[Archived] Big Fat Sam's Shopping List

[Majiball]

Sam had over 30 people in his backroom team At Notlob

I'm sure there's a lot of deadwood in the squad that could be culled - looking at a programme from when Sam took over I think there were something like 41 players with a squad number and realistically barely half those are good enough to make any sort of impact in the Prem.

Sam's key point about reducing the squad to 18 better class players as opposed to 24 + so so ones was that he believes his team can successfully implement an "injury prevention" programme making such a policy viable.

Errrmmm........ when does that start then?

Here's our squad complete top to toe (the wiki has some uses)

As of 7 April 2009.[12]

No. Position Player

1 GK Paul Robinson - keep

2 DF André Ooijer - get rid

3 DF Stephen Warnock -get rid

4 DF Christopher Samba - keep

5 MF Tugay Kerimoğlu - coach

6 DF Ryan Nelsen (captain) -get rid

7 MF Brett Emerton - keep

8 MF David Dunn (vice-captain) -keep (home grown)

9 FW Roque Santa Cruz - get rid (we need the cash)

10 FW Benni McCarthy - get rid

11 MF Vince Grella - keep

12 MF Morten Gamst Pedersen - keep

13 DF Zurab Khizanishvili - keep

15 DF Aaron Mokoena - get rid

No. Position Player

16 MF Steven Reid - keep (no choice)

17 MF Keith Andrews - get rid

18 MF El Hadji Diouf - keep

19 MF Carlos Villanueva (on loan from Audax) - get rid

21 DF Gaël Givet (on loan from Marseille) - keep

22 DF Danny Simpson (on loan from Manchester United) - get rid

24 MF Keith Treacy - get rid

29 DF Martin Olsson - loan out

30 FW Jason Roberts - get rid

32 GK Jason Brown - get rid

38 GK Mark Bunn - loan out

39 MF Aaron Doran - loan out

41 MF Andy Haworth - loan out

Injuries

As of 28 January 2009.[12]

No. Position Player

7 MF Brett Emerton

16 MF Steven Reid

Out on loan

As of 3 March 2009.[12]

No. Position Player

25 MF Alan Judge (at Plymouth Argyle) - keep

27 FW Matt Derbyshire (at Olympiacos) - keep

28 DF Tony Kane (at Carlisle United) - get rid

33 GK Frank Fielding (at Rochdale) - get rid

— MF Nick Blackman (at Blackpool) - loan out

No. Position Player

— FW Osahon Eboigbe (at Leuven) - get rid

— FW Paul Gallagher (at Plymouth Argyle) - get rid

— FW David Hoilett (at St. Pauli) - get rid

— FW Maceo Rigters (at Barnsley) - get rid

I won't lie I haven't seen all of them below:

Reserves

As of 2 January 2009.[13]

No. Position Player

40 GK Bjorn Bussmann - keep

— GK Andreas Arestidou - get rid

42 DF Gavin Gunning - loan out

— DF Jonathan Bateson - get rid

— DF Johnny Flynn - loan out

— DF Kris Paterson - get rid

— DF Dean Winnard - get rid

31 MF Bryan Hodge - get rid

No. Position Player

37 MF Alex Marrow - get rid

39 MF Aaron Doran - loan out

- MF Michael Hall - no idea

- MF Gearoid Morrissey - no idea

- MF Jason Lowe - no idea

26 FW Julio Santa Cruz - get rid pointless signing

36 FW Marcus Marshall - keep

- FW Michael Potts - get rid

ITS TIME TO START OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET IN MODERN COACHES WITH NEW IDEAS. ITS TIME TO CLEAR OUT THE DEADWOOD FROM TOP TO TOE.

We're in this position because simply we deserve to be, even under Hughes you could see our decline. Most of our players do not have the right mentality nor the ability for this level, we need to start again. Christ half of them don't even want to be here.

I know what would be required for this "injury prevention" scheme, serious individual examinations, biopsies, energy system manipulation, nutrition, structured training sessions, extra work IE other disciplines - yoga, at thats just the tip of the iceberg. None of which is in place at Rovers at present we have two sports scientists (both strenght based), one student and then the physio's. Its nowhere near enough, but injuries are not something you can account for. What about matches, training????? Excuse me Mr Ferguson could you set your players to easy tackling to stop my players getting injured?? this is not champioship manager.

To get ahead the first thing you need are visionaries, people who can think outside the box and get us that 1% advantage Sam harkes on about, man utd have a reasearch departement exclusively looking at new idea's, Real Madrid have us LJMU, rovers need something or someone like this, desperatly.

Getting everything in place up and running by next year, given that we can't start till we know which league we are in, will be nothing short of the biggest task I've ever heard of, its not just about setting it up but you need everyone to know exactly how it all works and gels together.

I find it all rather baffling TBH RSC, Dunn, Reid, would all be out the window you'd have too, they will get injured and then straight away we have 15 pro's and then well I don't even want to think about it.

I wish I'd not been in spain the week Sam talked to the fans, I would have had a lot to say about that idea.

[Amo]

Anyone think Beattie could be an option in the Summer, should RSC leave?

[Iceman]

I dont think Santa Cruz will leave until January, unless somebody is prepared to take a risk on him staying injury free. Beattie, im not sure on him. If we do bring him back, i would still like to see an established striker sign as well.

[Majiball]

We've missed the boat on Beattie, Stoke will want 6M + given his 6 in 9 record.

Pity he would have played his heart out for Rovers!

If RSC is not sold in the summer, well, I fear we will not get the quality nor the amount of players we need for our grand plan!

[47er]

Majiball-------------why would you get rid of Warnock? Apologise in advance if you've already discussed this.

[Amo]

To provide a more realistic approach to our car-boot sale:

1 GK Paul Robinson

2 DF André Ooijer

3 DF Stephen Warnock

4 DF Christopher Samba

5 MF Tugay

6 DF Ryan Nelsen (captain)

7 MF Brett Emerton

8 MF David Dunn (vice-captain)

9 FW Roque Santa Cruz

10 FW Benni McCarthy

11 MF Vince Grella

112 MF Morten Gamst Pedersen

13 DF Zurab Khizanishvili

15 DF Aaron Mokoena

16 MF Steven Reid

17 MF Keith Andrews

18 MF El Hadji Diouf

19 MF Carlos Villanueva (on loan from Audax)

21 DF Gaël Givet (on loan from Marseille)

22 DF Danny Simpson (on loan from Manchester United)

24 MF Keith Treacy

29 DF Martin Olsson

30 FW Jason Roberts

32 GK Jason Brown

38 GK Mark Bunn

39 MF Aaron Doran

41 MF Andy Haworth

Hopefully in the summer, Sam will be able to sign a new keeper, with Bunn as understudy. We're also looking at a right-back (with Emerton as competition), so that means we should let Ooijer return to Holland. We don't need Ooijer or Zurab, if we *fingers crossed* sign Givet to challenge Samba & Nelsen at CB.

We desperately need an attacking midfielder, and if we can dupe clubs with footage from three years ago I'm sure we'll find a suitor for Pedersen.

RSC will be sold for obvious reasons, and unless McCarthy can prove his fitness we can probably afford to offload him as well and bring in a fresh face. We will then have Roberts, possibly Derbyshire, and Nick Blackman in reserve.

[Majiball]

Majiball-------------why would you get rid of Warnock? Apologise in advance if you've already discussed this.

No need to apologise, I haven't really discussed it.

Warnock was very vocal when Hughes left, discussing how he felt betrayed and so on, that doesn't impress me one bit and still sticks in my mind. It showed he wasn't here for the club, in my opinion. His performances after that where nothing short of crap, wigan sticks in my mind. I'm not convinced that his heart is with the club. Things like that should be kept within our walls, not in the public domain.

Then there's the transfer request, I'm sorry those sort of leaks only come from one place, players & their bloody agents. (whether true or not its funny that it came so quickly after his I've been betrayed by Hughes crap). Players should realise managers move on just like they do.

The next reason is RSC, I just don't see anyone making a bid that we would accept, would you? We also know that our budget will be the usual 5M (if thats not already gone, due to January). We need serious cash this summer and Warnock would raise good money, Villa need a left back as do spurs, man city and Everton, I'm sure more than two clubs would be interested in him.

You must also consider his latest public chat, I don't want relegation on MY CV. Poor choice of words for me, but perhaps he's been misquoted, its the standard get out nowadays, blame the media. they all do it RSC is a great example of this.

Givet is the next reason, I like him and he suits sam's style better than warnock as he's a defender first and a good one.

Warnocks, OK in midfield but he's not the answer long term and I doubt Sam sees him there as well. He's got the engine but not the talent for me for the role his range of passing is limited. We need specialist midfielders next year and I do think our lack of talent in that area is part of the reason we the fans percieve he's done well in that role. If you watch andrews playing there one week and then Warnock the next, we're bound to think him a better player.

At the end of the day we're going to lose a lot of players with there contracts running out and even though that free's up wages it won't pay transfer fee's. He's replacable in my eye's and as I said I think he'll be looking to move this summer anyway. Its not long ago he was in the england team and now he's not he will know he needs to be playing in europe to get back in and we can't give him that.

But the main reason is money he'd fetch at least 10M and we need every penny we can lay our hands on, to sort out the club from top to toe. Givet would be whatever we agreed but you can bet its not that high we are the paupers of the premiership so I doubt its much more than 3M so that leaves enough to sign a good player on top.

We're going to have to wheel and deal this year and he's one I would deal because Givet is easily good enough to replace him. I would use the cash to sign a commanding centre half, to replace Nelsen who has also dropped off badly this year. Samba needs a leader alongside him, Ooijers too old and Nelsen's not the answer neither is Givet (left back) so by selling Warnock we could solve two problems.

I know most on here will disagree, but thats half the fun of this place!!

[Exiled in Toronto]

I know most on here will disagree, but thats half the fun of this place!!

Not me - I'm with you 100%. He should be first to go. Dressing room shop steward who puts in the effort when it suits him, which isn't today by the looks of the first half.

Bad apple.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Midfield needs to be the priority. Have we been linked to any bloody midfielders yet?

[Billy Castell]

I'd sell Warnock if we get Givet too. £6m or so would be nice.

[G Somerset Rover]

Easier to mention who to keep:

Samba

[RovertheHill]

Totally unrealistic I know but major surgery is needed if we survive

Robinson - ditch - makes the occasional great save but does the basics badly and unnerves everyone

Givet - keep

Samba - keep

Nelson - keep

Emerton - keep

Warnock - keep - IF the attitude can be sorted

Andrews - ditch - not good enough

Mokoena - ditch - liability

Dunn - keep

Tugay - ditch (as a player) - season too far

Grella - keep until January. If he hasn't played 3 matches in a row then ditch

Reid - ditch - never be the same again

Pedersen - ditch - 2 or 3 seasons out of form is quite enough

Diouf - keep if only to shame the rest of the team as he's the only one who looks like he gives a sh*t

RSC - keep - IF the attitude can be sorted

Benni - ditch - just not interested now

Roberts - keep

Depressing

[broadsword]

First item on the shopping list:

- A new team

[Exiled in Toronto]

First item on the shopping list:

- A new team

Second item - new tactics

[JAL]

No need to apologise, I haven't really discussed it.

Warnock was very vocal when Hughes left, discussing how he felt betrayed and so on, that doesn't impress me one bit and still sticks in my mind. It showed he wasn't here for the club, in my opinion. His performances after that where nothing short of crap, wigan sticks in my mind. I'm not convinced that his heart is with the club. Things like that should be kept within our walls, not in the public domain.

Then there's the transfer request, I'm sorry those sort of leaks only come from one place, players & their bloody agents. (whether true or not its funny that it came so quickly after his I've been betrayed by Hughes crap). Players should realise managers move on just like they do.

The next reason is RSC, I just don't see anyone making a bid that we would accept, would you? We also know that our budget will be the usual 5M (if thats not already gone, due to January). We need serious cash this summer and Warnock would raise good money, Villa need a left back as do spurs, man city and Everton, I'm sure more than two clubs would be interested in him.

You must also consider his latest public chat, I don't want relegation on MY CV. Poor choice of words for me, but perhaps he's been misquoted, its the standard get out nowadays, blame the media. they all do it RSC is a great example of this.

Givet is the next reason, I like him and he suits sam's style better than warnock as he's a defender first and a good one.

Warnocks, OK in midfield but he's not the answer long term and I doubt Sam sees him there as well. He's got the engine but not the talent for me for the role his range of passing is limited. We need specialist midfielders next year and I do think our lack of talent in that area is part of the reason we the fans percieve he's done well in that role. If you watch andrews playing there one week and then Warnock the next, we're bound to think him a better player.

At the end of the day we're going to lose a lot of players with there contracts running out and even though that free's up wages it won't pay transfer fee's. He's replacable in my eye's and as I said I think he'll be looking to move this summer anyway. Its not long ago he was in the england team and now he's not he will know he needs to be playing in europe to get back in and we can't give him that.

But the main reason is money he'd fetch at least 10M and we need every penny we can lay our hands on, to sort out the club from top to toe. Givet would be whatever we agreed but you can bet its not that high we are the paupers of the premiership so I doubt its much more than 3M so that leaves enough to sign a good player on top.

We're going to have to wheel and deal this year and he's one I would deal because Givet is easily good enough to replace him. I would use the cash to sign a commanding centre half, to replace Nelsen who has also dropped off badly this year. Samba needs a leader alongside him, Ooijers too old and Nelsen's not the answer neither is Givet (left back) so by selling Warnock we could solve two problems.

I know most on here will disagree, but thats half the fun of this place!!

Think your spot on in your assessment majiball, you and Ncko should be running the place.

[RevidgeBlue]

First item on the shopping list:

- A new team

I'd have thought the first item needed was new owners - closely followed by the second one.

[Guest Vinjay606]

I'd have thought the first item needed was new owners - closely followed by the second one.

Exactly.

[Blue n White Rover]

Why get rid of Ooijer? He's been doing a decent job at full back in my opinion. Rarely makes a mistake and is always reliable. If we sell him then we are relying on Emerton at RB, and Andrews as his cover.

We don't have money to waste on a RB. Keep Andre, no need to fix something that isn't broke.

[Fylde Coast Fan]

No choice on Ooijer - he's out of contract and has agreed terms to go back to PSV for a year or two before he retires. Shame, as I'm a big fan, but he's 34 now (I think) so the chances of him keeping up for another 2-3 years when he already looks very slow are pretty slim.

[Majiball]

I'm shocked I expected most to jump on me.

Think your spot on in your assessment majiball, you and Ncko should be running the place.

One day I will be. And I'm not joking all I want out of football is to help make our club great again, I know its possible.

And above all I know I can do it. Eventually.

[Silencio]

Majiball, what is it that you are proposing to help the club? It seems that you have been at the training ground and you obviously know more than a bit about fitness an other aspects of sport/football.

Maybe you don't want to go into details over the internet but it would be interesting to hear what ideas you have and if you have or plan to present them to the club...

[patrickvalery]

But the main reason is money he'd fetch at least 10M and we need every penny we can lay our hands on, to sort out the club from top to toe.

Not sure he'd fetch as much as that. Although if city showed up at the auction it might bump it up a little. I know we are short on transfer funds, but i'm not sure that'll be so much of a problem this year. Too many clubs have too bigger squads and are carrying under performing players on too much money. I think this summer may see a lot of players moving to simply get them off payrolls. If this is the case then our usual £5m budget may stretch a little further. Don't get me wrong, if we could raise this kind of money for Warnock then it makes fantastic business sense. I don't have any issues regarding his ability at all, but at the right price he could go and i wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

[HemelRover]

No choice on Ooijer - he's out of contract and has agreed terms to go back to PSV for a year or two before he retires.

I dont think thats true(unless ive missed something recently). I know there was a lot of talk a couple of months ago but then this....

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,...1622454,00.html

[Lurid Coat]

Gossip from today's papers:

Tottenham have targeted Roque Santa Cruz. (News Of The World, The People) - Hopefully true, I'd offload him in a heartbeat if a decent offer comes in (if he actually passes his medical). He was amazing for us the season before this one, but we can't afford to be dependent on strikers who are made of glass. We need someone who can play week in, week out, and we are also in badly need of transfer funds to overhaul our squad (particularly our midfield).

Paul Robinson will be offloaded by Blackburn after only one season at the club. (News Of The World - I'd only offload him if the money is right and Kameni from Espanyol signs on a free. The Robinson money can then be spent on a central midfielder who has the ability to pass a football.

[Guest Vinjay606]

Gossip from today's papers:

Tottenham have targeted Roque Santa Cruz. (News Of The World, The People) - Hopefully true, I'd offload him in a heartbeat if a decent offer comes in (if he actually passes his medical). He was amazing for us the season before this one, but we can't afford to be dependent on strikers who are made of glass. We need someone who can play week in, week out, and we are also in badly need of transfer funds to overhaul our squad (particularly our midfield).

Paul Robinson will be offloaded by Blackburn after only one season at the club. (News Of The World - I'd only offload him if the money is right and Kameni from Espanyol signs on a free. The Robinson money can then be spent on a central midfielder who has the ability to pass a football.

The People (Nixon stories I believe) says Cruz is being linked to a 12 million deal plus players in exchange.

Kameni apparently would want 50,000 a week.