[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[Amo]

MGP is not going to get replaced anytime soon. A valued and loyal member of the team.

We've paid for his "loyalty". He took all year to decide whether to stay here or not, and came to the conclusion that Rovers were the only idiots willing to pay top dollar. Think what you like of his playing ability, but calling him loyal is bordering on ridiculous.

[BuckyRover]

He is our longest serving player. Whatever offers he may or may not have received, he decided to stay with the club.

If I apply for a new job, but decide to stay with my original employer, I have remained loyal to my existing company. Being loyal is choosing not to leave. We are always looking to better ourselves, it shouldn't be a criticism. Somebody who leaves at the first opportunity is not loyal, unlike MGP. It's not like he hasn't had his detractors either, I wouldn't have judged him too harshly had he decided to leave.

[Tom]

We've paid for his "loyalty". He took all year to decide whether to stay here or not, and came to the conclusion that Rovers were the only idiots willing to pay top dollar. Think what you like of his playing ability, but calling him loyal is bordering on ridiculous.

The grudge people seem to have against morten is pathetic at times.

How in the blue hell do you know what offers he did or didn't have or what he is being paid?

Also for me Dunn needs replacing long before Pedersen

[Amo]

The grudge people seem to have against morten is pathetic at times.

How in the blue hell do you know what offers he did or didn't have or what he is being paid?

Common sense, mate:

1. If Pedersen always intended to stay here, why did it take him until the 11th hour to sign a new deal?

2. Rovers made it a 'priority' to resign him and never put any deadlines on the contract offer.

3. Pedersen's agent revealed that he's received a substantial payrise, which is corroborated by point 2.

EDIT: I don't want to turn this into another Pedersen debate, there's a time and a place for that. I was merely pointing out that with a healthier transfer budget, the club won't feel held over a barrel when it comes to contract negotiations and we'll be able to invest in prudent alternatives.

[yeti-dog]

The grudge people seem to have against morten is pathetic at times.

How in the blue hell do you know what offers he did or didn't have or what he is being paid?

Also for me Dunn needs replacing long before Pedersen

I agree TCO.

Dunn is close to being a busted flush imo. I read earlier he thinks he has around 2 more years at premiership level.Unless he sorts out fitness and manages some sustained injury-free time that may end up wishful thinking on his part.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Mr Syed has been qouted as saying he wants us to challenge for the title again and believes we have 'potential' as a club.

An Open question to the board.....what is the real potential of Blackburn Rovers fc as we are today in your opinion?

1. Is it possible for a club like ours in this day and age to once again challenge the top 4 given the crazy amounts of money that have been thrown at their respective teams?

2. Given that we won the the league in 94/95 our higheset average attendance the following season was still some 3,000 short of capacity,we also had the best striker in Europe playing for us.Could we ever expect to beat that figure again?

Have we not already reached our maximum potential as a club............

[Craigman]

Will we hear something from the club tomorrow about the agreement being signed with Mr Syed ?

[1864roverite]

The answer is NO we havent reached our potential. Rovers have shown they can compete. One thing is missing, consistency.

With a little addition and tinkering Rovers can quite easily progress into the top 10. With investment, progression into the top 7 is realistic.

I think it would be improbable that we can go for the top 4 but if you look at Spurs 12 months ago, who would have thought they would be top 4 ?

we should walk before running. The immediate aim should be top 10, and if the team outdo that ambition in the meantime then why not aim for higher.

[Majiball]

I think its time for the reality pills to be dished out to a lot of people.

Investment in Blackburn Rovers is required, it is a fact and it appears to be happening. The off field issues are relatively simple. We(BRFC) own our own ground, we have our OWN training facility and we have a very well run academy which at this present time appears to be showing a remarkable turnaround in fortune compared to the past 5 years or so.

Lets take a look at matters On the pitch. How does a club like Rovers progress ? Well, for me and it is only my opinion, Rovers under Sam Allardyce and his team, supported by John Williams and the board, have made significant strides in 2 years. Under Hughes and his team Rovers enjoyed tremendous success, we enjoyed success under Souness. However, when Ince came along we flirted dangerously close to oblivion.

Now we have seen what some might say is a fantastic recovery and we have a team that the big 4 are frightened to death of (once more), we have a team that the middle of the road clubs envy and we have a team that the ne'er do too wells would love to be like. This is down to the management of the club from top top bottom.

We are short of money and wse have seen our "stars" sold to balance the books - Bentley, RSC and Warnock. We are now no longer required to sell our best playing staff and we see how the youth system is reaping rewards. Alot of supporters thought Samba would go, he hasnt and he has committed himself, the same for MGP. So, the evidence is there that the club is being run in the best manner. You can now see the deadwood being prepared for leaving which will streamline the club even more. Its all part of the management plans.

I agree with a lot of your post, however their are some parts that I just cannot agree with. Whilst its very good that we have seen Jones progress through to the first team and look like he is going to claim a squad place at least, you cannot then say the youth system is back up and running. Not even the club would say this, the time to judge the academy is not now but in 2 years at least and see what has or is looking like coming through then. Hanley for example has played 90 minutes, that's it and that does not mean he's going to be player. He may look like he's got something but he has a long road yet to travel. youth development is a long term investment and results take years to come to fruition not 1. Jones coming through is a good first step nothing more and there is a lot more steps to take in that aspect yet.

If in 3 years time we have a strong crop of kids coming through playing at a good level both for us and there countries then I will whole heartedly agree, not before.

On the pitch, Rovers have no need whatsoever to go and buy 3 or 4 players for £20m. That is not required with this current squad. We have a base from which to work from and which doesnt require wholesale changes. Look at how Everton have done over the past 4 years. They have invested, waited, tinkered and now have a quality squad, but take note, our own club, very much run similarly, out witted them and out battled them on Saturday. Top go and suddenly put 4 players into the squad would upset the current balance of the team, it needs to be done slowly but surely.

The current team needs a central midfielder and a main centre forward as permanent signings and maybe a loan option for up front.

our defence is finally showing signs of being comforatable, Givet, Jones, Samba, Nelsen and Hanley is a decent set of players and can only improve, added to Chimbonda, salgado and olsson and we see the quality there is. That set of players is a versatile lot who can all play in different positions.

Once the central midfield slot is sorted, the middle of the park is sorted for now. Undoubtedly, this is an area which over the next two years will need to be improved upon. Dunny cannot perform week in week out. NZonzi will be quality, MGP is steady and supported by the likes of MGP, Emerton and Diouf we have the making of a strong central set o options. if we added a NRC or a Sidwell, then how good would that midfield become ? For me that would be a huge improvement and outside of the top 5 its a set up many clubs would want themselves.

Up front, I have no doubts about Kalinic becoming a good goalscorer BUT we need another class striker, someone who does nothing but score. Its going to be a costly outlay but why not go for a young up coming striker who, if he makes good, will go for huge money. Why not splash out on a Bellamy type player ?

1 swallow does not a summer make. Yes yesterday was great beating everton is an improvement over last years result, but we are not in their section of the league, yet. Everton have added in 3 if not 4 most seasons easily, Evertons transfers in recent years. And that doesn't include the ones who have come through.

I agree we need a striker and definitely a midfielder, but I would also add in a left back and a at least one winger. 1 injury to either givet or olsson and we are shuffling a number of players round to make things fit again. We are very weak down our left hand side and this needs attention. The midfielder that comes in needs to be of much higher quality than a NRC or sidwell neither are really what we need another Tugay. We need someone who can control the tempo of the game those two cannot do that and will never be able to. Our central midfield is not one player away from being comparable to Evertons. Even at Bolton for Sam to get that finish he had to bring players of a much higher calibre and flair and creativity, Anelka. We need magic and we need to avoid falling into the trap of signing players that we will get stuck with, your NRC's & Sidwells are not those.

What we need up front is a young player as you say but not a bellamy type player we need a young drogba, Dzeko, Torres, thats the quality of kid we need to seek out. I've named one before. A Bellamy type would be great but first and foremost we must ensure that A: we keep the ball in their final third when it gets sent up there & B: we have a constant goal supply.

But I don't want to see players brought in that we don't need and several players have shown they cannot cut the mustard for whatever reason within the squad. Don't forget that some of our squad players were not even deemed good enough for a number of teams that should this takerover go through we will be looking to aspire too.

So, for me, thats the way forward for Rovers. I would be ecstatic with another top 10 finish and maybe another good cup run this season, I would be over the moon if we could replace brum in the top 10. It then makes it far easier for next season to go that little bit further.

The potential new owner of our club is not going to come and and demand a top 4 finish straight away, there wont be pressure to finish in the top 7. If you read the comments attributed to the company then you will know its a project long term. Its not a Man City we want we get failure type sort of project otherwise he wouldnt have made his money the way he has. So folks, prepare for a ride that might take a season to start going because, as we found out when a certain Mr Walker came into the club, once that ride began it was a fantastic journey that we are still enjoying today. That ride appears to becoming to an end but with the potential investment looming, it may well be the rollercoaster that is BRFC may well be picking up momentum and who knows where it will take us.

The aim this year depends on when the takerover happens, if before the end of the window and we can improve the 1st 11 then yes looking to jump a couple of places in the table and perhaps challenge the likes of Everton over the WHOLE of the season should be a target. If not then we look to get the same or one place higher. No matter what money we get after this happens we are not going to see serious buys in january, the market is crazy then, half the teams don't want to sell and if they do and the supposedly 3rd Richest club comes calling??? Hello his price just went up. So I agree that it may even be next season before we see strides up the table.

but there is so much we can do in the meantime to build the foundations for this pragmatic approach to these aspirations. Staff, support for the players this is an area we do not have many coaches/scientists etc and its an area we must improve on. Those that are there do a good job but the with so many players to look after does that leave them the time to experiement, research etc as this is what the likes of United et al do, do. Marcelo Laia, Uniteds Man, Barry Drust, Liverpools man these are both world class people putting together plans to improve the players physically. Sam had 33 men behind him at Bolton, he will need similiar here. I hope they invest in the infrastructure of the club first, this year 1% here and their will reap great rewards on the pitch. The same needs to be done at the academy there are so many aspects that a football coach will not understand or consider. Espanyol for example have 2 coaches per team (more than one team per age group) one is football, the other a sports scientist. A first team has 20+ players so does a youth team, it makes so much sense. Then you need people planning these progressions, researching new ways to coach these kids, to help them learn and develop and so on and so on.

This is a brief outline of what I feel needs to be done at Rovers and the above should be the first port of call this season should it all go through. There's no point signing good players or good kids if you cannot ensure that their potential will be realised, this for me is the key.

Scouting as well, links to other clubs and so on we have to create a network worldwide where we consider all and everyone we can. We have let some serious players slip through our net over the years, this needs to be looked at and worked on. Again that will not be cheap but if you want to build slowly and step by step move up the league this is the way forward. You could push for the title if things like this were brought in and sustained, but my god will it cost money.

Signings a couple of players is good but its the platform you place them on that propels them up the charts.

[MarkBRFC71]

MGP is not going to get replaced anytime soon. A valued and loyal member of the team.

Lol. He was THAT loyal he only signed for us when he was absolutely certain there were no better offers on the table from anywhere else.

That's not loyalty - I think mercenary is more accurate. But then he's not alone in that respect among Premier League players.

If he's so good, why were we not fending off offers left, right and centre, especially as he was available on a 'free'? Because what he offers on the pitch, versus his wage demands just doesn't add up.

Anyway, enough about MGP. We're lumbered, for better or worse.

[BuckyRover]

Deluded

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

It's not just about the money thrown at the team. We of all fans should know that more can be achieved on less. Yep, we obviously need big bucks to challenge for Europe or the Champions League spots. But steady investment and patience (instead of spending sprees and instant gratification) are the best way forward.

The times have changed and so has the financial structure of football El Tombro since the halceon days of 94/95.Look at Chelsea,and the money they have burned to achieve success,I dont believe the 'more can be achieved with less' philosophy applies anymore,especially at the very top,and thats sad to say.However,I do agree that steady,responsible investment is the way to go with a club like ours.

You only have to look at teams like Monaco, Juventus, Sampdoria, etc. to see that they have had prolonged runs at the top of their leagues given an even poorer fan base than ours. It's not just about the fan base. That's some silly media wind-up to irritate the clubs with smaller fan bases. "We've got more fans than you" doesn't hold a massive amount of water if players know that the clubs ambitions are in the right place and it's well run.

Again, I agree that size of crowds is not the be all and end all but my question was will we ever be able to realistically beat that record again...the 'potential' of our crowds knowing too well the financial makeup of the area and its problems with size and catchment areas

Right now? Definitely not. I'm dying to see what we can do with some spending power for the current management team.

Too right!

[MarkBRFC71]

Deluded

Are you? Wouldn't say your views are that daft.

[RoyRover]

The thought of an extremely wealthy business man buying Rovers and investing in the team is a very exciting prospect. The quote about making Blackburn a title challenger again is more for the fans than a realistic option. This may sound silly, but I wouldn't be too bothered if we didn't challenge for the League. I'd be happy if we became a club like Aston Villa or heaven forbid Tottenham, that improves year on year, that can spend £10 -15 million on adding one or two good players at the end of each season to improve the team and excite the fans. This could help us to grow as a team and a club (more support from the local area and even growing the name of Blackburn Rovers in India, one of the worlds economic superpowers), making us a more attractive club that players want to come to and can help us challenge in cup competitions and qualify for Europe. Success for me could be measured this way. I can only dream of us winning the league again, but if we could achieve some of the things that I've set out, I'd be happy.

Of course there is also a side of me that wonders and worries about any potential owners motives for the clubs and long term plans. I would hate for them to be like the Man City ones, who demand instant success. Believe it or not, I would hate it if we conducted ourselves like Man City, signing all the players that they have. I would be disgusted if we spent £100 million on players in knowledge that if they don't work out, we'll just spend more money. As I mentioned in another one of my posts on this topic, there is always the worry of going the way of Portsmouth. That club and their fans were promised everything under the sun and despite having numerous owners who were supposed to have more money than Bill Gates, they ended up not being able to pay their staff or players. I wouldn't want to see any sort of meddling in the team from any owners. We were very lucky that Jack Walker was as rich as he was and was as big a Rovers fan as he was, because he had the clubs best interests at heart and had the cash to implement these interests. Unless we were to bought over by another Rovers supporter with a vast fortune, there will always be some doubts about any new owners and their plans. In saying that, if we had another owner that was a Rovers fan, it doesn't mean that they would be any good.

We'll just have to see what happens and hope that any new owners respect the clubs traditions and fans and fulfill the points they have made.

[MarkBRFC71]

If the takeover gets me a few more trips to Europe, and allows Rovers some better quality players and staff, playing more attractive football then I'm happy.

Surely £300m can buy me that?

[FourLaneBlue]

That's not loyalty - I think mercenary is more accurate. But then he's not alone in that respect among Premier League players.

Neither loyal nor mercenary works. Just normal, looked at the available offers then decided he was better off at Rovers than elsewhere. But then he's not alone in that respect among human beings.

[thenodrog]

Neither loyal nor mercenary works. Just normal, looked at the available offers then decided he was better off at Rovers than elsewhere. But then he's not alone in that respect among human beings.

Stop using logic FLB .... MarkBRFC1971 obviously is one of those supporters who always needs a hate figure in the squad. It's an odd and perplexing human trait but very tangible, and unfortunately it's quite common in these parts.

[MarkBRFC71]

Stop using logic FLB .... MarkBRFC1971 obviously is one of those supporters who always needs a hate figure in the squad. It's an odd and perplexing human trait but very tangible, and unfortunately it's quite common in these parts.

I don't hate Pedersen at all, but I do think he is vastly overrated. He was much better yesterday admittedly, but based on the previous 3 seasons of ineffectual and uncommitted performances I didn't see him being worth £8m over 4 years so was dumbfounded when we offered him a new deal, particularly one so lucrative and especially given our meagre finances.

People always wheel out the assist stat, but honestly if you or I were taking all the free-kicks and corners given the way Sam likes to play then we would likely be the leader on that front. So, other than that, what does he do that's any more than average?

[Steve Moss]

Gamst is very versatile, works very hard and, as shown yesterday can provide for all those around him. He is not the player who needs replacing.

I've had concerns about MGP in the past but if he continues to play as he did yesterday, I would agree with you.

Given the chance, he IS someone that needs replacing because there's no way he's worth £40-50k p/week. Of course, don't let that disturb you and your rather quaint username.

Are we sure this is accurate? I believe Nicko at one point derided the claim MGP was making 50k/week.

Also for me Dunn needs replacing long before Pedersen

I think this is true. Dunn's injuries are as problematic as Grella's. The difference being that when fit, Dunn produces. Regardless, if we are going to run a lean and mean squad we need fit players, not players who are available every third game.

[Amo]

Are we sure this is accurate? I believe Nicko at one point derided the claim MGP was making 50k/week.

Even the bottom end (£40k p/week) is too much. When you consider what Zurab & Roberts are earning, coupled with Pedersen's new contract being a "summer priority", I think the figures more than add up.

[thenodrog]

I don't hate Pedersen at all, but I do think he is vastly overrated. He was much better yesterday admittedly, but based on the previous 3 seasons of ineffectual and uncommitted performances I didn't see him being worth £8m over 4 years so was dumbfounded when we offered him a new deal, particularly one so lucrative and especially given our meagre finances.

People always wheel out the assist stat, but honestly if you or I were taking all the free-kicks and corners given the way Sam likes to play then we would likely be the leader on that front. So, other than that, what does he do that's any more than average?

But given that we finished 10th then we are average!

Also is as much as we can expect with our finances.

Consider this...... If MGP had walked away for free an 'average' prem standard attacking midfield player of that age to replace him would easily have cost 3-4 million (left footed ability rem) and would have wanted a 3 year deal worth anything between 1.5 and 2 million pa (btw it goes without saying that we would not have a cat in hells chance of attracting any of Evertons midfield yesterday using those numbers)

So... You do the sums Mark and let us know where you get to.

[ewoodpo]

Talking about deluded people here's one for you a real nutcase.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A73027136

[Amo]

Talking about deluded people here's one for you a real nutcase.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A73027136

Is it too late to say Vinjay has finally flipped?

[Amo]

Consider this...... If MGP had walked away for free an 'average' prem standard attacking midfield player of that age to replace him would easily have cost 3-4 million (left footed ability rem) and would have wanted a 3 year deal worth anything between 1.5 and 2 million pa (btw it goes without saying that we would not have a cat in hells chance of attracting any of Evertons midfield yesterday using those numbers)

So... You do the sums Mark and let us know where you get to.

To be honest, was Pedersen a proven PL player when he came here? And how much did he cost again? How about Nelsen? Samba? Tugay? Nzonzi? All players with zero experience in top-flight English football and yet saved us a small fortune in what would be considered the 'going rate'.

[MarkBRFC71]

But given that we finished 10th then we are average!

Also is as much as we can expect with our finances.

Consider this...... If MGP had walked away for free an 'average' prem standard attacking midfield player of that age to replace him would easily have cost 3-4 million (left footed ability rem) and would have wanted a 3 year deal worth anything between 1.5 and 2 million pa (btw it goes without saying that we would not have a cat in hells chance of attracting any of Evertons midfield yesterday using those numbers)

So... You do the sums Mark and let us know where you get to.

Not my job to do the sums and scout players, but based on MGP's last 3 seasons it wouldn't have been difficult to find a replacement. I'll start with Joe Ledley - younger, hungrier and probably cost half as much.

Anyway, MGP has been discussed to death - let's leave it that some people rate him and just as many don't.

Talking about deluded people here's one for you a real nutcase.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A73027136

Maradona - lol. Has he got a point though, in that if we are handed pots of money is Allardyce the man to take us to where we want to be? Can he attract the right standard of player? I'm not advocating him leaving but it's a genuine question ....