[Archived] Morten Gamst Pedersen

[yeti-dog]

I think Pedersen gets a rough ride off our fans, the facts our he has more assits than anyone this season more goals than any midfielder other than Dunn I think and never stops running.

If he was from Shadsworth and didn't dye his hair etc I imagine he'd get a lot more support.

I'm with you TCO.

The vitriol from some of you lot is staggering.It's no wonder the guys form gradually waned...he's got to put up with spice and malice from so called "experts" every game.Opinions are like a***holes,we've all got one.

I'm sick of listening to it to be honest.The manager wanted to retain him and after a top 10 finish he deserves to be allowed that.Some of you lot spend £30 on Football Manager and are suddenly Shankly,Cloughie and Ferguson.T**ts....

Support your team and get behind your players.

[tashor]

I think the positive reaction from a surprising number of people on here just goes to show how many of our supporters are prepared to settle for second best – something that MGP clearly is.

Amazing and shows a complete and utter lack of ambition on their part.

Totally agree Yobddum ...........

'Bout time we signed a decent player like Rooney/Ronaldo/Fabegras etc - we need players fit to stand before us on t'hallowed Ewood turf and not the laborious artful dodgers we have at present......................

[DanLad]

I think Pedersen gets a rough ride off our fans, the facts our he has more assits than anyone this season more goals than any midfielder other than Dunn I think and never stops running.

If he was from Shadsworth and didn't dye his hair etc I imagine he'd get a lot more support.

You mean he's not one of the Shadsworth Pedersen's? He dyes his hair?

I've gone right off him...

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

So its a new four year deal and a whopping 50k per week eh.....you better fookin well buck your ideas up 'Gamst'!

[Billy Castell]

Maybe we can afford the raise now we don't have to pay for Benni's pies and training bras. Personally, I'd have given him £25,000 p/w with up to £15,000 in bonuses like goals, assists etc.

[Blue blood]

I knew this would cause a lot of debate.

I think it's a positive for two reasons...

1. We now don't need to spend money bringing in a new player

2. He WAS much improved for the latter half of the season. I tend to be cynical, but in fairness to the guy, he had more influence on games in the centre and wasn't constantly expected to beat his man to put a ball in - something we all know he CANNOT do.

Let's hope we can bring in another creative midfielder and a decent striker due to the lack of initial expense replacing Morten.

We could probably do with a right winger too, as I don't see Diouf or Hoilett filling said role!

Think BugUts gets it right. Pedersen was far from our weakest performer, and in the central midfield has been decent. Sure, not great, but decent is pretty good as far as our central midfield goes. Ideally we'd get better, but there's plenty more in that position I'd ship out before Peds, including Adnrews, Grella and pending fitness, Reid. Peds does have all the attributes to be a good centre mid as he has energy and covers a lot of ground, as well being able to hit a nice pass and has a fierce shot on him. Hopefully in the centre of the park he'll be able to utilise that more. I'm hoping for an Emerton Mk 2 type revelation under Sam in the centre mid next season.

Money is a key one. Even accepting Peds isn't brilliant any more, a player of his quality would still have cost a fair bob. Money we simply don't have, and have more pressing issues to spend it on. Even if Peds does bomb, we will still get a fee for him in a year or so's time. Not a massive one, granted, but a darn sight better than nothing.

Add in that he can play left mid a position we have not masses of cover for, and the fact his long throws can cause a lot of problems (not in every game but I recall 2 or 3 teams really struggling with them) he's a pretty valuable asset to the squad.

I think one of the biggest disappointments in Peds is the levels from which he has fallen. When he first came he was excellent, or at least the things that got him into the side were excellent. This is probably why so many dislike him, because we've seen what he can and is capable of doing. Whilst this disappoints/frustrates me too, it to me is another reason why we should keep him - if Sam could get back that player, then wow, we will look a much stronger team. Not saying Sam will, but the potential/talent is there.

Finally Sam wanted him is a biggie - I'm no Sammite, nor am I a fan of some of the football we have served up at times. But given that Sam has given us 10th, a semi final and some glimpses of great football, not to mention a double over the dingles, I'm pretty inclined to trust him at the moment. If Sam wants him and sees him as a key part of his plans, then I'll go with that. Heck even his overpriced signings like Salgado haven't been a complete disaster, so I doubt this'll hurt Blackburn too much. In fact I think we'll probably benefit from this.

[1864roverite]

I agree with a lot of the views of fellow fans, MGP has been frustrating to watch at times this past 2 years. Looking at the practicalities, it is a good deal for Rovers. Yes he is or would appear to have got a decent wage but Rovers have not had to shell out a big transfer fee to replace him so his wage increase is absorbed somewhat. It all adds up when you take off the deadwood and players that leave on freebies, so Rovers are the winners. All we need is a nice refreshed MGP looking to impress. The 4 yr contract guarantees a fee for Rovers should he impress so much that a bigger club comes in for him, it also will see a player see out 10yrs with 1 club and there are not that many around who do that anymore.

Personally, I am glad he stayed.

[Kelbo]

I think everyone is missing the point here, we have a way of playing, Pedersen is a key player on the system, it appears at the moment that the squad will be together for next season, this hasnt happened before for a number of years and with a couple of additions to the squad we will be stronger, much easier to gel together!

For the past few seasons we have had to replace one or two key players, next season this wont be the case and for the first time in a while we can begin a season where almost all the squad are familiar with the way we play!

[roversmum]

There's room to question the manager on here but constant moaning when he's just made what he considers a crucial signing is pointless. He wanted him; he's got him. If you and others are going to go on moaning for the next 4 years or however long he actually stays it's a bit boring that's all.

It's a bit like someone who sits banging their head against a wall - pointless - they will still go on and on and on and on and on and on ...

I'm delighted he's signed. Let's hope he has an excellent future at Blackburn. We need to show our support to him and help him get back to his best. I'm sure the 50k p/w will also help too!

Where was £50k pw mentioned? Last I read it was £35k pw. Truth is, the only person who knows is JW.

I think Pedersen gets a rough ride off our fans, the facts our he has more assits than anyone this season more goals than any midfielder other than Dunn I think and never stops running.

If he was from Shadsworth and didn't dye his hair etc I imagine he'd get a lot more support.

Fair comment, TCO.

Blue Blood says "When he first came he was excellent" - er, no, for a while it seemed it was all a mistake until that goal against Cardiff.

Just get behind the lad, for goodness' sake. Sam has made his decision and NOTHING you say will change it.

[Stuart]

Is it just me being too sensitive or have people started getting more abusive towards EACH OTHER on this board lately??

Sometimes fans CAN be right about players. E.g. hands up anyone who'd be begging Sam to re-sign Benni, yet whilst players wear a Rovers shirt we are supposed to just pretend everything is okay!

I don't blame Pedersen one bit for looking at his options. At 28, this may well be his last MAJOR contract. No-one knows the exact details of the deal so we've no idea how it's structured and it's worth to the club.

As yeti-dog alluded to, Sam has earned the right to pick his players and we have to trust him but there's no denying Peds has only had a bit of a purple patch (and it is a bit) in the last couple of months, and he's had a pretty barren run for the last 2-3 years.

It's probably symptomatic of the style we are playing that Sam wants to keep his long throw specialist but he seriously needs to work on his free-kicks and corners.

I guess it's good to have a player who might qualify for a 10 year testimonial at a small town club in this day and age.

Here's hoping for as upturn in form. In the meantime: No boos, just Blues!

[Amo]

What I'd like to put to everyone who says he's a "proven" and "versatile" Premiership player is that NO ONE was willing to match our offer, and that's without a transfer fee! NO ONE. With a bargain like that, you'd think plenty of clubs would try to snap him up! Oh, but then you'll say that Pedersen was being loyal to us, right? That must have been why it's taken him until the 11th hour to sign - of course! He weighed up his options, realized Rovers were the only idiots willing to pay £50-60,000 a week and laughed all the way to the bank.

Those supporting this move either don't care what the club does with our money OR have been sniffing the morphine.

[imy9]

What I'd like to put to everyone who says he's a "proven" and "versatile" Premiership player is that NO ONE was willing to match our offer, and that's without a transfer fee! NO ONE. With a bargain like that, you'd think plenty of clubs would try to snap him up! Oh, but then you'll say that Pedersen was being loyal to us, right? That must have been why it's taken him until the 11th hour to sign - of course! He weighed up his options, realized Rovers were the only idiots willing to pay £50-60,000 a week and laughed all the way to the bank.

Those supporting this move either don't care what the club does with our money OR have been sniffing the morphine.

First of all we don't know how much his own but 50k seems to be the limit and that's performance related. I am neither delighted or sad, a good PL who can play in a number of positions and most important we can now try buy a striker or two!

[brian_gallagher85]

Better the devil you know and all that.

I've been thinking about the length of the deal all afternoon and the only reason behind it (apart from maybe flogging him it two years) is that it might have resulted in a bit of a reduction in wages, regardless of what some reports might say.

Replacing Gamst would have cost us more than keeping him.

[gumboots]

What I'd like to put to everyone who says he's a "proven" and "versatile" Premiership player is that NO ONE was willing to match our offer, and that's without a transfer fee! NO ONE. With a bargain like that, you'd think plenty of clubs would try to snap him up! Oh, but then you'll say that Pedersen was being loyal to us, right? That must have been why it's taken him until the 11th hour to sign - of course! He weighed up his options, realized Rovers were the only idiots willing to pay £50-60,000 a week and laughed all the way to the bank.

Those supporting this move either don't care what the club does with our money OR have been sniffing the morphine.

Of course we care what happens to the money but our manager wanted him. You might not and that's your prerogative. However, unless you are someone in power who is here incognito, and i don't for a moment think you are, then to cast aspersions on those who either do wnat him here or are at least prepared to allow that the manager's judgement in this matter might be correct, is offensive. Perhaps nobody else did want him. Perhaps nobody else was prepared to pay what we are. Who knows? Do you, because I cetainly don't? I don't suggest that those who don't think this is a good signing are in anyway deluded so why do you think you have the right to suggest that those who think differently from you are?

[John]

Some of the reactions on here are pretty ridiculous....

[gumboots]

Some of the reactions on here are pretty ridiculous....

reactions to the signings or reactions to those who don't want him trying to shout anyone who is for the signing down? I don't think it's necessarily a good signing, but the manager has earned the right to sign who he wants if the board are prepared to fund it. He's part of allardyce's first team squad and like it or not he's here to stay for the foreseeable future so surely he deserves our support.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I knew this would cause a lot of debate.

Think BugUts gets it right. Pedersen was far from our weakest performer, and in the central midfield has been decent. Sure, not great, but decent is pretty good as far as our central midfield goes. Ideally we'd get better, but there's plenty more in that position I'd ship out before Peds, including Adnrews, Grella and pending fitness, Reid. Peds does have all the attributes to be a good centre mid as he has energy and covers a lot of ground, as well being able to hit a nice pass and has a fierce shot on him. Hopefully in the centre of the park he'll be able to utilise that more. I'm hoping for an Emerton Mk 2 type revelation under Sam in the centre mid next season.

Money is a key one. Even accepting Peds isn't brilliant any more, a player of his quality would still have cost a fair bob. Money we simply don't have, and have more pressing issues to spend it on. Even if Peds does bomb, we will still get a fee for him in a year or so's time. Not a massive one, granted, but a darn sight better than nothing.

Add in that he can play left mid a position we have not masses of cover for, and the fact his long throws can cause a lot of problems (not in every game but I recall 2 or 3 teams really struggling with them) he's a pretty valuable asset to the squad.

I think one of the biggest disappointments in Peds is the levels from which he has fallen. When he first came he was excellent, or at least the things that got him into the side were excellent. This is probably why so many dislike him, because we've seen what he can and is capable of doing. Whilst this disappoints/frustrates me too, it to me is another reason why we should keep him - if Sam could get back that player, then wow, we will look a much stronger team. Not saying Sam will, but the potential/talent is there.

Finally Sam wanted him is a biggie - I'm no Sammite, nor am I a fan of some of the football we have served up at times. But given that Sam has given us 10th, a semi final and some glimpses of great football, not to mention a double over the dingles, I'm pretty inclined to trust him at the moment. If Sam wants him and sees him as a key part of his plans, then I'll go with that. Heck even his overpriced signings like Salgado haven't been a complete disaster, so I doubt this'll hurt Blackburn too much. In fact I think we'll probably benefit from this.

"If he bombs we will get a fee for him" ! How do you work that one out ? Looks to me like we couldn't give him away before he bombs !

[John]

I think it makes sense keeping him and overall I am pleased he is staying. However, not opening the champagne tonight or anything...

We are very weak in midfield so let's not get too carried away with things. Also, some are suggesting we can just dip into the transfer market and take our pick, sadly these days it is very difficult for us (as our last few managers have continuously told us).

Sam obviously believes he can raise MGPs performances levels and also does not want an unnecessary high turnover of players this summer too. I am sure Sam would like to improve on many areas of the team but we simply don't have the finances to do so.

I am just staggered by some of the hatred, shown by some, towards him. I have been frustrated too watching him in recent times but can understand why the manager wanted to keep him here.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

He weighed up his options, realized Rovers were the only idiots willing to pay £50-60,000 a week and laughed all the way to the bank.

Where has it said how much his new contract is ? I am sure the club wouldn't release such figures - and doubt MGP would.

If people are just making up figures they should be careful - as fans often over-estimate to the extreme.

IF he is on £50k - it is way too much - £30k I could just about accept.

[gumboots]

Where has it said how much his new contract is ? I am sure the club wouldn't release such figures - and doubt MGP would.

If people are just making up figures they should be careful - as fans often over-estimate to the extreme.

IF he is on £50k - it is way too much - £30k I could just about accept.

Of course it's too much - most premier league salaries are - but the reality is, anyone else we brought in would probably have been looking for about the same and we'd have had transfer fees etc on top.

[Majiball]

No one seriously thinks he's on 50K surely.

35K maybe but there's no way he's getting much more its the top of our pay scale and has only been offered to the likes of RSC and Bentley.

At the end of the day he's here to stay now, so lets get behind him and hope he can prove his doubters wrong. He had a better season this year than last so lets see if he can step a bit more next season.

[Tom]

What I'd like to put to everyone who says he's a "proven" and "versatile" Premiership player is that NO ONE was willing to match our offer, and that's without a transfer fee! NO ONE. With a bargain like that, you'd think plenty of clubs would try to snap him up! Oh, but then you'll say that Pedersen was being loyal to us, right? That must have been why it's taken him until the 11th hour to sign - of course! He weighed up his options, realized Rovers were the only idiots willing to pay £50-60,000 a week and laughed all the way to the bank.

Those supporting this move either don't care what the club does with our money OR have been sniffing the morphine.

How do you know nobody matched our offer?

[Hughesy]

I think it makes sense keeping him and overall I am pleased he is staying. However, not opening the champagne tonight or anything...

We are very weak in midfield so let's not get too carried away with things. Also, some are suggesting we can just dip into the transfer market and take our pick, sadly these days it is very difficult for us (as our last few managers have continuously told us).

Sam obviously believes he can raise MGPs performances levels and also does not want an unnecessary high turnover of players this summer too. I am sure Sam would like to improve on many areas of the team but we simply don't have the finances to do so.

I am just staggered by some of the hatred, shown by some, towards him. I have been frustrated too watching him in recent times but can understand why the manager wanted to keep him here.

Good post!

This summer we cant afford another weakness that needs addressing. We already need 1, possibly 2 new strikers + ideally a centre midfield.

With our resources you cant expect us to do it all in one season...and another left winger would have just created another problem - instead we held onto our main creator, and protected our assets by ensuring we didnt find another hole, with no money coming in to help fix the hole.

[bluebruce]

I honestly can't understand where the pro-Pedersen brigade are coming from on this one. I was confused enough by the amount of positive reaction when everybody was probably assuming a 30k p/w wage. Now that it's out that his wage seems to be another million a year higher, and there looks to be even MORE positive reactions!!! Even worse for me is that some people are surprised people haven't taken well to this news.

I could write a very, very lengthy post about this, but I think I will be saving it for Mr. John Williams if there isn't a prompt denial of this story from a reliable source soon. Suffice to say I am extremely disappointed to hear he could be on 50k p/w after three years of abject performances and dropping to second-choice left midfielder and second-choice attacking midfielder. Circa 30k p/w was hard enough to swallow, 50k p/w I physically can't swallow on account of the amount of vomit surging forth through my throat.

So, Diouf and Pedersen, probably our two worst "major" players, neither of whom would be likely to feature in a fully fit first-choice XI, and now the two highest paid players at the club. A lot of people are justifying it on account of money saved on buying a replacement. I don't buy that argument due to a LOT of reasons I can't be bothered to go into, but even if I did, the thing which actually worries me the most about this deal is the PRECEDENT. If Pedersen truly is on 50k p/w or more, what does that say to the rest of the squad? If, this summer, Olsson and N'zonzi come to ask for better terms, who can blame them for using Pedersen's ludicrous new contract as a gauge of what they should be asking for? Let's not forget we're supposedly around £5 million a year over our wage budget as it is, this presents us with an ENORMOUS problem in future negotiations. And by the summer after, we could see the likes of Samba, Kalinic, Jones, Hoilett, and anyone else who has five decent games coming and asking for more money too. We've already shown how unwilling we are to let even underperformers leave on a free, we'll have no bargaining chips left at all. Some of those won't be nearing the ends of their contracts, but they'll sure as hell hanker for a move away if they're being paid half or less of Pedersen's wage.

I sincerely hope he is on no more than 30k p/w.

Final thought- the ballpark figure for Guti's wages was meant to be 60k p/w. Doesn't seem likely after this- would have been very easy without this. I know which player I'd prefer.

[Exiled in Toronto]

I too don't get the argument that a player of Pedersen's calibre would have cost millions. There was a player of Pedersen's calibre just available, ie Pedersen, and there wasn't one buyer at the price of absolutely nothing. So why would we pay millions for one?

The other thing I don;t get is, if he was so crucial to our plans, why was his contract allowed to run down?