[Archived] Transfer Topic The Final Day

[CAPT KAYOS]

As Parsons I think said yesterday, only the manager knows what he wants with regard to players and how they fit into his system of play, some signings have puzzled me from time to time but I will say this, there is a belief in football that you build from the back, from there on, keep things tight there and prevent opponents from scoring and there will always be opportunities for us to score, which we have already seen, then we can kick on from there!!

And something I think alot of people need to take heed from especially with regard to Salgado. Not once have I heard Sam say he is going to use him at right back - just that he brings experience and what he did with Hierro and Campo at notlob - indicates to me he intends on using more as a holding and distributive midfielder.

Think its quite obvious from what we have seen that Sam is trying to build something here - can't say I'm a Sam fan (yet) but what I have seen so far this season has been encouraging - and dependent on whether the 'crocks' make a successful comeback we could have a very well balanced squad based on more of a team ethic than individualism.

[RoyRover]

I haven't really had a problem with the positions that Sam has looked to strengthen. I think it is a good idea to have two right backs in Jacobsen and Salgado. We've bought in two very promising youngsters to score goals and I think that they will do just that. N'Zonzi appears to be a good bit of business and Hoilett has been touted as a hot prospect for some time. However, I feel that the signing of Chimbonda is one that hasn't been thought through. Unless Sam is bringing him in as cover for every position in the back, then I don't see where he will play. We already have two right backs and I'm more than happy with them. Samba, Nelsen and Givet are our first choice centre backs and if Sam were looking for him to play left back permanently, it's a bad move, as it would be better to have a natural left back there. If we then also bring in this left back from Le Mans, which has been suggested, then we are going to have too many players and still lacking a creative player in midfield.

[thenodrog]

If we are buying a left back and right back does that not indicate Salgardo is earmarked primarily for a midfield spot?

The Bosnian signing would be brilliant - I know its only you tube but he was a proper footballer

I think those two sentences contradict each other.

It'd be a bit a gamble at the moment Nicko, The Chelsea loan Kid is - A) injured, Might not make the grade. The other Kid is looking a bit raw at the moment. If we sell McCarthy that leaves us with Roberts and two unproven kids. I don't want to repeat the Samba experiment too soon either.

Under normal circumstances I'd say yes but no now, maybe if Ajax are still interested in January.

I think Benni will be worth more in January as desperation sets in with some clubs.... it might be wortty mentioning Benni to the messiah Alan.

[Hughesy]

According to the LT - Chimbonda will indeed cost £1.5m (As nicko reported) - not £2m+.

He will be signed to play either centre back or left back - with Salgado & Jacobsen fighting it out for right back.

It also says at the moment the club are in NO TALKS with any club about any in's or outs.....although that could change.

[LeftWinger]

I think we just have to trust Sams judgement on which positions he's strengthening. I seem to remember there were a lot of people questioning Souness when we brought in another keeper when we already had Kelly and Filan. He turned out to be arguably our best ever signing (when you consider he was a free).

[thenodrog]

You are right of course. I was going to add that the cash burn at Rovers is amazing and I do understand that you can't just go on spending for ever but you have to put as much pressure on the trustees as possible. We have had a lot of money in during the summer and I am more interested in the Rovers coffers than the trust fund. The more we can get out of them now the better. We won't get the season ticket money again this season and we need to strike whilst the iron is hot.

Al. You seem to have an over inflated opinion of your personal sphere of influence.

[Hughesy]

I think we just have to trust Sams judgement on which positions he's strengthening.

He has my 100% support - I trust him totally and I can see what he is doing and Im impressed so far. He has found a gem in NZonzi, Kalinic looks like a good prospect and Hoilett has pure potential.

Add to that he fixed our right wing, and found Givet for just £3.5m.

[RibbleValleyRover]

And something I think alot of people need to take heed from especially with regard to Salgado. Not once have I heard Sam say he is going to use him at right back - just that he brings experience and what he did with Hierro and Campo at notlob - indicates to me he intends on using more as a holding and distributive midfielder.

Pretty sure i saw an article that had quotes from Sam saying he wanted Salgado because 'we were short at the back'. Sam's plan may be to try Salgado in midfield, whether it works or not remains to be seen. I am rather sceptical it will work in this case. Hierro and Campo were both ball playing central defenders, great passers of the ball and had some experience in the past playing in central midfield. Does Salgado have that passing ability and composure on the ball that Hierro and Campo had?

Bad news about Chimbonda signing.

[Big Fat Sam]

I haven't really had a problem with the positions that Sam has looked to strengthen. I think it is a good idea to have two right backs in Jacobsen and Salgado. We've bought in two very promising youngsters to score goals and I think that they will do just that. N'Zonzi appears to be a good bit of business and Hoilett has been touted as a hot prospect for some time. However, I feel that the signing of Chimbonda is one that hasn't been thought through. Unless Sam is bringing him in as cover for every position in the back, then I don't see where he will play. We already have two right backs and I'm more than happy with them. Samba, Nelsen and Givet are our first choice centre backs and if Sam were looking for him to play left back permanently, it's a bad move, as it would be better to have a natural left back there. If we then also bring in this left back from Le Mans, which has been suggested, then we are going to have too many players and still lacking a creative player in midfield.

On Chimbonda, I am going to find a silver lining. He's not going to start I wouldn't have thought not once all are fit and healthy anyway. So he's more than likely a bench boy but by having someone on the bench that can cover all three defensive positions means that Sam can have more attacking options sitting with him.

[joey_big_nose]

Taylor and Chimbonda would be a good double signing. Impressed with that.

The main question is where will we find the money for signing a midfielder either this window or in Jan. We are going to need to do it at somepoint, even if we do get the best out of Dunn, Emerton and Grella.

[CAPT KAYOS]

Pretty sure i saw an article that had quotes from Sam saying he wanted Salgado because 'we were short at the back'.

Correct - I have heard him say this in interview which we are /where - effectively we probably still are interms of actual positional players but in terms of versatility and cover which may not be the best but it should see us through for now.

RB - Jacobsen - cover Salgado, Chimbonda ,Emerton, Kish (at the moment), Andrews (last resort hopefully), Jones

LB - Chimbonda /Givet , Olsson, (Taylor) , (Pedersen last resort)

CB -Samba , Givet, Nelsen, Kish, Chimbonda

[Al]

He comes close sometimes, such is the inaccuracy of his crossing.

[philipl]

If Sam can get into Chimbonda's head and get him back to his Wigan form we have one of the best full backs in the Premier League. If we have bought the Spurs Chimbonda, we have a chuffing liability on our hands.

For those puzzling over the latest moves, I think the best way of looking at it is to say pre Salgado, we were probably at the lower wage target and had an empty cupboard for new signings.

We have now gone Gally and Warnock (almost) out, Salgado and Chimbonda in. From a transfer fees standpoint, Rovers are quids in- lets say £9m less sticky fingers equals £7m available for transfers of which £1.5m has gone on Chimbonda (and perhaps a hello for Salgado for all we know).

On the wages, perhaps a total of £55k has been sold off but I'd imagine we are looking at £75k for the two incomers.

Yes there might be cash for transfer fees now but I think Sam has a problem with his wages budget.

Whether he can sign the Boro full back AND a midfielder is a very open question.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Whether he can sign the Boro full back AND a midfielder is a very open question.

I'd be surprised if we bring in a midfielder. With Salgado, Chimbonda and Taylor? coming in i can't see there being much left in terms of the wage budget. If Sam says to the board he wants to bring in a midfielder they could quite easilly point to the exisiting ones and say you have plenty already.

[LeChuck]

Wouldn't surprise me at all if Benni went and a midfielder came in. I think Sam will eventually settle with the 4-2-3-1 system we played against Gillingham, so having Roberts, Kalinic and Di Santo fighting over the one spot would be fine.

Getting rid of McCarthy would make a lot of room in the wage bill for a creative player to play as the attacking central midfielder. It wouldn't exactly leave us short of strikers either as Hoilett could easily partner any of the remaining three if we wanted to go 4-4-2.

[Al]

Al. You seem to have an over inflated opinion of your personal sphere of influence.

Gordon. Why do you find it necessary to alienate as many members as possible with your snide remarks?

Of course I can not influence the board on my own and as we have established that they do read this site and together we can at least get across our feelings on many subjects.

[joey_big_nose]

Whether he can sign the Boro full back AND a midfielder is a very open question.

We probably can get Taylor but I think a midfielder is out of the question really. We need to be able to shift one of our central players to free up wages - Reid would probably be favourite if we can keep him fit enough to a attract someone daft enough.

Failing that Pedersen looks suprisingly vulnerable simply because his contract is winding down and Sam seems to not be that keen on him (making large wage demands?). But then we would need to sign a winger, and we wouldn't get much of a fee.

Andrews perpetual fitness means he is not going to go anywhere. And the fact that Sam gave him the armband is a pretty ringing endorsement of him when there were other senior pros starting against Gills (Dunn, Zurab, Givet).

Dunn is too useful to let go and no one is going to buy Grella (and by Tuesday's performance he still does have a lot to offer in terms of spreading the ball).

Potentially the other place we can trim is letting Zurab go as he is now well down the order.

Its funny that we have such a massive squad but it is hard to see where we can sell. Maybe Jacobsen if Salgado is really going to play right back? If he proves fitness it could happen.

Wouldn't surprise me at all if Benni went and a midfielder came in. I think Sam will eventually settle with the 4-2-3-1 system we played against Gillingham, so having Roberts, Kalinic and Di Santo fighting over the one spot would be fine.

Getting rid of McCarthy would make a lot of room in the wage bill for a creative player to play as the attacking central midfielder. It wouldn't exactly leave us short of strikers either as Hoilett could easily partner any of the remaining three if we wanted to go 4-4-2.

Very good point. And McCarthy seems to offer very little at the moment in Sam's system because the strikers are expected to create their own chances...

However going into a new season without any consistent goal scorers and only Roberts as an experienced striker would open Sam up to all sorts of criticism. If Benni goes I think Sam will look for someone with "guaranteed goals".

Plus you have to remember Di Santo could be gone in January. And he is injured right now...

[donis1410]

if we sell benni then why not try bring in Janko on loan!!!!

[LeftWinger]

Its funny that we have such a massive squad but it is hard to see where we can sell. Maybe Jacobsen if Salgado is really going to play right back? If he proves fitness it could happen.

We won't sell Jacobsen. This is Sam Allardyce not Harry Redknapp!

[joey_big_nose]

We won't sell Jacobsen. This is Sam Allardyce not Harry Redknapp!

Well he is one of only two pieces of saleable 'fat' on the squad. They other being Zurab. All the rest are too young, required to play or cover, or are injured.

Bizarre but true.

When they talk about Sam's "revolving door" they weren't bloody kidding. How many is that in? Jacobsen, Givet, Diouf, Chimbonda, NZonzi, Di Santo, Kalanic, Hoilett, Van Heerden. Nine since he took charge! Ten if we get Taylor....

[Ricky]

Hoilett isnt a sam signing though... interesting point but isnt he now our longest serving player??

The report on the rovers site states he's been with us since he was 12.

[LeChuck]

Plus you have to remember Di Santo could be gone in January. And he is injured right now...

That's the bit that made me doubt my theory the most. The only thing I could think of is that Sam will use his wheeler-dealer skills to find a cheap/free squad player if we couldn't extend the loan.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Yes there might be cash for transfer fees now but I think Sam has a problem with his wages budget.

Whether he can sign the Boro full back AND a midfielder is a very open question.

You would think it will probably come down to whether the 'right' midfielder is available in this window. If such a player is attainable, obviously foolish not to buy now - even with the extra wages. This can always be compensated for next year by the non renewal of contracts such as Reid.

[waggy]

i see james harper at reading is going for a song,if we won't sign kranjcer this guy will do

[gazsimm]

i see james harper at reading is going for a song,if we won't sign kranjcer this guy will do

any midfielder is a bonus, shame the board won't give big sam the right money to bring in a quality one.