[Archived] Nicko

[BPF]

I'd like to see Beattie and Kalinic together up front.

Because of their combined two Premier League goals this season?

[Gambit217]

Sorry mate! I didn't mean to slate you! I was just conirming whether you were joking or not. You were being serious so that is fair enough! We'll have to agree to disagree!

No problem, we're all entitled to our own opinion on this. For me, I've lost all faith in Benni.

I don't think he'll ever get back to anywhere near the form he showed in his debut season.

For me, I think he's given up trying to win his place and almost feels as though he has some

sort of god given right to start each week. Then when he's left out, instead of getting the head

down in training and making the most of his limited appearences, he wastes it by not trying hard

or at least pretending to look like he is !

Case in point would be his weight, he's been carrying that spare tire for the best part of 2 years now !

[my_name_is_Earl]

I think selling Benni would be a good move if we had somebody instantly lined up to replace him of similar if not better quality. Benni at his best is a great footballer and any team needs to keep hold of their more creative players.

At this moment in time, we should keep hold of him as his form will surely improve as he eyes a world cup spot. Keeping hold of him until the end of the season might just pay dividends and we can sell him after the world cup once his name gets bandied around a bit as being the hosts chief striker and arguably most important player.

[Guest andrewpickup]

not to a relegation rival it will only come back to haunt us

[Gambit217]

Because of their combined two Premier League goals this season?

Benni has only got one !!!

My only real concern with Beattie would be his injuries, then again, Benni has been ' fit ' all season and like I say, has managed 1 goal in the prem.

Beattie would at least lead the line where as Benni drops deep to collect the ball leaving nobody up front and the defenders with an easy job of clearing. He has more of a physical presence than Benni and is arguably better in the air - something which he will need to be given the way we play at the minute

Yeah he would be decent at playing the Jason Roberts role, only he'd actually be able to hold

the ball up and maybe even win more than 1 of 15 headers.

Plus, he's an excellent penalty and set piece taker, which wouldn't go a miss for us at the moment.

[den]

A lot of comments about Beattie being better than Benni - or not.

Does anyone think signing Beattie is the right signing for Rovers, no matter what happens to any of our other players? Because to be absolutely honest, I don't want to see Beattie near our club. He's 32, will result in even more long ball tactics and get's our club nowhere. Waste of time and completely the wrong signing for the fans who are fed up with this non-football we're playing.

[Kelbo]

You can have all the natural ability in the world but without the work ethic it counts for little...however those players without as much ability but who put in the effort are of far more use to a club like us. Players like Dickov or Savage may be of limited ability technically but they put in 100% every game and the fans expect at least that. There is no point being able to do the fancy flicks etc if you cant be arsed chasing after the ball when you give it away.

Players like Rooney and Tevez understand this principle and whilst both are technically very good they also both put in a shift on a match day - if Benni understood this he would have more illustrious clubs on his CV than he has.

I think Benni is very gifted but equally very lazy and therefore only does half a job and if we can get £3m for him then Id take it.

That is a top post, my team talks always include, 90% of football is hard work, for if you dont put in the hard work, you will never be in a position to let the ability show through!!¬

[brian_gallagher85]

Sorry mate! I didn't mean to slate you! I was just conirming whether you were joking or not. You were being serious so that is fair enough! We'll have to agree to disagree!

Apologies! Read the stats incorrectly! The majority of my point still stands!

Georgie Thomson appears to have been reading the same stats

[vyeo]

I think 3m is a fair price to ask for Benni. I'm glad we are not letting Benni go on the cheap just because he does not fit into the expert's plans. I would be amenable if the board releases all 3m and Benni's wages for a replacement, but I'm afraid that we would be forced to go for a cheap option again.

In an ideal world, we would also ship Roberts out. I'm all for it if its Benni and Roberts out in exchange for Gudjohnsen and Beattie... well one can dream!

[S15]

What is it then, a million quid a chin?

[philipl]

I am a bit of a fan of Beattie but he cannot command a place in a Stoke side which is hardly free scoring.

[gumboots]

A lot of comments about Beattie being better than Benni - or not.

Does anyone think signing Beattie is the right signing for Rovers, no matter what happens to any of our other players? Because to be absolutely honest, I don't want to see Beattie near our club. He's 32, will result in even more long ball tactics and get's our club nowhere. Waste of time and completely the wrong signing for the fans who are fed up with this non-football we're playing.

There's 2 sides to this isn't there. Short term Beattie might, only might though, help us out in that he'd fit our current manager's preferred tactics. Therefore, since it seems the manager does not want to give up on the percentage football he seems to favour he could be a good signing. However, if our manager gets him we are basically stuck with the kind of negative tactics we all dislike, but might feel happier with if we were winning, so if he doesn't do us any good short term even more fans will gt cheesed off and stop coming to Ewood. The manager then loses his job and we are stuck with an overage player who only fits one way of playing. WE've wasted money, paid good wages to a player who isn't really very good for us and driven fans away thus even further weakening our financial position. I'd keep McCarthy - better the lazy overweight man you know.

[Kelbo]

There's 2 sides to this isn't there. Short term Beattie might, only might though, help us out in that he'd fit our current manager's preferred tactics. Therefore, since it seems the manager does not want to give up on the percentage football he seems to favour he could be a good signing. However, if our manager gets him we are basically stuck with the kind of negative tactics we all dislike, but might feel happier with if we were winning, so if he doesn't do us any good short term even more fans will gt cheesed off and stop coming to Ewood. The manager then loses his job and we are stuck with an overage player who only fits one way of playing. WE've wasted money, paid good wages to a player who isn't really very good for us and driven fans away thus even further weakening our financial position. I'd keep McCarthy - better the lazy overweight man you know.

Some good posts today, well argued gumboots, inclined to agree with all you have written!!

[den]

There's 2 sides to this isn't there. Short term Beattie might, only might though, help us out in that he'd fit our current manager's preferred tactics. Therefore, since it seems the manager does not want to give up on the percentage football he seems to favour he could be a good signing. However, if our manager gets him we are basically stuck with the kind of negative tactics we all dislike, but might feel happier with if we were winning, so if he doesn't do us any good short term even more fans will gt cheesed off and stop coming to Ewood. The manager then loses his job and we are stuck with an overage player who only fits one way of playing. WE've wasted money, paid good wages to a player who isn't really very good for us and driven fans away thus even further weakening our financial position. I'd keep McCarthy - better the lazy overweight man you know.

Yep.

The thing is that even if Beattie were to score a few goals and we scrambled into a safe position in the league, - then as you say, we have him again next season. That's why it's a move that gets us nowhere. The only way we're going to improve this squad is by signing "footballers". Strikers who like the ball to feet and can play a bit.

[Eddie]

Benni for Beattie? Please god no. That would be terrible business. Swap one overweight forward for another with less ability?

[AJW]

I think Kalinic would be better playing alongside an experienced big physical partner who can take the knocks and be used as a battering ram to create space for him , rather than a deep lying partner in the Dunny/McCarthy mould and Beattie is an option for that role , however if Beattie were to come in , i would prefer it to be Roberts that left not McCarthy

[mellison24]

I think Kalinic would be better playing alongside an experienced big physical partner who can take the knocks and be used as a battering ram to create space for him , rather than a deep lying partner in the Dunny/McCarthy mould and Beattie is an option for that role , however if Beattie were to come in , i would prefer it to be Roberts that left not McCarthy

I thought that myself. I would only have Beattie here in place of Roberts. But are there any other options?

[thenodrog]

Because Benni has been a revelation for us this season ?

At least with Beattie we'd have a player who would actually be willing to work hard. I'd be

more than happy with that deal.

Really? What's given you that idea?

[Blue n White Rover]

Really? What's given you that idea?

Probably the fact that he supports Rovers

[thenodrog]

This topics meandering about but re: the Benny / Beattie debate. Could anybody who does not watch the match live and from the stands please realise that you are not in aposition to judge properly and just stfu!

You get very little idea of a players worth / performance / ability or influence from a TV screen never mind a 15" laptop.

[mellison24]

This topics meandering about but re: the Benny / Beattie debate. Could anybody who does not watch the match live and from the stands please realise that you are not in aposition to judge properly and just stfu!

You get very little idea of a players worth / performance / ability or influence from a TV screen never mind a 15" laptop.

Well said. But what about when people who see the televised game agree fully with those that have been their live?

[thenodrog]

Well said. But what about when people who see the televised game agree fully with those that have been their live?

I put it down to a fluke.

[mellison24]

While I agree that seeing it live gives you a more credible opinion, I don't think you can fully disregard those who see televised games. Does that mean it's a fluke that the majority of fans agree that Ronaldo and Messi are the best players in the world?

[Commondore]

I've seen Eguren lots of times, mostly in Sweden playing for Hammarby. If Sam got him into our team, it would be our best buy since McCarthy. He's superior to all our central midfielders put together IMO.

[Wild Irish Rover]

I think Kalinic would be better <b>playing alongside an experienced big physical partner </b>who can take the knocks and be used as a battering ram to create space for him , rather than a deep lying partner in the Dunny/McCarthy mould and Beattie is an option for that role , however if Beattie were to come in , i would prefer it to be Roberts that left not McCarthy

Erm, Sam doesn't play strikers alongside each other... not unless I've been watching the wrong team all this time?