[Archived] Formica Gone to Palermo

[Willie Eckerslike]

Sky reports that Mauro Formica has been sold to Palermo for an undisclosed fee

Wasn't consistent enough in my book so as long as we got a decent fee Id say good business

Now lets get someone ( or two or three...) in

[tomphil]

The lad always tried but was never cut out for the English game at any level. Having said that there are plenty more i'd bounce through the door first but i think he's wanted out for a while. Any money for him will prob just go to the agent like most of the fee when we signed him. Something rather strange about that one !

[davefarnworth]

A Kean (?) signing. Loads more to go hopefully. Portugal can welcome their kids back with open arms.

[Lurid Coat]

A bit sad to see "the new Batistuta" go. Even though he wasn't the most talented of players, he would usually graft and work hard on the pitch.

[Cocker]

I liked him to be honest. I just didn't think we utilised him as well as we could have. There were times when the he (and the rest of the team) were just camped on the edge of our own box. I just think he would do much better in an attacking team (same with Rochina).

This is the bit I find most interesting from the Palermo website:-

'Palermo announces that it has reached with the Blackburn Rovers Football Club in an agreement for the acquisition of rights to Mauro Abel Formica,"

They have 'acquired his rights' - did we ever own him?

[47er]

Good question! I'm glad he's gone tbh. One of the too many similar players that have been occupying our thoughts for some time.

However, because there were/are too many he didn't really get a chance to establish himself in the team on a long- term basis.

And when he did pay well, Kean soon dropped him!

[Blue blood]

A talented player but most definately a square peg in a round hole, so good to let him go regardless of whether he is any good or not.

Best in the hole, where Dunn and Rochina play. The latter has far more potential imo and we'll never shift Dunn, so right to get rid. Formica never really looked comfortable out wide, so really was surplus to requirements.

[Pedro]

Yeah, he was a trier and a grafter but ultimately a disappointment.

[Mafioso]

I think he'll do well in Italy where teams often tend to play the number 10 kind of attacking midfielder which is probably where he will play there.

Hard worker and quite skilled aswell. Probably my choice to let go too. I would take Rochina over him but he probably would comand a higher fee than Vukcevic, Dunn or MGP.

Thanks and good luck Gato!

[bypass06]

Formica due for Palermo medical

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/blackburn_rovers/news/10182272.Formica_due_for_Palermo_medical/

[Andy]

I wonder in the terminology of the deal reflects the fact that an agency own him, rather than any club?

Either way, I always liked Formica and even though he never hits the heights we expected, he was still a decent player and always put a shift in.

Would have been ideal in the hole behind a front two, but was always shifted out of position.

[davulsukur]

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/mauro-makes-loan-move-616227.aspx

[Muddboy]

Played out of his natural position every time and too lightweight to effect the game.

However, he always worked his socks off and tried to make things happen.

His attitude was spot on and I wish him the best of luck in Italy.

[LeChuck]

Hope he does well because he's a really hard worker, seems like a good kid.

He was never going to be a success over here though, he plays in a very specialised position that very few English teams use and he doesn't have the physical attributes to adapt to other positions.

Glad he's moved on, hopefully we can get a proper right sided midfielder now.

Would have been ideal in the hole behind a front two, but was always shifted out of position.

Well yeah, that was always his problem. Not a single team in the top two divisions over here plays with an attacking midfielder by two strikers.

He'll probably do well with the slower pace in Italy.

[DE.]

I get the feeling if his name was Mark Foster he'd be held in the same contempt as Keith Andrews. But because it's Mauro Formica he is 'liked' despite providing very little in terms of quality in the time he's been here.

[thenodrog]

Formica was not awful. Sure he was slow and that is one mighty big failing in English football, but the real issue is that we didn't need him. The club is awash with nearly men who play attacking midfield. In fact we could probably field a full 5 a side team of em ..... plus subs! Yet so many other areas are distinctly under strength. We all knew at the time that the bald dodgepot was signing people for apparently no good reason nor use to the club..... why he signed them who knows?

[RoverScot]

Not a bad player but one of the 'same player type' that has meant the squad hasn't been equipped for the championship. Hopefully we will sign a combative midfielder that we have needed for 5 years.

[K-Hod]

He did alright, but ultimately was found out because he wasn't physical enough. Nice cross for Rhodes' goal v Burnley, and a few other good moments during his time here, but he was certainly no world beater.

Think he'll do alright in Italy truth be told, the league will be more suited to him.

[Stuart]

I get the feeling if his name was Mark Foster he'd be held in the same contempt as Keith Andrews. But because it's Mauro Formica he is 'liked' despite providing very little in terms of quality in the time he's been here.

Interesting perspective. I actually think he put himself about quite a bit and was never really played in a position which suited him. He could perhaps have been used in a Savage role doing all of Murphy's running.

Is he any better or worse than Lowe? I'd say better. £3.5m of better? Probably not.

[DE.]

Problem is Formica overall cost us closer to 10m than 3.5m all things included.

Er, allegedly.

[LeChuck]

Is he any better or worse than Lowe? I'd say better. £3.5m of better? Probably not.

Not really a very good comparison as they're totally different players. We couldn't replace Lowe with Formica in the team.

[Stuart]

Not really a very good comparison as they're totally different players. We couldn't replace Lowe with Formica in the team.

I reckon we could.

Problem is Formica overall cost us closer to 10m than 3.5m all things included.

Er, allegedly.

Crikey.

[ABBEY]

Get the Portuguese out as well , trim the chaff . Oh no that means scumkys going too.

[The Rover of Finland]

He couldn´t have ended up a worse club for him than Rovers. Hope he does well elsewhere.

[Amo]

Did he even sign him?

These days it seems to be people above the manager who commission the signings and the managers just have to work with what they're given. Sure, nobody would have turned down Robinho at the time, but the signing was made when Hughes wasn't even manager of City. I doubt it was even his idea, even if he did give the OK to it.

I'm sure the implication is that Kean was in cahoots with a certain football agency regarding player recruitment.