[Archived] Big Fat Sam's Shopping List

[Eddie]

And that's fair enough. But the point remains that Sam couldn't have known that he would be out for the remainder of the season and obviously considered him vital to our hopes of staying in the league. Consequently, it would be extremely harsh to criticize him for this decision.

In any case, he was prepared to let him go for the right price, and had the likes of Crouch and Beattie lined up as replacements, but we didn't get an acceptable fee until it was too late.

There's not a whole lot more he could have done, especially when you consider that John Williams was presumably the man responsible for accepting and rejecting bids and negotiating a decent fee.

We didn't have them lined up as replacements, we simply had them as an idea for replacements, it isn't the same thing. We didn't a fee agreed with Portsmouth or any other side.

[jny]

I think Diouf has been good over the while we have since we bought him. Can beat defenders and puts crosses in and only 1.8m bargain!

[gazsimm]

We did not sell Santa in January beacause we did not get the right bid untill the last hour of the window closing, which ment Rovers could not put a bid in for a replacement. Anyone who thinks Diouf was a bad signing must need their eyes testing. since he has come into the club, he has offered us the much needed pace and energy we were lacking in the team.

[gumboots]

I think Diouf has been good over the while we have since we bought him. Can beat defenders and puts crosses in and only 1.8m bargain!

But the crosses are poor and don't produce much

[benhben]

Wonder if Big Sam would fancy reuniting with his former Bolton striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. I reckon he would be within our price range nowadays. Quality player who would bring some creative passing to the team.

[gazsimm]

But the crosses are poor and don't produce much

i have seen him put a lot of good crosses in during his time at Rovers, the problem is we have a centre half, playing up front and we have fat benni who needs to stay off the pies to get on the end of his crosses.

Wonder if Big Sam would fancy reuniting with his former Bolton striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. I reckon he would be within our price range nowadays. Quality player who would bring some creative passing to the team.

he would be a great signing for us, but i think there will be a lot more bigger clubs in for him as well like (Everton, Villa). Also he would need to take a massive wage drop to sign for us.

[Eddie]

You're obviously watching a different Diouf, he's certainly been no better than MGP.

[The Rover of Finland]

Eidur is probably heading to club like Spurs or City. They can afford him and he should fit first eleven. But if Sam wants to bring in his former players then Kevin Nolan is very close. Atleast we´ll make an offer I mean. I´d like him very much. Bolton won´t sell Davies. Ben Haim is available but no thanks. Same for every Sam´s Newcastle buy.

[DE.]

Diouf's not set the place alight, but for 2M he's plugged a gaping hole in our side that couldn't have been filled any better by any of our current options. He's been a good purchase, shows the passion that some of our players seem to lack.

As for selling Roque in january, there's a lot of selective memory going on here. I believe even City's final offer was payable by installments (their previous ones certainly were), so we wouldn't have had anywhere near all of the money available right away anyway. There's no way Sam could have known he'd get injured for the majority of this season, criticising him for this really is clutching at straws. Just admit the man's done a good job this year and if people do feel the need to have a go at him, do it after the summer, when we know which direction he plans to take the team in.

[Blue blood]

Diouf's not set the place alight, but for 2M he's plugged a gaping hole in our side that couldn't have been filled any better by any of our current options. He's been a good purchase, shows the passion that some of our players seem to lack.

Bang on - we did not have a right midfielder - and now we do. He was cheap and has done a decent job for us. Ok he hasn't set the world alight but who has this season. And if he hasn't done much exception he certainly hasn't done anything wrong - which is a darn sight more than most players on the books this season.

He's put in solid performances consistently, and given the team a lot more balance. If the more pacey Emerton hadn't been injured I think we could have seen a lot of good link up play down the right (Dioufs link up play has been good this season) and is something I think will threaten teams next season. Remember Bents wasn't too pacey either - albeit he could cross better. I feel we might have the right hand side of the team sorted. Now for the rest of the midfield.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

Certainly a rather reasonable about of the Duff and Bentley sales were made available to the managers at the time and I am in no doubt that Allardyce would have been given access to the money raised from the transfer.

Your memory mistakes you. Duff & Dunn where sold for a combined fee of 23 million. Souness was allowed to spend around 13 million of that.

Bentley was sold for 15 million rising to 17 million. Ince was allowed to spend well under half that amount ( even when we include Arsenal's cut).

If Santa was sold in Jan for the reputed 20 million fee; I would put my house on it, that he woudn't of been given anywhere near the figure that the club recieved for the player to spend on a replacement.

[Eddie]

Bentley may have been sold for 17 million, but if the reports at the time are correct we were due only 10 million of that. When you add up our summer signings and then factor in a probably increase in wages we get close to that figure and it also appeared that more money was available.

Souness spent about 16 million that summer if I remember correctly, although I may even be forgetting a signing from that summer (Amoruso, Reid, Emerton, Ferguson?). It's also unclear how much of those transfers was paid up front, but certainly Souness had a decent budget that summer and again probably could have spent more had he wanted to.

We have never spent all of the money we've brought in (of course we don't know how much goes to wages, signing bonuses, loyalty clauses, etc...), but we have certainly always spent a decent amount of any big profit.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

Bentley may have been sold for 17 million, but if the reports at the time are correct we were due only 10 million of that. When you add up our summer signings and then factor in a probably increase in wages we get close to that figure and it also appeared that more money was available.

Wages remained static in the summer due to the players we off-loaded. We brought in Grella for 4 mill, Carlos for 1.5, Andrews for 750K. That is around 6 millionI don't include Robinson due to offset of losing Brad..

Souness spent about 16 million that summer if I remember correctly, although I may even be forgetting a signing from that summer (Amoruso, Reid, Emerton, Ferguson?). It's also unclear how much of those transfers was paid up front, but certainly Souness had a decent budget that summer and again probably could have spent more had he wanted to

Amo cost 1.5

Reid 2.5

Brett 2.5

Fergie 6mill

Total cost= 12.5 million.

Face it Eddie when we sell our best players for big money- the manager ( whoever they are0 are never given more than 50-60% of that money to spend on replacements..[/quote]

[Eddie]

Ferguson cost 7.5. Gresko also signed for 1.2 million. Although we also sold Taylor, but brought in Gray and Enkleman (free, minimal fee).

[Bazzanotsogreat]

Ferguson cost 7.5. Gresko also signed for 1.2 million. Although we also sold Taylor, but brought in Gray and Enkleman (free, minimal fee).

I'd check your fee; I think Nicko will put you straight on that one.

Again you are been dogmatic- my point still stands, no manager has been allowed to spend anywhere near the income we have generted from the sales of our major players.

[Eddie]

If the fee I'm quoting is wrong then so was every paper and website at the time, including the club's. Let's put it this way, had we sold Santa Cruz for even 15 million history would indicate that Allardyce would have had at least 10 million to spend.

[Bobby G]

I think Givet wont be joining us. Deschamps at Marseille may just sway his mind.

[AJW]

i fear you may be right there bobby , again he was outstanding today , along with nelson i might add , and i could not help being impressed with sean davis , won it and give it , made grella look like a schoolboy he is also a lot bigger physically than i thought

...............note to big sam .....get hold of sean davis's agent

[The Prof.]

Bang on - we did not have a right midfielder - and now we do. He was cheap and has done a decent job for us. Ok he hasn't set the world alight but who has this season. And if he hasn't done much exception he certainly hasn't done anything wrong - which is a darn sight more than most players on the books this season.

He's put in solid performances consistently, and given the team a lot more balance. If the more pacey Emerton hadn't been injured I think we could have seen a lot of good link up play down the right (Dioufs link up play has been good this season) and is something I think will threaten teams next season. Remember Bents wasn't too pacey either - albeit he could cross better. I feel we might have the right hand side of the team sorted. Now for the rest of the midfield.

Good post. Pennant looked very tricky today and quick but doesn't play. Diouf has done a job and he can get balls in.. still needs to create more and score more for a permanent spot if others are about but has worked hard for the cause.

[duffbear]

Spoke to Carlos Villauneva and Big Sam after the game about him staying. Carlos really wants to say and sounded dispointed it didnt look like it was going to happen. I asked him is there a chance he could stay on loan for another year and he said maybe and it hopes so.

Asked Sam the same question and he said he is currently negaotaing a deal to extend loan for a further year. I think if he can pull that off great and we can hopefully get off to better start and afford to use him more.

Now we are safe I think he should start the last 2 games I am postive that he will be a great player just hope he stays a rovers player.

Also spoke to Warnock about rumours and lauged when i mentioned link about Newcastle saying no chance (no suprise there he wouldnt want to play championship footie) he said do you no something i dont lol.

Spoke to Steven Reid who said he is on schedule to be back for start of pre-season.

Oijer said he should be ok for Chelsea

[DE.]

If we could get Carlos on loan for another year I'd take it.

[tonygreenbank]

Spoke to Carlos Villauneva and Big Sam after the game about him staying. Carlos really wants to say and sounded dispointed it didnt look like it was going to happen. I asked him is there a chance he could stay on loan for another year and he said maybe and it hopes so.

Asked Sam the same question and he said he is currently negaotaing a deal to extend loan for a further year. I think if he can pull that off great and we can hopefully get off to better start and afford to use him more.

Now we are safe I think he should start the last 2 games I am postive that he will be a great player just hope he stays a rovers player.

Also spoke to Warnock about rumours and lauged when i mentioned link about Newcastle saying no chance (no suprise there he wouldnt want to play championship footie) he said do you no something i dont lol.

Spoke to Steven Reid who said he is on schedule to be back for start of pre-season.

Oijer said he should be ok for Chelsea

How do you get to speak to these guys? Are you in the media world? Next time could you ask Sam who is coming in next year?

[Guest benmaxwell]

I think Givet wont be joining us. Deschamps at Marseille may just sway his mind.

Givet has been playing solidly since joining us. It's a question of whether he has enjoyed his time here, and whether he wants to stay... Snag is, he might be able to win back his place in the International squad at Marseille, but having said that, he could easily find himself forced out again wishing he had stayed with us.

We have a written agreement on a price though, if we offer the relevent sum of money and can come to a arrangement with Givet and his reps, he will be ours...

Heard a interesting rumour that we had someone watching the West Brom vs Wigan game though. A player in particular. Don't know if you have heard anything about it Alan... Maybe you could check it out if i let you know the players name?

[Amo]

That would be great if we could extend Carlos' loan, but for some reason I'm sceptical. The impression I have from Sam is that he recognises Carlos' technical ability, but doesn't think he has what its takes athletically for the league, otherwise he would have been given a bigger role already?

[andyroversmad]

If we could get Carlos on loan for another year would be a good deal.

I would hate it if he went to another premiership club and started doing well.