[Archived] Blackburn Rovers Transfer Topic

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Cutting season ticket prices isn't what I'm talking about. The reality of owning a sports team, of any sort, is the vast majority aren't capable of sorting themselves, let alone being profitable. Now we are trying to do what 95% of the sports world can't do, with the exceptions to this rule being side like United who are global franchises, with a huge number of supporters, with a massive intake in sponsorship and merchandising. The board can't expect this club to be self-supportive, certainly not until it is stabilized. Perhaps once we have a core group of players capable of doing fairly well in the premiership then we can start trying to reduce costs and live within our means wherever possible, but at the moment that just isn't the situation we are in. We have had several years where this was sort of the case, with the group under Souness and then under Hughes being a somewhat stable and capable bunch. The board is rolling the dice on the future of the club as relegation would kill off any possibility of the club being financially sound. There are times when owners need to invest, it is part of their job, the responsibility of owning something that thousands of people feel is their own.

Agree in principle but you have to look at the wider picture. The Trustees main business interests are as far as I am aware are an Airline and a football club. If you look at the figures of the airlines you'll see that there has been a marked downturn in their fortunes. The trustees' responsibility is for all Walkers' business interests and as such belt tightening has had to undertaken. Chances are if you look at the airline you'll find that its expenditure has been tightened as well and you'll probably find a plane spotter complaining about that to.

The point about season tickets was that Rovers could have increased prices over the last two seasons to increase revenue to spend on players but they have tried to look at the long term picture of Rovers rather than the short term picture of getting an extra player in or paying a few grand more in wages.

Some of the deals which the board have approved in the past have rather made the board look like morons such as our ex-manager, with no qualifications, being put on a long term contract. But spending money which isn't available please goto Elland Road and look at their business plan.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Nicko seeing as Blackburn Rovers are going cold over Marseille defender Renato Civelli because of his wage demands i can see the Chimonda transfer getting more attractive by the minute....The Guy was OUTSTANDING in Center Defence for Sunderland V Rovers and is also a very good Right Back........... .and the most important thing Sam likes provan Premier League Players.....

This guy could have been an outstanding player, he's got all the assets. What he doesn't seem to have is a brain to go with them. How anybody could have a transfer request hidden down his sock to be handed in at the final whistle is beyond me. He's obviously not playing with a full deck. Wigan brought him from obscurity and that's how he treats them. It looks like 'Arry has realised he's dropped a bollock, if he thinks he not worth the effort then who am I to argue.

As a player I like him and he can be really effective in more than one position but do we want another loose cannon on board ?

I've got to sit on the fence for this one

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Everything to do with it...

I could see a way where both Civelli and Chimbonda could be signed...Ooijer has to be replaced and Zurab probably. Two versatile players in, two out...reasonable.

Might be top-heavy with defenders with Givet in too...that would be my only concern if you have to keep the numbers tight.

Got to stress Chimbonda is only at the 'discussion' stage right now. A lot of work to be done there yet.

Only be top heavy with defenders if Warnock and Samba are being classed as defenders. If they are redefined as verstaile players, then the it is three in and two out with a flexible squad.

[Iceman]

Everything to do with it...

I could see a way where both Civelli and Chimbonda could be signed...Ooijer has to be replaced and Zurab probably. Two versatile players in, two out...reasonable.

Might be top-heavy with defenders with Givet in too...that would be my only concern if you have to keep the numbers tight.

Got to stress Chimbonda is only at the 'discussion' stage right now. A lot of work to be done there yet.

Nicko, are we going to have 10 defenders, and Paul Robinson in the starting lineup for our 1st game of the new season?

[dingles staying down 4ever]

This guy could have been an outstanding player, he's got all the assets. What he doesn't seem to have is a brain to go with them. How anybody could have a transfer request hidden down his sock to be handed in at the final whistle is beyond me. He's obviously not playing with a full deck. Wigan brought him from obscurity and that's how he treats them. It looks like 'Arry has realised he's dropped a bollock, if he thinks he not worth the effort then who am I to argue.

As a player I like him and he can be really effective in more than one position but do we want another loose cannon on board ?

I've got to sit on the fence for this one

Or he needs to get an agent who has to look beyond making a buck and realise that this player's career is going down the pan if they don't watch it.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Only be top heavy with defenders if Warnock and Samba are being classed as defenders. If they are redefined as verstaile players, then the it is three in and two out with a flexible squad.

Only their mums would say they'd been successful when they were played out of position. Warnock was barely o.k. in midfield. Samba tried really hard but he's a centre half. Mike England was the best centre half I've ever seen, anytime, any team. He was that good, he had it all. When he did a Samba and got shoved in at centre forward he didn't set the world on fire either. The skill set is totally different. The John Charle's of this world are unique, they come along once a lifetime.

[joey_big_nose]

Everything to do with it...

I could see a way where both Civelli and Chimbonda could be signed...Ooijer has to be replaced and Zurab probably. Two versatile players in, two out...reasonable.

Might be top-heavy with defenders with Givet in too...that would be my only concern if you have to keep the numbers tight.

Got to stress Chimbonda is only at the 'discussion' stage right now. A lot of work to be done there yet.

Civilli, Givet and Chimbonda for Zurab, Ooijer and Mokoena is a huge uplift in quality. Chimbonda is a bit of a mercenary but a very good player on his day. Signing those three would probably mean Warnock would move to midfield, which is okay becuase - on the strenght of last season - he is probably our best midfield player!

[Kelbo]

Civilli, Givet and Chimbonda for Zurab, Ooijer and Mokoena is a huge uplift in quality. Chimbonda is a bit of a mercenary but a very good player on his day. Signing those three would probably mean Warnock would move to midfield, which is okay becuase - on the strenght of last season - he is probably our best midfield player!

And hopefully Emerton back to fitness!!

[nicko]

Will his wage demands be high though? He doesn't strike me as a guy that will happily take a wage cut. He was pretty ruthless to Wigan as well.

Average player who thinks he's something special.

Brilliant at Wigan before he left...not the same since by a distance...yes, quite greedy...but he came from a very poor background in the West Indies and knows a career is short.

[Eddie]

Agree in principle but you have to look at the wider picture. The Trustees main business interests are as far as I am aware are an Airline and a football club. If you look at the figures of the airlines you'll see that there has been a marked downturn in their fortunes. The trustees' responsibility is for all Walkers' business interests and as such belt tightening has had to undertaken. Chances are if you look at the airline you'll find that its expenditure has been tightened as well and you'll probably find a plane spotter complaining about that to.

The point about season tickets was that Rovers could have increased prices over the last two seasons to increase revenue to spend on players but they have tried to look at the long term picture of Rovers rather than the short term picture of getting an extra player in or paying a few grand more in wages.

Some of the deals which the board have approved in the past have rather made the board look like morons such as our ex-manager, with no qualifications, being put on a long term contract. But spending money which isn't available please goto Elland Road and look at their business plan.

There's a huge gap between Leeds and where we are now. Don't use extremes to support the argument. Fact is that the reality of running a sports team is that at times you have to invest and this moment is the time (really it has been the time for the past few years). We've passed up several opportunities where signing one or two players (and not for obscene sums) could have really taken the club forward, now we are looking at having to do the same in order to get the club back to where it was.

I was under the impression that the airline was actually doing well, if there's been a change it's been a fairly recent one.

[Billy Castell]

Well that is me depressed again! We have no money whatsoever, and will probably have to listen to rumours of all our good players leaving. And I can't even have the Ashes as a distraction from how pathetic our situation is.

[Iceman]

Civilli, Givet and Chimbonda for Zurab, Ooijer and Mokoena is a huge uplift in quality. Chimbonda is a bit of a mercenary but a very good player on his day. Signing those three would probably mean Warnock would move to midfield, which is okay becuase - on the strenght of last season - he is probably our best midfield player!

On the strength of last season, our midfield needs a major overhaul im afraid. Warnock was okay, but nothing special. We need recognised midfielders, who will provide good quality ball to our strikers as well as have the ability to open up a defence in a tight game. You could argue that maybe Nelsen might make way for Givet alongside Samba, with Warnock at left back, and if we sign Civelli he will move to right back.

Robbo

Civelli Samba Givet Warnock

That to me is a strong defence.

Robbo

Civelli Samba Nelsen Givet

Warnock

Thats the other option

[deryck guyler's spoon]

There's no point blaming the board...they are working within the cash that they have available and could win next season.

The problem is that Rovers finished below where they planned to be last season and lost out on placing cash.

The result of chronic and sustained underinvestment in the squad?

[nicko]

The result of chronic and sustained underinvestment in the squad?

You can't spend what you don't have.

The Trustees backed out some time ago, so it has been a case of balancing the books.

It ticks along every good season, but it gets tricky when you have a bad one.

I wouldn't worry too much.

WIGAN are cutting their wages by £4 million, BOLTON won't buy anyone in a hurry, PORTSMOUTH still looks a nightmare to me, HULL CITY can't be trusted to spend wisely, BIRMINGHAM have a small budget, WOLVES are a hard sell for any incoming player.

On the face of it SUNDERLAND should be the only club likely to jump above you from last season.

Of course BURNLEY will be ok because the Great Man is in charge... But their budget is tiny compared to yours.

[Iceman]

The result of chronic and sustained underinvestment in the squad?

The same board that appointed Ince Nicko? No wonder we missed out not just a few placings, but at least 8th or 9th place in the league. We could have done with that extra cash, had the board appointed a half decent manager. But hey let me not go there, because i dont want to open that can of worms again.

[Parsonblue]

There's a huge gap between Leeds and where we are now. Don't use extremes to support the argument. Fact is that the reality of running a sports team is that at times you have to invest and this moment is the time (really it has been the time for the past few years). We've passed up several opportunities where signing one or two players (and not for obscene sums) could have really taken the club forward, now we are looking at having to do the same in order to get the club back to where it was.

I was under the impression that the airline was actually doing well, if there's been a change it's been a fairly recent one.

The recent rich list in The Times showed that there had been a significant drop in the wealth of the Walkers. Clearly, with other businesses to safeguard, I suspect that investment in Blackburn Rovers is not going to feature very highly on the business plan. Finishing anywhere outside of the bottom three is going to be considered as success in the coming seasons. The simple fact is that we are now amongst the poor relations in the Premiership. If the Trust don't have the money to invest in the club and if there are no buyers who are interested in the club the only alternative is to do what we are doing. In the present situation is there an alternative?

[nicko]

The same board that appointed Ince Nicko? No wonder we missed out not just a few placings, but at least 8th or 9th place in the league. We could have done with that extra cash, had the board appointed a half decent manager. But hey let me not go there, because i dont want to open that can of worms again.

I didn't think Ince was the right choice, but it was an honest choice by people with more information about the process than me or anyone on here.

To be fair, they bumped him when they realised their mistake.

Relegation would have been a massive blow, finishing in a low position is sore but can be got over.

Above all, it is a reminder of where you are at.

[Kelbo]

I didn't think Ince was the right choice, but it was an honest choice by people with more information about the process than me or anyone on here.

To be fair, they bumped him when they realised their mistake.

Relegation would have been a massive blow, finishing in a low position is sore but can be got over.

Above all, it is a reminder of where you are at.

Apart from the Graham Alexander/Tugay debate, Nicko does speak sense

Just one question Nicko, how come you spend so much time on here, shouldnt you be mowing Owens Lawn??

[nicko]

Apart from the Graham Alexander/Tugay debate, Nicko does speak sense

Just one question Nicko, how come you spend so much time on here, shouldnt you be mowing Owens Lawn??

I think he can afford a real gardener now...

As for time on here - good question. But I've got the laptop on filing a handful of tales for tomorrow.

[Iceman]

I didn't think Ince was the right choice, but it was an honest choice by people with more information about the process than me or anyone on here.

To be fair, they bumped him when they realised their mistake.

Relegation would have been a massive blow, finishing in a low position is sore but can be got over.

Above all, it is a reminder of where you are at.

Fair enough Nicko. Moving away from that, do you know how serious Lazio are about signing RSC? I heard they are interested in taking him to Italy.

[nicko]

Fair enough Nicko. Moving away from that, do you know how serious Lazio are about signing RSC? I heard they are interested in taking him to Italy.

Not at £20 million. Only Premier clubs even consider that kind of daft money.

[Billy Castell]

Any news on the finances of Liverpool or Man Utd? The former has that June deadline with the loans and that?

I wonder if this Egyptian chap is any good? He's not the right back/winger is he?

[Iceman]

I wonder if there are any decent players we could get, in a player RSC plus cash deal with Lazio.

[Amo]

When I saw Nicko's transfer article from the corner of my eye, I feared we were after Shola Ameobi.

This Shikabala sounds like an exciting prospect. Hopefully we can thrash a loan deal out.

I'm also intrigued that Sam is chasing Abdoulaye Faye. I thought we'd be covered in the CB department with Nelsen, Samba, and Givet competing.

[nicko]

The Egyptian lad is an interesting chap...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikabala