[Archived] Nicko's January Rumour Mill

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Depends really. If Roque keeps up his scintillating form of 4 goals in half a season, it could end up costing us our Premiership survival by keeping him.

[tony gale's mic]

Yeah, I can understand that but compare the cost of falling out of the division...

True but if we sold Roque we wouldn't be losing anything out of this current side this season. He's contributed three goals. It's not like Bolton when they sold Anelka - he really was their star player before then (and they still stayed up).

If he carries on as he is and we don't accept a substantial bid, we could be shooting ourselves in the foot by not accepting the money to make improvements in other areas, eg RW, CM etc.

There's no right or wrong answer, if he was banging in the goals this season I'd be gutted if he left, but he hasnt been and we could do a lot with that money.

[JAL]

LITA - Championship club.

KARREN BRADY - amusing if naughty column.

DEFOUR - Deffo £18 million...I know a club who asked.

Nicko, the Manchester Mirror today mentions we are interested in Lauren is he the right back your saving for tomorrow ?

[Stuart]

True but if we sold Roque we wouldn't be losing anything out of this current side this season. He's contributed three goals. It's not like Bolton when they sold Anelka - he really was their star player before then (and they still stayed up).

If he carries on as he is and we don't accept a substantial bid, we could be shooting ourselves in the foot by not accepting the money to make improvements in other areas, eg RW, CM etc.

There's no right or wrong answer, if he was banging in the goals this season I'd be gutted if he left, but he hasnt been and we could do a lot with that money.

Imaging a rejuvenated Roque banging in goals for City though - regardless of how he does in his current mood for Rovers. I'm sure City will get out of the mire before long but I'd be bitter if we helped them - especially if we went down. And even a sulky Roque (who would still need to play reasonably well to get a move) might still pop up and score an important goal before the season is out.

[nicko]

Nicko, the Manchester Mirror today mentions we are interested in Lauren is he the right back your saving for tomorrow ?

No, that will be Portsmouth trying to sell him.

There's been a bit of luck with the right back they were going to watch in France tonight...the game just got called off.

But I presume they will go back next week for the up-to-date check.

This window is a pain [no pun intended].

[Stuart]

This window is a pain [no pun intended].

Aye, alright. I bet you've been wanting to use that for over a week now!

[tony gale's mic]

Imaging a rejuvenated Roque banging in goals for City though - regardless of how he does in his current mood for Rovers. I'm sure City will get out of the mire before long but I'd be bitter if we helped them - especially if we went down. And even a sulky Roque (who would still need to play reasonably well to get a move) might still pop up and score an important goal before the season is out.

Imagine what we could do with £15+ million. We haven't seen that much money since Duff, and considering we currently have an operating profit and some of the summers fees went on wiping out debts, chances are we'd be able to spend most of it too.

With that much money we WOULD improve our side and would almost certainly stay up. The current side, including Roque, is deep in the relegation mire and Roque hasn't been adding anything. His record at Bayern is another indicator that last season may well have been a one off.

[rovers1995]

No, that will be Portsmouth trying to sell him.

There's been a bit of luck with the right back they were going to watch in France tonight...the game just got called off.

But I presume they will go back next week for the up-to-date check.

This window is a pain [no pun intended].

What is that the right back that Rovers are after. Can you still name him tomorrow.

[ScottishRover]

There's been a bit of luck with the right back they were going to watch in France tonight...the game just got called off.

Surely from that piece of information somebody will work out who it is.

Is the rb ssomeone we are looking to buy or to loan?

[Bobby G]

nicko I thought you slipped up by saying the game was called off, but I checked and 3 games have been called off!

[Tango]

It's not that Michael Chretien bloke again is it?

[nicko]

nicko I thought you slipped up by saying the game was called off, but I checked and 3 games have been called off!

Name him in the morning and reveal any details missed in the article.

[ScottishRover]

nicko I thought you slipped up by saying the game was called off, but I checked and 3 games have been called off!

so it could be 1 of 6 right backs.

[Stuart]

Imagine what we could do with £15+ million. We haven't seen that much money since Duff, and considering we currently have an operating profit and some of the summers fees went on wiping out debts, chances are we'd be able to spend most of it too.

With that much money we WOULD improve our side and would almost certainly stay up. The current side, including Roque, is deep in the relegation mire and Roque hasn't been adding anything. His record at Bayern is another indicator that last season may well have been a one off.

I've been backwards and forwards on the sell/keep Roque debate. I too think his value is at its maximum right now (he had a good season last year and his biggest fan is currently manager of the world's richest club) and, unless he plays out of his skin, finishes the season's top scorer and attracts the Chelsea/Man Utd/Real Madrid crowds, we will never get more money that we can right now.

The 2 questions which keep grounding me, though, are:

1) Who could we tempt to Rovers, of equal or greater quality to Roque, either considering or discounting our current league position?

2) Would Sam be given most/all of the money to spend anyway?

[AJW]

who are the 6 teams in question scottish rover?

[ScottishRover]

who are the 6 teams in question scottish rover?

I havnt got a clue

Somebody said 3 games cancelled. I will have a look

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Lille, Le Mans, Nancy, Valencienne, Nice and Caen i think it was.

[ScottishRover]

Le Mans V Lille

Nancy V Nice

Valenciennes V Caen

[tony gale's mic]

I've been backwards and forwards on the sell/keep Roque debate. I too think his value is at its maximum right now (he had a good season last year and his biggest fan is currently manager of the world's richest club) and, unless he plays out of his skin, finishes the season's top scorer and attracts the Chelsea/Man Utd/Real Madrid crowds, we will never get more money that we can right now.

The 2 questions which keep grounding me, though, are:

1) Who could we tempt to Rovers, of equal or greater quality to Roque, either considering or discounting our current league position?

2) Would Sam be given most/all of the money to spend anyway?

1. That depends. We could get any number of strikers who should score more than 4 goals in the second half of the season for a fraction of the price. It's his Bayern form that bugs me especially, there's been numerous strikers who've done it for a season in the Premier League but who haven't produced the goods again. In addition we could buy a CM and a RM with that money.

2. I should think so. Nicko reported we had upto £10 million to spend even if RSC didnt leave. That tallies reasonably well, remember £5 million would have been set aside for Carlos so itd just be an extra £5 million, which sounds quite good considering the managerial change compensation etc. I think if you bear in mind we only got half of that Bentley money (and haven't even recieved it yet have we?) then there's nothing to sugest funds are being witheld.

[EwoodGlory]

Could be Jean Calve who we have been linked with when he was at Le Mans, but he only signed for Nancy in September?

I watched him on Setanta last time we we're linked and he looked decent.

I've been looking around this afternoon and was hoping it would be Van Buyten.

Any idea if Kris Boyd was at St James Park today? no confirmation but apparently he was spotted.

[JAL]

Noticed one of these players has been at Bolton before ..Gerald Cid

[Stuart]

1. That depends. We could get any number of strikers who should score more than 4 goals in the second half of the season for a fraction of the price. It's his Bayern form that bugs me especially, there's been numerous strikers who've done it for a season in the Premier League but who haven't produced the goods again. In addition we could buy a CM and a RM with that money.

2. I should think so. Nicko reported we had upto £10 million to spend even if RSC didnt leave. That tallies reasonably well, remember £5 million would have been set aside for Carlos so itd just be an extra £5 million, which sounds quite good considering the managerial change compensation etc. I think if you bear in mind we only got half of that Bentley money (and haven't even recieved it yet have we?) then there's nothing to sugest funds are being witheld.

1. If he's fit Roque should score more than 4 goals in the second half of the season. We KNOW he can do it. Unless they are proven in the Prem, anyone else would be a gamble. Proven Prem strikers are expensive. (See 2).

2. Assuming Sam is given a lot to spend then a proven Prem striker may be within our budget but, again, who would come to Rovers? I think Owen would be the perfect player for our team but he I doubt he would come. Then you are down to a relegation rival (anyone from about 12 teams) and the rest who are competing for Europe - perhaps John Carew would be a possibility. I'm struggling to think of other names. We really need an Andy Cole level (at the time) signing right now to lift Rovers but the names we have been and continue to be linked with this season do not fill me with confidence that we actually have money to spend.

If Roque was moving to a Champions League team or anywhere in Europe, for the money City are likely to spend, then I'd probably go for it. But I'd still be worried about a replacement.

[Stuart]

Defenders in the squads of those French teams whose matches were postponed today:

Le Mans

4 Paulo Andre 5 Gregory Cerdan 13 Cyriaque Louvion 14 Clement Pinault 25 Marko Basa 29 Ibrahima Sory Camara 34 Mathieu Dossevi

Lille

8 Michel Bastos 18 Franck Beria 20 Gregory Tafforeau 25 Nicolas Plestan 26 Stephan Lichsteiner

Nice

2 Patrick Barul 4 Vincent Hognon 5 Cédric Kante 13 Jacques Abardonado 15 Gerald Cid 18 Ismael Gace 21 Mohammed Yahaya 25 Onyekachi Apam 27 Cyril Jeunechamp 28 Anthony Scaramozzino

Nancy

2 Maurilio Helder 3 Andre Joel Sami 5 Silva Andre Luiz 8 Frederic Biancalani 12 Geoffrey Adjet 13 Damian Macaluso 18 Julien Feret 20 Michael Chretien 21 Jean Calve 25 Da Silva Santos Adailton 27 Abdeslam Ouaddou

Valenciennes

2 David Ducourtioux 3 Guillaume Rippert 5 Rafael Schmitz 12 Eric Chelle 13 Mody Traore 20 Dame Traore 25 Rudy Mater

Caen

2 Nicolas Seube 3 Karl Svensson 15 Stephane Zubar 19 Jeremy Sorbon 21 Pablo Barzola 26 Oumar N Diaye

[Blue n White Rover]

Defenders in the squads of those French teams whose matches were postponed today:

Le Mans

4 Paulo Andre 5 Gregory Cerdan 13 Cyriaque Louvion 14 Clement Pinault 25 Marko Basa 29 Ibrahima Sory Camara 34 Mathieu Dossevi

Lille

8 Michel Bastos 18 Franck Beria 20 Gregory Tafforeau 25 Nicolas Plestan 26 Stephan Lichsteiner

Nice

2 Patrick Barul 4 Vincent Hognon 5 Cédric Kante 13 Jacques Abardonado 15 Gerald Cid 18 Ismael Gace 21 Mohammed Yahaya 25 Onyekachi Apam 27 Cyril Jeunechamp 28 Anthony Scaramozzino

Nancy

2 Maurilio Helder 3 Andre Joel Sami 5 Silva Andre Luiz 8 Frederic Biancalani 12 Geoffrey Adjet 13 Damian Macaluso 18 Julien Feret 20 Michael Chretien 21 Jean Calve 25 Da Silva Santos Adailton 27 Abdeslam Ouaddou

Valenciennes

2 David Ducourtioux 3 Guillaume Rippert 5 Rafael Schmitz 12 Eric Chelle 13 Mody Traore 20 Dame Traore 25 Rudy Mater

Caen

2 Nicolas Seube 3 Karl Svensson 15 Stephane Zubar 19 Jeremy Sorbon 21 Pablo Barzola 26 Oumar N Diaye

Not heard of a single one of them

[tony gale's mic]

1. If he's fit Roque should score more than 4 goals in the second half of the season. We KNOW he can do it. Unless they are proven in the Prem, anyone else would be a gamble. Proven Prem strikers are expensive. (See 2).

2. Assuming Sam is given a lot to spend then a proven Prem striker may be within our budget but, again, who would come to Rovers? I think Owen would be the perfect player for our team but he I doubt he would come. Then you are down to a relegation rival (anyone from about 12 teams) and the rest who are competing for Europe - perhaps John Carew would be a possibility. I'm struggling to think of other names. We really need an Andy Cole level (at the time) signing right now to lift Rovers but the names we have been and continue to be linked with this season do not fill me with confidence that we actually have money to spend.

If Roque was moving to a Champions League team or anywhere in Europe, for the money City are likely to spend, then I'd probably go for it. But I'd still be worried about a replacement.

Benni is looking quality again and although Roberts can't hit a cows backside with a banjo, he definitely brings something to the team and is a real handful for defences. To stay up we don't need a proven Prem striker who can bang 10-12 goals in the second half, we just need someone who can chip in with a few, and that could come from Europe or anywhere - look at where Stead came from. And the rest of that money could get both a RW and a CM, and with even half decent additions there we'd be nailed on to stay up. The reason we are where we are is because we've been so badly lacking in those two areas...plus our defence of course but not having Nige and Incey is sorting that one out by itself.

And you say Roque should score more than 4 goals...but for Bayern his usual record was a goal every 4-5 games. There's every chance last season was a flash in the pan.

Like I said I'm not saying we shouldn't keep him, but I wouldn't be gutted if we sold him. Especially now Benni's back and we've been much better going forward these last three league games.