[Archived] Sam's January Targets

[John]

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce wants to take James Beattie back to the club - by offering Jason Roberts to Stoke in a swap deal.

[JAL]

Ineresting to see Sams quote about "not having the money to go for a crouch or a bent who were available in the summer".

Am I the only one Reading something into that. I'm reading it like sam wanted us to push the boat out for one of them and was knocked back by the board and he's having a little dig now saying look how well they're both doing. Just seems to be something in that quote.

It does make you wonder, suppose we need a few more quotes to either support the theory or not.

[DE.]

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce wants to take James Beattie back to the club - by offering Jason Roberts to Stoke in a swap deal.

Whilst I am not one of Beattie's bigger fans, I'd have him here over Roberts in a second. Not sure how much more cash I'd pay if it was an exchange though.

I also disagree with the article suggesting this move allows Benni Mac to go - that would leave us with only 3 recognised strikers, which is in my opinion one less than we need.

[FourLaneBlue]

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce wants to take James Beattie back to the club - by offering Jason Roberts to Stoke in a swap deal.

Beattie is not the answer to all our problems however swapping him for Roberts would definitely improve us.

[RoverRich]

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce wants to take James Beattie back to the club - by offering Jason Roberts to Stoke in a swap deal.

I think that would be a decent move for us. Beattie is a similar player to Roberts but I would have more faith in Beattie putting the ball in the back of the net than I would with Big Jase. It would be an improvement to our team.

[AggyBlue]

It does make you wonder, suppose we need a few more quotes to either support the theory or not.

Another one in the link above.

Jason and Benni must be doubtful for a Wigan start then.

[Tom]

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce wants to take James Beattie back to the club - by offering Jason Roberts to Stoke in a swap deal.

I'd take that, Beattie would like it, I imagine Roberts would be happy, the problem is Stoke probably wouldn't be happy.

Beattie isn't going to transform us but would offer us more than Roberts

I don't like the sound of that last line at all though:

Beattie would give Rovers a proven scorer and clear the way for Roberts - and the unsettled Benni McCarthy - to go.

[JAL]

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce wants to take James Beattie back to the club - by offering Jason Roberts to Stoke in a swap deal.

This really is the beginning of the end, if, it happens - so sad, yet another donkey on the books and an ageing donkey at that !

Sack the board ! sack the board!

[LeChuck]

I was against Beattie coming back, but a swap deal for Roberts is a no brainer.

I've got a funny feeling it might appeal to Pulis as well...

[JAL]

I was against Beattie coming back, but a swap deal for Roberts is a no brainer.

I've got a funny feeling it might appeal to Pulis as well...

Beattie has no pace so how does it become a no brainer ?

[LeChuck]

Beattie has no pace so how does it become a no brainer ?

When's the last time Roberts made use of his pace? He might as well be slow for all the good it does him, the only time he looks half decent is when he's got his back to goal around the box.

[JAL]

When's the last time Roberts made use of his pace? He might as well be slow for all the good it does him, the only time he looks half decent is when he's got his back to goal around the box.

Think you along with the others, will be shocked at how poor James Beattie is, when or if you ever see him at Rovers.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

I can see Roberts fitting in at Stoke in a similar way to Ricardo Fuller. Beattie isnt worth any real money but he is undoutedly a step up from Roberts as he can at least finish. Its replacing a 3/10 player with a 5/10 player. Good bit of business i reckon. But Beattie isnt the signing we desperately need. As a transfer on the side its fine, i just hope Sam has a few more signings lined up.

[T4E]

Roberts would be a good back up to Fuller, wouldn't be surprised if Pulis was up for that deal.

[tony gale's mic]

I can see Roberts fitting in at Stoke in a similar way to Ricardo Fuller. Beattie isnt worth any real money but he is undoutedly a step up from Roberts as he can at least finish. Its replacing a 3/10 player with a 5/10 player. Good bit of business i reckon. But Beattie isnt the signing we desperately need. As a transfer on the side its fine, i just hope Sam has a few more signings lined up.

With all that money at his disposal?

Beattie can put the ball in the back of the net. He has on and off periods but here's food for thought: he's produced the good many, many more times at the top level than RSC ever has done. His goals kept Stoke up last season.

[AggyBlue]

Beattie can put the ball in the back of the net.

He doesn't end up on his backside at the slightest nudge either

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

With all that money at his disposal?

Beattie can put the ball in the back of the net. He has on and off periods but here's food for thought: he's produced the good many, many more times at the top level than RSC ever has done. His goals kept Stoke up last season.

Beattie in reasonable form is good enough for a midtable premiership side. Roberts at his very very best could just about get to that level but regularly looks like a championship player out of his depth. Im sure Beattie has resembled that at times, but returning to his boyhood club under a manager who managed great things with the likes of Kevin Davies, I think this could work out quite well.

In terms of other transfers - I think cashing in on MGP whilst we can may be a shrewd move. He offers more then Diouf but with Gamst's contract almost up this is our last chance to get something for him in order to replace him. Obviously the sell before we buy situation plays a part as we only have so many players that are going to attract other clubs for relatively decent money - a player who also isnt really influencing the team that much. Gamst is one of those players.

[LeChuck]

Think you along with the others, will be shocked at how poor James Beattie is, when or if you ever see him at Rovers.

I don't think I'm over-rating him, I said initially that I was against his signing.

I just happen to despise Roberts, there aren't many PL strikers I would turn down a swap deal with him for.

Its replacing a 3/10 player with a 5/10 player. But Beattie isnt the signing we desperately need.

These two sentences say everything that needs to be said, at least from my point of view. Good work.

[RibbleValleyRover]

A Roberts/Beattie swap deal is a no brainer as Beattie is a better player and in particular can finish far better than Roberts.

However if this is the only business we will be doing this transfer window (if we pull it off) then it will be very disappointing and I can't see it solving our current problems.

[thenodrog]

Think you along with the others, will be shocked at how poor James Beattie is, when or if you ever see him at Rovers.

I'm shocked at how poor Roberts is now thats for sure.

It's like for like really, two crap benchmen exchanging benches is about where it's at.

[Eddie]

I don't think I'm over-rating him, I said initially that I was against his signing.

I just happen to despise Roberts, there aren't many PL strikers I would turn down a swap deal with him for.

These two sentences say everything that needs to be said, at least from my point of view. Good work.

It doesn't though, because it's a very short-term look at things. Beattie is probably on higher wages, he's certainly on a decent chunk having moved for 3.5 million. So we're talking about adding at least a 2 1/2 year contract at probably 30ishk a week to the wage bill for a player every one here would admit isn't good enough. Why even bother? Get whatever we can for Roberts from someone and then use that money towards a striker who is actually good.

[FourLaneBlue]

If we could have got decent money for Roberts I'm sure he would have gone well before now. Not like he is anything but miserable when not starting enough games either.

Beattie is good enough as a backup striker and a definite improvement over Roberts. If it is just a swap it might not cost us too much more but does depends on the wages. Roberts came to us for a few million from another Prem side so I doubt he is earning peanuts either to be fair.

Obviously this is not our priority area but would improve our striking options but we need that creative midfield to supply them.

[modes98]

Just accept it as a weakness?

Every player has strengths and weaknesses. You play to your teams strengths and as much as you can avoid their weaknesses.

David James has had a problem with Crosses his entire career. His nickname at Liverpool was Dracula.

Id place him behind

van Der Saar: Good keeper but makes stupid mistakes

Friedel: Great shot stopper. Not good at crosses. Averagbe distribution. Great command of defence.

Given: Best in the world for me

Reina: Solid but doesn't pull off top saves

Cech: Still a good keeper but no where near where he was. Lost confidence he won't ever get back whilst he keeps that head protection on.

Gomes: Very dodgy keeper that makes some very good saves. I wouldn't want him in goal for us.

Schwarzer: Very Very Good

Sorenson: Average

Howard: Over rated

Jussi: Makes simple saves look hard by taking a step sideways before diving to save it. Poor version of Niemi.

Out of your list I would like 6 in goal for us, but then factor in age and you lose Van Der Saar and Brad. Robinson isn't ever going to win us the league but he is a damn fine keeper.

On the Beattie Roberts swap, it seems like a no brainer to me. Beattie would love to play for us again and has more finishing ability than Roberts.

[Steve Moss]

A Roberts/Beattie swap deal is a no brainer as Beattie is a better player and in particular can finish far better than Roberts.

Another reason to do the swap is that both have 'issues' at their current clubs. Swapping the players would give them each a fresh start and, maybe, encourage them to perform to their potential in order to secure their place in the pecking order.

[Alan75]

The one big plus with Beattie - HE'S A ROVER SUPPORTER.

Like so many of us fans he would sweat blood for the team whilst out on the pitch.