[Archived] Transfer Topic The Final Day

[luredbycheaptickets]

You've mentioned that before, and I respect your opinion because of it.

However, the vast majority of chances we have created so far have not resulted in goals. Is this because of poor strikers, or because they aren't the right kinds of chances? Maybe strikers are having to make snapshots rather than receive a threaded pass and being able to pick out a shot.

We have no pace in the side (possibly with the exception of Di Santo but we can't build a team around him) so a ball over the top or a ball from deep, to chase, is unlikely to result in a decent chance. We need to be taking territory higher up the field and getting a ball in to feet (Benni, Kalinic). Hopefully launches into the box will only result in a few clear cut chances due to the number of defensive bodies in the way after a knock-down.

I don't think Sam realises what a big part of our game Tugay was. There was a definite difference in the team over the last couple of years when he or Dunn were in the side.

I am sure Sam is absolutely clear about how big a part of the side Tugay was. That doesn't mean that Threegay is waiting in the wings, or that Sam isn't thinking about how to cope without him. He may even play Salgado in that role. Be patient, it takes time to build a team, two games in and everyone is an expert....

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Could be that we have a buyer on the hook but it requires the debt being reduced to a minimum? This just feels wrong though.

Surely a buyer would want all the assets ie quality players to remain at the club....or they are going to have to buy new ones at even greater cost?

Bringing my diatribe back on topic, why is it though that just about everyone can see that midfield is a problem area but we keep being told that priorities are elsewhere? Can we all be wrong?

Nope - but the only way they will be forced into buying a midfielder is if Dunn/Reid/Grella break down again tomorrow night. Sam/board got lucky with Nzonzi IMO a potential first teamer for peanuts and settled in ahead of expectations - providing further time for the crocks to recover.

[roversinmyblood]

When your players are told "all you have to do is hoof it up front as quickly as possible" then why do you need a creative midfield player!!

[spencey7]

We need to be taking territory higher up the field and getting a ball in to feet.

Not a chance.

I don't think Sam realises what a big part of our game Tugay was.

I couldn't agree with you more on this point. Weren't we supposed to be looking for "the new Tugay"...? And now all plans to strengthen the weakest midfield in the Premiership have been halted? Perhaps our scouting network (or Portsmouth's ) have just given up.

Why create anything in midfield when we can bring in another cheap 6'9" centre-half? We could always play him up front.

[luredbycheaptickets]

Not a chance.

I couldn't agree with you more on this point. Weren't we supposed to be looking for "the new Tugay"...? And now all plans to strengthen the weakest midfield in the Premiership have been halted? Perhaps our scouting network (or Portsmouth's ) have just given up.

Why create anything in midfield when we can bring in another cheap 6'9" centre-half? We could always play him up front.

There's too much negativity imo. People are combining the sense of the club's decline with a stereotyped impression of Sam, reaching conclusions and then moaning.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Perhaps our scouting network (or Portsmouth's ) have just given up.

LOL - you mean Willy Mackay?

[thenodrog]

Don't automatically assume we will bring in low quality.

Unfortunately the clocks ticking.

[Exiled in Toronto]

What I don't understand is that apparently the Premiership is the place to be yet it looks patently clear that we cannot afford to be in this league.

On the flip side, it's financial meltdown if we do go down so what is our considered 'level'?

On the Warnock sale I had to keep my counsel when it was debated on here to sell for nothing less than 'x' amount etc etc when it was a given that the money wouldn't go on a replacement. It was same with the Bentley and Roque deals and as fans we should only be interested in having the best players on the pitch not the money in the coffers.

Cue being pilloried because I should accept that we need to sell to survive etc.

Good post. According to our owners, we can't afford the costs needed to stay up and we can't survive the hit of going down. Thank goodness they are in charge!

Anyway, if big disparities in income mean that we simply cannot compete, why are we 6 points behind Burnley when we have had 16 years of Premiership money plus 100 million+ from Jack when they have had ten bob from Flood?

[Big Fat Sam]

Does anyone else think that after putting forward a great deal for ST's, the club are now doing their best to kill any support that might have been gained?

After luring them all in knowing they'll still come cause they've paid and hoping it'll all be forgotten a year from now.

[Hi Mack]

It gets worse and worse!

We have (if Warnock goes for 8M+) taken nearly 30M from transfers this summer yet we are SKINT!

What the hells going on? Why doesnt JW come out and say why! Its getting embarrasing seeing BS on SSN

every other day! If the coaching staff cant see we are lacking in CM we should be worried!

[Stuart]

There's too much negativity imo. People are combining the sense of the club's decline with a stereotyped impression of Sam, reaching conclusions and then moaning.

Have you seen Sam's interview on Sky today? Did you see Nicko's post about or plans for replacing Warnock?

This debate is not about stereotyping Sam but about our immediate concerns with what we are seeing.

[The Prof.]

Warnock - not bothered one bit - thanks and see you around Stevie. He's second choice after Givet anyway now.

Losses - 2 bad start so what, lets have a look 8 games.

Allardyce - Well, thanks for that mate. That was about as depressing an interview as I've seen at Rovers (and in football?) since Jim Iley. We all know we're a small town club but at least he could have talked us up a bit. Where's the 'we aren't a selling club' we used to get from Sparky or the call to arms from Souness.

One thing Allardyce appears to have forgotten is that:

a. We took him off the rock and roll

b. Sky pump a lot of money into the club we never had when Jack Walker started the ball rolling.

c. Who has spent money this time out? Not many clubs.

d. We spend a huge amount on wages (including yours Sam)

He looks ready to walk so goodness know what he was expecting. What was his budget at Bolton?

I don't think calling us a 'selling club' does anyone any favours. If we have to sell occasionally then so be it but Portsmouth are a selling club pal not us.

Oh dear.

[Stuart]

Warnock - not bothered one bit - thanks and see you around Stevie. He's second choice after Givet anyway now.

Losses - 2 bad start so what, lets have a look 8 games.

Allardyce - Well, thanks for that mate. That was about as depressing an interview as I've seen at Rovers (and in football?) since Jim Iley. We all know we're a small town club but at least he could have talked us up a bit. Where's the 'we aren't a selling club' we used to get from Sparky or the call to arms from Souness.

One thing Allardyce appears to have forgotten is that:

a. We took him off the rock and roll

b. Sky pump a lot of money into the club we never had when Jack Walker started the ball rolling.

c. Who has spent money this time out? Not many clubs.

d. We spend a huge amount on wages (including yours Sam)

He looks ready to walk so goodness know what he was expecting. What was his budget at Bolton?

I don't think calling us a 'selling club' does anyone any favours. If we have to sell occasionally then so be it but Portsmouth are a selling club pal not us.

Oh dear.

Very good summary.

He might as well have put a sign outside Ewood "Offers Welcome". Way to negotiate with Villa over the Warnock fee.

[Kelbo]

Wing Wizard wrote

"Could be that we have a buyer on the hook but it requires the debt being reduced to a minimum? This just feels wrong though.

Surely a buyer would want all the assets ie quality players to remain at the club....or they are going to have to buy new ones at even greater cost?

Bringing my diatribe back on topic, why is it though that just about everyone can see that midfield is a problem area but we keep being told that priorities are elsewhere? Can we all be wrong?

Nope - but the only way they will be forced into buying a midfielder is if Dunn/Reid/Grella break down again tomorrow night. Sam/board got lucky with Nzonzi IMO a potential first teamer for peanuts and settled in ahead of expectations - providing further time for the crocks to recover."

Very lucky with Nzonzi, looks like he will come, would have been better with a quaity lad alongside him to help him through!!

Maybe a buyer Wizard, is looking at Uncle Jacks conditions and wants a clear playing field bereft of any debt, then £52,000,000 would be £52,000,000 not that plus the debts which they would take on board!!

Then the buying of the club could be an interesting proposition to someone, I really dont know to be sure, all that I do know is this, even the top clubs are not spending as they did, only City really, so are we seeing a change?

The stupidity has got to stop somewhere and reality will set in, maybe nowis the time?

[luredbycheaptickets]

Have you seen Sam's interview on Sky today? Did you see Nicko's post about or plans for replacing Warnock?

This debate is not about stereotyping Sam but about our immediate concerns with what we are seeing.

Yes I saw it, but I don't have a sense of panic about it. It's too early to panic. Sam plays games all the time. Maybe he is fed up and will walk away, who knows? I doubt it personally. No point second guessing, and anyway I think the team is heading in the right direction and will continue to improve. We need defensive cover, a midfield player and more pace up front, but we won't go out and buy it in one mad shopping spree. And the players we have will gradually get better. Salgado hasn't played yet, Kalinic has only just landed, as has Di Santo, and people are assuning we won't spend any of the money that has come in. We might not, but then again we might. Some people seem to like to decide we won't, so they can have a good old moan! We have played well in the two games so far, a definite improvement, and I believe the points will come as things settle down.

[broadsword]

Can there possibly be any more overdraft to pay off?

Seems like a very poor do at the minute.

[Parsonblue]

I thought Sam's comments on Sky were a very fair assessment of where the club is at the moment. He is quite right in saying that we have reverted to what we have always been - a selling club. We have always had to sell our best players apart from the brief period that Jack put money into the club. However, those days are long gone. We are now having to stand on our own two feet and the only way to generate money for transfers is to sell a player or two.

This is nothing new. I well remember the uproar that the sales of Pickering, England, Ferguson, Hole, Newton etc. caused in the sixties. However, the club is still here. He was quite right to describe us as a small town club. It is what we are. We can't get gates of 30,000 every week. We have had to sell our season tickets at rock bottom prices to get fans to buy them and yet people still think that there is some mysterious pot of money that the club can dip into to sign new players.

We are not alone in being a selling club. Our neighbours at Burnley and Bolton have a similiar history of having to sell players on a regular basis. Even Everton, with far bigger gates than the Rovers, have found that they cannot keep players who want to move on to what they believe to be bigger and better things.

Having seen so many talented players come and go from Ewood Park I simply accept it as part and parcel of supporting a club like the Rovers. Despite those departures the club continues to survive at the top level and for me the main interest in the present situation is in retaining Premier League status. That is of vital importance to the future of the club and why, in my opinion, Big Sam is exactly the right man to have in charge in these challenging times.

[thenodrog]

He looks ready to walk so goodness know what he was expecting.

There are not as many places to walk to as there once was.

[spencey7]

Have you seen Sam's interview on Sky today?

There's a sigh (around 0.38) in this clip that sounds like it comes from a weary man.

He truly is an outrageously boring interview, you find yourself developing a vacant stare as you listen.

[BuckyRover]

FFS. He looks ready to jump off a bridge.

I hope he isn't thinking of retiring to a beach in Spain.

[joey_big_nose]

A recognised left back...for cover...although Givet will probably play there more often that not...

The centre half will be cheap.

If both can be landed then there may be the chance of more.

But those two positions are the priority right now.

This is amazingly bad news! I can only surmise that:

1) Nelsen is badly injured

2) A minimum of money will be spent on the defenders so we can sign a midfielder.

However... Sam has shown no interest in central midfielders over the window. We have been linked to, and signed, a large number of strikers, wingers and fullbacks. But no CMs beyond Nzonzi. I suppose this may be the result of us having six on the books which makes sense...

I suppose we are going to have to place our faith in the returning foursome. Two of them at least are going to need to find form and stay fit. Emerton will be able to do a job. Toss up out of the other three as to who will perform.

I hope this is a crafty Allardyce windup.

[Guest ErinBrown]

The more and more i think about it, the more i don't understand this decision.

David Dunn's contract expires at the end of this season. If the club has any sense. It should allow it to expire and use his future wage space to bring in a decent CM now.

This has also got to be a make or break season for Steven Reid and Vince Grella. There should be no doubts that if they cant play at least half the season each (if not more) they should depart the club at the end of the season.

Also, we have lost Mokoena and Tugay in center midfield since last season. So surely we should look at replacing the both of them. Mokoena has been replaced by N'Zonzi and Tugay should be replaced next!

[Guest charlie1]

If he walks he walks thers nothing we can do about it. IMO it would'nt be that big a loss anyway Allardyce may have kept us up last year but he is no messiah. It's only a matter of time before we go down anyway sorry to sound pesimistic but that's the truth.

[bubblerrovers]

I don't know how too feel anymore, I can't help but feel a club is made by the fans that follow it. Rovers fans won't buy season tickets unless we flog them for £150, even then the fans moan. As we can't sell tickets at prices too make a nice return we have too use all the sky money to pay wages, then we moan when we sell players. We as fans love Rovers but footballers don't give a monkeys and i bet every single one of us on this board would move jobs if we're offered a massive pay rise and moving fee, FACT. Players see Rovers as a little club to possibly play well get noticed and move on. Rovers time in the premiership will come to end sooner or later it has too so i'm going to just enjoy it while it lasts, and hope Big Sam makes the right decisions and we can enjoy a few more great victories. People thinking we may get taken over are simply wishfull thinking. This may sound all negative but it's all true so people may as well get used to it.

[Exiled_Rover]

This is amazingly bad news! I can only surmise that:

1) Nelsen is badly injured

2) A minimum of money will be spent on the defenders so we can sign a midfielder.

However... Sam has shown no interest in central midfielders over the window. We have been linked to, and signed, a large number of strikers, wingers and fullbacks. But no CMs beyond Nzonzi. I suppose this may be the result of us having six on the books which makes sense...

I suppose we are going to have to place our faith in the returning foursome. Two of them at least are going to need to find form and stay fit. Emerton will be able to do a job. Toss up out of the other three as to who will perform.

I hope this is a crafty Allardyce windup.

Or the Trustees have turned round and said "Look Sam, money is tight yet you've got Reid, Grella and Dunn all on stellar wages. Until you shift one of those crocks off the wage bill you can't sign a new central midfielder."