[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[Wolverine]

I learnt just how biased an impartial report can be, and how they get away with complete fabrication. It's all in the words. Case in point is:

"Scientists claim..." Vs "Scientists have discovered..."

[nicko]

Newell got the winner in the play off final Al, Speedie got two in the Semi at home to Derby.

Correct - I think the wee man takes a lot of the credit for the dive. That's why it stuck in the memory.

[rovers_rob]

Lineker was the top boy at the time, England and Tottenham etc. Jack Walker said he would pay to buy him, but people only knew the Rovers 'management' as Donald Mackay and Bill Fox.

Old Bill was one of the nicest guys I ever met in football and he confirmed my info that they had offered £2 million for Lineker which was a British record at the time.

Spurs were totally skint but very pompous and rejected the offer. They thought it was a stunt. Jon Holmes, Lineker's puffed-up agent, even threatened to report the club to the Football League.

Bill Fox was the man responsible for the 'Jack could have bought Tottenham line.' Just feel I should give him credit for that somehow.

After that bid Rovers went in for Tony Cottee. In the end they got David Speedie, the only player who had the balls to take the gamble and join. Funny how it works out as he scored the goal that won the play-off final.

Newell turned us down before Kenny came didn't he ?

[broadsword]

Yeah eh did, but was to sign later.

We also wanted Sheringham but couldn't tempt him either.

I remember reading about this in the 'paper and thinking "what the f***!"

[nicko]

Newell turned us down before Kenny came didn't he ?

I think all of the top strikers did that summer. The idea was to sign one and they would all follow. In the end it was 'get the big-name boss and they would all follow.'

You had to feel sorry for Don Mackay, he did a good job with the squad he had but was never going to be able to attract the top people they wanted at the time.

Strange how things change but stay the same. Man City and West Ham have gone through similar spells lately when they had to pay silly money to get anyone to believe in them - and they are in the Premier League.

[nicko]

For those who like their nostalgia with a punch...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle2426480.ece

It's quite interesting but a bit superficial.

Why were there cliques and what did Batty say?

If you are going to write a book you should tell the whole story.

[bluebruce]

The stories about the Lineker bid and the Kenny appointment are absolutely true.

I was at The Sun at the time and had a stand-up row over Lineker. They knew who had told me it was right but still threw it away and only gave it part of the back page.

I find this interesting...why did they do that? Because they were all Spurs fans?

[nicko]

I find this interesting...why did they do that? Because they were all Spurs fans?

No. The sports editor - who was a good operator - did not like Rovers at all and refused to believe they would be able to do the deal.

I told him directly that the info was stood up by Bill Fox and they had the money. To be fair to him - and he was a Bolton fan - he gave it a slot on the back but only after some heavy arguing.

It didn't matter whether the bid was accepted or not. It was made and it was real.

A year or so later they were crazy for any Rovers story once the spending started...funny old game.

[Wolverine]

...once the spending started...funny old game.

Like shallow women, they all love you when you are spending like it's going out of fashion.

[broadsword]

No. The sports editor - who was a good operator - did not like Rovers at all

Bah, I refuse to believe that that mighthappen!

[nicko]

Bah, I refuse to believe that that might happen!

No, it did. The trouble for the sports editor at the time was also that he had Kelvin MacKenzie as editor and would risk a blasting if he backed a story - and then had to explain why it had not happened.

Subtle points, like the fact that there was a new power in town that they had not heard of.

To be fair to The Sun they did run the story when I wrote that Jack Walker was buying the club. It was the first time it appeared in the nationals. So they were not all bad, just needed persuading at times.

[Wiggy]

Nicko, I travelled to Legia Warsaw with the press in 1995. As it was a Champions League game most of the so called Number Ones travelled. I was absolutely amazed by their unprofessional behaviour...they slagged off Rovers all the way there, hit the bar as soon as we arrived in Poland and the majority were absolutely out of it when the bus came to take us to the ground. In the bar prior to the game they bragged about how the reports would be.." Shearer saves poor Rovers" or "Even Shearer can't save poor Rovers". Most of them just appeared to be English yobs on the p*ss abroad. (There were some honourary exceptions such as the admirable David Lacy who kept away from the pack but entertained us with fascinating anecdotes.)

[T4E]

No, it did. The trouble for the sports editor at the time was also that he had Kelvin MacKenzie as editor

Somewhere I can sense Mottman twitching.......

[thenodrog]

Nicko, I travelled to Legia Warsaw with the press in 1995. As it was a Champions League game most of the so called Number Ones travelled. I was absolutely amazed by their unprofessional behaviour...they slagged off Rovers all the way there, hit the bar as soon as we arrived in Poland and the majority were absolutely out of it when the bus came to take us to the ground. In the bar prior to the game they bragged about how the reports would be.." Shearer saves poor Rovers" or "Even Shearer can't save poor Rovers". Most of them just appeared to be English yobs on the p*ss abroad. (There were some honourary exceptions such as the admirable David Lacy who kept away from the pack but entertained us with fascinating anecdotes.)

Wot? You mean some sports writers are somewhat less than perfect when you observe them from up close Wiggy? Getaway....

[bluebruce]

I told him directly that the info was stood up by Bill Fox and they had the money. To be fair to him - and he was a Bolton fan - he gave it a slot on the back but only after some heavy arguing.

A Bolton fan!!! Grrr, my hatred of them grows...

[Roversider]

A Bolton fan!!! Grrr, my hatred of them grows...

Worse than that - a Bolton fan working for the Sun!

Sorry Nicko, bad place to have on your CV, in my humble opinion.

[Dunnfc]

Nicko have you heard anything about Hughes being a target for Spurs?

[nicko]

Nicko have you heard anything about Hughes being a target for Spurs?

I would think that is a possibility.

Spurs wanted him and Trappatoni in a double act about four years ago.

He's done quite well since...

[AggyBlue]

Nicko have you heard anything about Hughes being a target for Spurs?

Hughes has always said he only wants to manage a club that he's played for. Forget spuds.

[rovers_rob]

I think Jol is definitely going to be sacked, hopefully they will go for a high profile foreign manger.

Are there going to be any interesting revelations in the paper tomorrow nicko ?

[nicko]

I think Jol is definitely going to be sacked, hopefully they will go for a high profile foreign manger.

Are there going to be any interesting revelations in the paper tomorrow nicko ?

Reasonable tale on the Chimbonda/Willie McKay front.

Bad news on Heskey, which is a pity for the lad.

Nothing Rovers-wise from me.

Dreadful Colin McRae news to by the sound of it.

Subdued.

[Mozzer]

i personally couldnt see mark hughes leaving to a team on same wave length as blackburn..someone better maybe..

mark hughes is building something great at blackburn...

[joey_big_nose]

Hughes has always said he only wants to manage a club that he's played for. Forget spuds.

He actually said he would like to manage all his old clubs. Im sure Spurs would interest him if he didn't have a better thing going at Rovers, as he does now.

I can't see him leaving for spuds if Jol goes. He has spent three years putting together an excellent squad here and he will want to see what he can achieve with it.

[thenodrog]

Dreadful Colin McRae news to by the sound of it.

Subdued.

That is very sad.

[nicko]

On a brighter note...

Chris Samba came back with the team last night and is OK this morning. Fair play to the club and his mates, they held back the flight for an hour to make sure the bug guy was on the plane.

I can't see him going to Greece, but he plans to be available for selection for the Portsmouth game on Sunday.

Would anyone like to argue with him?