[Archived] Ins and outs

[DE.]

Surely it would be far better to try to keep hold of Samba until the end of the season with Jones's injury. It would only take for Nelsen to be injured and we'd be looking at a central defensive partnership of Givet and either the not-yet-ready Hanley or (God help us) Chimbonda. By the end of the season we'd have Jones back and hopefully Hanley would have gained the experience to show if he was a likely first team regular. Failing that, we'd have had time to scout for a Samba replacement.

I'd agree with this.... if Samba's been desperate to leave for a year then another six months won't hurt him. I wouldn't sell him in Jan unless a ridiculous offer (20M+) came in, purely because we need good central defenders and for all Samba's faults he has on numerous occasions in the past few seasons been our best defender.

If come summer he still wants to leave, then by all means let him go for a decent price and bring in somebody who does want to play for the club.

[duffbear]

You won't be surprised to know he has a new injury.

I noticed on sky sports report yesterday he took part in training session at ewood park I take it he got injuried then.....?

[Kelbo]

I don't have the inside info you have unleaded but there's been a few MGP blog posts urging Sam to sign Huseklepp who's a good friend of his.

I think I speculated at the time that he wouldn't have made those posts unless he knew something and by the sounds of it he did.

Haven't seen him play but he sounds like a handy player who'd be available at a handy price.

Interesting control with both feet, predominantly right footed though.

[philipl]

Miker

Uefa Europa League

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Posted Yesterday, 12:31 PM

The media is absolutely ridiculous. Samba came out and said he wants to leave "if that's how the club is being run". He's voiced his displeasure at what's going on, not that he's leaving for sure. He hasn't put in a transfer request and this has been confirmed by JW and Kean. The whole transfer request story was filtered around as a RUMOUR. This story about him "wanting out for 12 months" is ridiculous as well. I'm sorry, but you get a new contract 15 months ago and are then made captain and you want out a couple of weeks later? It's absolute rubbish. My guess: he was unsettled after our poor run of form in December, but as things improved he changed his mind. There were rumours of a dressing room bust up back then as well.

Some media outlets are even going so far as to state that Chris Samba HAS quit (http://www.telegraph...cember-22.html)

Kean has as much motivation to pretend Samba wants out to sell him and make money for Venky's, as Samba has to use Sam's sacking as an excuse to leave.

Stop the bullshit Kean, get your star player and team captain under control and get on with your job. Same thing goes for you Samba, give things a chance and get on with it, so you don't end up stagnating your career like some others that have left us recently. Stop the bullshit for (Please don't use that word again)'s sake and get the club back to sanity. Past 2 weeks have been nothing more than a media circus fuelled by incompetent statements from Venky's. I don't know about the rest of you, but I've had enough.

Completely agree- hopefully the reported meeting between Kean and Samba yesterday evening has done the job.

[chris]

doesn't Samba make too many mistakes to command such a high fee of 15 million.

wow how much money have we made out of Hughes signings, or could we?

The guy should be given a key to the city.....errrr....town

[roversWASmylife]

Regarding Samba, I can't really argue with what he's come out with.

Venkys have come in and made a rash decisions to sacking Big Sam nobody really knows why, just had some half hearted excuse from the Indians.

Nobody in the club knew a few days ago what was going on, knee jerk reaction maybe from Samba. What must the players think? A manager who took over the club just over 2 years ago when everyone thought we were going to go down? 2 years later a top ten finish and a league cup semi final. Could have done better this season but still going in the right direction.

We will see, I think it's in our best interests we keep Samba till the end of the season when Jones is fully fit. Yes, we've got money apparently but it's not everything. Wise investment is needed in good young players.

[Gav]

It should come as no surprise that Samba wants to leave, probably the reason Allardyce gave him the captaincy, keep him quiet for a while. His body language last season told the story for me, his goal celebration against?? and his rant towards the Jack Walker stand indicated the writing was on the wall.

Just on bringing in players, I think we’re going to find it difficult to attract decent players even if the budget is available. The negative media coverage will undoubtedly cause some uncertainty, and make this window even more difficult to do business than it normally should be.

[benhben]

If samba goes, David Wheaters contract expires in the summer. Boro have told sky they will sell in January and sky list us as one of the interested clubs. Pretty good like for like replacement who would command a low fee given his contract. Plus hes about the same height as Samba.

[Hughesy]

I love it how a little spin from the media and everyone's all cool to him leaving.

Something printed in the paper by someone and everyone reads it like gospel, but anything comes from any other source or multiple sources and the belief factor isnt there.

Its called not putting your head in the sand and discussing.

As for gospel - the sun had quotes from him, and the new manager has said how he has wanted out for 12 months. What more do you want?

[T4E]

If samba goes, David Wheaters contract expires in the summer. Boro have told sky they will sell in January and sky list us as one of the interested clubs. Pretty good like for like replacement who would command a low fee given his contract. Plus hes about the same height as Samba.

Wheater and Steven Taylor would both be excellent replacements. Hopefully Samba will be sold asap. Unfortunately due to his public outburst the fee we can get for will have decreased somewhat.

[John]

Samba is our best defender and when he plays he is a major player for us - bye......

[philipl]

Yes until two days ago, Samba was seen as the rock of the Rovers' side.

He still is.

[Ricky]

Wheater would be the perfect replacement. I think Taylor will stay at Newcastle or end up at a 'bigger' club. Im not sure we'd be able to lure him here. I think we'd definitely be able to attract wheater though. Be nice to have another good English cb.

[John]

Don't be so casual with your comments folks, you will notice it when/if Samba goes.

[T4E]

If we had a full season of Jones and Samba both playing centre half I'm not sure we'd still consider Samba our best defender.

He may be a better athlete than Nelsen, but Nelsen reads the game better and rarely gets himself in to the sorts of positions Samba does that leads to the clumsy conceding of penalties/red cards. If we can still get £10m for him (which I highly doubt) then selling him becomes an easy decision.

[Bing]

Have I gone mad? Steven Taylor is absolute garbage. The guy is a thug and a Championship-standard defender. And Wheater has failed to develop from being a promising youngster; can't see there being a plethora of Premier League clubs queuing up for him.

[67splitscreen]

Wheater, Kids will be having nightmares

[nicko]

I think Samba will stay...because nobody wants him at [a] his cost and his daft wages.

The clubs with money - the ones in the Champions League teams - will not fancy him because he is not great on the ball.

The mid-range clubs will not pay the package.

So, Big Lad, clear your head and get on with doing what you do.

[John]

As to be expected Samba's agent is a major influence in all this - however everyone needs a change at some point in their life.

[nicko]

As to be expected Samba's agent is a major influence in all this - however everyone needs a change at some point in their life.

Samba has about five agents - all in the same 'agency' - and even they do not agree on what has gone on and will happen.

Some nugget thought it would be a good idea to go to the papers. A more sensible member thought it was a pointless exercise.

I would think it is strong odds-on that he stays.

The more immediate question is whether he keeps the captaincy.

[John]

I was speaking to his agent last night

[nicko]

I was speaking to his agent last night

Which one? The nugget?

[John]

Apparently Bentley wants Fulham loan deal, Spurs could act as a trigger in the window.

Sure Harry does not want Samba, reckon he will try with a bid around £6-8 million.

[HemelRover]

The more immediate question is whether he keeps the captaincy.

Does it really matter to anyone apart from the fans?

Do the players really care who actually wears the armband?

[nicko]

Does it really matter to anyone apart from the fans?

Do the players really care who actually wears the armband?

You want a captain to lead on the pitch. If the big guy is genuinely confused and upset he can't do that. He said he wasn't happy - maybe he will be happier after speaking to the new manager. If not, he should not be captain.

Nelsen is the obvious alternative and club captain anyway.