[Archived] New Rovers Boss

[rovers_rob]

It's very difficult to comment on a story that has your name on it...when you did not write the main content of it.

So all I will say is...I don't think Alan Shearer is likely.

The story - as I know it - is that Steve Kean has the job and it is his to lose.

The club needs to make this apparent rather than the wishy-washy statement this morning.

A lot of things need to be addressed here.

Mrs D has repeatedly said Kean is the chosen one just now.

I find it strange that people can't hear that - even if the time-scale of his trial does seem to change frequently.

Do you think that if we lose on Saturday the owners will change there minds about giving him 2 months and they may look to someone like Shearer ?

I just get the impression that the owners are panicking about the negative publicity and the quickest way to get everyone on side would be to appoint a fans favourite like Shearer.

[Tom]

Desai : "Unfortunately, we have seen that the team and the players have a lot more potential than what they have achieved or the position they are in. We feel that the club should have been at least around seventh position

That's a very worrying and dangerous statement and one that shows how out of their depth they may be. 7th would be a dream right now.

Unless she is saying it as it's where we would have been with a win on Sunday

[nicko]

In other words Nicko, he's in the sort of job that has a 3 month trial period, but can become perminent if he does well.

P.S Heard anything about Dave Jones? his odds have always been fairly short for some reason.

In Mrs D's words...yes. I am amazed that major point in her first address seems to have been overlooked since.

Yes, there was the rather daft Diego Maradona idea which she confirmed and then tried to pull back from.

But Steve Kean is clearly the favoured candidate.

By the way, Dave Jones is not that much younger or more energetic than Sam.

Do you think that if we lose on Saturday the owners will change there minds about giving him 2 months and they may look to someone like Shearer ?

I just get the impression that the owners are panicking about the negative publicity and the quickest way to get everyone on side would be to appoint a fans favourite like Shearer.

I think Steve Kean needs a result or two in the next couple of games.

Otherwise there is a problem.

But that is being negative.

If he wins on Saturday and follows up with a win over Stoke then Sam will be forgotten.

If he plays good football along the way then he will be the new Owen Coyle after all...

[LeChuck]

That's a very worrying and dangerous statement and one that shows how out of their depth they may be. 7th would be a dream right now.

Unless she is saying it as it's where we would have been with a win on Sunday

It terrifies me, it really does. The 'at least' bit makes it sound likes it's a bigger evaluation than just where a win on Sunday would have taken us.

It would be easy to misconstrue that quote as optimism, but that would be missing the point I feel. It's a very dangerous attitude, born out of naivety and a complete lack of football knowledge, that could see us become a very unsteady club.

Stability has been one our key strengths for a long time. Unless they start understanding the game very quickly, that could all be ripped from us...and I hate to think where we'll end up if that happens.

[den]

I think Steve Kean needs a result or two in the next couple of games.

Otherwise there is a problem.

But that is being negative.

You have to look longer term than that Nicko, it's going to need a run of results over the next couple of months, which include the Xmas and new year fixtures. A couple of wins, followed by a poor run wont do anyone any favours.

Steve Kean has a massive ask here. The odds can't be in his favour.

[LeChuck]

Steve Kean has a massive ask here. The odds can't be in his favour.

Who does he have to help him? Is he effectively doing the jobs of three people?

[daveoftherovers]

It terrifies me, it really does. The 'at least' bit makes it sound likes it's a bigger evaluation than just where a win on Sunday would have taken us.

It would be easy to misconstrue that quote as optimism, but that would be missing the point I feel. It's a very dangerous attitude, born out of naivety and a complete lack of football knowledge, that could see us become a very unsteady club.

Stability has been one our key strengths for a long time. Unless they start understanding the game very quickly, that could all be ripped from us...and I hate to think where we'll end up if that happens.

Le Chuck, maybe she's saying that we should have given Aston Villa a game in the cup, and, In the league, have beaten Sunderland and Bolton, whilst giving Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool & Birmingam more of a game?

For me Birmingham, Bolton and Liverpool, inparticular, we just showed a complete lack of ambition until it was too late?

[LeChuck]

Le Chuck, maybe she's saying that we should have given Aston Villa a game in the cup, and, In the league, have beaten Sunderland and Bolton, whilst giving Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool & Birmingam more of a game?

For me Birmingham, Bolton and Liverpool, inparticular, we just showed a complete lack of ambition until it was too late?

That doesn't really make any sense in context to the quote we're on about.

She's saying we should be "at least seventh". Cup games are irrelevant. Performances, whilst annoying when bad, are irrelevant here. She's saying we should have more points.

[broadsword]

we don't have the tenth best squad, let alone 7th

[nicko]

You have to look longer term than that Nicko, it's going to need a run of results over the next couple of months, which include the Xmas and new year fixtures. A couple of wins, followed by a poor run wont do anyone any favours.

Steve Kean has a massive ask here. The odds can't be in his favour.

I would be willing to bet that if Steve Kean beats West Ham and Stoke he is made the full-time manager.

Bear in mind that would put Rovers on 27 points and well above the bottom three.

That would also mean the window is less demanding - you can sign the younger players that the owners want and have time to breathe.

The more I find out about the thinking in all of this the more I think a young manager, who plays good attacking football and can bring through young players is what these people want.

Hopefully the 'trophy' boss idea they had has been banished.

[Jimmy612]

I feel fairly certain that Kentaro have got their way and now Steve Kean is in the job for the considerable future (at least 2 or 3 months).

Whether this will all change if we have a poor run of results i don't know, but i certainly wouldnt expect another appointment in the very near future.

Kean is represented by Kentaro, I would be amazed if Sam had gone for the reasons given by Mrs D (Bad Transfers and 7-1) more likely Kentaro have talked them into sacking him to give Kean a chance.

After all if Kean does a good job and is appointed permanently, he will ask for a rise, of course benefitting Kentaro.

[LeChuck]

That would also mean the window is less demanding - you can sign the younger players that the owners want and have time to breathe.

So...when Desai talks about mistakes in the transfer market, is she meaning we should have been investing in young talent?

I was desperately trying to read it that way earlier, but I decided it made too much sense (especially with the Boyd/Geovanni rumours).

[broadsword]

Bullshine baffles brains

[nicko]

So...when Desai talks about mistakes in the transfer market, is she meaning we should have been investing in young talent?

I was desperately trying to read it that way earlier, but I decided it made too much sense (especially with the Boyd/Geovanni rumours).

The owners think money has been poorly spent. The Man U performance put all of that into focus. Kalinic unused, Chimbonda out of position, Goulon not ready for it, Benjani etc.

A bit harsh, but there you go. It's their train set.

If they did not fancy Sam as a buyer of talent, then they clearly didn't want him spending their cash in January.

That became very apparent in the quotes to the BBC5 live people last night.

The clues are out there. You just have to fit them together at times. Even if it is hard at times.

[DE.]

I wonder if Sam's ill-fated stint at Newcastle has come back to haunt him again re: transfers? Obviously he's not really had much money to spend here (other than the 6M thrown away on Kalinic), but at Newcastle he was given funds and is generally considered to have squandered them (arguably his signings at Newcastle weren't that bad, but purely based on general concensus most believe he wasted a lot of the money). I do wonder if Kentaro mentioned this to Venky's during their meetings with them. That, combined with the 7-1 drubbing by Utd, probably sealed his fate - though I get the feeling Venky's were not keen on Sam from the start and his days were numbered anyway.

[Manchester Blue]

Who does he have to help him? Is he effectively doing the jobs of three people?

I've seen nobody mentioned as coming into help him. The only other person that sits on the front row at games is Bobby Mimms and he doesn't seem to make a huge input in all honesty but i could be wrong. There are other people who are involved as coaches and fitness people so he's not on his own entirely but it's a tough task for sure.

[TugaysMarlboro]

So Mr. Nixon, would you say we are still looking purely at a figurehead (or Director of Football?) Or if Steve Kean is the bee's knees, then he'll be asked to guide the ship to port on his own?

[sambo]

I've seen nobody mentioned as coming into help him. The only other person that sits on the front row at games is Bobby Mimms and he doesn't seem to make a huge input in all honesty but i could be wrong. There are other people who are involved as coaches and fitness people so he's not on his own entirely but it's a tough task for sure.

Perhaps senior pros like Nelsen are going to be a bigger voice? No idea, just seems that Steve has been left somewhat in the lurch...

[Ricky]

For me Birmingham, Bolton and Liverpool, inparticular, we just showed a complete lack of ambition until it was too late?

In the Birmingham game didn't we go 1-0 up and then miss a penno before they even scored??

Struggling to see how that can be deemed a lack of ambition. I was at the game and thought we were absolutely robbed.. a fact I shared with Robbie Savage on 606 later that evening on my drive home.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

All very interesting - Kentaro must think we are worthy of 7th spot - as they appear to be the main advisor to our new owners.

I have often wondered how good our players could actually be if let off the leash a little - things like Kalanic being given a partner, Olsson and Hoilett being given an extend run in the team etc. We are about to find out whether Sam's tactics helped us to maintain a reaonable league standing or held back the potential of some of our players.

Personally I think the truth probably lies somewhere in between - and Sam's case hasn't been helped by injuries to players like Nzonzi and Olsson - who towards the end of last year added some sparkle to what could be rather mundane performances.

[deftangel]

In the Birmingham game didn't we go 1-0 up and then miss a penno before they even scored??

Struggling to see how that can be deemed a lack of ambition. I was at the game and thought we were absolutely robbed.. a fact I shared with Robbie Savage on 606 later that evening on my drive home.

We should have won at Birmingham. Like Bolton on Sunday it was two examples of rank bad defending that did for us. It's happened to frequently this year

[Jimmy612]

We should have won at Birmingham. Like Bolton on Sunday it was two examples of rank bad defending that did for us. It's happened to frequently this year

That certainly doesn't show a lack of ambition.. bad defending i can agree with, for both games.

To say we showed a lack of ambition when you look at the chances created in both of the games that is very naive, and tells me you are trying to explain a sacking which was completely unjust.

[nicko]

So Mr. Nixon, would you say we are still looking purely at a figurehead (or Director of Football?) Or if Steve Kean is the bee's knees, then he'll be asked to guide the ship to port on his own?

First things first, I understamd that ALL of the backroom staff have been promoted this morning. Ian Brunskill to number two, Gary Bowyer to reserves.

So that tells me this regime has some time to show its qualities.

The big question is whether Steve Kean can go from coach to boss, from player's pal to player's manager.

If he gets results it will be his job.

Nobody will care who his agent is - he has been with that group via a mate in Glasgow for years, by the way.

Football has a short memory. Couple of wins and it's Wee Steve not Big Sam.

It happens.

[Stylish kid in the Riot]

Nicko, how come Steve Kean seems so popular with the owners? Is he well known with Kentaro as the Indians surely cant have heard of him, especially when the majority of Rovers fans barely know who he is. I just cant see them giving him the job full time. there are too many inconsistences coming out of what they say. I get the feeling that a big or bigger name manager will be appointed soon, especially if we fail to beat West Ham Saturday but hey ho, im just as confused as everyone at the moment.

Do you know anything on his footballing philosphy? If its attacking and on the floor then he'll do for me! I honestly cant cope watching Paul Robinson being our playmaker!!

[Mattyblue]

It seems clear to me that Sam was given the boot as he would not play ball with the new Kentaro leadership of the club.

How else can you explain Kentaro/SEM man Kean being given a chance to make the job his own midseason?

This is absolutely suicidal.