[Archived] Kevin Davies - The Second Coming...?

[Al]

Loads of stuff and nonsense on here.

If he comes Davies should be afforded a very warm welcome back to Ewood.

If Davies came and started with 2/3 poor games he would be crucified by the fans and his confidence would be zero. Just not worth the risk.

[Eddie]

No reason why not - and from what I hear the chairman is quite bullish about 'making a splash.'

Ah so we plan on signing Davies and dumping him in a pool? Makes sense now.

[Al]

In the Championship?

In any league!

[tcj_jones]

I'd have Frazier Campbell over Keven Davies for the same fee and wages any day of the week.

[tcj_jones]

£6 million for Davies according to teamtalk. If Sam does this, and John Williams doesn't stop it both JW and Sam are going to loose my backing: http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...5396545,00.html

It's not that simple. The board cannot appoint a manager and then refuse him the right to spend the money they provide him the way he wishes. It would undermine their decision to appoint him and make his position as manager untenable.

[Dan Furness]

I'd have Frazier Campbell over Keven Davies for the same fee and wages any day of the week.

then you are a fool

[tcj_jones]

No, but you are an idiot.

[Eddie]

So we might tempt Bolton into selling Davies so that they can use the funds to buy Veloso...

[tonyoz]

Keep going Nicko, you've almost got me convinced. 5m+ for an old guy seems too much but i wonder how much Jason Roberts decreased in value when he missed a string of sitters last season? He cost us a fair bit of "place money" I reckon - we should deduct that from his resale value!

Davies has sorted himself out and now seems very confident in what he does. He is a nightmare to play against - just the sort of player we need when we play the pretty boys in the top 4. He throws it around like Shearer used to do. (not that I'm trying to compare all-round ability you understand!)

A fast young gun to play off him might just work.....and maybe it won't all be ugly (we gotta hope!)

Sam is the manager and most of us were pretty glad of that last season - you have to decide now - IF this is what he wants to do - back him or sack him.

[Presty On Tour]

The thing is people have different opinions on players. Sam is the boss and the bottom line is that it's his decision and opinion that counts.

It's part of the job he gets paid to do and the board must back the manager. To be fair he done alright so far in the market with Givet and Diouf and got us out of the Ince ###### which was very creditable!

I'm not having a go but people are hanging off Nicko's opinions on players like it's the gospel truth.

We are financially in a very good position to buy players thanks to the free transfers and sales. Just because we are linked to Davies doesn't mean he's on his way. There will be other options we don't know about and could be pursued. What I'm trying to say is there is no rush here, we have the money and lets be patient and have a look around.

Personally I don't think we will buy Davies. For those with short memories, former record signing Davies and Ashley Ward's super skills were bad enough to send us down in quite possibly the worst season in my life not forgetting Nathan Blake! Further more was the embarrassment of Davies abilities as he struggled to make any impact in the division below.

He's got it made at Bolton imo. Club captain and playing well in front of fans that like him. Why would he want to put all that on the line to move back to us where he played the worst football of his career and will be slaughtered for every mistake he makes and made the scapegoat for defeats.

The money wanted for him is a joke at his age and I would like to think we are more ambitious and after after better players than Kevin Davies. For the future of Blackburn Rovers, I hope it doesn't include him.

[Guest benmaxwell]

It's not that simple. The board cannot appoint a manager and then refuse him the right to spend the money they provide him the way he wishes. It would undermine their decision to appoint him and make his position as manager untenable.

You are wrong. Of course they can!! They did it with Mark Hughes for the best part of two years.

The only difference now is they have a justifiable to say no!

The midfield needs solid work done on it. Money that will probably end up eating into our January 2010 transfer window fund. If we sign a striker, it has to be a no-risk option.

Kevin Davies is a huge risk option, and at the cost Nicko is hinting at and other sites are estimating. It is a insane gamble that will unlikely pay off.

If it doesn't pay off it will scar the manager, the chairman, the finances, the club and it's fans for years to come!

The only suitable option right now is to invest the same kind of money as we did in Benni and Cruz (£3.5 million) in a similar type of striker with a similar age, or invest a large amount on a younger more prolific striker!

The thing is people have different opinions on players. Sam is the boss and the bottom line is that it's his decision and opinion that counts.

Only if they benefit the club longterm.

Yes his opinions count, but we and the chairman have a right to object if we don't agree...

After all, where would we be with Ince if the Chairman and fans didn't have the right to speak out? (not that im comparing Sam to Ince - it's just a example!)

[spencey7]

As requested by Nicko, a list of strikers (of similar approximate value to Kevin Davies' £5m+) who I would rather the club sign:

PAVEL POGREBNYAK [Zenit St Petersburg] - The clear #1 choice. Why has everyone forgotten about him? 25 years old, 6'2" and strong as an ox. Would have been an excellent Roque replacement in January, and will only have gotten cheaper the closer his contract comes to expiring in November. We should break the bank for this guy.

MARC JANKO [Red Bull Salzburg] - Also 25, 6'5", outstanding scoring record.

MARCUS BERG [FC Groningen] - Only 22 and with bags of potential. Looks a player.

MOHAMED ZIDAN [borussia Dortmund] - 27, looked the part in the few games I've seen him, pace to burn. (Remember pace? While since we've seen that at Ewood.)

RADAMEL FALCAO GARCIA [River Plate] - A dream target, but still... 23 years old, linked with every big club in Europe last summer, but things seem to have gone quiet... Playing and scoring for Columbia, would be pricey, but it's about time we invested some proper money in the squad (and not on a 32-year-old "safe option").

I think I'm correct in saying we could have signed Luis Valencia when he went to Wigan instead? But we didn't like the risk. Well that risk is about to make Wigan £16m better off.

[Danish Villan]

If I was you guys - I would be excited by Davies. Every time you play Bolton he is a menace - he did not score so many goals before - but last season he was good at that too. I would not be against seeing him at Villa, even though we have Carew and Heskey. If you pull it off, I think he will do very well for you.

[philipl]

I voted yes to having him back.

Reluctantly.

Crouch is going to be outside our price range, all the foreign guys have a transition to make to the PL, Bent is outside our price range and been useless for too long.

So for a combined cost of transfer money plus wages of £9m-ish, where else are we going to find a centre forward whom we can pretty well be assured can do a top class Premier League job for Rovers over the next two seasons?

Most alternatives are going to gobble most of that money up in wages over two seasons never mind the transfer fee.

IF Sam can get Davies and De Santo, it leaves a workable pot for doing something about midfield over and above the complete gamble that is Jerome Rothen and possible something to find a right back with as well.

[gumboots]

I voted yes to having him back.

Reluctantly.

Crouch is going to be outside our price range, all the foreign guys have a transition to make to the PL, Bent is outside our price range and been useless for too long.

So for a combined cost of transfer money plus wages of £9m-ish, where else are we going to find a centre forward whom we can pretty well be assured can do a top class Premier League job for Rovers over the next two seasons?

Most alternatives are going to gobble most of that money up in wages over two seasons never mind the transfer fee.

IF Sam can get Davies and De Santo, it leaves a workable pot for doing something about midfield over and above the complete gamble that is Jerome Rothen and possible something to find a right back with as well.

And you don't have to watch him every week! Or at least not live and in the flesh. The failure factor i.e. if he doesn't instantly look brilliant will have him the scapegoat for everything that may go wrong at Rovers next year. KA and MGP must be beside themselves with delight. No longer will the guy behind me deride their every marginally misplaced pass or throw. No longer will people accuse Jason Roberts if he stays of being a donkey. The BBE and most other parts of the ground will have a field day if Davies puts a foot wrong. Just hope that, if he comes, he's got very broad shoulders metaphorically as well as we know he has physically!

[tonyoz]

I voted yes to having him back.

Reluctantly.

Crouch is going to be outside our price range, all the foreign guys have a transition to make to the PL, Bent is outside our price range and been useless for too long.

So for a combined cost of transfer money plus wages of £9m-ish, where else are we going to find a centre forward whom we can pretty well be assured can do a top class Premier League job for Rovers over the next two seasons?

Most alternatives are going to gobble most of that money up in wages over two seasons never mind the transfer fee.

IF Sam can get Davies and De Santo, it leaves a workable pot for doing something about midfield over and above the complete gamble that is Jerome Rothen and possible something to find a right back with as well.

Yep, after my initial horror, I reassessed and voted yes (but I've got to admit, my finger did hover over the button for a few seconds.) I agree with the rest of your post too.

[tonyoz]

And you don't have to watch him every week! Or at least not live and in the flesh. The failure factor i.e. if he doesn't instantly look brilliant will have him the scapegoat for everything that may go wrong at Rovers next year. KA and MGP must be beside themselves with delight. No longer will the guy behind me deride their every marginally misplaced pass or throw. No longer will people accuse Jason Roberts if he stays of being a donkey. The BBE and most other parts of the ground will have a field day if Davies puts a foot wrong. Just hope that, if he comes, he's got very broad shoulders metaphorically as well as we know he has physically!

I don't have to fork out for a season ticket either but i still think that you are being too pessimistic. He makes life hell for defenders........including our own last season. He is not a kid anymore and he looks as much at home in the premier league as anyone. The Bolton fans love him - there is a good reason for that.

[gumboots]

I don't have to fork out for a season ticket either but i still think that you are being too pessimistic. He makes life hell for defenders........including our own last season. He is not a kid anymore and he looks as much at home in the premier league as anyone. The Bolton fans love him - there is a good reason for that.

Me pessimistic? Never!!!!! I've seen little to make me optimistic at Rovers in the 10 years or so I've had a season ticket. Odd spells when you could say you actually went there saying with confidence you thought you wouldn't get beat and might even win and that was the best it got. I'm no more pessimistic than I have been for years. It just feels worse because everyone else seems to be progressing and we are still back in the days of no money (compared to the rest of the league and before the real old Rovers fans tell me about the past here I saw plenty of that following the Boro) and no chance of ever having any and having to sell good players and bring in an elderly striker who in his best ever season has scored 12 goals.

[tonyoz]

Me pessimistic? Never!!!!! I've seen little to make me optimistic at Rovers in the 10 years or so I've had a season ticket. Odd spells when you could say you actually went there saying with confidence you thought you wouldn't get beat and might even win and that was the best it got. I'm no more pessimistic than I have been for years. It just feels worse because everyone else seems to be progressing and we are still back in the days of no money (compared to the rest of the league and before the real old Rovers fans tell me about the past here I saw plenty of that following the Boro) and no chance of ever having any and having to sell good players and bring in an elderly striker who in his best ever season has scored 12 goals.

I know....but we are one of the few teams in the bottom half to have a few bob this time. Big Kev's game is not about scoring barrow-loads of goals though........he messes up defences and commits the oppositon - and hopefully creates chances for others.

(I said hopefully!)

[Kremmin]

Grooby every day for mine.

Call me narrow minded but Davies burnt us once and this one's got train wreck written all over it.

I actually think he's done fantastically well for Notlob but I don't reckon he can play in a halved shirt.

[brian_gallagher85]

As requested by Nicko, a list of strikers (of similar approximate value to Kevin Davies' £5m+) who I would rather the club sign:

PAVEL POGREBNYAK [Zenit St Petersburg] - The clear #1 choice. Why has everyone forgotten about him? 25 years old, 6'2" and strong as an ox. Would have been an excellent Roque replacement in January, and will only have gotten cheaper the closer his contract comes to expiring in November. We should break the bank for this guy.

MARC JANKO [Red Bull Salzburg] - Also 25, 6'5", outstanding scoring record.

MARCUS BERG [FC Groningen] - Only 22 and with bags of potential. Looks a player.

MOHAMED ZIDAN [borussia Dortmund] - 27, looked the part in the few games I've seen him, pace to burn. (Remember pace? While since we've seen that at Ewood.)

RADAMEL FALCAO GARCIA [River Plate] - A dream target, but still... 23 years old, linked with every big club in Europe last summer, but things seem to have gone quiet... Playing and scoring for Columbia, would be pricey, but it's about time we invested some proper money in the squad (and not on a 32-year-old "safe option").

I think I'm correct in saying we could have signed Luis Valencia when he went to Wigan instead? But we didn't like the risk. Well that risk is about to make Wigan £16m better off.

Of all of these I would only take a gamble on Berg who in turn would cost at least two thirds of our funds. The rest might be worth a gamble but are bigger gambles than Davies for the money. I also really wish people would at least have a bit of a look at Zidan's goalscoring record before suggesting we blow all our dough on his "pace". If the Russian lads contract is running out so soon why haven't a bigger club moved for him already?

The more I think about it the more it makes sense to beef up or front line with Davies and spend a good 10 million on some much needed midfielders.

[Parsonblue]

Me pessimistic? Never!!!!! I've seen little to make me optimistic at Rovers in the 10 years or so I've had a season ticket. Odd spells when you could say you actually went there saying with confidence you thought you wouldn't get beat and might even win and that was the best it got. I'm no more pessimistic than I have been for years. It just feels worse because everyone else seems to be progressing and we are still back in the days of no money (compared to the rest of the league and before the real old Rovers fans tell me about the past here I saw plenty of that following the Boro) and no chance of ever having any and having to sell good players and bring in an elderly striker who in his best ever season has scored 12 goals.

But gumboots that's the joy of following clubs like the Rovers. The years of struggle make success all the sweeter. Having witnessed the decline of the sixties and Third Division football in the seventies, it meant I really appreciated and enjoyed the Jack Walker period. We are not a club that is normally in the top flight. This season will mark our longest period of continuous top flight football since 1936! Just surviving at this level is success at the moment. The manager and chairman both realise that and Sam's transfer dealings will be aimed at ensuring that the club remain in the top flight.

[Kelbo]

It's not my job to scout the world. We pay people to do that. Davies is dead money which we cannot afford.

I have thought long and hard about this, to get a really proven striker/target man there really is only a few leagues to look at or we would be taking a massive risk, I know the Italian leagues and the Spanish Leagues and no one comes to mind, I look at the German league, maybe the odd risk there and possibly the \french league will have some big strong strikers from the congo etc!!

But with any of the above, its a risk and it may not work, even Huntelaar did ever so well in Dutch league last year but is now available from Real!!

Sam may feel that Di Santos game is a similar one to Anelka and that pairing him with Davies is the key!!

But as Nicko said, for the style of player Sam wants, there is no better available!!

[imy9]

As requested by Nicko, a list of strikers (of similar approximate value to Kevin Davies' £5m+) who I would rather the club sign:

PAVEL POGREBNYAK [Zenit St Petersburg] - The clear #1 choice. Why has everyone forgotten about him? 25 years old, 6'2" and strong as an ox. Would have been an excellent Roque replacement in January, and will only have gotten cheaper the closer his contract comes to expiring in November. We should break the bank for this guy. THE SAME PLAYER WHO SAID HE DID NOT WANT TO JOIN ROVERS IN JANUARY??

MARC JANKO [Red Bull Salzburg] - Also 25, 6'5", outstanding scoring record. IN THE AUSTRIAN LEAGUE, ONE GOOD SEASON IN HOW MANY?

MARCUS BERG [FC Groningen] - Only 22 and with bags of potential. Looks a player. LOOKS VERY GOOD BUT THE CLUB WANT £9 MILLION PLUS WAGES, A RISK? A MASSIVE RISK!

MOHAMED ZIDAN [borussia Dortmund] - 27, looked the part in the few games I've seen him, pace to burn. (Remember pace? While since we've seen that at Ewood.) NOT A BIG CENTRE FORWARD AND DOES NOT SCORE MANY GOALS

RADAMEL FALCAO GARCIA [River Plate] - A dream target, but still... 23 years old, linked with every big club in Europe last summer, but things seem to have gone quiet... Playing and scoring for Columbia, would be pricey, but it's about time we invested some proper money in the squad (and not on a 32-year-old "safe option"). CAN YOU NAME ANOTHER PLAYER SIGNED FROM ARGENTINA THAT HAS SETTLED AND BEEN A SUCCESS IN ENGLAND? NOR CAN I. THERE IS A REASON, THE LEAGUE IS TOO QUICK FOR THEM.

I think I'm correct in saying we could have signed Luis Valencia when he went to Wigan instead? But we didn't like the risk. Well that risk is about to make Wigan £16m better off.

Some decent suggestions, especially the Russian but I am becoming more and more in favour of Davies at the price- we have Roberts and Benni plus Di Santo(hopefully) with Davies we look strong upfront, we need to invest a big chunk of the kitty on a quality central midfield player.

[tony gale's mic]

You still won't convince me on Davies.

Is he really assured to do a great job for us for the next two seasons? He did well at Bolton but remember his age - he's certainly not going to get better and at 32 and as a striker he's almost certainly going to go through some sort of decline.