[Archived] Sam's January Targets

[RoversSG]

How can you possibly comment on Basturk or Linganzi? Basturk is an injury-prone midfielder who has barely played in recent seasons. Linganzi is a young player who has barely played at all. I've never seen him play and I've heard very little talk about him. Having spoken to some who know more about the French leagues than me and the youngsters coming through I get the impression that they think he's a decent prospect, but not one they think will be making an impact for us anytime soon. Reasonably physically imposing and has a decent engine, but he may well struggle with the pace of the league.

For Basturk, granted that he might not have played a lot in the past few years but it's a good signing as it's a loan with option to purchase. That leaves us with virtually zero risk. The only thing we're spending is his wages and considering the prices for a good international midfielder nowadays, it will be either 1) the signing of the window if he can keep fit and regain his form or 2) wages wasted. It's a risk worth taking.

As for Linganzi, it's the same principle, a cheap transfer fee for a player who might turn up to be good is a risk worth taking too. At worst, we'll just have wasted 50k (allegedly) in transfer fee and wages.

[Iceman]

How can you possibly comment on Basturk or Linganzi? Basturk is an injury-prone midfielder who has barely played in recent seasons. Linganzi is a young player who has barely played at all. I've never seen him play and I've heard very little talk about him. Having spoken to some who know more about the French leagues than me and the youngsters coming through I get the impression that they think he's a decent prospect, but not one they think will be making an impact for us anytime soon. Reasonably physically imposing and has a decent engine, but he may well struggle with the pace of the league.

Both Basturk and Linganzi, are here with low risk attached to them. Granted you know quite a bit about French football, but Linganzi is a youngster who we bought for virtually nothing. Basturk is an experienced player, and will be valuable to players like Nzonzi, Olsson, Linganzi and Hoilett.

[patrickvalery]

The only thing which worries me about Benni leaving is the fact we now only own 2 first team strikers. Assuming Di Santo goes back to Chelsea in the summer. This potentially causes us trouble with our summer budget. We'll be back to square one - needing to spend a significant chunk of transfer money on a striker. This seems OK providing the likes of Basturk is any good, signs for longer and the creative issue in midfield is resolved. Otherwise we'll have to spend big up front and we'll still have an inept midfield. No doubt our budget will be as sizable as usual and we'll reach the end of the summer window still short in a couple of areas. Plus the likes of Nelsen aren't getting any younger and will unltimately need replacing sooner rather than later.

[Guest Kamy100]

Lancashire Telegraph reports that the Rovers worked right upto the deadline, terms had been agreed etc with Dindane, but Rovers couldn't agree the terms of the loan with Lens, so we walked away.

[Ossydave]

I think the £65K a week Keane is on might put us off ever so slightly, not that he'd come anyway.

On a wage related note though, West Ham paying Mido £1K a week? Amazed that moody goon has accepted that.

[Gav]

On a wage related note though, West Ham paying Mido £1K a week? Amazed that moody goon has accepted that.

Surely not?

[Guest Kamy100]

Surely not?

I am amazed to. Mido will earn £1000 a week, he has said he doesn't need the money (not surprising as he made a substancial amount of money from signing on fees from all the moves he has had), he has come to prove that he can play at this level. At 26 years old, a fully fit and motivated Mido could prove to a very good acquisition for West Ham, there has never been a dounbt about his talent, it is attitude that has been the problem.

[Mandrake]

Overall, I am inclined to not bee too disappointed with the window. I mean, I was sad to see Benni, and his finishing go-but afterall he is 32, and any day now, he might stop producing, and his value will plummet down towards zero. So I am glad we got a fee, however almost disappointed he didnt go sooner for a way higher figure.

The worst thing from my point of view, is the apparent lack of will, financial ability or smartness to scour the world for a striker that might resemble something a bit exiting.. How we can approach a transfer window, and not have done our homework properly on the striker situation...I mean,,last day scrambles for Dindane, Benjani and Beattie-it stinks of bad planning..

Everyone on this board knew that Benni was gonna go this window, and that a long time ago...how on earth it should come down to a last day ditch is beyond me..

If there is no money, no will, no smartness, no plans.....well,,,Rovers will be the new Middlesbrough....replacing one older more experienced player with an unproven youngster each day...letting too big of a burden on too young albeit talented shoulders...That could spell relegation

Relegation for Rovers, WILL be the end of the Premier League adventure for Rovers...for a loong long time I am afraid. In my opinion, Blackburn Rovers F.C has a window from today until they are relegated-to get a new investor into the club...This is the chance the club has, to ensure PL in the future...if Rovers go down before a new owner is in place...I am sorry---we will be supporting a medium club at Championship level at best in the future..

[modes98]

robbie keane would have walked over broken glass to play for blackburn rovers. jesus h christ some fans are deluded. it`s embarressing..

I didn't realise that was a stipulation to play for the club. We should change that, maybe we would get better players in.

Robbie Keane said "I just want to play football", could we give him that for 6 months? Yes

It would have been worth a shot as obviously Spurs don't give 2 hoots about a very good striker.

Celtic and Rangers also aren't the forces they used to be. The lack of finances is hitting them both hard.

[jim mk2]

It would have been worth a shot as obviously Spurs don't give 2 hoots about a very good striker.

Celtic and Rangers also aren't the forces they used to be. The lack of finances is hitting them both hard.

He claims he was a Celtic supporter in his boyhood (they all say that don't they ?) and he didn't need a second invitation to join them.

At a reported £55k a week, Rovers just aren't in the market for the Robbie Keanes of this world.

[philipl]

He claims he was a Celtic supporter in his boyhood (they all say that don't they ?) and he didn't need a second invitation to join them.

At a reported £55k a week, Rovers just aren't in the market for the Robbie Keanes of this world.

Nor should Celtic looking at the state of their business!

[jim mk2]

Nor should Celtic looking at the state of their business!

Celtic managed to find a benefactor willing to pay his wages apparently.

[G Somerset Rover]

The Rovers board must be loving this. After years of spending nothing in the market the majority of people on here are now seemingly happy when we sign nobody at the end of the window.

Before anybody says "well it's better than signing Beattie or Dindane" - why were we in for these guys in the first place? They're not the only two strikers who could have arrived within our budget in world football FFS.

[thenodrog]

Lancashire Telegraph reports that the Rovers worked right upto the deadline, terms had been agreed etc with Dindane, but Rovers couldn't agree the terms of the loan with Lens, so we walked away.

Just as an aside for a relatively small and unfashionable French club Lens do seem to have got their act together regarding unearthing talent. Year in year out too. They seem to have an amazing production line of players. Stuff Dindane maybe the smart money would buy their chief scout.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

those amongst our support that are complaining sam should have had someone lined up are ignoring the fact that he did, but west ham nicked the player.

So the plan was to replace a proven goalscorer and champions league winner with a free transfer most people had never heard of from the lower half of the French league. When that failed we went for a journey man striker. Quality.

For similar money to the Benni transfer and undoubtedly lower wages we could have bought Moses (a hot prospect and potential future England international) who can play up front or on the wing. I am sure there were/are many other targets that would have been better.

I know we have little money but it also appears we have little ambition.

[Gav]

He claims he was a Celtic supporter in his boyhood (they all say that don't they ?) and he didn't need a second invitation to join them.

He claimed to be Liverpool supporter when he went there.....

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Just as an aside for a relatively small and unfashionable French club Lens do seem to have their act in order regarding unearthing talent. Year in year out too. They seem to have an amazing production line of players. Stuff Dindane maybe the smart money would buy their chief scout.

Not as daft as it sounds! For years now there has been some quality youth players produced in France. Pinching a couple of scouts would probably work wonders for us.

[alexanders]

There isn't many available good players in the january transfer window! IF you want them you have to pay more than their value. No one is willing to sell an important first squad player in the middle of the season cheaply. The deals are there to be done in the summer.

I just dont get all this pessimistic talk about our club.

On one hand we are very happy that we dont spend beyond what we have and dont end up like pompey on the other we want to spend more than we have.

This season it has always been a matter of rebuilding the squad getting some old high earners of the wagelist and probably replace them with cheaper alternatives. Sam has begun this job (Nzonzi, Kalinic are examples of this).

[thenodrog]

Not as daft as it sounds! For years now there has been some quality youth players produced in France. Pinching a couple of scouts would probably work wonders for us.

Oi! It wasn't meant to sound daft! Just an example of lateral thinking.

[nicko]

ROBBIE KEANE...is costing Celtic £105,000-a-week for the rest of the season...their money man Dermot Desmond thinks it is worth it and has the money...he blew away David Sullivan and West Ham...Rovers could not even have come close and frankly he would not have made THAT much of a difference to your final league position and prize money which is all you are playing for right now.

STRIKER SHORTAGE...let's be fair...you wanted a striker and didn't get one...no cheap make-up, spin or propaganda takes away from that fact...you are a striker short and a midfielder short unless Basturk can roll back the years in a hurry...I have my doubts...so it was a poor window, no point in saying otherwise.

MIDO...a waste of money even at £1,000-a-week.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

There isn't many available good players in the january transfer window!

I just dont get all this pessimistic talk about our club.

On one hand we are very happy that we dont spend beyond what we have and dont end up like pompey on the other we want to spend more than we have.

This season it has always been a matter of rebuilding the squad getting some old high earners of the wagelist and probably replace them with cheaper alternatives. Sam has begun this job (Nzonzi, Kalinic are examples of this).

Alot of people seem to be missing the point. If the club planned not to buy anyone because of a lack of available quality or to reduce the wage bill, then fair enough - but they didn't. Up until tea time yesterday they were trying to bring in very average players that would have still commanded big wages (Dindane, Beattie, Benjani) none of whom could be classed as a 'rebuilding job'

We actually got lucky in a way that none of those signed. That wasn't through the club's good judgement though.

We have precious little money so when players like the Moses lad at Palace become available on the cheap due to their circumstances, then they are the opportunities we should be taking.

It is not the lack of signings in January most people worry about, it is a lack of cohesion within the club and any identifiable future strategy.

[joey_big_nose]

STRIKER SHORTAGE...let's be fair...you wanted a striker and didn't get one...no cheap make-up, spin or propaganda takes away from that fact...you are a striker short and a midfielder short unless Basturk can roll back the years in a hurry...I have my doubts...so it was a poor window, no point in saying otherwise.

MIDO...a waste of money even at £1,000-a-week.

Agree about the striker, don't agree about the midfielder. We have more than one for each position, and they are all okay apart from Andrews. Fitness is the main concern. In that area I would say shifting out two or three is more of a priority than getting in one.

If Mido is willing to take 1k a week he will be motivated. On his day he is a good player. Certainly more potential reward than potential risk for West Ham.

ps. The brazillian who we were looking at is now probs not needed by West Ham, plus he is a free agent so can sign post window. Any chance we will go back in

EDIT - Wham signed him anyway! Christ is that seven strikers at the Boelyn?

[Exiled_Rover]

So the plan was to replace a proven goalscorer and champions league winner with a free transfer most people had never heard of from the lower half of the French league. When that failed we went for a journey man striker. Quality.

For similar money to the Benni transfer and undoubtedly lower wages we could have bought Moses (a hot prospect and potential future England international) who can play up front or on the wing. I am sure there were/are many other targets that would have been better.

I know we have little money but it also appears we have little ambition.

Missing out on Moses for £2.5m really irritates me.

[joey_big_nose]

Actually in addition to the last point - are there any free transfer strikers lying around the place? I imagine that is where we will be looking now.

[G Somerset Rover]

STRIKER SHORTAGE...let's be fair...you wanted a striker and didn't get one...no cheap make-up, spin or propaganda takes away from that fact...you are a striker short and a midfielder short unless Basturk can roll back the years in a hurry...I have my doubts...so it was a poor window, no point in saying otherwise.

MIDO...a waste of money even at £1,000-a-week.

Agreed about the striker shortage but with regards to Mido, I know the guy is a loose cannon but at 1k a week he would surely have been worth a punt. 10 times the players that Roberts is if we could get him motivated.

Actually in addition to the last point - are there any free transfer strikers lying around the place? I imagine that is where we will be looking now.

Shabani Nonda step up to the plate.