[Archived] Paul's Progress

[Mr. E]

It seems like everyone is failing to understand the simple principles behind Ince's appointment.

Paul Ince is manager of Rovers because there was no one else. He was brought in to try and play some attractive football, which unfortunately is defendant on having quality players. A scenario which was only possible if, once again despite losing our best players, we got suitable replacement. This season, it didn't happen. And so we're left with a manager whose style of play is incompatible with our recourses. There is nothing Ince or the players really can do about it.

We are going down because of circumstances outside our control. The only way to save the situation is to appoint someone who is capable of playing ugly football but grinding out results - and the expert in that field is Big Sam.

SG

one thing is certgain, if Rovers persever with this current set up both RSc and Warnock will no longer wear our colours.

Ooijer is certain to leave, Zurab is wanted by Wham, Samba is wanted by Hamburg and City as well. These players will leave at the first opportunity whilst at the same time, the only players coming in will be cast offs and last pay day players whpo wont give a monkeys ar$e about the club or its perilous position.

Unfortunately, the same can be said about the above players as well.

From the regular team, we have Dunn, Derbyshire, Tugay and maybe Emerton who actually care about the club.

[stuwilky]

I was baffled by two things today, Oooijer at left back, and going from 442 to whatever formation that was in the second half, at home.

Ince cannot however MAKE the players perform, and it todays second half that was what was lacking - too many soft sloppy balls going astray.

[Mr. E]

from BBC:

Blackburn manager Paul Ince:

"It was a mistake [from Robinson] as he just came at the wrong time. But he has been outstanding for us and we are all in this together. I have just had a go at the players as I am upset and angry.

"We could have been three or four goals ahead by half-time. We got punished in the second half. It was a diabolical performance and the players should be a bit embarrassed by what happened."

The one thing I like about Ince is that he seems capable of getting angry. Hughes would just mumble something, talk about the referee and luck and just wallow away.

[tony gale's mic]

It seems like everyone is failing to understand the simple principles behind Ince's appointment.

Paul Ince is manager of Rovers because there was no one else.

Laudrup, ten Cate?

Agreed with you on Big Sam. I was against him before as I wanted someone who could take us forward from Hughes and I thought he might be a bit of a step down...but compared to Ince he's bloody Bill Shankly. Time to swallow our pride and appoint him I say.

[philipl]

I was baffled by two things today, Oooijer at left back, and going from 442 to whatever formation that was in the second half, at home.

Ince cannot however MAKE the players perform, and it todays second half that was what was lacking - too many soft sloppy balls going astray.

How can the players settle when even the most dedicated and knowledgeable of supporters looks at every team sheet and asks "who is going to play where?" This has a similar feeling to the dark days at the end of Souness where selections became more and more erratic and eccentric.

Ignoring enforced changes for injuries, have Rovers put the same team out more than once this season? I don't think so.

[stuwilky]

How can the players settle when even the most dedicated and knowledgeable of supporters looks at every team sheet

Im not talking about settling phillip. Im talking about highly paid footballers doing the basics right. Im as angry with the performances as I am with the substitutions - but then again Messiah Hughes was never good as those either....

[den]

I was baffled by two things today, Oooijer at left back, and going from 442 to whatever formation that was in the second half, at home.

Stu - I was baffled with Ooijer starting at left back - I've said before that you can't play right footed centre halves at left back.

However, I was even more surprised when we finished with him there. We needed at least one goal and Ooijer trying to get up and down the flank, while Pedersen [who had been our best provider, albeit from corners] had been taken off was a shocker. Ped and Warnock should have been there.

[LDRover]

This is a perilous position and time for the club and I think the next FIVE games will decide whether PI is in a job or not.

That being said I think it is unrealistic to sack a manager at this stage of a season, we did it with Roy and we still got relegated. Injuries have decimated the squad BUT that still does not excuse a pathetic second half against a team which is worse than us on paper.

Garbage imy and you know it. Sometimes you've just got to admit you're wrong and do what's best for the good of the club.

I've met no-one who thinks the current personnel can turn this round, it has to change.

[Presty On Tour]

The board must see the problems, even more than we do.

They must act now before it's to late or we are doomed!

[roverfanuk]

Okay, to evaluate what Ince has done as manager thus far:

Premier League Matches Played:

13 games played, 6 lost, 4 drawn and 3 won.

High points: Beating Everton 3-2 on the opening day of the season. Bearing in mind it was a injury hit Everton team when we had a fully fit Rovers team including Dunn. Everton played 2 or 3 players who had never seen 1st team action...

Disappointments: Draws against the likes of West Brom and Hull.

Anger management time: Woefull overall performances vs West Ham (4-1), Sunderland (nuff said) and Arsenal (yes i know its Arsenal, but it stuck out as a game we didnt even try in!)

Cup Comps:

Played 3 won 3. Average performances against Everton and Sunderland drag us through. Against Everton, the lack of finishing left us on the edge till full time. Saw a glimpse of Carlos's ability when played in a decent position the same as vs Grimsby. Sunderland, good first half but a near enough come and get us plea in the second.

Excellent performance from the youngsters vs Grimsby. Derbs was actually played in the correct position for the only time this season!

We can all tell this cup run is going to come to a end at Old Trafford though. Im just hoping we don't get to badly humiliated on current form.

Player fitness and maintenance:

David Dunn, Reid, Grella, Santa Cruz, Samba, Robinson and Emerton have all fallen to injuries, including recurences when pushed back into the team too quick.

Player tactics/Formations etc:

Has played Warnock, Carlos, Derbs, Tugay, Ooijer and Santa Cruz out of position on numerous occasions leading to poor performances. This has also quite blatently (look at todays second half) into low player morale.

Rumours of unhappyness in the ranks are present, and during matches where we have gone into the lead, we have quite noticibally let our heads drop, and let the opposition back into the game. See Hull, Sunderland and Aston Villa matches...

Johann Vogel has been completely out of the team. Can't help but wonder whether he was the one who spoke to the papers about the squads unhappyness at Ince. Would explain his complete absence when needed!

Transfer dealings:

- Paul Robinson - Has been very good thus far minus the occassional blunder... A good replacement for Friedel

- Vince Grella - A complete waste of 4 million + as far as im concerned. Has been injured, played 2 rubbish games and one good game. Look at his age, was he really worth more then Roque...?

- Keith Andrews - Would be a excellent squad player, but for gods sakes, straight into the first team... hmm...? Good fee paid. Could have done allot worse!

- Danny Simpson Loan - I maintain he has played very poorly in the games he has played. He has a distinct problem with keeping up with the opposition, and some of his positional passes, have been some of the worst i have seen in a Rovers shirt!

- Robbie Fowler - Made one good one two against Grimsby, but for gods sakes, why is he still being selected up front ahead of Benni and Derbs in important matches?!

- Carlos - Has blatent talent, but is repeatidly being played out of position. It makes me so angry that someone could be so clueless with such good talent. God only hopes a manager comes into the club and plays him in the right position?!

- Mark Bunn - Hasn't done anything since joining as far as i can see. Must be wondering what he signed for??

What bothers me more under this category, is the lack of transfers. We conceeded some very tame goals in pre-season, and any manager with a level head would have seen the need for a good center back signing.

Also, selling the person who arguably resulted in the lead strikers load of goals beforehand and then not replacing him is stupid when you have 5 or so months till you can purchase again. With this decision, Ince i believe probably 1) destroyed our chances of maintaining a good foothold on the league this half of the season. 2) Probably lost any chance we had of keeping Roque and 3) Might have got us relegated or put us in a position where we would not get the kind of fame we have in past seasons. This might even result in (if the board have any balls) his job termination.

In conclusion. I think it's time our board bite it's lip, and maybe admits that the club needs to go with a manager who has a bit more experience. Do i see the board doing this? No, because it'll cost money to terminate the dumb 3 year deal we gave Ince!

One thing i will never understand. is why we were willing to give a unproven manager (Ince) a 3 year deal. When we could have done much better 2 years ago, and have Sparky a 4-5 year deal...

This is something i feel we are going to pay for heavily.

All we can hope for this season is to stay in the Premier League at the expense of teams who are doing far far better then us at this moment in time. The only way i can see this happening, is by a change of style and management.

I think Alan Curbishly is the answer personally!

[Billy Castell]

I'm getting a little worried now. Shame we can't loan managers really.

[imy9]

Garbage imy and you know it. Sometimes you've just got to admit you're wrong and do what's best for the good of the club.

I've met no-one who thinks the current personnel can turn this round, it has to change.

With all due respect I think your wrong, maybe its time to get some perspective, IF we had won this game would there be many people asking for PI's head? So one result has meant 90% of posters calling the board to sack him, in the heat of the moment I would say that is a natural reaction but looking at the table reflects the tightness of the league, where 10 clubs are in the same position as us, it is far too early to call for PI to be sacked.

The results MUST improve.

The performances MUST improve.

IF they do not then I will be in line with most and want the board for a change BUT one result will not change my opinion that PI still has my backing and I still believe he is the best man for the job NOW, there is nobody available out there that I would want (Big Sam can stay in Dubai)

[Claytons Left Boot]

I've never really liked Paul Ince. In fact during his playing days I despised him. One of those opposition players you always hated. Not only that, he pulled a face at me outside the BRIC back in the early days of the PL, against United, when we were developing Ewood and the changing rooms were sited there temporarilly. Mind you, I had given him a volley of abuse and the two fingered salute, so I couldn't blame him.

However, I welcomed his appointment at the time, mainly because there weren't many alternatives but I also thought he should be given a chance to prove himself. He was presumed to be the best of a bad bunch, young, hungry and all the rest of it. A fantastic playing career, almost second to none, he had done it all and had the t-shirt.

I have stood by and supported him to date despite continued and sometimes unwarranted sniping on here from a select few. But maybe they were right after all. Whilst injuries to key players most certainly haven't helped, our league form has been steadily getting worse, especially at Ewood and I have started to feel Ince is simply out of his depth.

Players are being played out position as in the latter days of the Souness era and, again at Ewood, we need to be playing 442 and not a lone striker up front without any proper service. Warnock needs to be at left back. If Matty is to be played (and he can't be worse than Robers who is an embarrassment) he has to be played alongside Santa. He is continually used at right wing and wasted. Ooijer is never a left back. Carlos appears out of it, lacking physical attributes for a battle which is now what we have. Andrews has been bad judgement by Ince, clearly not up to it at this level. Robbie Fowler? What can I say that hasn't already been said? A joke.

Having missgivings about Ince, prior to the Sunderland cup game, I said to a mate that if Rovers were to lose that game plus the next two, I felt he would be out with Big Sam in to steady the ship. That moment has now arrived.

I don't really like Allardyce either or his style of play. I didn't want him in the summer but I do feel it has to be someone like him now to batten down the hatches and grind out some points. Ince has lost it and in my opinion won't be able to motivate the players sufficiently or adopt tactics/team formation to get us out of the mire.

The Board need to act now.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

He's NOT doing a good job imy for christs sake,there is only one way we are heading and that is down.We are failing to beat teams who will be around us in the mix for the relegation scrap and that alone is a recipe for complete disaster.

One result? many were very unsure from day one but were prepared to give him a chance....current form is only confirming those fears.

Like many have stated we cannot give time to a Rookie Manager who is losing the plot,we cannot afford for his mistakes and ineptitude to take this great club down.The consequences dont bare thinking about.

[LDRover]

With all due respect I think your wrong, maybe its time to get some perspective, IF we had won this game would there be many people asking for PI's head? So one result has meant 90% of posters calling the board to sack him, in the heat of the moment I would say that is a natural reaction but looking at the table reflects the tightness of the league, where 10 clubs are in the same position as us, it is far too early to call for PI to be sacked.

The results MUST improve.

The performances MUST improve.

IF they do not then I will be in line with most and want the board for a change BUT one result will not change my opinion that PI still has my backing and I still believe he is the best man for the job NOW, there is nobody available out there that I would want (Big Sam can stay in Dubai)

JHC and you'd have been one of those fiddling while Rome burned.

You try telling me I'm wrong yet I've just witnessed that debacle this afternoon, with respect where were you? You can say 'IF' all you want but the truth of it is we played an exceptionally poor team today and came off distinctly 2nd best over 90 minutes. We displayed no heart and no idea for 75% of the game and more worryingly showed absolutely NOTHING after the half time 'inspirational' team talk.

If you honestly believe Ince can get us out of this you're in a small and rapidly decreasing minority. Change has to come for the good of the club - simple as that.

[JAL]

Just seen an interview with Mr P.I regarding the Benni situation and he seems to have been working on his interview style. Much better presentation and didn't look nervous for a change. Very good to see!

Brilliant !!!!

When you play your centre half at left back

When you play your left back in the centre of midfield

When you play your central midfileder out wide right

When you dont have a natural wide right midfielder

And your new mega bucks striker just looks for the rest of the team to do the hard work whilst he watches on.

Then you make your substitutions take off your central midfielder whose played out wide right and replace him with your centre forward who then plays out of position wide right midfield.

Then your other sub runs around like a little totally lost lad (Villaneuava)completely out of his depth incapable of doing anything on the pitch.

To add to it all the players you've brought to the club are just not good enough with the possible exception of one.

Paul Ince your a football magician we are like watching MK Dons playing in the premiership, is Ince a secret Dingle !!

[Paul]

With all due respect I think your wrong, maybe its time to get some perspective, IF we had won this game would there be many people asking for PI's head? So one result has meant 90% of posters calling the board to sack him, in the heat of the moment I would say that is a natural reaction but looking at the table reflects the tightness of the league, where 10 clubs are in the same position as us, it is far too early to call for PI to be sacked.

The results MUST improve.

The performances MUST improve.

IF they do not then I will be in line with most and want the board for a change BUT one result will not change my opinion that PI still has my backing and I still believe he is the best man for the job NOW, there is nobody available out there that I would want (Big Sam can stay in Dubai)

IF we had won this game we would be 11th 6 points clear of Sunderland who would be 19th. That is how important the match was today. I've doubted Ince from the day he arrived but tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. In the second half my football team degenerated into a bunch of individuals running around without a clue as to what they were doing. Under those circumstances he no longer qualifies for the benefit of the doubt. If Ince stays we will be relegated.

[1864roverite]

I believe the spat that has been mentioned was an argument between 2 players and Paul Ince. One side blaming the players the other blaming tactics, that is it. No punches no tea cups nothing more.

Whatever it was I hope it comes out as a n=clean sweep is needed in the club

[philipl]

I believe the spat that has been mentioned was an argument between 2 players and Paul Ince. One side blaming the players the other blaming tactics, that is it. No punches no tea cups nothing more.

Whatever it was I hope it comes out as a n=clean sweep is needed in the club

I think its worse than that. There were Radio Rovers eye witnesses claiming five players stormed out this evening.

And has this rowing only just started?

[Billy Castell]

I give up. I feel that we're going down. I'll change my mind again in the morning, but right now, I'm ____ed off with sport. Blackburn lost, both England rugby teams lost, Enland's cricket team have been playing like ___s and even Barnet my home town team got walloped. Why does everything have to screw up at once, so I can't have something to take the edge off.

Thank God my fiance isn't pregnant otherwise she'd probably have a miscarriage today.

Ince had better sort it out soon, otherwise I'll start to turn into a JAL type of guy. Or finally break free of football and watch real sports.

[cn_barlow]

I think its worse than that. There were Radio Rovers eye witnesses claiming five players stormed out this evening.

And has this rowing only just started?

very worrying. if he's lost the dressing room, he has to go. end of.

we cant afford to play wait and see!!

[Wiggy]

It's clear to a blind man on a galloping horse that Ince and his 4th division posse are completely out of their depth. After being completely outplayed by Chelsea he insisted that we should have got something from the game..which was b@llocks to everyone who watched the game. His bizarre team selection and tactics were unbelievable today. He just doesn't understand the level of performance that is needed to survive ( or prosper) in this league.

We will get nothing from the next three games therefore...

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly

Unfortunately, with the board structure as it is nothing will happen. There's no real power lying with John Williams or Tom Finn and the trustees will be far more concerned with the aviation industry and Flybe.

If one man was in charge he would already have made the decision and canvassed Big Sam, as it is prepare for another decade or two in the wilderness.

[Sysagent]

very worrying. if he's lost the dressing room, he has to go. end of.

Its very doubtful he had it in the first place.

[dring1]

well i have supported ince from day 1 but now i have my doubts. if that is the crap we have to watch for the rest of the season its only taking us one place. the championship. sorry mr chairman but if you do read these boards INCE OUT before its too late.

[stuwilky]

I think its worse than that. There were Radio Rovers eye witnesses claiming five players stormed out this evening.

And has this rowing only just started?

Perhaps you could ask your mysterious source at Ewood philip?