January Transfer Window - Part One

[LeChuck]

Maybe we should start planning for relegation now, we haven't got a chance of staying up.

Sell Samba, Yakubu, Hoilett, N'Zonzi etc (i.e. the ones that would leave if we went down) and replace them with players who could get us straight back up next season, so basically dip into the Championship and bring in the best players from down there, so the likes of Maynard etc.

That way we can overhaul the squad this window, let them bed in together and have a go and coming straight back year. If we have to do a fire sale in the summer and assemble a new team we'd have no chance of coming back up because it would take months for the team to settle.

[budha]

Not sure if the likes of Maynard would see it as a good option to come here to struggle in PL for couple of months before dropping back to Championship and have their wages halved again to Championship-level for (atleast) a year. But in principle I agree: for example if someone is ready to pay £5M+ for Yakubu, I'd rather sell him now than in the summer for (max) £1,5M.

[LeChuck]

Well the attraction for them is that if they have a storming six months in the Premier League then other PL clubs would try and buy them. You only have to look at Andy Carroll to see what a few good months in a the Premier League can do to a player (£90k wages I think!)

We'd be able to offer higher wages too.

[Hughesy]

Maynard is out of contract in summer so shouldn't be too expensive. Offer them Andrews as part ex

[tugay5]

Sky sports news breaking news... We've made a bid for Andy Johnson .... Thought we had to sell first? That mean samba deal is in the pipeline?

[Guest TheArtistFormallyKnownAsJB]

Well... at least we have made 1 bid this window

[davulsukur]

Its unlikley Fulham will accept £4.99 for Johnson, which is probably all we can afford.

As Tugay5 says it will most likely be a case of AJ in and Samba or possibly Junior out.

[The Rover of Finland]

Well... at least we have made 1 bid this window

probably just teasing Fulham before the match. He probably scores few goals for Fulham on saturday.

[John]

A striker is our priority then?

[lukey]

Andy Cryer says that the club is still adamant on keeping samba and that the bid for AJ is 100% true.

Makes me wonder if they have reacted after Samba's comments today? I doubt it... but its possible.

[K-Hod]

Andy Cryer says that the club is still adamant on keeping samba and that the bid for AJ is 100% true.

Makes me wonder if they have reacted after Samba's comments today? I doubt it... but its possible.

Don't be daft...

[G Somerset Rover]

A striker is our priority then?

Of course John.

This is largely due to our water-tight defence and dominating midfield that we currently boast.

We play like Barca, we just need an AJ type striker to put away our lovey build up play.

[tugay5]

Nobody knows the size of this bid. Qpr had one rejected for AJ earlier in the window. This could be a pointless exercise from venkys to show there actively making bids however it's probably so low it won't get accepted anyway

[adsfortheblues]

The departure of Samba will be the biggest blow for BRFCS in years and I dont think im going to far as in saying its on par with Shearer's departure in 1996 because Samba going means loss of a leader, captain, inspiration and spirit. It will also give us a far less attacking threat at set pieces and corners and we will be very suseptable at the back even more so than now.

[Inta Beaver]

Well... at least we have made 1 bid this window

We made a bid for Ronaldinho once as well......or did we?

[DE.]

The departure of Samba will be the biggest blow for BRFCS in years and I dont think im going to far as in saying its on par with Shearer's departure in 1996 because Samba going means loss of a leader, captain, inspiration and spirit. It will also give us a far less attacking threat at set pieces and corners and we will be very suseptable at the back even more so than now.

Reb's disappearance has been a bigger blow than Samba going for BRFCS imo.

I genuinely think Samba is the one player the owners don't want to sell. I think the others all have a price, but he's the one they've earmarked as being crucial to any chance of survival. Think it would take a big bid to take him from us. Havnr't got any facts or evidence to back this up, just a feeling I've got reading certain comments.

[joey_big_nose]

Im a bit non plussed about Johnson. Average player, mostly about pace and finishing but getting old so the pace is going. Can't get into a Fulham team not particularly blessed with strikers.

Could work out like Yakubu but on the face of it not that promising. I guess we will see.

[MarkBRFC71]

Sky sports news breaking news... We've made a bid for Andy Johnson .... Thought we had to sell first? That mean samba deal is in the pipeline?

Good God no. Why are we signing Championship standard stri...... oh.

[rovers11]

Nobody knows the size of this bid. Qpr had one rejected for AJ earlier in the window. This could be a pointless exercise from venkys to show there actively making bids however it's probably so low it won't get accepted anyway

Exactly my thought. Reckon the bid will be below a million with Rovers knowing it won't get accepted. Probably a PR exercise ahead of Kean's press conference tomorrow to 'prove' we have money to spend.

[A cup of beans]

Exactly my thought. Reckon the bid will be below a million with Rovers knowing it won't get accepted. Probably a PR exercise ahead of Kean's press conference tomorrow to 'prove' we have money to spend.

lets hope, for once.. it is a publicity stunt.

[Hughesy]

The departure of Samba will be the biggest blow for BRFCS in years

What?! Is he Glenn in disguise?

[AJW]

Huszti is actually a good player, has a very good left foot, he's good at set pieces which would replace the need for a woeful pedersen to play,we could certainly do worse in this transfer window.zenith bought him to replace arshavin

sounds like Vuckevic

[mode_m]

Why?? No offence, but his shot stopping from distance is also poor.

David de Gea and Lindegaard have been liabilities, I figured while Rovers was having a fire sale it would be a good opportunity.

Judging by the amount of news surrounding Samba today I can only assume he is on his way out.

[FFP83]

Of course John.

This is largely due to our water-tight defence and dominating midfield that we currently boast.

We play like Barca, we just need an AJ type striker to put away our lovey build up play.

A striker isnt a priority but is needed. Just because we sign one poition first doesnt mean Kean thinks thats the area we need strengthening most, its probably the deal he thinks will go through quickest. So makes sense to get that done first.

I am a realist and personally would be very happy with AJ, he works very hard and used to play up front with the Yak so hopefully they could gel together quicker than a random foreigner from another league. Yes we play one up front (which AJ did very well for Palace and periods with Everton) so AJ is another option for that or if the Yak gets injured id prefer AJ to lead the line than Goodwillie or Roberts. Also having AJ means we can play two up front. Not many strikers with PL experience will want to come to a team thats bottom of the league, awful manager and a joke in the media and footballing world so AJ is a lot better standard than I was expecting we could get. It wasnt that long ago he was a 12 million pound player and touted for England, admitedly his best days are behind him but I still think he has a lot to offer.

I was also very positive when we signed a "overweight, past it" striker called Yakubu.

[den]

Im a bit non plussed about Johnson. Average player, mostly about pace and finishing falling over trying to win free kicks, but getting old so the pace is going.

Corrected that JBN - so what does that leave?

Anyway, seriously, Johnson is/was the type of player who's always a pain when he plays against you. Trouble is, when you look at what he actually achieves, it isn't a lot. Has scored surprisingly few career goals - one in five is it? He's a better bet than Goodwillie though. Not sure what that says.