[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[benlloninho]

For the American fan, what can you tell me about Johnson and Brad Guzan?

Eddie Johnson? Probably not technically good enough, but is a great athlete, i.e. good frame, strong, quick. I think he would do pretty well in Scotland, but not good enough for England, IMHO.

Is Brad Guzan the 'keeper? I think his first year in MLS his team finished bottom of the league, so I think he had loads of good saves, but he also had loads of opportunities to make good saves. Still young for a goalkeeper, only 23.

Ever since he appeared in the Milk Cup in 2003, Guzan has found himself linked with a host of top European clubs, and his superb performances in the 2007 MLS Season (in which he won the Goalkeeper of the Year award), as well as with the U.S. National Team have made interest even stronger. Though he is most often linked with a move to Arsenal[2], he has also been linked to Premier League superpowers Liverpool[3], Scottish Premier League Champions Celtic[4][5], Greek heavyweights Olympiacos[6], as well as French side AJ Auxerre[7].

[T4E]

There's no way we would swap Zamora for Roberts. I'd be extremely unhappy if there were truth to it. Yes Roberts is a pretty average finisher, but on his day he can give any central defender in the premiership a headache. Which I guess is why Hughes will sell him but only for 4 mill plus.

There'd be only 2 reasons to get rid of Roberts -

1. A ridiculous offer lands.

2. This Bulgarian lad is deemed better.

If neither of these happen by the weekend, we must put it to bed and move on. We desperately need to improve the defence and midfield, we can't afford to waste time sodding about with the strikers.

[alexanders]

We desperately need to improve the defence and midfield, we can't afford to waste time sodding about with the strikers.

So, getting £4M for selling Roberts wouldn't help in improving midfield?

[LeftWinger]

So, getting £4M for selling Roberts wouldn't help in improving midfield?

Cutting your nose off to spite your face.

[alexanders]

Cutting your nose off to spite your face.

Sorry, but that's to advanced english for a norwegian

[USRoverME]

For the American fan, what can you tell me about Johnson and Brad Guzan?

Eddie Johnson - big lad, 6' tall, looks bigger, not yet 24. Went on a tear scoring for fun against some of the CONCACAF minnows to get his name in lights. Very streaky scorer. Had 2 hattricks (may even have been consecutive games) in the MLS last season, and ~11 goals in the first 12 games, but then only 15 in total in like 25-30 games. He's young. He could develop into a big force, or he could spit out the dummy and remain what he is... a striker that can be good on his day, but those days are rare. Has had some toe injuries. Has turned down (or had turned down by the MLS) deals to Benfica, Derby and someone else over the pond. I think Benfica's offer was ~ 5 mil in 2005-2006.

Brad Guzan - probably the next in line for the American Goalkeeping torch, which is a pretty high standard. Been linked with moves across the pond before though, to the arse and to spurs I think. GK of the year in the MLS in 2007, also got his first cap. Really is likely the NT's keeper of the future, as he's also still just 23.

Outside of the young midfielders, if you are going to turn fulham into the Prem's version of the USA NT, those are probably the first players to chase.

[AndyC]

Cutting your nose off to spite your face.

not at all. if hughes has been told there is NO money available unless he sells - he may look at savage and roberts and think - if i can get upwards of 5 million for them, it gets 2 unhappy players off the books and allows me to buy a centre midfielder who can actually help us push on for a champs league spot.

that may be the unfortunate position he's in - in terms of having to wheel and deal...

[philipl]

Cutting your nose off to spite your face.

The Italian equivalent is cutting your balls off to make your dick look longer.

[ffan]

Eddie Johnson? Probably not technically good enough, but is a great athlete, i.e. good frame, strong, quick. I think he would do pretty well in Scotland, but not good enough for England, IMHO.

Is Brad Guzan the 'keeper? I think his first year in MLS his team finished bottom of the league, so I think he had loads of good saves, but he also had loads of opportunities to make good saves. Still young for a goalkeeper, only 23.

Eddie Johnson - big lad, 6' tall, looks bigger, not yet 24. Went on a tear scoring for fun against some of the CONCACAF minnows to get his name in lights. Very streaky scorer. Had 2 hattricks (may even have been consecutive games) in the MLS last season, and ~11 goals in the first 12 games, but then only 15 in total in like 25-30 games. He's young. He could develop into a big force, or he could spit out the dummy and remain what he is... a striker that can be good on his day, but those days are rare. Has had some toe injuries. Has turned down (or had turned down by the MLS) deals to Benfica, Derby and someone else over the pond. I think Benfica's offer was ~ 5 mil in 2005-2006.

Brad Guzan - probably the next in line for the American Goalkeeping torch, which is a pretty high standard. Been linked with moves across the pond before though, to the arse and to spurs I think. GK of the year in the MLS in 2007, also got his first cap. Really is likely the NT's keeper of the future, as he's also still just 23.

Outside of the young midfielders, if you are going to turn fulham into the Prem's version of the USA NT, those are probably the first players to chase.

This post has been edited by USRoverME: Today, 15:15

Thanks guys Guzan is linked with Fulham in the New York Times.

[spencey7]

There's no way we would swap Zamora for Roberts. I'd be extremely unhappy if there were truth to it. Yes Roberts is a pretty average finisher, but on his day he can give any central defender in the premiership a headache. Which I guess is why Hughes will sell him but only for 4 mill plus.

I think we're being a tiny bit unrealistic about Roberts' price to be honest...

If Rovers had signed him for £4m+ would you anyone have been happy with the deal? I doubt it.

Midfield is definitely the priority. Gutted we didn't try to put a deal together for Lassana Diarra, that would have been a fantastic signing.

[T4E]

So, getting £4M for selling Roberts wouldn't help in improving midfield?

See point 1. I thought it was pretty straight forward.

[USRoverME]

This message board's equivalent is to attack another poster's personality in order to make yourself look smarter.

[Exiled_Rover]

I think we're being a tiny bit unrealistic about Roberts' price to be honest...

If Rovers had signed him for £4m+ would you anyone have been happy with the deal? I doubt it.

Midfield is definitely the priority. Gutted we didn't try to put a deal together for Lassana Diarra, that would have been a fantastic signing.

What did we sign him for, £3m?

[Exiled_Rover]

He was born in Poland - but not sure if the Poles like him or not?

I've heard they don't.

[blue/white]

podolski would increase our gates at ewood by at least 5,000 a match

Waggy... I can't see if your tongue is firmly planted in cheek from here

[spencey7]

What did we sign him for, £3m?

It was "undisclosed", but speculated to be between £2m and £3m. I can't believe Hughes would shell out more on him than on Benni or Roque!

[Claytons Left Boot]

Sorry, but that's to advanced english for a norwegian

Ondskapsfull tilfredsstillelse som er skadelig!!!!!!!!

[Ronin]

British players always seem to cost more though, whether they have the same talent or not as players like McCarthy or Santa Cruz.

[spencey7]

British players always seem to cost more though, whether they have the same talent or not as players like McCarthy or Santa Cruz.

But if we signed Roberts for £2m-£3m then I think it's a bit silly to be demanding £4m from teams now. What on earth has he done in his time at Ewood to justify a price hike? Got two years older? Gotten bigger, more sparkly earrings??

Take £3m for him (if we can get it), cut our losses and sign a desperately-needed central midfield player, that is preferably not Amdy Faye.

[ffan]

Fulham have bid accepted for King...oh oh.

[Ronin]

The transfer market seems to be over-inflated. Look at some of the prices that Sunderland have paid for example. Plus Rovers always seem to have a habit of holding out for as much as possible. Be interesting to see how much we do end up getting for him, if/when he goes.

[DanLad]

The transfer market seems to be over-inflated. Look at some of the prices that Sunderland have paid for example. Plus Rovers always seem to have a habit of holding out for as much as possible. Be interesting to see how much we do end up getting for him, if/when he goes.

That's only a recent thing, though. Remember, under Souness we had to give our players away...

[Ricky]

Watford had turned down £4.5m for King so makes you think the offer must have been near £5m.

If that's the case then Roberts is definitely worth £4m

[Ronin]

That's only a recent thing, though. Remember, under Souness we had to give our players away...

I try not to remember

[brian_gallagher85]

Fulham have bid accepted for King...oh oh.

I heard you had offered around £4m plus a player from a list....perhaps Woy forgot to include the word "one"

....Now, time for our daily funny...after the Bentley to Celtic story, I give you:

http://www.eatsleepsport.com/articles/680438.html