Nick Blackman

[ManxRam]

Bid from Sheffield Wednesday accepted by Reading - not sure on fee. They also had a bid for Alan Judge turned down.

They are certainly looking at the right players. I'd welcome both of those at Derby

[RamBamFan]

Apparently it's pure speculation at the moment. Even if it's not, put yourself in Blackman's shoes, who would you rather join?

[Oldtimeram]

A ITK on another forum says we are in advanced talks with him. If so, he has to decide between the two clubs.

Interesting.

Come on TMDS confirm this then?

[ManxRam]

I'd no idea we were interested though happy if we are. He cost Reading £1m. When i've seen him he's looked like a player that puts a shift in and can score from anywhere. Didn't he score something like 8 in 8 earlier in the season. He'd surely be a more sensible price than some of the others being branded about?

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

I think anyone would want Blackman or Judge at Derby but at the moment he's on the verge on being a Sheffield Wednesday player.

[ManxRam]

That's the feeling i'm getting too

[Oldtimeram]

Let's wait and see. He may come here yet

[roger_ramjet]

it may seem as though I always disagree with you TMDS and this is no exception. Blackman has had less than a half of a good season so its impossible to judge him (no pun intended). Judge is a good player - wish we had snapped him up when he was at Notts County - but do we really need another midfielder, especially a defensive midfielder, unless someone is leaving? Surely our priorities lie elsewhere? Our limited money should be spent on players where we have a greater need - so no, neither for me.

We need to focus on fitting purchases to our needs and trying to get someone who will not need replacing if we do go up.

Hence I prefer loans and then, when we see what next years income budgets are, dealing with player replacement when we know what we have to spend and what our opposition will be.

[ManxRam]

Loans with an option to buy are near perfect. Of all the players we have been linked with of late for some reason it was the possible loan of Dwight Gayle that excited me most

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

Roger as much as you are worried about budgets and all that and your entitled to have that feeling but we are in a good situation going forward.

[roger_ramjet]

Phew, that's alright then, you have convinced me that we have no budgetary or FFP restrictions in one short sentence. Are your talents limitless. Next question then - why should we buy players in positions we do not need, such as Judge? Why should we buy a striker who, apart from the run of 8 in 8 as noted above, has scored 6 in 54 appearances (some no doubt as sub)

[paulo570]

Any idea of the fee being mentioned?

[Oldtimeram]

I don't know what the fee is that is being mentioned.

This seems to be gathering some momentum now. Wed fans not happy with us either.

[Derby2die4]

Just my opinion but Blackman seems perfect for what we need, he is a wide forward suited to our system he has pace and trickery which we lack, in simple terms he can carry the ball through the lines in one on ones, nobody playing in our wide areas are good at this, Ince included. Camara is similar, may allow us to use Weimann up top more often too, when you play 433 you need at least 5 wide men in the squad, we have 3, one of which is very much a forward. Camara and Blackman exactly what we need. Let's see who leaves now though, see if any gaps appear and dent our strength in depth.

[ManxRam]

He's got a hell of a shot on him too

[roger_ramjet]

Any idea of the fee being mentioned?

He's out of contract in the summer, so in theory it shouldn't be too traumatic

[Oldtimeram]

Where are you TMDS when we need your inside knowledge?

[SlimyLimey]

Where are you TMDS when we need your inside knowledge?



He's sharpening his scissors & making another pot of glue. XD

[SuperDerbySuperRams]

Nick has been at the club today, expect him to sign this week, without any late snags

[ramboy]

thanks for the brilliant info as ever sdsr

[roger_ramjet]

Nick has been at the club today, expect him to sign this week, without any late snags

I will be waiting for the authoritative confirmation again before I believe it - it was on a website before you found it, you old slowcoach SDSR xx

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/nick-blackman-derby-county-rams-10691039

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

We are now the leading the race against Sheffield Wednesday for Nick Blackman.

[ManxRam]

Unbelievable

[Manofpride]

Done deal £4million

[SuperDerbySuperRams]

Done deal £4million

Half that and you are right! 1.5m guaranteed, with 500k in promotion bonuses. Wage packet offered was the same as Weds offered, but chose us. Has been in Sheffield and Derby today. Signed. Announced tonight or more likely tomorrow morning

[roger_ramjet]

We are now the leading the race against Sheffield Wednesday for Nick Blackman.

Thanks, Gordon

[Manofpride]

£4million on 3 to 5 year contract! not been announced yet!

[triz]

Everywhere I've seen it's been reported at 2 mill

[Manofpride]

Everywhere I've seen it's been reported at 2 mill

I saw that too but I've been told £4million, unless that includes his wages on his contract?

[Oldtimeram]

The extra £2m is TMDS's fee for making it happen!

[AngryRam]

Reading fans don't seem too bothered.. Attitude problems.
Mind you I would have attitude problems if I played for them
Fingers crossed he comes hungry and puts a bit of a spark into our attack.
>:(

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

Good work so far!!!!

[Oldtimeram]

I wonder where this leaves the Oxford lad?

[ManxRam]

Quotes and tweets I saw from Reading fans suggested they were gutted to be selling their best player and a total lack of ambition from the club. That was earlier amid the speculation so I guess it's now reality and they didn't like him anyway

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

Only to make matters worse he makes his debut against his former club on a Tuesday night. ^_^

[StensonRam]

SSN are still saying the owls lead the race, do they know something we don't or are the owls fans going to be disappointed tomorrow morning or whenever its announced?

[paulo570]

I bet he will miss playing in a half empty ground and listening to fans finish Off a cringeworthy "sweet Caroline" song..........

[triz]

One weds season ticket holder of 21 years was gushing about him on twitter. I guess he splits opinion.

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

Another clarification to clear some heads.... http://the72.co.uk/43873/blackman-saga-swings-derby-countys-favour/

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

http://dcfcfans.uk/topic/21374-nick-blackman/?do=findComment&comment=941434 Here is the link to a photo of him holding up a Derby shirt he is ours!!! ^_^

[blades58]

pic of him holding Derby shirt on twitter

[RamBamFan]

He's ours. £2.5 million is being said.

[ellafella]

told you. :s

[Anywho]

I leave the FFP concerns to those at the club that actually know the figures involved.

They are in possession of all the facts and not merely estimates of fees.

In addition to that, fees are rarely paid up front, but in instalments over the length of a contract.

In Mel and Sam I trust...

[roger_ramjet]

Ah, you've been away a little while AnyWho - we now have a resident expert who has assured us that FFP is not a problem and that we are moving forward. On good days we also get confirmation by links (misposted) to various confirmatory sources of great repute, like the Sun or the Daily Mirror!

Personally I trust those who are in power to consider the FFP implications (although the league is getting clogged up by boards of directors who clearly didn't consider them,or chose to ignore them) but the elephant in the room is that we don't know who has to move out in order to make the incoming balance. For example we may need to sell Chris Martin later in the window to balance things up (NOTE this is just an example, not a hunch or anything!!) so the positives of new players may have downside later in the month. Before getting too excited about incomers, we need to wait to the end of the month and see the picture in the round.

[ManxRam]

When I started this post yesterday morning I had no inkling whatsoever that he would become a Ram by the end of the day.

I'll have a think about who else i'd like to see in our shirt!!

[herbert]

What's that now then, about £30m in one season? And you're 4 points off the top having played one more.

Be funny if you don't get promoted.

[mistaram]

Herbert Stick to the blades site mate because you already know what happens if you don't get promoted don't you

[ManxRam]

Herbert, what an apt

[Satanic Ram]

I wonder where this leaves the Oxford lad?

You should ask TMDS?

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/01/06/gb-derby-county-are-closing-on-the-capture-of-callum-odowda/

[RamBamFan]

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/01/06/gb-derby-county-are-closing-on-the-capture-of-callum-odowda/

We're not signing him either.

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

What does closing in mean RamBamFan?

[RamBamFan]

It means we're about to sign him...

[swaledale]

I'll reserve judgement on this guy, he has many shots but not what you would call a prolific goal scorer, which is an improvement on what we have I guess. So who makes way? Any takers?