[Archived] Vince Grella Signs

[American]

It weren't £4 million. I am pretty sure that I read a direct Ince quote stating that it was 4 million euros. (Perhaps, still too much).

Sadly, in the last window, before the financial problems started hitting clubs like Pompey and West Ham, 4 millions Euros was actually pretty cheap for a top flight player. With the new TV deal came higher prices.

[John]

Obviously some people rate him

People like Vince Grella, a lot of lads are telling me he will make a difference and we haven’t seen a lot of him.

[joey_big_nose]

Well I think it is as much about how you use a player as what he has in terms of talent. I don't expect Vince to move mountains, but what I do expect is for him to tie together our midfield. He is a defensive player with decent technique who will sit in front of the back four and retain the ball. A water carrier if you will. I do not expect him to be Mascherano and spray defence splitting passes, he just needs to be physical and be tidy on the ball, and keep the balance of the side.

The benefit for this in us is that Dunn can get further forward and support the strikers, and the fullbacks can push on knowing that we have a capable man shielding our defence. It is a massive improvement over what we have provided so far this season.

Problem is that he seems termnally unfit which is deeply worrying.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Well I think it is as much about how you use a player as what he has in terms of talent. I don't expect Vince to move mountains, but what I do expect is for him to tie together our midfield. He is a defensive player with decent technique who will sit in front of the back four and retain the ball. A water carrier if you will. I do not expect him to be Mascherano and spray defence splitting passes, he just needs to be physical and be tidy on the ball, and keep the balance of the side.

The benefit for this in us is that Dunn can get further forward and support the strikers, and the fullbacks can push on knowing that we have a capable man shielding our defence. It is a massive improvement over what we have provided so far this season.

Problem is that he seems termnally unfit which is deeply worrying.

Who's terminally unfit Dunn or Grella ?

[joey_big_nose]

Who's terminally unfit Dunn or Grella ?

Both.... which is pretty poor. And you can add Reid. Looks like we will need to sign one or two central midfield players in Jan.

What is the midfield combo now? Tugay and Andrews? Mokoena and Andrews?

[philipl]

OK, seeing as we have passed on organising Juventus' midwinter training camp in Malta next month, I can post this now.

I rang one of the guys at Juve to ask about Grella when we signed him.

Imagine somebody from Udine (say) ringing you to say that Udinese had just signed Akinbiyi from the dingles for £2m. I think you get a sense of what his reaction was like!

Suffice to say that when he'd regained his composure the response was:

- no club with European ambitions should even have Grella on their radar

- and we had overpaid by Millions.

[Bobby G]

Allardyce has said a lot of the players say that Grella is an excellent player who will make a huge difference when he is back and fit.

[philipl]

Allardyce has said a lot of the players say that Grella is an excellent player who will make a huge difference when he is back and fit.

Let's fervently hope so and that he simply was not fit in the first half at Upton Park.

[Bobby G]

Maybe he isnt the best player in the world but I am sure he is a solid defensive midfielder who will make a difference at Blackburn Rovers and better than any other players we currently have in that role...

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Maybe he isnt the best player in the world but I am sure he is a solid defensive midfielder who will make a difference at Blackburn Rovers and better than any other players we currently have in that role...

......if he is ever fit

[Amo]

Ironic that people think Dunn & Grella will be our shining light in midfield, when they'll probably average 180mins of football together all season.

[pg]

OK, seeing as we have passed on organising Juventus' midwinter training camp in Malta next month, I can post this now.

I rang one of the guys at Juve to ask about Grella when we signed him.

Imagine somebody from Udine (say) ringing you to say that Udinese had just signed Akinbiyi from the dingles for £2m. I think you get a sense of what his reaction was like!

Suffice to say that when he'd regained his composure the response was:

- no club with European ambitions should even have Grella on their radar

- and we had overpaid by Millions.

What rubbish.

At one point, he was on AC Milan's shopping list. Obviously, he wasn't good enough to get a spot there...no shame there.

He captained a side in Seria A for two seasons, and Guus Hiddink placed great faith in him during the last world cup.

Comparing him to a Dingle player is...quite frankly... stupid.

However, we may have paid too much for him.

[vintageadidas]

My mate said Christiano Ronaldo is rubbish! Must be true!

[rover6]

What rubbish.

At one point, he was on AC Milan's shopping list. Obviously, he wasn't good enough to get a spot there...no shame there.

Didn't Milan sign Javi Moreno for millions upon millions?

I think Grella will be a useful player if he ever gets out on the pitch. But I am inclined to think that we overpaid.

[Majiball]

Obviously some people rate him

People like Vince Grella, a lot of lads are telling me he will make a difference and we haven’t seen a lot of him.

I'll judge him once he makes it on the pitch. I've heard enough he's a great player from our club this season from now on I'll be judging on what I see not what I read.

PS I've heard mixed opinions on him from Italy, however was it not Juventus's manager Ranieri who had him as captain at Parma? but in the same breath he was the man who released him.

Lets see what he does when fit.

[John]

Do not think any of us have seen enough of him in a Rovers shirt to pass judgement yet.

[Sydney Rovers]

What rubbish.

At one point, he was on AC Milan's shopping list. Obviously, he wasn't good enough to get a spot there...no shame there.

He captained a side in Seria A for two seasons, and Guus Hiddink placed great faith in him during the last world cup.

Comparing him to a Dingle player is...quite frankly... stupid.

However, we may have paid too much for him.

Spot on, granted I didn't see him when he played for Carlton SC which is probably what pg did.

I think this assessment of his ability is pretty close to what he's about;

Well I think it is as much about how you use a player as what he has in terms of talent. I don't expect Vince to move mountains, but what I do expect is for him to tie together our midfield. He is a defensive player with decent technique who will sit in front of the back four and retain the ball. A water carrier if you will. I do not expect him to be Mascherano and spray defence splitting passes, he just needs to be physical and be tidy on the ball, and keep the balance of the side.

The benefit for this in us is that Dunn can get further forward and support the strikers, and the fullbacks can push on knowing that we have a capable man shielding our defence. It is a massive improvement over what we have provided so far this season.

Problem is that he seems termnally unfit which is deeply worrying.

And anynoe thinking he can do more than that will be sadly disappointed.

[thenodrog]

Do not think any of us have seen enough of him in a Rovers shirt to pass judgement yet.

Indeed. I've only seen Grella v Boro and I was very impressed so I will have to wait to judge him. BUT just a couple of appearences in half a season is a big concern.

So 2 bloody great big IF'S.......... If we can keep him fit and if he plays like he did v Boro then given the style Allardyce adopted at Bolton he could become our Campo..... But I'm not holding my breath.

[John]

Indeed. I've only seen Grella v Boro and I was very impressed so I will have to wait to judge him.

No, fair enough, you always seem to be right on things, so you can judge him whenever you want!

[alexanders]

No, fair enough, you always seem to be right on things, so you can judge him whenever you want!

Agreed.

He also had the assist against WHAM when he was on the pitch for 45 minutes.

I think if Vince keeps himself fit for the rest of the season he will be a very valuable player in our relegation battle.

He seems tidy, good vision and nice passing both short and lenghty. He also knows how to tackle.

[KoNG]

Word in the the local papers back here in Oz, is that Vin Grella limped off the pitch last night, after 25 minutes of training with the international squad for the WC qualifier with Japan tonight.

Is there an award for most injured Prem team...?

[DeadlyDirk]

Word in the the local papers back here in Oz, is that Vin Grella limped off the pitch last night, after 25 minutes of training with the international squad for the WC qualifier with Japan tonight.

Is there an award for most injured Prem team...?

If that's true then he certainly has a good shout at most injured player!

Well done Vince!

[KoNG]

i'm sure Reidy would be trying to wrestle that accolade from him.

I hope it's not bad and just precautionary.... our center midfield needs some stability, even if we cant change the rest of the issues (pace, skill, age....)

[philipl]

Precautionary limp off according to the soccercrocs. Might even play. Doesn't sound too healthy from a Rovers perspective.

[Tris]

Grella is starting for Australia (wearing lucky number 13).

Match now live on Eurosport.