[Archived] The Dawn Of A New Era

[DE.]

[John]

Again, every single person I speak to cannot understand what we are trying to acheive as a club. Don't think I've said this before but I'm getting tired now of it all, really am.

[Bobby G]

What are they so happy about in that picture?

[roversyoyo]

What are they so happy about in that picture?

They love it when a plan comes together!

[Paul]

As I have so many different thoughts running through my mind it's difficult to know where to post - the problem with the board being so rigidly structured is threads no longer meander as they once did - but I guess this is the best place to be. As one who doubted / questioned the wisdom of a takeover, any takeover, from the start, I still refrain from commenting about the owners etc. Some posters have provided tangible evidence of their concerns, other confirmations have come in the shape of appointments, dismissals, interviews and transfer dealings. Those who do question all which has happened in the last 8-9 months, especially the last three, have been hounded to the point where many excellent posters now remain silent. A great shame as there is now little point in trying to put forward any sort of discussion on these subjects.

I arrived at Ewood with a spring in my step, a large crowd heading down LBR always makes me feel good. The first ten to fifteen minutes or so I felt quite confident, then sadly Rovers performance began deteriorating to the point where I can honestly say I don't think I have ever seen us so totally dominated by the opposition, at home, in all my time of watching Rovers. We weren't so much bad as just completely and utterly over-run, no idea what to do, how to pass, how to play etc. It was a complete shambles and very worrying because I imagined a group of experienced professionals would have some sort of answer to this but they didn't. I firmly believe we only survived a potential 4,5 or 6 - 0 thrashing because Newcastle sold Carroll and have no real strikers. I'd be very disappointed as a Newacstle supporter, they should have slaughtered us. That we got a point is amazing and I cannot decide if this was luck, resilience, hard work and determination or what? It makes no sense.

The WBA and Liverpool games really had me bouncing with delight. The football was a great improvement, nervy because we could see the holes in midfield but still excellent to watch. So where has this gone? I'm flumoxed on this, why has Kean apparently abandoned the attempt at better football. I've read all the explanations, excuses, etc. the only one which makes an sense is the abscence of Givet. One player, who many didn't rate yet rarely let us down, is now the missing ingredient.

Suddenly Salgado, a player I totally misjudged on his arrival, is poor on the field and slaughtered on here. I'd say since his arrival Salgado has been one of our best and most consistent performers. Michel was much better yesterday than many give him credit for. Another, Nzonzi, who never struck me as a very good footballer, has been praised from the heavens only to now discover he shouldn't be allowed through the doors at Ewood. Strange.

By their abscence the nickoteenies silence is deafening. Where are all those fans who have been posting this was a "great" window for Rovers. Where's the cheerleader? I'd love to hear how "the presser" is going these days. I'd also like to read the real story of what is happening at Ewood but no one seems prepared to write that one. I've read defence after defence of our transfer policy but it still remains we've signed a striker whose fitness is questionable, two players I've never heard of who are either not fit enough or not strong enough to play in the PL, and a supposed box to box enforcer who is OK played in front of the defence but is now being played out of position. I recall Villanueva (sp?) had real talent but never managed to force his way into the team, we have to pray this is not the case with Formica and Rochina. Jones and RSC are most likely gone in the summer. RSC was always pointless if we can't supply the passes he needs regardless of his fitness. Another £5m "summer warchest" and a mortgage charge over all our media money should sort it out.

I don't feel one game, Newcastle, justifies the calls for Kean to be sacked. We have seen some nice football and good wins from him. We've seen the opposite as well. Very fortunately we only have three games in the next 6 weeks. That's crazy isn't it, there was a time when we just turned up every other Saturday but I digress, but must be a positive now. Hopefully the squad will be away for warm weather training, some R&R and plenty of heart to heart talk as to how Kean wants the team to play. We have to come back ready to play and hopefully able to take four points from Villa, Fulham and Blackpool. After that I'm hoping for another six points from the remaining eight games with Birmingham and Bolton the most likely sources.

All season I have felt we will be safe this year and I still do not think we will be relegated though I now believe it could be a closer run thing than I would have forecast three months ago.

There is only one thing I'm currently sure of, we desperately need experience and a steady, guiding influence both on and off the pitch. The only person at Ewood with this experience is Tom Finn, as CE he may or may not be involved with the playing side. I don't know. One thing I do know is he's a good man, a calm man and I hope he can use all his Rovers experience to guide those who are going to need strong support over the next three months.

[47er]

As I have so many different thoughts running through my mind it's difficult to know where to post - the problem with the board being so rigidly structured is threads no longer meander as they once did - but I guess this is the best place to be. As one who doubted / questioned the wisdom of a takeover, any takeover, from the start, I still refrain from commenting about the owners etc. Some posters have provided tangible evidence of their concerns, other confirmations have come in the shape of appointments, dismissals, interviews and transfer dealings. Those who do question all which has happened in the last 8-9 months, especially the last three, have been hounded to the point where many excellent posters now remain silent. A great shame as there is now little point in trying to put forward any sort of discussion on these subjects.

No group has been more hounded on here than those who said it was madness to sack Sam when we did (cries of "Sam-lover") with no experienced alternative.

Sadly we are being proved right.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

No group has been more hounded on here than those who said it was madness to sack Sam when we did (cries of "Sam-lover") with no experienced alternative.

Sadly we are being proved right.

Don't agree people were 'hounded' for saying it was wrong to sack Allardyce when we did. I think pretty much everyone thought it was the wrong time. Most people then expected a top replacement......

Most of the arguments pro sam /against sam stemmed from playing style.

[Mattyblue]

Don't agree people were 'hounded' for saying it was wrong to sack Allardyce when we did. I think pretty much everyone thought it was the wrong time. Most people then expected a top replacement......

Most of the arguments pro sam /against sam stemmed from playing style.

no, they have been continually hounded.

'you're messiah has gone, get over it' is the usual tone.

I have never been a disciple of Allardyce football, neither were the majority of his supporters on here, we just realised he had done a good job through a difficult period for the club.

The shortsighted ones on here that believed sacking 'hoofball' Sam and replacing him with a complete novice on the back of a handful of decent performances was a sane decision can't look further than the end of their nose.

They took delight in deriding us as the same 'football dinosaurs' that Sam was, never realising that our support for an experienced management structure was for the good of our club.

The end of the season was the time to say thanks and goodnight Sam when safety was assured, this situation has unnecessarily risked it all.

[walk down bolton road]

Imo what Venkys failed to realise was that for the most part the club had been asset stripped ie the playing staff.

We can go back how many transfer windows where there has been little to near zero significant quality,of players brought into the club.So the situation was we sold our best players and replaced them with what we have now.Also in some cases like Tugay never even tried to replace him,how long over how many seasons have we needed a player like him.

Left full back,a posistion that needed sorting many years ago was finally sorted by the signing of Warnock,not brilliant but the best LFB we have had since Le Saux,we sold and not replaced.Givet for me is a cenre half,not a dedicated LFB.

Now we also need a RFB,Salgado a great pro and a real trier but sadly his legs are not up to the premier league now.Emerton is not a full back.

We need a dedicated RFB.

I am hoping that Formica is the solution to the Tugay problem,but only time will tell,the full back issues need urgently addressing in the summer,because we have no dedicated FB options.

We can stay in the premiership this season,but Venkys need to realise some serious money needs to be spent on some QUALITY players come the summer.

[John]

I am pretty sure with the ability to purchase better quality players, and not sell our best ones, we would be very comfortable in the leage undr Sam - ah well, to be fair could not see any decent/proven manager working with Venkys in charge.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

The end of the season was the time to say thanks and goodnight Sam when safety was assured, this situation has unnecessarily risked it all.

Nobody would argue with that.

[Bobby G]

Its funny but we have YET to hear what their LONG-TERM plans are for the club. And I am not talking senseless PR about top 4 finishes.

[Amo]

Sacking Sam was not, in itself, a bad decision. Most of us would agree the timing was off but that's Venky's prerogative as the people who stumped up the cash for the club. They obviously weren't comfortable with Sam being in charge and weren't prepared to back him in January. It's his successor who Venky's should be judged on, and if the rookie Kean proves out of his depth then people will ask why they didn't hire an experienced manager.

Every manager deserves time. Sacking Kean on the back of two bad results would only bring more instability & controversy to the club. The league is wide open this year, and we have a good squad of players. Kean just needs to figure out his best 11 and FAST, because he isn't going to get an opportunity like this again.

[47er]

no, they have been continually hounded.

'you're messiah has gone, get over it' is the usual tone.

I have never been a disciple of Allardyce football, neither were the majority of his supporters on here, we just realised he had done a good job through a difficult period for the club.

The shortsighted ones on here that believed sacking 'hoofball' Sam and replacing him with a complete novice on the back of a handful of decent performances was a sane decision can't look further than the end of their nose.

They took delight in deriding us as the same 'football dinosaurs' that Sam was, never realising that our support for an experienced management structure was for the good of our club.

The end of the season was the time to say thanks and goodnight Sam when safety was assured, this situation has unnecessarily risked it all.

Never read a post I so completely agree with.

[Exiled in Toronto]

Its funny but we have YET to hear what their LONG-TERM plans are for the club. And I am not talking senseless PR about top 4 finishes.

What's funny about it? I can't remember the last time I heard any plans for the club, long-term or otherwise.

[47er]

Sacking Sam was not, in itself, a bad decision.

It's his successor who Venky's should be judged on, and if the rookie Kean proves out of his depth then people will ask why they didn't hire an experienced manager.

Every manager deserves time. Sacking Kean on the back of two bad results would only bring more instability & controversy to the club. The league is wide open this year, and we have a good squad of players. Kean just needs to figure out his best 11 and FAST, because he isn't going to get an opportunity like this again.

1. Yes it was.

2.Agree and I'm judging it now and asking why? No "if" he proves to be out of his depth----he is.

3. Yep--heard it all before---last time I heard it we had Ince. You cannot seriously expect someone who has never managed before to "learn on the job" in the Premier league.

[Amo]

1. Yes it was.

If we finished in the top 7 this year, it would be 'Sam who...?'

2.Agree and I'm judging it now and asking why? No "if" he proves to be out of his depth----he is.

Some of our fans said the same about Sparky.

3. Yep--heard it all before---last time I heard it we had Ince. You cannot seriously expect someone who has never managed before to "learn on the job" in the Premier league.

I've already said the odds are against him. I didn't want Ince here but I gave him a chance until the writing was on the wall. Kean deserves that chance. Unless you'd rather sack him and cause more uncertainty within the squad?

[Bobby G]

What's funny about it? I can't remember the last time I heard any plans for the club, long-term or otherwise.

Time will prove everything...Unfortunately.

[chaddyrovers]

Big Sam on Goals on sunday on Sky sports. Big Sam ask to leave in the summer to go to Dubai. But John Williams said no. he wanted to leave because of the uncertain about the club being sold. No Stabiliy at the club when the new owners. BUT HE DID NOT WANT TO JUMP SHIP AND SHOW SOME LOYALTY TO ROVERS

He had a good relationship with Walkers trust and John Williams.

he was shocked and stunned by getting the sack.

He spoken to Kean a couple of times but hasn't recently.

[47er]

If we finished in the top 7 this year, it would be 'Sam who...?'

Some of our fans said the same about Sparky.

I've already said the odds are against him. I didn't want Ince here but I gave him a chance until the writing was on the wall. Kean deserves that chance. Unless you'd rather sack him and cause more uncertainty within the squad?

"If"-we'll be nearer 17th than 7th.

I didn't.

The writing was on the wall well before Ince was sacked. Rovers future is more important than Kean's.

As for uncertainty, yesterdays display was full of it.

[Parsonblue]

What's funny about it? I can't remember the last time I heard any plans for the club, long-term or otherwise.

You've obviously not been listening. John Williams constantly stated that the short-term, medium-term and long-term aim of the club was the maintain Premier League football at Ewood Park. Now I know to many that as an aim it might sound boring and lacking in ambition but to many of us it was a realistic ambition given our gates rarely reach above 25,000 - even when we are practically giving tickets away compared with the pricing structure of clubs of a similar size. I admit that the Trust were tightening the financial support to the point where it had all but disappeared but the fact remains that under the stewardship of John Williams and with the aid of an experienced manager we had managed a tenth place finish last season and reached a major semi-final.

I continually hear that the Trust brought us to a situation where we had Mame Diouf and Benjani as the only challengers to Kalinic and Roberts. Well yesterday, after Roque was withdrawn, we had Kalinic and Roberts on the pitch and Benjani on the bench - and that was after the untold millions that some would have us believe would be poured into the club in January. So what's changed?

All we have heard from our new owners is their aim to finish between 5th and 7th in three years time. Yet Mrs. Desai admitted in her LT interview that they do not have the spending power of Liverpool or Chelsea. Add United, City, Arsenal and probably Tottenham to the list of clubs who will outspend us and suddenly that aim seems a little unrealistic. With Villa, Sunderland and Stoke all having wealthy owners who have been prepared to spend serious money I would suggest that Mrs. Desai is going to have to dig deep into her finances if she wishes to compete for a top ten finish. Ultimately, it begins to look that a realistic aim is to maintain Premier League status, as near the half way mark as possible - exactly the same situation as we had under the Trust.

[Amo]

"If"-we'll be nearer 17th than 7th.

We will with that attitude, soldier.

I didn't.

Perhaps, but many didn't give Sparky a chance. I'm not saying they're comparable, but the point remains that every manager deserves a decent crack at it.

Rovers future is more important than Kean's.

For now, they're one of the same.

[47er]

.

Ultimately, it begins to look that a realistic aim is to maintain Premier League status, as near the half way mark as possible - exactly the same situation as we had under the Trust.

Except that under the Trust we at least had a manager and a chairman.

[47er]

We will with that attitude, soldier.

We would have to gain 6 points more than Sunderland in the next 11 games to finish 7th, Gunga Din! Do you really think that is remotely possible?

[Mercer]

Very depressed after yesterday, had a great night out (with Burnley friends), nice Sunday lie-in and then a flick through this MB.

Conclusions - IMO, Rovers are becoming / have become a laughing stock, you only need to read the papers, listen to the pundits and listen to friends, colleagues who support other teams.

Perhaps more importantly, I sense a growing disillusionment with many, many of our supporters - this MB largely says it all.

New owners, new manager - should be exciting times, however, feels more like the dawn of a dark era.