magic8ball
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« on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 16:44:45 » |
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Posted on thisis by a Rochdale fan
Hello all, lifelong Rochdale fan here!
Rumours are circulating around our part of the world, as I'm sure they are yours, that Swindon Town are interested in our top scorer last season Rickie Lambert. It is well known that current manager Steve Parkin is extremely keen to hold on to Rickie, but due to our current financial position we may be forced to sell.
Previously us 'dale fans have been told that if he was to be sold, it would be to a club in a higher division (similar to the Holt situation who signed for Notts Forest at the start of the year) and it is understood that last season, around the same time as Holt's departure, we turned down 2 offers from League One clubs for Lamberts services, and at the end of the 2005/2006 campaign, Lambert was offered a contract that he looked set to sign.
This seems to have now turned on it's head. I have a few friends 'in the know', so to speak, inside Spotland, and the latest on the Lambert contract situation is not good reading (for us anyway!).
It is understood that contact HAS been made between Swindon Town FC and Rochdale / Rickie Lambert and that Swindon are prepared to make a six figure bid for Lambert, which includes add-ons, which may force us to sell due to our aforementioned financial difficulties. There's no official word from Rochdale, and I'm not sure if anything's been said on your end?
Anyway, the fee is believed to be around £100,000 (I'm not 100% on this), which does not break the release clause in his contract, but the additional clauses in the deal would mean that you could pay a total sum of £200,000. I'm not sure how or where you got that sort of money as it was always seemed that Swindon were in the red year upon year and regularly failed to pay players, but I can assure you as a die-hard Rochdale fan that he is worth every penny. I've been informed that the deal you are prepared to offer could make him one of the highest paid players at Swindon Town F.C.
I've spoken to Rickie a few times during his time here, and he is a nice northern boy with a lot of talent. He's eager to play at a club with some ambition and he, naturally, wants to better himself. With no offence meant to Swindon Town fans or staff, I view a move from Rochdale to Swindon as a sideways step for Rickie, despite our extremely long period in the bottom tier.
Rickie is currently on holiday in Dubai but is set to fly back shortly , and I assume anything that will happen between the two clubs will happen as soon as he arrives back in England. I also understand that Dennis Wise is in Dubai, and I have asked my sources if there was any meeting between Wise and Lambert, but was not given an answer.
I'm not sure whether we will sell Rickie or not, but for the sake of Rochdale Football Club I really hope he stays here as he has superb ability. I fear the lure of more money, potential promotion and a chance to play with Dennis Wise could be very strong.
All the best next season, it won't be a first trip to the County Ground for me as I was a spectator in 1985 when you hammered us 4-0 and, I think it's fair to say, won the league rather easily. I have not been since some of your stands were re-developed, and hopefully next time the game won't be so easy for you.
P.S. Sorry for the length of my first post!
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Iffy's Onion Bhaji
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« Reply #1 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 16:55:49 » |
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i dont think he understands that we are a bigger club than them! i think the rumours could be true though - Devlin has yet to deny them
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« Reply #2 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 16:57:56 » |
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Devlin denied them in the WDP didn't he?
Hmm, sounds interesting. From that I pretty much gather that we are interested and are probably willing to pay but they might not accept so it's far from a done deal.
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Iffy's Onion Bhaji
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« Reply #3 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 16:59:28 » |
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Devlin denied them in the WDP didn't he?
i wouldnt know because ive been losing interest in affairs at STFC because things are so dull at the moment! i actually want some signings please
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TheKingCY
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« Reply #4 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 17:02:09 » |
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eality is just an illusion caused by lack of alcohol...
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Sippo
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I ain't gettin on no plane fool
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« Reply #5 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 18:06:25 » |
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I'm still unsure...
If he does come here, and is one of the highest paid players, then he better produce.
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If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're gonna see some serious shit...
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STFC Village
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« Reply #6 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 18:28:42 » |
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things are so dull at the moment! Yeah, i'm bored of all these £1m takeovers and new management team crap. Next!
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Mexicano Rojo
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Demasiado no es demasiado
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« Reply #7 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 18:34:25 » |
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sideways step. cunt.
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DMR
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« Reply #8 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 18:36:02 » |
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It is though. I still don't think it will happen.
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sonic youth
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« Reply #9 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 18:46:45 » |
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it's clearly not a sideways step, in the past 20 years we've had countless promotions, relegations, cup runs, play-off finals and we've played in the top division.
rochdale have been stuck in the bottom league for over 30 years
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« Reply #10 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 18:50:19 » |
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And now we're with them. In terms of positions he is right, although I think we'll end up better off next season.
Lambert will get more money if he comes here... I think he's worth the money aswell he looks a top player. Considering we spent £70K on Ifil when we were supposedly "in the red" i dont think £150K for a proven L2 goalscorer/assister is too much.
still, as other people have said ill believe it if he signs. He could probably do better.
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Mexicano Rojo
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Demasiado no es demasiado
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« Reply #11 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 18:52:10 » |
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bollocks if you moved from charlton to arsenal would that be a sideways step because they are in the same leauge?
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sonic youth
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« Reply #12 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 18:52:25 » |
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not saying that we're not where we belong, but if you had the choice of a club with a ex-international management duo, a new investor and a pretty decent history for a lower league club or rochdale, who would you choose?
as such, it wouldn't be a sideways ste;p
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Ben Wah Balls
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« Reply #13 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 19:05:05 » |
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I think of teams as only as big as their division so a move from Wigan to Leeds would be a step backwards even though Leeds have until recently always been a much bigger side but it's still possible to be big a side for your division and we are a big side for league two, on recent history the biggest and Rochdale aren't so it would definitely be a step up.
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Batch
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« Reply #14 on: Thursday, June 8, 2006, 20:41:40 » |
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It is a sideways step in terms of ability level. When Fallon left for Swansea a lot of us made the same sideways step comment. Had we not been relagated would we not have thought Fallons move was futile, a sideways step? Same with Evans and Blackpool. That said, we obviously have more potential than Rochdale.
One thing I wonder. If he is that good why haven't higher league clubs come in. Or maybe they have and Dennis is working his magic.
Either way this guy seems to have what it takes in division 4, I would be delighted IF he signs...
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