[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[Ewood and I Would]

They aren't the richest club in the world, that is a fact. They may have access to the most funds if their owners decide to write a blank cheque, but there isn't a Mancester City bank account out there brimming with a billion pounds.

Splitting hairs there slightly aren't we? It is perfectly reasonable to describe a club's wealth based on the deepness of it's owners pockets. But if you want to be pedantic, Manchester United are the richest club in the world in terms of club turnover and Citeh are the richest club in the world in terms of accessible cash, happy now?

Either way, they're still not the "self proclaimed" richest.

[Oklahoma]

Nicko, any news on the players on trial?

[Bennisfromheaven]

Nicko, just wondering if you know what the feeling around Ewood about how Man City are handling this? I mean coming out & saying the bid was significantly larger than what was offered in the summer even though what was offered in the summer was not a serious offer either!

In my opinion Blackburn have dealt with this with great dignity. JW, PI or SA could easily come out & berrated City & Hughes for their tactics but they have stood firm & will not allow the player leave without a significant bid!

Well done to JW for this, dont allow our little club be bullied!

[Eddie]

No, it isn't splitting hairs. If it were splitting hairs then I think we would have seen City put in the level of bids Hughes would have wanted by now. It's the same reason why our club can't go out and spend 30 million this summer despite the fact that our owners have access to 660 million.

[67splitscreen]

i'd be very suprised if the terms of the contract were not conifdential between rovers and santa cruz

accordingly, for hughes to be aware of the clause in his contract and disclose has potential ramifications. the only way i would suggest hughes is aware of it is if santa cruz disclosed it to him- be it personally or by his agents. i'm not sure and don't have time to look into the precedent but I have a feeling this disclosure could amount to gross misconduct/ a repudiatory breach. if there is no contract Rovers could sue Santa for damages- whether this level of damages would be equivalent of a trasnfer fee i don't know. lots of if's and suppositions and even if these "ifs" were correct it would no doubt be a messy tortuous route to follow.

Have the terms of his contract not already been disclosed in the Sunday papers, or at least the clause that is causing all the grief, even if it does not kick in until the end of this season.

[Ewood and I Would]

No, it isn't splitting hairs. If it were splitting hairs then I think we would have seen City put in the level of bids Hughes would have wanted by now. It's the same reason why our club can't go out and spend 30 million this summer despite the fact that our owners have access to 660 million.

You're changing the subject. You said I was wrong to call Citeh the richest club in the world because it is their owners that have the cash and not the actual club, that is splitting hairs. How much of the wealth they are prepared to give Hughes for transfers is a completely different issue.

One question, whenever they are described as the richest club in the world in the media, do you get all mad and write in with some Qi style pedantic complaint letter?

[nicko]

Nicko, just wondering if you know what the feeling around Ewood about how Man City are handling this? I mean coming out & saying the bid was significantly larger than what was offered in the summer even though what was offered in the summer was not a serious offer either!

In my opinion Blackburn have dealt with this with great dignity. JW, PI or SA could easily come out & berrated City & Hughes for their tactics but they have stood firm & will not allow the player leave without a significant bid!

Well done to JW for this, dont allow our little club be bullied!

There's not much you can say or do...

I would personally have leaked the low figures and made Man City look stupid.

But that's why I am not a chairman or chief exec.

[Ewood and I Would]

Have the terms of his contract not already been disclosed in the Sunday papers, or at least the clause that is causing all the grief, even if it does not kick in until the end of this season.

Exactly, it's funny people are saying Hughes should be sued for disclosing the buy-out clause, presumably they'd also like to see nicko sued then as he released the info too.

[alexanders]

We are being linked to Mark Bresciano and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think we where linked with him this summer also.

Any chance he will link up with the other Aussies at Ewood?

Very versatile also.

Can be used everywhere in the midfield and also as a forward.

[RovertheHill]

Exactly, it's funny people are saying Hughes should be sued for disclosing the buy-out clause, presumably they'd also like to see nicko sued then as he released the info too.

There are only two places it could originally have been released from. Rovers or Roque. Hughes or Nicko talking about that is irrelevant from a legal perspective. I think the point is that it is at the very least unethical to be talking in public about a contract between Rovers and a player when you are Man City manager. That is either naive or dirty tricks to get the price you want. I didn't think Hughes was like that but then I don't believe he's naive either. I'm with Nicko - if the bid derisory then we should go public with it and up the ante

[67splitscreen]

Exactly, it's funny people are saying Hughes should be sued for disclosing the buy-out clause, presumably they'd also like to see nicko sued then as he released the info too.

Short memories I guess, or is it called protecting your source.

[T4E]

Isn't Bresciano Grella's best mate?

[nicko]

We are being linked to Mark Bresciano and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think we where linked with him this summer also.

Any chance he will link up with the other Aussies at Ewood?

Very versatile also.

Can be used everywhere in the midfield and also as a forward.

Bresciano...the new Grella.

Pass.

[alexanders]

Isn't Bresciano Grella's best mate?

Grella enjoys a close relationship with Australian teammate Mark Bresciano. Grella has described Bresciano as "even more than a brother

Seems like it.

I would like another Aussie in our team.

They seem to develop into the English style of football very quickly.

[67splitscreen]

There are only two places it could originally have been released from. Rovers or Roque. Hughes or Nicko talking about that is irrelevant from a legal perspective. I think the point is that it is at the very least unethical to be talking in public about a contract between Rovers and a player when you are Man City manager. That is either naive or dirty tricks to get the price you want. I didn't think Hughes was like that but then I don't believe he's naive either. I'm with Nicko - if the bid derisory then we should go public with it and up the ante

Or Agent. ???????, all the same, you are rite, but I don't think our club should sink to there level.

We are a proud club, we work by the book, let's keep it that way.

[nicko]

On the Roque clause thing...

The price clause and Roque's slice clause were inserted AFTER Sparky left.

So that does confirm that Man City have some precise inside knowledge...or Sparky reads the Sunday People.

[hawkiiz]

There's not much you can say or do...

I would personally have leaked the low figures and made Man City look stupid.

But that's why I am not a chairman or chief exec.

could it be that rovers dont want to make fools of city because they want some of the city players to come to ewood? surelyy city will be reluctant to deal with us if we try to embarrass them in public?

[Balwer]

With respect to you nicko, Bresciano is not the next Grella. Whilst they are best friends their roles in our national team are very different under Pim Verbeek. Grella is our #1 holding midfielder, but Bresciano tends to play either wing (in a 4-4-2) or inside (in a 4-5-1). He can play both sides, as well as being able to push up behind Scott McDonald/Mark Viduka/Josh Kennedy. Very versatile.

As to his worth, two years ago I'd have said we should chase him hard. But from what I've seen of him in the Australian team during the World Cup Qualifiers he seems to not be the same player. He doesn't strike me as being as elusive or as quick as he once was, but I confess to not being a football scout in the least.

Anyways, part of me would love this transfer. At this rate Blackburn and the Socceroos will become the one entity.

[Eddie]

You're changing the subject. You said I was wrong to call Citeh the richest club in the world because it is their owners that have the cash and not the actual club, that is splitting hairs. How much of the wealth they are prepared to give Hughes for transfers is a completely different issue.

One question, whenever they are described as the richest club in the world in the media, do you get all mad and write in with some Qi style pedantic complaint letter?

So QPR are the second richest club in England?

I just call in to Radio 4 to complain.

[mattyboy6000]

Exactly, it's funny people are saying Hughes should be sued for disclosing the buy-out clause, presumably they'd also like to see nicko sued then as he released the info too.

i can't help it if you can't read.

the only people who may have acted improperly is those who were party to the contract- santa cruz and rovers

hughes and nixon are not party to that contract, and should not be privy to its detail if it is deemed confidential- which it would be, usually. it would appear santa cruz has disclosed the terms- as such he is likely to have breached the confidentiality

[Hughesy]

Nicko - anything new happening out there?

Very quite considering City have big money to spend. I think the last week of the window is going to be a mad one. Also do we know who rovers are 'close' to making a bid on??

[Balwer]

Nicko - anything new happening out there?

Very quite considering City have big money to spend. I think the last week of the window is going to be a mad one. Also do we know who rovers are 'close' to making a bid on??

Wasn't that thought to be Diouf, and it was then discovered that was off and he was off the market?

[nicko]

Nicko - anything new happening out there?

Very quite considering City have big money to spend. I think the last week of the window is going to be a mad one. Also do we know who rovers are 'close' to making a bid on??

Man City will get at least one deal done over the weekend - can't say who as I've got a day job to do. But that deal is moving on quickly...and Roque's isn't.

There is an awful lot of talk going on everywhere but not much action.

One of your old boys will be moving over the weekend too. Chunky chap. Striker. No more clues on his name - or where he is going.

[AussieinUk]

Bresciano...the new Grella.

Pass.

You're way off the mark on Bresciano... Decent player

[nicko]

You're way off the mark on Bresciano... Decent player

So was Grella...in Italian or international football.

I worry about players who have not been into the heat of Premier League battle until those ages.

It's too quick for them and too late to adjust.