[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[JAL]

Well surely 18m can help towards a new striker, whilst also solving any defensive problems at the same time?

£18m into the Ewood Park coffers is an absolutely fantastic move for Rovers, if Hughes gets potted in the coming months maybe we can buy Roque back at a knockdown price in say 18 monmths or so.

[Hughesy]

£18m + Ben Haim would be cracking.

A 26 year old defender in for free, 34 year old Andre out for say £1m.

Giving us £18m to put towards our kitty to find a right winger, centre midfielder and another striker.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Citeh fans on Blue Moon reckon its more likely £15 million + Ben Haim...

[Hughesy]

The guy that they reckon is in the know said £18m + TBH as a makeweight

[modes98]

Sounds pretty good to me. Only worry is that we lose the threat up front. I am sure Nicko will be informing us in the near future as to some proven premiership strikers that we'll be picking up for next to nothing.....lol

[philipl]

The Independent say Parker and Bellamey for City. In fact a whole article about City and Roque Santa Cruz hardly mentioned.

They seem behind the times though re Parker whom everyone else is reporting as a done deal.

Disappointing to read that Appiah is at Spurs.

[Tom 1]

Hughes is being stupid, I know they needed fight and Parker can give them that but 10m for someone whos been nothing special at West Ham and apparently he is INSCREASING from 70k a week??? what in the name of (Please don't use that word again) is he going to be on now then? Sorry not rovers related I know but someone else brought it up, it's madness.

[Hughesy]

RSC only cost us £3.5m so, £18m + Ben Haim is great business, from a business sense.

[bringdunnback]

"great business from a business sense", that'd be in quotes of the week.

Nicko, anytruth in Mbami and Givet. Not really following the "premier league experience" qoute from Allardyce.

[my_name_is_Earl]

Lucash is ATROCIOUS positionally. Along with fouling people constantly, it is the weakest aspect of his game.

Don't agree with that at all. Very rarely would left midfielders get in behind him simply due to his positioning. Maybe the situation at Wet spam has been different though I haven't seen much of him there so I couldn't comment.

Like I said in a previous post, I love Brett's work rate, determination, athletic ability etc. but I think he would be better used in his natural position which for me is centre of the park. Positionally, he does look out of place at Right back although he has been doing a decent enough job when called upon.

[RevidgeBlue]

RSC only cost us £3.5m so, £18m + Ben Haim is great business, from a business sense.

Yep, the Trustees will be the richest owners in the Championship.

33-35m in for Bentley and RSC. Who needs 50m for the Club?

[braddock]

Yep, the Trustees will be the richest owners in the Championship.

Who needs 50m for the Club?

its a good deal and you know it

look at the facts

striker who has made minimal impact this season for 18mil and a defender, which could likely be negotiated higher given the money have.

regardless of how much sam gets to spend, that money will keep us secure financially if nothing else. he will be given money though, those at the top realise spending now and keeping us in the division will make them a lot more than this transfer and a relegation. it makes financial sense to sell. he doesnt even want to play for us

[thenodrog]

Yep, the Trustees will be the richest owners in the Championship.

33-35m in for Bentley and RSC. Who needs 50m for the Club?

Twas ever thus with our following.

BUT I'm sure that staying clear of debt and staying solvent alongside retaining Prem status is of paramount importance in this new financial climate.

btw Arse got a lump of Bentley's fee.

[Fraserkirky]

18million + Ben Haim is a hell of a deal for us.

Would have prefered Onouha or Sturridge though!

I wonder if sturridge's performance against us took him off the table in any potential deal for RSC. he looked excellent.

[bonger 26]

keep thinking that givet and M'bami are the two players nicko may be on about anyone any more info on them or the situation?

personally i think that 18 mil for rsc plus ben haim is a corker of a deal if true. santas a top player on his day but i get the gut feeling that he will never get back to the same form he did in his first season. if defoe is on about leavin pompey what about a cheeky bid for him. cant hurt tryin

[bigbrandjohn]

I'd take the deal if Sam is given most of the funds from the deal. Ben Haim i assume is being brought in because Ooijer is looking to go back to Holland (AZ still interested in Andre Nicko?). i can't see him starting ahead of Samba and Nelsen, Sam might want to play him at right back though...

Another central defender playing at right back ???

[Exiled_Rover]

If they're signing Parker and Bridge for £10m a piece I'd ask £30m for Santa Cruz.

[Iceman]

In theory,its a good deal. However,the deal to sell Roque would be a bad move if we dont replace him with another quality striker.

[Presty On Tour]

18m and the defender sounds a fair deal, i would consider it and only accept it if -

Apparently Sam has 10m already to spend, would he get the 18m to have 28m to spend on players? Do we have replacements lined up?

Being in the relegation zone can't attract the best players, selling a player of Santa Cruz quality is going to seriously make us weaker.

It's a tough call.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Hughes was different as he went to a club which even under Thaksin appeared to have more money to spend so he could further his managerial ambitions, but it's very rare that players move from sides in UEFA Cup slots to sides battling relegation simply for the money.

No it is wasn't. Tried desperately for Chelsea, alienating himself at Rovers in process leaving himself nowhere to go when it did not happen. A wealthy club then offers top dollar to give him an 'Honourable' way out.

I also think the Marseille duo are the pair Nicko's on about. His silence speaks volumes.

[alexanders]

More about M'bami;

Ricky Sbragia and Sunderland leading the race?

[47er]

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

So if Ronaldo lets his contract run down and goes to Real for nothing, Manure should praise him for his professionalism?!!!! And not worry about losing 40M quid!

See your own post 830 where you admit Neill just moved to West Ham for the money. Nothing unusual about that but how is it honourable? And didn't he give all sorts of other reasons for a move?

To run down your contract in this way or to threaten to is to s**t on the club that's paying you a fortune and that's partly why I wouldn't want Neill back. The other rea son is he's not good enough.

[bluebruce]

Podolski is not going to come here in a million years.

I hope not! He will be a bit crap in a million years. I'm sure Tugay will still be going strong though.

[bluebruce]

Don't agree with that at all. Very rarely would left midfielders get in behind him simply due to his positioning. Maybe the situation at Wet spam has been different though I haven't seen much of him there so I couldn't comment.

I'm not even talking about his time at West Ham. At Blackburn, there were so many goals we conceded where you would look at the replay and think: "Where the hell is Neil?!?" when he shoul DEFINITELY have been in a better position to deal with it. If you didn't see it, and you think he was strong at positioning, I'm sorry but I don't think you were really paying attention. I have NEVER even noticed this particular problem so strongly with any professional player as I have with Lucash.

Anyway, one of the articles posted here (I forget which) says City want to let Elano go, and Micah Richards is out of favour. SCREW BEN HAIM!!! Either of these two, even with less cash for us, would be a STUNNING deal. Richards especially. What a player that lad is. Imagine a centre half pairing of him and Samba- all that strength and pace. Or of course, he could automatically solve our right back conundrum. As for Elano, my god how I was jealous of City for him last season. He's the centre mid we've been looking for for many years.

[kevinyip]

I'm not even talking about his time at West Ham. At Blackburn, there were so many goals we conceded where you would look at the replay and think: "Where the hell is Neil?!?" when he shoul DEFINITELY have been in a better position to deal with it. If you didn't see it, and you think he was strong at positioning, I'm sorry but I don't think you were really paying attention. I have NEVER even noticed this particular problem so strongly with any professional player as I have with Lucash.

Anyway, one of the articles posted here (I forget which) says City want to let Elano go, and Micah Richards is out of favour. SCREW BEN HAIM!!! Either of these two, even with less cash for us, would be a STUNNING deal. Richards especially. What a player that lad is. Imagine a centre half pairing of him and Samba- all that strength and pace. Or of course, he could automatically solve our right back conundrum. As for Elano, my god how I was jealous of City for him last season. He's the centre mid we've been looking for for many years.

I know it is off topic, but just to comment on the message above. Elano is difficult to control. Hughes cannot control him, why BFS can? If Elano think that Hughes is not a big name boss and Elano does not treated him with respect , he will just do the same on BFS. We need not have players that will affect the team's environment.