[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[Balwer]

I disagree.

Not even God could make our centre midfield that good.

We have Dunn (too many injuries), Grella (hope he recovers totally to see how he plays), Mokoena (useless), Vogel (last option for any manager we had), Tugay (a true legend but too old), Andrews (championship player), Reid (always injured), Villanueva (on his way out).

Good review on our players I would suggest (although Carlos could stay, you never know now).

One thing I would wonder is, could we add Warnock and Emo to that list? I know it's not their current position, but they have both played there before with a reasonable amount of success? I would personally like to see Bert move inside if we get a true right winger.

[Oklahoma]

Possible but, for now, they are both first team options for right and left back.

[roversinmyblood]

Am I alone in thinking that if we did sell Roque then the trustees would not release sufficient money to get a half decent replacement? I really fear that, as they have been unable to sell the club, they are trying to recover as much money as possible - what happened to the bentley money, Hughes compensation and the original transfer budget!!! I appreciate that we haven't got all the money upfront but the money is owed to us and so is an asset that we can borrow against.

If we leave finding a replacement too late by concentrating on defensive options first we will be in the same situation as we are with the Bentley replacement - up s*** creek without a paddle.

[socngill]

Am I alone in thinking that if we did sell Roque then the trustees would not release sufficient money to get a half decent replacement? I really fear that, as they have been unable to sell the club, they are trying to recover as much money as possible - what happened to the bentley money, Hughes compensation and the original transfer budget!!! I appreciate that we haven't got all the money upfront but the money is owed to us and so is an asset that we can borrow against.

If we leave finding a replacement too late by concentrating on defensive options first we will be in the same situation as we are with the Bentley replacement - up s*** creek without a paddle.

We would have paid compo for Ince, plus we bought Grella (c£3m), Andrews (c£1.5m), Robinson (about £1m over what we got for Brad?), Carlos (£1m for the loan I believe) plus a fee additional contracts and increased wages etc. Plus don't forget we only got something like £10m from Bentley due to Arsenal taking a slice and of course some of that would have been used to pay debts etc. Doesn't really leave much else - maybe a few million.

If we sold Cruz for £15m I would expect some of that to go towards debts as well before anything was earmarked for transfers.

[Blue n White Rover]

Possible but, for now, they are both first team options for right and left back.

And should be left there for the future. We all know Warnocks best position is at Left Back and Emerton's best position at Right Back. Why the need for new players in that position is beyond me. We need to focus on the right hand side of midfield and centre mid. Our forward line is perfectly fine at the moment.

Only if Roque goes we need to strengthen that position.

[nicko]

I hear Man City's offer is not very big...nowhere near the figure needed.

I hope Rovers come out and reveal the figures. They should.

This is as farcical as the bid for him in the summer.

[roversnick]

how much nicko?

was it $$$ or was it $$ + players?

[gazsimm]

I hear Man City's offer is not very big...nowhere near the figure needed.

I hope Rovers come out and reveal the figures. They should.

This is as farcical as the bid for him in the summer.

is it below the bid they made in the summer then nicko?

We should be cheeky to them and bid just £2m for Ireland and throw the ball back into their court MUPPETS

[Gally]

Nicko, why do you think City's bid is as low as you say?

Is it the owners paying lip service to getting the players Sparky wants? Do they think Rovers will be pressurised into a low price? or maybe just showing that, after the bridge deal, they wont pay way over the odds for every player they want?

[EwoodGlory]

I'm hoping the City money men and Sparky are at conflict to what he is worth. We really need him to stay, otherwise we need to win the next 2 games, move up the table and then we could possibly attract a decent replacement towards the end of the window.

EDIT: Just a thought but could he be a smokescreen for a bigger arrival at City?

[nicko]

I believe the offer is less than what they paid Wayne Bridge, which was £11 million.

So it sounds like £10 million guaranteed.

This fits with the tales told about the last £12 million bid which was only £8 million.

Sounds like they are trying to put in a pay-as-you-play element.

The gap between the clubs is great, so this will roll on for a while.

Wonder whether Man City will still back their manager if they get stuffed by Portsmouth on Saturday.

City's offers for Bellamy and Parker are also too low...and the Toure deal is 'agreed' but not done.

Hmm, makes you think.

[alexanders]

City's offers for Bellamy and Parker are also too low...and the Toure deal is 'agreed' but not done.

Yaya or Koulo?

[nicko]

Yaya or Koulo?

Kolo - Arsenal asked for time to find a replacement.

A lot can happen in a week.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I believe the offer is less than what they paid Wayne Bridge, which was £11 million.

So it sounds like £10 million guaranteed.

This fits with the tales told about the last £12 million bid which was only £8 million.

Sounds like they are trying to put in a pay-as-you-play element.

The gap between the clubs is great, so this will roll on for a while.

Wonder whether Man City will still back their manager if they get stuffed by Portsmouth on Saturday.

City's offers for Bellamy and Parker are also too low...and the Toure deal is 'agreed' but not done.

Hmm, makes you think.

LOL at £10 million, they can get stuffed.

I can't see them paying the £18 million figure which will be needed for us to consider whether we sell him or not. Looks like Roque is staying, unless this is some sort of ploy by Hughes and others to get Roque to put in a transfer request or unsettle him in order to greatly reduce his price...

[alexanders]

Kolo - Arsenal asked for time to find a replacement.

A lot can happen in a week.

You know where they are looking?

[brian_gallagher85]

£10 million???

If true, then this surely is a clear indication that Hughes is not being backed in the market

[EwoodGlory]

Kolo - Arsenal asked for time to find a replacement.

A lot can happen in a week.

I've just heard Gallas and Silvestre are both out for a few weeks, so City might have to look elsewhere now.

Arsenal need to get 4th after all.

[Hi Mack]

You know where they are looking?

Id guess at Hangeland and Upson!

Just a guess tho!

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Exactly what I was thinking.

They won't sell now unless they get 3 defenders in somehow.

[nicko]

Id guess at Hangeland and Upson!

Just a guess tho!

Pretty good guess.

[LeChuck]

Why has Touré suddenly fallen out of favour with Arsenal, surely there have to be some off-the-pitch reasons? Especially if they're looking at Upson as a replacement as the papers are suggesting, because that doesn't make them stronger at all.

[nicko]

Why has Touré suddenly fallen out of favour with Arsenal, surely there have to be some off-the-pitch reasons? Especially if they're looking at Upson as a replacement as the papers are suggesting, because that doesn't make them stronger at all.

Toure has been poor, but his head has also been turned by the Man City dollar.

City have a lot to answer for here - with several players.

Their tactic is to tap and then mess about with bids.

[RoverRich]

is it below the bid they made in the summer then nicko?

We should be cheeky to them and bid just £2m for Ireland and throw the ball back into their court MUPPETS

I was thinking the same thing. If they are going to be so pathetic and disrespectful we should give them a taste of their own medicine and see how they like it. They would probably come out with the figures and slate us if we were to do that so why aren't we showing them who is in the driving seat with Santa Cruz.

[Hi Mack]

Pretty good guess.

Nicko, its not what you know............

[Blue n White Rover]

Nicko any news on City's quest for Tevez?