[Archived] Sam's January Targets

[RibbleValleyRover]

Good to see some younger players being targeted, though at the same time there is an argument for bringing in an experienced midfielder. I guess it all comes down to how long it would be for them to adapt and whether or not they can do a good enough job in the short to medium term rather than just looking long term. We need midfielders that are good enough now.

Sam sure likes his french players/french speaking players. Samba, Givet, Chimbonda, N'Zonzi and these 3 possible targets.

Time to call ourselves Le Rovers?

[Wild Irish Rover]

You need to read the article again. Sam's near closing the deal with Linganzi is buried in the text.

Aw Shoite! Rumbled! It was, of course, me that was on the cooking sherry.. Hic

My humble apologies to Mr Nixon and all who hang on his every word, even when they are buried deep within advertising noise.

Tis true - you can have anything you like in this world, just as long as you are prepared to pay......

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attention..

[awhom111]

Never thought I'd see the day when someone would say that if an MLS expansion team is in for one of our players, he must be good enough to keep!

Not even an MLS expansion team. It's a new team in the new NASL (innovative name). The league isn't even sanctioned by USSF, so it isn't even technically a second-tier American side yet.

[Kelbo]

Not even an MLS expansion team. It's a new team in the new NASL (innovative name). The league isn't even sanctioned by USSF, so it isn't even technically a second-tier American side yet.

Watch these american teams, they are working with great coaches, great facilities and they are the up and coming football nation, I have had four lads on football scholorships over there and they are all doing really well!!

[Steve Moss]

Thanks Kelbo. I can't speak for the USA as a whole, but I can attest that my small town of 35,000 (70,000 if you include the outliers) just added another dozen so!@er (football) fields to one of our parks, for a total of 22 in that one location. This last season, the local AYSO enrolled just under a 1,000 players and the high school governing board (which I am president of for another 6 days) added a third girl's so!@er (football) team this last semester.

So!@er (i.e. football) is rapidly expanding in sunny Arizona.

[Miker]

Good to see some younger players being targeted, though at the same time there is an argument for bringing in an experienced midfielder. I guess it all comes down to how long it would be for them to adapt and whether or not they can do a good enough job in the short to medium term rather than just looking long term. We need midfielders that are good enough now.

Sam sure likes his french players/french speaking players. Samba, Givet, Chimbonda, N'Zonzi and these 3 possible targets.

Time to call ourselves Le Rovers?

I think you could make an argument that we have enough experienced midfielders in Reid, Dunn, Diouf, Pedersen, Grella, Emerton and even Andrews and Salgado. So I think if we're looking at some promising youngsters who are technically able and can come in and do a good job while continuing to improve then that is a very positive move.

We must have some good scouts in France because Givet and N'zonzi have been excellent signings so far, so I feel pretty confident in any other players (especially young ones) that we decide to sign from France.

[Tom]

Promising news if true about the two young lads, this is exactly the sort of thing Rovers should be doing, bring in young lads with potential on the cheap, worst comes to worse we lose a minimal amount but they could turn into real players for us and provide us with a few million down the line.

Hope we get Linganzi in soon

[RoyRover]

Like the tact of younger players from France. Cheaper than buying English and not having to worry about permits. Just hope none of our scouts get caught in the Chunnel!

Me too. Arsenal have shown how good it can be to get young French players and bring through. Abou Diaby and Gael Clichy would be the two obvious standouts of this tactic. That's one of the things that I do like about Big Sam at the moment, is that he isn't afraid to look at players, who don't necessarily play for big clubs or a household names, but have potential for the future. It also brings the average age of the team and hopefully gives Rovers a core of players to build on for the future.

Thanks Kelbo. I can't speak for the USA as a whole, but I can attest that my small town of 35,000 (70,000 if you include the outliers) just added another dozen so!@er (football) fields to one of our parks, for a total of 22 in that one location. This last season, the local AYSO enrolled just under a 1,000 players and the high school governing board (which I am president of for another 6 days) added a third girl's so!@er (football) team this last semester.

So!@er (i.e. football) is rapidly expanding in sunny Arizona.

I know what you mean. I used to go to univeristy in Virginia (VCU) and any time you'd see football pitches around Richmond, they were always pristine. The chances are that in Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales, if nice park pitches were made, with nice grass, good goal posts and nets, they would probably be destroyed in next to no time.

[bennyboyt11]

Liking the idea of some fresh faces in January, some hungry players eager to prove their skills may be the thing we're lacking at the moment, as we clearly are in need of something!

[rog of the rovers]

Thanks Kelbo. I can't speak for the USA as a whole, but I can attest that my small town of 35,000 (70,000 if you include the outliers) just added another dozen so!@er (football) fields to one of our parks, for a total of 22 in that one location. This last season, the local AYSO enrolled just under a 1,000 players and the high school governing board (which I am president of for another 6 days) added a third girl's so!@er (football) team this last semester.

So!@er (i.e. football) is rapidly expanding in sunny Arizona.

Had to laugh Steve, I couldn't even begin to imagine what it must be like playing football in Bullhead City!

I couldnt even sun bathe it was that hot when I was there! I also got a sweat on walking from casino to casino and that was at midnight

Saying that I am used to playing football in the 0oC - 15oC bracket

BACK ON TOPIC

Would love to see all three on the books at Rovers, especially since they have all been over on trials!

[Steve Moss]

Had to laugh Steve, I couldn't even begin to imagine what it must be like playing football in Bullhead City!

I couldnt even sun bathe it was that hot when I was there! I also got a sweat on walking from casino to casino and that was at midnight

Saying that I am used to playing football in the 0oC - 15oC bracket

It's actually pretty decent during the season. Were you in town in July or August? I ask as nobody in their right mind goes outside during those months, unless its to boat on the river or lake. And even then they carry a bucket load of sunscreen and cases of beer, to cover all contingencies.

In September (when temperatures are still 110+ on occassion) the games all start by 8 am and are over by 11 am. Occassionally the later games have to be called off because of excess heat, but not usually. By November, though, its steady in the 70s and is beautiful playing weather.

BACK ON TOPIC

Would love to see all three on the books at Rovers, especially since they have all been over on trials!

Sam has a good eye and if he's seen them first hand, I am also very excited by these potential signings. I am curious as to whom he's showing the door to make room. Between those two decisions, I suspect that Sam will have provided a dramatic uplift to our season. I wonder if he'll get credit?

[bluebruce]

any time you'd see football pitches around Richmond, they were always pristine. The chances are that in Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales, if nice park pitches were made, with nice grass, good goal posts and nets, they would probably be destroyed in next to no time.

In fairness though, that is probably because people would actually be playing on them a helluva lot. No offence to American football though, which is certainly on the rise.

[FourLaneBlue]

I think Johnson is just sitting his out and seeing what happens for him - fair play!

Is that what you said when Lucas Neill did that? Or if MGP turns down all offers this month to wait until the summer to cash his chips in?

Just wondering.

[FourLaneBlue]

I can't see him going for that much with his contract up in the summer, unless a few teams come in for him.

Equally can you see Roberts being happy to drop down to League One and the salary that comes with it.

I can't imagine Roberts being happy. Full stop.

Coming up to 4 years with us now...never seen the bugger smile...

[Bobby G]

Interesting. At least they are all young and energetic.

But isnt there a home-grown cap appearing next season, and with all these foreigners, how are we going to satisfy the rule?

[47er]

I can't imagine Roberts being happy. Full stop.

Coming up to 4 years with us now...never seen the bugger smile...

Smiles all the time--usually at the injustice of it all!

[Kelbo]

Someone mentioned on here we have a scout in France from a particular family, who has rather a good pedigree!!

[Hughesy]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Blackburn-boss-Sam-Allardyce-lines-up-treble-transfer-swoop-on-France-article277657.html

treble swoop in france.

3 new midfield men - all on low wages - worth a shout!

Is that what you said when Lucas Neill did that? Or if MGP turns down all offers this month to wait until the summer to cash his chips in?

Just wondering.

MGP can do what he wants.

Johnson & Neill are different. Neill 'I want trophies' and then turns down Scousers for West Ham . Johnson warned Boro when Downing was there, play me or I go. He is just sticking to his word.

[Wild Irish Rover]

Interesting. At least they are all young and energetic.

But isnt there a home-grown cap appearing next season, and with all these foreigners, how are we going to satisfy the rule?

Since France is part of the European Union, there can't be any restrictions on French citizens working here (or any other EU state) so I don't see how Platini's ideas are workable except for players outside of the EU (such as Di Santo).

The EU constitution has, since 1992, actively promoted the freedom of movement of people, trade and money within the European Union member states. So we could have a youth team entirely built from French players, or Irish, or German or Italian or Finnish or Portuguese, and Michel Platini could do nothing about it.... I think...

[Bobby G]

This is not a foreign rule. It states that 8 players (correct me If I am wrong) must be trained within England for 3 years before the age of 21, or something to that extent.

[philipl]

Apparently the home developed rule which the PL is bringing in is fine with the EU on the basis of encouraging training of young workers.

It is perfectly OK to of course to bring over 8 Romanians, stick them in the Academy for three years then graduate them to the first team squad and qualify.

Arsenal in particular will be perfectly OK as they have developed more youngsters through into the first team squad than practically any other club. Of course bringing your own home grown players into the squad during the season is allowed under the new PL rules so most clubs will have squads of more than 25 by the season end. It will put enbormous pressure on the draftees to retain their number for the next season and I don't know how the PL will deal with little Jimmy who has a lousy May and a brilliant August each season.

Incidentally, Pompey v Arsenal recently was the first PL match with NO English-qualified players involved.

[joey_big_nose]

Good to see some younger players being targeted, though at the same time there is an argument for bringing in an experienced midfielder. I guess it all comes down to how long it would be for them to adapt and whether or not they can do a good enough job in the short to medium term rather than just looking long term. We need midfielders that are good enough now.

Sam sure likes his french players/french speaking players. Samba, Givet, Chimbonda, N'Zonzi and these 3 possible targets.

Time to call ourselves Le Rovers?

Meriem is very experienced:- 28 years old, 13 caps for France.

Radical action by Sam if we really after three midfielders, but if the quality of scouting is the same that brought in Nzonzi then you have to be encouraged. It would mean we have a very young squad.

Bad news for Diouf, Pedersen and Andrews I think! Also Reid and Van Heerden are porbably out the door too if we can sell. Plus Roberts is definately for sale. Revolving door time....

As a guess it looks like Meriem would be a starter left wing, Linganzi an understudy for Dunn, and Oliviera an understudy for Grella/NZonzi. Exciting times.

[Bobby G]

Meriem is just about 30 now I think.

[Majiball]

Wouldn't say no to most of these:

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has turned his back on a loan move to the Championship in favour of joining another Premier League club on a short term deal to prove to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger he can hack it at the top level.

Full story: Daily Mirror

West Ham and Bolton are both chasing Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes, who is out of favour at Benfica and desperate for first-team football to boost his hopes of making his country's 2010 World Cup squad.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Fulham hope to tie up a loan deal for Roma striker Stefano Okaka after the player's agent revealed his client was keen on the move.

Full story: The Sun

Wilshire on loan would be a bit of a cou IMO, and he'd back-up Dunny well.

[joey_big_nose]

Meriem is just about 30 now I think.

born 18 October 1981

So only just 28.