[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[Kelbo]

Lets look at it from a real point of view!

Ok we are Rovers fans, we love our club and want to see us stay in the premiership, for Roque and other players, its their job, like it or not, thats exactly what it is.

Are we all saying, we want to be loyal to our employer and decline a move in job to someone paying almost twice your wage?

We are blinded because we are commited to our club and we must never forget the fact that if any one of us were playing proffessional football and we were offered a mega deal, we would take it, of course we would, thats reality.

My only concern is, I hope the comments about the club being up front with Sam about what he has to spend etc are correct

I cant believe the Board will have told him he had £10,000,000 if he hadnt. I think they will have been honest with him, therefore Sam knows the score.

The problem we have now is we have a tabled bid for Roque and no suitable replacement, Sam has been told he doesnt have to sell so Sam has to make a decision. The only anomoly here is this, where is the £5,000,000 set aside for Carlos signing which now isnt going to happen???

That is the only thing I have not yet grasped, having said that, what is the point in signing for signings sake, as Nicko has rightly pointed out, some of the signings other clubs have made have been poor to say the least and the prices paid are highly inflated.

Sam may find one player before the window closes, one player of quality would be good for the club, a few poor signings wont be and I notice that Givet has quietly gone about his job and shown despite lack of games, will be a good squad member.

At this time we should all stick together, back the club and support the team and its manager, lets see what the season brings!!!

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Why does everybody pre-suppose that the board have reduced the funds available to Sam ? Maybe the player Sam supposedly wanted had a bad injury record (hardly surprising if it was Bullard) and the board weren't prepared to take the risk ?

Having a transfer budget is one thing - but the board have to take into account the various add-ons including on-going salary (I am sure Philip has pointed this out numerous times).

Sam bought some real pups in his time at Newcastle - so isn't infallible. Surely it has to be healthy for the long term good of the club that purchases are questioned and possibly blocked (if appropriate).

[Kelbo]

Why does everybody pre-suppose that the board have reduced the funds available to Sam ? Maybe the player Sam supposedly wanted had a bad injury record (hardly surprising if it was Bullard) and the board weren't prepared to take the risk ?

Having a transfer budget is one thing - but the board have to take into account the various add-ons including on-going salary (I am sure Philip has pointed this out numerous times).

Sam bought some real pups in his time at Newcastle - so isn't infallible. Surely it has to be healthy for the long term good of the club that purchases are questioned and possibly blocked (if appropriate).

I can tell you with some kind of certainty, that Rovers once had a policy where players over a certain age were vetoed before being signed!!

Dont know if this is still the case though.

[Fife Rover]

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.

You think the table is more pleasant reading? The bottom 5 clubs all have the same points (21) including Rovers. The only thing that decides their position is GD. Definitely not MY idea of "more pleasant reading"!

[LeftWinger]

#ignore

Most sensible thing you've said all day

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

You think the table is more pleasant reading? The bottom 5 clubs all have the same points (21) including Rovers. The only thing that decides their position is GD. Definitely not MY idea of "more pleasant reading"!

The key word is "more" - didn't say it was pleasant reading, also said that we weren't out of the woods yet. Just compare it prior to Sam taking over - and you will see what I mean

[spencey7]

ROQUE - I don't believe the £19 million Man City bid mentioned in some papers is correct...it's just people putting new numbers on the story and justifying their faith in City's previously 'massive' offers. I think the offer is around £15 million with no strings attached.

REPLACEMENTS - Got to say the vibes I am getting is that none of the players watched appear to be the answer - either in terms of talent or price. Don't know where that leaves finding a replacement. And that is MORE important than the size of any Man City bid.

Well if there's no "suitable" replacement, we keep Roque - It's as simple as that. It doesn't matter in the slightest if "this kind of money won't come along again". Seeing out the season with Barn Door Roberts starting the majority of games is a one-way ticket to the Championship.

Very annoying to hear that - given we're likely to recieve £15m for Roque (on top of all the summer cash) - we're being priced out of moves for strikers in the £7m-£10m range.

Granted Zigic isn't worth anything like that kind of money, but Janko and Dzeko are surely worth a gamble.

We all know about the financial woes at West Ham, but Zola was able to spend the Craig Bellamy money ON A DIRECT REPLACEMENT, in the form of Savio Nsereko (who could turn out to be a very shrewd signing in my opinion).

My prediction stands - We'll sell Roque and sign no-one.

[joey_big_nose]

Well if there's no "suitable" replacement, we keep Roque - It's as simple as that. It doesn't matter in the slightest if "this kind of money won't come along again". Seeing out the season with Barn Door Roberts starting the majority of games is a one-way ticket to the Championship.

Very annoying to hear that - given we're likely to recieve £15m for Roque (on top of all the summer cash) - we're being priced out of moves for strikers in the £7m-£10m range.

Granted Zigic isn't worth anything like that kind of money, but Janko and Dzeko are surely worth a gamble.

We all know about the financial woes at West Ham, but Zola was able to spend the Craig Bellamy money ON A DIRECT REPLACEMENT, in the form of Savio Nsereko (who could turn out to be a very shrewd signing in my opinion).

My prediction stands - We'll sell Roque and sign no-one.

I think I stand by Sam and the trustees on this. There is no point us spending 7m + on player unless we are uterly desperate. We should be able to find the player we need of sufficient quality for 7m, paying over the odds for someone who might not adapt is a gamble we cannot take.

I don't think we will sell Roque and buy no one. It is either we get someone or we keep Cruz. I cannot see any other situation. Santa will probabaly be a bit depressed and off the boil but he will give us more options. And he could well stay with us for 18 months if he does not go in this window as no one will trigger the clause due to his poor form.

Selling Cruz for fiteen and buying someone for ten or twelve who either fails to adapt or gets injured immediately is a recipe for trouble. We also have a number of positions we will need to address in the summer - Nelsen is not getting any younger, Dunn and Grella have injury issues, we need a right winger (although this will hopefully be sorted this window), a right back, Ooijer will leave (I assume Givet will join as the 4th centreback).

We need to build up cash reserves.

Six days left. We need to get the right person for the right price.

[thenodrog]

Benni is more of a natural finisher but has a history of blowing hot and cold. Also what happens if Benni gets injured? Roque sold and repalced by someone who is unproven at Premier League level. Roque has proved that he can score at this level and will do so again now that Sam has started to get the team sorted out.

Indeed. I don't really relish Derbyshire starting many games.

REPLACEMENTS - Got to say the vibes I am getting is that none of the players watched appear to be the answer - either in terms of talent or price. Don't know where that leaves finding a replacement. And that is MORE important than the size of any Man City bid.

Amen to that.

btw I would have liked us to have used some of the Shearer money for Robbie Keane a long time ago.

[jim mk2]

The key word is "more" - didn't say it was pleasant reading, also said that we weren't out of the woods yet. Just compare it prior to Sam taking over - and you will see what I mean

The key word is pleasant. Until Prem safety is secured there is nothing pleasant about this season whatsoever.

[Majiball]

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

Hughes couldn't, I'd love to believe they could work together.

Sam may find one player before the window closes, one player of quality would be good for the club, a few poor signings wont be and I notice that Givet has quietly gone about his job and shown despite lack of games, will be a good squad member.

Its funny how Football is the only industry in which, when the January sales start prices go up.

The quality of player that we need to improve our first 11 just aren't available, and if they are they whack on 30-40%. Most of the teams in the stronger leagues are still in Europe, why would players swap that. I just don't see the point to this window, its more trouble than its worth.

The Egyptian is surely being lined up in the eventuality that RSC stays, as most have said he needs service, hopefully if its true he'll provide it.

[thenodrog]

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.

Completely different players but imo Hughes and SA appear similar managers as both like a traditional strong back to goal centre forward to hold the ball up.

[OscarRaven]

Its the David Bentley situation all over again, same arguments, same points.

I say we keep Roque irrespective of a bid and see what happens. Then we will have the one went and one was made to stay scenerio and we can see who was right.

We are Rovers people, think of the negatives :

Sell Roque and Benni will do his cruciate in training, it will fall apart and we will go down.

Keep him and Robbo and Benni will bang in 2 goals a game to the end of the season and we wont even get £6M for him in the summer.

[farhanology]

Bring back Shabani Nonda then on the cheap, reckon this strike trio would at least notch up a few goals.. even for half a season

[thenodrog]

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.

Whereas as always you are being a **** cos it suits.

Most sensible thing you've said all day

I suggest 'ever'.

3 weeks ago all we needed was Diouf from Sunderland. It's no different now. I warned City are relegation rivals and would be screwing us over until the last minute and thats how it's panning out.

[ricardinho]

Nicko - is it true that Liverpool are offering Robbie Keane around? If so is there any chance Rovers could use the money from any RSC sale to fund this move?

[mark1875]

Nicko - is it true that Liverpool are offering Robbie Keane around? If so is there any chance Rovers could use the money from any RSC sale to fund this move?

as nicko said this morning on this thread, 80k a week means keane is unlikely to come to the rovers

[kandi]

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.

[incecticide]

as nicko said this morning on this thread, 80k a week means keane is unlikely to come to the rovers

Add to that the fact that most Premiership teams would love to have him, he'd probably be looking at somewhere like Villa rather than little Rovers who might end up going down anyway. We've no chance of signing Keane, even if we were daft enough to stump up for his wages.

[BuckyRover]

Whereas as always you are being a **** cos it suits.

I suggest 'ever'.

3 weeks ago all we needed was Diouf from Sunderland. It's no different now. I warned City are relegation rivals and would be screwing us over until the last minute and thats how it's panning out.

Whereas you are a ***** due to a lack of education and ignorance.

He wants out.

You are the idiot for suggesting that I am somehow unhinged for wanting to sell our STAR striker that has scored the grand total of 3 GOALS all season. My God, how will we cope without him.

18m? That would be a record sale for a Blackburn player. For a player who did rubbish at Bayern, because he couldn't be bothered. I notice that he didn't ask for a transfer their either. Why not? If we rescued him from hell (I think those were his words)

Let's look at his Bayern record:

1999–00 32 7

2000–01 19 5

2001–02 32 8

2002–03 14 5

2003–04 37 6

2004–05 4 - -

2005–06 15 4

2006–07 35 3

20 goal a season striker?

Dream on; One season wonder! He is up there with the best of them, Michael Ricketts, Marcus Stewart etc.etc

I think that is plain for anyone to see.

[tonygreenbank]

How anybody even consider the idea that we can sell Roque without a replacement? Any prem club needs 4 good strikers to cover for injury and loss of form. Roque stays if there is no alternative. However I do feel that Sam wants to line up with Roque for the next 2 games which are huge matches to save our season. Sam may well just wait till next Sunday to announce a new arrival.

[gazsimm]

How anybody even consider the idea that we can sell Roque without a replacement? Any prem club needs 4 good strikers to cover for injury and loss of form. Roque stays if there is no alternative. However I do feel that Sam wants to line up with Roque for the next 2 games which are huge matches to save our season. Sam may well just wait till next Sunday to announce a new arrival.

i don't think santa will start on Wednesday even if he is still here by then. Roberts and Benni have been playing well together in the last couple of matches so why drop any of them?

[Lathund]

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!!

I'm not saying he's necessarily going to sulk, but it's not all hearsay. He's come out in several interviews and said that he wants to move. Whether it's a case of "I'm happy at Blackburn but would be happier at City" or if he's unhappy here remains to be seen. But just as it's silly to say that he 100% will sulk, it's equally silly to say that he 100% won't and that it won't affect his game.

[deftangel]

Dream on; One season wonder! He is up there with the best of them, Michael Ricketts, Marcus Stewart etc.etc

That comparison is bonkers (and thats a comment on your post, not you before you get uppity). Roque's an international with god knows how many caps. He didn't become a bad player overnight. Is he as good as last season? Clearly not, even when considering the mitigating circumstances of the loss of Bentley's service, Ince et al but I've seen nothing in his performances to indicate he's throwing a sulk.

If we can find a suitable replacement then by all means take the cash as we won't make that on him again but I fail to see anyone compelling on Nicko's list or any viable targets that would come to us elsewhere. There's no point spending money just because we can. We either buy a *good* replacement and strengthen the midfield or tell City to do one. Some sort of in-between is going to leave us vastly worse off.

[Jan]

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

Surely it would only be a personal attack if Philip was wrong?

It is notably the people who were right about Ince who want Roque to stay. There is a reason for that. It is to do with brainpower or rather the lack of it from the Paulettes.