[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[mattyboy6000]

I think the one area we must strengthen is central midfield. We currently have Dunn and Grella (both injured most of the time) Tugay (38), Andrews and the Axe (both not good enough). Ideally we need a couple in, a ball player and a stopper.

I guess you could add bert into that equation too, and reid (tho he's infjured/finished)

you would have thought midfield was a priotorty, wouldn't you! we have been driven by tugay for so long his fading was masked by bentley's emergence. suprising a midfielder has been overllooked.

[RevidgeBlue]

I think the one area we must strengthen is central midfield. We currently have Dunn and Grella (both injured most of the time) Tugay (38), Andrews and the Axe (both not good enough). Ideally we need a couple in, a ball player and a stopper.

Oh and a right sided mid/full back and a replacement forward.

That's 3 areas. (If Roque leaves)

Agree entirely, although I'd prefer to see more of a winger/attacking right sided midfielder rather than a midfielder/fullback. Bert comes into the latter category but not the first imo.

[LeChuck]

"Reports in Germany say Portsmouth have been unable to secure the services of Bayer Lerverkusen's Tranquillo Barnetta.

(skysports.com 1318 GMT)"

Any idea what went wrong with that deal and why sort of figures were involved Nicko? He's been one of my favourite non-Rovers players for years now, I'd love to able to think we'd have a chance of signing him for our right wing. He's exactly the sort of player we need out there, although I think he's the sort of player who could play for any team in the division.

Seems an odd move from Portsmouth having just taken Pennant on loan for the season, they already have Traoré doing well on the other side as well.

[nicko]

"Reports in Germany say Portsmouth have been unable to secure the services of Bayer Lerverkusen's Tranquillo Barnetta.

(skysports.com 1318 GMT)"

I read the story and didn't believe a word...Pompey would never offer that amount...I don't think they have it.

Maybe the lad is looking for a new contract at Leverkusen.

[philipl]

Quick note on the budget concept.

The budget in question is wages far more than transfer fees. Rovers are already over-shooting what they want to pay in wages by a considerable distance.

We are blandly talking about filling three slots- if that comes to "only" £90K a week in wages, we are lucky. That is £4.5m a year (about the same as total season ticket income) and £18m (or the rumoured number Roque "might" be sold for) over the life of the three contracts.

OK we save £60k a week on RSC wages so that is £12m over four years but take 20% off in and out fees for agents etc and a figure of less than £8m remains available on a break even basis to buy top PL quality forward, midfielder and right sided player.

Chuck in the 2009 transfer budget residue of £8m and we get to £16m absolute max available but then the purse is empty for the summer transfer window...

[savage90]

I was going to ask about Barnetta, any ideas what his price tag is and his feelings about a move to England?

[PAFELL]

I was going to ask about Barnetta, any ideas what his price tag is and his feelings about a move to England?

Very good player - as one to come to Rovers - I doubt it, especially if he talks to Vogel. Not heard many other clubs interested in him though.

[roverich]

The reported £20mil for RSC isn't enough. Not that he's worth more as a player but he's worth more to BRFC. He could be the difference between relegation and survival in which case we'd be better off keeping him now and selling him for £10mil in the summer. I am NOT suggesting he is only worth £10mil and that we should allow him to leave for this come summer but if he is worth £15-20mil then right now he is worth at least £30mil to BRFC when you consider the general January premium and the added value due to our precarious position in the league.

[Paul Mellelieu]

Quick note on the budget concept.

The budget in question is wages far more than transfer fees. Rovers are already over-shooting what they want to pay in wages by a considerable distance.

We are blandly talking about filling three slots- if that comes to "only" £90K a week in wages, we are lucky. That is £4.5m a year (about the same as total season ticket income) and £18m (or the rumoured number Roque "might" be sold for) over the life of the three contracts.

OK we save £60k a week on RSC wages so that is £12m over four years but take 20% off in and out fees for agents etc and a figure of less than £8m remains available on a break even basis to buy top PL quality forward, midfielder and right sided player.

Chuck in the 2009 transfer budget residue of £8m and we get to £16m absolute max available but then the purse is empty for the summer transfer window...

Fair dos Philip, but unless we can put out a regular, decent midfield pairing, we are going to be really struggling: 1999 all over again.

[PAFELL]

The reported £20mil for RSC isn't enough. Not that he's worth more as a player but he's worth more to BRFC. He could be the difference between relegation and survival in which case we'd be better off keeping him now and selling him for £10mil in the summer. I am NOT suggesting he is only worth £10mil and that we should allow him to leave for this come summer but if he is worth £15-20mil then right now he is worth at least £30mil to BRFC when you consider the general January premium and the added value due to our precarious position in the league.

The main problem with that is Hughes may be gone from city before the summer and it is only city who have shown any interest in RSC. I think Rovers should sell RSC and replace him with somebody who wants to play for the club - I also do not think he would do that good at city anyway.

Can Rovers afford to turn down the amount of money offered. Would a want away RSC really be the player to keep Rovers up? I think not. Because he wants to leave, his heart would not be interested in a relegation scrap. We would read reports of RSC injured again, week in week out. Cash in quick is my view - sad he does not want to stay at Rovers, but football reality.

Quick note on the budget concept.

The budget in question is wages far more than transfer fees. Rovers are already over-shooting what they want to pay in wages by a considerable distance.

We are blandly talking about filling three slots- if that comes to "only" £90K a week in wages, we are lucky. That is £4.5m a year (about the same as total season ticket income) and £18m (or the rumoured number Roque "might" be sold for) over the life of the three contracts.

OK we save £60k a week on RSC wages so that is £12m over four years but take 20% off in and out fees for agents etc and a figure of less than £8m remains available on a break even basis to buy top PL quality forward, midfielder and right sided player.

Chuck in the 2009 transfer budget residue of £8m and we get to £16m absolute max available but then the purse is empty for the summer transfer window...

About time we had a credit crunch with regards to players wages. People up and down the country losing there jobs because of the fnancial situation - yet players receive more in a week than the adverage working person.

About time the football supporter started to speak out - especially in the current climate, which is probable the best time to do it.

[philipl]

Pafell.

The fatal flaw in your argument about selling Roque is that he has never said he does not want to play for the Rovers.

With regards to a credit crunch on wages, we are dealing with an industry which experienced a 30% leap in the largest component in its revenue. Even though 15 out of the 20 clubs in the Premier League behaved responsibly in trying to re-balance the wages component, Chelsea, West Ham, Pompey, Newcastle and Man City behaved totally irresponsibly.

The first four are now suffering to a greater or lesser extent but the last one is still chucking oil on the fire- literally.

[Amo]

About time the football supporter started to speak out - especially in the current climate, which is probable the best time to do it.

I think actions speak louder than words.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Fair dos Philip, but unless we can put out a regular, decent midfield pairing, we are going to be really struggling: 1999 all over again.

Dead right, if Dunn and Grella manage to play in all our remaining games BETWEEN them I'll be surprised. I rate Bullard as a player but given the injury record of the our two we daren't risk a signing of another potential crock. I think Bert plays best in that attacking centre midfield role but Sam hasn't learn't he's not a right winger yet. Andrews and the Axe in there for the rest of the season ? We'd go down for sure.

[rovers1995]

I have it on good authority that big sam was on the flight to malaga yesterday, athletico madrid played in malage yesterday. Sinama - Pongolle

[novella]

Pongolle played on the left wing yesterday, cant see it being him to be fair. He is decent but he will be way too pricey.

[alexanders]

I will give you the names I have got later tonight...the truth is I don't think the people who watched them have got back together yet.

Yesterday you said it was three. Is Zigic one who is being considered ?

[Lathund]

He said he'd give us the names later tonight... you'll find out then if he was among them. Relax.

[Oklahoma]

Nicko, any news on Drenthe?

He is unsettled in Real Madrid and might be available on loan.

[donis1410]

so were the strikers in spain and italy? or further afield. Also is there any back up plans for a right winger why did we not go for pennant on loan?

[Veevs]

I have it on good authority that big sam was on the flight to malaga yesterday, athletico madrid played in malage yesterday. Sinama - Pongolle

Well if he was there maybe he was looking at Apono (after all we apparently where looking at Bullard).. he has attracted interest from a number of English clubs and just happens to be playing pretty well and to top it off has a 4mil buyout clause if reports are right... although it was more than likely Seitaridis and a shame it was most likely not Sergio Aguero lol

[LeChuck]

I'll give people the benefit of the doubt and presume they've missed this...

I will give you the names I have got later tonight

[begresko]

Nicko, any news on Drenthe?

He is unsettled in Real Madrid and might be available on loan.

I thought he wasn't unsettled anymore? Hasn't he been playing recently? Plus wages being far too great.

Thought i would sum that up as a non-starter. You never know

[philipl]

I'll give people the benefit of the doubt and presume they've missed this...

You are a hero LeChuck!

So many posts on here are a complete waste of time because people are not reading the thread and the answers are on here already.

I think mods should start banning people for posting questions which have already been answered.

Moving out of grumpy mode, here we are with just seven days to the stroke boy show at the end of the window. Another day gone by and City have not shifted their rear ends on Roque despite yet more guff that he is their number one target.

If they were that desperate they'd put a number on the table which meant Rovers could do a City in getting a money no object replacement like the way they have paid over the odds for Bellamy, De Jong and (it seems) Given.

As I have illustrated on the Roque thread (I think it is), £18m for RSC cuts no muster for Rovers in the big picture (not that they have even offered that much!). Add another £10m and things look differently.

[Amo]

It does annoy me that people ask: 'Hey Nicko, any chance of _____ coming to Rovers?'

If there is, he'll tell you about it.

[dudedog]

Nicko, is one of the strikers Saviola? Sam has always been linked with him and he is available though his wages are an issue.

Also did you watch the Royal Rumble last night? Fix I tell ya!

signing for portsmouth tomorrow allegedly