[Archived] Nicko

[nicko]

Gala got Jo today..doubt they will still go for benni

Benni wants to go to West Ham. However as late as this afternon Gala were still trying to do the deal and get him on a plane on Friday.

It would be the best thing all round if Rovers get a decent price and get rid.

Mind you, we are talking about Gold and Sullivan not to mention La Brady and there are always complications with that crew.

[Craigman]

Nicko's article

Mido !!!!

[Iceman]

(Please don't use that word again), if Dunny is out for a long period then Andrews and Diouf will be picked again.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I can understand selling Benni, but the price has to be right and there needs to be a good enough replacement. Selling Benni to bring in Beattie is not good enough imo and will leave us weaker especially as we will be strengthening a relegation rival.

The club has really gone downhill, what happened to not selling a player unless we had a good enough replacement? Seems that policy died when Hughes left.

What makes me laugh and despair at the same time is that we still haven't had any concrete links to a creative player, surely thats what we need over anything else. A creative right winger, or a creative AMC would transform this team.

[beerwins]

I can understand selling Benni, but the price has to be right and there needs to be a good enough replacement. Selling Benni to bring in Beattie is not good enough imo and will leave us weaker especially as we will be strengthening a relegation rival.

The club has really gone downhill, what happened to not selling a player unless we had a good enough replacement? Seems that policy died when Hughes left.

What makes me laugh and despair at the same time is that we still haven't had any concrete links to a creative player, surely thats what we need over anything else. A creative right winger, or a creative AMC would transform this team.

Amen to that, what worries me more is why is it so easy for the fans to see this and not Sam, our main problem is when the oposing team get the ball in midifeld they meander through our midfield like it isnt there and when we have the ball we pass it backwards for a long hoof from robbo.

The talk of the uruguyan ball winner and the turkish playmaker got me quite exited I actually thought Sam was able to see the real problems and was trying to address them, all of a sudden we are back to this I want beattie for my long ball rubbish, Sams signings were poor to say the least in the summer and this is shaping up to be of the same calibre.

[bubblerrovers]

Come on people what can Big Sam do?? Benni wants out, yes he can finish but he's not looked bothered for ages. We all moan about how lazy and over weight he is so lets just accept he's going. Would Beattie be that bad a signing?

[PAFELL]

I can understand selling Benni, but the price has to be right and there needs to be a good enough replacement. Selling Benni to bring in Beattie is not good enough imo and will leave us weaker especially as we will be strengthening a relegation rival.

The club has really gone downhill, what happened to not selling a player unless we had a good enough replacement? Seems that policy died when Hughes left.

What makes me laugh and despair at the same time is that we still haven't had any concrete links to a creative player, surely thats what we need over anything else. A creative right winger, or a creative AMC would transform this team.

No doubt Bennie has talent - the sad thing is, he picks and chooses when to use it. If his heart is not for rovers, then he won't use the talent he has when given the chance. Maybe Rovers have to say get what we can and get somebody who has a heart for Rovers. Someone who will fill that gap - Kalinic is now Rovers no1 striker, not bennie or roberts. What Beattie has in heart will make up for a player who has talent but is to bone idol and full of himself to use it for Rovers. What is the point in Rovers keeping a player who no longer wants to wear the shirt? Give it to somebody who does. We may not like the option, but I do not really think Rovers have muh of a choice. Anyway if Beattie does love the club as he says he does maybe he will take a big pay cut to help the club - I can hope can I not?

[mattyc2422]

I'm one of Benni's biggest fans, but as others have stated, he doesn't want to hang around and I don't blame him. He's really caught the rough end from Sam and deserves a chance to play first team football. Beattie isn't as bad as people are making out - not an ideal replacement, but the lad is capable of scoring a few handy goals. There are much worse options.

[roversmum]

Yes.

In reply to:

Come on people what can Big Sam do?? Benni wants out, yes he can finish but he's not looked bothered for ages. We all moan about how lazy and over weight he is so lets just accept he's going. Would Beattie be that bad a signing?

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

This is probably the last time we could demand a fee for Benni, a player who, in flashes, is pure class but too often doesnt contribute enough. Beattie is not a great player but will score goals especially if its for his home town club. I dont like this deal but I see where Sam is coming from.

Our priority is midfield. Reid coming back does offer some consolation provided he stays fit. However, we desperately need some more creativity, a player who can do something a bit different. Id be happy with someone of the ilk of Basturk who may not have the legs but can spot a pass in the mould of Tugay.

In terms of only selling when we can bring quality in, i dont think we have good enough players to demand that sort of policy. Under Hughes we had Brad, Warnock, Bentley, Bellamy, Santa, McCarthy in his prime, Gamst in his prime, Tugay, Neill etc, its a different era now. The problem comes when those players demand to leave and i think all but two of those mentioned asked the club to leave at one stage or another. When you're hand is forced the situation is very different.

[JAL]

Come on people what can Big Sam do?? Benni wants out, yes he can finish but he's not looked bothered for ages. We all moan about how lazy and over weight he is so lets just accept he's going. Would Beattie be that bad a signing?

YES !

Dont use that word again YES !

Only a stupid idiot would think that its a good signing a what does that mean? idiot.

Just hope nickos got it wrong regarding Beattie !

[beerwins]

Come on people what can Big Sam do?? Benni wants out, yes he can finish but he's not looked bothered for ages. We all moan about how lazy and over weight he is so lets just accept he's going. Would Beattie be that bad a signing?

Well that depends on how you look at it, Benni wants out fine let him go but where has Benni played in his most recent outings at rovers? dropped of the forward in a creative role can beattie play this postion? can he hell he his a target man plain and simple which shows Sams intent to play the 4,5,1 with beattie holding up the ball.

If he is to be replaced we need to be looking at a player like Tuncay someone who is comfortable in this role especially seeing as dunny is basically the walking dead, who else can play this role?

Sign beattie, play the 4,5,1 but without some love for our midfield we are going to struggle, stay up we might but if we dont improve on the first half of the season results wise and football wise im sure Sam will be retiring in the summer.

The story from Nicko gave Sam 2 games and we all wanted to see a change and we got it + the talk of a few midfield signings left us to believe we were getting a changed Sam that had seen the light, the story of a beattie return makes me feel cheated.

[Hughesy]

If McCarthy is sacrificed for Beattie I will be effing fuming. Does Big Sam's shortlist only contain one striker at a time or something?..Davies..Beattie..

Please don't let this happen. Beattie for Roberts = sorted.

In the summer it was all Davies - but we didnt sign him, we plumped for Kalinic instead....so lets just wait & see.

£3m for Benni is fair enough & if its paddy time again from him then its time to get something while we can.

Please Sam can you also get shut of Roberts!

If Dunn is out for 2 months & Benni leaves - that means no more 4-5-1 and it will either be 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 like last night!

[Paul Mellelieu]

Goodbye Benni. Not enough effort, professionalism, goals.

[deftangel]

I'm not adverse to signing Beattie or selling Benni per see, but the former for £3m? That's complete bonkers. If we have £3m to spend on anyone, it has to be on some quality in midfield, especially if Dunn really is out for 9 weeks.

I know there isn't much available for £3m but it's absolutely ludicrous to shift Benni and spend the entire amount on Beattie.

Beattie should only come if we can shift Roberts.

[tony gale's mic]

Sams signings were poor to say the least in the summer

That's just rubbish.

[LeChuck]

One upside (for most people) to Beattie arriving is that it would mean a proper 4-4-2...neither Beattie nor Kalinic could play 'in the hole' like McCarthy can. Another is that Beattie does usually start like a house on fire for a new club...if we could get him to do that it could be worth millions in prize money.

Not happy overall though. Surely Roberts has to go if Beattie comes, they're far too similar to be in the same squad...at least McCarthy offers something different.

[T4E]

Benni has done nothing of note for ages. He flatters to deceive in every way - infact sometimes I think having him on the bench creates false hope amongst the support. He's not the player who scored the 20+ in his first season and never will be again.

I don't mind him going and Beattie coming in. It's a fresh face - Benni's right now could sour milk.

[saxo1man30]

much as i am aghast at signing beattie the person, i think i`d be happy to give beattie the player a chance in favour of benni mccarthy. i`m not going to go into the whys and wherefores about benni as they are well known and imo he performs abysmally far more than he performs well.

[beerwins]

That's just rubbish.

So apart from Kalinic who has set the world on fire for you ?

Nzonzi ? Not up to prem standard yet.

Chimbonda ? Great going forward drops his head when the chips are down and is totally one footed, he was signed to replace a left back btw,

Givet? yes he's good at centre back but at left back he is useless.

Jacobson? Yes he's ok is he better than salgado or chimbonda?

Salgado? A true inspiration, im sure from the bench the players are lifted by his spirit.

Kalinic? Yes the boy shows true talent but playing in sams formation still hasnt got a prem goal "one for the future" what about something for now?

Tell me how money wasnt wasted when you look at our midfield.

And that is before going into the reason why warnock was sold and Tugay was let go.

"Thats just rubbish"

At least tell me how they strengthened the team.

[mark]

Goodbye Benni. Not enough effort, professionalism, goals.

not enough goals?? name one rovers striker since shearer with a better goals per game ratio...

play him and he scores. it's that simple.

but, as much as i love benni, if sam thinks it's time to move him on then i'll back his decision.

we've got to remember that this rovers team is still a long way from being sam's rovers team. and when that team is pieced together i'm certain we'll all be happy.

[LeChuck]

So apart from Kalinic who has set the world on fire for you ?

It's nigh on impossible to get players who can do that on the budget we have.

Our one big signing looks like he's going to be a good one. Hopefully that could persuade the board to loosen the purse strings (although it didn't seem to work with Hughes).

Chimbonda, Jacobsen, Salgado, N'Zonzi, Elrio and Di Santo cost about £2 million in transfer fees. You get what you pay for.

[47er]

(Please don't use that word again) no!! Please (Please don't use that word again) no! Eguren yes, Beattie for Benni no. This is getting ridiculous now, because the striker i want out is Roberts.

(Please don't use that word again) no!! Please (Please don't use that word again) no! Eguren yes, Beattie for Benni no. This is getting ridiculous now, because the striker i want out is Roberts.

We all want Roberts out. The problem is finding someone to take him. Not an easy task that.

[thenodrog]

Come on people what can Big Sam do?? Benni wants out, yes he can finish but he's not looked bothered for ages. We all moan about how lazy and over weight he is so lets just accept he's going. Would Beattie be that bad a signing?

Benny is a top quality footballer. Beattie isn't. I can accept CL winner Benny going (just) but I cannot accept that 32 year old journeyman James Beattie could ever hope to replace him. Beattie is nowadays a lower league player, will have no residual value and is just about worth a punt on a 'free'.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Benny is a top quality footballer. Beattie isn't. I can accept CL winner Benny going (just) but I cannot accept that 32 year old journeyman James Beattie could ever hope to replace him. Beattie is nowadays a lower league player, will have no residual value and is just about worth a punt on a 'free'.

I think Benni has quality in spades, he just doesnt show it often enough. When he's up for it he's still a top player but its those occasions are drying up. On their day there is no competition between who id rather see between Benni/Beattie, but thats not what we're dealing with.

Its a bored and unfit McCarthy or Beattie who would be energised playing for his boyhood club. Im not saying its an easy decision, its not, but i understand Sam's thinking with this one. Realisitically, Beattie would score more goals between now and the end of the season than McCarthy would.