 24 months now? On top of that, it's pretty obvious he would be interested in leaving if he hadn't been starting, and he's hardly thrown his toys out of the pram. Warnock remains unclear, but even then a story like that happens to every team every transfer window. Friedel was a surprise, but he wasn't bold enough to name Friedel. RSC? We all knew coming into this summer that RSC would be linked with a move, we could have all predicted Hughes coming back in for him or United being linked with him. As it stands, he's signed a new contract and continues to say he's really happy. Hardly supports the story that he really, really wanted out at that we had big trouble on our hands in the dressing room. Do some of you forget just how negative John's "source" was?

[John]

Ooijer had come out months before and said that he would look to leave if he wasn't in the plans (was the BBC or SKY your source on that?). Bentley had said he wanted to leave ages before (again, is your source your computer or TV?). Warnock? Still no proof. Brad, maybe, but I think you got lucky on that one more than anything. Basically, your inabiltiy to provide names at the time was your major problem, in the end you are able to back it up by saying "hey, he left", or "hey, BBC has no said he's unhappy". On that basis I can say "sources close to Rovers tell me that a player will leave in January, he's really unhappy". Bet you I'll be right. Still, you said 5 or 6, you've managed to name 4, two of whom who well publicised long before you made any comment. So your "source" was able to "predict" that two players might be unhappy or leave during the transfer window. Don't give away his name now...he's obviously very close to the inside of things.

The only reason this issue has been brought up today is someone asked me to justify what I said back in the summer. I am not boasting to be correct about anything. I am just defending the info I was told (earlier this summer).

As I said a few times now, I did not think either bits of information was a shock....

Is that clear enough (I am aware by you being dense that you are taking this thread off topic....).

[roverfanuk]

Pennant wants to stay at Liverpool: http://msnsport.skysports.com/story/0,1952...4040323,00.html

[T4E]

As I just said, we all know Bentley was leaving, he can't claim credit there. Benni being unhappy, umm...hasn't that been the case for over 24 months now? On top of that, it's pretty obvious he would be interested in leaving if he hadn't been starting, and he's hardly thrown his toys out of the pram. Warnock remains unclear, but even then a story like that happens to every team every transfer window. Friedel was a surprise, but he wasn't bold enough to name Friedel. RSC? We all knew coming into this summer that RSC would be linked with a move, we could have all predicted Hughes coming back in for him or United being linked with him. As it stands, he's signed a new contract and continues to say he's really happy. Hardly supports the story that he really, really wanted out at that we had big trouble on our hands in the dressing room. Do some of you forget just how negative John's "source" was?

It's subjective. I don't myself think he's been proven entirely right, but he certainly hasn't been proven wrong.

[Eddie]

That's sort of my point though. He made such an ambiguous claim that really he could never have been proven wrong. The only time I've ever claimed to have heard info it has been wrong (Benni on the verge of signing a season too early, that contact may well have been made with Croatian FA and that Cisse was on the verge of signing with us earlier this summer). I'll just say this then...source close to myself and Rovers says that we're on the verge of signing someone in the next 48-72 hours. I just dislike it when people claim to have these sources, so far I'm only aware of about 5/6 members on this board who have genuine sources and I don't see how a source can pop up from nowhere.

[DingleBaiter]

Players leaving: Brad, Bentley obviously. Oijer was not a happy chappy a few weeks ago, along with Warnock.

Not going to reveal who told me this information, just thought I would share it at that time. I have NO reason to bullSh*t. If you look throughout my history on this MB, it is not my style.

You're not a wannabe journo are you?

Seems you're gilding the lily a bit in your interpretation of the RM interview. In context, he came across very honest - saying the footy wasn't up to scratch, underhitting crosses and playing long ball. He then commented about 'keeping your book open' and said "not that we've been trying" when asked about replacing RSC. Anyone in any serious position in management or business does the job better by keeping abreast of the enviroment he's working in, and considering contingencies - rather than bury one's head in the sand and crossing his fingers.

It's like sometimes looking at ugly women then at who one's married to and realise it's not really that bad after all; it's all about perspective. Okay, one could also look at Megan Fox, but it's the classic optimist/realist/pessimist stance.

My 'Jesus in a MC wrapper' comment still stands; think you're looking for something that clearly isn't there, taking it out of context to suit an agenda. Then again, that's a Rovers fans' forte - especially when it's something they can perceive to be a negative.

Like when Ince cracked a joke in his first press conference; personally, I felt it was light-hearted but some felt it was crass, naive, and a sure sign he would take us down. Equally when they pulled off both a cracking performance and result at Everton, then someone criticised his suit.

[bellamy11]

Not going to reveal who told me this information, just thought I would share it at that time. I have NO reason to bullSh*t. If you look throughout my history on this MB, it is not my style.

Haven't you claimed to be best mates with the whole Chelsea squad? And that you were driven to drink by the actions of Paul Ince this summer?

[JAL]

which clearly excludes SWP and Pennant then by that criteria.

I saw a bit of Lennon in the Spurs defeat by Sunderland when it was shown later- his decline continues. Spurs were woeful, Sunderland pretty well the same as they were against Liverpool. Bentley out of position and out of sorts.

Mathias' comments are honest but unnecessary and probably naive.

Was told before the game that just over two years ago Ray Mathias was working on a building site what a rise in status, just hope hes a winner

[John]

You're not a wannabe journo are you?

Seems you're gilding the lily a bit in your interpretation of the RM interview. In context, he came across very honest - saying the footy wasn't up to scratch, underhitting crosses and playing long ball. He then commented about 'keeping your book open' and said "not that we've been trying" when asked about replacing RSC.

My 'Jesus in a MC wrapper' comment still stands; think you're looking for something that clearly isn't there, taking it out of context to suit an agenda. Then again, that's a Rovers fans' forte - especially when it's something they can perceive to be a negative.

No. Just came into contact with people within the game in the summer who provided me with some info.

With regards to the interview, as much as you like the Jesus in MC wrapper comment, its pretty obvious that Mathias is saying we kept the book open just in case he moved on in this transfer window. My words next not his, probably why we have been looking at Zigic etc (just in case).

Haven't you claimed to be best mates with the whole Chelsea squad? And that you were driven to drink by the actions of Paul Ince this summer?

No, you are referring to the night when I was out with some of the Chelsea team. On the second question, I have always liked a drink, even before the appointment of Paul Ince!

Before taking this thread completely off topic, I would say we would be best to discuss this in another thread, as Nicko's thread is full of posts as it is........