[Archived] Next Rovers Manager

[Blofeld]

Keegan never had it ... surely

[b12_simon]

Sparky was three weeks from Souness walking to Hughes being signed.

Cheers Philipl - I don't remember it being that long (I believe you but my memory's bobbins) but then losing Souness wasn't as big a blow (losing Cole was though).

If it's 3 weeks this time I'll have more grey hairs than Hughes but better that than rushing in to sign that talentless arse Alardyce the first CV that arrives in the post.

[Blofeld]

Some bloke at work mentioned David Platt to me as the next manager. Do I not like that.

[daren]

Wonder would Liam Brady be interested! Or Johnny Giles (Brady could be a great appointment for someone - he has serious connections through his youth work at Arsenal)

Seriously, though, someone like Zola with an experienced assistant would tickle me. I always liked Zola, seemed like a top chap with real flair who's genuinley liked and respected all across the fotballing world

[bigbrandjohn]

Interesting that Paul Ince is emerging as a possible. He was one player I could not stand playing against us. He would always pop one in around about the 90 minute mark and I can still see his face celebrating.

But, same mould as Hughes, with the same aggressive approach from the school of flying tea cups. Unproven at the highest level but ambitious. I can think of worse choices. He would need to get some early success with the squad to attract new talent and he would probably need an experienced backroom to support him.

[thecomebackid]

Wonder would Liam Brady be interested! Or Johnny Giles (Brady could be a great appointment for someone - he has serious connections through his youth work at Arsenal)

Seriously, though, someone like Zola with an experienced assistant would tickle me. I always liked Zola, seemed like a top chap with real flair who's genuinley liked and respected all across the fotballing world

A great bloke, but regularly competes with Eamon Dunphy Saturday evenings on RTE 2, for the pundit that looks like he stumbled out of McDaids after an over extended lock in the night before.

[Silencio]

People are slagging Ince but at least he's had the guts to get into management and get his hands dirty. Shearer has played golf and been a ###### pundit on the BBC while he's lurked waiting for the Newcastle job. I don't want him at Rovers.

I was never a fan of Ince as a person during his playing days but he does come across well in interviews. I think there are questions marks over him but less than there are with Shearer. Shearer was a Rovers great but he's not someone I have affection for. He's always portrayed well because of his power but there's a number of stories with him. He stamped on Neil Lennon and threatened to walk out on England if he got banned, his best friend is Mike Newell and he effectively gave up on becoming on of the worlds best players when he moved to Newcastle at 25. At least Ince played in Italy (I think he learnt the language too).

I very much doubt that Shearer knows about good young players in Europe or South America, he seems very old school and closed minded and the fact he has been so slow to get his coaching badges really says it all. We have to keep up the good, modernising work that Hughes started. I fear Shearer would take us backwards and then f+++ off to Newcastle when he he'd done it (cos they'd put Michael Barrymore in charge if he was a Geordie)...

[brian_gallagher85]

A great bloke, but regularly competes with Eamon Dunphy Saturday evenings on RTE 2, for the pundit that looks like he stumbled out of McDaids after an over extended lock in the night before.

Some, if not most of his comments give that impression too...also he's working with Jack in Italy these days

Can't see Brady leaving Trap that fast either, despite what the Irish press want

[Parsonblue]

I find the prospect of Paul Ince and his MK Dons backroom staff at Ewood Park totally depressing. It would be a huge gamble to ask someone who has only managed in Division Two, the old Division Four, to take over a team that was seventh in the Premier League. The last manager we plucked from Division Four was Jim Iley and we all know how that ended in tears. Having watched some Division Two games at Stanley, including MK Dons last season, it's a totally different game from the Premier League. Surely, Ince must prove himself working with international standard players before we take a chance on him.

Personally, I want someone who has proven managerial experience in the Premier League. If we gamble on a novice and it goes wrong we might never recover. If this club slipped out of the Premier League we might not return for a generation or more. I still remember 1966 and the length of time it took to climb back to top after that relegation.

[salothsar]

I don't (quite) remember 1966 but totally agree that if it does go wrong next season and we go down we might never get back up again. We've punched above our weight for years now and the longer time goes on the more important money becomes and I can't see us ever generating enough to stay on terms with at least 19 other clubs.

A couple of mates are Wolves fans and I agree with them when they say the reason we're top 10 premier league and they go through the torture of the play offs year after year is our managers. We get a dud this time and that could easily be us.

Sparky was a gamble with no club experience. It paid off last time but its a hell of a gamble to take again with someone like Ince. I wouldn't be too upset with Sam for that reason.

[BrianPotter]

The odds on BFS are lengthening, hes now evens on most sites so its heading in the right direction. Ince has also overtaken Shearer as second favourite.

I've got to say that being realistic this appointment will be a difficult one, and no matter who we get there will be certain elements of the appointed manager that are not ideal. If you look around for decent managers looking for work there are very few available. Unless we go down the route of approaching other clubs to speak to their manager then the options are very limited.

[Silencio]

I'm not advocating Ince as a number one target but I think it's insane to pushing Shearer.

BP is right, this appointment is a difficult one. I think Advocaat would be possible and someone who could do a very good job. I think a sticking point would be our budget. Van Gaal could also be possible, can work on a budget and is extremely talented, but his personality could rub people up the wrong way.

In England there are very few that aren't a risk. I'd say Strachan could keep us around the same level but would not improve us. BFS would keep it steady but there'd be fewer and fewer fans. He has an unfounded arrogance which I can't stand.

[brfcs5359]

People are slagging Ince but at least he's had the guts to get into management and get his hands dirty. Shearer has played golf and been a ###### pundit on the BBC while he's lurked waiting for the Newcastle job. I don't want him at Rovers.

I was never a fan of Ince as a person during his playing days but he does come across well in interviews. I think there are questions marks over him but less than there are with Shearer. Shearer was a Rovers great but he's not someone I have affection for. He's always portrayed well because of his power but there's a number of stories with him. He stamped on Neil Lennon and threatened to walk out on England if he got banned, his best friend is Mike Newell and he effectively gave up on becoming on of the worlds best players when he moved to Newcastle at 25. At least Ince played in Italy (I think he learnt the language too).

I very much doubt that Shearer knows about good young players in Europe or South America, he seems very old school and closed minded and the fact he has been so slow to get his coaching badges really says it all. We have to keep up the good, modernising work that Hughes started. I fear Shearer would take us backwards and then f+++ off to Newcastle when he he'd done it (cos they'd put Michael Barrymore in charge if he was a Geordie)...

Great post. I would reinforce the Shearer comments through the eye's of David Batty's autobiography which pretty much said there is a strong unpleasant undercurrent with Shearer. Ince for me. It's a risk, but having listened I concur with your points about him. He has changed my opinion about him and it shows that great players don;t make great managers and great managers can come from those with less(er) ability. Capped by England, played in Italy, foreign language, trophies at Man U, 120% (unlike Shearer). Proven track record in management so far. No brainer. INCE for the job.

[RevidgeBlue]

The Lancashire Telegraph is saying today that according to their new manager poll Shearer is the overwhelming choice of the fans:

Shearer 46%

Ince 16%

Allardyce 13%

McClaren 3%

Others 22 %

Must say that doesn't reflect the views on here at all although I would expect some variance with so many overseas fans on here who are more likely to plump for foreign candidates they are more familar with than locals are.

[joey_big_nose]

I don't (quite) remember 1966 but totally agree that if it does go wrong next season and we go down we might never get back up again. We've punched above our weight for years now and the longer time goes on the more important money becomes and I can't see us ever generating enough to stay on terms with at least 19 other clubs.

A couple of mates are Wolves fans and I agree with them when they say the reason we're top 10 premier league and they go through the torture of the play offs year after year is our managers. We get a dud this time and that could easily be us.

Sparky was a gamble with no club experience. It paid off last time but its a hell of a gamble to take again with someone like Ince. I wouldn't be too upset with Sam for that reason.

Often taking a manager with experience is a bit of a gamble. Lets make a list of Managers with Premeirship experience before their current club who have done well:

Graeme Souness (with us)

Joe Royal (Everton)

Dalgleish (Blackburn/Liverpool)

Hoddle (Chelsea)

Strachan? (southampton)

Robson (Newcastle)

Redknapp (Portsmouth - But remember he got a very talented West Ham team relegated before coming back)

And a list of managers who had no Premiership experience before the relevent club they joined yet did well:

Hughes (Blackburn)

Moyes (Everton)

Allerdyce (Bolton)

O'Neill (Leicester)

O'Leary (Leeds pre blowout)

Keegan (Newcastle first time)

Guillit (Chelsea)

McClaren (Middlesborough)

Keane (Sunderland)

Curbishley (Charlton)

And a list of supposedly extremely qualified coaches who have failed, sometimes spectacularly:

Santini (Spurs)

Allardyce (Newcastle)

Gross (Spurs)

Dalgleish (Newcastle)

So I guess my point is that it is not cut and dried. Premier League experience is certainly not a pre-requisite. And the most exciting managers in the Premiership at the moment - Hughes, Keane, Moyes, Southgate who is improving, - are all individuals who seemed underqualified for their positions when they took over. Its not cut and dried.

For me its all about the interviews, whether whoever comes in has the enthusiasm and the ideas for the job. Experience is relevent but it is much more important to have someone who is innovative, capable, keen and confident than someone with the right CV but lacking in desire.

The last thing we want is a jaded veteran with their confidence in their methods shaken. Or, to put it another way, Sam Allardyce.

[Flopsy]

what bish and graham said, Shearer would be a stupendously stupid idea, only mildly better than McClaren, great striker, rubbish commentator and shown no desire to manage at his boyhood club that he professes to love, and also why would he want to come to rovers where for the last 10 years he's had a stinking reception (bar the last game)

[broadsword]

Surely that 46% is fans voting with their hearts and not their heads?

It would represent a significant gamble.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Something that has put me off Shearer, is reading the 606 newcastle boards.

They want Shearer to cut his teeth at rovers so quoting their own words "they can steal him from us" if he does well.

Shearer would be off like a shot if Newcastle come calling, the speculation everytime it comes up will not do our club any good.

[waggy]

I ASK ALL ROVERITES WHO SAYS SHEARER AND INCE HAVE NO EXPERINCE,HOW MUCH DID OUR BEST EVER MANAGER HAVE

HOWARD KENDALL WHEN HE JOINED THE CLUB

[joey_big_nose]

The Lancashire Telegraph is saying today that according to their new manager poll Shearer is the overwhelming choice of the fans:

Shearer 46%

Ince 16%

Allardyce 13%

McClaren 3%

Others 22 %

Must say that doesn't reflect the views on here at all although I would expect some variance with so many overseas fans on here who are more likely to plump for foreign candidates they are more familar with than locals are.

Shearer is a nutty choice. Rovers need someone who actually wants the job, someone who is banging the door down full of enthusiasm and who has carefully selected his methods and thoroughly aquainted himself with the techniques and strategies of the game and feels they have something new to bring to the table.

Shearer hasn't done any of that. The fact that, as Nicko has said, we have to persuade him to take the job should immediately discount him. I am worried if he comes in it will not be something he devotes his full energy and focus on, it will be a sideshow to his already illustrious career. Sparky oozes commitment and focus to his job. Everything about Shearer seems quite the opposite at the moment.

If he went away and did his badges and committed himself to becoming a manager I would be delighted if Rovers assessed him. But everything about him at the moment screams he isn't that interested.

This is the problem Newcastle had in bringing keegan back. You don't want a reluctant manager!

[brfcs5359]

Thursday 10.25am SkyBet

Next Blackburn Manager - Next Permanent Manager

Allardyce S evens - predicatble long ball - his attitude won't go down with fans well because he's always right and and they are wrong -

Ince P 4/1 - a risk - ticks all the boxes - humble - will go down well with fans

Shearer A 5/1 - high risk - shown little inclination for true leadership qualities/man management skills - failed to take a serious attitude to coaching, coaching badges etc preferring his own voice (again) on the BBC sofa.- his attitude won't go down well with Rovers fans

McClaren S 12/1 - wally with the brolly - automatic relegation

Grant A 16/1 - high risk, already failed in the big decisions - on his way downwards, not upwards - no optimism here

Deschamps D 16/1 - foreigner with little grasp - Tigana at Fulham?

Houllier G 20/1 - £160m spent at LFC - went backwards - on a budget ???

Bilic S 20/1 - interesting, risky as he is risky himself in his approach - good shout.

Advocaat D 25/1 - dull and duller

OLeary D 25/1 - signed Wilcox - wrecked Leeds - fired off from Villa - big time loser and another know it all - his attitude won't go down well with Rovers fans

Collins J 25/1 - failure at Fulham

Newell M 25/1 - failed at Luton - interesting

Souness G 25/1 - baggage - very poor in transfer market above bargain buys

Dalgleish K 25/1 - lost the plot - welded to his golf clubs and his ego

Strachan G 25/1 - good shout -

Hoddle G 33/1 - religion and football don't mix.

[leftfooter]

I'm not advocating Ince as a number one target but I think it's insane to pushing Shearer.

BP is right, this appointment is a difficult one. I think Advocaat would be possible and someone who could do a very good job. I think a sticking point would be our budget. Van Gaal could also be possible, can work on a budget and is extremely talented, but his personality could rub people up the wrong way.

In England there are very few that aren't a risk. I'd say Strachan could keep us around the same level but would not improve us. BFS would keep it steady but there'd be fewer and fewer fans. He has an unfounded arrogance which I can't stand.

Re: Ince; when you think about it, how an ex big name player handles himself at a 'small' club, often says a lot about that individual; thus MON (driven but principled) thrived at Wycombe, Tony (deeply flawed vain individual) Adams failed. It's harder to hide behind hangers-on in such an environment, and let's face it, Shearer has plenty of those.

[RevidgeBlue]

Excellent summary there graham, agree with all of that apart from Strachan whose record down here has been generally very unimpressive.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Does anyone know anything about this Gary Johnson bloke? Seen his name mentioned on another forum.

[cn_barlow]

Does anyone know anything about this Gary Johnson bloke? Seen his name mentioned on another forum.

Bristol City Mangaer. Used to manage Latvia as well i think