The Rumour Mill, Season 2011-12

Moyes eyeing Naismith

16/05/2012 | Comments (35)
David Moyes could raid Rangers again with a bid for Nikica Jelavic's former partner in crime, Steven Naismith.

The 25 year-old has a £2m release clause in his contract at Ibrox after agreeing to a substantial paycut earlier this season as the crisis-hit Glasgow side tries to stay afloat.

West Bromwich Albion have apparently tried to land the striker on the cheap but without success and that may open the door for Everton.

Original Source: Daily Mail, Twitter

Comments

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Shane Corcoran
643   Posted 17/05/2012 at 07:59:25

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A worthwhile acquisition in my book. Young enough, £ 2m, teamed up very well with Jelavic before his long term injury. The injury and his recovery from it would be my biggest fear.
Danny Broderick
677   Posted 17/05/2012 at 11:02:42

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Beggars can't be choosers. This might be the level we are competing at. I don't know anything about him, but he would appear to be good value at this price, and if it doesn't work out he could always be sold on, maybe even at a profit.
If he's half as good as Jelavic, we'd be laughing.
Howard Don
678   Posted 17/05/2012 at 11:03:54

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I have a work colleague in Scotland who is a Rangers season ticket holder. He said a while back, given the likelehood of a fire sale up there, that we'd be daft not to try and sign Naismith, given the way he and Jelavic complement each other so well. If it weren't for the injury worry I'd say it's a no-brainer at £2million.
Shaun Sparke
681   Posted 17/05/2012 at 11:11:23

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I am not sure whether Naismith could hack it in the premier league. Then again plenty of people said that about Jelavic.

I hear that Owen isnt going to be offered a new contract at Utd. It won't be long before we are linked with him no doubt. Personally I wouldn't touch the little mercenary with a barge pole. But there is no doubt he was a class striker (when fit) and it wouldn't surprise me if we offered him a pay as you play contract.
Denis Richardson
685   Posted 17/05/2012 at 11:27:06

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Shaun, would you rather take a punt on Nasmith or carry on wit Anichebe or another Straq? If we can get him for 2m I think its worth it.

As for Owen, to be honest, if we can get him on a pay as you play deal as well as on a free, then why not. Even if he doesn't play that much, the experience he would bring would be unbelievably given where he's played and what he's won. I think he was also a blue before he joined the RS set up as a kid. In fact the more I think of it, the more it makes sense. Imagine him scoring against the RS in a blue shirt in an analfield derby!
Paul David
687   Posted 17/05/2012 at 11:32:54

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Michael Owen is the biggest mercenary in football,He has only ever cared about himself and not the team,he gives the impression he would rather score a hattrick in a 4-3 defeat than not score in a 1 nil win.

I remember his press conference when he signed for Newcastle.All he keep banging on about was playing for England like playing for Newcastle was a side issue even though they were paying him huge sums of money.
Agi Harrar
689   Posted 17/05/2012 at 11:39:59

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Agree with Dennis 685. Naismith better than Straq & Anichebe. As for Owen...No thanks. Had his chance to join us before Manu but didn't
Tony J Williams
691   Posted 17/05/2012 at 11:43:13

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I would take Owen on a pay as you play in a heart beat, it would mean that we would never have to pay the mercenary a penny, as he would either be in the hospital seraching for his hamstring or at his stables with his first love, the horses (I mean that in a non bestiality way)
Jim Knightley
694   Posted 17/05/2012 at 11:51:34

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Owen is a pointless transfer, he is too injury plagued and his pace has gone. Would play about as often as Hargreaves.

For 2million, and decent wages, Naismith would be a sensible buy because his sell on value would be good if he did prove a failure. At the moment though, it's an irrelevant discussion. Until we sell, we wont be buying, and if did manage to magic up some money, it would need to go on Pienarr first anyway.
Paul David
695   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:00:36

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What about a swap deal between Anichebe and Naismith.Ainchebe would get found out even at that level but lets hope Rangers dont know that.
Dave Wilson
696   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:00:51

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Owen has had several chances to Join us in the past.he choice to warm the bench elswhere.
Naismith has to be worth a cheeky bid
Jim Knightley
697   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:10:17

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A team in Rangers financial position wouldn't consider a swap deal for a sellable asset. Nice idea though :D
Eugene Ruane
698   Posted 17/05/2012 at 11:58:07

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Owen's speed gave him a ton of goals between the age 18 and 24-25 but once he started to slow down just a little, the goals slowed down a lot.

His whole game was getting a yard on the defender, once he couldn't he was never the same.

A dull, mercenary little human, prone to injury and without the talent he once had.

Consequently, I can't think of a single reason to sign him.
Paul David
699   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:11:37

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OK what about a swap deal for Anichebe with any league 2 striker.
Alan Humphreys
702   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:12:59

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I always remember a Physio or some Sports Science bloke saying in the press when Owen became a household name aged 17/18 that he would suffer later on in his career due to the speed he played at. Never a truer word said.

Re Naismith, Rangers look even more screwed after their appeal was rejected so it's likely if they have to form a new company. From what I've read a lot of their players reduced their earnings for lower transfer fees etc - so a cheeky bid may well just be enough.

How much is a cheeky bid these days ?
Eugene Ruane
703   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:25:18

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Alan - in the state Rangers are in, a handful of dolly mixtures and a 1973 Topical Times Football annual should do it.
Jon O'Dell
704   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:26:44

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I agree with Tony J Williams and take Owen on a pay-as-you-play, but if Moysey is looking to build a team around Jelavic then Pienaar and Naismith are a must. Would also love to see Jordan Rhodes in an Everton jersey. Add another creative midfielder into the mix and I think we'll have an exciting season.

Of course all that means selling a couple of players and I wouldn't be too gutted if we lost Coleman, Anichebe, Rodwell or even Barkley.
Jon O'Dell
706   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:36:47

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Oh... and we need Dempsey!
Mark Murphy
709   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:40:31

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"Michael Owen is the biggest mercenary in football, he has only ever cared about himself and not the team..."

Call me an old cynic if you like but I am 99% sure you could apply that to any player in the prem, and probably below, these days. Wayne Rooney was a diehard Blue but left us. Pienaar, don't forget, chose to leave us. His new-found love for us is only on realising he wouldn't cut it at Spurs.

It's a JOB to these guys! No more, no less!

But I wouldn't be excited anymore if we bought Owen ? I'd rather see us in for Rhodes, Naismith or Dempsey.
Stephen Kenny
710   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:47:09

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I think signing Pienaar will be the limit of our financial capabilities. That's if he's willing to wait until the end of August.

Possibly picking up a free transfer somewhere along the line may happen too if one of our older players free's a bit of money up.
Paul David
712   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:51:29

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Mark most players are out for themselves but Owen takes it to a different level.
Adolf Ng
714   Posted 17/05/2012 at 12:46:09

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Paul David (695): Rangers has been confirmed that they cannot buy new players for 12 months. So swap deal is not possible...
Paul David
716   Posted 17/05/2012 at 13:01:53

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Adolf

My comment was tongue in cheek.Rangers wouldnt have Anichebe because he is shite nevermind their finances.
Sam Hoare
719   Posted 17/05/2012 at 13:14:22

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At 2m Naismith has to be decent value, i think most Rangers fans rated him similarly to Jelavic before his injury so that has to be good....
Alan Maher
721   Posted 17/05/2012 at 13:29:22

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I think Sonny Aluko would be a good acquisition. He's quick, skillful and could definitely do a job for us.
Mark Murphy
724   Posted 17/05/2012 at 13:55:58

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Paul, perhaps as a boyhood Evertonian he is simply not that attached to the other teams he plays for?
I would not say Owen is any different to Yakubu or Saha personally.
I wrote into Der Telegraff when Rooneys exhuberant celebration on scoring his first v Arsenal was compared unfavourably with Owens muted celebration on his debut goal at Wimbledon.
I pointed out that whilst Rooney was fulfilling a life long dream scoring for his boyhood heroes at their home ground, Owen, also an Evertonian, was merely doing his job!
When Rooney left I felt like I'd been conned!
They are all in it for the money!
Craig Harrison
726   Posted 17/05/2012 at 14:03:16

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Rangers cant sign anyone for 12 months. So if they go the New co route wouldnt they have 2 issues. 1> they cant force the current players to sign a contract for the New co. 2> They wouldnt be allowed to sign new players anyway? Dosnt make much sense to me or am i Missing something.
Denis Richardson
727   Posted 17/05/2012 at 13:58:45

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Am a little surprised by the anti-Owen comments to be honest. If we could get him on a pay as you play deal, what do we have to lose? Its better than having Macfadden anyway.

Regenerating funds, how about selling one of Jags (£10m?) or Anichebe (£3m?). If we can only get money from selling first. I think we can live without both of these (Duffy can step up in and Anichebe would not be missed).

Would have added Rodwell to the list had he not missed most of the season. I do rate him but think he needs to be in a better side to reach his potential. Think SAF would be perferct for him IMO.

Jags is not in the Euros (barring an injury) so we could look to sell him early doors.... Just a thought like.
Richard Dodd
823   Posted 17/05/2012 at 20:09:39

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Rangers urhh!.....
Nai money,Nai chairman, Nai future....
Naismith!
Get him signed! Nai problem!
Jason Lam
926   Posted 18/05/2012 at 10:27:01

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From an entirely business perspective think of all the #10 Owen shirts we could sell to screaming japanese women. We would never play him so as to pay him any salary. Profit.
Anthony Fox
927   Posted 18/05/2012 at 10:45:35

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As mentioned on another thread, isn't Naismith currently out with a 2nd cruciate knee ligament injury.. I think from that point of view it is a little early to even think about taking him..
David Chait
930   Posted 18/05/2012 at 10:51:02

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Man I love transfer season! although my wife did try bring me back to Earth and remind me we never sign anyone!

I think this Naismith link ticks a lot of the Everton boxes.. and more! Plus his scottish so Moyes will have a soft spot for him. It is concerning this injury... but we took Lescott very soon after his injury.. but this one might be a little tight. I have no doubt this position is in the forefront of Moyes' to do list... pity Barkely or Baxter don't seem another Rooney (in terms of quality not position)... otherwise we would be having this conversation

Man what would we do to unearth another Arteta from somewhere. Moyes greatest action ever!

Baxter TID!
Mark Riding
935   Posted 18/05/2012 at 11:11:47

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2 seasons ago he did his cruciate..

Last season he did the cruciate in the other leg !

Surely not on Moyes list.

Klasnic released from Bolton today along with a fair few others. Silly season here we come.. And if West Ham dont go up at the weekend, well a mega 'fire-sale' may well be on the cards there as well.
Michael Mulholland
938   Posted 18/05/2012 at 11:15:31

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Wouldnt touch Owen with a barge-pole, still have too many memories or him jumping about like a gimp after scoring for them other ones.
Gladly take Naismith, if any loot left from the honeypot.
Tom Bowers
073   Posted 18/05/2012 at 22:04:45

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Owen is basically washed up. When he was young he was lightening fast and he had to be as he was very light. He is older now and a lot slower because of all his injuries. Maybe Tranmere will sign him.
I agree Naismith may be a useful acquisition.

Dare I mention a certain Dirk Kuyt who seems to be surplus to Redshite? Could be a good partner to Jelavic?

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