[Archived] Sam's January Targets

[Tom]

All in all if things go wrong on the striker front then Sam only has himself to blame

[super_arran]

Well not really LeChuck. Benni wasn't a midfielder, he was a goalscorer. If he had been happy with Basturk, he wouldn't have been trying for another striker.

Ever thought that he's happy with Basturk for benni but isn't happy with other strikers I.e. Roberts?

[mellison24]

All in all if things go wrong on the striker front then Sam only has himself to blame

Exactly. Imo, it's all hypotheticals atmo. We'll just have to see how we fare in the coming weeks.

[den]

Ever thought that he's happy with Basturk for benni but isn't happy with other strikers I.e. Roberts?

Basturk and Benni are different players. Benni is a goalscorer and that's why Sam was looking for another striker. Quite simple really.

[LeChuck]

Well not really LeChuck. Benni wasn't a midfielder, he was a goalscorer. If he had been happy with Basturk, he wouldn't have been trying for another striker.

Benni was playing as an attacking midfielder pretty much though, replacing Dunn when he was injured. He only scored four goals for us this season, that's all we have to replace. It's not hard to argue that an in-form Basturk will contribute (either directly or indirectly) at least that amount to our tally this season.

[Tom]

You're right Mellison, as a Rovers fan I obviously hope it all works out but it is disappointing that we havn't bolstered the front line much seeing how isolated Kalinic has been at times.

When Dunn plays there he has been too deep most of the time

[saxo1man30]

Exactly. Imo, it's all hypotheticals atmo. We'll just have to see how we fare in the coming weeks.

sam will ALWAYS play 1 up with 1 behind, for that formation we have plenty of cover. i`m not concerned in the slightest as it means the likes of kalinic, di santo and hoilett will now have to be used regulary. that`s what everyone wanted and it gives us a better chance of keeping hold of di santo and hoilett in the summer if they are involved.

[nicko]

There's a lot to be said for the 'dodged three bullets' argument.

But explain this to me...

What were you doing in those particular firing ranges anyway?

[PAFELL]

There's a lot to be said for the 'dodged three bullets' argument.

But explain this to me...

What were you doing in those particular firing ranges anyway?

APART FROM WINDOW SHOPPING - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

[joey_big_nose]

Benni was playing as an attacking midfielder pretty much though, replacing Dunn when he was injured. He only scored four goals for us this season, that's all we have to replace. It's not hard to argue that an in-form Basturk will contribute (either directly or indirectly) at least that amount to our tally this season.

He has hardly played for two years and has a horriffic injury record. So that, unfortunately, is a bit of a longshot. You never know, but clearly Sam has wanted a striker. That we have not got one is a legitimate criticism you can levy at the Board and Sam.

[saxo1man30]

There's a lot to be said for the 'dodged three bullets' argument.

But explain this to me...

What were you doing in those particular firing ranges anyway?

that`s a good question, but i`d further extend that to.. were we ever really going to sign any of them at all? my view like many others is that basturk was brought in to replace benni, as he`s a specialist second striker/attacking midfielder(as sam likes behind a main striker), so any of the other 3 targets imo would only have been brought in had roberts been offloaded.

[jim mk2]

There's a lot to be said for the 'dodged three bullets' argument.

But explain this to me...

What were you doing in those particular firing ranges anyway?

They were available and, most important of all, cheap.

Simples.

[ada2020]

Benjani-Dindane and Beattie hardly take alot of "scouting"! Wigan seem to have come up trumps in this window!

Why, because they have signed someone you think might make it?

Why make out like another club has performed a miracle by signing a young player on the cheap.

If he works out well for them then great for them, if our manager didnt want him then so be it, its hardly worth eulogizing about another teams signings. Do you reckon Moses will keep Wigan up? I dont!!!!

[super_arran]

Basturk and Benni are different players. Benni is a goalscorer and that's why Sam was looking for another striker. Quite simple really.

Yet Benni has been playing as an attacking midfielder for the majority of the season. IMO I think Sam was looking for another striker to replace Roberts' position in the squad

[Guest Kamy100]

There's a lot to be said for the 'dodged three bullets' argument.

But explain this to me...

What were you doing in those particular firing ranges anyway?

That's an easy one Alan.

The manager decided that he wanted someone experienced to replace Benni, he chose Benjani, Beattie and Dindane and ended up signing none of them. He could have taken an alternative route (as Wigan have done) by getting a rough diamond on loan but decided not to. In the end we ended up weaker.

[super_arran]

Double post

[MarkBRFC71]

There's a lot to be said for the 'dodged three bullets' argument.

But explain this to me...

What were you doing in those particular firing ranges anyway?

Hit the nail on the head for me. It's not about not signing one of those 3 dollopers, it's about why our management and scouting is so p1ss poor that we are looking at the very last minute at dross like that. I would much rather have taken a punt on someone like Beckford.

My hope is that we survive this season (and an injury to Niko will make that a VERY close call), and reassess everything in summer - particularly the manager.

[Tom]

Couldn't agree more Mark, said it for a while, ideally sam keeps us up then decides to retire

[saxo1man30]

Double post

that`s my view too. roberts didn`t go so any deal was off.

[mellison24]

Hit the nail on the head for me. It's not about not signing one of those 3 dollopers, it's about why our management and scouting is so p1ss poor that we are looking at the very last minute at dross like that. I would much rather have taken a punt on someone like Beckford.

My hope is that we survive this season (and an injury to Niko will make that a VERY close call), and reassess everything in summer - particularly the manager.

That same scouting that gave us NZonzi, Givet, Kalinic, DiSanto (loan), Linganzi, presumably Basturk?

[joey_big_nose]

Hit the nail on the head for me. It's not about not signing one of those 3 dollopers, it's about why our management and scouting is so p1ss poor that we are looking at the very last minute at dross like that. I would much rather have taken a punt on someone like Beckford.

I am disappointed like you but on the other hand I totally do not agree about Beckford or Moses. We need experience - Di Santo and Kalinic are both very young and we are having trouble bedding them in.

[MarkBRFC71]

Of course it just could be about the money? I bet the Benni fee magically disappears come May ....

[FourLaneBlue]

Does missing out on all of your targets ever get classified as a triumph?

If all your targets are rubbish...then, yes.

[saxo1man30]

Hit the nail on the head for me. It's not about not signing one of those 3 dollopers, it's about why our management and scouting is so p1ss poor that we are looking at the very last minute at dross like that. I would much rather have taken a punt on someone like Beckford.

My hope is that we survive this season (and an injury to Niko will make that a VERY close call), and reassess everything in summer - particularly the manager.

you are all in cloud cuckoo if you believe a club would have waited for rovers to sell benni to do business. we already know that`s not the case as west ham bought SAM`S NO1 TARGET from st ettiene. as such sam did his best to do as you ask of him and have a replacement `in place` but football doesn`t work that way. you have to be in the right place at the right time and unfortunatly west ham gazumped us and got benni as well(there`s no way he could have stayed after his strike action)

[Plastic Head]

At least we still have Roberts, he's scored 3 times as many as our other forwards in the league this season.

Errrrr.....3