[Archived] Blackburn Rovers Transfer Topic

[John]

Pavel Pogrebnyak's dad says the Russia striker is increasingly unlikely to renew his contract with Zenit St Petersburg. The tall Russia striker, who has been linked to Arsenal, will be a free agent in December but is likely to move for a small fee this summer.

[RoverRich]

The no 1 target should be Darren Bent, he's got pace, and if he played the full 38 games you wouldnt put it past him getting more than 15 goals. Us or sunderland you choose

How many times does it need to be said that it is unlikely we can afford him??!! The price Spurs want for him is ridiculous then his wages will probably be huge as well. Sunderland are more likely to throw money at him so if he goes anywhere it will probably be to them at the moment.

[Lathund]

Ibra is absolute class. However, he is still over-rated. I mean, £35m and Eto'o Barca are offering for him, according to reports. For one, he makes Berbatov look as motivated and energetic as Tevez!

It's too much for him, but at the same time he's the guy they want, and they have the money. So it does make sense for them. Who else is there? I believe they wanted Villa, but Valencia were asking for something like $60m+ cash (Eto'o wouldn't go there). Not many other world class strikers available. I think he'll fit them really well. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Henry will benefit from Zlatans creativity, and he'll benefit from theirs.

He's inconsistent, he sometimes fades in important games and he's temperamental. But when he's at his best, he's unstoppable. Guardiola believes he can get that out of him, let's see if he's right.

[Taggart]

Just thought how tactics similar to Sams was described at coaching seminars I have been on, relevent in so much as it illustrates as to how important the striker/Target man is to the system of play!! As for midfielders, yes we could do with at least one decent one but the important role as you can see would be a target man!!

With 11 players to get past, scoring a goal is a tricky task at the best of times. However, the beauty of counter-attacking football is to use the other team’s desperation to score to your own advantage.

By withdrawing into your own half, but keeping a man or two further up the pitch, the goal is to take the ball off the opponent while they have players committed to the attack and thus out of position. Once you have the ball in your own half, you have more space to deliver a through-ball for your strikers, who will be lurking around the halfway line and will have fewer players to negotiate.

This tactic, while extremely risky and reliant on solid defending, can render impressive results and is often utilised by teams who are defending a lead or field a 4-5-1 formation (meaning the lone striker can get isolated in front of 4 defenders if both sides are set up properly).

Often used to deride ‘boring’ teams, the long-ball style of play is genuine route one football. Rather than spend time on the ball picking the pass, exploiting small gaps in the opposition’s defensive or utilising the flanks, the long-ball is employed as an opportunistic method of attack. By pinging the ball up the field from defense or midfield, the hope is that the strikers will either latch onto the hopeful pass or exploit any mistakes by the defenders. Because the long-ball is dealt with in the air most of the time, any team employing it needs to have a strong target man.

Good post Kelbo.

However, I wish people would stop taking it as said, that we will automatically be playing "hit the target man" , "long ball" football - has Sam come out and said this ?

Last year was about survival so we can discount that at present. BFS has also stated that he is also open to having a top quality striker, whether he big big, or small, 6 " 4 or 5"8, as long as he is quality. If he is open to that idea, then surely he does not have a set option and will play according to what strengths we have.

BFS`s past examples were playign with wingers at Bolton and to be honest, when they were challenging for European places, they were playing some pretty good football, with intricate passing and quick triangles and utilising the wings and keeping width - this was also mimicked at his short spell at Newcastle - again the asks the question of why we are resigned to long ball football next season ?

we will play to our strengths depending on what skills and players are available, and dependent upon any perceived weaknesses in the opposition.

Lets keep an open mind eh

It's too much for him, but at the same time he's the guy they want, and they have the money. So it does make sense for them. Who else is there? I believe they wanted Villa, but Valencia were asking for something like $60m+ cash (Eto'o wouldn't go there). Not many other world class strikers available. I think he'll fit them really well. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Henry will benefit from Zlatans creativity, and he'll benefit from theirs.

He's inconsistent, he sometimes fades in important games and he's temperamental. But when he's at his best, he's unstoppable. Guardiola believes he can get that out of him, let's see if he's right.

All the top managers rate him very highly, big powerfull and on his day is awesome. I must admit though, when I have seen him in European football when he needs a big performance, he has gone missing and hasn`t produced !

[Kelbo]

Good post Kelbo.

However, I wish people would stop taking it as said, that we will automatically be playing "hit the target man" , "long ball" football - has Sam come out and said this ?

Last year was about survival so we can discount that at present. BFS has also stated that he is also open to having a top quality striker, whether he big big, or small, 6 " 4 or 5"8, as long as he is quality. If he is open to that idea, then surely he does not have a set option and will play according to what strengths we have.

BFS`s past examples were playign with wingers at Bolton and to be honest, when they were challenging for European places, they were playing some pretty good football, with intricate passing and quick triangles and utilising the wings and keeping width - this was also mimicked at his short spell at Newcastle - again the asks the question of why we are resigned to long ball football next season ?

we will play to our strengths depending on what skills and players are available, and dependent upon any perceived weaknesses in the opposition.

Lets keep an open mind eh

All the top managers rate him very highly, big powerfull and on his day is awesome. I must admit though, when I have seen him in European football when he needs a big performance, he has gone missing and hasn`t produced !

I think if Sam could find a top pacy striker at the right money, he may do that, but with the Transfer fees at the moment seem extortionate so unless we find a cheap quick lad, we will have to go with a target man!! If we can get a quick lad at the right price and enogh left for a midfielder, then we would play a different system altogether.

[alexanders]

Negredo?

Negredo on the verge to joining Premier League

His most likely destination appears to be England, with his agent, Juanma Lopez, admitting as much.

"There is a 95 per cent chance that Negredo will be moving to the Premier League," he said.

Real Madrid are understood to want the ongoing saga regarding Negredo's future to be resolved by Monday.

Spurs not interested in Alvaro Negredo

Spurs £12m bid for Crouch

I might be putting 2+2 together too easily, but I am allowed to be dreaming. Aren't I?

[saviola]

How many times does it need to be said that it is unlikely we can afford him??!! The price Spurs want for him is ridiculous then his wages will probably be huge as well. Sunderland are more likely to throw money at him so if he goes anywhere it will probably be to them at the moment.

Dont you think im already aware of that, jeez

[sparky12]

Negredo?

Negredo on the verge to joining Premier League

His most likely destination appears to be England, with his agent, Juanma Lopez, admitting as much.

"There is a 95 per cent chance that Negredo will be moving to the Premier League," he said.

Real Madrid are understood to want the ongoing saga regarding Negredo's future to be resolved by Monday.

Spurs not interested in Alvaro Negredo

Spurs £12m bid for Crouch

I might be putting 2+2 together too easily, but I am allowed to be dreaming. Aren't I?

liverpool ?? part of the alonso deal ?? :/ i dont know

[John]

Know he was a pain for Bruce, but surprised no one has taken a gamble on Zaki yet (not saying we should)

Zaki future to be decided

[saviola]

Know he was a pain for Bruce, but surprised no one has taken a gamble on Zaki yet (not saying we should)

Zaki future to be decided

Decent player, big, strong, dont know what his fee would be, but he's been available all summer if sam wanted him he would have made a move for him by now, but you never know, he might be on the "possibility" list

[T4E]

Know he was a pain for Bruce, but surprised no one has taken a gamble on Zaki yet (not saying we should)

Zaki future to be decided

Is Zaki Mister X?

[neophox]

Now when City has bought in Tevez, Santa Cruz and Adebayor I feel Rovers would nip in at City for Bellamy and Caceido for a combined fee of £10m.

What do you think?

[John]

I think Caceido is off to a Portugese club and I just could not see Bellamy happening.

Craig Bellamy feels sure that he still has a part to play in Manchester City's first team despite the arrival of younger, highly rated forwards Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez at Eastlands this summer.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

I'd really love Bellamy back but I just can't see it. It's a shame as well.

[owenrilla]

Is Zaki Mister X?

[philipl]

Mr Z actually

[thenodrog]

I think he meant to say David Beckham

No one comes close to Beckham for being the most over-rated player on this planet imo.

Beckham? Slow and can't dribble, tackle, kick with his left foot or head a ball. Made a fortune cos he's a cockney playing for MU who married a talentless pop star and practised free kicks every afternoon. Personally I blame the red tops and single mothers.

[broadsword]

Is Zaki Mister X?

Nah, Zaki's Mr Brown, he wanted to be Mr Turquoise, but he's already at another team.

Vieiri is Mr Blonde

Zigic is Mr Pink

McCarthy is Nice Guy Benni

[spencey7]

Often used to deride ‘boring’ teams, the long-ball style of play is genuine route one football. Rather than spend time on the ball picking the pass, exploiting small gaps in the opposition’s defensive or utilising the flanks, the long-ball is employed as an opportunistic method of attack. By pinging the ball up the field from defense or midfield, the hope is that the strikers will either latch onto the hopeful pass or exploit any mistakes by the defenders. Because the long-ball is dealt with in the air most of the time, any team employing it needs to have a strong target man.

I don't think there's any need for an explanation or justification of long-ball tactics - it's the most basic (and talentless) "system" which can possibly be adopted, which is also the reason I'm so dead against it at this level of football. As a Premier League club we should be demanding better.

[JamieUK]

Why all the inane dribble over long ball tactics? Even at the end of last season when we were scrapping I wouldnt say we reverted to playing long ball each game. Yes we were direct at times but certainly not hoofing from the back and bypassing midfield. No surprise the moans come from the usual suspects...

[den]

To be fair den though I don't think you could say we were weaker. Nobody has left that actually played more than a couple of games in the second half of the year, and we've added a 1st or 2nd string RB, a backup winger, a young defensive midfielder who will be on the fringe, and we've got a couple of injured players returning in Dunn and Emerton.

Agree on the two strikers, don't think we'll get a midfielder in without getting rid of one. Ideally Reid if he wasn't injured.

Weeeeeell,

we have lost one of the best strikers we've had in a number of years. That alone weakens us considerably, because any injury to Roberts and/or Benni will leave us with nothing up front. Can't see Jacobsen being as strong as Ooijer was, nor do we have anything really to suggest that Elrio or Nzonzi will be good enough at the moment. Emerton has missed the first friendlies in the season, as has Reid and that's always a bad sign, because players that miss pre-season often struggle to make an impact at all that season.

It's fine bringing numbers in, but if we don't replace Rocky with genuine talent, sign another striker who can also push the others - then strengthen the weakest midfield in the premier league by a mile, we are in for another hard grind.

There is still time to do all of this of course - but wouldn't it have been great to have pushed the ST sales along with some quality signings early in the summer. For once, the money is there.

[thenodrog]

I don't think there's any need for an explanation or justification of long-ball tactics - it's the most basic (and talentless) "system" which can possibly be adopted, which is also the reason I'm so dead against it at this level of football. As a Premier League club we should be demanding better.

Nothing wrong with playing long balls at all. The secret is in mixing it up.

[spencey7]

BFS`s past examples were playign with wingers at Bolton and to be honest, when they were challenging for European places, they were playing some pretty good football, with intricate passing and quick triangles and utilising the wings and keeping width - this was also mimicked at his short spell at Newcastle - again the asks the question of why we are resigned to long ball football next season ?

thenodrog - In my opinion there is a problem with playing long balls - I watch football and support Blackburn Rovers to be entertained. I have never found a team playing Allardyce's style of football to be remotely entertaining. To be perfectly honest I find it cringeworthy.

We are playing in (allegedly) "the best league in the world". We're paying players tens of thousands of pounds per week. Our team comprises internationals from over 12 nations. We should be asking for better tactics than those deployed at Primary School level.

[Ricky]

We are playing in (allegedly) "the best league in the world". We're paying players tens of thousands of pounds per week. Our team comprises internationals from over 12 nations. We should be asking for better tactics than those deployed at Primary School level.

We wouldnt be playing in the best league in the world if we'd carried on playing Ince's 'attractive' football.

[chaddyrovers]

i think we sign Negredo for about 6 to 8 million. i saw him play alot last season in spain. Hes look a good striker. good in the air BUT also good on the floor. ALSO know where the back of the net is. I also think him and mccarthy would be a good partnership.