[Archived] Blackburn Rovers Transfer Topic

[champions1995]

Between Zurab and Olsson we have two players who make for decent cover at the centre back and left back positions. If we want to reduce our squad size and wage bill, it is signings like this that we need to avoid.

I wouldn't say Olsson has the pace or the quality to be playing in the Premier League, which was proven away at Tottenham.

[doctorryan]

I've seen Givet play at all different levels and on many more occasions than you and probably any other person on this board, both in person and on TV and I also have friends who are Marseille fans and season ticket holders, many of whom are very knowledgeable and decent judges of footballers, not one is upset about losing Givet. He's a good defender and does his job, but he is limited as a left back because of his lack of pace and attacking threat and has also made a habit of making mistakes when playing at centre back.

I'm sure he'll be starting at the beginning of the season, we've spent so much money on him he virtually has to, but that doesn't mean that we needed to buy him. It is 3.5 million and 30+k spent on one of the five or six positions I think we can't relatively easily improve on (two centre backs, left back, keeper and one or both of the forwards). Where's the logic in that? It now looks like we're in a position where we have to sell in order to improve elsewhere and also significantly cut the wage bill and we have just spent a decent amount of money on a fee and wages in a position where some of our highest earners will already be (Warnock, Samba and Nelsen must all be towards the top of our wage bill) and none of them will be happy on the bench. So instead we'll probably shift Warnock into midfield, remove any attacking threat from a full back position and have Warnock run around like a headless chicken in most matches. Between Zurab and Olsson we have two players who make for decent cover at the centre back and left back positions. If we want to reduce our squad size and wage bill, it is signings like this that we need to avoid. Selling Nelsen is now the only sensible solution.

....and the conjecturing begins. As American journalist Linda Ellerbee likes to say: "And so it goes...".

[Eddie]

He certainly has the pace, he just isn't as quick as Lennon, but he's faster than Givet that is for sure. He's got a lot of improving to do, but I'd rather have him as a back-up left back and see the 3.5 million spent to bring in a player who makes a significant difference to the quality of the starting line up.

[JAL]

I've seen Givet play at all different levels and on many more occasions than you and probably any other person on this board, both in person and on TV and I also have friends who are Marseille fans and season ticket holders, many of whom are very knowledgeable and decent judges of footballers, not one is upset about losing Givet. He's a good defender and does his job, but he is limited as a left back because of his lack of pace and attacking threat and has also made a habit of making mistakes when playing at centre back.

I'm sure he'll be starting at the beginning of the season, we've spent so much money on him he virtually has to, but that doesn't mean that we needed to buy him. It is 3.5 million and 30+k spent on one of the five or six positions I think we can't relatively easily improve on (two centre backs, left back, keeper and one or both of the forwards). Where's the logic in that? It now looks like we're in a position where we have to sell in order to improve elsewhere and also significantly cut the wage bill and we have just spent a decent amount of money on a fee and wages in a position where some of our highest earners will already be (Warnock, Samba and Nelsen must all be towards the top of our wage bill) and none of them will be happy on the bench. So instead we'll probably shift Warnock into midfield, remove any attacking threat from a full back position and have Warnock run around like a headless chicken in most matches. Between Zurab and Olsson we have two players who make for decent cover at the centre back and left back positions. If we want to reduce our squad size and wage bill, it is signings like this that we need to avoid. Selling Nelsen is now the only sensible solution.

Whats your opinion on Jerome Rothen Eddie appologies if you've already mentioned it.

[Fife Rover]

"Mr X" is going to named when the deal is either done or dead - what good does guessing do? If someone gets it right and it's acknowledged on here, then the story's out and we risk losing him.

Bit of patience! In Rovers we trust.

You're wasting your time FCF.....They haven't got so much as a single brain cell between them. Either that or they are so used to Mummy and Daddy pampering to their every whim. They will just keep on and on until the number of questions asked, and the answers given by Nicko add up to an almost perfect signpost to the player. And then other clubs with much brighter people than our pathetic Nickoteens will have enough to make a move and pip us at the post. It will happen....Rovers will lose their Mr. X, and then we will all know who to blame.

[patrickvalery]

I've seen Givet play at all different levels and on many more occasions than you and probably any other person on this board, both in person and on TV and I also have friends who are Marseille fans and season ticket holders, many of whom are very knowledgeable and decent judges of footballers, not one is upset about losing Givet. ........................................

Eddie, i say this without sarcasm. I fully appreciate your knowledgable take on this. I for one had never seen (to my memory) Givet play before he turned out for us. You clearly have a much more in depth opinion of him than most.

However, i don't think this is a bad signing. Perhaps it could signal the end for Warnock. I've said it before and stand by it. He was a shining example to others this year. His passion, determination and drive gave the side an edge we needed in a relegation scrap. I rate him as one of the best left backs in the country and his attacking ability from full back has served us well. But for the right fee i'd sell in a heartbeat.

If we deploy Givet at left back next season in a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 formation then we don't require an attack minded fullback. I suspect this is what we'll see. A solid defence with 1 destroyer in front of them, alongside a box to box midfielder and a creative type. Then you have two wide players and a front man. The attacking threat required from full backs in a 4-4-2 will not be as essential. The emphasis on attacking football falls to the wide two, front man and box to box midfielder arriving late.

I can see us playing a little bit like Villa next year. They don't deploy two attack minded full backs. But they still create chances due to breaking quickly and getting numbers forward to feed on the scraps of a big man up front. It is clearly my only my humble opinion. But in order to play on the break you need a back four capable of soaking up the oppsition attacks. Givet would help give us that.

[nicko]

As American journalist Linda Ellerbee likes to say: "And so it goes...".

Obviously a Nick Lowe fan.

[Eddie]

Whats your opinion on Jerome Rothen Eddie appologies if you've already mentioned it.

That he is decidedly mediocre. He was pretty good when he was 27/28, but never managed to push on to another level and has started getting worse since then. He's an average ligue 1 player, he'd be a below average premiership player. He often looks rushed even over here, so I'd dread to think how he'd manage when things got faster...a lot faster.

[rovers1995]

Sorry to ask Nicko, but is there going to be an 11 o'clocker tonight?

[nicko]

You're wasting your time FCF.....They haven't got so much as a single brain cell between them. Either that or they are so used to Mummy and Daddy pampering to their every whim. They will just keep on and on until the number of questions asked, and the answers given by Nicko add up to an almost perfect signpost to the player. And then other clubs with much brighter people than our pathetic Nickoteens will have enough to make a move and pip us at the post. It will happen....Rovers will lose their Mr. X, and then we will all know who to blame.

Got to say the profile details mentioned earlier on were a bit scary...

I can understand the thirst for knowledge, but it can cause problems.

However - fortunately - this little secret stays intact for now.

I have every reason to believe at this stage that even if it sneaked out it would not harm the deal.

But that doesn't mean I'm telling...

Sorry to ask Nicko, but is there going to be an 11 o'clocker tonight?

Could you settle for that crumb above?

[rovers1995]

Maybe but does that mean that the mystery x signing is moving along and is close to happening and that is why disclosing the details will not affect the details?

[Eddie]

However, i don't think this is a bad signing. Perhaps it could signal the end for Warnock. I've said it before and stand by it. He was a shining example to others this year. His passion, determination and drive gave the side an edge we needed in a relegation scrap. I rate him as one of the best left backs in the country and his attacking ability from full back has served us well. But for the right fee i'd sell in a heartbeat.

If we deploy Givet at left back next season in a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 formation then we don't require an attack minded fullback. I suspect this is what we'll see. A solid defence with 1 destroyer in front of them, alongside a box to box midfielder and a creative type. Then you have two wide players and a front man. The attacking threat required from full backs in a 4-4-2 will not be as essential. The emphasis on attacking football falls to the wide two, front man and box to box midfielder arriving late.

I can see us playing a little bit like Villa next year. They don't deploy two attack minded full backs. But they still create chances due to breaking quickly and getting numbers forward to feed on the scraps of a big man up front. It is clearly my only my humble opinion. But in order to play on the break you need a back four capable of soaking up the oppsition attacks. Givet would help give us that.

You're right, but the thing is the Givet signing either means that we need to sell a defender or that we need to bring in a lot more players to change the way that we play. If we want to employ 4 lumbering defenders then we need to have a lot of pace in midfield and up front and at the moment we have....well no one that fits that bill. We've played our best football with this squad when our full backs have got forward and supported our wide players, we have a squad suited to it. With either Benni or Santa Cruz playing it allows us to play with width and create chances in the box, with MGP playing it makes up for him not being a true winger and creates space for him and it would do the same on the opposite side for Diouf or anyone else there. Without attacking fullbacks we need MGP to return to being what he once was (and I don't think he was THAT bad this season), but I can't see him being that good without support. I also don't think Diouf is a good enough winger to operate without that same attacking support from the right back.

I think Givet is a good player, I am just not sure if he is the right player for us to be spending a sizable chunk of our budget on.

[Guest benmaxwell]

If JW sticks to what he said when talking to us yesterday, then one of Warnock and Olsson will be leaving this summer. He said 2 players per position as cover. I'm guessing Warnock and Givet, with Olsson leaving...

[gumboots]

That he is decidedly mediocre. He was pretty good when he was 27/28, but never managed to push on to another level and has started getting worse since then. He's an average ligue 1 player, he'd be a below average premiership player. He often looks rushed even over here, so I'd dread to think how he'd manage when things got faster...a lot faster.

I don't watch as much French football as you do but I watch a fair bit and I've been distinctly underwhelmed at the prospect of signing Rothen. Premier league is faster and stronger and only the strongest players from the French league could come across here and fit in straight away.

[Hughesy]

Olsson could go on loan. Or maybe they see Givet as a Central defender ben?

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Emerton/Nelsen/Zurab/Samba/Warnock/Givet/Olsson

That is cover for 3 spots, we need cover for Bert.

[Guest benmaxwell]

Olsson could go on loan. Or maybe they see Givet as a Central defender ben?

Hope so... Bare in mind Zurab is in talks to move to Turkey...

A loan for Olsson is probably more likely, as i doubt we'd get much for him and he is still rather young...

[Hughesy]

Olsson is an excellent prospect - he could really excel in the future. Olsson, Doran, Holiett all have potential going off what iv seen.

[RoverRich]

I have every reason to believe at this stage that even if it sneaked out it would not harm the deal.

Surely that means it is progressing well, at a good stage and it would be difficult for any club to snatch him now...... or maybe just reading too much into it

Is the deal nearing completion perhaps??? We can hope anyway so that we can find out who this quality striker is at last and to stop people from begging and pleading to know more about him.

[JAL]

That he is decidedly mediocre. He was pretty good when he was 27/28, but never managed to push on to another level and has started getting worse since then. He's an average ligue 1 player, he'd be a below average premiership player. He often looks rushed even over here, so I'd dread to think how he'd manage when things got faster...a lot faster.

Cheers eddie, i'll go with that.

[Blue n White Rover]

Olsson is an excellent prospect - he could really excel in the future. Olsson, Doran, Holiett all have potential going off what iv seen.

Excellent? I'll have whatever you're on mate

He is average at best. He can't defend, he's quick and that's the only decent thing about him. Attacking wise he's useful at times, but most the times he can't cross.

I'd get rid if we could get around £1million for him.

[philipl]

Unlike his predecessor, I am pretty certain Sam knows what he is doing a the back so I'd just say chill out.

Would prefer Zurab to stay as I always have liked him as a player apart from a couple of games when he was comprehensively taken apart and one of those was a monstrous foul-up by Sparky letting City's Petrov have a free run at him.

I can fully understand Sam wanting a class right back- we don't have one true specialist for that positon, much as I admire how Bert filled in.

Cannot answer for Givet in France but I have been pretty impressed every time I have seen him either at left back or twin centre half; either on TV or live. I like his no-nonsense no-drama competent way of playing. Nothing spectacular, just gets on with it and in fact, so reliable that he can be almost unnoticeable.

Rothen is obviously going to divide opinions but he is straight out of the player description Sam used to have such success with at Notlob.

[Kelbo]

Eddie, i say this without sarcasm. I fully appreciate your knowledgable take on this. I for one had never seen (to my memory) Givet play before he turned out for us. You clearly have a much more in depth opinion of him than most.

However, i don't think this is a bad signing. Perhaps it could signal the end for Warnock. I've said it before and stand by it. He was a shining example to others this year. His passion, determination and drive gave the side an edge we needed in a relegation scrap. I rate him as one of the best left backs in the country and his attacking ability from full back has served us well. But for the right fee i'd sell in a heartbeat.

If we deploy Givet at left back next season in a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 formation then we don't require an attack minded fullback. I suspect this is what we'll see. A solid defence with 1 destroyer in front of them, alongside a box to box midfielder and a creative type. Then you have two wide players and a front man. The attacking threat required from full backs in a 4-4-2 will not be as essential. The emphasis on attacking football falls to the wide two, front man and box to box midfielder arriving late.

I can see us playing a little bit like Villa next year. They don't deploy two attack minded full backs. But they still create chances due to breaking quickly and getting numbers forward to feed on the scraps of a big man up front. It is clearly my only my humble opinion. But in order to play on the break you need a back four capable of soaking up the oppsition attacks. Givet would help give us that.

That is quite good assesment,whilst I would hate to see Warnock leave, your views on formation are very much up to dayte with modern coaching Ideas, they do change over the years and the moe dangerous sides do in fact, quickly turn defence into attack and catching opponents flat footed!1

You can only do this with a well organised and solid back four!! Sam is following the principle of building from the back!!

With a bit more pace wide and up top, that idea would certainly give opponents something to think about!!

[JAL]

Olsson is an excellent prospect - he could really excel in the future. Olsson, Doran, Holiett all have potential going off what iv seen.

What happened to the young lad after a startling show against Everton in the cup. His reserve performances after xmas which I witnessed were appalling he definitely dropped his level of enthusiasm probably due to either a young lad who thought he'd made it, or there was no incentive to motivate himself further dont know which.

At the end of the season Olsson as a prem full back was a worry, he was someone you'd want to see lining up for the opposition and not playing in your team, definitely.

[67splitscreen]

Hope so... Bare in mind Zurab is in talks to move to Turkey...

A loan for Olsson is probably more likely, as i doubt we'd get much for him and he is still rather young...

I would be very surprised if Gala are still interested in Kishi, did they not appoint Frank Rijkaard as there new manager at the weekend.