[Archived] Paul Robinson

[BuckyRover]

Ince is gone. You would think the anti-Ince brigade would be happy. Are they?

Are they heck! They are still moaning and whinging about everything. He is gone, we will stay up. Everybody is a winner.

[philipl]

Ince is gone. You would think the anti-Ince brigade would be happy. Are they?

Are they heck! They are still moaning and whinging about everything. He is gone, we will stay up. Everybody is a winner.

Difference between 7th and 17th is £7.5m prize money, c£3m in appearance money plus whatever the club loses in gate and commercial revenue.

Chuck in the compensation for getting rid of Ince and chums and we are looking at the Ince disaster costing Rovers between £12m and £15m even if we stay up.

[stuwilky]

You honestly think he had already put in a transfer request when he made those comments?

I do not believe that a BRFC employee would put his name to something if he did not believe it to be accurate.

Its not exactly an anonymous quote.

Unless Mr Grooby is part of a big conspiracy?

[Exiled in Toronto]

Difference between 7th and 17th is £7.5m prize money, c£3m in appearance money plus whatever the club loses in gate and commercial revenue.

Chuck in the compensation for getting rid of Ince and chums and we are looking at the Ince disaster costing Rovers between £12m and £15m even if we stay up.

Perhaps this minor matter will come up in John Williams' performance review. I don't think the Trust will accept an explanation that it was all Paul Ince's fault.

[T4E]

I do not believe that a BRFC employee would put his name to something if he did not believe it to be accurate.

Its not exactly an anonymous quote.

Unless Mr Grooby is part of a big conspiracy?

I'm glad you said it for me

[philipl]

The posters on here have highlighted the three bungles of Robo's that cost us.

Apart from that, as I wrote, I think Robo has done a pretty good job in the circumstances. He collapsed as a keeper at Spurs under far less pressure than he has been subjected to at Rovers and now we have a Manager worthy of the title, I hope that Robo keeps on improving behind an organised defence.

Re Brad's departure, I am glad that T4E and stuwilky have put up such a strong and well-evidenced defence of their position. If they are wrong, then as I have pointed out before, all kinds of horrible questions can get posed about what happened at St Andrew's on the last day of last season.

I always thought Brad was far too good and decent to have deliberately thrown that game whilst Ince hoiking Brad out on day one would be consistent with why his management at Rovers was in crisis from day one- which it was.

[nicko]

Just noticed the Brad stuff earlier...

If Brad had asked for a move why didn't the club release that news when they had the tricky job of selling him? It would have smooted so much over for the new manager.

The 'history' between Brad and Ince was a bad feeling between them at Liverpool. At one point the big chap had his mouthy team-mate by the throat - that was referred to a few weeks back and must have gone over some heads.

Brad, being the type he is, would have forgiven and forgotten.

However - and I have never mentioned this before - Ince was telling people just BEFORE he had the job that he didn't fancy Brad and would be looking for a replacement.

That is why the stories about potential keeper signings started to appear while Brad was still in the building.

[T4E]

Correct-a-mundo

[stuwilky]

Re Brad's departure, I am glad that T4E and stuwilky have put up such a strong and well-evidenced defence of their position. If they are wrong, then as I have pointed out before, all kinds of horrible questions can get posed about what happened at St Andrew's on the last day of last season.

I havnt made any point about my position Mr P, I simply asked a question.

[philipl]

Sorry, but you might conceed it was a leading question...

[stuwilky]

Sorry, but you might conceed it was a leading question...

Or you might think that the first part of my post was my true belief...

Depends what you want to read into it I suppose.

[den]

Just noticed the Brad stuff earlier...

If Brad had asked for a move why didn't the club release that news when they had the tricky job of selling him? It would have smooted so much over for the new manager.

The 'history' between Brad and Ince was a bad feeling between them at Liverpool. At one point the big chap had his mouthy team-mate by the throat - that was referred to a few weeks back and must have gone over some heads.

Brad, being the type he is, would have forgiven and forgotten.

However - and I have never mentioned this before - Ince was telling people just BEFORE he had the job that he didn't fancy Brad and would be looking for a replacement.

That is why the stories about potential keeper signings started to appear while Brad was still in the building.

If that's true Nicko, and I have no reason to doubt anyone's story on here, then it speaks volumes for Ince's judgement. I've always said that I didn't think Ince had any idea what he was selling when he sold Bentley. Add that to Brad's sale and the incoming signings he made - and we have a guy who sold our two best players without the bat of an eye and without having a clue what he was doing at any level.

I wonder if JW knew Ince's idea's about Brad, before he signed on?

[Billy Castell]

I think Bentley would have suled and played badly if he was made to stay Den. I'd have a much dimmer view of our tragicaly sacked (sic) former boss if the Friedel stories Nicko mentioned were true.

[den]

I think Bentley would have suled and played badly if he was made to stay Den.

I didn't mean to go down that road again, I was trying to say that Ince wouldn't know a real footballer if he fell over one. Amazing how some ex-players have no idea about the game isn't it! - I mean, how could anyone "not fancy" Brad [as a keeper]?

[tony gale's mic]

I think Bentley would have suled and played badly if he was made to stay Den. I'd have a much dimmer view of our tragicaly sacked (sic) former boss if the Friedel stories Nicko mentioned were true.

I don't think so - he had to keep himself in the shop window and in Capello's plans, he would've had no option but to play well. And I don't think you can really call Ince's sacking tragic

[Billy Castell]

I did put (sic) after that statement! I bet the printed media have all taken such a line though.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

If that's true Nicko, and I have no reason to doubt anyone's story on here, then it speaks volumes for Ince's judgement. I've always said that I didn't think Ince had any idea what he was selling when he sold Bentley. Add that to Brad's sale and the incoming signings he made - and we have a guy who sold our two best players without the bat of an eye and without having a clue what he was doing at any level.

I wonder if JW knew Ince's idea's about Brad, before he signed on?

I knew there was more to it than the Ince party line. Crazy move on Ince's part , in a transitional season Brad's support might just have made the difference.

[BuckyRover]

Absolute rubbish. If that is the case why on earth did Friedel tow the Ince line? How did that benefit anybody other than Ince? If he loved the Blackburn fans so much then why not tell us that the new manager hates him from his Liverpool days when they had a fight.

If Paul Ince destroyed his Blackburn career then why has he kept it to himself? Admit it guys, you are taking nicko as gospel again (48 hours).

Villa fancied their chances. He liked what they offered we couldn't match it. He waited till we tied up Robinson.

[tony gale's mic]

Absolute rubbish. If that is the case why on earth did Friedel tow the Ince line? How did that benefit anybody other than Ince? If he loved the Blackburn fans so much then why not tell us that the new manager hates him from his Liverpool days when they had a fight.

If Paul Ince destroyed his Blackburn career then why has he kept it to himself? Admit it guys, you are taking nicko as gospel again (48 hours).

Villa fancied their chances. He liked what they offered we couldn't match it. He waited till we tied up Robinson.

That's even more rubbish. Friedel's a model professional. Would you seriously expect him to come out and say that?!

I don't know for sure what went on, but I know nicko is a bloke who gets it right more often than not, who warned us about Andrews and Fowler continually despite people saying he was talking bull, so I know where my gut reaction's going.

[T4E]

If Paul Ince destroyed his Blackburn career then why has he kept it to himself? Admit it guys, you are taking nicko as gospel again (48 hours).

If he sees this and is inclined to reply, Nicko has the answer to that question, too.

[my_name_is_Earl]

I think Robbo is a great replacement for Brad. I don't think i'm alone in suggesting that all Rovers fans were worried about Brads career coming to an end and a couple of blunders that were slipping into his game (most notably Birmingham away). That's not to say Brad wasn't an absolute legend and would have certainly made a difference if he had remained here.

I just think that although it obviously doesn't look like it right now (prior to stoke ), Ince actually sorted us out with a great keeper who has years left in him. For me that was the best thing that Ince ever did in the job.

Times change, things move on and regardless of the situation with Ince and Brad, the truth is his career was coming to an end and we had a gargantuan hole to fill. Robbo will be that man and for the pricetag, we really did rip Spurs off.

[tony gale's mic]

For that pricetag we still could've got a better keeper, definitely. Unless it's City bidding for Buffon, keepers generally aren't that expensive. Robinson has been average so far, nothing better, nothing worse. In the Sunderland game he cost us points, in the Liverpool game he was at fault for Alonso's goal which may also have cost us points. He's probably saved us the odd point on a couple of occasions but remember you expect your keeper to make one or two great saves in a game anyway.

[BuckyRover]

Why is that absolute rubbish? A model professional? Hmmm that is what I thought too? Until you brought it to light that he held Ince by his neck. That is not a very professional thing to do. Regardless of the situation.

None of us know any of the facts.

It seems more likely that Brad must have instructed his agent to find him a new club when he knew Ince was joining. That seems more plausible. Personally I don't think it's professional to pretend to all the Blackburn fans that it was nothing to do with Ince when it was. It would only make sense to hide it if Friedel was the one with the problem. Which would also explain why Ince said he wasn't going anywhere.

I just can't get the idea that Ince came in and decided Brad should leave. I could imagine them both deciding together it was for the best. Maybe they both agreed they couldn't work with each other. A lot of criticism levelled at Ince was that he was too "pally" with the players. So I can't see on one hand him being pally with the players and on the other hand a strict authoritarian who refused to work with Friedel, and immediately stamped his authority on the squad.

Maybe it happened like this:

Friedel becomes aware of Villa interest. He is putting his feelers out because Hughes has left and sees the club on a downward slope.

Paul Ince joins and says Friedel isn't going anywhere

Villa make bid after Friedel tells agent he doesn't want to work with Paul Ince

They agree together to make it sound like there is no problem (Friedel colluding to keep the story quiet is not very professional) fearing either side could be make to look like the villian.

He agrees to wait until we sign a new keeper.

That is just as feasible as the "truth" that is being put out on here.

Ince was a bad manager for Blackburn Rovers there is no doubt about that, but that is not the same as every decision Paul Ince made while he was the manager was a bad one and to the detriment of the club.

[92er]

For that pricetag we still could've got a better keeper, definitely. Unless it's City bidding for Buffon, keepers generally aren't that expensive. Robinson has been average so far, nothing better, nothing worse. In the Sunderland game he cost us points, in the Liverpool game he was at fault for Alonso's goal which may also have cost us points. He's probably saved us the odd point on a couple of occasions but remember you expect your keeper to make one or two great saves in a game anyway.

I thought for the 3rd goal at the Villa, Robinson was slightly incorrectly positioned-a mistake that turned out to be important at the end.

[philipl]

I agree bucky- grabbing Ince by the neck then squeezing would have been professional.