[Archived] An Evening With Matt Jansen

[mac]

there is one just up the road get either the number 19 or 18, ask for the hordens nicely they may stop right outside the door !

[kinney]

cheers!

[mac]

no probs bud !

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Would be nice to see some photos of the evening posted on here Brownie.

[stuwilky]

Due to a combination of personal ineptitude and bad luck Ive not been able to a) get there myself or get recording kit that worked so that I could get it transcribed.

Im not pleased with myself this evening, apologies to all.

[pksrover]

Due to a combination of personal ineptitude and bad luck Ive not been able to a) get there myself or get recording kit that worked so that I could get it transcribed.

Im not pleased with myself this evening, apologies to all.

I'm not pleased with you either Stu

[laughatthedingles]

A few of my highlights,

Firstly, Jansen came across as a genuinely nice guy, if a little shy at first. He looked relaxed however at the prospect of returning.

Jansen discussed the Yorke-Souness incident in which it resulted in Souness throwing a punch at Yorke.

Life under Souness was described as fantastic.

Training under Souness was described as a five-a-side. All they did!

Phil Boarsma as a permenant drunk.

He discussed the pre-dingles trip to Dubai as a ###### up, basically they went out everyday and that was fine as long as they were at training for 2pm in which all they did was a five-a-side.

He also said that he now has the attitude to return, i.e. he's enjoying his football again.

A final singing of American Pie to end!

[Vicki]

I have to agree with the above, what an absolute legend he is. More than happy to pose for photos and sign autographs, his agent had to drag him away in the end! Was v diplomatic (as you'd expect from a current player) but still gave a great insight into how things were and are, and also came across as a genuine Rovers fan which was an unexpected bonus.

[RevidgeBlue]

Once again, a really enjoyable evening and massive credit to Brownie once again for being brave enough to host the event.

Further evenings with Garner and Hendry planned and we might get Shearer if we can raise c10k between us!

If I'm being honest, I personally can't warm to Jansen quite as much as say Speedie because I don't think he should have been riding round Rome on a motorcycle (Probably in breach of contract)

The evening predictably turned into a bit of a love in and no-one was brave enough to ask him the two of the three 64m dollar questions:

"Why did you do that?"

and

"Did the Club get paid out on your insurance for your injuries?"

Nevertheless, he's such a smashing bloke it's hard to feel miffed with him for too long.

On the third crucial question about the England call up I was really taken aback by what was said. Matt said Sven had decided to call him up and rung Souness accordingly. Souness told Matt that if he got through a forthcoming game against Liverpool at Anfield unscathed he was off to the World Cup and Matt was even measured up for the suit which he still has.

Come the night of the game, we lost 4-3 in a thriller at Anfield. Matt played really well and scored a great goal about 10 mins from the end. As I recall Sven left the game just before that and missed it.

Sven's assistant Tord Grip apparently attended a game in Manchester the same night and as he and Sven drove back to London together Grip apparently convinced Sven he needed to take an extra defender to the World Cup so he called up Martin Keown instead (who like Theo Walcott years later played 0 mins in the competition)

FFS!

[RevidgeBlue]

My favourite moment from the evening actually concerned Uncle Jack.

Like Speedie before Matt spoke so highly of Jack saying what a great bloke he was and how he came into the dressing rooms before games playing his silly little games with coins, (which he obviously always won) and it settled the players down.

Matt's co-presenter from Radio Lancs (Gary Hickson? - I missed the start) took up the theme and said that around the time Sven was supposed to be taking over at Rovers rumours started circulating he wasn't coming but no-one could get any confirmation from anywhere one way or the other.

So he decided to take the plunge and ring Jack's house in Jersey. He rang the number and expected to get a servant saying something like "Hello Mr. Walker's residence, how can I help you?"

Instead it went:

"Yup"

"Could I speak to Mr Walker please"

"Speaking"

"Hello Mr. Walker I wonder if you would be kind enough to confirm whether or not Mr. Ericsson is still coming to Rovers"

"Is he bol***ks"

How we miss Jack around Ewood. Just as much for his sheer presence and leadership as much as the financial aspect.

[Brownie]

Well what a great evening, big thanks to Andy Bayes from Radio Lancs who was excellent and thanks to Rev for the kind comments.

Most importantly, thanks to everyone who turned up, making the evening financially viable and making future evenings possible.

Matt told me before starting it was his first attempt at anything like this and needed a few Peronis before he went on, so we went in the snooker room out of the way.

When I said its time to get going, he said, " Can we not just play snooker instead ?"

Even though he found it hard to concentrate speaking into a microphome I thought he was excellent, particularly after the break and a few more Peronis.

I actually think the evening will do his confidence a world of good and that way he was dancing round waving his arms to " There's only one Matt Jansen" at the end, showed that he really enjoyed everything that went with the evening. He told me enjoyed every minute of meeting the fans and would have stayed longer if it wasnt for training in the morning.

Talking to him, one on one, I was quite taken by how determined he is to play for Rovers again. He said this is the first time he has wanted to play football since the accident.

I hope everybody who came got chance to meet Matt, and I know the girls in the corner certainly got their moneys worth out of Matt, which he more than seemed to enjoy !

Well I can relax now and decide who to have next.

Again, thanks to everybody who came.

[Bobby G]

He really is striving to play for us again?

And about his comments about the Souness era; I personally believe Souness was one of our best managers ever, and to take our team and establish us as a regular European entry team, and win a cup, well that was magnificent. If we can block out the last 12 months of his reign during which he completely lost it.

[den]

A really enjoyable evening Brownie - thanks for that.

One or two recollections from the evening:-

When he left his last club to join rovers, Man Utd and Arsenal bid over 5m for him and rovers went in with 4.1m. Rovers got him because Jack was paying cash up front, which is what Crystal Palace needed.

The crash in Rome: Him and his wife both had crash helmets on, but his wife's had blown off. He offered her his, but she refused. His helmet took the impetus and more than likely saved his life.

After the accident he was never really mentally right and while everyone at the club were absolutely fantastic with him, he simply didn't enjoy playing football any more. He was sent to Coventry on loan, but that was a bad move and the wrong move for him. He was basically hating football and felt under pressure.

Why he wants to come back into football: He's been spending a lot of time at home with his family. He has two children, the youngest 2 months old. He knows all the kids TV programmes so well now. [in the night garden, Diego, etc, etc.] but came to realise that he had no purpose in life. Got back involved in training and absolutely loves it now. He has something to look forward to and intends to give it absolutely everything he's got.

The absolute pinnacle he would like to reach would be to play for Rovers again. When asked if he would consider playing in the lower leagues, well he wasn't too sure about that at all.

He thought Souness was a great guy. When Andy Bayes asked for a show of hands to show who enjoyed the Souness days, it was virtually 100% from the audience. Bayes found that very interesting.

Likewise Brian Kidd was a much liked person by all the players at the time. No-one had a bad word for him. He just couldn't make the step up to manager.

He was talking to JW recently. JW said that he planned to build a team around Matt, Dunn and Duffer. Now he's got two of them back, he thought he should bring Duffer home.

Oh, and one last point - the team spirit and morale at Ewood since he's been back has been terrific. No dossent and there are some great people down at Ewood. He mentioned Ryan Nelsen in particular as being a really nice guy.

If I got any of that wrong, then someone will point it out. Nice to meet some m/b friends down there last night. Bazza [who for the older site members is the father of Spenny, I'm sure he wont mind me saying that], Rev, Clare and Mark, Tris and Claire to name just one or two.

Brownie: I reckon the success of these evenings is down to who you get. Maybe Colin Hendry as he was part of the title winning team, would be good? The only negative there is whether he's upset any fans by the way he left us? There again, he would be able to put his views about that over to the audience.

[Bobby G]

I would possibly travel all the way to England, if Shearer was brought back for one of these nights, although wouldnt a bigger venue be needed?

[RevidgeBlue]

I would possibly travel all the way to England, if Shearer was brought back for one of these nights, although wouldnt a bigger venue be needed?

It certainly would, we'd need at least 2000 people there to pay his fee!

Brownie, you were looking for suggestions for future events last night.

I think Dunny would be good and I have a great suggestion for a double act ........................

Batty and Le Saux!

Seriously though I think Le Saux would be really good if he was remotely affordable. In the past he's come across as intelligent, articulate and never shy of airing a controversial opinion or three.

[Bobby G]

What about Souness?

[Brownie]

It certainly would, we'd need at least 2000 people there to pay his fee!

Brownie, you were looking for suggestions for future events last night.

I think Dunny would be good and I have a great suggestion for a double act ........................

Batty and Le Saux!

Seriously though I think Le Saux would be really good if he was remotely affordable. In the past he's come across as intelligent, articulate and never shy of airing a controversial opinion or three.

I'd love Batty OR Le Saux but there is a cost problem with those that have gone on to be succesful and really anybody who played in the 90's due to the wages they were on.

Basically they have to want to do it as opposed to need to, Matt wanted to do it despite having no experience. I got the impression he was flattered to be asked and even more so with the reception he got.

[den]

Don't think you would get the turn-out for either of those two Brownie. They just weren't liked very much, - especially Le Saux.

[Blackburn Ender]

Have to disagree there, Den.

Maybe not adored (a la Shearer & Hendry), but Le Saux was hugely respected at Ewood.

And well liked for his intelligence and winners' attitude.

An essential part of the success of Rovers in the 1990s.

[gazsimm]

Le Saux was the best left full back i have seen at ewood and is one of my ex favourite players to ever play for Rovers.

Another thing on Matty Jansen if he was ever to come back playing under Ince and it did not work out for him, would people be blaming Ince again!!!

[den]

Have to disagree there, Den.

Maybe not adored (a la Shearer & Hendry), but Le Saux was hugely respected at Ewood.

And well liked for his intelligence and winners' attitude.

An essential part of the success of Rovers in the 1990s.

and hated for his attitude when he left and that's why I wonder whether Brownie would fill the Hordens with him.

Don't dispute that he was a superb player for us though.

[gumboots]

Le Saux was the best left full back i have seen at ewood and is one of my ex favourite players to ever play for Rovers.

Another thing on Matty Jansen if he was ever to come back playing under Ince and it did not work out for him, would people be blaming Ince again!!!

Le Saux was certainly always willing to stop and talk if you met him out in Clitheroe or waddington. i remember my daughter coming home from a friend's house in waddington and saying she'd been given orange juice and biscuits by him when she was playing in the stream by his house. she was thrilled to bits. One of the funniest moments though was my elder daughter, then in her early teens, spotting him in Market street in clitheroe, plucking up courage to approach him, saying "Are you Graeme Lesaux?" and then running away because she was so overwhelmed that she'd spoken to him she didn't know what to say if he replied

[Brownie]

Well to end this discussion neither Le Saux or Batty are amongst the possibles.

Waiting for my Radio Lancs man to get back to me, but doubt I'll ever get somebody as loved as Matt Jansen.

Apparently Tugay has half hour conversations with Andy and when he asks for an interview for the radio he says "I cant speak English" so I doubt he'd be up for it !

[den]

Andy Bayes did exceptionally well Brownie. Very impressive in his knowledge of Rovers.

[ihateburnley]

So how do these things actually work? Do ex-players have a 'fixed price' on evenings like this or is just a case of 'make me an offer'?

I think Craig Short would be a good shout, he was always popular with the fans, one of my personal favourites, and I presume he's not upto much at the moment.

Brad Friedel, Graeme Souness, John Curtis, Stig?

There's quite a few to choose from to be honest!