[Archived] Paul's Progress

[imy9]

Good grief! Thats exactly what Hughes did! What made you think that up?

I have seen more entertaining football played by us this season than at any point last year.

Ultimatley Ince wants the wings to be full of pace, last year we played Emerton, Warnock, MGP and Bentley no one with real pace, yesterday we played Simpson, Olsson, Treacy and Carlos- with the exception of Carlos everyone else has genuine pace.

[Hughesy]

Going off his style of play, im suprised that he didnt make a move for Lennon as he seems the sort of player Ince would love to have on the right wing. Maybe he has someone else in mind for that role come January.

[thenodrog]

I have seen more entertaining football played by us this season than at any point last year.

Ultimatley Ince wants the wings to be full of pace, last year we played Emerton, Warnock, MGP and Bentley no one with real pace, yesterday we played Simpson, Olsson, Treacy and Carlos- with the exception of Carlos everyone else has genuine pace.

Put it any way that you want but the point I was making in answer to Hughesy was that Hughes's usual 1st X1 usually contained 3 wingers in the same team with Warnock charging forward as an overlapping full back at every opportunity, 2 out and out strikers with both a deep and attacking midfielder behind them. On top of that Samba frequently charged forward too. Please explain further.

[BuckyRover]

Put it any way that you want but the point I was making in answer to Hughesy was that Hughes's usual 1st X1 usually contained 3 wingers in the same team with Warnock charging forward as an overlapping full back at every opportunity, 2 out and out strikers with both a deep and attacking midfielder behind them. On top of that Samba frequently charged forward too. Please explain further.

I'll explain.

Last year under Hughes we were very boring and predictable. (except Wigan at home, where we played quite good football)

This year, in a short space of time we have played exciting, expansive football, and this is before Ince has had time to stamp his authority on the team.

Maybe in time it will turn sour, but I think we are going in the right direction. Whereas over the last two seasons we have definitely gone backwards.

Unfortunately if you are wearing blinkers you might not be able to notice any difference.

I don't blame people for thinking like this, if McClaren or Allardyce had been appointed I would be spitting feathers and would be equally negative.

[den]

I'll explain.

Last year under Hughes we were very boring and predictable. (except Wigan at home, where we played quite good football)

This year, in a short space of time we have played SOME exciting, expansive football, and this is before Ince has had time to stamp his authority on the team.

Maybe in time it will turn sour, but I think we are going in the right direction. Whereas over the last two seasons we have definitely gone backwards.

Unfortunately if you are wearing blinkers you might not be able to notice any difference.

I don't blame people for thinking like this, if McClaren or Allardyce had been appointed I would be spitting feathers and would be equally negative.

I've edited it for you Bucky. The home games against Fulham, Arsenal and Hull were pretty poor entertainment wise.

[BuckyRover]

That's fair enough.

I accept the modification

[den]

That's fair enough.

I accept the modification

I've just added Arsenal as well. That makes all three home games.

Sorry.

[thenodrog]

I'll explain.

Last year under Hughes we were very boring and predictable. (except Wigan at home, where we played quite good football)

This year, in a short space of time we have played exciting, expansive football, and this is before Ince has had time to stamp his authority on the team.

Maybe in time it will turn sour, but I think we are going in the right direction. Whereas over the last two seasons we have definitely gone backwards.

Unfortunately if you are wearing blinkers you might not be able to notice any difference.

My blinkers must be wide angle ones... I think yours must be much more restrictive.

In the last two years Hughes signed the likes of RSC, Samba and Warnock and you call that going backwards! We would certainly have qualified for the UEFA for 3 years running but for the quirky Cup tie results that we all know are unlikely to be repeated.

I'll judge Ince once a few players have come and gone and he is managing his own team.

[Tris]

I'll judge Ince once a few players have come and gone and he is managing his own team.

Bloody hell that's a huge retraction - anyone reading would think you've been judging him on a daily basis for the past 4 months!!

[thenodrog]

Bloody hell that's a huge retraction - anyone reading would think you've been judging him on a daily basis for the past 4 months!!

Guess you have a point Tris..... There's still time of course but I didn't think he'd see the clocks go back at one stage.

Point being I can still only see us going progressively downhill under Paul Ince from the level that Hughes and his team had got us accustomed to. Pure speculation of course but put the clock back in your own mind and question whether if Ince had been brought in to replace Souness 4 years ago he'd have kept us up, taken us to European competition twice, avoided relegation and left a squad worth about 4x the value?

[CrazyIvan]

Guess you have a point Tris..... There's still time of course but I didn't think he'd see the clocks go back at one stage.

Point being I can still only see us going progressively downhill under Paul Ince from the level that Hughes and his team had got us accustomed to. Pure speculation of course but put the clock back in your own mind and question whether if Ince had been brought in to replace Souness 4 years ago he'd have kept us up, taken us to European competition twice, avoided relegation and left a squad worth about 4x the value?

I know what you'll say about this but the point is relevant, Ince went to an almost relegated Macc Town and kept them up. Who's to say what he could or couldn't have done for us. He is a young manager and has only been in the job a fairly short while but it seems like he's making a decent fist of it. There's time yet to judge...

[Mr Creosote]

My blinkers must be wide angle ones... I think yours must be much more restrictive.

In the last two years Hughes signed the likes of RSC, Samba and Warnock and you call that going backwards! We would certainly have qualified for the UEFA for 3 years running but for the quirky Cup tie results that we all know are unlikely to be repeated.

I'll judge Ince once a few players have come and gone and he is managing his own team.

That's fair enough.

How come it took you so long to be reasonable?

[imy9]

Put it any way that you want but the point I was making in answer to Hughesy was that Hughes's usual 1st X1 usually contained 3 wingers in the same team with Warnock charging forward as an overlapping full back at every opportunity, 2 out and out strikers with both a deep and attacking midfielder behind them. On top of that Samba frequently charged forward too. Please explain further.

It is not simply about the players but ultimately how you use them in your team. Which player in our first 11 last year had genuine pace? Currently we have Treacy, Olsson, Simpson who have given us another dimension going forward. The emphasis seems to be on passing the ball accurately and quickly, from Robinson to Simpson to Carlos, it is great to watch.

Hughes signed brilliant players but seriously how dross was our play last year? There were games when no fight, no spirit was shown. It is a managers job to motivate a team, 7th was a failure with the squad we had and the position we were in.

I have ALWAYS said that we need to give Ince time and questioned why certain "fans" would not give Ince the opportunity. My only fear is that if we lose two games, the same fans will reappear, this is no way to support a manager who has already shown glimpses of brilliance.

[Mr Creosote]

It is not simply about the players but ultimately how you use them in your team. Which player in our first 11 last year had genuine pace? Currently we have Treacy, Olsson, Simpson who have given us another dimension going forward. The emphasis seems to be on passing the ball accurately and quickly, from Robinson to Simpson to Carlos, it is great to watch.

Hughes signed brilliant players but seriously how dross was our play last year? There were games when no fight, no spirit was shown. It is a managers job to motivate a team, 7th was a failure with the squad we had and the position we were in.

I have ALWAYS said that we need to give Ince time and questioned why certain "fans" would not give Ince the opportunity. My only fear is that if we lose two games, the same fans will reappear, this is no way to support a manager who has already shown glimpses of brilliance.

Brilliance is a bit strong but that is pretty much what I and a few others have been banging on about for weeks.

[Tris]

Guess you have a point Tris..... There's still time of course but I didn't think he'd see the clocks go back at one stage.

Point being I can still only see us going progressively downhill under Paul Ince from the level that Hughes and his team had got us accustomed to. Pure speculation of course but put the clock back in your own mind and question whether if Ince had been brought in to replace Souness 4 years ago he'd have kept us up, taken us to European competition twice, avoided relegation and left a squad worth about 4x the value?

And put the clock back in your own mind, and question whether if Hughes had been brought in to replace Parkes 8 years ago he'd have got us promoted, taken us to European competition twice, won us a cup and left a squad 4x better than the one he inherited?

The point being of course, that time marches on! The last two managers have had their good and bad points, and relative successes and failures. They've moved on, and we as supporters also have to move on with the football club.

Perhaps for some people, it would have been easier to accept Paul Ince if Hughes had got further into his downward curve than he did. But Ince is here now, and what has annoyed me since his arrival is the constant barrage of criticism which has been levelled at him without foundation. I accept that football fans are impatient, but we've really taken it to a new level. Little by little, that criticism is being retracted because the facts are starting to speak for themselves.

[jim mk2]

Little by little, that criticism is being retracted because the facts are starting to speak for themselves.

I missed the Everton game but I saw the West Ham and Arsenal matches and an aggregate 8-1 against speaks volumes for me.

Don't like Ince and don't like him as manager of my club.

[AggyBlue]

Don't like Ince and don't like him as manager of my club.

Hard luck

[RevidgeBlue]

I missed the Everton game but I saw the West Ham and Arsenal matches and an aggregate 8-1 against speaks volumes for me.

Don't like Ince and don't like him as manager of my club.

Quite convenient how you only saw the games where it went against us jim!

None of the four games we've won I take it?

We've only played really poorly for 45 mins this season imo - 2nd half v Arsenal.

[AggyBlue]

We've only played really poorly for 45 mins this season imo - 2nd half v Arsenal.

Agreed. The football has been getting better each game.

Hell, I enjoyed the Fulham match, it was far better than most home games last season.

[Tris]

Don't like Ince and don't like him as manager of my club.

But if memory serves, you didn't like Hughes or Souness either!

Is there anything in life that you do like, apart from the Ribble Valley, Rupert Murdoch and The Labour Party?

[Bennisfromheaven]

Guess you have a point Tris..... There's still time of course but I didn't think he'd see the clocks go back at one stage.

Point being I can still only see us going progressively downhill under Paul Ince from the level that Hughes and his team had got us accustomed to. Pure speculation of course but put the clock back in your own mind and question whether if Ince had been brought in to replace Souness 4 years ago he'd have kept us up, taken us to European competition twice, avoided relegation and left a squad worth about 4x the value?

The simple answer to this is that from a business & marketing point of view Blackburn Rovers needed to be rebranded & this is probably why JW didnt fight against loosing Hughes.

The club is up for sail, we are an established premier league club but the clubs profile is not that high inside or outside the football world. The strategy now is to improve that profile which can be done in a number of ways,

1. Make improve the style of football, shake the bully boy tag & as a result get more games on sky

2. By playing expansive football it will make us more attractive to the exciting footballer who likes to be able to express themselves on the pitch.

3. Spread out scouting net far & wide to sign players that increase the clubs profile in countries (i.e. Chile) that would never have heard of Blackburn Rovers.

All of this would not be possible under Hughes stewardship but is important to help us find the type of owner we desire.

This could all be hearsay made up by a football fan who dreams of his club competing at the top of the best league in the world but one thing i am sure of, the club has a plan, as it always has had & I am hoping this paid off!

Remember Newcastle were in Div 2 when kevin keegan first took over & though they are now going through turbulant times he played great football, signed exciting players & challenged for the premier league. If Ince can achieve that would any of us be disappointed?

[den]

We've only played really poorly for 45 mins this season imo - 2nd half v Arsenal.

Can't agree with that Rev. West Ham, Arsenal, Hull and Fulham - you would be lucky if we played well for more than 90 minutes combined.

OK, I'll edit that. We played well at Everton, Well for parts of the Wham game, - and that's about it.

[thenodrog]

The simple answer to this is that from a business & marketing point of view Blackburn Rovers needed to be rebranded & this is probably why JW didnt fight against loosing Hughes.

The club is up for sail, we are an established premier league club but the clubs profile is not that high inside or outside the football world. The strategy now is to improve that profile which can be done in a number of ways,

1. Make improve the style of football, shake the bully boy tag & as a result get more games on sky

2. By playing expansive football it will make us more attractive to the exciting footballer who likes to be able to express themselves on the pitch.

3. Spread out scouting net far & wide to sign players that increase the clubs profile in countries (i.e. Chile) that would never have heard of Blackburn Rovers.

All of this would not be possible under Hughes stewardship but is important to help us find the type of owner we desire.

This could all be hearsay made up by a football fan who dreams of his club competing at the top of the best league in the world but one thing i am sure of, the club has a plan, as it always has had & I am hoping this paid off!

Remember Newcastle were in Div 2 when kevin keegan first took over & though they are now going through turbulant times he played great football, signed exciting players & challenged for the premier league. If Ince can achieve that would any of us be disappointed?

1. The bully boy tag was a figment of the imagination of the London gutter press and totally undeserved! You are in a way justifying it.

2. John Hall was a North East Jack Walker / Abromovitch who had more money to chuck around than anyone else at the time.... thats all history now for us.

3. BRFC under Hughes had already embarked on a world wide scouting mission or so we are lead to believe. Need proof.... where do you think Paraguay and Congo are?

However in my exparience teams that major on playing 'good attacking football OFF VERY LIMITED RESOURCES invariably get relegated. History is littered with them, it's one of the facts of footballing life.

Great attacking sweeping football is a luxury afforded only by the very wealthy.

[philipl]

Depends on the definition of playing well.

West Ham- we played well going forwards except for Roberts' awful penalty and a couple of other bad fluffs but were powderpuff at the back. Despite 1-4, we were unfortunate not to take a point at least.

Arsenal we made an open entertaining end-to-end game of it; just the sort of stuff everyone knows Arsene's boys love and love it they did- all 0-4 of it. However, there was never an earthly chance of getting a point unlike the sort of gritty fight every inch Hughes performance might have delivered.

Fulham was probably the least entertaining of the three I saw but it was never boring and once Tugay and Villanueva were on actually became pretty exciting. That said, the back line was wobbly again and we were thankful for Robinson's great saves and Zamora's horrible misses to be still 0-0 when Derbs snaffled the 84th minute winner.

[Bennisfromheaven]

1. The bully boy tag was a figment of the imagination of the London gutter press and totally undeserved! You are in a way justifying it.

2. John Hall was a North East Jack Walker / Abromovitch who had more money to chuck around than anyone else at the time.... thats all history now for us.

3. BRFC under Hughes had already embarked on a world wide scouting mission or so we are lead to believe. Need proof.... where do you think Paraguay and Congo are?

However in my exparience teams that major on playing 'good attacking football OFF VERY LIMITED RESOURCES invariably get relegated. History is littered with them, it's one of the facts of footballing life.

Great attacking sweeping football is a luxury afforded only by the very wealthy.

1. Though we know the bully boy tag was not deserved it was still there & the only way we have managed to rid ourselve of it was by changing manager

2. we are in the market for a new John Hall / Jack Walker / Abramovich and we need to make ourselves attractive to this type

3. Santa cruz was a well known quantity & samba cannot be considered a gamble as he played european football & cost very little. Do you think hughes would have been prepared to sign Carlos?

Blackburn Rovers want/need to attract a billionaire owner & my point was that the club needed rebranding to achieve this. That is what i hope the plan is