[Archived] Will We Ever Finnish In The Top 6 Again?

[S15]

I wouldn't worry too much, Hughes may know he's a good player but that's what he is a good player. RSC is not one of these so called super stars and I'll be surprised to see him disappear to a top 4 club.

Surely you cannot believe that?

How many times do you need to store your faith in a footballer, thinking ''Maybe this guy's different.'' Santa Cruz would have left like a shot if we'd have accepted a bid this summer, don't forget how he/ or his father (not exactly a scummy agent) was touting around how United and Arsenal had been in discussions with him all throughout the summer.

The moment we recieve a bid between £15-£20m he's off, or atleast this is certainly the case from next summer. The new contract was a welcome publicity stunt to keep the fans happy. The first thing he said after he signed it was ''But they know I am ambitious.''

Of course his English his still a tad shakey, but by ''am'' he meant ''will leave'' and by ''ambitious'' he meant ''soon.''

[philipl]

Surely you cannot believe that?

How many times do you need to store your faith in a footballer, thinking ''Maybe this guy's different.'' Santa Cruz would have left like a shot if we'd have accepted a bid this summer, don't forget how he/ or his father (not exactly a scummy agent) was touting around how United and Arsenal had been in discussions with him all throughout the summer.

The moment we recieve a bid between £15-£20m he's off, or atleast this is certainly the case from next summer. The new contract was a welcome publicity stunt to keep the fans happy. The first thing he said after he signed it was ''But they know I am ambitious.''

Of course his English his still a tad shakey, but by ''am'' he meant ''will leave'' and by ''ambitious'' he meant ''soon.''

It was clearly a qualify for the UEFA at least or I am off statement of intent from RSC.

Bentley was too stupid to do the same thing unfortunately and I expect that Bentley will suffer at least in the short term for his own stupidity. Another good season at Rovers and he really would have been joining a Champs League team whilst earning £7k a week more as well.

[AndyC]

it will be interesting to see what happens to the top4, when one of them doesn't qualify for the champions league.

they have all signed players on huge wages with big ego's and if they are not playing champs league footie, it could lead to unrest at the club.

[incecticide]

Basically everyone expects the richest clubs to finish the highest, Newcastle have had money but have always been the exception to that because they're so poorly run. Rovers are the opposite: no cash, extremely well run. I'm not suggesting money isn't a factor because it is, but only when spent the right way. For those reasons I think we will see Rovers and Newcastle occupy similar mid-table positions for the foreseeable future.

The other thing to remember is that every year we hear about another takeover - West Ham, Portsmouth, Villa... Every time the fans of these clubs get over-excited and expect the kind of fantasy football spending that Chelsea have enjoyed, and it never happens. It will at City, but the rest just make up the numbers in the so-called "chasing pack".

It does, however, highlight the fact that Rovers need to sell up to someone with a lot of cash, not to break into the top four as City have, but just to remain competitive. Every club that gets taken over becomes another potential threat to our chase for European places, and with it another possible destination for the Bentleys and Santa Cruzs of this world.

What the hell are Rothschild doing anyway?!

[Olveres]

it will be interesting to see what happens to the top4, when one of them doesn't qualify for the champions league.

they have all signed players on huge wages with big ego's and if they are not playing champs league footie, it could lead to unrest at the club.

They'll go the way of Leeds United probably. If this does happen it'll serve them right, they should always budget for worst case scenario, not we'll be in the CL every season and always get to the last 16 so we'll have this much money year on year.

[BiggusLaddus]

The bubble needs to pop soon or I think the fans will walk away from the game (I know thats how I feel atm).

Part of me hopes that City's takeover never happens and they go bump as a result, the other part hopes that they do dominate and push one of either Man Utd or Liverpool out of the Champions League (has to be one of those 2 for me) and they are put into serious financial risk.

I would find it extremely amusing to see the Premier League look for excuses not to deduct points from Manchester Utd after they had gone into administration.

I hope we are still there to be able to pick up the pieces after the bubble bursts, but I doubt we will be. Unless we also sell out to foreign cowboys then we risk being trampled underfoot and with our small satchment area I think we will suffer more than most when the TV money does dissapear.

[roversmum]

What the hell are Rothschild doing anyway?!

Obviously lost the papers down the back of the filing cabinet

[modes98]

What the hell are Rothschild doing anyway?!

Acting as an agent for the club. They can't force people to be interested.

[Majiball]

The moment we recieve a bid between £15-£20m he's off, or atleast this is certainly the case from next summer. The new contract was a welcome publicity stunt to keep the fans happy. The first thing he said after he signed it was ''But they know I am ambitious.''

Of course his English his still a tad shakey, but by ''am'' he meant ''will leave'' and by ''ambitious'' he meant ''soon.''

Completely agree no european football this season and I honestly think he will leave provided he performes to last years standard's. The bonus is he will have 3 years left and hopefully two years with 20+ goals, premium price will be achieved and I would hope it would be above 20M.

Part of me hopes that City's takeover never happens and they go bump as a result, the other part hopes that they do dominate and push one of either Man Utd or Liverpool out of the Champions League (has to be one of those 2 for me) and they are put into serious financial risk.

The only team I see being displaced is Liverpool, they are by far the weakest of the top 4. They lack width and real strenght in depth.

[BiggusLaddus]

The only team I see being displaced is Liverpool, they are by far the weakest of the top 4. They lack width and real strenght in depth.

When I said it has to one of those two, I meant that only Liverpool or Manchester Utd getting into trouble would send out a big enough shock to bring sense back to the game. If one of the two most successfull teams in history faced closure then it might sort thing out.

[Athlete]

When I said it has to one of those two, I meant that only Liverpool or Manchester Utd getting into trouble would send out a big enough shock to bring sense back to the game. If one of the two most successfull teams in history faced closure then it might sort thing out.

its always possible but with the money which some clubs now have at their disposal it will become increasingly harder ie : City , QPR , Chelsea whose owners are having clubs as playthings but their are other owners West Ham + Newcastle whose owners are investing but only for a return/profit .

[Roaming Rover]

Robinho was a signal of intent - I am sure they will chuck money around in January.

Maybe, but would he have signed for City if Chelsea had matched Cities price? Madrid did not want to sell to Chelsea and strengthen one of their rivals for the CLs league and Robinho could not really stay put after all his moaning, so City was his only option, IMO.

City always mess it up big style. They will fail to break into the top 4, so Hughes gets sacked. New manager has lots of quality new players but no time, fails to win league and gets sacked. Dito next manager, owners get fed up with no glory so cut their losses and wander off somewhere else, leaving city to pick up the pieces and head back to play stockport with Dickov and an aged Goat up front

[Paul]

Surely you cannot believe that?

How many times do you need to store your faith in a footballer, thinking ''Maybe this guy's different.''

I think you misunderstood or misread my original post. I lost my faith in footballers many, many years ago. They come, they go and it's water of a duck's back. I want to see decent footballers signed by Rovers but few excite me and even less upset me if they leave. Not a single one of them gives a sh1t about Blackburn Rovers so I don't put any faith in them in that sense.

Santa Cruz would have left like a shot if we'd have accepted a bid this summer, don't forget how he/ or his father (not exactly a scummy agent) was touting around how United and Arsenal had been in discussions with him all throughout the summer.

Of course he was being touted around but I never thought for one minute he would go anywhere except City and it was hardly likely (then) Rovers would accept a bid. RSC isn't good enough for the top 4 so it was always very unlikely he would leave.

The moment we recieve a bid between £15-£20m he's off, or atleast this is certainly the case from next summer.

Do you mean because the club will sell him or beacuse he wants to go?

The new contract was a welcome publicity stunt to keep the fans happy. The first thing he said after he signed it was ''But they know I am ambitious.''

Of course his English his still a tad shakey, but by ''am'' he meant ''will leave'' and by ''ambitious'' he meant ''soon.''

Obviously

[Iceman]

apart from Robinho and SWP,there are not much change with their team... next season will be interesting though... the question will be, will the likes of Christiano Ronaldo, Huntelaar,Kaka etc move to City? i doubt it, and if they do it surely has nothing to do with the club, except a good pay day.

i can see City do a Leeds, and if they dont win anything these Arabs will bugger off and let them rot away...

Rovers are one of the best run clubs i have ever seen, no dodgy dealings, no interferences with Managers and staff, good relations with the fans, and a good chairman who knows how to treat people. im sorry but i for one am not too bothered with what's going on at Eastlands, for me it will be a case of having a squad of individuals, who will never do anything special.

Madrid have proven that the best dont always work well as a unit, its all about putting together a consistent team who fuction as 1...

[Majiball]

Not a single one of them gives a sh1t about Blackburn Rovers so I don't put any faith in them in that sense.

Thats a bit harsh, I would not say Derb's or Dunn even Nelsen don't give a pooh about Rovers.

[Blueheart]

It made me laugh when I heard (s)citeh had been bought out by this chap from the desert who probably does not know what shape of ball footballers play with, and yet also it made me feel sick for the game.

When Jack Walker provided funds for the team he supported all of his life, we were serverly criticise dfor buying the title.

Nowadays these billonaire businessmen come in and chuck money around without any real feeling for the club and expect to buy success, but are they criticised ?

Football as a game is dead, its either just big businees now or a play thing for the immorally mega rich few.

The ordinary fan in the street is now irrelevant and I seriously fear for the game.

[Olveres]

It made me laugh when I heard (s)citeh had been bought out by this chap from the desert who probably does not know what shape of ball footballers play with, and yet also it made me feel sick for the game.

When Jack Walker provided funds for the team he supported all of his life, we were serverly criticise dfor buying the title.

Nowadays these billonaire businessmen come in and chuck money around without any real feeling for the club and expect to buy success, but are they criticised ?

Football as a game is dead, its either just big businees now or a play thing for the immorally mega rich few.

The ordinary fan in the street is now irrelevant and I seriously fear for the game.

The national side will also suffer as a result of this in the short term... but then it will emerge from the other side of it all in better shape than ever. I believe this because City will push transfer prices beyond the means of most clubs who will then have to look to their academies for their future players. This will lead to the return of lots of homegrown talent, much more than there is now, allowing the manager of the national side a much greater choice when selecting people for internationals.

Maybe anyway....

[OscarRaven]

Thats a bit harsh, I would not say Derb's or Dunn even Nelsen don't give a pooh about Rovers.

Nelson would have gladly put country before Rovers - he came back because he was told to. Dunn left the club just to spite the manager and Derb's well.... I'll bet this with you, if he doesn't play this season he will be engineering a move next season.

They care about themselves more, as we all would do in their position.

I was very uneasy about the happenings at City but it’s a good point that the top 4 monopoly has now been broken and with no prospect of a 5th Champions league place it might actually be a good thing and inject an element of sanity into to the so called top 4.

Man Utd or Liverpool going bust would wake up the idiots at the FA and bring the league back on a sensible footing.

[Paul]

Thats a bit harsh, I would not say Derb's or Dunn even Nelsen don't give a pooh about Rovers.

OK harsh on those three but I'm talking generally here and about years gone by. Yes there are exceptions to the rule but I long ago gave up believing in the individuals. I believe in the club but don't trust a word uttered by a footballer, the examples are too numerous. Before anyone says it I know one should tar all with the same brush but that is the difficulty with modern football "I love this club, I'll stay to the end of my days" ........ "£50k per week? Where do I sign? Mr New Manager." Not that I'm cynical. Shearer killed it for me.

[waggy]

yes

[MCMC1875]

Yes.

[Olveres]

Nelson would have gladly put country before Rovers - he came back because he was told to. Dunn left the club just to spite the manager and Derb's well.... I'll bet this with you, if he doesn't play this season he will be engineering a move next season.

They care about themselves more, as we all would do in their position.

I was very uneasy about the happenings at City but it’s a good point that the top 4 monopoly has now been broken and with no prospect of a 5th Champions league place it might actually be a good thing and inject an element of sanity into to the so called top 4.

Man Utd or Liverpool going bust would wake up the idiots at the FA and bring the league back on a sensible footing.

Don't forget in a year or two, the number of CL places drops to the top two only. The big 4 monopoly will be broken when two of them fail to get in the CL and struggle financially due to this.

[broadsword]

Really depressed about the way football's going at the moment.

The way it's going, Rovers will do well to survive.

If teh Man City investors start off more wage-inflation then we are truly stuffed. Kenwright was going on today about how Everton need a billionnaire.

I give up, what's the point?

[CrazyIvan]

Don't forget in a year or two, the number of CL places drops to the top two only. The big 4 monopoly will be broken when two of them fail to get in the CL and struggle financially due to this.

I think, according to this website, the top four can still qualify. It'll be the top three automatically (if the Premier League is still ranked in the top three leagues) and the 4th will have to pre-qualify as now.

http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64...sid=630602.html

Please correct me if I'm wrong. It is as clear as mud tbh.

[Olveres]

I think, according to this website, the top four can still qualify. It'll be the top three automatically (if the Premier League is still ranked in the top three leagues) and the 4th will have to pre-qualify as now.

http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64...sid=630602.html

Please correct me if I'm wrong. It is as clear as mud tbh.

Ah and there I was thinking it would allow some of the old Eastern European sides in directly but no sadly not. I think I last watched a CL game (excluding the Final) about 5 years ago now. I wonder what Platini will come up with for 2012 onwards when it's been dominated by the Prmeiership sides for another 4 years. Or maybe he just prays for hooliganism to rear its ugly head and they can introduce a ban again.