[Archived] Grant Hanley

[McClarky]

Basically every footballer wants to get as far as they can in the game and loyalty has no place in it. We decided to sell him and have done so for a reasonable price. Assuming there won't be any money spent this further weakens us as did the departures of Gestede, Caurney, Olsson and Rhodes over the last year or so. Mission Venky is alonst complete.

[Waggy76]

Basically every footballer wants to get as far as they can in the game and loyalty has no place in it. We decided to sell him and have done so for a reasonable price. Assuming there won't be any money spent this further weakens us as did the departures of Gestede, Caurney, Olsson and Rhodes over the last year or so. Mission Venky is alonst complete.

Your last sentence , gives me a little hope !

[chaddyrovers]

Thats when Boro came calling isn't it?

Boro came calling in March when they approach us about a loan deal

[BlueMonday]

Lets not get onto the Rhodes debate again. Rhodes never went public with anything but good things about Blackburn Rovers until the summer of 2015 when Middlesbrough wanted to sign him. By then he had been with the club for 3 underwhelming seasons with us never getting close to promotion.

It was quite obvious that as early as 2014 someone at Rovers was actively trying to sell him. Who or why I don't know, but he was half way to being sold to Hull in 2014 before Venkys intervened at the 11th hour and put a stop to it. Despite being messed about by the club and basically sold before the owners stepped in, Rhodes got back to work, didn't complain or kick up a fuss, and went on to score another 20+ that season.

By 2015 he had clearly had enough of being used by certain people behind the scenes and wanted out, and yet even then Rovers refused to sell him, so he got back to work and scored another 11 before eventually leaving in January.

At the time I thought his behaviour was wrong to go public in 2015, but I've reassessed and don't blame him one bit. God only knows what goes on behind closed doors at Rovers these days, I wouldn't blame anyone for wanting out of the madhouse, and Rhodes certainly 'did his bit' for the club whilst here.

We can't rule out that they told him in private he would be allowed to move and then they reneged, they have a track record of that. Thus leading to his frustration and drop in form at the end.

I'm not just stating the Rhodes wanted out. that's all.

I would have took the 14 million pounds Hull offered for Rhodes in 2014 just for the record

But why, when we quite clearly know that the money doesn't get used to improve the squad?

We are nearly at the end of a programme of down grading the squad, (I call it asset stripping) with no future investment in improvement likely, and the prospect of Youth team players promoted every season to make the numbers up, wether they are ready or not.

Is this not ringing any alarm bells with you Chaddy? How long do you think the Club can continue with this policy?

[Gav]

Boro came calling in March when they approach us about a loan deal

The point was about Hanley anyway, maybe you missed that bit chaddy? this thread is about Hanley.

[blueboy3333]

The point was about Hanley anyway, maybe you missed that bit chaddy? this thread is about Hanley.

quick, change the subject that you were previously happy to discuss.

[Blueandwhitemike]

Blueboy, I think there point is, and I'm not sure where there's an argument against it, is that Rhodes was linked away for a long, long time and never said anything, just ask Mercer

Hanley hasn't said anything either in public

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

So our Captain goes over the Hill into the Geordie Sunset...probably the last player of any substance and financial worth at Ewood.

Dreadful news.....it's the duped season ticket holders I feel for right now.

We are being reduced to Cannon fodder in this p!ss pot league!!

[DE.]

Dreadful news.....it's the duped season ticket holders I feel for right now.

If you're still being duped after six years of this nonsense you need a lot more than sympathy.

[perthblue02]

So our Captain goes over the Hill into the Geordie Sunset...probably the last player of any substance and financial worth at Ewood.

Dreadful news.....it's the duped season ticket holders I feel for right now.

What was it , were all in this together

Still look on the bright side there is a pic of him arriving in Newcastle, seems to be walking ok (no crutches or hastily arranged knee support) so at least his injury as cleared up luckily just in time for the medical, phew

[ABBEY]

Why do you spin everything the 3 idiots do as a positive for Rovers.

They are killing the Club by a thousand cuts. They are ignorant arrogant people who don't care about ruining a Football Club that so many hold dear to their heart.

+100000

[Baz]

5.5m will hardly make a dint in the debt (if used for that), and none or very little of it will be reinvested into the team.

Sad day to yet again see club assets being flogged off to pay for the errors made in India.

Good luck to Grant, hope he does well for the Toon.

[blueboy3333]

The clog on the tyne

[Husky]

Well at least he's staying at his level - 2nd tier.

[JBiz]

I think we can safely say it will happen probably slightly higher than we're currently being offered

Is 3+ times the 1.5m offered "slightly" higher? I thought 5m would do the trick with 2 years left.

I think, despite not much in press - GH has decided he's up for leaving and who could blame him really?

I have much respect for him still, proper pro. I always said if he was English, he'd have gone when Jones did for something similar! Maybe not quite gone on to the level I thought he would, but I think he will really improve with a proper manager.

Shame, but good luck big head. I still remember arguing last year on here, that he was quality and we'd miss him (in the face of "I'd drive him to Burnley", "we'd accept a bag of chips" et al)..

Strange how things can change. Will Jason Lowe be heralded as a legend in 12 months? Tune in then...

[tomphil]

I remember wanting rid but didn't want him to go to Burnley as I knew if Dyche got hold of him he'd turn him into a proper player. Anyway he stayed and Lambert did it instead but sorry he was anything but a proper pro that season he was a useless hungover tit.

Well known face in hostelries and clubs all over Lancs & Mancs, not rumours but fact. There was a good reason people wanted rid, never a doubt he was better than he was showing though but his eye was well off the ball under ickle uncle Gary.

[JBiz]

Don't have to be in bed by 9 every weekend to be a proper pro, lad often saved us single handedly, left it on the pitch!

No arguments about him liking a drink, but so what? He's been one of the only players who've come out of the last few years with credit. Handing that to Lambert is almost as laughable as Steve Keans "I found Jones"..

[LDRover]

Well, for me his performance as captain and defensive leader improved tenfold in the latter stages of last season. Always had the potential but never fully realised it up until then as far as I'm concerned.

[K-Hod]

Don't have to be in bed by 9 every weekend to be a proper pro, lad often saved us single handedly, left it on the pitch!

No arguments about him liking a drink, but so what? He's been one of the only players who've come out of the last few years with credit. Handing that to Lambert is almost as laughable as Steve Keans "I found Jones"..

So, Hanley didn't look his best under Lambert? He always had the potential, but I think he showed this the most under PL, I think he'll get better and better under Rafa as well.

[MCMC1875]

Well, for me his performance as captain and defensive leader improved tenfold in the latter stages of last season. Always had the potential but never fully realised it up until then as far as I'm concerned.

Credit to Mr Lambert I think LD.

[tomphil]

Don't have to be in bed by 9 every weekend to be a proper pro, lad often saved us single handedly, left it on the pitch!

No arguments about him liking a drink, but so what? He's been one of the only players who've come out of the last few years with credit. Handing that to Lambert is almost as laughable as Steve Keans "I found Jones"..

In that particular season he was plain awful and cost goals almost weekly. It was plain to see his mind was elsewhere and his lifestyle was clearly affecting his performances. He was still a bit ropey earlier last season but he looked fitter and wasn't seen in his usual midweek, Sat night, all day Sunday local haunts. Lambert came in and changed the style of play and both centre halves benefited.

I know you like airbrushing stuff out and rewriting history but there is nowhere to go on this one. Just go back and read posts from that season.

[Parsonblue]

Hanley was outstanding from the very start of pre-season last year. He came back after the summer break far fitter and developed into an outstanding defender. I have no problem with the fact he wants to move on or that the club are prepared to sell him. However, 5.5 million is a joke and to me suggests that the Bank is starting to make demands which means any fee is suddenly acceptable. It will be interesting to see if Duffy and/or Marshall follow him out of the door. At the moment I think it looks likely.

[LDRover]

Credit to Mr Lambert I think LD.

Agreed. I think the more disciplined regime benefitted him massively.

[tomphil]

The main journo up there in the Chronicle I think it was said Rovers had backed down on the price so clearly all parties wanted and needed it to go through. He was always being flogged this season whether it was 3 mill to Sheffield or 5 mill to Newcastle.

[LDRover]

The main journo up there in the Chronicle I think it was said Rovers had backed down on the price so clearly all parties wanted and needed it to go through. He was always being flogged this season whether it was 3 mill to Sheffield or 5 mill to Newcastle.

With that in mind it looks inevitable that Duffy and Marshall follow him out of the exit door. In fact, once other clubs realise the score at Ewood, there'll be enquiries for anyone worth buying - not that there are many left.