[Archived] Ins and outs

[Iceman]

Before he left for Spurs, Bentley was a good player.. He made the England team, and then made a huge mistake. I think you being a bit harsh on Bentley Nicko, as Spurs are a ###### hole for good players. The same goes for Krankjar, as he did well before they signed Van Der Vaart and then they left him out to dry. I think both would be very good signings, and both would offer us so much more going forward.

[nicko]

Before he left for Spurs, Bentley was a good player.. He made the England team, and then made a huge mistake. I think you being a bit harsh on Bentley Nicko, as Spurs are a ###### hole for good players. The same goes for Krankjar, as he did well before they signed Van Der Vaart and then they left him out to dry. I think both would be very good signings, and both would offer us so much more going forward.

Bentley is 26 and has had three senior clubs. He has only been a regular at one of them. Sad to say he probably thinks the Spurs move was good for him rather than a mistake.

Leave well alone.

[Amo]

I can't believe anyone mentioning Spurs fringe players as possible good signings.

Did no-one see them getting trashed by Coyley's mob on Saturday? Kranjcar is a lightweight. Bentley doesn even get in a weak side.

Both will be on monster money.

If you ever sell Jones I hope you spend your money on better than that.

Are you saying that Bentley, Kranjcar and Pavlyuchenko aren't talented players who would improve our side? We've made a great reputation of taking other people's outcasts and making them shine.

Bentley is 26 and has had three senior clubs. He has only been a regular at one of them. Sad to say he probably thinks the Spurs move was good for him rather than a mistake.

However, this, I agree with. He probably enjoys being closer to Spurs-supporting mates daaaaan saaaaath.

[Torgeir]

I can't believe anyone mentioning Spurs fringe players as possible good signings.

Did no-one see them getting trashed by Coyley's mob on Saturday? Kranjcar is a lightweight. Bentley doesn even get in a weak side.

Both will be on monster money.

If you ever sell Jones I hope you spend your money on better than that.

Pavlyuchenko would be much needed though, and I think Bentley could be the missing piece in our midfield jigsaw if he shrinks his head a little before coming back.

[nicko]

Are you saying that Bentley, Kranjcar and Pavlyuchenko aren't talented players who would improve our side? We've made a great reputation of taking other people's outcasts and making them shine.

You are in a struggle to survive this season - and none of those three like to scuffle.

That's why they play [or don't play] for Spurs.

Bentley has sadly turned into a bit-part player who has flashes but can't sustain it. Kranjcar is Bentley with an accent. Pav might get a goal or two in a side that makes chances.

All of them are on fortunes and would look down their noses at joining a cklub where the first priority is digging out results.

[bellamy11]

Funny that some of those embracing the proposed Venky's/Kentaro business model of "buy them cheap, develop them, sell them on" are apparently dead against selling Jones at any cost.

[ben_the_beast]

Ok. Lets think of it this way. Lescott went for how much? Now i personally think although a limited in some areas he is a decent player. Jones on the other hand has the potential to be twice the player Lescott is.

In terms of Ferdinand, Jones has nowhere near proved himself to be at the level Ferdinand was before leaving for Man U. But as 18 year olds I wouldn't say they are worlds apart. The market has inflated vastly since then though. We can demand at least £20 mil.

[Torgeir]

We are under no pressure to sell, and Jones seems level-headed enough to realise that it's better to play for Rovers than sit on the bench for a bigger club. Everybody has a price, and it would be stupid not to accept a silly bid. For me that is around £20 million.

[92er]

Ok. Lets think of it this way. Lescott went for how much? Now i personally think although a limited in some areas he is a decent player. Jones on the other hand has the potential to be twice the player Lescott is.

But who else would have paid that amount of money for him?

[nicko]

Funny that some of those embracing the proposed Venky's/Kentaro business model of "buy them cheap, develop them, sell them on" are apparently dead against selling Jones at any cost.

You could get a lot for Jones in January. But you could get much more for him down the line.

There isn't an equivalent English centre half of his talent around in that age group.

Barring injury, the lad will go on to become an England international - and maybe in the next two years.

The major clubs who want him now will still want him in two years.

Each case is different. Roque was a great sale, Bentley was a great sale. Jones has still got a rising value - and a lot of games - in him.

[ben_the_beast]

We are under no pressure to sell, and Jones seems level-headed enough to realise that it's better to play for Rovers than sit on the bench for a bigger club. Everybody has a price, and it would be stupid not to accept a silly bid. For me that is around £20 million.

Exactly

But who else would have paid that amount of money for him?

Some reports suggest City are interested. Could just be the media linking City to anyone with decent potential as per usual though

[SamTheShrew]

You could get a lot for Jones in January. But you could get much more for him down the line.

There isn't an equivalent English centre half of his talent around in that age group.

Barring injury, the lad will go on to become an England international - and maybe in the next two years.

The major clubs who want him now will still want him in two years.

Each case is different. Roque was a great sale, Bentley was a great sale. Jones has still got a rising value - and a lot of games - in him.

What do you think the likelihood of Jones leaving Alan? Or that he would be interested in leaving?

[bluebruce]

You could get a lot for Jones in January. But you could get much more for him down the line.

There isn't an equivalent English centre half of his talent around in that age group.

Barring injury, the lad will go on to become an England international - and maybe in the next two years.

The major clubs who want him now will still want him in two years.

Each case is different. Roque was a great sale, Bentley was a great sale. Jones has still got a rising value - and a lot of games - in him.

Very well said Nicko.

[nicko]

What do you think the likelihood of Jones leaving Alan? Or that he would be interested in leaving?

Every time there is a potentially top-class English player around just now ALL of the big hitters form a queue. It's the same with the kid Henderson at Sunderland.

I think someone will make a big offer in January because the interested clubs have potential vacancies. Where would Chelsea go if Terry or Alex got injured? And Man City 'shadow' everything that Chelsea try. IF a bid was accepted Man U and even Arsenal and Liverpool would react.

The lad seems a level-headed sort, but you can never be sure how he or the people around him react when the big boys come in.

I understand the Jones camp were aware of the Arsenal interest in the summer, but nobody stamped their feet and wanted to move at the time. So that is a good sign, but big money is big money and changes opinions.

[Torgeir]

£20 million plus a public apology from Arsené would do it.

[Exiled_Rover]

Bentley is 26 and has had three senior clubs. He has only been a regular at one of them. Sad to say he probably thinks the Spurs move was good for him rather than a mistake.

Leave well alone.

Nope. I'd still have him back in a heartbeat.

[Ricky]

Has he still not received a yellow card?

I know when we played Chelsea this year they were saying he had never been booked for us.

Not bad for a CB from dirty rovers.

[Exiled_Rover]

The sad fact of the matter is that it's inevitable that he's leaving at some point. Such a depressing sport.

[bellamy11]

You could get a lot for Jones in January. But you could get much more for him down the line.

There isn't an equivalent English centre half of his talent around in that age group.

Barring injury, the lad will go on to become an England international - and maybe in the next two years.

The major clubs who want him now will still want him in two years.

Each case is different. Roque was a great sale, Bentley was a great sale. Jones has still got a rising value - and a lot of games - in him.

Oh absolutely I agree Alan - selling now would be jumping the gun. It's all a question of timing. But it is inevitable that we are going to have to "play the market" like this for the forseeable future if we are to make ends meet. I just think it's funny that the willingness of many to get involved with a proposition of 'breeding' exciting players from abroad to sell on at hopefully vast profits seem to be failing to appreciate that it's genuinely painful when it becomes an actual possibility.

[bluebruce]

The sad fact of the matter is that it's inevitable that he's leaving at some point. Such a depressing sport.

Yes, but that means the strategy becomes how best to get the maximum money for Jones. If you seriously think he's overperforming (because even if he only plays at THIS level for the next 12 years of his career, a £12 million move would value him at £1 million a season, which is a ridiculous undervaluation if he sticks at present form), then perhaps you want to sell at that kind of price. Personally I think if he just continues as he is and doesn't even improve, until Summer, nobody will be saying he isn't worth £20 million. IMO, I don't feel he has even peaked yet, so I would say keep him for at least a year or two.

[nicko]

Oh absolutely I agree Alan - selling now would be jumping the gun. It's all a question of timing. But it is inevitable that we are going to have to "play the market" like this for the forseeable future if we are to make ends meet. I just think it's funny that the willingness of many to get involved with a proposition of 'breeding' exciting players from abroad to sell on at hopefully vast profits seem to be failing to appreciate that it's genuinely painful when it becomes an actual possibility.

Even Man U play the market. How would their finances look if they hadn't sold Ronaldo?

It's just the way it goes. Better to have players people want than a squad that gets ignored.

[47er]

I hope young Jones isn't reading this thread. If I were him I'd be utterly depressed at "fans" speculating about his value in the transfer market, suggesting whom we could buy from the proceeds and arguing we'd be stronger without him.

No such thing as loyalty in football is there?

If he's a level-headed lad, born round here, a Rovers fan all his life he might just want to give the majority of his career to the club he loves.

Till he reads some comments on here that is.

Selling Jones is a no brainer for me. He's a very good young centre back, but he's only been on the scene for a year. He's playing in midfield because we're strong at centre back. If he hadn't progressed as he has over the last year we would be no worse off in terms of league position, either last season or this. If we could get £12m or more, he has to go. As the club that we are, we need to bring young players through and sell them for a profit while we still can.

Losing Jones for big money would be more akin to the sale of Santa Cruz than Bentley in terms of impact on the team. It would also set an excellent example to other good young English players - come to Rovers, we'll give you a chance, build your profile and we wont stand in your way when a big payday comes knocking. It's the way we have to be, takeover or not.

Sorry but I find that post appalling.

[Amo]

I hope young Jones isn't reading this thread. If I were him I'd be utterly depressed at "fans" speculating about his value in the transfer market, suggesting whom we could buy from the proceeds and arguing we'd be stronger without him.

No such thing as loyalty in football is there?

If he's a level-headed lad, born round here, a Rovers fan all his life he might just want to give the majority of his career to the club he loves.

Till he reads some comments on here that is.

Oh come on, grow up.

Jones should know the birds and the bees of the modern game. Many of us would love him to stay, but the reality is that we're a small-town club who make a living from selling our best assets and replacing them with new investments. Heck, even Man. Utd aren't above it these days.

[Manoid]

Letting Jones go in the next 18 months would be a grave mistake.

[47er]

Funny that some of those embracing the proposed Venky's/Kentaro business model of "buy them cheap, develop them, sell them on" are apparently dead against selling Jones at any cost.

No-it isn't funny at all even assuming your description of the business model is even-handed. There is all the difference in the world between buying, developing and eventually selling on players who have no actual affinity with the club.

Local youngsters who grow up supporting the club, went to school round here, know what a Rovers v Burnley derby means are an entirely different kettle of fish.

Along with the supporters they represent the soul of the club.

Oh come on, grow up.

Jones should know the birds and the bees of the modern game. Many of us would love him to stay, but the reality is that we're a small-town club who make a living from selling our best assets and replacing them with new investments. Heck, even Man. Utd aren't above it these days.

By "grow up" I assume you want me to be as cynical as you. You don't know what Jones' thinking is and nor do I.