[Archived] Blackburn Rovers Transfer Topic

[Kelbo]

I am my boss and a lot of other peoples boss too. It's not in my experience to fail people against objectives that haven't been set. Was Ince really tasked with jaw dropping mega talented signings at no cost and with massive on sale values, and all in his first transfer window. Heck he didn't start until just before the season commenced and then he had to focus on building his backroom staff as Hughes took almost everyone with him. Also he was starting with a squad strong enough to survive until xmas when he would have had a better chance of seeing what the weaknesses were, then spend. The way it turned out he was a hapless manager who almost destroyed us and was shown the door non to soon. But, and I repeat, it's tough to beat him up on transfers. Come on you must have some shred of fairness under that hard exterior.

He was appointed in June and should at least, being decent midfielder himself seen the problems we had in that area, indeed, the problems started in pre season and some of the appalling results against micky mouse sides in Austria etc.

I know pre seson is all about fitness and preparation but both results and performances were very poor!!

He had the whole of July and august to address the problem and didnt, as a boss yourself, the secret is to put good people around you, he didnt, his backroom staff were inadequate and the midfield dynamo (Andrews, despite his efforts) he signed was never going to boss midfield in the premiership as technically was not up to the standard premiership football demands!!

[gumboots]

He was appointed in June and should at least, being decent midfielder himself seen the problems we had in that area, indeed, the problems started in pre season and some of the appalling results against micky mouse sides in Austria etc.

I know pre seson is all about fitness and preparation but both results and performances were very poor!!

He had the whole of July and august to address the problem and didnt, as a boss yourself, the secret is to put good people around you, he didnt, his backroom staff were inadequate and the midfield dynamo (Andrews, despite his efforts) he signed was never going to boss midfield in the premiership as technically was not up to the standard premiership football demands!!

Well, if the LET is to be believed (and I know it often isn't) allardyce doesn't see recruiting midfielders as a priority either and he hasn't even got all of his fit yet and hasn't had for a while. I can't believe that when fans have been crying out for a decent, not excellent but better than we have, midfielder 2 managers running do not see it as a priority.

[Kelbo]

Well, if the LET is to be believed (and I know it often isn't) allardyce doesn't see recruiting midfielders as a priority either and he hasn't even got all of his fit yet and hasn't had for a while. I can't believe that when fans have been crying out for a decent, not excellent but better than we have, midfielder 2 managers running do not see it as a priority.

But he does, he is working on it I am sure, Nicko said yesterday, 2 midfielders are his priority along with strikers and a right back!!

[Jonnolad]

the midfield dynamo (Andrews, despite his efforts) he signed was never going to boss midfield in the premiership as technically was not up to the standard premiership football demands!!

Are you seriously suggesting that for £800k, Andrews should have been expected to "boss" the midfield week in week out for us (and anything else would be a failure)? Should we have been expecting to be pushing for Europe with these £800k signings replacing our existing midfield?

[Majiball]

Technically looks a good player, just the pace of the premiership as opposed to SPL worries me, having said that there have been some good strikers over the years from the Jocks, Archibald, Andy Gray, Joe Jordan, Alan Gilzean etc!!

I wont mention Joe Craig

Joe who??? And how could you miss the messiah Dennis Law!!!

He would adapt to the pace, he's the best all-rounder that we have in that position. Scotland needs players plying their trade in the premiership, he'd cope with the physhical side of things. But it will take him a while to get used to the pace, but I honestly feel he's got a bit more left in his locker and playing at a higher level would release it. Don't forget he's hit 50 already at 22 thats not bad at all.

But he's unproven, thats the real risk. Ferguson was beginning to adapt to the pace, so its possible. Curiously would anyone have him back?? he can still pass that ball around and he'd be cheap. For me Ferguson was Souey's most dissappointting signing I really thought he would push us up the table with his passing ability.

Gutted about MJ RIP.

[Kelbo]

Are you seriously suggesting that for £800k, Andrews should have been expected to "boss" the midfield week in week out for us (and anything else would be a failure)? Should we have been expecting to be pushing for Europe with these £800k signings replacing our existing midfield?

No, read wht I wrote, that is the point, he knew we needed a central midfielder and a division 2 journeyman was signed for £1,500,000 not £800,000, not blaming Andrews, blaming ince, what was the point, he turned out to be a reasonable squad player at best, but never will be what I consider premiership quality.

[Majiball]

Well, if the LET is to be believed (and I know it often isn't) allardyce doesn't see recruiting midfielders as a priority either and he hasn't even got all of his fit yet and hasn't had for a while. I can't believe that when fans have been crying out for a decent, not excellent but better than we have, midfielder 2 managers running do not see it as a priority.

We are chasing midfield re-inforcements, we know this. Rothen's been linked, Nicko says we're chasing two, and as you said we've been on about it for ages. Don't worry they'll come in but striker is the priority at present with only two on the books.

Sam will strenghten midfield, have no fear.

[Jonnolad]

No, read wht I wrote, that is the point, he knew we needed a central midfielder and a division 2 journeyman was signed for £1,500,000 not £800,000, not blaming Andrews, blaming ince, what was the point, he turned out to be a reasonable squad player at best, but never will be what I consider premiership quality.

Who cost £1.5m? Certainly not Andrews.

I think you'll probably find that the central midfielder Ince probably had in mind to be playing week in week out was Grella as well, who cost £4m. Or do you think he signed Grella as a squad player?

[47er]

I am my boss and a lot of other peoples boss too. It's not in my experience to fail people against objectives that haven't been set. Was Ince really tasked with jaw dropping mega talented signings at no cost and with massive on sale values, and all in his first transfer window. Heck he didn't start until just before the season commenced and then he had to focus on building his backroom staff as Hughes took almost everyone with him. Also he was starting with a squad strong enough to survive until xmas when he would have had a better chance of seeing what the weaknesses were, then spend. The way it turned out he was a hapless manager who almost destroyed us and was shown the door non to soon. But, and I repeat, it's tough to beat him up on transfers. Come on you must have some shred of fairness under that hard exterior.

One successful signing----------just one! I'm referring to Robbo of course. Even there I'd have preferred to keep Brad.

[alexanders]

The guy who Unleaded reported to us, are still looking likely:

Youngster Steven N'Zonzi will be brought in for £400,000 according to The Lancashire Telegraph, but the paper also reports that Allardyce is going to be forced to sell before he can buy.

[Kelbo]

Who cost £1.5m? Certainly not Andrews.

I think you'll probably find that the central midfielder Ince probably had in mind to be playing week in week out was Grella as well, who cost £4m. Or do you think he signed Grella as a squad player?

Grella was signed as a holding midfielder, bossing midfield comes from your midfield dynamo and ince should have known that, god its like saying to Owen Hargreaves, boss the midfield, he's a holding player, two different types entirely and balance within the side is important.

I suggest you look back to the transfer of Keith Andrews and you will find we paid much more than £800,000 and worse still,

MK Dons were not weakened by him moving on, up a level and almost got a second promotion I think.

Joe who???

Joe Craig, signed for Rovers from Celtic in the 70s - god, he was slower than my grandad, scored a few though!!

[imy9]

The guy who Unleaded reported to us, are still looking likely:

Youngster Steven N'Zonzi will be brought in for £400,000 according to The Lancashire Telegraph, but the paper also reports that Allardyce is going to be forced to sell before he can buy.

I am depressed if this is true, forced to sell? We have slashed the wage bill and gained nearly £20 million in fees and yet we need to see more!

[alexanders]

I am depressed if this is true, forced to sell? We have slashed the wage bill and gained nearly £20 million in fees and yet we need to see more!

It might be a "trick" from the broad.

I would think that if the other clubs knew that we had a lot of money from the Roque sale they would try to squeeze every penny out of us. If we appear to be significantly low on funds we might get some better deals, because they won't hold out for that extra £1-2m.

Just look at ourselves and the Roque deal. We held out the sale of Roque, because we knew that city was loaded.

[Kelbo]

I am depressed if this is true, forced to sell? We have slashed the wage bill and gained nearly £20 million in fees and yet we need to see more!

If that is serious then the board owe it to the supporters to explain why???

I understand the neccessity to balance the books but we have pulled in £20,000,000 taken Derbs, Roque, Vogel, Tugay,

Nolan, Ooijer plus probably Gallagher,Zurab and Brown off the wage bill???

LET probably got this wrong again, they normally do, they are going from bad to worse.

[LeChuck]

I can kind of understand why the board would be telling Allardyce he needs to sell central midfielders before he can buy any; Grella, Reid, Dunn, Andrews, Emerton, Warnock...that's six capable of playing there already, even if the last two will have primary positions elsewhere. Judge should be capable of being backup too because he handled the Championship well last year.

Looking at that I'd be doing my best to flog Dunn if I were Big Sam. Reid would be my choice to go but I just think it will be impossible to find someone willing to buy him, whereas with Dunn I reckon it would be possible.

I'm assuming the board wouldn't stand in his way if he tried to sign a striker or a right back though. I'd hope so anyway.

[Jonnolad]

I suggest you look back to the transfer of Keith Andrews and you will find we paid much more than £800,000.

Keith cost £750,000 for a three year contract, rising to £1m over those 3 years. Therefore over 1 year he would probably have cost a maximum £100,000 extra.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ers/7586080.stm

Where are you getting your information from?

[joey_big_nose]

I am depressed if this is true, forced to sell? We have slashed the wage bill and gained nearly £20 million in fees and yet we need to see more!

I think that must mean we need to sell a midfielder. Maeks sense in a way because we have Grella, Reid, Dunn, Andrews, Van Heerden, Warnock and Emerton who can already play there, plus we have probably already budgete for one 'established' midfielder.

[Jackson]

The guy who Unleaded reported to us, are still looking likely:

Youngster Steven N'Zonzi will be brought in for £400,000 according to The Lancashire Telegraph, but the paper also reports that Allardyce is going to be forced to sell before he can buy.

No problem. "The Keiths" will do nicely. 2 out, 1 in.

[Kelbo]

Keith cost £750,000 for a three year contract, rising to £1m over those 3 years. Therefore over 1 year he would probably have cost a maximum £100,000 extra.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ers/7586080.stm

Where are you getting your information from?

Rovers accounts!! Not BBC but does it really matter, my point was, Andrews should never have been bought for that role,

in midfield in a 442 formation, one midfielder sits and the other bombs on, box to box!!

Grella was the 'sitter' so what was Andrews??

[T4E]

Been watching with hope for a while, not convinced he could step into RSC shoes yet, but the boys got talent and a better stage could only be good for him. Chuck in Gally and he'd be a bargain. Madrid have been keeping an eye on him for ages.

Bit gob-smacked by that news.

4M is a good price for Fletcher he's got potential and I reckon he could cut it in the premiership.

£4m is ore than we've spent on a striker since Bellamy, and we've had a couple of 20+ goals a season players since. Fletcher wouldn't score more than 10.

£2m and Gallagher would actually be an excellent deal for all concerned. Would like to see it happen under those terms. Fletcher will be good, just not yet.

[tcj_jones]

Jonnolad, why are you so obsessed with Keith Andrews, are you his secret lover? All you ever post on is him. I guess it was OK when you were doing it on the 'Keith Andrews' thread, but this is about transfer rumours and incoming players. Keep it to the other thread if you want to reiterate your same points over and over and over again and enforce your views on everybody.

[Jackson]

Why haven't we made a cheeky offer for Tuncay yet? Apparently, he "wants to leave his mark" in the EPL, "like Tugay". Perfect.

[Jonnolad]

I can kind of understand why the board would be telling Allardyce he needs to sell central midfielders before he can buy any; Grella, Reid, Dunn, Andrews, Emerton, Warnock...that's six capable of playing there already, even if the last two will have primary positions elsewhere. Judge should be capable of being backup too because he handled the Championship well last year.

Looking at that I'd be doing my best to flog Dunn if I were Big Sam. Reid would be my choice to go but I just think it will be impossible to find someone willing to buy him, whereas with Dunn I reckon it would be possible.

Sam definitely has a crocked hand with the current midfield IMO. I personally don't think we'd get much, if anything, for Reid or Dunn in their current state. And we'd take a big hit on Grella if we were to get rid.

Is he planning to be starting with Warnock there next season? If not then he's surely an expensive squad player. Given our limited resources we perhaps don't have the luxury of being able to keep him for that purpose, especially if we can sell at a decent price and get someone instead who would be a more probable starter.

I don't envy Allardyce at all.

[Majiball]

Joe Craig, signed for Rovers from Celtic in the 70s - god, he was slower than my grandad, scored a few though!!

Bad joke.

£4m is ore than we've spent on a striker since Bellamy, and we've had a couple of 20+ goals a season players since. Fletcher wouldn't score more than 10.

£2m and Gallagher would actually be an excellent deal for all concerned. Would like to see it happen under those terms. Fletcher will be good, just not yet.

Yes its a lot, but the market is ever increasing. He wouldn't come straight in but he'd be able to develop with regular games at a better level. I could really see Hib's being interested in the deal and Gally, if we could get him in for the amount you've said I'd think long term we would really benefit.

I mean we'd get him for less than we sold Derb's for, and I think Fletchers got more about him than Derb's (no disrespect) he's also 22, so IMO that would be a real coup for us!

[Ewood and I Would]

There seems to be confusion over how much Amdrews cost. Wikipedia and Soccerbase say he was £1.3m whereas the BBC say it was 750k rising to a possible 1m and Transfermarkt.de have him down as 950k Euros....

Most sites just say "undisclosed" though so an argument over whther it was 750k or £1.3 seems futile.