Transfer Window Chat Thread

[scotty_beam_me_up]

And Diouf is not an excellent footballer. Average at best and for far too long he was keeping Hoilett out of the side. I've nothing against him and love it when he winds up opposition but if he doesn't get things his own way he sulks and acts out so is better off finding a new club around his level properly West Ham.

[Give 'Em the Axe]

I agree partly. I would never question Dioufs motivation or effort on the pitch. He is a winner and loves to win. Thats for sure. However he has lost his pace and would be a break in todays team. We saw many times under Sam that Dioufs tactic was holding the ball up and getting a free-kick. Ill much rather see roaming wingers ie hoilett, olsson, rochina etc

We have Emerton, Hoilett, Formica, Rochina, Olsson, Pedersen who are able to play the wing position in a better manner than Diouf did. I would never like to see his name on the sheet in front of any of our youngsters.

I also think he may be a dispruptive element in the player group. He has had 8 different clubs for the last 10-12 years and only under Sam has he managed more than 4 years at a club.

Rangers doesn't want him back either. That has to say something I think.

I would imagine Rangers are baulking at his wage demands, more than anything else. But that's just speculation on my behalf. And, yes, the idea of pacy, roaming wingers also fills my heart with excitement, but I still maintain Diouf is a useful man to have in the squad. Even if he was just coming from the bench to hold the ball and keep possession when we're looking to lock down games.

And Diouf is not an excellent footballer. Average at best and for far too long he was keeping Hoilett out of the side. I've nothing against him and love it when he winds up opposition but if he doesn't get things his own way he sulks and acts out so is better off finding a new club around his level properly West Ham.

Aye mate, that's fair enough we disagree on his merits. Certainly, I'd rather see Junior get his game, but the pragmatist in me is raging at the alienation of a player who gives 100%, gets in peoples faces and rarely gives the ball away cheaply.

[chocky]

1. NO journo had us down for relegation last year.

2. I agree.

Yes they did as did some SKy Sports pundits.

[briansol]

Spot on, my backside.

Okay, Grella has never been fit long enough to make an impact. But Diouf, like or loathe him, is an excellent footballer. He's been badly mis-managed by Kean since the QPR cup-tie. But I would never, ever question his motivation or effort on the pitch.

So what makes Diouf an excellent footballer? His ball retention. A term created just for him. The guy just doesn't produce anything offensively and I don't think anybody will claim his defensive work is so great either. He doesn't create chances or scores goals. Just compare with the impact Junior had last season and you will se why he wasn't anywhere to near the team sheet. He couldn't even cut it in SPL appearantly so why people wants to retain him is beyond me.

This is the guy who blamed his poor form on the weather and cold, so you could definetly question his motivation. Going AWOL was of course Kean's fault, no need to be professional with such a manager..

I understand a lot of the critism against Kean and Venky's, but Diouf is certainly not the best argument.

[Blueboy Downunder]

are we any wiser as to the name of this young striker, that we where supposedly after last night??

[alexanders]

Mertesacker eyes England move

[Give 'Em the Axe]

So what makes Diouf an excellent footballer? His ball retention. A term created just for him. The guy just doesn't produce anything offensively and I don't think anybody will claim his defensive work is so great either. He doesn't create chances or scores goals. Just compare with the impact Junior had last season and you will se why he wasn't anywhere to near the team sheet. He couldn't even cut it in SPL appearantly so why people wants to retain him is beyond me.

This is the guy who blamed his poor form on the weather and cold, so you could definetly question his motivation. Going AWOL was of course Kean's fault, no need to be professional with such a manager..

I understand a lot of the critism against Kean and Venky's, but Diouf is certainly not the best argument.

Well, I've already said my piece, but what I like about Diouf is the fact that he rarely gives the ball away, he wins frees in the opposition half and he has a delightful habit of winding up the opposition players. I'm not for one moment saying he should be a starter, but I cannot fathom why people can't see him as a useful man to have coming from the bench. With a squad as young as ours (seems to be heading, at least) his experience is another plus point.

Please don't misread my comments though. His disappearing act was disgraceful and I'm not looking to use him as a mallet to bash Venkys or Kean with. That talk is for other threads. I'm merely pointing out that I admire him as a footballer and that he merits a place in our squad. That's all.

[duggers]

i know people really want to have a go at the current owners but wanting to get rid of a player that has spat at players,fans and children as well as taunting a player when he was on the floor with a broken leg as well as racially abusing a ballboy as well as not turning up for a pre-season tour as well as keeping hoillet out of the team for much too long as well as being a fairly large earner.

good riddance, get him off the wage bill

[philipl]

I expect an apology for the mocking of my Grella shirt a couple of years ago, Philip!

I apologise.

Ordinarily I would not be that fussed about an attempt to move these sorts of players on but we are so unbelievably thin in playing staff now compared with two years ago I think we are taking one heck of a risk in doing this.

I hear repeatedly that the need is to move players out BEFORE we sign new ones. Football alas doesn't work like that. It is impossible for a club like Rovers to be sure that players of the necessary ability to thrive in the PL are going to be available on terms we can afford.

I suspect that although Mrs D has fired Kentaro, she still believes some of their snake oil about the people and playing staff she acquired and how easy peasy trading and loaning players is. Judging by progress to date, she is an exceptionally slow learner of things football.

[Give 'Em the Axe]

I hear repeatedly that the need is to move players out BEFORE we sign new ones. Football alas doesn't work like that. It is impossible for a club like Rovers to be sure that players of the necessary ability to thrive in the PL are going to be available on terms we can afford.

Yeah. A very dangerous game to play.

[Hughesy]

I see you are going 4-4-2, a formation that Kean rarely uses.

And are you confident that intended £120k per week saving is anything other than a straight saving if they can offload those players?

My personal view is I'd keep EHD and Grella. If fit and motivated, they are both undoubtedly of proven PL quality. And we are down to under 11 players of that stature if they are cleared out.

Let's face it, Venky's are bumbling fools.

Grella & EHD both fit & motivated?? Ha another classic!

4 players offered for sale:

Grella – NEVER FIT

Diouf – Attitude problem and sulks if he isn’t with his master Sam

Kalinic – Whilst he has potential, he has never lived up to it and to get our money back on him after 2 years is excellent business

Andrews – Everyone apart from his boyfriend on here, 99% of fans thinks he is useless, no matter how many times people throw the ‘speak to Trap’ line out.

Last season Andrews & Grella had almost ZERO impact whether it be from the bench or from starting. Diouf did ok under Sam, but then sulked and then Kalinic scored one or two easy chances but again sulked when dropped.

EVEN in the worst case scenario Philip of Rovers saving £120k a week off our budget, at least that way it allows us to bring down our wages/ turnover ratio down which is far too high for some of the crap we hold. It also gives us abit more room to be able to negotiate for the right player.

As for your line about the wicked witch of Pune, so apt, how’s Brother Ali with his £100m bank balance doing?

[jim mk2]

And Diouf is not an excellent footballer. Average at best and for far too long he was keeping Hoilett out of the side.

Diouf has excellent ball skills, rarely gives the ball away, can play with his back to goal, makes space for himself in a tight midfield with speed of thought, and is a fine passer of a ball. He and Salgado are the best footballers at the club. Managers sometimes don't "fancy" a player but Kean's management of Diouf and failure to recognise qualities that he can still bring to the team has been poor. Bringing him back into the fold would save the club having to buy a new midfield player.

[chaddyrovers]

rovers in for defender to replace PJ

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/9183082.Kean_in_for_defender_to_ease_injury_problems/

[Give 'Em the Axe]

"We are still looking for another striker and another midfield player as well, we are active and we are out there.”

That's a quote from Kean in the LT. Does he mean a midfielder in addition to Petrovic? Or is he talking Vierinha?

[jim mk2]

rovers in for defender to replace PJ

http://www.lancashir...njury_problems/

Hanley and Givet to start at centre back against Wolves ??? The failure to replace P Jones is soon coming home to roost.

[imy9]

I see you are going 4-4-2, a formation that Kean rarely uses.

Now, work on the basis that we have a good season for injuries and suspensions and that we have only three of those players unavailable at any one time and put them into the 4-3-2-1 formation Kean is likely to start with.

Start off by taking Salgado, Nelsen and Hoilett out- the players most recently unavailable through carrying knocks.

And as for signing players, what confidence have you get we will when it appears that nobody except the yet to be signed Petrovic (whom is in your squad) and Vieirinha is remotely on the horizon this morning?

Remember, we are talking people of the calibre of Everton's turnstile manager, Leicester's marketing manager, an Indian small ads for the Indian market maker and this new Indian chap who Nicko borrowed his sales brochure from running our transfer business plus Kean whose name stinks the length and breadth of football and the chicken farmers themselves who are at best a standing joke and at worst deeply distrusted in the football world.

Obviously the likelihood is that EHD, Grella and Andrews will still be with us on 1 September given the fact that anybody negotiating with Rovers can now do so with our cards completely face up. Those three players will know that the OWNERS tried to shift them considering them to be a waste of money and dinosaurs from the pre-Venky's era. A great way to motivate your players and to make Dunn, MGP and Bert feel part of the show as well.

And are you confident that intended £120k per week saving is anything other than a straight saving if they can offload those players?

My personal view is I'd keep EHD and Grella. If fit and motivated, they are both undoubtedly of proven PL quality. And we are down to under 11 players of that stature if they are cleared out.

Let's face it, Venky's are bumbling fools.

My issues:

1. An employee of Rovers has either released sensitive material or left it lying it around- for Nicko to name the bloke... he has not got a job for long has he.

2. We are short on numbers that is clear however we CAN name a strong 17 man squad something you said we couldn't. Ideally I would want a strong squad of 20 with 5 youngsters, so I reckon (excluding Petrovic) we need another 4 players.

3. My biggest worry (which I have highlighted a number of times) has been the wages at Rovers- they are obscene, do many clubs in the PL offer £5K in appearance bonus'? Blackpool players were earning a maximum of £10K a week in comparison.

4. The people you have highlighted Kamy has said "have potential"- Hunt is doing an excellent currently and the fact that we are on the verge of our second signing (beating off the likes of Roma to Petrovic) I would say there is a structure in place to purchase players- a positive.

5. We offered PJ the biggest contract in Rovers history- because he was worth it. I seriously doubt average players will be getting big contracts in the future (my opinion).

[Roost]

Diouf has excellent ball skills, rarely gives the ball away, can play with his back to goal, makes space for himself in a tight midfield with speed of thought, and is a fine passer of a ball. He and Salgado are the best footballers at the club. Managers sometimes don't "fancy" a player but Kean's management of Diouf and failure to recognise qualities that he can still bring to the team has been poor. Bringing him back into the fold would save the club having to buy a new midfield player.

Are you serious? Salgado is up there with the best but EHD? Surely you are joking?

He is above average at best and dreadful when he is not in the mood.

[Taggart]

That's a quote from Kean in the LT. Does he mean a midfielder in addition to Petrovic? Or is he talking Vierinha?

I think it probably menas Veerinha to be honest GETA - or that is how I have read it.

If we end up with Goodwillie, Vierinha, Petrovic, A.N.Other Striker, New Defender refrred to in the article - then I will be please with the business thsi summer and strenghing of the team (if the other playes are quality of course).

I have no objections at all to Grell, Diouf, Andrews beign cleared off the wage bill - i agree that Diouf is a very good footballer, but I just don`t like the guy,a nd I can`t imagine the relationship with the club/Diouf getting any better, so its probably the right time to draw a line under him and part ways.

Up the rovers

[Gav]

Diouf has excellent ball skills, rarely gives the ball away, can play with his back to goal, makes space for himself in a tight midfield with speed of thought, and is a fine passer of a ball. He and Salgado are the best footballers at the club. Managers sometimes don't "fancy" a player but Kean's management of Diouf and failure to recognise qualities that he can still bring to the team has been poor. Bringing him back into the fold would save the club having to buy a new midfield player.

You have to remember Diouf doesn't want to play for Kean or even stay at the club Jim, it wasn't in Keans hands, Diouf asked to leave.

[Paul Mellelieu]

Are you serious? Salgado is up there with the best but EHD? Surely you are joking?

He is above average at best and dreadful when he is not in the mood.

Thought EHD was our best player in the first third of last season.

[chris]

I think it probably menas Veerinha to be honest GETA - or that is how I have read it.

If we end up with Goodwillie, Vierinha, Petrovic, A.N.Other Striker, New Defender refrred to in the article - then I will be please with the business thsi summer and strenghing of the team (if the other playes are quality of course).

I have no objections at all to Grell, Diouf, Andrews beign cleared off the wage bill - i agree that Diouf is a very good footballer, but I just don`t like the guy,a nd I can`t imagine the relationship with the club/Diouf getting any better, so its probably the right time to draw a line under him and part ways.

Up the rovers

I agree it will be a good summer if this all comes off, the sooner the better these transfers happen the better, I have been willing to wait but would have liked it all sort by the start of the season.

I think that Venkys really like getting their value so I can see some 31st Aug deals going on.

[Parsonblue]

Rangers doesn't want him back either. That has to say something I think.

As we saw with Goodwillie, it says that Rangers don't have the money to buy him or pay his wages.

[jim mk2]

You have to remember Diouf doesn't want to play for Kean or even stay at the club Jim, it wasn't in Keans hands, Diouf asked to leave.

Perhaps he needs a cuddle. Some players need to feel wanted. Seems to have worked wonders for Jason.

Even more worrying is the Samba injury. The squad is already thin and we don't need players getting crocked. A defence of Salgado / Hanley / Givet / Olsson with a gaping hole in front of it previously filled by J Jones is asking for trouble.

[Kelbo]

So what makes Diouf an excellent footballer? His ball retention. A term created just for him. The guy just doesn't produce anything offensively and I don't think anybody will claim his defensive work is so great either. He doesn't create chances or scores goals. Just compare with the impact Junior had last season and you will se why he wasn't anywhere to near the team sheet. He couldn't even cut it in SPL appearantly so why people wants to retain him is beyond me.

This is the guy who blamed his poor form on the weather and cold, so you could definetly question his motivation. Going AWOL was of course Kean's fault, no need to be professional with such a manager..

I understand a lot of the critism against Kean and Venky's, but Diouf is certainly not the best argument.

Ball retention is one of the foremost thoughts in a scouts eyes when looking at players, certainly not created for him or any individual, the thoughts on ball retaention are immense, if you have the ball opponents cant play, you can slow a game down with good ball retention, you can hold play up with good ball retention until others get into more advanced/available positions, in fact good ball retention, along with great movement is what makes Barcelona such a good side, they rarely give the ball away!

[alexanders]

You have different types of ball retention on a proffesional level thouhg.

Slowing the play down or being able to retent (sp) the ball while making passes or skimming the opposition?