Chris Samba => Arsenal/Spurs

[Mercer]

Those who are advocating that Samba should be allowed to rot in the reserves should think about the cost implication -4 years left on his contract at approx. £60k pw is a cool £12.5 million.

This is not like previous times - this time he really, really wants out and if you deny him this then you have 'lost' the player at least for this season and probably forever.

So the two options are to let him rot and kiss goodbye to any transfer fee and £12.5m in wages = £19.5m.

Or 2), sell him for £7m and save his wages at the rate of £3m a year.

How do you replace him, well we have Givet (club's best centre back), Dann & Hanley and supplement by a loan (cash transfers are seemingly out) and still save at least £35k pw on wages.

To me, it's a no brainer in our financial position.

[nellybc]

Those who are advocating that Samba should be allowed to rot in the reserves should think about the cost implication -4 years left on his contract at approx. £60k pw is a cool £12.5 million.

This is not like previous times - this time he really, really wants out and if you deny him this then you have 'lost' the player at least for this season and probably forever.

So the two options are to let him rot and kiss goodbye to any transfer fee and £12.5m in wages = £19.5m.

Or 2), sell him for £7m and save his wages at the rate of £3m a year.

How do you replace him, well we have Givet (club's best centre back), Dann & Hanley and supplement by a loan (cash transfers are seemingly out) and still save at least £35k pw on wages.

To me, it's a no brainer in our financial position.

What is our premiership future worth ?? If we sell him for 7m to QPR who are in the thick of this battle alongside us??

For me its a no brainer - he goes to a club not involved in the relegation battle or he goes to qpr at the end of the season for whatever we can get.

he must not go to QPR this window!! That to me is a no brainer!!

[LeChuck]

You havin' a laugh?

This is footballers and contracts we're on about

You think it's fine to make a load of promises then go back on them a few months later? And then expect people taken in by these promises to continue to honour their side?

[jim mk2]

Yes I agree that he should now be sold as soon as an appropriate bid comes in, but I cannot understand Rovers fans siding with a player who is attempting to hold our club to ransom.

I'm siding with a player who appears to be as frustrated with the owners as are the supporters. If Samba is using the fans as means to his own end I do not know but players engineering an exit is nothing new. This is the Bentley saga all over again and in the end the player will get his way and leave. It's a shame because we will be weaker without him but better to accept it and move on.

[K-Hod]

I'm siding with a player who appears to be as frustrated with the owners as are the supporters. If Samba is using the fans as means to his own end I do not know but players engineering an exit is nothing new. This is the Bentley saga all over again and in the end the player will get his way and leave. It's a shame because we will be weaker without him but better to accept it and move on.

+1

[martypellowe]

To be honest with his latest comments i've lost any respect I had for him. Whether or not Venkys have lied to him, his contract probably didn't have a clause saying "as long as you invest in the squad"

If Venkys want to make some quick cash, do a Tevez and fine him for gross misconduct. 6 weeks' wages? Nice free £300,000 there. He's bringing the company into disrepute in the public domain while under contract for god's sake!

I'm in no way advocating the way the club is run but if I were any of the senior management i'd be slapping a nice big fine in front of him for that recent interview.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Samba has been very clever - trying to say he was lied to along with the fans. Makes some fans daft enough to think he has some form of noble purpose - which is far from the truth.

Which has been precisely my point, only you made it better than I did.

Jason Roberts, a man seriously wronged by our moronic owners, left the club with a ringing endorsement of our young players. His words both encouraged them and offered us hope. Samba, on the other hand, set an appalling example to those same young players. Their captain, for is own self serving purpose, left them to get on with it and chucked a sicky in because he didnt get his own way in squirming out of his lucrative contract. Not, as the cliche goes, one you would want beside you in the trenches.

Some on here are defending him however. Baffling.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I'm siding with a player who appears to be as frustrated with the owners as are the supporters. If Samba is using the fans as means to his own end I do not know but players engineering an exit is nothing new. This is the Bentley saga all over again and in the end the player will get his way and leave. It's a shame because we will be weaker without him but better to accept it and move on.

I am siding with Blackburn Rovers - who pay his huge wages.

I am siding with the players - who deserve more respect from their captain.

I am siding with the fans - who will have to watch us get relegated as Samba swans off to our relegation rival and seals our fate. As he wollows in mid-table mediocrity at QPR.

I don't blame Samba for wanting out - but he knows the potential impact him leaving will have on the club (especially if he goes to QPR). But trying to force a transfer at a reduced fee is just disrespectful to the club, players and fans.

[otto man]

Quotes from the "despicable individual".

I ``I signed a new deal last January because Venky's told me they had big plans. Names like Ronaldinho were mentioned and they promised there was going to be a lot of investment in the team. It hasn't happened.

``They don't understand football in this country and they don't realise how much I've given to Blackburn and that they have broken promises they have made. I stayed because I believed them but they weren't honest with me and now I know I made the wrong decision.

``I share the frustration of the fans who must have believed the owners too.''

Samba might as well be speaking for Rovers fans with those quotes. Are Rovers fans "despicable" too ?

Why are they about to do a "vinjay" and jump ship? If so, then YES!

[Parsonblue]

As much as I feel I should, I'm afraid I can't condemn Samba for the action he has taken. He clearly believes that Desai and the brothers Grimm have lied to him - no surprise there then. Supporters have felt they have been lied to since day one of the Venky circus arriving in town. Many supporters, including a good many season ticket holders, have vowed not to return to Ewood Park until the Indians have gone and have undertaken a similar boycott to that which Samba has now embarked upon.

The difference, of course, is that Samba is a paid employee of the club. However, if he had been told the truth last January would he have signed a new contract? If Desai had told him that she wasn't going to invest in the club, that she would oversee the departure of the existing board of directors, the very people who made the club tick, and that the Championship was the most likely destination for the club would Samba have signed on for another four or five years? I doubt it.

The sad truth is that Desai is now reaping what she has sown both on and off the pitch.

The bottom line is that players don't have the same feelings towards a club as supporters. For supporters it's a life time committment but players, managers and owners are simply passing through.

Players have a fairly short career in which they want to gain as much money as possible and win honours. Good players will always have one eye on the clubs that are likely to win things and be involved at the top end of the table. I stopped getting upset about this sort of thing after Fred Pickering and Mike England left.

Over the years I seen players come and go for various reasons and let's be honest none of us complained when we were able to attract players from other clubs when Jack was building the club up under Kenny and Ray.

The treatment of Salgado and Roberts by Desai in recent weeks can have done little for morale. Salgado wants to play for the club but Desai has decreed he can't. Loyalty it seems doesn't really matter when it comes down to hard cash.

Ultimately, Samba is only worth what somebody will pay for him and with clubs knowing the present situation at Ewood Park I suspect nobody is going to be in a rush to sign a large cheque. If we could get £5 or £6 million for him and IF that money was allowed to be reinvested in new players it must surely be better than allowing Samba to rot in the reserves for the next four or five months. If we are relegated we will be only too happy to sell him at a cut price simply to get him off the wage bill.

[jim mk2]

I'm in no way advocating the way the club is run but if I were any of the senior management i'd be slapping a nice big fine in front of him for that recent interview.

And how would fining him help ? He's made up his mind to leave and in football there is absolutely no point in forcing an unhappy player to stay. He's been a bloody good player for Rovers and wants out because he's not stupid and can see the way the club is going. Hughes has obviously tapped him up and he wants to leave a sinking club for one that has a much brighter future. His conduct might not be right in the eyes of some fans but that is the way of modern professional football and he is certainly not "despicable".

The treatment of Salgado and Roberts by Desai in recent weeks can have done little for morale. Salgado wants to play for the club but Desai has decreed he can't. Loyalty it seems doesn't really matter when it comes down to hard cash.

The word "despicable" has been bandied around here and that certainly applies to the treatment of Salgado.

[RibbleValleyRover]

A move to QPR wouldn't be a sideways step, if anything it would be a step up for Samba.

You have a club based in London which should make it easier to attract players, you have owners who will invest every transfer window and you have a top class manager in Hughes.

Rovers in it's current state doesn't have much to offer any player, being in the premier league is their only selling point.

[martypellowe]

And how would fining him help ? He's made up his mind to leave and in football there is absolutely no point in forcing an unhappy player to stay. He's been a bloody good player for Rovers and wants out because he's not stupid and can see the way the club is going. Hughes has obviously tapped him up and he wants to leave a sinking club for one that has a much brighter future. His conduct might not be right in the eyes of some fans but that is the way of modern professional football and he is certainly not "despicable".

Are you also saying Tevez shouldn't have been fined for his behaviour? He's an employee of the club and is expected to behave in a certain way. What would the reaction be at your work if you started faking illness and telling everyone you worked with that you don't want to be there and that you aren't committed, and that you have a personal vendetta against the owners of the company?

Disciplinary would no doubt ensue, and a fine is a likely outcome.

[FFP83]

From a legal standpoint, yes...but from an ethical standpoint? Absolutely not.

I agree. It might be the same situation with Dann? He might have been "promised" that Samba would not be sold but nothing has been put down in writing.

He like Samba may have taken Venkys on their word.

Venkys tried to wriggle out of Phil Jones release clause remember?

clubs can "TALK" to Phil Jones if they offer 16 million.

Yeah talk to him not buy him.

They are ruining our clubs reputation!!!!!

[dubdubdub]

braddock, on 27 January 2012 - 12:30 PM, said:

Aye, it's obviously all down to women.

And the Jews.

And homosexuals.

And Luca Toni.

What a ridiculous post and a waste of nearly a full page. Off topic and own agenda.

What a ridiculous post. Reposting all of that ridiculous post.

Anyway, is wanting to keep Samba and our best players not showing ambition in itself?

[braddock]

What a ridiculous post and a waste of nearly a full page. Off topic and own agenda.

With the amount of guff posted on here it's hardly a big issue. And I wouldn't have highlighted the point if it hadn't been for TWO posts needlessly referencing women.

Carry on.

[j166429]

...

Samba is effectively going on strike to force his way out of a contact that he was perfectly happy to sign. Feigning illness to miss training on the eve of a match, at least once if not twice.

Yes I agree that he should now be sold as soon as an appropriate bid comes in, but I cannot understand Rovers fans siding with a player who is attempting to hold our club to ransom.

Samba was happy to sign the contract obviously for the money, but secondly beacause he was told that Venky's would invest in the club (just like we were told the same thing).

We're probably one of the most unambitious clubs in the Premier League. He could just easliy sit there and pick up his 60k a week if he was completely money-oriented, but he obviously wants to be on a winning side.

Samba is protesting just as the fans have been due to broken promises and mis-management.

[LeChuck]

It wouldn't surprise me if Samba had to take a pay cut to join someone like Spurs*. If he gets an offer from money-rich teams like PSG or QPR then he might get a pay rise, but otherwise he'll do well just to match his pay here.

This certainly isn't about money for him.

* He has no chance of joining Spurs though. Daniel Levy won't sanction a big money move for someone who is nearly 28.

[Exiled in Toronto]

Samba painted himself into a corner in past windows by agitating for moves and then settling for a bigger contract each time, to the point where he is massively overpaid. His vast salary gives the club a perfectly logical riposte to his claim he is only worth 7 million, yet he isn't good enough for someone to pay 15 million and 60k/week. Greedy players and lying owners deserve each other.

[OJRovers]

How about loaning him out maybe to PSG, for a big loan fee upfront with a option to buy for say £10m, nothing less, in summer?

[rhodie]

And how would fining him help ? He's made up his mind to leave and in football there is absolutely no point in forcing an unhappy player to stay. He's been a bloody good player for Rovers and wants out because he's not stupid and can see the way the club is going. Hughes has obviously tapped him up and he wants to leave a sinking club for one that has a much brighter future. His conduct might not be right in the eyes of some fans but that is the way of modern professional football and he is certainly not "despicable".

The word "despicable" has been bandied around here and that certainly applies to the treatment of Salgado.

If we so flippantly state that this is the way of modern football then why in future bother about contracts,The problem is that the club is expected to fulfil its obligation but the players aren`t and by caving in to these sort of demands enables the players to get away with it.If he is so adamant about going then we should sell him for whatever price is offered and then get him to make up the difference to the clubs valuation out of his own pocket.This nonsense about we owe him a move is also a load of tosh he has more than adequately been paid for his services.Oh and by the way Doesn`t matter how much money is involved football is a game,Although we enjoy the hobby their are far more important careers in the world that earn a pittance compared to what he does for kicking a bit of leather about.

[BPF]

This thread is highlighting why I post less frequently these days.

Jason Roberts

You gotta back the gaffer, you gotta have faith in the owners and what they are trying to do

BRFCS Forum Response

Brown nosing *****. Get out of the club you ****** ***** Roberts! Booooo!!!!

Chris Samba

I feel the frustration of the fans, Venkys have broken promises, time to walk away.

BRFCS Forum Response

Boooo!! What a *****. He's no Jason Roberts...he's a model professional you know!

It is amazing to hear some of the responses on here. It is like you still follow football with the brain of a seven year old child. Some of you find it impossible to view situations objectively when it comes to Rovers. There's people in non-footballing departments looking for other jobs at the moment because they can't deal with the way Venkys do things! Are you really surprised that someone wants out? Yes, Samba has been trying to engineer a move for years but you cannot fault anything that he said in that interview. I actually expected to come on here and read a wealth of backing for the lad. Most of this board have been calling out for a player to speak up about what is going on and then when someone finally does, you hate it!!

I don't blame Samba at all. If my workplace was spiraling towards oblivion I'd be looking for a way out too.

Finally, allow me to point out something very few people understand. Football is a business. It is many years since local guys played for their local team. Samba would have not even known we existed until his agent told him about the club. He WORKS here, he does his job here. Sure it is disappointing when a top employee leaves but that's business. Can any of you honestly say that you would choose to work for Venkys? (MG Fraud excluded...)

I should add that normally I may be angered by this but I just feel very sorry for anyone at the club at the moment. Also who had in the bright idea of putting Formica on the calendar for February....

[rhodie]

This thread is highlighting why I post less frequently these days.

Jason Roberts

You gotta back the gaffer, you gotta have faith in the owners and what they are trying to do

BRFCS Forum Response

Brown nosing *****. Get out of the club you ****** ***** Roberts! Booooo!!!!

Chris Samba

I feel the frustration of the fans, Venkys have broken promises, time to walk away.

BRFCS Forum Response

Boooo!! What a *****. He's no Jason Roberts...he's a model professional you know!

It is amazing to hear some of the responses on here. It is like you still follow football with the brain of a seven year old child. Some of you find it impossible to view situations objectively when it comes to Rovers. There's people in non-footballing departments looking for other jobs at the moment because they can't deal with the way Venkys do things! Are you really surprised that someone wants out? Yes, Samba has been trying to engineer a move for years but you cannot fault anything that he said in that interview. I actually expected to come on here and read a wealth of backing for the lad. Most of this board have been calling out for a player to speak up about what is going on and then when someone finally does, you hate it!!

I don't blame Samba at all. If my workplace was spiraling towards oblivion I'd be looking for a way out too.

Finally, allow me to point out something very few people understand. Football is a business. It is many years since local guys played for their local team. Samba would have not even known we existed until his agent told him about the club. He WORKS here, he does his job here. Sure it is disappointing when a top employee leaves but that's business. Can any of you honestly say that you would choose to work for Venkys? (MG Fraud excluded...)

I should add that normally I may be angered by this but I just feel very sorry for anyone at the club at the moment. Also who had in the bright idea of putting Formica on the calendar for February....

Personally my place of work could spiral as much as it wants if it was paying me 60 grand a week.

[pick32]

Dont no how anyone could say QPR is a step up, from there entire squad maybe barton would get in our team other than that we have better players man for man.

[jim mk2]

If we so flippantly state that this is the way of modern football then why in future bother about contracts,The problem is that the club is expected to fulfil its obligation but the players aren`t and by caving in to these sort of demands enables the players to get away with it.

Players have held the upper hand since the abolition of the maximum wage in the 1960s and smaller feeder clubs like Rovers just have to live with it. We'll miss his commanding presence and his departure could cost us in some matches (the last 5 mins at Everton were a good example when they had 3 or 4 free headers) but the club should just sell him and supporters should move on. Good player but standing in his way as the owners are doing at present benefits no one.