[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[philipl]

Santa Cruz will make Grabbi and Perez look like the best signings of the decade; the first draughty, rainy East Lancashire day of winter and he'll sulk like an Australian batsman given out plum lbw.

I sincerely hope Hughes has done his homework here: this guy stands around with his hands on his hips so much he makes Andy Cole look like a headless chicken.

Add Belamy and McCarthy to the list of trouble making disinterested players with lousy scoring records and non-existant motivation at their selling clubs.

I though Perez was a damned good player by the way. At least we did not make much of a loss on him.

[RoyRover]

another quality attacking midfielder and maybe a right back and we'll be laughing all the way to the top 6...

I couldn't agree more!

[neophox]

I really hope we harass Bellamy and Neill when they come to Ewood! Not for football reason, but for money reasons! Both said they went to the clubs because of ambitions but I think its pure shittalk! Welcome ROQUE SANTA CRUZ! I for sure wil have his name and the nr 9 on my shirt the coming season!

[Saf]

savage and mokena in CM isnt exactly breath taking. both can tackle but can pass ball acros the field without giving it away. mokena espcially gives away the ball to often. even tohugh hes played a lt of games for us in the last year he never looks confident with it. he always wants to give it away to a rovers player asap. Dunn in CM with savage would be ideal. dunn can also put in a few challenges as we saw vs chelsea semi final, and vs bolton last season. but going forward he provides extra threat, dunny likes to take on defenders run at defenders, win free kicks like against shff utd his first game in a rovers shirt on his return

[Pugg]

I really hope we harass Bellamy and Neill when they come to Ewood! Not for football reason, but for money reasons! Both said they went to the clubs because of ambitions but I think its pure shittalk! Welcome ROQUE SANTA CRUZ! I for sure wil have his name and the nr 9 on my shirt the coming season!

I really hope we don't. Bellamy left us for Liverpool, why would we abuse him just for not choosing to come back to us? As for Neill, I'm bored of that situation now. When WH came to Ewood last year we were singing "Lucash, whats the score" and then they go and win (all be it unfairly!), so instead of getting behind our own team we abused Neill and ended up with egg on our face. How about just getting behind Rovers?

[mjs]

I really hope we don't. Bellamy left us for Liverpool, why would we abuse him just for not choosing to come back to us? As for Neill, I'm bored of that situation now. When WH came to Ewood last year we were singing "Lucash, whats the score" and then they go and win (all be it unfairly!), so instead of getting behind our own team we abused Neill and ended up with egg on our face. How about just getting behind Rovers?

I couldn't agree more, what is the point?

In any case, both players made an excellent contribution in a Rovers shirt IMO and should never be booed just because they don't play for us any longer. The fact is that we don't own any players and they have the right to move on to what they see as better things, just like me and you do in our jobs. How many of us would turn down the chance to double our salaries? OK, they may not have been entirely up front about their real reasons for moving, but how many footballers are?

It really annoys me that so many of our better players, and indeed our greatest ever player, have in recent years been subjected to unwarranted abuse when they return.

It hardly helps the image of our club.

[Uxbridge rover]

I really hope we don't. Bellamy left us for Liverpool, why would we abuse him just for not choosing to come back to us? As for Neill, I'm bored of that situation now. When WH came to Ewood last year we were singing "Lucash, whats the score" and then they go and win (all be it unfairly!), so instead of getting behind our own team we abused Neill and ended up with egg on our face. How about just getting behind Rovers?

Completely agree,and whats more warnock is a better player in my opinion.Lets look forward not back.

[Sandiway Blue]

to be honest i think in the past when we have booed former players,we have embarassed ourselves.if we are to progress as a football club,we need to realise we will be used as a stepping stone for the big clubs until we become a top 4 club.hopefully if we can keep hughes for a few more years,this could actually happen.

until we start filling our ground week in week out,we will always be considered a small club,unfortunately thats the way of the football world.

[neophox]

Completely agree,and whats more warnock is a better player in my opinion.Lets look forward not back.

Well I agree. But I don't like the way they choosed team. Neill choosed WH over Liverpool for money reasons. Im happy we didn't bought Bellars now when we got

Santa Cruz instead. End of it.

[Cocker]

Reading your story in the People today Nicko. I like the way you say that The People (Well you) broke the story first although the editor only gave you a very small space when you first broke the news - charming.

[USABlue]

I really hope we harass Bellamy and Neill when they come to Ewood! Not for football reason, but for money reasons! Both said they went to the clubs because of ambitions but I think its pure shittalk! Welcome ROQUE SANTA CRUZ! I for sure wil have his name and the nr 9 on my shirt the coming season!

And the point to that would be? The only thing that will serve to do is motivate them, particularly Bellers he'd love to shove it down our throats.

[b12_simon]

And the point to that would be? The only thing that will serve to do is motivate them, particularly Bellers he'd love to shove it down our throats.

Absolutely. It's very "small club" IMO. Like the Birmingham supporters where I live who are still moaning about Sav.

[Mozzer]

so what position are we looking for now???

centre mid, right back??

[cn174]

so what position are we looking for now???

centre mid, right back??

I don't think we're that short at right back. We have Emerton, Ooijer and Zurab if necessary

[Mozzer]

i think we need someone to pressure emerton, not just provide cover..

ooijer and zurab only provide cover..

i like the look of mendy who plays for psg, was on loan at bolton couple seasons ago..

[nicko]

Friedel [brown]

Emerton [Ooijer]

Samba [Khizanishvili]

Nelsen [Ooijer]

Warnock [?]

Bentley [Dunn] [Gallagher]

Savage [Mokoena]

Tugay [Dunn]

Pedersen [Peter]

McCarthy [Derbyshire] [Rigters]

Roberts [santa Cruz]

That has to be the strongest squad in your history.

The only worry may be cover on the left side of defence with McEveley and Gray going.

You could get a truly top-class right back and a young Tugay, but only at your leisure.

A couple of young hopefuls for the squad and it is just about ideal.

Almost too good to be true at the moment.

[sussexrover]

Haha - even Nicko forgets the legend that is Bruno Berner

[doctorryan]

You forgot Reidy(Steven Reid) Alan.

[krislu]

Any word from the club regarding more players coming in?

My main concern is that we have too many average central midfield players. It's only Tugay who offers some real passing quality, but he is getting on a bit. We need a quality creative player who can pass the ball. With the money going around in the Premier Leauge I'm sure we can attract good players form the French and Dutch league.

[nicko]

Good spot...and he can play/cover about four positions.

[modes98]

My main concern is that we have too many average central midfield players. It's only Tugay who offers some real passing quality, but he is getting on a bit.

Steven Reid in the form he was in before the injury is the player we need and is our best CM. Reid and Savage have to be the first choice central 2 and with Bentley & MGP we have one of the best midfields around for our level.

I would of liked another AM last season but getting Reidy back to form has to be the aim for this season.

[Eddie]

No, Steven Reid has the right type of drive, but we still need a more Tugayesque player who is more creative.

[herbergeehh]

A defensive midfielder with great passing would be brilliant, a player who can control the pace of the game AND protect the back four. But with Reidy and Savage in central midfield we have a different threat, great physical strenght and Reidy's pace going forward. He may be direct and "simple" in his style, but Reid has got good passing skills. What we miss when Tugay's not around is his coolness, his great ability to keep possession under pressure and distribute the ball.

[thenodrog]

Wonder if Reid can adapt to Mokoena's deep destroying role? Mokoena does what is expected of him in the deep defensive role but his distribution is awful and on yesterdays evidence worsening fast.

[roversmum]

I'm convinced Tugay's invisible friend had sneaked in there somewhere..........