Upgrades for next year?

Discussion in 'Blackburn Rovers' started by superdave, Apr 11, 2006.

  1. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What do you see as the key area(s) in which Rovers need to try to buy in the offseason? I'd be tempted to put alot of my eggs in the "Bellamy partner" basket.
     
  2. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    I hope they sign Sinama-Pongolle on a permanent deal. I think he and Bellamy could turn into something special.

    I'd be tempted to sign another right winger, given that Bentley isn't a true right side player and Emerton is inconsistent.

    Neill could use some cover as well.
     
  3. HypoLuxa

    HypoLuxa New Member

    Apr 25, 2004
    Austin, TX
    A partner for Bellamy is an absolute must. All of our transfer money to get him a comparable partner or two would ultimately be detrimental, though, because we need help in other areas as well. Of course the Euro money would dictate alot of who we could/should buy, but not counting on that we wouldn't have alot to throw around. Pongo wopuld be a good short term solutioon although I'm not quite convinced he's the solution even on a short term basis. But if we don't start getting someone with quality to latch onto Bellamy runs and lay-offs, I think he'll get disappointed and want to leave. Plus his displays will be attracting alot of high money interest (like Liverpool) so we need him feeling wanted, appreciated, and supported....

    Other items of need for an upgrade or cover is the entire back line. We did sign Zurab permanently, which is outstanding, but I'd like to see one more solid central D-Man signed or developed. I don't think anyone in the Academy is ready to make that jump, but a few are close. I have liked Reid on the right side when he's been moved there in the middle of games, so with that in mind we need another attacking center midfielder to partner Savage or Tugay. Cover for Gray and Neill is a must as well. I'm really hoping we can get Arca from Sundy!

    The next few weeks will tell us how much money we'll be looking to get for transfers. I hope Hughesy can get enough to get more depth in the squad and maybe, HOPEfully, an upgrade or two.
     
  4. dring1

    dring1 New Member

    Jul 4, 2003
    radcliffe, manch uk
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    we dont need that much. a defender and another forward would be nice and to keep all the players we have at the moment.i hope we dont keep pongolle though i dont rate him from what i have seen of him had one very good game against spurs but that has been it.
     
  5. Jilleen

    Jilleen New Member

    Dec 16, 2005
    East Coast, Canada
    I would like us to get a reliable back up goalie, in case of injury to dear Brad, and to prepare for his impending retirement. That goalie for Sunderland (Kelvin Davis) is quite excellent with lots of potential, and could be got for cheap, what with the relegation and all. I was quite impressed with him this year. I certainly don't feel that he was the problem with Sunderland this season.
     
  6. The Potter

    The Potter Member+

    Aug 26, 2004
    England
    Club:
    Stoke City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    You've got a young Scot on loan at Stoke Paul Gallagher who's done well for us.
     
  7. 352gialloblu

    352gialloblu New Member

    Jun 16, 2003
    England
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Let's get David Dunn back from Birmingham now that they've gone down. He can fill in for 6 or so games next year. Pay-as-you-play contact though... :D

    Think Mark Hughes would be tempted to go after Nicky Butt? I'm not saying he should, but we need another central midfield option, and the Man Utd connection is there.

    We still need another option at left back, right wing and up front. I'm not convinved by Pongolle or Kuqi (though he's not done so badly for us), and Dickov is on his way out. Gallagher might well be worth looking at, but I still think we need a bigger, stronger forward. What about Djibril Cisse? Fast and strong, and probably on his way out of Liverpool. I've been impressed with a lot of his play out of position on the right wing for them. Would he be willing to come here, and could we afford him?
     
  8. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    I'm not sure that we'd be willing to put down the money that would be needed to get Cisse, but supposedly Hughes is interested in getting Fowler if he isn't offered a new contract.

    Butt's performances over the last couple of season's really haven't impressed me at all. Maybe we can swoop in for Rosicky, since he's looked to be on his way out of Dortmund for a while. :D In all seriousness, I'm not sure he'd hold up very well in England, but who knows. He'd give us a little bit more creativity at least.
     
  9. Doctor Stamen

    Doctor Stamen New Member

    Nov 14, 2001
    In a bag with a cat.
    Nicky Butt=No way. We have better options in Mokoena, Reid and Savage.

    Gallagher=Has skill, but is lazy and doesn't put effort in. May be one of those who never fulfill their potential.

    Dribble Cisse=Not for me. 2 dimensional, moody and inconsistent.


    Who I would like to sign................

    Striker: Anyone from the Following: Benni McCarthy, Freddy Eastwood, Cameron Jerome, Marlon King and maybe Michael Bridges.

    Right winger: Jermaine Pennant (P/E Emerton with luck)

    Left Back: Justin Hoyte, Julio Arca, and at a stretch, John O'Shea.
     
  10. BlackburnBri

    BlackburnBri New Member

    Jan 17, 2006
    Blackburn, England
    Left back......Riise from Liverpool (Pederson's best friend)

    Striker..... De Foe from Spurs, and he will be coming! I have heard it from a good source that he is top of Hughes wish list.
     
  11. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    Pennant would be very good, and I think Hughes would be able to keep him out off trouble.
     
  12. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    if Dickov leaves, Defoe would be a decent replacement. ;)
     
  13. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What impresses me most about Hughes is the systematic way in which he has assessed the team, identified the single biggest weakness, then found the player(s) to address that weakness. Once the player(s) is integrated into the team, that neutralizes the weakness, which creates a new "biggest weakness" which Hughes then addresses.

    The team is 7th in goals allowed, and 7th in goals scored. So there's no hint there. They've addressed the team speed issue which worried me coming into this season with Bellamy and Bentley.

    Maybe the best thing for them to do is be like Reading and look for good cheap young players, who will be ready for the 2007-08 season. That, and try to pick up a couple of "depth" players, in case Rovers make a deep run in the UEFA Cup.

    Great news that Hughes has signed on till 2009. IMO, that's really the key signing.

    As for Defoe...normally, I'd be concerned about the lack of size at striker. But Rovers have so much size at other positions, especially the wide spots, where teams normally have a couple of smurfs, that it's less of a worry.
     
  14. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    Right on about the importance of Hughes signing on.

    One has to think Birmingham and West Brom will have to offload a bit, and with the inconsistency of Emerton and Bentley largely playing out of position on the right, maybe we could stand to look at Pennant or Gera.
     
  15. Doctor Stamen

    Doctor Stamen New Member

    Nov 14, 2001
    In a bag with a cat.
    Great choices...................but are you going to pay for them yourself ?.

    Great news about Hughes' new contract, and I thought you should know there are rumours that Hughes is talking to Chelsea about Eidur Gudjonson. Hurrah.
     
  16. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    hmmm....he could really be a handy player for us.
     
  17. cleansheetbsc

    cleansheetbsc Member+

    Mar 17, 2004
    Club:
    --other--
    A new goalkeeper. Friedel is too English for my liking.
     
  18. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    that's not a damning offense, chap. ;)
     
  19. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think I'd prefer the superior sanity of Gera to the superior talent of Pennant.
     
  20. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    :D good point.
     
  21. Doctor Stamen

    Doctor Stamen New Member

    Nov 14, 2001
    In a bag with a cat.
    Gera would be reasonable. We have enough insanity with Bellamy, Savage and Todd I suppose.

    At least we haven't been linked to Owen Hargreaves. Can someone remind me which is his best position (apart from doggy style with Sven) ?.
     
  22. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    central mid, I guess, but I think Bayern has used him at right back before as well.
     
  23. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My recollection is that they only use Hargreaves wide when they're in a 3-5-2, i.e., he's played wingback and not fullback.
     
  24. blkbrnrvr

    blkbrnrvr Member

    Mar 2, 2003
    Auburn metro
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    ahh, well I was close.

    I have to admit that I haven't been watching as much Bundesliga as I did a few years ago. :(
     
  25. 352gialloblu

    352gialloblu New Member

    Jun 16, 2003
    England
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I was looking over the Brum and Brom rosters, and I think we ought to aim higher than relegated teams in terms of talent. Gera and Pennant maybe decent options, but there's a reason their teams went down. A few years ago Forssell would have looked a good pickup at this point, but he's nowhere near the player he was in when he scored 17 goals two years ago. Pennant has played 37 games this year, which is a good sign, but only 2 goals? I think he would be a gamble, but he's definitely got talent. Gera I like as well--his absence really hurt WBA this year. Apart from them, there's not much to go for, because Neil Clement isn't as good in real life as he is in my champ manager game... ;)

    Defoe or Gudjohnsen would be great--but I can't believe either are too likely. :confused:

    What about Shaun Wright-Phillips, then? :D

    And there's already stories about Fulham preparing to fight to hold on to Steed Malbranque. He'd be a nice player to have out on the right wing!
     

Share This Page