[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[Iceman]

Its extremely difficult to judge Bissue,or any other young African player. They promise much,but then disappoint you. You have to basically give them time to develop, and mature as a player. All these African youngsters,are extremely skillful but lack the technical aspect of the game. We have a young right winger playing for Ajax Cape Town senior side,and ill say he is better than Bissue. Little bit light weight, but bags of skill and pace. Watch out for him, name is Sameegh Doutie.

[joey_big_nose]

Why are Citeh going after Arteta and Parker? They have a lot of creative players (Robinho, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Elano, Petrov) - what they are missing is quality strikers to hold up the ball, tacklers in midfield and decent full backs!

When they played us it was clear they were missing any real shape to their side. Signing 5 new star players is not going to improve their organisation or defence.

What is Hughes up to? They are a complete shambles.

As for us - Chimbonda is an extremely talented player, but from the Benni McCarthy school of mood swings. I guess it would come down to whether Allardyce feels he can handle him (and he got a lot out of Anelka and Diouf - two stroppy so and sos; and Benni himself looks revitalised under the big man) and where Chimbonda is - whether he is ready to be sensible and settle down for a bit and recover his career.

[nicko]

I don't always agree with Martin O'Neill, but I thought these quotes made some sense...

"If we are in for the same player, there is no way we can compete with Manchester City. Definitely not. As a player in the market, Man City have made things change."

[1864roverite]

If RSC forces the issue then that is akin to asking for a transfer, breaching his contract and therefore negating any pay off arrangement is it not ?

For me its plain and simple.

If he wants out sell him for the highest fee but make him do the donkey work, let him ask for a move and sever his pay off as there is no loyalty shown by the player.

If City are wanting big time players, then RSC doesnt fit the bill for them. In a season he becomes fodder, benched or even sold if City make any sort of progress.

[den]

It's just nice to know that at this moment in time, Rocky's future is undoubtedly in Rovers hands. If Allardyce wants to keep him to help with the relegation fight, then he can - and still get £15m in the summer [if indeed City are still prepared to shell out for him].

Who said that get out clauses are no good to a club?

[joey_big_nose]

It's just nice to know that at this moment in time, Rocky's future is undoubtedly in Rovers hands. If Allardyce wants to keep him to help with the relegation fight, then he can - and still get £15m in the summer [if indeed City are still prepared to shell out for him].

Who said that get out clauses are no good to a club?

It's a case of setting them high enough. I guess what the board learnt after Bellamy is that it is worth writing a pay off in to force the sell clause up. Clever, especially in market conditions where everyone - Citeh aside - are looking to spend less.

Looking more and more likely Cruz will be here till May imo. We need to sign a wide player who can supply him.

[philo]

I do not understand that rubbish portsmoth player went to Madrid for 20m but rsc is rumoured to go man city for less.

Strange

[T4E]

I'll be very disappointed if we don't manage to move Roque out now. There's just too many comparisons to Sutton ten years ago. £15m clear would be very welcome, hopefully the club are trying hard to make it happen.

[den]

I'll be very disappointed if we don't manage to move Roque out now. There's just too many comparisons to Sutton ten years ago. £15m clear would be very welcome, hopefully the club are trying hard to make it happen.

Trying to replace him this January wouldn't be easy. Maybe even impossible.

[Hughesy]

Podolski has been told he can leave for £9.5m and that Bayern are looking to sell him. Maybe another 1 ahead of Roque in the que for City?

[joey_big_nose]

Trying to replace him this January wouldn't be easy. Maybe even impossible.

The way McCarthy and Roberts are playing, and how poorly Cruz has performed, raises the point of whether we have replaced him already?

When Cruz has played we have really struggled to get him involved - partly through the loss of Bentley, partly through his own lack of enthusiasm, and partly because he does not combine well with any of our other strikers.

He will be available for the Fulham game, but he won't be starting. I am inclined to agree we should sell if we get a lot of money because it could take six months for him to sort his head out and us find a player who can provide for him. On the other hand Allardyce has not yet had a chance to work his magic with him. He could turn him around like he seems to have with quite a few of our players (Warnock, Nelsen, Samba, Pedersen, Andrews, Roberts and McCarthy have all improved enormously under Sam).

[den]

The way McCarthy and Roberts are playing, and how poorly Cruz has performed, raises the point of whether we have replaced him already?

When Cruz has played we have really struggled to get him involved - partly through the loss of Bentley, partly through his own lack of enthusiasm, and partly because he does not combine well with any of our other strikers.

He will be available for the Fulham game, but he won't be starting. I am inclined to agree we should sell if we get a lot of money because it could take six months for him to sort his head out and us find a player who can provide for him. On the other hand Allardyce has not yet had a chance to work his magic with him. He could turn him around like he seems to have with quite a few of our players (Warnock, Nelsen, Samba, Pedersen, Andrews, Roberts and McCarthy have all improved enormously under Sam).

So you would sell him now, without a replacement? Madness.

Didn't we just do that with Bentley?

[Hi Mack]

Chimbonda would be a very good signing!He has had a bad year but Sam is the man to sort him out!

Love to know who the 2 foreign targets are mr Nixon..........Will the beans be spilt soon?

the papers are quiet on the Blackburn front this morning, Sam keeping his cards close to his chest?

Also philo, Diarra is quality!Thats why they spent £20million!

[adbo99]

nicko, do you think Owen will move this window - if yes, any truth in a rumour I heard that he was villa bound !

[kandi]

The way McCarthy and Roberts are playing, and how poorly Cruz has performed, raises the point of whether we have replaced him already?

When Cruz has played we have really struggled to get him involved - partly through the loss of Bentley, partly through his own lack of enthusiasm, and partly because he does not combine well with any of our other strikers.

He will be available for the Fulham game, but he won't be starting. I am inclined to agree we should sell if we get a lot of money because it could take six months for him to sort his head out and us find a player who can provide for him. On the other hand Allardyce has not yet had a chance to work his magic with him. He could turn him around like he seems to have with quite a few of our players (Warnock, Nelsen, Samba, Pedersen, Andrews, Roberts and McCarthy have all improved enormously under Sam).

He does not combine well with Roberts?

[nicko]

nicko, do you think Owen will move this window - if yes, any truth in a rumour I heard that he was villa bound !

No, unless he is freed.

His wages are too big for anyone.

£120,000-a-week is a lot for someone who is usually half-fit.

[imy9]

Nicko- In your opinion do you think RSC will stay or go?

Also the two foreign players you mentioned, are they young players or older, more experienced players?

[tony gale's mic]

If Roque stays in January, he also stays in the summer IMO. Hughes will very possibly still be around over Jan, they'll sign a few good players and that'll be enough to improve their form and get them comfortably mid table. Also if I was the owners I wouldn't want to be trying to attract a new manager while the transfer window is open - the priority is to get new players and sacking Hughes right now could mean far less players coming due to the focus being shifted to finding a new manager. This would probably increase their chances of relegation as finding a top class new manager mid-season isn't easy.

But in summer Hughes will almost certainly be gone.

[nicko]

Nicko- In your opinion do you think RSC will stay or go?

Also the two foreign players you mentioned, are they young players or older, more experienced players?

It's always been a case of whether Man City would give Sparky the cash. Right now that is less likely than it was a few days ago.

The troublke for Rovers is that they will never see this level of money for him again.

It's a tough call.

Can't mention the foreign targets yet...

[Bobby G]

I bet neither of the foreigners will arrive. Its more a case of Joaquin in the summer.

How were we linked with someone worth about 9.5 million pounds, when there is no money, I wouldnt knw...

[Mozzer]

we should of gone for djbril cisse in the summer on loan...

it looks like he could be signing for sunderland permanatly for just £8.3million or something like that in the summer..

with mark hughes' career at man city looking uncertain-i dont think the owners would give him 18million to spend on santa cruz..

the more man city lose-the more i feel santa cruz will stay at rovers...

[thenodrog]

I think most footballers are exactly as you describe. My response was to a post which suggested somehow that Neill was better than that! Keep up!

eddies post re: Neill that you described as bullsh1t was spot on. Neill handled his contract situation very professionally and very honourably too imo.

[brian_gallagher85]

we should of gone for djbril cisse in the summer on loan...

it looks like he could be signing for sunderland permanatly for just £8.3million or something like that in the summer..

Just £8.3 million?

[nicko]

I bet neither of the foreigners will arrive. Its more a case of Joaquin in the summer.

How were we linked with someone worth about 9.5 million pounds, when there is no money, I wouldnt knw...

Joaquin's fee could have been less if a bid had been made.

Rovers went to see him twice and were told he was interested and available.

[Hi Mack]

Nicko.....regarding the foreign targets,

Whats the reason for holding their names back? are the "deals" not far enough down the line yet?

I was just wondering at what point a journo reports on a transfer?

Sometimes it seems they report before the manager has the clubs know!

Also......Jaoquin was interested? Really?