[Archived] Ins and outs

[PAFELL]

I'd take him back in a heart beat (Bentley too). Where the hell would we be without the sales of Roque and Bentley? Our team would be so much better with those two in it.

Still waiting for a takeover with and additional £34 million of debt around our necks, plus the £16million already mentioned. Rovers to have a debt of £50 million. Although painful to sell at the time, it was essential. It was also a risk. But it was a risk that we can be grateful that we have managed to overcome. The club is still in the prem after selling some good player. Now lets see what happens with the new owners.

[RoversSG]

I'll take Bentley back in a heartbeat but RSC? Thanks but no thanks. It's not just the injuries but I always thought he was made to look good by Bentley's crosses. Without someone providing such crosses for him to attack, I think he's just an average striker.

[joey_big_nose]

If Bentley or Roque were available for around 4m then I think that is a realistic fee and worth having a look at. However the main issue is the wage inflation that went with their moves - I think it just won't be doable. Plus Cruz's injury record is frightening so the medical would have to be extremely thorough.

ps. One point I suppose worth thinking about is Chimbonda who we could afford despite having huge wages. Depressing as that is, I suppose it in this context gives us a bit of hope. Chimbonda out, Bentley/Roque in would work for me..... When is Chimbonda's contract up?

[92er]

I'll take Bentley back in a heartbeat but RSC? Thanks but no thanks. It's not just the injuries but I always thought he was made to look good by Bentley's crosses. Without someone providing such crosses for him to attack, I think he's just an average striker.

Interesting comment about Roque.

My friend and I at the match often comment about the quality of crosses that go in at times that nobody attacks.

Would Roque be the answer?

I have no idea but I think he would be an interesting type of player to do something with the type of crosses I'm talking about.

[nicko]

ASSULIN...Man City have yet to finalise that deal, it's been very complicated...I don't think they would loan him out without giving him a few games first...still an unknown quantity.

ROQUE...surely not...how many games has he played since he left?...I know his agent has been looking for a club, but it would be a stunner if Rovers took him on...he and Sam were not on the best of terms by the end I seem to recall.

NEED TO BUY...yes, definitely...your first aim is always to survive and I would not be getting too sure about that for some time yet...the third bottom club is on 14 points...there are a lot of points needed...and the bottom line is that the squad is still well short of numbers in key areas...so three players would keep it going...signing one or two would leave it s high-risk strategy.

[47er]

We can at least be grateful for one thing-----the January transfer window (and the summer one) seem like something to look forward to. We are actually speculating about good players we might be buying as opposed to good players we are forced to sell and what left-overs can come on a free to take their place.

We've been in austerity mode years before it became fashionable!

[budha]

If Bentley or Roque were available for around 4m then I think that is a realistic fee and worth having a look at. However the main issue is the wage inflation that went with their moves - I think it just won't be doable. Plus Cruz's injury record is frightening so the medical would have to be extremely thorough.

I'm ready bet that Bentley is on less at Spurs than what we were ready to offer him before he left. And that if he would come here, he would demand a lot more than he's on at Spurs.

[Bobby G]

How long has Roque been fit now?

How many minutes has he played for City this season?

Has he played 90 minutes two games in a row (even for City Reserves) this season?

I also heard something about Roque and Sam not being on good terms but that was cause Sam felt he was letting the club down, although he did stay till the end of the season that year, you didnt feel like he was dying to come back.

My final thought is this. The LT usually follows closely the club "line" of thinking, so does that mean we are in actual fact looking into the Roque possibility?

[nicko]

My final thought is this. The LT usually follows closely the club "line" of thinking, so does that mean we are in actual fact looking into the Roque possibility?

Roque or someone close to him is putting the story around...

All the best with that one.

[67splitscreen]

How long has Roque been fit now?

How many minutes has he played for City this season? 25min last season 649min

Has he played 90 minutes two games in a row (even for City Reserves) this season?

I also heard something about Roque and Sam not being on good terms but that was cause Sam felt he was letting the club down, although he did stay till the end of the season that year, you didnt feel like he was dying to come back.

My final thought is this. The LT usually follows closely the club "line" of thinking, so does that mean we are in actual fact looking into the Roque possibility?

Anyone was Caicedo loan 6 or 12 months, scored 5 in 9 games for Lavante?.

I assume he could be called back if they had a deal in place.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Not keen on us looking at Roque, largely due to his injury record. I think we were lucky to get that one season out of him when for some strange reason he didn't break down (he played 43 games that season in all competitions scoring 23 goals). After he left he broke down often at City and that was with the same coaching staff that kept him fit at Rovers- making a strong case that the brilliant season at Rovers was a one off.

Also I think you have to take into consideration how vital Bentley was to Roque scoring his goals. They seemed to have a very good understanding going on between them when it came to linking up or Bentley putting in the crosses at the right place, right time. Look at how poor Roque looked when he did play for Rovers when Bentley had gone.

If we were to sign a striker like Santa Cruz or a Carew I think we would have to get in a winger who can cross a ball and put it in the right areas on a consistent basis. Someone like Bentley would be perfect.

[Bobby G]

Not keen on us looking at Roque, largely due to his injury record. I think we were lucky to get that one season out of him when for some strange reason he didn't break down (he played 43 games that season in all competitions scoring 23 goals). After he left he broke down often at City and that was with the same coaching staff that kept him fit at Rovers- making a strong case that the brilliant season at Rovers was a one off.

Also I think you have to take into consideration how vital Bentley was to Roque scoring his goals. They seemed to have a very good understanding going on between them when it came to linking up or Bentley putting in the crosses at the right place, right time. Look at how poor Roque looked when he did play for Rovers when Bentley had gone.

If we were to sign a striker like Santa Cruz or a Carew I think we would have to get in a winger who can cross a ball and put it in the right areas on a consistent basis. Someone like Bentley would be perfect.

I would argue that Mark Hughes' fitness team had a strong role to play in his fitness levels whilst with us, and also in those of Craig Bellamy. Both stayed largely fit under Hughes.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I would argue that Mark Hughes' fitness team had a strong role to play in his fitness levels whilst with us, and also in those of Craig Bellamy. Both stayed largely fit under Hughes.

Yes at Rovers. But at City both broke down often and that was with the same backroom team Hughes had at Rovers?

[Bobby G]

Roque took his injury from Rovers to City.

Bellamy was more fit than not even at City with Hughes.

[Majiball]

Why not take RSC back? Employ Damien Roden who's not working at present as well and hopefully he can keep him fit again.

RSC for £3M is well worth the gamble IMO.

[John]

On Roque - sure before/after he left, Sam said something about tendinitis in his knees or something along those lines (so he found it hard to stay fit for any period of time).

We will still need to be careful spending money so even £3-4 million would be a huge risk.

I do think Roque is a good player and would not take too long to settle in so if anything is going to happen, possibly a loan deal, but no point signing someone if you are pretty sure they are not going to be able to get on the pitch.

With the talk from Big Sam being on an impact player, I would prefer if possible for us to sign someone with Premier League experience - narrows down the field though.

[AJW]

RSC would have to be a loan for me , there's no doubt he was a quality player and his style would suit the way we play i just have a feeling both he and Bentley will end up at Fulham though

[Majiball]

I thought ~Bentley was meant to be joining Fulham at the end of the last window? But spurs had a change of heart as they couldn't get anyone else in, cancelled it then VDV happened and it was too late since they signed him after the dealine.

[John]

Why not take RSC back? Employ Damien Roden who's not working at present as well and hopefully he can keep him fit again

If his future is uncertain we may not find out for sometime however Sam would like to bring more backroom staff in following the takeover, so interesting to see what he does in that respect (if given the chance).

[Majiball]

If his future is uncertain we may not find out for sometime however Sam would like to bring more backroom staff in, following the takeover, so interesting to see what he does in that respect (if given the chance).

Roden worked with him at Bolton alongside howard who we currently employ so you never know. At the end of the day Roden's top drawer and I'm reasnably certain he'd be embraced by any manager.

We do need to increase our back-room team and the difference it could make would be immense, but Sam knows this.

I hope Venky's let him bring in a couple and since they deal in "supplements" surely they understand the differences this sort of support can make to everyones performance.

[John]

Roden worked with him at Bolton alongside howard who we currently employ so you never know. At the end of the day Roden's top drawer and I'm reasnably certain he'd be embraced by any manager.

We do need to increase our back-room team and the difference it could make would be immense, but Sam knows this.

I hope Venky's let him bring in a couple and since they deal in "supplements" surely they understand the differences this sort of support can make to everyones performance.

Sam said over the weekend more backroom/support staff is a priority for him since he has now (in theory) more financial resources - he also wants to imrpove areas/elements of the senior training centre.

However, not sure why they would sanction additional resoruces if potentially they are looking to change the manager.

[Amo]

Didn't Lewandowki join Dortmund for €4m? That's the kind of deal we should be looking at. Roque, for all his talent, is invariably crocked.

[cesus]

3-4 million is surely going to be a large amount of our transfer pot, I'd certainly see it as a massive risk blowing so much on somebody with such a poor current injury record. Bringing Santa Cruz on loan on the other hand would be a good deal in my eyes.

[Hughesy]

RSC - Loan with a price agreed if we want to make perm in summer - needs to prove his fitness 1st

Bentley - Loan with a price agreed if we want to make perm in summer - needs to prove his attitude 1st

Carew - Low fee & buy now....prem experience, good in the air, good at playing the target man - perfect for our current side.

[Majiball]

However, not sure why they would sanction additional resoruces if potentially they are looking to change the manager.

But you have to show him support. When Sam presents his idea's surely they will reach some sort of compromise and allow him the most pertinent recommendations he makes. They could even bring people in on a consultancy basis initially if there were Q's over his future.