Summer 2011 Transfer Window - Part 3.

[philipl]

Many thanks to Nicko and Kamy.

I am absolutely certain that they have told the truth as they see it in every post this window and yet the story today is a world removed from the story two weeks ago.

This is real life and real business. The world moves on and things happen.

So let's have no abuse for people trying to give you information.

I have recently caught up with an old University friend who knew old man Venky. It is very clear from what he told me that Venky senior was a visionary and incredibly astute businessman who really could have set something up with such momentum and direction that it is still steaming ahead effectively under his philosophy even now.

Switching to other sources I have heard from, bellamy's feedback from India about Mrs D having the nous but poor old Rovers being screwed because we are the brothers' project fits exactly.

[Neal]

although i agree with the transfers and spending of when and how much they spend being being up to them and not being held to ransom i think its time that venkys and kentaro cane out and did a q&a with the LT. Being the local rag an all. Time for some hard questions to be asked and answered and some transparency to finally be revealed as to who is in charge and dealing with transfers. No more of kean being used as a puppet. Although i think i might be doing a bit of wishful thinking

I very much with Telegraph Q&A suggestion, been thinking the same.

A man that speaks sense at last(unlike me!).

post of the week in my op.

Thanks chap.

[47er]

That's a nice defence that isn't it? Make as many claims as you want and then when they go sour deflect all critism of those claims by saying 'don't shoot the messenger'...very convenient.

Nicko did not have to "put his neck on the line" and claim we'd spend around £50m but he did. That bit wasn't the "message" but nicko opinion on the message. A sensible thing to have said would be to put the list he had heard and then said something like "If they all come off that would be a spend of around £50m, but it iis a big if" but nicko didn't do that, he was so confident we'd go out and get them all he 'put his neck on the line' and was sure we'd spend big.

The fact is, when nicko posts something like 'I'm confident you'll spend £45m-£50m' it sets a certain level of expectation amongst many people on here (especially the nickoteens who believe every word he says).

Had he never posted that figure I really don't think there would be as much hoo-ha behind the scenes right now or on this board. No one expected us to spend 40-50m until nicko said we would and because we may not now it has become a story. Great for nicko as he seems to have made a second story from his first unsubstantiated one....

A ) Tell BRFCS that Rovers will spend circa £50m

B ) Wait few weeks

C ) Have new story about how there is now less to spend

Two stories created from nothing, there was probably never a £50m budget in the first place as that was never a realistic amopunt of money considering how much our owners have and what it is worth them risking on a football club.

Please tell me how then we are to make the Champions League within 3 or 4 seasons? This is what the manager unequivocally stated.

[des]

in a few words could somene tell me what is happening to our club, because I for one have no idea

[broadsword]

in a few words could somene tell me what is happening to our club, because I for one have no idea

That's pretty much what's happening.

[niggit]

Neither does anyone, just sit tight and wait.

[tashor]

Sorry to sound a bit dim, as I have been out celebrating with the natives the date when our country got rid of an entire continent of troublesome colonists, but did nicko actually say Kentro were buggering off?

I see that nowhere.

Whoa there, you colonists are STILL there you daft bugger -

TAS, the Taft school, Watertown, Connecticut, class of '81, pleased ta meet ya.............................

[Bennisfromheaven]

I think (like Nicko said) the owners have become disillusioned with clubs, players and agents trying to take them for fools in the transfer market. It is common knowledge that they have cash to spend and because of that, they are deciding to sit tight (for a small period) and let such people stew and show that they are not willing to be pushed around in negotiations in a sort of "take it or leave it" manner. Over the next couple of weeks things will start to happen, i am convinced of that. I just think there has been a period of serious frustration due to such factors mentioned and they are taking the time to dust themselves off, take their medicine and try again for the players they want.

This is the first transfer window we have faced since our mate JW left and there are bound to be initial problems as to how we operate from now on. We would stupid to presume that this wouldn't happen due to a major staffing overhaul.

I also believe the owners and the club have the right to spend when they want, however they want on whoever they want, my only request is that they keep to their word and invest this "healthy" budget we allegedly have.

In these strange and confused times at our club i think that realistically the only people who know what is to happen this window are the family, Kean and Kentaro/SEM which leaves us lot to carry on speculating as ever. I say... Let's sit back and reserve judgement when this horrible window is done and dusted, when all is clear to see IF someone has taken us for a ride.

This scenario makes the most sense to me, after a long period of disclosure Venkys bought the club using advisers who new the playing markets inside out, I cant see them being so naive as to buy a club without knowing they would be looked as the new kids on the block & easy targets

Whether you believe they have millions or billions Venkys are very successful business people & I think & hope they are smarter than your average footballer & his agent

It is all a game of poker & Venkys are playing it cool!!

Fingers crossed!!

[beastlove]

I think (like Nicko said) the owners have become disillusioned with clubs, players and agents trying to take them for fools in the transfer market. It is common knowledge that they have cash to spend and because of that, they are deciding to sit tight (for a small period) and let such people stew and show that they are not willing to be pushed around in negotiations in a sort of "take it or leave it" manner. Over the next couple of weeks things will start to happen, i am convinced of that. I just think there has been a period of serious frustration due to such factors mentioned and they are taking the time to dust themselves off, take their medicine and try again for the players they want.

This is the first transfer window we have faced since our mate JW left and there are bound to be initial problems as to how we operate from now on. We would stupid to presume that this wouldn't happen due to a major staffing overhaul.

I also believe the owners and the club have the right to spend when they want, however they want on whoever they want, my only request is that they keep to their word and invest this "healthy" budget we allegedly have.

In these strange and confused times at our club i think that realistically the only people who know what is to happen this window are the family, Kean and Kentaro/SEM which leaves us lot to carry on speculating as ever. I say... Let's sit back and reserve judgement when this horrible window is done and dusted, when all is clear to see IF someone has taken us for a ride.

Great post.

[Neal]

This scenario makes the most sense to me, after a long period of disclosure Venkys bought the club using advisers who new the playing markets inside out, I cant see them being so naive as to buy a club without knowing they would be looked as the new kids on the block & easy targets

Whether you believe they have millions or billions Venkys are very successful business people & I think & hope they are smarter than your average footballer & his agent

It is all a game of poker & Venkys are playing it cool!!

Fingers crossed!!

Let's hope so fella!

Great post.

Thanks Beastlove.

[rebelmswar]

Whoa there, you colonists are STILL there you daft bugger -

TAS, the Taft school, Watertown, Connecticut, class of '81, pleased ta meet ya.............................

Did you get you Mao flag and Che shirt in your admission package? I personally liked the Castro bobblehead, I riveted it to the front of my truck.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Time for bed. Wake me up at the end of the season

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Unleaded, Unleaded, where art thou?

[artemorethanlabore]

Unleaded, Unleaded, where art thou?

Three cheers for this post!

[walk down bolton road]

Hughesy actually makes a very good point about players who have gone off the payroll.

So you COULD be able to take on a big earner or two - but it costs.

You have the advantage of having three or four home-grown players on low-ish salaries in your squad. That is also a plus.

What it needs is somebody to get a grip. Work out what you want to spend. Have faith in the person spending it. And get some people in who know how to find the players. And more to negotiate the right deals.

The lack of knowledge kicking around right at this moment is scary.

I wasn't going to repeat this. But it is an example. It came to light in the last few days.

There was a plan to bring in a couple of talented young Indian kids to the academy - maybe even higher,.

Then somebody realised the small question of 'work permits.'

That's not a mickey-take. That was actually discussed. It is clear that some of the rules have not been fully explained to people at the top.

Nicko Are Kentaro not the experts to find players and negotiate the right deals ?. If not why are they still on the scene ?.

And what happend to Venkys words that Kean is the man for them,when they obviously do not trust him to spend money ?.

[tonyoz]

What is annoying me more is that we had a management structure in place but we lost them for one reason or another, I was in Mallorca the last couple of weeks, lots of pro footballers there, some I spoke with others I didnt but the ones I did speak with were not very complimentary about Rovers at the moment and some of these lads were Championship players, now if those opinions are common, we are really going to have problems making decent signings!!

I've been travelling too. Back in the UK and first night home I was in the Fielden's Arms and spoke to several ST holders. And you know what? I couldn't find one who lamented the loss of Big Sam.

[chilly]

This board is hilarious.. One week everyone is told we have 50mill to spend and most go into dreamland.. The next week we're told its 26m including wages and that the owners may be looking to sell and all hell breaks loose.

Fact is players looking to move, early July will ask for stupid money. Why? Because they have time on their hands. Cisse knows he has an ace card in that he was one of the top scorers last season, he has 2 months to secure his future so why not give it a go to get stupid money early on, if push comes to shove later on in the window he will take a decent offer.

Venkys know this is the case with alot of players and so does every other club, hence why not many have made purchases and why most deals happen in the last few weeks of the window. Venkys will try their luck but if said player asks for too much Venkys will wait.

Why is it exactly after our budget got out that all the moles suddenly don't know how much we have to spend anymore? What else did u think would happen? Exactly that, it's common sense.

I don't think we'll spend 50, but I do think we'll spend more than we have in the past...

Relax guys

[JoeBlueWhite]

This board is the number one argument for the phrase...

'Ignorance is bliss'

Uggh I know.

People who said they were going to enjoy the summer and come back when the season starts had the right idea. No one has any idea whats going on atm, from the people with contacts Kamy\nicko to the people whose contacts are make believe figures who live in their heads ie philipl.

This topic is just everyone shouting at each other atm. Just a wall of noise.

I'm going to just keep an eye out in the paper for players we have actually signed and leave this craziness alone.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

But you stated yourself that Venkeys paying for RSC and Jones was money out of their pockets when people were slagging them off for not throwing in enough money.

If, what you said, is true then J. Jones and RSC can not be factored into any budget.

Our Jones could be, but it makes no fiscal sense to do so when it will just be seen as a write off of operating costs.

Our wage bill was/is clearly still to high. The argument was that we pay the tenth/twelth highest salaries to retain players capable of achieving a similar position - as suggested by the Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance. This worked for a while but the downside has been little to no investment in new players. As a result we are not getting any 'value' from the bulk of our high earners (what should constitute regular first team players).

I have no idea as to player salaries, however last year average salaries were around £28k,according to the Telegraph(not LET).

Let's summise (through nothing more than conjecture and idle gossip) that our high eaners are ranked as follows:

1. E H Diouf

2. Gamst Pedersen

3. Robinson

4. Samba

5. Nelsen

6. Salgado

7. Emerton

8. Grella

9. Givet

10. Kalinic

11. Dunn

12. Roberts

(Junior will be in there when/if new deal signed.)

* As a note of interest if the above is reasonably accurate then it may explain our lack of goals as most clubs would have strikers at the top of the structure.

We have got rid of some expensive rubbish this year - Chimbonda, Rigters, Kishnashvilli - Those salaries alone should have brought the salary to income ratio down by a couple of percent. Phil Jones has also gone.

It might also be assumed that the top 3/4 players may be approaching or earning over £50k per week. As Hughesy alluded to earlier, there is a lot of deadwood. Out of that 12, I think only Robinson Samba, Nelsen, Givet and Emerton currently justify their salary. To facilitate incoming signings, EHD, Grella, Dunn and Roberts should be available on a free, with realistic fees set for Pedersen and Kalinic.

It is also worth considering that Salgado, Emerton, Dunn, Roberts and Diouf are all out of contract next summer.

If the club want to keep the equilibrium of wage structure to leage position then fair enough but this is impossible without replacing several 'first team' members. It must surely be possible to find good players from around the world that would be happy to come in and play for the same kind of money as Diouf, Grella, Dunn, Pedersen etc.

It may be that we have to shift some of these players before new ones come in. Perhaps the current scenario is based on us not being able to shift the dead wood off the books, yet having to bring in 'replacements' to guarantee survival. In this case they may have to take a chunk of the transfer kitty away to cover the additional wages until a number of players are out of contract next year.

Whatever the outcome, we definitely need at least 4 good players this summer.

[chaddyrovers]

Let's just hope we have some positive news today please from Rovers.

[Taggart]

Kamy - when you speak to the Venkys spokesperson next, is it possible to confirm with them, if we have any "live" transfers on the go, and or made any bids, who is the decision maker and what calibre of player we are going for (Mrs D mentions 2 strikers and 1 defender)

I think that sort of info would defuse a lot of posts on here, that is, if they are allowed to confirm such information - it would certainly be good to hear some positive spin comign from Venkys PR about our intentions.

On a notehr note, I am far happier if we are knockign back approaches etc if we as a club, don`t feel it is value for money, i don`t want Rovers to be a soft touch and a pants round the ankle and open wide kind of club - I think the owners want to get value for money, fai rplay to them if that is the case, just hope that it doesn`t mean shopping at T.K. Max

[S15]

Some of you lot need to leave the house today.

[neophox]

Todays news in the daily mail claims we're interested in parma midfelder Fernando Marques.

[philipl]

Think back to the last four games of last season and imagine playing without the two Jones- scary thought!

[Parsonblue]

Let's just hope we have some positive news today please from Rovers.

The LT is reporting that Benjani will sign a new contract for the Rovers despite not going to Austria. That should be positive news for anybody! They are also reporting that Jermaine Jones won't be returning because his club want to keep him and are asking silly money for him.