More grist for the rumour mill
You turn your back for a few days and all hell breaks loose.
For those not paying attention, thecisone has previously reported that Chelsea's Carlton Cole was a transfer target for Mark Hughes along with Mido, the stroppy Eyptian striker who shone for Spurs last season.
Both, thecisone felt, would have been positive signings for Rovers following the departure of Craig Bellamy to Liverpool.
All was still on track up to Sunday evening. And now, less than 72 hours later, everything has turned around. Carlton Cole succumbs to interest from West Ham; Mido, some sources claim, decides the money isn't sufficient to leave current club Roma despite the Italian board agreeing a fee of £3.5m with John Williams; Francis Jeffers gets the sort of pay as you play deal that thecisone was advocating at the weekend, and Jason Roberts clinches a 'dream move' to Ewood Park from Wigan Athletic.
We'll reserve judgement on Jeffers. He's lost his way but maybe Sparky can rehabilitate him. Roberts is a good player who will be right at home at Rovers with his robust style of play. And Mido and Cole... well signing for West Ham shows a lack of ambition on Cole's part and if Mido has snubbed a move to East Lancashire, it just betrays his lack of imagination. What these rejections do mean is that Rovers still need to tie up a top-flight striker, pacy and skilful rather than muscular. thecisone has faith in Hughes - he's not let us down before. But it is getting difficult to see where the quality we need to shine in Europe is going to come from on the budget we have at our disposal.
Perhaps the coffers will be boosted by Sparky's summer clear out...
A devastating loss would be Lucas Neill, who has admitted that he is keeping his options open amid interest from Newcastle, Spurs, Barcelona and Monaco. His World Cup performances were no fluke and losing him would create problems at right back. If he goes, lets hope the sale reflects his value. Arsenal's Pascal Cygan is a name that Rovers are reorted to be tracking - as a replacement maybe?
Fellow Aussie Brett Emerton has long been rumoured to be a target for Everton. He's a decent squad player who many feel has never fulfilled his promise - so is it time to cash in his contract? Everton are rumoured to be ready to part with £1.5m, and the player wants to leave so he can get more games.
And recent reports suggest that Wigan haven't given up all hope of tempting Robbie Savage to switch clubs. Some reports suggest Robbie is keen to talk to Paul Jewell and Dave Whelan, despite the original 'no chance' from Hughes and Williams. While not as big a loss as Neill you have got to ask the question of whether Rovers could replace him with someone of similar quality for the £3m that is being offered. thecisone finds it difficult to believe that he would want to leave having been part of Rovers marvellous achievements last season.
But then again, these are professional sportsmen we're talking about. Us honest working folk, can't be expected to understand how these fellas think. That much money does something to traditional senses of loyalty, honour and team spirit. Or is thecisone being cynical?
For those not paying attention, thecisone has previously reported that Chelsea's Carlton Cole was a transfer target for Mark Hughes along with Mido, the stroppy Eyptian striker who shone for Spurs last season.
Both, thecisone felt, would have been positive signings for Rovers following the departure of Craig Bellamy to Liverpool.
All was still on track up to Sunday evening. And now, less than 72 hours later, everything has turned around. Carlton Cole succumbs to interest from West Ham; Mido, some sources claim, decides the money isn't sufficient to leave current club Roma despite the Italian board agreeing a fee of £3.5m with John Williams; Francis Jeffers gets the sort of pay as you play deal that thecisone was advocating at the weekend, and Jason Roberts clinches a 'dream move' to Ewood Park from Wigan Athletic.
We'll reserve judgement on Jeffers. He's lost his way but maybe Sparky can rehabilitate him. Roberts is a good player who will be right at home at Rovers with his robust style of play. And Mido and Cole... well signing for West Ham shows a lack of ambition on Cole's part and if Mido has snubbed a move to East Lancashire, it just betrays his lack of imagination. What these rejections do mean is that Rovers still need to tie up a top-flight striker, pacy and skilful rather than muscular. thecisone has faith in Hughes - he's not let us down before. But it is getting difficult to see where the quality we need to shine in Europe is going to come from on the budget we have at our disposal.
Perhaps the coffers will be boosted by Sparky's summer clear out...
A devastating loss would be Lucas Neill, who has admitted that he is keeping his options open amid interest from Newcastle, Spurs, Barcelona and Monaco. His World Cup performances were no fluke and losing him would create problems at right back. If he goes, lets hope the sale reflects his value. Arsenal's Pascal Cygan is a name that Rovers are reorted to be tracking - as a replacement maybe?
Fellow Aussie Brett Emerton has long been rumoured to be a target for Everton. He's a decent squad player who many feel has never fulfilled his promise - so is it time to cash in his contract? Everton are rumoured to be ready to part with £1.5m, and the player wants to leave so he can get more games.
And recent reports suggest that Wigan haven't given up all hope of tempting Robbie Savage to switch clubs. Some reports suggest Robbie is keen to talk to Paul Jewell and Dave Whelan, despite the original 'no chance' from Hughes and Williams. While not as big a loss as Neill you have got to ask the question of whether Rovers could replace him with someone of similar quality for the £3m that is being offered. thecisone finds it difficult to believe that he would want to leave having been part of Rovers marvellous achievements last season.
But then again, these are professional sportsmen we're talking about. Us honest working folk, can't be expected to understand how these fellas think. That much money does something to traditional senses of loyalty, honour and team spirit. Or is thecisone being cynical?
posted by The CIS One at 12:07 PM
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