[Archived] Nicko's Thread Part 3

[USRoverME]

I'm honeslty still perplexed, people are saying he has to go, if he meets with City and comes back, tail between his legs saying, they don't have teh $$ to spend, Roversa re a better place... Did he really anger the board that much in asking to see City. With so much in question over there, yet so much potential if sinatra's cash is available, how can you not at least want to hear the stpry adn find out if it would be an upgrade or something akin to a lateral move (if the $$ is frozen).

I also fail to see how this hurts his standing witht eh plaeyrs. If he comes back, he values them, and which on of them wouldn't bolt for an offer from "Greener pastures". Player may see him as someone to join so they get in good with him, and have a foot in the door to whatever club he goes to next...

We this ideal for hims taying at Rovers, certainly not, and I'm not going to be terribly fussed one way or the other... I'm just not sure we should rule out his return as "impossible".

[Tom 1]

No, but he's got a lot more hoops to jump through, and many other obstacles in his way there, as mentioned above - The whole thing needs fixing - I guess it depends on whether he wants a real all round challenge, or whether he wants to concentrate on simply managing a team.

Either way, sounds like his transfer budget at City has already been spent for him.

Well if it's on Ronaldinho and Jo I am sure he will be able to deal with that!

Nicko, I was wondering, is Michael Johnson available from City if whoever the manager is isn't getting it all their own way with transfers, and if so how much...he'd be a good replacement for Gareth Barry and fit our system nicely if Barry goes to Liverpool.

[Eddie]

What it means is that we have to fully accept that we have a manager who would accept just about any other job at a non-relegation threat. He was obviously interested in Newcastle but didn't get the chance, he's practically jumped at City despite several huge warning signs. The man wants out of here. If we allow him to stay then it really shows a lack of respect for ourselves and it also says to our players that the time at Ewood park is only a gateway to other, not always better, things. We all know that every club from 5-20th is a feeder team for the top 4, but that doesn't mean that our manager has to make it so plainly obvious.

How is he going to seriously persuade Bentley, Santa Cruz or whoever to stay? He can't stay on at this point.

[PAFELL]

For some reason I still think Sparky will stay at Rovers

It would not surprise me either - after the last few days anything could happen - even breaking news of keegan and wise having a punch up and manchin coming to rovers. Or chelsea appointing hughes and the owner throwing his dolly out and putting chelsea up for sale.

[imarover]

Has anyone else found that betfair's profit and loss calculator is not correct.

I have the following positions:

Hughes to win - (odds, stake, winnings) 9.22 £85.13 £699.61

Ancelotti to win - (odds, stake, winnings) 1.52 £65.09 £34.08

Hughes to lose - (odds, stake, winnings) 5.47 £51.72 £282.83

Having typed that out I realise it doesn't make all that much sense, but bascially there saying i stand to win 63p if ancelotti gets it and 383 for hughes, sounds miles off to me!

my account £ totals aren't correct at all. all of a sudden (well, since lunchtime) it appears that the money i've uploaded hasn't been placed anywhere, although it is all listed in the my bets screen. very odd.

in other news, hughes keeps hitting 15/1 for the chelsea job on betfair.

[Parsonblue]

A lot of people have mentioned the backroom staff. And while it's always sad to lose a youngster, we have plenty of highly rated young keepers; Nielsen, Fielding and Bussman. Maybe Hitchcock's son will be the one that turns out the best, maybe he won't. FWIW it's not certain he'd move either, especially considering that they wouldn't need to move houses. Not all academy players follow their parents.

Hitchcock's son is a forward not a goalkeeper.

[Antgrad]

Let's not go overboard with his achievements here.

Can he match one 6th place achievement? Yes, most certainly.

Can he match two semi-finals? Well that includes an element of luck, but he could make a final or win a cup which would surpass that.

Could he do better on average in the league? I would think so.

Could he do better in Europe? Most certainly, it would be hard to do that much given the format and the general standard of opposition.

But surely, Eddie, the chances are that unless he betters those achievements in his first season he won't be around to try again next year. I think that's the point thats being made. Success isn't always instant and good foundations are needed to help achieve that. City haven't got them and Hughes won't be given time unless he is an instant success.

[USRoverME]

I'd disagree that he really watned Newcastle,, he never said "come get me" he never really commented either way, which to me doesn't show him wanting to leave. And him "jumping" at City was a ploy to get the job at Chelsea, which none of us would blame him for.....

I still don't see how that's a "lack of self respect" when he's under contract at likely as good as anyone on the market we'd likely attract. It is bleeding obvious that the top 4 are the top , and no-one, especialyl Rovers will catch them barring them stumbing or going into administration.

How can he persuade a player to stay, easy.... "I checked our the greener pastures too lad, just make sure you know what you are really getting yourslf into..." Rovers will never convince someone to deny ManU,Chelsea and the like, but he'd be an ideal one to persuade someone to NOT move laterally.

[Sandiway Blue]

Ancelotti drifting to evens at the mo which seems strange

[1864roverite]

Tom, be honest mate, do you really think Europes elite wont be after Ronnie the fat Brazilian ?

There is at the moment little attraction in playing in the council owned manchester stadium. With SVEn there at lest they had a chance, I doubt if Ronnie knows who Mark Hughes is and ther eis going to be one hell of a language barrier.

Frankie promised multi millionaire signings in the superstar bracket by my own footballing experience, there are NONE that have arrived so far that fit into that bracket. JHC City dont even sell all their tickets for both home and away games like they did and have seen a marked drop in season tickets purchases.

Life is not always greener as the saying goes. Read my last post pal. It couldnt be any further from the truth where City are concerned.

[Eddie]

I think it depends. If he matches one of those achievements he probably sticks around. He's probably thinking that with the amount of money he's going to be promised he can get that City side to do one of those things.

Everyone knows I'm not a huge Hughes fan, if he goes to City I think that's one of our rivals with a not fantastic manager. If we appoint a good guy it could work out well.

[Head Rover Heels]

How can he persuade a player to stay, easy.... "I checked our the greener pastures too lad, just make sure you know what you are really getting yourslf into..." Rovers will never convince someone to deny ManU,Chelsea and the like, but he'd be an ideal one to persuade someone to NOT move laterally.

Back round to the conspiracy theory - It was all a big ploy to get Bentley to sign a new contract

[Blue n White Rover]

Mark Hughes's blue white army

Big Sams Blue white army

Steve Mclarens Blue White army

Paul Ince's Blue White army

Slaven Billic's Blue White Army

Gordon Strachans Blue white army

For some reason only big sams and sparkys name sounds good.

[USRoverME]

How do you fit Tugay Kerimoglu in there?

[cravenblue]

It would not surprise me either - after the last few days anything could happen - even breaking news of keegan and wise having a punch up and manchin coming to rovers. Or chelsea appointing hughes and the owner throwing his dolly out and putting chelsea up for sale.

think back a few months when rednapp talked to barcodes, he turned them down went back to pompey and fans backed him. we should hope he does the same

[1864roverite]

Once again I stress.

Rovers are a progressive club, they need a manager that will take us further in this progression and that menas someone with a lot of experience.

Forget Ince, adams,shearer and newell, forget the old brigade of graham,reid,dowie and co.

DICK ADVOCAAT is the man, Go get him JW

[brfc_jonesy]

on stan james, the chelsea manager betting has been pulled...

[nicko]

Ancelotti drifting to evens at the mo which seems strange

It was a Sky-inspired blip like I told you.

I do hope there isn't someone at Sky floating info like that, knowing it is wrong and then laying like a loon.

[Blue n White Rover]

Yeah but how often do you see managers turning down a club after speakin to them in football?

Sparky is good as gone but some bit of me still feels he's goiing to stay, i wouldnt put my house on it thats for sure.

If he goes to City or Chelsea all Rovers fans can do is thank him for all the things he has achieved and managed to make us into a solid top 10 side. If he decides to come back why would you not take him back? from the potential that is out there i'd take sparky back with open arms. Would you not, or would you prefer Sam Allardyce?

[Andy3809]

Anybody think it's still worth backing hughes now he's slipped to long odds?

Still temped to stick another cheeky £20 on him!

[LeChuck]

DICK ADVOCAAT is the man, Go get him JW

He'll be on a MASSIVE wage at Zenit, we have no chance of getting him.

[Lathund]

Hitchcock's son is a forward not a goalkeeper.

I could swear I read goalkeeper in there somewhere... but I guess I just figured like father, like son. I mean Alex Bruce is a centre half, Kasper Schmeichel a keeper, Maldini Jr a centre half etc etc.

[AndyC]

But surely, Eddie, the chances are that unless he betters those achievements in his first season he won't be around to try again next year. I think that's the point thats being made. Success isn't always instant and good foundations are needed to help achieve that. City haven't got them and Hughes won't be given time unless he is an instant success.

rubbish. and that goes for everyone else who has their head buried in the sand.

Man City came within a whisker of being relegated the season before last. Sven then came in, spent a wad, and had them challenging the top 4 for half a season, before finally finishing 3 points behind us. so where were the good foundations?? there weren't any.

A good manager with money will do well.

IF hughes ends up at city, I'd stake a large wager with anyone on here, that they will finish above us next season. i'm not being defeatist - just a realist.

[1864roverite]

I know where Sam lives (backs on to wife's cousin), anyone want information to do his windows ???

[USRoverME]

1864, I don't really see City that far behind us. They were unbeaten for how long to start last season, were sitting int eh top 4 for about a month, they did the double over ManU, and that was with how many new players to the prem. I think their fade had some to do with not having their legs quite ready for a full prem season, something that can be failrly easily fixed. Their playing staff is on par, maybe a tad behind due to a lack of strikers, (the likes of Petrov, Richards, Dunne, Elano are arguably upgrades over players we have) but if the cash is there....