[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[nicko]

Hmm...From what I saw from Roque last night, Id be more than happy to have him in the squad and he has the quality to really make an impact against at least all the teams in trouble near us.

When did we reject their bid exactly?

The call from Spurs came in yesterday...the bid has not been rejected as such...the line is that a 'replacement has to be found first.'

Big rumours that someone may be coming today.

All ports being checked.

[philipl]

It is only Spurs Club Call but it quotes Sam as saying Rovers are rejecting all bids.

Re socngill- the issue is whether the transfer document COMMITS to pay an amount. If there is a standard transfer agreement to sell for £10m receivable in standard UEFA terms (over the contact life) then Rovers are totally at liberty to go and spend £7m on an equivalent contract to buy in a player (allowing for the usual contract sticky fingers etc).

City have NOT offered all cash in reality. Their press figures on bids for Roque are BS and the real offer has contingencies on it.

So if City offer £13m plus £2m if if, Rovers could only spend £10m on a matching basis. That is where I think City are with their most recent bid by the way so Spurs coming in at £20m is a big leap.

[Bobby G]

Nicko, Spurs have bid 20 million?

Isnt it weird if a bid had come in that we ended up playing him last night too?

Someone coming in, do you mean as a Roque replacement or ...?

[Eddie]

No, the club isn't resigned to losing him, nor is he so keen on a move that is he unwilling to play. We're obviously willing to sell under the right circumstances, it is just a question of making sure that we can replace him.

[BRFCBOY]

The call from Spurs came in yesterday...the bid has not been rejected as such...the line is that a 'replacement has to be found first.'

Big rumours that someone may be coming today.

All ports being checked.

striker nicko ????? or eleswhere ???

[my_name_is_Earl]

Nicko, assuming Derbs is leaving for the Greeks today, will this striker coming in be a replacement for Derbs or more of a replacement for Santa which would obviously mean we need two strikers?

Its all getting a little bit confusing.....I can't fathom letting Derbs go at all especially whilst Santa may be on his way out and we're struggling to get in an adequate replacement for him

EDIT: You know what i'm trying to say right? We're looking for a replacement for Santa yet we're letting Derbs go who isn't up to the quality of Santa so we must be after two strikers if that logic is correct? Unless of course Santa stays in which case it'll only be one coming in for Derbs?

[disgruntled]

Sam himself said someone was coming in today, so it allows Derbyshire to go on loan to Olympiakos

[herbergeehh]

A striker surely? If Derbyshire is leaving, we need a replacement. If there's any chance of RSC leaving, we certainly need another one. I would think Derbyshire leaves regardless of RSC's situation.

[roversmad95]

is this for real nicko?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id...ers&cc=4716

[philipl]

If you take the name Blackburn Rovers off all this and look at what we know is happening as though another club was doing it, everything right now is pointing to Roque staying.

[nicko]

The Spurs bid for Roque came in AFTER the Derbyshire-Olympiacos move was set up.

Derbs goes, a replacement for him is due in.

A better replacement for Roque will still have to be found.

The Manchester paper story about City's final bid would have been written without the paper knowing about the Spurs development.

So now we have a simple equation.

Rovers CAN get more for Roque than expected because two clubs are in...but they have to get a replacement sorted out - and now they have more cash to spend.

[my_name_is_Earl]

If you take the name Blackburn Rovers off all this and look at what we know is happening as though another club was doing it, everything right now is pointing to Roque staying.

Agreed Phillipl.

[Sandiway Blue]

The Spurs bid for Roque came in AFTER the Derbyshire-Olympiacos move was set up.

Derbs goes, a replacement for him is due in.

A better replacement for Roque will still have to be found.

The Manchester paper story about City's final bid would have been written without the paper knowing about the Spurs development.

So now we have a simple equation.

Rovers CAN get more for Roque than expected because two clubs are in...but they have to get a replacement sorted out - and now they have more cash to spend.

Could that maybe put Janko back on the radar?

[nicko]

Could that maybe put Janko back on the radar?

Must admit, that was my first thought too.

[Bennisfromheaven]

Though I thought I saw RSC say to Bennie 'I hand balled it' and the bolton keeper wink in his right eye and that is the direction where bennie put the penalty kick. conspiriacy theorist eat your heart out.

I was sure i saw him say that too but having watched the replay i thought it was taken down superbly by his chest! ...& by the way what a ball from Tugs!!

After watching the highlights last night i really want to keep Roque, he is a top player & a likable one at that!! Just neet someone to supply him!!

[herbergeehh]

You're saying a replacement for Derbyshire is due in, Nicko, is that a loan or a permanent deal?

I take it you have a name, being announced at 11 o'clock?

[my_name_is_Earl]

Cheers Nicko for putting forth the timing of events. BS obviously has a man coming in for talks today after letting Derbs leave. Should be interesting

[philipl]

I noticed that we went 4-3-3 yesterday and it worked in not exposing the limitations of the midfielders and giving Warnock and Emerton the chance to play wing-back.

If 4-3-3 is the future, it doesn't half change the arithmetic and targets for the next few days.

[Guest Kamy100]

4-3-3 could also mean a role for Carlos who could play of the striker.

[Bobby G]

More like 4-3-1-2 with Benni lurking behind Roberts and Roque...Overall, I dont think you can consider the second half as anything more than one team going all out attack against another one sitting back completely. In fact on the counters, if they were quicker and more lethal our defence was quite exposed and midfielders other than Grella were barely tracking back.

[gumboots]

I noticed that we went 4-3-3 yesterday and it worked in not exposing the limitations of the midfielders and giving Warnock and Emerton the chance to play wing-back.

If 4-3-3 is the future, it doesn't half change the arithmetic and targets for the next few days.

Interesting to hear andrews say they hadn't played 4-3-3 in training but that the manager knew they were adaptable and could do it. the 3 up front sucked their fullbacks in and gave ours room to get forward well, and tto great advantage in that our goals both came from full backs being in advanced positions.

[BRFCBOY]

I noticed that we went 4-3-3 yesterday and it worked in not exposing the limitations of the midfielders and giving Warnock and Emerton the chance to play wing-back.

If 4-3-3 is the future, it doesn't half change the arithmetic and targets for the next few days.

they were only playin with one upfront and hardly made an attempt to create a counter attack in the second half. If we choose to start games like that i fear we would be seriously exposed

[thenodrog]

they were only playin with one upfront and hardly made an attempt to create a counter attack in the second half. If we choose to start games like that i fear we would be seriously exposed

Indeed. I think the intention of SA was to play a 3-4-1-2 with Benni linking the midfield and the strikers, but our formation made me nervous when Bolton were pouring forward in the last few minutes and it had become a ding-dong battle.

[Flopsy]

play 433 with 3 strikers against any team thats remotely adequete and we'll be destroyed.

you need a 451 with two quick midfielders to play off the striker holding the ball up.

As we dont have one of these, i'd prefer to stick with 442

so whats happening with this ruskie bloke?

[RibbleValleyRover]

Sam clearly has come out and said he can’t find any replacements as there is isn’t enough time left in the window. Last thing we need is to foolishly panic buy on players just before the window closes.

Keep Roque until the summer, the battle for survival is going to be extremely tight this season.