[Archived] Big Fat Sam's Shopping List

[den]

I'm not talking about the club buying baby-faced players who haven't played at the top level. I'm suggesting we go for a player or 3 who has/have looked promising at a good level. Their are plenty about...

Who? Give me half a dozen names.

[Iceman]

Well im also trying to think of young quality players Den, proven at premiership level who havent been looked at by bigger clubs already.

[den]

Well im also trying to think of young quality players Den, proven at premiership level who havent been looked at by bigger clubs already.

This talk that there are lots of younger players out there who could do a job in the top level of English football are way wide of the mark. There quite simply aren't.

I'm sure rovers would take a promising youngster at a reasonable price though, Iceman, because they have done so in the past, but we aren't in a position to be gambling any kind of real money on them at the moment. Any available monies will be needed to bring in players who can do the job immediately.

[American]

I'm sure rovers would take a promising youngster at a reasonable price Iceman, because they have done so in the past. We aren't in a position to be gambling any kind of real money on them at the moment though. Any available monies will be needed to bring in players who can do the job immediately.

Or we could go the Wigan way and invest some money now and have it pay off in the future. For everything everyone says about Steve Bruce, he has the right attitude at Wigan. If you have promise, come play for me and I won't stand in your way of a big money move to a Champions League club.

[gumboots]

I love how many on here are so sure they know exactly what would/wouldn't work. I bow to your superior knowledge Gumboots.

I don't claim superior knowledge as you full well know. Nor do I go around saying that there are good players out there that we could pick up for peanuts which is what we've got to spend as far as anyone knows unless John Williams has put a stash of money under his bed and forgotten about it till now or someone actually decides to invest in the club. I want my club to succeed as much as anyone and I don't think mere survival playing rubbish football is ultimately success. However, I'm also a realist living here in the area who knows how little a high proportion of locals think of the club. I know that if we can't even persuade the good citizens of Blackburn and the surrounding area that Rovers are worth following then it's going to be that much harder to persuade a foreigner who doesn't even know where Blackburn is that Rovers are a club worth playing for. Not that they won't come if you offer enough but our wage bill is already very high as a proportion of income and with no European football to tempt players, nor any realistic prospect of getting any as other clubs find investment that we struggle to find and seem to be able to buy players we can only dream of (and I'm not talking your Man Utd type players here but the kind of player Everton for example bring in) it seems to me that we will see very few of the young players you'd like and more loan signings and coming to the end of their career type of players than we might like. I may be wrong and if I am I'll be the first to hold up my hands and say so. But I don't think I will be.

[Iceman]

It basically is about short term experienced options, rather than long term youngsters. I think Sam will bring in players that will offer the team experience, especially in times when we struggling to break down a team.

[Iceman]

Mrs Gumboots and Mrs Roversmum are good, honest rovers supporters. I think there are too many, including myself who let their emotions get the better of the bigger picture. At the end of the day, no matter who Sam signs there will be people for, and people against those signings. We just got to get behind the team, and trust the players to go out there and perform. This season has been terrible, and we cant have another season like this, if we do then we havent learned from our mistakes. Still cant understand what has gone wrong in Andy Van Der Meyde's time at Everton, because that guy looked classy.

[Guest benmaxwell]

Who? Give me half a dozen names.

In the 20-25 bracket, off the top of my head Steven Davis (Rangers), Chris Brunt (WBA), Gary O'Neil (Boro), Aron Gunnarsson (Coventry), Gianni Zuiverloon (WBA), Paul Anderson (Liverpool) & Ryan Taylor (Newcastle)...

Added 7th in case you didn't think Aron Gunnarsson was of sufficient quality yet...

[HemelRover]

In the 20-25 bracket, off the top of my head Steven Davis (Rangers), Chris Brunt (WBA), Gary O'Neil (Boro), Aron Gunnarsson (Coventry), Gianni Zuiverloon (WBA), Paul Anderson (Liverpool) & Ryan Taylor (Newcastle)...

Added 7th in case you didn't think Aron Gunnarsson was of sufficient quality yet...

out of that list of 7 players, who is of proven premiership quality? All of them are at clubs who are either championship level or are soon to be playing at championship level (and yes I count Rangers as championship level). Some of them may become useful premiership players but not many of them will cost less than £2m.

For Rovers, £2m is a big gamble on a player who is not proven at Premiership level.

[Guest benmaxwell]

Steven Davis - Previously played at Premier League level with Aston Villa and Fulham?

Chris Brunt - Has played for Boro youth, and has been WBA's star player this season. Is defo not Championship quality...

Gary O'Neil - Is definately not Championship quality. Has previously played for Pompey and now Boro. Pompey and a couple of other Premier League teams have been linked with him...

Aron Gunnarsson - A very promising young player i will admit. Looks totally above Coventry's level. Needs to learn some experience, but their is no doubting his 'huge' potential. His potential was evident in the Championship along with the likes of Kightly... Do we want to allow another Premier League team to discover his talent?

Gianni Zuiverloon - Has played for Feyenoord and SC Heerenveen respectively before his money move to WBA. Is only 22, and is undoubtably WBA's best CB...

Paul Anderson - has looked very good in his loans (bar a nasty injury that had nothing to do with a prior exhisting injury), and looks ready for a step up...

Ryan Taylor - Has played for Wigan and Newcastle in the Premier League. Looks good at both RB and RM and can score a scorcher of a freekick and good with corner duty leading to Newcastle's few goals prior to Big Al's arrival. Could be available fairly cheap if Newcastle get relegated and still only 24...

[Bazzanotsogreat]

If we go down the line of ‘must have premiership experience’: then three quarters of rovers squad should not off been brought.

Look at the success that players such as Samba, Nelsen, Roque & Benni have had. None of which, had any experience of the premiership.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Zuiverloon- Looked very promising initially but his form has wavered over the course of the season. One to keep our eye on.

Taylor- No- Can't make the bench for the Barcodes. Enough said. He'd have to be scoring off a free kick every game to justify his place.

Brunt- Looks busy and imposes himself on the game. An improvement on Pedersen, but then who wouldn't be. Worth closer attention.

Davis- Steady pro, been around the block. The sort that Sam likes. I'm not so sure.

O,Neil- Same as Davis.

Gunnarsson- A good player in the making, worth a punt I think.

Anderson- Don't know the player at all.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

Brunt, Gunnarsson & O'Neil are realy good shouts.

[den]

Steven Davis - Previously played at Premier League level with Aston Villa and Fulham?

Chris Brunt - Has played for Boro youth, and has been WBA's star player this season. Is defo not Championship quality...

Gary O'Neil - Is definately not Championship quality. Has previously played for Pompey and now Boro. Pompey and a couple of other Premier League teams have been linked with him...

Aron Gunnarsson - A very promising young player i will admit. Looks totally above Coventry's level. Needs to learn some experience, but their is no doubting his 'huge' potential. His potential was evident in the Championship along with the likes of Kightly... Do we want to allow another Premier League team to discover his talent?

Gianni Zuiverloon - Has played for Feyenoord and SC Heerenveen respectively before his money move to WBA. Is only 22, and is undoubtably WBA's best CB...

Paul Anderson - has looked very good in his loans (bar a nasty injury that had nothing to do with a prior exhisting injury), and looks ready for a step up...

Ryan Taylor - Has played for Wigan and Newcastle in the Premier League. Looks good at both RB and RM and can score a scorcher of a freekick and good with corner duty leading to Newcastle's few goals prior to Big Al's arrival. Could be available fairly cheap if Newcastle get relegated and still only 24...

Well that's just a list of names.

What we want is names of young players who can come in and play in our team. So, which one will replace Rocky, Tugay etc, etc? Which one is a capable Prem right winger? Which ones will come to Ewood? How much will they cost? How much would an alternative experienced player for that position cost?

[Stuart]

Well that's just a list of names.

What we want is names of young players who can come in and play in our team. So, which one will replace Rocky, Tugay etc, etc? Which one is a capable Prem right winger? Which ones will come to Ewood? How much will they cost? How much would an alternative experienced player for that position cost?

C'mon den, give the guy a break. At least he's had a proper think about it.

I'd imagine Gunnarson would be the Tugay replacement but after that, we are looking to shore up our midfield and he's given a few midfielders there.

Having said that, I expect the summer transfers - especially out - to raise some eyebrows, and I'm not sure it will simply be a case of getting rid of poor midfielders and replacing them with better ones. You've mentioned Rocky - almost certainly he will be the source of most of our funds but I'm not expecting a like for like replacement for him.

Wouldn't be surprised if we get half of what we need and a quarter of what we'd like in the summer window, with a couple loans in January. Certainly can't see a grandstand signing of the Andy Cole variety. (Unless Sam can tempt him out of retirement...!)

[thenodrog]

Or we could go the Wigan way and invest some money now and have it pay off in the future. For everything everyone says about Steve Bruce, he has the right attitude at Wigan. If you have promise, come play for me and I won't stand in your way of a big money move to a Champions League club.

Correct! That was the reputation that we were earning under Hughes's management. A great place for an agent to place his talented young players whose careers are stuttering. Resurrection nad development bing the key words. If we want good young players to sign we need to be able to show em what a few years at Blackburn has done for the likes of Bentley, Bellamy, Warnock and Samba.

[Eddie]

It also means that you have to show that you are willing to let them go. Trying desperately to cling on to Santa Cruz when he wants out and it appears that there is good money on the table won't make the club so attractive.

[thenodrog]

It also means that you have to show that you are willing to let them go. Trying desperately to cling on to Santa Cruz when he wants out and it appears that there is good money on the table won't make the club so attractive.

Any sales still have to be under our control though. A replacement must be in place before a player can go. If Crouch had agreed to come then RSC would have gone.

[patrickvalery]

This talk of bringing in youthful talent is one which i'm sure we'd all love in an ideal world. The fact is anyone who even vaguely resembles a young tugay is already on the books of a top club. I guess this isn't the case 100% of the time. But it leaves the odd exception to the rule to be hunted by the majority of every other club not considered 'big'. If we are lucky enough to unearth one then great. In reality it probably won't happen.

To spend what little money we have on young players who the current managment consider to have the talent to play successfully in the PL is not a good way to operate for us. Look at Middlesborough. I agree the likes of Brunt might be worth looking at but they aren't under the radar. They are players of a young age who have PL experience. These don't represent bargains. These types of signings are not rare. They often prove to be succesful but rarlely in regards to selling on. They are no brainer signings for many clubs. Most do a job but command very little sell on price as they usually have reached their level. I'm not saying they're bad players but they are unlikely to improve much and as such command small or similar fees when selling on. Anyone really good will get snapped up by big spending clubs like Ashley Young. For me the only viable options are to continue with our policy of spending little on up and coming talent and hope for the odd gem. Whilst investing what we have on proven quality of any age who need a little TLC. Or paying nowt for short term sollutions or quick fixes. No profit but the cost is off set by the positions they may help us achieve.

As for the expiring contracts. Don't be suprised if these are not replaced on other players. We spend too much on wages against our turnover. This is widely accepted and Sam's comments about squad trimming will factor this. The club NEED to cut back in order to become more self sufficent. If we attracted bigger crowds this might not be the case. But it is and will probably remain so.

[LeChuck]

No profit but the cost is off set by the positions they may help us achieve.

That's just not true.

The only way this club can be consistently competitive in the Premier League is to buy low and sell high. Otherwise we'll always be running at a loss and therefore dabbling in free transfers and loans. Eventually that will see us relegated.

To buy players who will not have a resale value is basically accepting relegation within 3 or 4 years.

[patrickvalery]

Anyone think Viduka might be worth a go? Sam's kind of target man, and should cost peanuts/nothing if Newcastle are relegated.

Topman, i mentioned his name myself. I think he may well be an Allardyce type signing. I don'e want him here but would not be at all suprised if he arrived. Expressed similar thoughts about Hyypia but i belive he's gone to Leverkusen. I'm certain we would have tried for him.

The one player who might be on a Bosman who i'd love to have here is Murphy. I know he plays further forward but he's as close to Tugay as we could get. Very intelligent footballer who would add un told class to next years Tugayless midfield.

[patrickvalery]

That's just not true.

The only way this club can be consistently competitive in the Premier League is to buy low and sell high. Otherwise we'll always be running at a loss and therefore dabbling in free transfers and loans. Eventually that will see us relegated.

To buy players who will not have a resale value is basically accepting relegation within 3 or 4 years.

Agree Le Chuck. I'd sooner buy proven quality with a sell on value. But cheap or free quality signings for short term fixes are less of a gamble than paying a few million for unproven potential. Who would you say got the better deal - Boateng to Hull for free or Digard to Boro for £4m?

[LeChuck]

Hull...I guess. I don't have a problem with bringing in older players on free transfers, in fact it's inevitable that we'll have to do that as we have so many gaps to fill, but whatever money we have to spend must go on younger players.

[JAL]

Correct! That was the reputation that we were earning under Hughes's management. A great place for an agent to place his talented young players whose careers are stuttering. Resurrection nad development bing the key words. If we want good young players to sign we need to be able to show em what a few years at Blackburn has done for the likes of Bentley, Bellamy, Warnock and Samba.

True, i'd have thought the Arsenal would have seen Rovers as a good opportunity to move on some youngsters not quite first teamers but definitely premier league players that could provide a valuable return in future years especially after the success Bentley proved.

But then how does the scouting network at Rovers work, is it a sham ? Does it all depend on whoever the manager is at the time and heavily rely on HIS network. Questions, is Williams and co. ill prepared to take Rovers forward are they wrapped up in their own bubble.

[patrickvalery]

Hull...I guess. I don't have a problem with bringing in older players on free transfers, in fact it's inevitable that we'll have to do that as we have so many gaps to fill, but whatever money we have to spend must go on younger players.

In an ideal world yes. But if we signed 6 players in the summer who all have premier league and/or European experience such as Murphy, Mendes, Sean Davis, Viduka, Barton etc... then we'd have a better side than we do now with little or no expense (league positions pending). I think we find ourselves in a similar position to when Hughes joined. We need some free or very cheap decent players to increse the pedigree of the side. If we can add to that with younger talent who represent minimal risk and potential high sell on value then great. If not then i'd sooner see us not waste comparitively big money on players of a higher risk who are simply younger.