[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[Hughesy]

So nicko is the russian rumour true or not? Have you any further info on it? Would he cost us big money or would it be a loan deal 1st?

Pompey have turned down £3m bid for Sean Davis

[Hi Mack]

so in your opinion do you think we will get the russian before the deadline?

Cant see us signing Pavel Pro.......(the russian guy)

There selling Arshvain to Le Arse so are already one striker light.

He'd be ideal but maybe a little late in the day for him to come in.

[nicko]

Breaking news...Crouch is NOT keen on moving either...that from very close to the giraffe's mouth.

Got an awful feeling Diouf is going to be your big signing for the month.

[alexanders]

We could get Pogrebnyak without selling Roque?

No midfielders being monitored or considered?

Not a RB after Emerton's injury yesterday?

[blue and whites]

so nicko, are you kind of confirming that the russian might be coming to us?

is he keen on the move?

[nicko]

Poggy - as we shall call him - appears to be a loan move if it happens.

So it would not cost much on that basis...and would not mean Roque had to be sold to pay for it.

I have no idea how that has been arranged, but that is the word over there and around here.

Do you trust the Russians? No? Me neither.

I have to stress this is an 'if' because there is still time for something better to come along.

However - after doubting it at first - I would now say it is a 'possible.'

[RibbleValleyRover]

We could get Pogrebnyak without selling Roque?

Yes please lol, though i find it hard to believe. Perhaps Sam has said Roque can leave in the summer and sees Pavel as a replacement hence the possible loan deal?

Imagine having Benni, Roque, Roberts, Pogrebnyak and Diouf as forward options... (need a drool smiley).

[cn_barlow]

Yes please lol, though i find it hard to believe. Then again isn't his contract up soon?

Imagine having Benni, Roque, Roberts, Pogrebnyak and Diouf as forward options... (need a drool smiley).

Doesnt matter who we have up front if the service is still pants!

[Hughesy]

Anything more come from the rumours that linked us with Sinama Pongolle a few back?

Is there much else happening nicko??

[spencey7]

I think Pogrebnyak would be a fantastic signing for Rovers.

Does no-one remember how impressive he was in the UEFA Cup last season? 10 goals in 13 games if I'm not mistaken (and he missed the final owing to suspension). He missed out on Euro 2008 with a knee injury, but was/is the Russian's main striker - not Pavlyuchenko. Add to this the fact that he's 25, and will be significantly cheaper than Crouch, and there really is no comparison between the two.

My worry would be, as Hi Mack points out, that Zenit won't be keen on selling as they're likely offloading Arshavin as well...

[Just read that Crouch isn't keen on coming - Great news!]

Nicko - As this is the Russian "off season" (from November to March), does that affect their ability to sign players at all? i.e. Can they do so outside our window? It's also all over the net that Zenit have agreed to sell Tymoshchuk to Bayern in the summer. I hope these rumours of a January sale are true! I'd love to see Arshavin in the Premiership, and Pogrebnyak sounds good to me.

[nicko]

Is there much else happening nicko??

BOLTON - trying and failing to sign midfielders...that is one to be watched.

SPURS - can't make their minds up.

MAN CITY - still need a striker for the project...where do they go if they don't get Roque.

EVERTON - Jo? Are you sure?

NEWCASTLE, SUNDERLAND - chasing a striker and possibly a centre half.

All a bit volatile. Why do they leave it so late?

[Exiled_Rover]

Breaking news...Crouch is NOT keen on moving either...that from very close to the giraffe's mouth.

Got an awful feeling Diouf is going to be your big signing for the month.

Thank ###### for that.

[DeadlyDirk]

I'd love to sign Poggy from what I've seen from him as well as keeping Roque, nothing to lose in a way if we do things that way.

Where does this leave Zenit though if they are prepared to let Poggy and Arshavin go?

Is anyone else looking at Poggy?

I'm sure I read somewhere he is out of contract in November which is what 9 months away so surely making it permanent couldn't go much above 5m, could it?

[alexanders]

Nicko, in your own article in the sunday people you are stating that we are poised to make a £1m bid for the Hungarian Starlet.

Do you think that is still likely?

Andras Gosztonyi

Kamy, also said we were interested in Alou Diarra - see anything happening there?

[philipl]

Arsenal internal politics mean that Arshavin is not a done deal as far as I know.

Rovers could get very fortunate on this one.

Yes Pogrebnyak's contract was for 3 years signed in November 2006 so expires at the end of the coming 2009 season. Bolton were quoted £5m when they enquired at the start of the window.

[nicko]

Nicko, in your own article in the sunday people you are stating that we are poised to make a £1m bid for the Hungarian Starlet.

Do you think that is still likely?

Andras Gosztonyi

I understand that one looks good...for the summer.

He made a pretty favourable impression, trained with the first team.

However as money is tight [apparently] and he would not play in relegation battles there is no need to rush it through.

I know what you're thinking, summer is a long way off, but that's how it stands.

[deftangel]

Doesnt matter who we have up front if the service is still pants!

Exactly.

Is there *any* chance of a cheeky loan move for a centre-mid tomorrow Nicko or is it just not on Sam's radar? I find it strange we would commit the wages for another striker despite having at least 3 (4 if Roque stays) options but we're essentially dependent on Dunn/Tugay being fit until May.

Which looks to me like a bit of risk really. I know Sam doesn't want to bring just anyone in but we're looking at "better than Andrews", which can't be impossible.

[blue and whites]

now im really hoping for the arshavin deal to colapse! he would be great!

but my main concern is, if he really wants to come here...?

[budha]

I'm sure I read somewhere he is out of contract in November which is what 9 months away so surely making it permanent couldn't go much above 5m, could it?

Does the Bosman-ruling apply for Russian league? I would imagine not and thus the contract running out probably makes things only more difficult, knowing the Russians

[RibbleValleyRover]

Doesnt matter who we have up front if the service is still pants!

If we can get Diouf playing like he did at Bolton then he should add some creativity in the side, but i see your point. I wish we had the money and the time to bring in a creative attacking midfielder.

It could be some very good business by Sam if we bring in Pavel on loan and if he does well plus we have a future fee agreed with Zenit (can't be too much as his contract runs out soon), we could have a replacement for Roque if he decides he wants out in the summer. Sam hinted the other day that he was open to exploring the possibility of letting Roque go in the summer.

[nicko]

Zenit St Petersburg scoop here...

The Russians just signed a striker from Hannover.

Don't know his name. This is, after all, a free service.

Either Arshavin's replacement or Poggy's?

Does the Bosman-ruling apply for Russian league? I would imagine not and thus the contract running out probably makes things only more difficult, knowing the Russians

Yes, it does.

It's known as Cutovya Bosman over there.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Great.

Unless I am mistaken it could go like this:

We get Poggy for 6 months on loan. He then is a free person. He could come to us, or more likely, go to another PL club of his choice if he has impressed in his 6 months for us?

[Sandman]

I'd personally take Pogrebnyak over crouch any day of the week, He's a better player.

[alexanders]

The Russians just signed a striker from Hannover.

His name might be Szabolcs Huszti , but he is a midfielder.

Huszti

[1864roverite]

Its okay having good strikers but we need some creativity for them to bloody well score.

If Emerton has a badly done knee that leaves us seriously short on the right hand side.

Ooijer is too slow, Simpson not getting alook in at the moment whilst the left side leaves a lot to be desired with MGP's erratic form.