[Archived] Sam's January Targets

[Bobby G]

That article calls us losers, and says Ben Arfa deserves better according to the management of the club. It also says we think its Christmas in more ways than one because we want a loan, with no financial commitment.

Doesnt look good.

[Eddie]

Pedersen out and Ben Arfa in? Um, yes please.

I can't see it happening though-

1) Money

2) We are not in europe

3) Surely loads of others are interested?

1) Probably wouldn't be that expensive really. His wages won't be huge by English standards and I don't think they'll be asking for too much when it coems to a fee, one of the french papers actually reported that the loan would be free (wages only).

2) Again, seeing as this is a January loan I don't think that would come into it too much. Ben Arfa just needs to be playing if he wants to set himself up for this summer.

3) You would think so, but apparently not. He's certainly not regarded in the same way that he was a few years ago. He's a talent and can be an excellent player, but he's hot-headed and hasn't been quite the same player he was since he left Lyon.

[nicko]

http://www.omplanete.com/news-10071/ben-arfa-blackburn-veut-un-pret.html

That's an unofficial site.

The French equivalent of f***wit365.com, by the looks of it.

[Eddie]

That article calls us losers, and says Ben Arfa deserves better according to the management of the club. It also says we think its Christmas in more ways than one because we want a loan, with no financial commitment.

Doesnt look good.

That's basically an OM fanzine. It's like us saying that the prospect of Benni moving to Rennes seems like a bit of a joke.

Dunn

This isn't really the place, but I would dispute that. Allardyce handed Dunn the keys to the car and players who get that sort of role always look better. Being the centre of attention always helps players prosper. The thing about Dunn was Allardyce keeping him fit for a while, but now that even that hasn't lasted I think we are looking at the same old David Dunn.

[John]

That's an unofficial site.

The French equivalent of f***wit365.com, by the looks of it.

It appears that French website does not like us as well, very similar to football 365 kn*bheads.

[Bobby G]

So nicko, is there something substantial in it?

I have seen similar moves come off for less fancied clubs like us, when you expect more teams to go in for someone, but either they are covered in the position or cash is tight.

Honestly, I would splash out 6 million on him with no second thoughts. We could double or triple it within 18 months at most, if he goes back to his best form. He is only 22 as well.

Hopefully our French speaking contingent, including Givet can sway him.

[thenodrog]

I would love Guti at Rovers, and then get Van Nistelrooy to replace Roberts. Hahahaha. I know, its the silly season!

Hey with Salgado already here we could start an 'Autumn Club' at Ewood too. Weekly meetings to be held in the treatment rooms.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Forget Guti, last thing we need is another past it player with no legs stretching our wage budget even further.

[MeanGreenMachine]

What makes me crease is people cry that we have no creativity, someone like Guti crops up as a possibility and people say he is crap .

Guti has been used quite spareingly these past 2 seasons, but he would walk into our side. Fantastic left foot, can pick a pass and has an excellent and control. He would revel in a Tugay-esque role having the run of the midfield, would be a fantastic signing for the club.

[RibbleValleyRover]

What makes me crease is people cry that we have no creativity, someone like Guti crops up as a possibility and people say he is crap .

Guti has been used quite spareingly these past 2 seasons, but he would walk into our side. Fantastic left foot, can pick a pass and has an excellent and control. He would revel in a Tugay-esque role having the run of the midfield, would be a fantastic signing for the club.

Signing veterans doesn't always work out, even from huge clubs like Real Madrid. Salgado has been a complete waste of money and Guti in my opinion would be as well.

Guti would cost at at least £30-40k per week and our wage bill is already stretched by the stupid signing of Salgado. I'd rather spend the money on someone younger, cheaper and with some potential for a decent sell on fee in the future. The owners don't put money into this club so that's the model we have to use to generate cash for future players.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Signing veterans doesn't always work out, even from huge clubs like Real Madrid. Salgado has been a complete waste of money and Guti in my opinion would be as well.

Guti would cost at at least £30-40k per week and our wage bill is already stretched by the stupid signing of Salgado. I'd rather spend the money on someone younger, cheaper and with some potential for a decent sell on fee in the future. The owners don't put money into this club so that's the model we have to use to generate cash for future players.

If we hadn't already got Salgado Guti may have been worth a punt. As it is it's too much of a gamble for me.

[budha]

Guti would cost at at least £30-40k per week and our wage bill is already stretched by the stupid signing of Salgado.

If you believe nicko's Guti to Bolton -story, you can double those wages..

[tony gale's mic]

http://www.omplanete.com/news-10075/ben-arfa-blackburn-jamais-de-la-vie.html

His agent has said he'll never come to Rovers.

Was never realistically going to happen...but a nice thought to entertain anyway.

[Bobby G]

A little of the purse strings loosened could have easily meant us being comfortably in the top half, because there are so many lost points in games where one more goal would have made the difference to win. I hope we can sign that one creative player to slot into our midfield.

[Amo]

Assuming Di Santo stays I reckon a new playmaker, and a striker to usurp Roberts, are the bare essentials.

[StaffsRover]

I live in Stoke and have just had a text from my work colleague who works at Britannia. He has just told me that all the talk there is of Beattie (no surprise there) and Liam Lawrence being on their way to Ewood. If this has already been mentioned I apologise but is there anything in this Nicko? His source is a local journo so maybe you have access to the same information. I can tell you this is not a 'mate of a mate' scenario, my colleague works at the heart of the club and has only told me because he feels this is way beyond rumour. If true do you think Lawrence can add anything?

[ebenrocks]

I really think that it would be a waste of money signing a striker, bearing in mind we managed to spend 6 million on Kalinic in the summer. All we really need is a decent winger.

There is no creativity there atall, and when a player has no creativity they just punt it and see. Our strikers need proper delivery and if they get that i'll guarentee they'll start scoring again. think about it. The last season we looked like a proper team was 2007-2008 when we had Bentley delivering in to Santa Cruz who scored 22 times for us that season... the season before that Benni got what like 18 league goals or something? Since we sold on Bentley, we hardly ever look like scoring. Im not saying we need him back, but we need someone who can give us back that killer delivery we lost when we sold him.

I reckon that if we can get that kind of player in, our shocking goal scoring record this season will take a turn for the better

[StaffsRover]

I live in Stoke and have just had a text from my work colleague who works at Britannia. He has just told me that all the talk there is of Beattie (no surprise there) and Liam Lawrence being on their way to Ewood. If this has already been mentioned I apologise but is there anything in this Nicko? His source is a local journo so maybe you have access to the same information. I can tell you this is not a 'mate of a mate' scenario, my colleague works at the heart of the club and has only told me because he feels this is way beyond rumour. If true do you think Lawrence can add anything?

I really think that it would be a waste of money signing a striker, bearing in mind we managed to spend 6 million on Kalinic in the summer. All we really need is a decent winger.

There is no creativity there atall, and when a player has no creativity they just punt it and see. Our strikers need proper delivery and if they get that i'll guarentee they'll start scoring again. think about it. The last season we looked like a proper team was 2007-2008 when we had Bentley delivering in to Santa Cruz who scored 22 times for us that season... the season before that Benni got what like 18 league goals or something? Since we sold on Bentley, we hardly ever look like scoring. Im not saying we need him back, but we need someone who can give us back that killer delivery we lost when we sold him.

I reckon that if we can get that kind of player in, our shocking goal scoring record this season will take a turn for the better

Is that where the answer lies then?

[Iceman]

Hey with Salgado already here we could start an 'Autumn Club' at Ewood too. Weekly meetings to be held in the treatment rooms.

Well, if they have "where are they now" in Madrd, then they will just have to find Blackburn lol

[bennyboyt11]

Ben Arfa yes please

[Iceman]

A little of the purse strings loosened could have easily meant us being comfortably in the top half, because there are so many lost points in games where one more goal would have made the difference to win. I hope we can sign that one creative player to slot into our midfield.

Agree. Had we signed a creative midfielder/winger and an experienced striker, then we would have been comfortable

[Sandiway Blue]

I live in Stoke and have just had a text from my work colleague who works at Britannia. He has just told me that all the talk there is of Beattie (no surprise there) and Liam Lawrence being on their way to Ewood. If this has already been mentioned I apologise but is there anything in this Nicko? His source is a local journo so maybe you have access to the same information. I can tell you this is not a 'mate of a mate' scenario, my colleague works at the heart of the club and has only told me because he feels this is way beyond rumour. If true do you think Lawrence can add anything?

A poor mans Pedersen if ever i saw one...no thanks

[mellison24]

A poor mans Pedersen if ever i saw one...no thanks

May yet be a good signing? If only to finally give Pedersen some competition for his place. The fact that they are so similar may further enhance this. I'd say it'd definately be worthwhile and possibly affordable if the likes of Diouf, Reid, Rigters, Zurab, (Bunn and/or Brown) all left for decentish fees.

Bring in Beattie for Roberts too. Beattie is basically a white Roberts, but a fan of us and will therefore try harder than Roberts does.

In terms of 'Brown/Bunn' I think Brown is worth keeping (of the two), while we still have Frank Fielding coming through.

[cn174]

May yet be a good signing? If only to finally give Pedersen some competition for his place. The fact that they are so similar may further enhance this. I'd say it'd definately be worthwhile and possibly affordable if the likes of Diouf, Reid, Rigters, Zurab, (Bunn and/or Brown) all left for decentish fees.

Bring in Beattie for Roberts too. Beattie is basically a white Roberts, but a fan of us and will therefore try harder than Roberts does.

In terms of 'Brown/Bunn' I think Brown is worth keeping (of the two), while we still have Frank Fielding coming through.

If we want a worse player than Pedersen to give him competition then we already have Treacy - we don't need anyone else.

Just who is going to buy Diouf, Reid, Rigters, Zurab, Bunn/Brown for a decentish fee??

[nicko]

An early 11 o'clocker [i want to see Man City come in for a half-time/full-time betting coup]...

BEATTIE...played today, doesn't look the answer to me, but that one will linger as an option for some time.

LAWRENCE...can't see that at all...he is well-liked there.

BEN ARFA...a lot of talk and there seems to have been an inquiry...I would imagine the player might look at his options.

MERIEM...still expected to return.

GUTI...on a huge salary...has also been approached by Besiktas but wants to come to the Premier League...he is Megson's first choice at Bolton, so they are probably favourites if the deal is right.