[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[EwoodGlory]

There has been a bid for Sturridge in the last two days...don't know who from.

Chelsea and Villa tried before.

I would take him in a heartbeat.

I heard Chelsea tried to get him in the Bridge deal, but it was rejected.

[Iceman]

I wish Nicko's 11'o clocker was a 9'o clocker,as i have to wait till 1am in the morning lol

Whats the situation with reid,can we still afford to pay his wages while he is injured. When is he back, and will Sam try and cut his losses and make a bold move by releasing Reid?

[j166429]

I like him at centreback. Not a fan at right back unless we are playing a "hoof it wide" team like Stoke or Bolton. Too slow, not comfortable with his positioning at right back.

He should really have been starting at centreback ahead of Nelsen for the last year. However the Kiwi now seems to have recovered his form so the chance is gone.

I think I must have just seen him play at right back !

[bennyboyt11]

It's a totally mad mental day...so will need to go 'dark' for a few hours.

However as a special treat there will be an 11 o'clocker.

Some Rovers content.

No further news or PMs til then...it really is busy.

Until then...

Great stuff cant wait! Thanks for the news Nicko

[roversnick]

Whats the situation with reid,can we still afford to pay his wages while he is injured. When is he back, and will Sam try and cut his losses and make a bold move by releasing Reid?

if that was the case why not just release him now

[imy9]

http://www.football365.co.za/story/0,22162...4732965,00.html

The club sound confident that Rovers are about to sign him up, anybody got any details?

[RoverRich]

http://www.football365.co.za/story/0,22162...4732965,00.html

The club sound confident that Rovers are about to sign him up, anybody got any details?

I just read that and was about to put the link up. Sounds pretty promising. He is only 17 and apparently world class for his age so I reckon it would be worth the risk getting him now, allowing him to develop and see what happens.

[Ewood and I Would]

I just read that and was about to put the link up. Sounds pretty promising. He is only 17 and apparently world class for his age so I reckon it would be worth the risk getting him now, allowing him to develop and see what happens.

Hmmm, firstly no one is world class at 17 and even if they are we hear about them pretty quickly. I've never heard of this guy and don't think he'd be ready for the Prem for quite a few years.

Besides who's calling him world class? His sporting director who's obviously in line for a big financial bonus if he can get him into a premiership team.

[Jan]

I wish Nicko's 11'o clocker was a 9'o clocker,as i have to wait till 1am in the morning lol

Whats the situation with reid,can we still afford to pay his wages while he is injured. When is he back, and will Sam try and cut his losses and make a bold move by releasing Reid?

If we release him, we have to pay up his contract in full. Why on earth would we do that?

[Fylde Coast Fan]

http://www.football365.co.za/story/0,22162...4732965,00.html

The club sound confident that Rovers are about to sign him up, anybody got any details?

I'd be very surprised if he got a work permit at 17.

[frosty]

We haven't had an 11 o'clocker for a while, looking forward to it

[RibbleValleyRover]

If we release him, we have to pay up his contract in full. Why on earth would we do that?

I can't see us releasing him, hasn't he got a few years left on his contract? Plus we aren't the sort of club that offloads injured players.

Thinking about the RSC transfer i'm worried. If there is a release clause then what is stopping a club coming in on the deadline day with a bid that meets the release clause, Roque moving and us having no time to bring in players with the money. If there is a release clause we can't do what Villa did with Barry by saying bids had to be in by a certain date otherwise he is staying.

We could end up losing Roque and not getting to spend any of the cash until the summer, a horrible prospect IMO.

[Iceman]

Just a question regarding Reid, Janice. I understand we have to pay out his contract, but im beginning to wonder in what condition he will be when he returns.

This is the reason why the board has to back Allardyce with at least 10mill up front,so that he can bring in some new faces. That allows Sam to cover his back, in the event a team comes in for Roque on deadline day.

[Lathund]

I really don't know much about these things, so could be way off on this; But isn't there insurance available that will cover some (or all) of a players wages if he is unable to play due to injury? Assuming the insurance company signs off on it being an injury, which IIRC was the whole cause for the Dahlin row.

Or am I just talking out of my arse here?

[Fife Rover]

I would imagine if we sell Roque, Sam would have between fifteen and twenty million at a guess. After reading some of the figures for an intial budget quoted and some estimates of the Bentley deal as well as selling Roque for roughly eighteen million pounds, that is what I would estimate we have to spend.

Now, this budget could be stretched to the summer depending on whether we stay up or not and for possible championship reinforcements should the situation arise so I would imagine we may be parting with roughly half of that which is about eight million pounds in this window.

Now, knowing Sam's previous history in the market with Bolton and with the fact that the club is not guaranteed premiership status next season, I would imagine he may bring a couple of players in on loan or on short term contracts with minimal transfer fees involved.

This would leave us spending, at a guess, four million pounds in the window bringing in maybe three or four quality players that will keep us up. Having saved so much money on transfer fees of the original estimate of between fifteen and twenty million pounds, Sam will be able to spend his money even more wisely in the summer bringing in a couple of bigger names.

For me, this situation would be ideal. Any thoughts?

The situation "ideal" is like the Holy Grail.....unattainable. However the scenario you describe above would certainly be a good step on the way to ideal from where we are at present.

I believe that the club having just appointed Sam and knowing the danger we are in at present will be more accomodating than they would have been if we were presently in the top ten say. One can only speculate on the decision and keep hoping, for the truth is that none of us (not even Nicko) really knows.

[Fife Rover]

has anyone actually seen mcgeady play?

Yes, many times! He is a decent quality player, that looks outstanding in the SPL, and decent in the Champs league. Could be fairly useful to Rovers as he can play anywhere in midfield but tends to play more on the flanks for Celtic.

[PAFELL]

http://www.football365.co.za/story/0,22162...4732965,00.html

The club sound confident that Rovers are about to sign him up, anybody got any details?

The problem with that link is that Sam has said he wants players that can com into the side straight away and make an impact. In Rovers situation buying this particular player is taking a risk. Unless this is an additional player for the future.

[joey_big_nose]

Just a question regarding Reid, Janice. I understand we have to pay out his contract, but im beginning to wonder in what condition he will be when he returns.

This is the reason why the board has to back Allardyce with at least 10mill up front,so that he can bring in some new faces. That allows Sam to cover his back, in the event a team comes in for Roque on deadline day.

Paying up hios contract would take a couple of million out of our tansfer budget

The only option with have with Reid is to wait for him to recover and then look to sell. He is a good player on hius day,a dn a Championship club will take him for a million or more. Releasing him has no possible positive oucome (you don't save any money), so why not just keep him?

[yellowsubmarine]

Yes, many times! He is a decent quality player, that looks outstanding in the SPL, and decent in the Champs league. Could be fairly useful to Rovers as he can play anywhere in midfield but tends to play more on the flanks for Celtic.

Is this the same McGready in the video?

He looked class and actually played against Rovers juniors back then! Check out 00:14 of the clip.

[only2garners]

I don't know whether his name has been mentioned but Ivan Helguera has been released by Valencia and would seem to fit Sam's model of star players later in their careers. He's 32 and a centre back / defensive midfielder. I've no idea what his current form is or why Valencia have let him go though.

[RoverRich]

Hmmm, firstly no one is world class at 17 and even if they are we hear about them pretty quickly. I've never heard of this guy and don't think he'd be ready for the Prem for quite a few years.

Besides who's calling him world class? His sporting director who's obviously in line for a big financial bonus if he can get him into a premiership team.

I never actually said he was world class, I was just repeating what was said in the article that apparently he is world class for his age but yes it is likely that his sporting director would say that in order for a big pay day. I had never heard of Ljajic (who is 17 also) before links with Man U began so that must mean he is no good either, yet signed by a big club for a lot of money. Not many talented players from Africa are heard of let alone 17 year olds from Africa. At that age they are normally signed for the future so does it matter if he needs a few years as long as he shows talent and promise.

As for the other poster who asked how we would get a work permit, it says at the end of the article that you can get special talent permits.

[Oklahoma]

I don't know whether his name has been mentioned but Ivan Helguera has been released by Valencia and would seem to fit Sam's model of star players later in their careers. He's 32 and a centre back / defensive midfielder. I've no idea what his current form is or why Valencia have let him go though.

I've mentioned it before.

He had a few clashes with the manager so they released him.

I think he would be a good option for Rovers.

Recent rumours report that LA Galaxy want him but AC Milan and an english team have approached him as well.

[Fife Rover]

I cannot accept that for a minute Simon. Allardyce will have loads of targets, whether we can get em / attract em / afford em is another matter altogether.

This Jan window is so cat and mouse it's like playing chess. For example Man City would be wise to save any move for RSC till the last few days of Jan cos we are their relegation rival and ...

1. We will have to struggle another few Prem matches down the line with the same squad.

2. It would give us little or no time to replace him.

3. Some of our favoured targets will have found pastures new.

So why would they want to strengthen a rival by giving us 20m so early in the transfer market? I'd be hesitant if I was Hughes thats for sure.

And if I was Allardyce, the longer any club takes to make a bid for RSC, the greater the chance of me telling them what to do with their bid!!

I cannot accept that for a minute Simon. Allardyce will have loads of targets, whether we can get em / attract em / afford em is another matter altogether.

This Jan window is so cat and mouse it's like playing chess. For example Man City would be wise to save any move for RSC till the last few days of Jan cos we are their relegation rival and ...

1. We will have to struggle another few Prem matches down the line with the same squad.

2. It would give us little or no time to replace him.

3. Some of our favoured targets will have found pastures new.

So why would they want to strengthen a rival by giving us 20m so early in the transfer market? I'd be hesitant if I was Hughes thats for sure.

And if I was Allardyce, the longer any club takes to make a bid for RSC, the greater the chance of me telling them what to do with their bid!!

EDIT: Oh dear!! Sheer frustration. I don't have a clue why or how this duplication occurred, and I cannot edit it out....GGGGRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RibbleValleyRover]

And if I was Allardyce, the longer any club takes to make a bid for RSC, the greater the chance of me telling them what to do with their bid!!

Completely out of our hands if there is a release clause, they can wait until deadline day swoop and leave us with money but no time to spend.

[Tom]

Technically if they bid on the last day what legalities stop us from taking time 'processing' the bid, say till 00:01am? Maybe nobody was around to sort it.

Hypothetically of course, just wondered if Nicko knew if that sort of thing ever went on?