[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[Bobby G]

By which time, Mark Hughes is gone and no one offers anything close to that for him. I think the bigger ups at the club are thinking lets get something for him, replace him for one third the price, and bag a few millions along the way.

[RevidgeBlue]

No it doesn't. RSC will be no different nor better a player should City stump up 20m than he was when we bought him for 3.5. Ditto for Bentley and should the situation arise Warnock and Samba too.

As I have said many times Hughes provided the business model and early days yet but hopefully SA seems to be emulating it. Buy cheap / add value / sell dear but replace with at least equal first. Hughes scouting system was superb I only hope we have people that can do similar.

There's no objection to continuing to pick players up on the cheap and trying to develop them but imo you also need to mix it up and make an occasional "big signing" in the event someone leaves for big money.

The problem is that if they pay a big enough price he, like most other players, is for sale, so you have to do the chasing just in case they find that figure you really can't resist. We all know allardyce was joking about 40 million but he did say he'd have to accept that.

He knew they won't offer anything remotely approaching that.

[gumboots]

There's no objection to continuing to pick players up on the cheap and trying to develop them but imo you also need to mix it up and make an occasional "big signing" in the event someone leaves for big money.

I'm with you on that. It's the feel good factor for the team and the fans and the manager too. We haven't had one for a while and it's needed. sometimes a "big for you" signing brings in a few extra points which to us could be vital.

[Kelbo]

Let's be fair, you can't call people 'idle' who have been chasing round Europe for weeks...

The manager has been away three times that I know about...the chief scout has never been at home by the sounds of it.

The fact is that players are hard to find. Look at some of the trash moving in this window.

So, call them 'choosy' or 'under pressure' if you like, but 'idle' is incredibly harsh.

Yes, I would agree and not only that, I would think the striker(s) have to offer what Sam wants within his style of play!!!

I personally would look for pace but Sam may want a big target man, its his choice and the money on offer if he keeps us up (thats another part of the budget folks) will make Sam determined to get this as right as he can!!

[Bobby G]

I believe Janko has the most potential between the lot of them and I dont see that much of a difference in price to suggest Janko is way more expensive and not worth it.

I reckon he is off the table completely now, right?

[gumboots]

He knew they won't offer anything remotely approaching that.

Hence why I said we all knew he was joking. However, that's why you can't say we're definitely not selling - because they just might hit a figure that is too good to resist. Obviously not 40 million but suppose they came up with 25 cash. Unlikely but they just might and could we really say no to that?

[John]

Some people just like the idea of Rocky going so we can sign a 'big money striker'. For me, this is all too rushed and we should be keeping him until the summer unless Sam is as sure as he can be with his replacement (plus also receiving a ridiculous bid from Man City).

I can see signing for a team 4th bottom in the Premiership very mouth watering for some of Europe's top strikers.....

We should stick to the recent Hughes adage, where he would not sell anyone if he felt it would weaken us. And this time our Premiership survival is on the line.

[greggyk]

But keeping an unhappy striker whos not playing anywhere near to his potential (if he really is that good???one hit wonder?) and not adding anything to the side.....

[Fylde Coast Fan]

There's a 95% chance Mark Hughes is not in charge of Man City on the first of July, which makes Roque's release clause useless because no other football club on the planet is going to pay that for him. Sell him now, replacement or not - he's only going to sulk if we keep hold of him. It's not like he's looked the same player as last year anyway.

[philipl]

Lets be 100% clear about this- if we sell RSC BEFORE having the replacement MOT'd and registered, there is very little possibility of getting a replacement without being completely legged over on the price and wages.

Whether we get a City premium out of City or not, the selling club for sure want a City premium on the price we pay for the replacement.

Again, there is ZERO evidence Roque does not want to play for Rovers.

With regards to wasting our time looking for replacements, whether City bid an astronomic figure for him or not is a matter of an internal political war raging within City.

Spurs had neatly tapped up Bellamy and were inexorably moving towards signing him for £7m or £8m. One phone call from Eastlands and City had him for £14m. Hamburg were going to get less than £2m for De Jong in the summer- one phone call from City and a bit of brass neck negotiating and they got £18m for him.

We are literally one phone call away from getting into an offer we cannot refuse negotiation for RSC depending on how the row gets sorted over there- a significant premium over the summer £20m clause.

Of course we have to be contingency planning to replace RSC, what good are 30 million pound coins on the pitch?

[Veevs]

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

Thanks chuckie.. I was referring to the possibility if he was at the malaga game he might of been looking at the midfielder we all think/know we need, I guess I was off the Nicko only topic in my response to someone talking about info they had..

As for Nicko saying that calling the scouts idle was bad.. why is there a sudden mad rush, I think most of us knew Hughes would be chasing Roque months ago surely there have been plenty of games discussed (blogs, forums, fantasy football, optra, news articles.. etc), recorded and hell even daft computer games are well recorded now.

Not sure about the shortlist though.. Dzech probably the best of the lot, but all of them are pretty inconsistent, then again Sam is good at getting some more consistence from his players.

Still think Apono might of been watched.. 15 games 6 goals this season not bad for a central midfield player (not a straight attacking mid) and a 4mil release clause... not to mention he is a hard working chap according to reports.

{Edit} And I do think if we are looking towards not getting rid of RSC then a very good attacking midfield option like Apono would not go a miss?

[LeChuck]

I would imagine it has something to do with the fact that we don't know what division we'll be playing in next season.

There are 13 clubs in the division who don't know where they'll be next season, that really is no excuse.

[my_name_is_Earl]

Regarding the situation with RSC, it seems as though a few of us are panicking just a little. If we can't get the right man in for the job then we keep Roque. Remember a year or two ago when Benni wanted to leave when Chelsea were linked with him? Well the fact that he didn't move, for whatever reason, and is now one of our most important players suggests that Roque DOES still have a future at the club even if he stays.

After recent events, I would look to keep Roque until the end of the window now. The squad is capable of staying up without having to make any additions (which may be administered with a cash injection) and the sooner that City come out and say its off, the better.

[modes98]

Wouldn't mind either Zigic or Milan.

Milan is 27 and hardly has a sparkling record at club level. IMO we would be much better taking a chance on Dzeko (22, similar club record) or Janko (25, alot better club record). Especially if this Milan has a attitude problem, he will simply look to move on in 12 months if he does well.

[Guest Kamy100]

Agree Philip.

Looks like Rovers are braced for City to make a bid that would be too good to turn down, it is quite correct that they should do their homework on potential replacements so that they are in a position to move quickly should RSC move on. There has been zero evidence to say that Roque is not committed to Rovers over the last 2 games that he has featured in. He is lacking a bit of fitness but from all accounts was as committed as ever on Saturday, he hasn't scored as many goals simply because the team was a shambles under Ince and we did not play to his strengths and he has played very little under Sam.

I can't see anything happening tomorrow as both teams have important games this midweek however there could be movement on Thursday.

[my_name_is_Earl]

There are 13 clubs in the division who don't know where they'll be next season, that really is no excuse.

Out of those thirteen clubs, I would imagine that we would be one of three or four teams who could go bust if we did go down. That is what makes the situation different for us over the majority of those clubs and for that reason we have to tread a much thinner line then them financially.

[philipl]

Most papers are talking about Robbie Keane to Spurs but the Telegraph report City are weighing him up as an alternative to RSC.

[Veevs]

Out of those thirteen clubs, I would imagine that we would be one of three or four teams who could go bust if we did go down. That is what makes the situation different for us over the majority of those clubs and for that reason we have to tread a much thinner line then them financially.

No we would be the best prepared for going down.. scary that we are going to be the highest earners in the league even with our gate receipts..

[John]

The Times take on it: an improved bid of £19 million is expected to be submitted to Blackburn for Santa Cruz

[philipl]

Out of those thirteen clubs, I would imagine that we would be one of three or four teams who could go bust if we did go down. That is what makes the situation different for us over the majority of those clubs and for that reason we have to tread a much thinner line then them financially.

Only West Brom, Hull and Stoke are set up to handle relegation in reality.

City presumably would just throw money at it.

But the consequences for Spurs (no new stadium), West Ham and Pompey (both completely bust), Newcastle (saints-style melt down with a £20m loss growing to a £50m loss) are clearly horrendous. The owners of Boro and Fulham would have to look at those enormous loans as being utterly irrecoverable.

Rovers would have to take an immediate £20m+ (50%+) off the wages bill then look at whose left and what the fire sale had raised and start from there issuing two year contracts to cover the contingency of not getting promoted within the parachute period.

RE the Times story- we don't have RSC's solicitors meeting our directors demanding an exit unlike Newcastle with Given.

Huge amount depends on the make-up of the £19m. If it follows the usual pattern of £(19-x)m basic plus £xm based on appearances and City winning things it will get the usual one line rejection slip for sure.

[PAFELL]

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.

The fact that he has said he wants to leave is him saying he does not want to play for Rovers - he wants to play for hughes and man city.. Ok he RSC may be professional about the situation but it is hard for any person being in a position they do not want to be, to do their best.

With regards to credit crunch and wages - it may be the the right time - that these clubs were exposed for what they are doing - if it is only a few clubs who have behve irresponsibly. Are you going to tell us that in the light of the currrent financial situation most normal people are in, it would be wrong for the football supporter to speak out about the inmoral wages a player is on? How do you curb the leap - do any of us really believe it is even morally right to offer a player - or anybody else - half a million pound a week to play football. this credit crunch is hurting many throughout the world - a situation that may never come again (though I do not believe it will not happen again) if a football supporter - forget personal clubs we support - cannot demand that those that run this game can not behave in an moral way of running this professional sport, then football it will soon come to an end.

All supporters / media today should be speaking out about the wage demands that the players are asking. How can anybody demand £20.000 a week (as an example) to play football. when the people who pay for those wages are the very ones who are losing their jobs up and down the country.

Ticket prices etc should drop throughout the country because of the 'official' resession and therefore so should players wages and transfer fees etc.

[my_name_is_Earl]

Only West Brom, Hull and Stoke are set up to handle relegation in reality.

City presumably would just throw money at it.

But the consequences for Spurs (no new stadium), West Ham and Pompey (both completely bust), Newcastle (saints-style melt down with a £20m loss growing to a £50m loss) are clearly horrendous. The owners of Boro and Fulham would have to look at those enormous loans as being utterly irrecoverable.

Rovers would have to take an immediate £20m+ (50%+) off the wages bill then look at whose left and what the fire sale had raised and start from there issuing two year contracts to cover the contingency of not getting promoted within the parachute period.

I agree with your strategy for surviving as a club if we were to go down but the main problem that we have with going down is that nobody will buy us. Of course, the promoted teams would be fine as they are. But if the worst was to happen to Spurs or Newcastle than they would be bought for a smaller fee and will be able to survive. There would always be somebody interested whether that be with the right intentions or not. I would imagine the same would go with West Ham.

Both Fulham and Boro have owners who would be willing to spend to back the club at least to maintain survival as a club. Although Portsmouth are very much in debt, their billionaire owner could still cover the costs although whether he wishes to do so is a matter of opinion.

Now, back to Rovers, we are a club that has 'officially' been up for sale for a long time now (the length varies according to opinion) and we have had very little interest in us even as a top ten premiership club. Unfortunately, we don't have the biggest fanbase and our owners don't want to invest anything into the club and, in my opinion, are desperate to sell.

The fact is that out of the aforementioned clubs, we are the one club that will struggle.

[philipl]

Plenty od indications that ticket prices are being frozen and/or cut next season. Spurs have just announced a price freeze for example.

I am sure John Williams would be ecstatic if footballers were "only" asking for £20K per week.

Replying to mniE

Spurs and Newcastle being bought- nobody bought them when they were in the Prem BEFORE the credit crunch so no they wouldn't be bought unless ENIC/Levy and Ashley were willing to write off about £300m each between them and give them away.

Fulham and Boro- very serious doubts that the owners would back them for the size of losses relegation would cost. Both Gibson and Fayed have both had periods of not putting anything in recently- funny how the Walker Trust bashers overlooked those.

Sure Rovers would struggle enormously but most of the other clubs playing 3 in 14 Russian Roulette down there would do so equally as much if not more so.

[my_name_is_Earl]

Replying to mniE

Spurs and Newcastle being bought- nobody bought them when they were in the Prem BEFORE the credit crunch so no they wouldn't be bought unless ENIC/Levy and Ashley were willing to write off about £300m each between them and give them away.

Fulham and Boro- very serious doubts that the owners would back them for the size of losses relegation would cost. Both Gibson and Fayed have both had periods of not putting anything in recently- funny how the Walker Trust bashers overlooked those.

Sure Rovers would struggle enormously but most of the other clubs playing 3 in 14 Russian Roulette down there would do so equally as much if not more so.

Spurs owners probably wouldn't sell anyway to be honest. Any club that can spend over thirty million in this window is not struggling for money. Didn't Newcastle have a few potential owners lined up but Ashley didn't believe they had the clubs interests at heart?

I have no doubt that the other clubs mentioned would struggle if they went down, some hugely, but we are one of a few whose survival could well depend on it and that was why I made the original point that I support the club for being 'prudent' with their cash at present. Particularly, as the squad is more then capable of achieving the priority of stying up this season, all things being well.

[PAFELL]

Plenty od indications that ticket prices are being frozen and/or cut next season. Spurs have just announced a price freeze for example.

I am sure John Williams would be ecstatic if footballers were "only" asking for £20K per week.

Replying to mniE

Spurs and Newcastle being bought- nobody bought them when they were in the Prem BEFORE the credit crunch so no they wouldn't be bought unless ENIC/Levy and Ashley were willing to write off about £300m each between them and give them away.

Fulham and Boro- very serious doubts that the owners would back them for the size of losses relegation would cost. Both Gibson and Fayed have both had periods of not putting anything in recently- funny how the Walker Trust bashers overlooked those.

Sure Rovers would struggle enormously but most of the other clubs playing 3 in 14 Russian Roulette down there would do so equally as much if not more so.

Philip I am aware,as we all are that most professional players in the prem are on more than £20.000 a week. In my post I used that amount, sad to say as a basic rock bottom wage - just a number as an example - but it still does not and it never can be right for a sports person to be paid that amount in the current financial climate. Of course JW would be ecstatic - in the light of the market today - if he only had to pay wages of £20.000 a week to a player. What i am tring to say is that if nobody, supporter / media etc does not do anything to credit crunch football, wages, tickets etc in this current credit crunch climate - we may not get another opportunity for years to come. If not where does it end/ Billionaires in the world are out numbered - the few that are around can only own 1 club. We could end up with a world league of about 20 clubs, with all the others having gone bust - if nothing is done to curb the current situation.