[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[BuckyRover]

I can't believe people think that Roque will continue banging the goals in for us if we turn down his dream mega-bucks move to City.

I really don't know what planet you are on.

[LeftWinger]

I can't believe people think that Roque will continue banging the goals in for us if we turn down his dream mega-bucks move to City.

I really don't know what planet you are on.

Gareth Barry's been doing well for Villa since his dream move fell through.

[BuckyRover]

There's no way Roque will be sold without a replacement.

And so far there isn't a replacement that ticks all of the boxes.

The quest goes on - but Roque won't be sold without one in first.

Man City WERE sniffing round the Keane situation yesterday but Sparky still wants Roque more...I was told that midnight tonight is significant in the timing of the City bid.

We shall see.

The lad is happy to see out his contract at Man City.

Judging by the interest in him from Rovers, Chelsea and Aston Villa over the past 12 months he won't be short of offers in the summer if he decides to move.

We should do what Villa did with Heskey and make him feel wanted. A guarantee of first team football is alluring to some players.

[RevidgeBlue]

I can't believe people think that Roque will continue banging the goals in for us if we turn down his dream mega-bucks move to City.

I really don't know what planet you are on.

Benni has finally found a bit of form after sulking for 18 months so I can't see it's that unlikely that RSC will come to.

If he doesn't shape up, he won't get a move in summer either.

[Mr Creosote]

This situation is getting both very silly and desperate! What is the sense in keeping RSC in his current state( unless of course anyone can guarantee that he will again become the same version as last season)? Also given that City apparently still want him at around £15m (no strings), and Janko apparently does tick all the boxes at £9m........what are we waiting for?

What would relegation cost us? I think we all know the answer to that one. Which only leaves one question.....does the board/trustees care?

I think we know the answer to that one as well.

[BuckyRover]

Gareth Barry's been doing well for Villa since his dream move fell through.

The Gareth Barry anomaly. Used by many in ignorance.

Have you seen where Villa are in the table? Do you know how much money they have? They will be a top 4 team soon.

Keep believing if you like, but it is completely foolish. Did he look like he wanted to play for Blackburn Rovers at any point this season?

Barry had to perform to get picked for England. Roque doesn't have to do ANYTHING to get picked by Paraguay. He has been a regular in the team for a long time, even when he was banging 3 goals a season in at Bayern.

He seems like the type of guy who if he wanted to break up with his girlfriend, would just be an **** so that she would break up with him.

I am confident he WILL get his move away, it just depends whether it is for £18m now, or £3m later....

[nicko]

Anything in this Nicko? http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/aussies-abr...ig-call-166547/

There is no mention of a fee...which is a giveaway...and that is currently £2 million.

I don't see Rovers paying that - and why would Neill move for a drop in salary?

And, above all, there are some 'issues' between Lucas and the manager.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I think we know the answer to that one as well.

What, that they think that Janko is over priced ?

All players have a price that any club are willing to pay - all because City can afford to pay over the odds for players - doesn't mean that Rovers can.

My big concern - is that our up turn in form is making the trust more reiticient to splash the cash. When Sam took over it was desperate times - and the trust would probably have splashed out to avoid relegation. Now the table makes more pleasant reading. The big mistake that the trust can make is thinking that we are out of it - there is still a long way to go - the correct signing could help maintain the momentum, and get us out of the doggy do - not backing Sam could rebound big time.

[RevidgeBlue]

He seems like the type of guy who if he wanted to break up with his girlfriend, would just be an **** so that she would break up with him.

I am confident he WILL get his move away, it just depends whether it is for £18m now, or £3m later....

Know him well do you?

I don't but I have met him on a couple of occasions and he seems a really genuine and nice guy.

As for talk of us only getting 3m for him later, don't be so soft.

[roversmad95]

1) Based on this season would you start Santa Cruz at the moment?

A) For me no.

2) Even if you start Santa Cruz, are we guaranteed survival because of that?

A) See previous answer.

3) Is he likely to stay fit like he did last season or will next season be more like EVERY other season in his career?

A) See previous two answers.

4) Is he worth 20ish+ million?

A) See previous three answers.

5) Should we sell at that price?

A) Yes.

totally agree with you eddie.... get rid as i have said before he has done nothing this season anyway, so what will we be missing.... and to the people that said he doesn't want to leave or no evidence that he wanted to leave.... did he not say he wanted to play for a club that would be more competitive?

[gumboots]

The Gareth Barry anomaly. Used by many in ignorance.

Have you seen where Villa are in the table? Do you know how much money they have? They will be a top 4 team soon.

Keep believing if you like, but it is completely foolish. Did he look like he wanted to play for Blackburn Rovers at any point this season?

Barry had to perform to get picked for England. Roque doesn't have to do ANYTHING to get picked by Paraguay. He has been a regular in the team for a long time, even when he was banging 3 goals a season in at Bayern.

He seems like the type of guy who if he wanted to break up with his girlfriend, would just be an **** so that she would break up with him.

I am confident he WILL get his move away, it just depends whether it is for £18m now, or £3m later....

I think you're wrong there. There has been no comments from any of the squad other than to say how good a guy he is and how it's great to have him back fit. perhaps he has sulked in the past but there is no hint that he's currently doing it. we might think he doesn't look fully commited on the pitch but he's possibly getting back to full match fitness and sharpness and needs time to do so. I know he'd like to go to city but he's a grown up and will have had our situation clearly explained to him. we are not in a position to let him go unless we are fairly sure we can replace him with an at least adequate player and preferably better than that. to be frank if he goes for 3 million in the summer (which he can't, can he?) who cares if, we are still in the premier league. I can see advantages in selling him but I can see as many in keeping him and to suggest that he is not professional enough to carry on playing as well as he can for us if we keep him is something I've seen no evidence to suggest.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Keep believing if you like, but it is completely foolish. Did he look like he wanted to play for Blackburn Rovers at any point this season?

The service hasn't been great to Roque plus he has been playing with injuries. If we brought in a right winger who could put the ball into the box like Bentley I think he would start scoring again.

I'm completely torn over the whole issue, a fee of £18 million all cash now would be good but at the same time there is no guarantee that Sam will get most of the funds to find a like for like replacement. If Sam doesn't get most of the cash to strengthen then what’s the point in selling him? It could be like the Bentley situation all over again, sell one of your best players and don't find a replacement.

[BuckyRover]

So he doesn't sign for City and Hughes gets sacked. That basically is his £100,000 per week salary dream gone forever. We know it, and he knows it. I can't imagine him being too happy about that. In fact I would suggest that he would resent us.

I just can't see him EVER performing for us again. His records speaks for itself. When he doesn't fancy it, he doesn't perform.

The service hasn't been great to Roque plus he has been playing with injuries. If we brought in a right winger who could put the ball into the box like Bentley I think he would start scoring again.

I'm completely torn over the whole issue, a fee of £18 million all cash now would be good but at the same time there is no guarantee that Sam will get most of the funds to find a like for like replacement. If Sam doesn't get most of the cash to strengthen then what's the point in selling him? It could be like the Bentley situation all over again, sell one of your best players and don't find a replacement.

Why have we not bought a right winger? At present we will keep a striker that can't score without service.

What is going on? He only seems to be chasing former Ince targets.

SIGN A RIGHT WINGER! That is the most important position!

[gumboots]

So he doesn't sign for City and Hughes gets sacked. That basically is his £100,000 per week salary dream gone forever. We know it, and he knows it. I can't imagine him being too happy about that. In fact I would suggest that he would resent us.

I just can't see him EVER performing for us again. His records speaks for itself. When he doesn't fancy it, he doesn't perform.

Why have we not bought a right winger? At present we will keep a striker that can't score without service.

What is going on? He only seems to be chasing former Ince targets.

SIGN A RIGHT WINGER! That is the most important position!

So sign one but sell the guy who'll profit from the service he'd give. Makes sense?!!!!

[RevidgeBlue]

I just can't see him EVER performing for us again. His records speaks for itself. When he doesn't fancy it, he doesn't perform.

If that's how you feel, it's a valid reason for having the viewpoint you have. Sam sees him every day in training etc. and has to make that judgement call.

I just feel it's equally if not more possible a new signing:

a) Might not fancy a relegation scrap

b ) Might not settle in this Country

c) Might not be able to adapt to the pace of the Premiership etc.

[Sysagent]

I don't see Rovers paying that - and why would Neill move for a drop in salary?

He did have some local "interest" around here, not so sure if the "interest" moved down South with him though...

;-)

[BuckyRover]

He is looking for a Roque replacement (Janko, Zigic etc). A big tall target man, the problem being he won't receive any service as we have no width.

Sell Roque, sign replacement: No service

Keep Roque: No service.

People went mental when Ince didn't replace Bentley. Why no complaint now? We were linked with Joaquinbefore. The only rw we get linked tost the moment is that Egyptian Ince was looking at.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

some people need to get a grip.

Roque is a top player and is probably better then all the replacements we could attract. If all everyone cares about is making a short term profit whilst threatening our side with relegation then there is something wrong.

People whining about Santa not performing for us ever again - based on what exactly?

Is it more of a risk to keep a very decent striker at the club and lose him in the summer for £5/6m less then what we'd get now, or sell him to make a profit and buy a replacement who is unproven in the league, may sink instead of swim and have us relegated come May??????

Santa on form is easily twice the player Roberts or Derbs is. He has scored 20+ goals in one season, that is a rarity in this league. If we cannot get a player of the same calibre as Roque then i dont care how much City are offering.

Last year people wanted Benni out, and now it seems like they have vanished. Pretty confident that the same people want rid of Santa.

[Guest Kamy100]

I can't believe people think that Roque will continue banging the goals in for us if we turn down his dream mega-bucks move to City.

I really don't know what planet you are on.

While he has not been as good as last year there are mitigating circumstances. The majority of the games that he has played this season were under Ince and as is now well documented that team etc was shambles under him, he has only played played 80 odd minutes under Sam and I feel confident that Sam can get the best out of him and he will score goals for us. From all accounts he looked very committed on Saturday and if he does stay it is in his interest to play well so as to get a move in the summer. Although he has said that he wants to leave, he has not "thrown a hissy fit" and has gone as far as to say that he likes the club and the fans, to me he doesn't come across as the type of player who would "sulk".

[RevidgeBlue]

Is it more of a risk to keep a very decent striker at the club and lose him in the summer for £5/6m less then what we'd get now, or sell him to make a profit and buy a replacement who is unproven in the league, may sink instead of swim and have us relegated come May??????

That's it in a nutshell. Spot on.

Not even sure we'd stand to lose as much as 5-6m by keeping him until summer.

[Bennisfromheaven]

We really need to stop all the Hear'say & chinese whispers on here! ...."i cant see roque respecting us, performing for us etc. etc."

6 months ago, no, 2 months ago, Roque was considered a legend at the club & on this board. He shot us up the table last year & was believed to be a genuinely nice & loyal guy who was sensible enough to know which side of his bread was buttered! All of a sudden through media speculation, loss of supply, bad management & injury Roque is now the worst in the world!

Some people on this board need to stop thinking so much & if/when Roque pulls on the blue & white halves again get behind the guy! he is worth more than 18million to us if he reproduces the ability we know he has! He is still our player & until he is not I for one will continue to support him!

[philipl]

I understand what you are saying Bucky.

Your stuff about Roque is every bit as bonkers as the stuff you wrote about Ince.

I completely agree with Bennisfromheaven.

Incidently for those worried about his summer valuation, Paraguay could quite easily all but close their qualification for the World Cup just as the window opens. The chances are Roque will be incredibly fired up and be the public face for interviews because of his language skills (and his camera friendly face...) so that would boost his value even if he is relatively mediocre for Rovers which I doubt.

I'd back Sam to come up with a system that brings the best out of Benni and Roque playing alongside each other.

[JAL]

While he has not been as good as last year there are mitigating circumstances. The majority of the games that he has played this season were under Ince and as is now well documented that team etc was shambles under him, he has only played played 80 odd minutes under Sam and I feel confident that Sam can get the best out of him and he will score goals for us. From all accounts he looked very committed on Saturday and if he does stay it is in his interest to play well so as to get a move in the summer. Although he has said that he wants to leave, he is not "thrown a hissy fit" and has gone as far as to say that he likes the club and the fans, to me he doesn't come across as the type of player who would "sulk".

Whose to say that Roque has not been affected by Hughes and City, added to this his injury both must surely have tainted his motivation a little. Either he moves on or its put to bed so that once again he can fully focus on his game.

If the replacements are unsuitable then now is not the time for Rovers to take a gamble but to stay with a proven product in Roque Santa Cruz.

[BuckyRover]

I understand what you are saying Bucky.

Your stuff about Roque is every bit as bonkers as the stuff you wrote about Ince.

Cheers phillip for the personal attack. Try reading the rules.

I have changed my mind anyway. I hope we keep him. If we sell him I'll be gutted. I will voice my displeasure, you can bet he will score for fun at City.

I think he will stay though, and score at least 15 goals. Regardless of the fact that the majority of his goals came from crosses from a player who is no longer with us. He is that good and professional.

I love you Roque

[Bennisfromheaven]

Whose to say that Roque has not been affected by Hughes and City, added to this his injury both must surely have tainted his motivation a little. Either he moves on or its put to bed so that once again he can fully focus on his game.

If the replacements are unsuitable then now is not the time for Rovers to take a gamble but to stay with a proven product in Roque Santa Cruz.

more hear'say that is only adding to the bad feeling towards a player who has shown nothing but loyalty to a club who he admits saved his career .......that is FACT, not something that has come into my head due to over thinking the situation!!