[Archived] Transfer Window Part 2

[sweet]

Shall we continue taking up space in the thread or are we both gonna walk away from this and accept I'm wrong?

Ok

[braddock]

Yeah, you change the facts of what were said and we'll all carry on

It's gonna be interesting to see how they play this, being a relatively minor (but not necessarily less significant) transfer in comparison. Hopefully the owners won't say too much.

[Hughesy]

I can see Olly having a fit when he sees they've only bid £2mil

He wont cost much more than that - not over double anyway...so worth a try.

End of the day he has a dispute with them & tried to get his contract cancelled...im sure they will let him leave. More interesting now to see if we react.

Still hearing RSC is a straight choice between us or Lazio...and as he wants his family to stay in the North West of England, we must surely be favourites on that one.

[Sverre]

I think a need for a striker is less important now that both Kalinic and Benjani have shown that they are capable of delivering the goods in an offensive 4-4-2 system. Probably much thanks to the pace of Olsson and Hoilett.

A defensive midfielder and a playmaker should be the top priority, and possibly a new winger capable of delivering great crosses such as Bentley.

[Hughesy]

City call off RSC loan to Blackburn

Robbo offered his 'for life' contract

[Sverre]

City call off RSC loan to Blackburn

Robbo offered his 'for life' contract

RSC: Although I would always welcome an injury free player of Roque's caliber, a permanent deal would be too risky.

[joey_big_nose]

I think a need for a striker is less important now that both Kalinic and Benjani have shown that they are capable of delivering the goods in an offensive 4-4-2 system. Probably much thanks to the pace of Olsson and Hoilett.

A defensive midfielder and a playmaker should be the top priority, and possibly a new winger capable of delivering great crosses such as Bentley.

I wouldn't go overboard. Both have had one good game, but realistically I would want to see ten or fifteen games of a decent standard before committing to them. Plus Roberts could still be out the door so we need to replace him. The same could be said for Olsson and Hoilett who both look very exciting, but neither have consistently produced.

My priority at the moment would be:-

1) High energy ball winning midfielder

2) Striker

3) Wide player (with a speciality in crossing)

4) Creative central player

5) Left back

6) Centre back

Fact is on paper our midfield and forwards look streets behind most of our competitors. Not a single consistent performer amongst them this season apart from possibly EH DIouf who has, ironically, recently found himself on the bench.

[Sverre]

I wouldn't go overboard. Both have had one good game, but realistically I would want to see ten or fifteen games of a decent standard before committing to them. Plus Roberts could still be out the door so we need to replace him. The same could be said for Olsson and Hoilett who both look very exciting, but neither have consistently produced.

My priority at the moment would be:-

1) High energy ball winning midfielder

2) Striker

3) Wide player (with a speciality in crossing)

4) Creative central player

5) Left back

6) Centre back

Fact is on paper our midfield and forwards look streets behind most of our competitors. Not a single consistent performer amongst them this season apart from possibly EH DIouf who has, ironically, recently found himself on the bench.

Good points. Although EH Diouf has given good performances and is a good player overall, he often stops play, which is frustrating at times.. Especially when we are about to transition into attacking modes.

[darwenblueswearehere]

May be reading too much into that Nicko but that sounds to me like we have no where near the amount of money the owners would like us to think.

TBH too many things don't add up. Out of all the Prem squads ours needs strengthening the most, yet we don't seem to be putting offers in anywhere. You get the feeling that any decent players - Bentley, Krancjar etc will pass us by and be snapped up by another team.

Is it a case that we hoped to get players in under the radar but they simply don't want to sign for us at present?

We can't win at the minute. Go public and we're classed as 'stupid' or 'naive'....say nothing and people assume nothing is happening. N one of us (and I include Alan Nixon in this, though he is obviously better informed than most)know for sure everything that is going on in the background in respect of transfers. I think Steve Kean would be well served to take his own advice and let Paul Agnew and John Williams do the talking in respect of transfers. He'll learn as he grows into the job, because unless he does actually have 2 concrete names at the presser tomorrow he's gonna look a chump.

[RevidgeBlue]

He'll learn as he grows into the job, because unless he does actually have 2 concrete names at the presser tomorrow he's gonna look a chump.

A huge over-exaggeration there imo.

He said he HOPED to have a couple of new faces in for Saturday. He didn't say they would definitely be signed sealed and delivered.

[Mr. E]

A huge over-exaggeration there imo.

He said he HOPED to have a couple of new faces in for Saturday. He didn't say they would definitely be signed sealed and delivered.

When dealing with transfers I would think statements such as "hope to have new faces in for Saturday" would suggest that things are moving along smoothly and only unforeseen circumstances would prevent them from materializing. Not "if we're very lucky and the planets align we might get these players on time".

[darwenblueswearehere]

A huge over-exaggeration there imo.

He said he HOPED to have a couple of new faces in for Saturday. He didn't say they would definitely be signed sealed and delivered.

He should have kept it even quieter than that Rev - we football fans always fill in the gaps to mean exactly what your second sentence says. I am a fan of Steve Kean, I've known of him for many years (since he was a youth team footballer at Celtic) and he's bound to make a few mistakes early on - John Williams has the right idea when it comes to transfers - say bugger all until its a done deal.

[RevidgeBlue]

When dealing with transfers I would think statements such as "hope to have new faces in for Saturday" would suggest that things are moving along smoothly and only unforeseen circumstances would prevent them from materializing. Not "if we're very lucky and the planets align we might get these players on time".

Or it could just mean that originally, he hoped that the players he was after would be in before Saturday!

Unforseen circumstances (such as Citeh changing their mind) obviously have prevented that from materialising.

[RevidgeBlue]

City call off RSC loan to Blackburn

No disrespect intended to nicko but I can only assume that article is ambiguously worded and that what Citeh want is a loan with an option to purchase inserted.

A binding promise to buy the player at the end of the season come what may would be no use to us at all given his injury record.

[RoyRover]

First and foremost, central midfield is the area of the team that needs to be taken care of first. We can then look to strengthen in the wide areas; a right winger and left back. I still think that we need more quality up front, but if Kean decides that Benjani, Diouf, Kalinic and Roberts are enough to get us by for now and some midfielders are the only players that are brought in, I wouldn't complain. We are desperately short in midfield, in terms of numbers and quality. The likes of Andrews and N'Zonzi are to come back, but I don't see Andrews making a difference to the team. Then there are question marks over Emerton, Dunn and Goulon. So the sooner we can bring in some quality midfielders, the better.

[url="http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Manchester-City-have-put-a-block-on-striker-Roque-Santa-Cruz-s-return-to-Blackburn-on-loan-until-Rovers-agree-to-buy-him-in-the-summer-article6

There's no way we should agree to sign him. He would have to prove that he is fit enough, is still good enough, is motivated enough and that his attitude is right, because the way he treated us last time toward the end was disgraceful.

[Steve Moss]

I think a need for a striker is less important now that both Kalinic and Benjani have shown that they are capable of delivering the goods in an offensive 4-4-2 system. Probably much thanks to the pace of Olsson and Hoilett.

A defensive midfielder and a playmaker should be the top priority, and possibly a new winger capable of delivering great crosses such as Bentley.

100%. Kalinic, Benjani, Roberts and M. Diouf can score, they just need service. A creative midfielder and right wing would do wonders for our attack. Our defense is already more than decent and a bone crunching midfielder would make us fearsome at the back.

So if Venkys is listening, give Kean 5 million for each of the three positions to maximize the prospect of quality improvement quickly. I would love for the Rovers to have three EPL quality players ready to go in advance of the Chelsea game. Pounding last year's best squad would do wonders for morale on the back of the Liverpool game. Confidence is everything and we are on the cusp of being a very good squad.

After taking care of the basics, then Venkys can go back to their celebrity star search.

[andyroversmad]

I would like to see us make a move for Adel Taarabt.

[Wilko Rover]

I would like to see us make a move for Adel Taarabt.

Yes, deffinately he is a quality player.

[Ricky]

Taarabt is a perfect example of a highlights player. Looks amazing every now and then but goes missing for huge chunks of games. I'm not sure he could get away with it in the top leagues. Again we'd need a very good defensive midfielder to support a player like that. I wonder if Kean sees n'zonzi as the long term solution so he's not too worried about that position.

In theory we have 3 dm's in grella, Andrews and n'zonzi.

[blue/white]

Yes, deffinately he is a quality player.

No way that QPR will let him go... they're poised to gain promotion and if you've not noticed, their owners are pretty minted in their own right. I doubt Rangers want to cut their nose off to spite their face, no?

[Miker]

In theory we have 3 dm's in grella, Andrews and n'zonzi.

I'm not sure if I'd classify Andrews as a DM, he tended to play more box to box role when fit didn't he? And I remember Ince saying he signed him because he's a "goalscoring midfielder". I think Andrews is a decent option in a midfield three, especially as a squad player, but he's definitely not someone we should be looking at to fill the DM position.

We actually have Goulon and Linganzi to play that role as well. Not to mention Jones. So, in theory, if we did include Andrews, we have 6 DMs in the squad. We definitely need to get rid of some of them first if we bring another in.

As much as I've defended Grella in the past, he needs to go. Enough's enough. Loans for Goulon and Linganzi might be an option. I'd keep N'zonzi and bring someone else in for competition.

[Bobby G]

Looks like premature excitement about wrapping up transfers quickly.

I do hope players do actually come in.

[Iceman]

did Kean say we WILL announce 2 signings today, or did he say he is HOPEFUL we will announce 2 signings today?

just get this feeling, that if we do announce a player or 2 today, that it will be nothing to get excited about. i hope im proved wrong.

the worrying thing is, we made it known we have money, but we seem to be linked with nothing to write home about. apart from Adam, the rest doesnt excite me. i keep saying it, but the likes of Kranckjar and Bentley, will bring the best out of somebody like Kalinic.

not many games to go, but get players in like Kranckjar and Bentley, players who will hit the ground running.

[BPF]

I'm now aware of why William Hill gave us odds of 10-1 to spend over five million this window.

I hope it changes and soon. It has got to change!

[Fylde Coast Fan]

Pretty confident Birmingham won't get Adam for £2m.

Also, according to a Rangers fan at work, Adam was shifted out of Rangers because he couldn't displace Barry Ferguson in their midfield. Would be interesting to see them reunited...