[Archived] Nickos (newer) Thread

[thenodrog]

Come the start of the season no-one will remember who Laudrup was...

Yeah like we've all forgotten about Zidane and Dugarry and that Ray Hardford RIP confused the names of WHU players Matty Holmes and Michael Hughes.

Crikey Tyrones still not forgiven em for selling Fat Fred Pick.

[USABlue]

It must also be hugely significant that our most senior player, Friedel gave Ince a ringing endorsement which would tend to indicate the appointment has the players backing.

As you know Rev I am happy with the appointment however, the Brad thing. Could he simply have been asked to perform a PR stint for the club, JW knowing that so many fans respect Brad.

[thenodrog]

It will always be a factor as long as people keep talking about it and keep treating it as though it actually matters.

I really cannot understand why it matters to so many people. I never even think about the colour of somebody's skin when I am talking to them or in their presence. They are just people like the rest of us; no better and no worse. What is so hard to understand about that?

On the other hand as long as people see it as an issue and keep talking about it, then an issue it will be. Just forget it completely and get on with your life.

We all know that Fife but if there had not been any black refs the massive and much heralded 'Kick racism out of Football' campaign would have been open to all manner of criticism and ridicule.

I know what you are getting at but you really should try and think things through a bit more.

[thenodrog]

Fact of the matter is that Laudrup doesnt have the desire if he wants a spanish clause is there.

We shouldnt allow and clause. At least Ince wants a 3-4 year plan.

If it's Ince then we should just offer him a one year contract. Seriously I cannot see a gamble like him being offered more than a 2 year deal. We'll like as not have to pot him by Xmas and we don't want a pay off to rival the last 2 England managers do we?

[QOTSA]

Yeah like we've all forgotten about Zidane and Dugarry and that Ray Hardford RIP confused the names of WHU players Matty Holmes and Michael Hughes.

Is that true? I've never heard that before about Holmes and Hughes. Would explain a few things...

[thenodrog]

Listening to MK Don fans and other pundits, Ince likes to play attractive football- lets be fair football under Hughes was dire for a lot of last season.

7th position by a small club speaks far louder than your words.

[allrovertheworld]

Nicko can you give us some insight into how Rovers are viewed in your industry.

I hate to bring up the old 'we are a small club and get no/bad coverage thing' but it seems there are always people in the press who just want to have a pop at us no matter what.

Someone else posted an article link to the Mirror and it said something along the lines of 'the blackburn board have had their spot in the limelight and are enjoying every minute' as if we were taking our time becasue we were enjoying being centre of attention and not becasue we are waiting for the prem to ok the appointment of Paul Ince.

It seems so unecessary to have childish swipes at a very unoffensive club who just gets on with things.

Cheers

[Roversider]

Firstly, on Ince, I think it is fair to assume that he will be our next manager. Had experience of playing at the top level in England and Italy, has got a fair chunk of his qualifications and the FA are happy to allow him to manage in the Premier with the same sort of dispensation given to several other managers. Whilst he has only had a short period in management (similar to Mark Hughes and better than Roy Keane by the way) he achieved a minor miracle at Macclesfield and did very well at Milton Keynes. His preferred style at those clubs was not kick the opposition but play passing football. True, he hasn't proved himself yet in top flight management but Allardyce had and he definitely lacked support on this message board. GFinally, Friedel clearly endorses him, whether prompted by the Rovers, his team-mates or just himself it seems an honest opinion. Oh, and someone told me Ince was black, which is the one irrelevant fact here.

As for Laudrup, he demanded contract clauses from Panathanaikos which they wouldn't accept, there is a strong suspicion that he would want the same at Ewood. If that is the case he is a non-starter. He would have been an equal gamble to Ince in the Premiership but either of them would look as reasonably well thought out bets.

The one constant has been John Williams and I have absolute faith that the decision will have been taken with all the care possible. So come on, continue to trust the judgement of the Chairman and back the club and new manager.

On the PR front Rovers really need to sharpen up, are they still using Paul Agnew?

Roll on the new season!

[USABlue]

Why the ""s? Our poll clearly shows almost 90% of the folks on here did in fact want Laudrup.

Just to cover some of the 10% who might accidentally forget who they wanted I had not realised the support for Laudrup was that high, thanks.

[iamarover]

Why the ""s? Our poll clearly shows almost 90% of the folks on here did in fact want Laudrup.

If you read the Telegraph article - and the journo is clearly in touch with Laudrup given his scoop yesterday - then there is no decision to make. Laudrup was interested but is no longer interested because there is no pot of gold to build with . And Rovers are no longer interested because, quite rightly, they question a bloke's commitment who is negotiating his release before he has even joined. All this droning on about Laudrup is therefore completely irrelevant. It was Ince, BFS or McClaren. The only possible horse would have been Nicko's HTC but, again, because of the Chelsea situation there really was no option to decide on.

It probably should have been Ince anyway. But circumstance mean it could only have been him. He has never failed so far since his days on an Ilford council estate growing up without either parents he is not going to do so now. JW hasn't failed either in his decision making. Both these facts mean we are in for an interesting, probably volatile, but ultimately successful ride. No boring Axe packed midfield now. And the visit to Upton Park on August 30th will make us the centre of national attention with bilious hatred pouring out of their stands. Can't wait...

[USABlue]

I remember reading on a number of occasions in the press that rovers mirrored hughes style of play.

If thats the case with Ince then god help us!!

Personally, I loved Ince's play. I thought him a terrific player and used to love watching him play.

[thenodrog]

Is that true? I've never heard that before about Holmes and Hughes. Would explain a few things...

Never authenticated obviously but its a view I've held for a number of years. There can have been no other reason than being a case of mistaken identity. A number of signings stick out in my mind as being 'baffling' (Grabbi / Amo / etc) and this was one of them

[USABlue]

If thats the case then Williams MUST be having serious second thoughts about the popularity of his man and about himself if BRFC nose dive under Ince. Laudrup's name will be JW's own personal Sword of Damocles. Alternatively if Laudrup comes and bombs then he Williams will not be villified to anything like the same extent. Appointing a man that 90% of fans are against will carry one hell of a big personal risk for an employee of BRFC.

Cleverly worded Gordon, in reality it does not mean that 90% are against Ince, just that 90% preferred Laudrup. The reaction to BFS is what I would call fans being against someone, but well done. You in Politics by any chance?

[USABlue]

nicko, or anyone else for that matter. Do we know if Ince is a fan of the Pro Zone that MH was so fond of and how high on players fitness levels is he? Is he a fanatic in the Hughes mold or a five a sider a la Mr Souness?

[Paul Mellelieu]

You're clutching at straws Theno. 905 of Rovers supporters against Ince? As iamr says, which a number of us have pointed out, Laudrup doesn't appear to have been a serious candidate.

Anyway your choice, BFS, had 99.9% of Rovers fans against him.

For sure though, there'll be no 7th finish on the basis of last season's performances, which is just one reason Hughes left when he did.

[AJW]

i think the appointment of ince would be a very bold and courageous move by the board , ince for me and many other rovers fans was " acceptable" although probably not our first choice but higher up the list than allardyce and billy davies and 1 or 2 others that had been linked with the job, experience COULD be a key factor here espicially, as some of you have already mentioned on here, if we dont get off to a great start , the fixture list for the opening games could have been easier but then there are some winnable games , but he is coming from 3 divisions below us , players in that mk dons team would instantly raise their game by 10-20% just because its PAUL INCE but would he mangage do do the same with RSC or Benni or MGP ? what about his dealings in the transfer market ? well i am close to someone at Accrington stanley , who assures me that Ince's budget for the season was 2 or 3 times higher than the next biggest spending club( after peterboro , who had almost double again that of MK Dons) would he have the ability to draw in such players as Paul Scholes , hughes almost certainly would. Ince i feel will be a good manger for blackburn , but we as fans need to have patience , this next season could be a season of lowered expectations

[thenodrog]

Cleverly worded Gordon, in reality it does not mean that 90% are against Ince, just that 90% preferred Laudrup. The reaction to BFS is what I would call fans being against someone, but well done. You in Politics by any chance?

Thank you USA. Politics?.....Haven't time cos I'm always pratting about on here. Must say if Ince takes charge i'll either try doing politics Sat afternoons or try playing some golf.

[alexanders]

I think appointing INCE is awesome.

He knows everything about winning - and under INCE i predict that we will fight for every ball and give 110%.

He also plays an attacking minded and passing style of play, not long ball.

We will also as someone said have a lot of attention when Ince's Blue and White Army returns to OT, Anfield and Upton Park.

I also think that Ince will have NO PROBLEM at all - motivating the players against the bigger teams, especially the scum!

[1864roverite]

If you read the Telegraph article - and the journo is clearly in touch with Laudrup given his scoop yesterday - then there is no decision to make. Laudrup was interested but is no longer interested because there is no pot of gold to build with . And Rovers are no longer interested because, quite rightly, they question a bloke's commitment who is negotiating his release before he has even joined. All this droning on about Laudrup is therefore completely irrelevant. It was Ince, BFS or McClaren. The only possible horse would have been Nicko's HTC but, again, because of the Chelsea situation there really was no option to decide on.

It probably should have been Ince anyway. But circumstance mean it could only have been him. He has never failed so far since his days on an Ilford council estate growing up without either parents he is not going to do so now. JW hasn't failed either in his decision making. Both these facts mean we are in for an interesting, probably volatile, but ultimately successful ride. No boring Axe packed midfield now. And the visit to Upton Park on August 30th will make us the centre of national attention with bilious hatred pouring out of their stands. Can't wait...

as long as the muckers dont throw those smelly jellied eels I aint particularly bothered, the soft southern scum btw

[thenodrog]

You're clutching at straws Theno. 905 of Rovers supporters against Ince? As iamr says, which a number of us have pointed out, Laudrup doesn't appear to have been a serious candidate.

Anyway your choice, BFS, had 99.9% of Rovers fans against him.

For sure though, there'll be no 7th finish on the basis of last season's performances, which is just one reason Hughes left when he did.

BFS was not my first choice but was most definitely in my top 3. (Ince being nowhere near based on his managerial record, my perception of his managerial 'nous' and his personaility). As far as sam is concerned if a number of eventuallities re: players leaving, squad attitude dipping etc then we may well be in a relegation scrap...... and if that happens we could not be in better hands.

[RibbleValleyRover]

The Ince v Laudrup poll is an indication of who the voters would prefer if it came down to a choice between having Ince or Laudrup as our next manager.

I know i voted Laudrup, but i wouldn't be opposed to Ince. I think fans who voted for Laudrup would feel the same way, its not an indication of the fans hating Ince its just if there was a choice between the two of them Laudrup would be their choice.

[Fife Rover]

If thats the case then Williams MUST be having serious second thoughts about the popularity of his man and about himself if BRFC nose dive under Ince. Laudrup's name will be JW's own personal Sword of Damocles. Alternatively if Laudrup comes and bombs then he Williams will not be villified to anything like the same extent. Appointing a man that 90% of fans are against will carry one hell of a big personal risk for an employee of BRFC.

You are a first class spin doctor Theno. Just because 90% of Rovers fans have indicated that they prefer Laudrup to Ince, that does NOT mean that all of them are AGAINST Ince.

[thenodrog]

nicko, or anyone else for that matter. Do we know if Ince is a fan of the Pro Zone that MH was so fond of and how high on players fitness levels is he? Is he a fanatic in the Hughes mold or a five a sider a la Mr Souness?

I'd think that he is more likely to spend his time in the office alternating between 'Vice City' and Big Brother.

[thenodrog]

You are a first class spin doctor Theno.

I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you Fife.

[gumboots]

Thank you USA. Politics?.....Haven't time cos I'm always pratting about on here. Must say if Ince takes charge i'll either try doing politics Sat afternoons or try playing some golf.

And who was it who said that the club were bigger than the manager and I wasn't a true fan or however you put it if I wouldn't go to Ewood if allardyce managed Rovers. In fact you even went so far as to question whether my gender was an issue in that. For what it's worth, I think Ince deserves to be given a chance. He has only managed lower league sides but then Hughes hadn't managed many big players in that Wales don't have many world stars playing for them. He has worked day in day out on the running of a football club instead of doing a job as international manager that can be done part time as Hughes showed. I didn't much like Ince when he was at United but then I don't much like anyone who plays for Utd and our last guy turned out all right. We need to stay in the premier league this season. If we don't then it's failure. Anywhere round the middle and you can't really say the guy has done a bad job. There are plenty of teams who will spend more and still worry abot their league status. Being an experienced manager does not guarantee that you will never get it wrong or why did West Ham struggle. Why were Spurs such rubbish most of last season? Why has Moyes taken so many years to have 2 decent seasons running?