[Archived] Sam's January Targets

[RevidgeBlue]

£3.5m.

Robinson was only 1m on top of Brad.

An excellent piece of business in the long term.

Back in the present however looks like being another desperately disappointing window, McCarthy sold, no replacement.

An(other) injury prone 31 year old in until the end of the season and an unknown youngster.

The first 16 gets progressively weaker.

[nicko]

Disappointing. Even though it is still not clear who it is. Possibly the young Polish striker. Nicko I thought you mentioned that we had tied up a deal for him already?

The way I heard it last week was that a deal was done and the player just had to arrive...

The way I hear it this morning is that the deal is off because someone else has signed the target.

I have to stress that I don't know who it is. The Pole was a possible, but there is another name that fits even more.

Putting the pieces together still.

The REAL significance is that Rovers will have to find another striker in a rush. Beattie anyone?

[slough_rover]

Some people are too quick to become Nicko's white knight.

And some people act like a c**t towards him for no reason.

[Bobby G]

Someone else signed the mystery man who isnt even the Polish kid? This gets more interesting

[Exiledfan]

All right, all hands to the pumps.

All of those who have sent me well-informed PMs on the 'mystery striker' please take note.

I hear the guy is NOT coming. Someone else has come in for him.

Trying to nail this, but any help appreciated.

Inbox is full.

[John]

The REAL significance is that Rovers will have to find another striker in a rush. Beattie anyone?

Sam has said more than once, including this morning, if we are to sign someone, it may not be a striker.

[Bobby G]

I dont agree that our 16 is weaker.

I think Basturk and Lingazi may be improvements. But the key matter will be who replaces Benni. Will our first team be stronger or not? I can see Dunn and Basturk possibly playing together in a central 3 with Nzonzi anchoring the midfield.

[nicko]

Sam has said more than once, including this morning, if we are to sign someone, it may not be a striker.

He was also talking up Beattie at the end of last week.

What manager say and what they do are two very different things.

There are/were TWO strikers on the go and a midfielder.

This is an ever-changing picture.

The bottom line is that the foreign striker who was lined up has gone 'down' in the past 24 hours.

That changes a few things.

[Iceman]

Mystery striker is Vagner Love

[John]

I think Basturk and Lingazi may be improvements. But the key matter will be who replaces Benni. Will our first team be stronger or not? I can see Dunn and Basturk possibly playing together in a central 3 with Nzonzi anchoring the midfield.

Don't forget MGP in the centre

[beerwins]

Sam has said more than once, including this morning, if we are to sign someone, it may not be a striker.

Indeed and looking where Sam played Benni I dont see Sam going for a striker, if we sign Beattie I think our other targets must have failed.

Will look a bit strange Sam saying we are not looking for a striker if one turns up, or maybe its just a smokescreen.

[modes98]

Well as long as Lewandowski hasn't been snapped up by someone then we are still in with a shot. Very impressed with what I have seen of him on youtube, and yes I know it is only youtube but his goal scoring record is impressive to. Young players are the way forward for us.

[unleaded]

Rovers have missed out on Brazilian Striker Ilan Araujo from French Club St Etteianne...........The double deal which would have taken the Brazilian and the French lad Amine was set up last week but Bennis delay in getting him to West Ham has Cost Rovers dear...........Sure this is the Mystry Target and you cant blame Sam for tring to add a bit of Flare........Nicko is this the Man?..........Another English club in for him now...would have been a gud`un..... Rovers 1st Brazilian i think.......

[RibbleValleyRover]

I dont agree that our 16 is weaker.

I think Basturk and Lingazi may be improvements. But the key matter will be who replaces Benni. Will our first team be stronger or not? I can see Dunn and Basturk possibly playing together in a central 3 with Nzonzi anchoring the midfield.

I don't think you can say we are stronger or weaker at the moment. Lot of question marks over our new signings, Lingazi might not feature this season much and Basturk's injury record in recent years may mean he can't play at this level.

[NelsonRover]

One of Gold/Sullivan was hopeful of signing a Brazilian striker yesterday, this must be it.

[savage90]

Ilan is signing for West Ham according to Sky so it fits. Shame.

[Silencio]

Rovers have missed out on Brazilian Striker Ilan Araujo from French Club St Etteianne...........The double deal which would have taken the Brazilian and the French lad Amine was set up last week but Bennis delay in getting him to West Ham has Cost Rovers dear...........Sure this is the Mystry Target and you cant blame Sam for tring to add a bit of Flare........Nicko is this the Man?..........Another English club in for him now...would have been a gud`un..... Rovers 1st Brazilian i think.......

West Ham are in for him from what I have read. He doesn't have a great record and is almost 30 so not too bothered if he was the target.

[nicko]

Once again...unleaded seems to be very close to the mark on things.

[PAFELL]

Rovers have missed out on Brazilian Striker Ilan Araujo from French Club St Etteianne...........The double deal which would have taken the Brazilian and the French lad Amine was set up last week but Bennis delay in getting him to West Ham has Cost Rovers dear...........Sure this is the Mystry Target and you cant blame Sam for tring to add a bit of Flare........Nicko is this the Man?..........Another English club in for him now...would have been a gud`un..... Rovers 1st Brazilian i think.......

Oh well that is life - man city signed a good brazillian player once, who then went downhill since putting on the city shirt!!!!!!!!!

I think I would prefer the polish player - lewandowski.

[Bobby G]

Good work unleaded.

Shame as it seemed an exciting signing. Maybe we should pull the plug on Benni if West Ham are costing us a signing.

I somehow feel if we really wanted him we wouldve signed him by now.

[Silencio]

Robinson was only 1m on top of Brad.

An excellent piece of business in the long term.

Back in the present however looks like being another desperately disappointing window, McCarthy sold, no replacement.

An(other) injury prone 31 year old in until the end of the season and an unknown youngster.

The first 16 gets progressively weaker.

RB, never understand why you are always sticking up for Robinson but seem to be pretty down about everything else we do (sometimes with good reason). We've had plenty of better keepers than him in the last 20 years. I can only remember Fettis and Collier making as many cock ups as he does...

[Bobby G]

Once again...unleaded seems to be very close to the mark on things.

Spot on I would say.

[PAFELL]

Once again...unleaded seems to be very close to the mark on things.

Have / are Rovers? interested still in Lewandowski? Out of curiosity, if Pompey do go bust, how does that effect the promotion and relegation issues? Do 4 teams come up, which would then have an effect lower down the leagues?

[nicko]

Have / are Rovers? interested still in Lewandowski? Out of curiosity, if Pompey do go bust, how does that effect the promotion and relegation issues? Do 4 teams come up, which would then have an effect lower down the leagues?

Lewandowski is an interesting player. I think Rovers have watched him but I don't know if it has gone that much further.

On Pompey...there would be real trouble if they went bust...I am told all points gained against them would be struck from the record.

Only two other teams would go down. But if they vanished completely that would mean an extra promotion place from League One and League Two probably.

[stuwilky]

Lewandowski is an interesting player. I think Rovers have watched him but I don't know if it has gone that much further.

On Pompey...there would be real trouble if they went bust...I am told all points gained against them would be struck from the record.

That is what the rule book says would happen, but then again it says that in most of them. Take a look at what happened when Spennymoor United folded a few years ago , a real farce.