[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[gumboots]

eh? Waggy's already thrown the towel in and nobody else other than Gav and gumboots are quite as self destructing so we may as well get on with it.

I'd love to see Bentley back but don't think it's likely. I'm not sure what you mean by your post at all, but on the Bentley issue that's where I stand. I didn't like the way he left us but until he did I'd always found him very pleasant on the occasions when I met him.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I can see samba working out well. He's big & strong and also likes to go on driving runs with the ball. If we could add abit more aggresion to his game then he could become a star player in there.

He also gets caught in possession a lot, how many times did you see Makele get caught on the ball ? One of the skills you need to play in that position is the ability to find a blue and white shirt without too much fuss and the ability not to get drawn out of position.

[Amo]

Was £8M when Atletico bought him in the summer, so in that region probably as they probably wouldn't want to lose any money on him and he hasn't done much to justify a higher sum. Assuming that Atletico was willing to sell him.

Then surely that's out of our price-range? Or is this only if Cruz leaves?

[Oklahoma]

Nicko, any news on Paulo Ferreira?

He is not an option in Chelsea and he could be useful for Rovers.

Maybe a loan deal is possible...

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Nicko, any news on Paulo Ferreira?

He is not an option in Chelsea and he could be useful for Rovers.

Maybe a loan deal is possible...

I don't rate him matey, nice on the ball but he's not a good defender. Not an improvement on Emmo and he'd want plenty of dosh. Let's try a bit harder for a top class winger.

[Amo]

Ferreira does a quiet, assured job at full-back, but like Tyrone I'd much rather see us looking at a right-winger.

[joey_big_nose]

I have a feeling Samba will be tried out in that role against Sunderland - with Givet making his debut at centre half.

It's just a theory, but based on some info flying about.

The Cup tie is an ideal game for a few to get a run and one or two things to be tried.

I noticed that Carlos wasn't even on the bench yesterday. Said before, not a 'Sam player.'

That is a bit wacky! I guess Sam must want to not push Grella too much too early.

Samba has some of the things you need to play in midfield, but there is absolutely no suggestion that he has the awareness which is crucial to distribute tha ball well from that spot. If you get caught in possession there, with the rest of the midfield in front of you, and the full backs making forwards runs, it can be deadly. It would be interesting to see him give it a go, but also a bit of a gamble.

[Majiball]

Our best defender at the club should be in defence.

Exactly.

Samba is our quickest centre back.

Samba is our best in the air.

His height is a great defence for balls into the box.

Has he got the passing range to sit?

I'd be surprised if it happened, but that's all of us thinking as a 442.

451 and its a different proposition.

[rover6]

This Samba-CM discussion is a bit pointless until it happens but just to weigh in - he did play the DM spoiler role as a sub for Hertha Berlin. So, it wouldn't be completely new - although, with Sunderland's forward line (assuming full strength) we can't afford, imo, to have our only fast centre back not playing in defence.

[ebenrocks]

with the way McCarthy and Roberts are playing together i doubt Sam will put one of them on the bench.

Givet should get played i think. Sam will want to see what he's about so id say maybe Warnock back into midfield and Givet put in his more natural left sided position. Probably Tugay making way after his awful performance against Newcastle.

We will have to see.

If we do get this new striker in we'll have 5 first team strikers and unfortunatly Derbs will be number 5 on that list. Think we could see him leave in the summer.

[bennyboyt11]

with the way McCarthy and Roberts are playing together i doubt Sam will put one of them on the bench.

Givet should get played i think. Sam will want to see what he's about so id say maybe Warnock back into midfield and Givet put in his more natural left sided position. Probably Tugay making way after his awful performance against Newcastle.

We will have to see.

If we do get this new striker in we'll have 5 first team strikers and unfortunatly Derbs will be number 5 on that list. Think we could see him leave in the summer.

Why put Warnock on the left midfield when both Peds and Warnock are looking very solid in their respective positions?

[ebenrocks]

Why put Warnock on the left midfield when both Peds and Warnock are looking very solid in their respective positions?

i didnt say left midfield, i said he might replace Tugay in midfield so central.

Yeah but its the FA cup, and the only real time for us (in the position we're in) to test out your January buys for the first time without risking points is in the FA cup.

Would suspect Allardyce will want to see how Givet fares up in the team seeing as we're paying his wages and may buy him in the summer, so why not try him out in the FA cup? and if you're going to test him out, you may as well test him out in his natural position

[American]

Samba is a very good CB in the making. He has a couple of undeniably good attributes that none of the others have i.e. exceptional height and long legs, and speed over the ground, but that's it. Those are his only advantages over the others really. He needs to play alongside an older and wiser CB and IMO we have 3 of those, and in order of preference I would say Ooijer, Zurab, Nelsen. But any of them really as long as they are fully fit and on form.

With regard to the suggestion that he would make a good defensive midfielder: I am not too sure about that; where is the evidence? I am not dismissing the idea, but I still feel he more naturally suited to the CB role, and will one day be a top rated CB.

Totally with you, Fife. Whenever any of our players is rumored with a move, Chris is the only one that I worry about getting rid of too early and too cheaply.

[The Prof.]

I have a feeling Samba would just take up space in midfield.

[The Prof.]

Warnock won't play in midfield again - might not be down for left back much longer either. Samba Central mid??//....mmmmm.... Dunno but that's where he played in Germany. Think Grella's got that spot if he stays fit. I think The Sambaman has huge potential and moving him around won't help him settile nto a role so doubt that will happen. Warnock and Samba in midfield. Be like mating a Giraffe with a squirrel..

[dopper69]

Samba as a DM just screams Mokoena Mk II in my opinion

[Balwer]

Add my voice to the "Keep Samba at CB" argument.

Our defense has been excellent under Sam.

Our midfield on the weekend was the best it's been all year. Dunn and Grella have to be first choice, with Andrews and Tugay good enough as subs. Adding Samba in there is a hugely unknown quantity, it could potentially ruin both defense and midfield.

Of course if Grella goes down again I may change my tune. Axe and Vogel aren't up to it as holding mids, not in Premier League anyway.

[nicko]

Bellamy should be going to Man City for about £12 million very shortly...maybe even tomorrow.

Sparky is finally getting his men.

Spurs aren't.

[Presty On Tour]

Bellamy should be going to Man City for about £12 million very shortly...maybe even tomorrow.

Sparky is finally getting his men.

Spurs aren't.

Does that mean Citeh have ended their interest in Santa Cruz?

[Kelbo]

Grella is a quality midfielder, very similar to Batty, wins the ball, gives it, ball retention excellent and then drops off to make himself available, when fit, he and Dunny have the right balance and combination to do well in there!!

Sambas only real qualities in there are he will win every ball in the air in midfield and be strong!!

[braddock]

givet right back?

he made an impression playing there for monaco in the champions league

'Givet has played all across the back four during his career and figured mainly at right back during that Champions League run, when he is likely to have attracted the attention of Rovers boss Sam Allardyce - then making regular trips to Monaco in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to take striker Dado Prso to Bolton.'

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport...iss_Toon_clash/

you guys may have mentioned this already, apologies if so

[RibbleValleyRover]

Bellamy to City eh, its like the board are going for their players and Hughes is going for his own. I can only see one winner and can't see Hughes being their manager at the start of next season.

If its correct that Roque's minimum fee release clause doesn't kick in until the summer, then i think we should issue a deadline like Villa did with Barry. If we don't receive a bid that meets our requirements by such a date then Roque is staying until the summer.

I've got a horrible feeling City are going to come with a bid that the board find acceptable on deadline day leaving us with no time to get a replacement. If we put a deadline then it would combat this.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Robinson
Emerton--Ooijer--Nelsen--Warnock
Samba
Dunn--Andrews--Grella--Pedersen
Any of the three

Could be a handy formation away from home.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Heard any truth in this Nicko?

Huszti set to take his pick

"Hannover midfielder Szabolcs Huszti has admitted that he is likely to leave the Bundesliga club in the near future.

Huszti's current contract is set to expire at the end of the season, enabling the Hungarian international to leave for free in the summer.

The list of admirers for the former Metz ace appears to be endless with reports in Hungary linking Everton, Bolton, Birmingham, Blackburn, Portsmouth, Sevilla, Celtic and - more recently - Tottenham with the player."

====

Lot of clubs mentioned so it could just be agent talk...

[nicko]

I hear Gueye's agent - an ex-player called Papa Malik Diop - has flown in...my French guy believes Gueye is with him but nor sure...however I presume the deal is just being ironed out.

He was pulled out of the Metz game on Friday because he was moving.