[Archived] Steve Kean

[bigbrandjohn]

I believe people are going overboard in praising Kean.

I appreciate he has changed the style of the team and I am sure the majority of supporters are pleased about that.

However, in my mind there are still questions about many aspects of his success.

The performance against Liverpool was superb for a lot of the match, but we were very fortunate to win 3-1. As I was watching the match, both my friend and I said "we can't leave Gerrard unmarked" when he appeared unmarked in the penalty area. Salgado brought him down.

It wasn't because of the excellence of our performance that we didn't concede a 2nd goal and I'm sure many people would have bet heavily on Gerrard scoring against a rooky keeper.

Badly thought out substitutions helped to create the problems at the end of the match.

In the home game against WBA, I thought we were extremely fortunate to benefit from an amazing own goal.

It wasn't as dramatic as the one the Villa scored when we were relegated, but it was a poor cross from Dunn and Roque was nowhere near getting on the end of it so I have no idea what was going through he mind of the defender.Until that time I can recall very little in the way of effective attacking by us, only the slick way WBA were going at us.

Will Kean be a good manager for us? Maybe, but I can't see he deserves the huge amount of praise he is receiving.

[Miker]

Comparing Sam and Kean is a bit foolish at this point. One has been in charge for about 2 months, the other has been managing in the top league for many, many years.

Kean has done well so far, the results we have and the position we're in at the end of February is quite good. Credit to the owners and the managers to keep the stability of the team going by not selling any players and keeping the backroom staff intact (other than Sam and Neil). We have a lot of winnable games in the next 2 months and if Kean can keep up his efforts with the team then I'm confident we can finish top 10 this season.

[bigbrandjohn]

Allardyce. I'm risk adverse and also don't think Sam uniformally played 'hoofball'. He frequently mixed it up. By contrast, Kean is, as of yet, not a known quantity. Give it another couple of months and I may answer differently.

And I neither disliked nor hated Sam. I thought he was an intelligent manager who did his job well. A thorough professional. I believe he likely saved us from relegation under Ince. He did nothing to offend me, his tactics were not one dimensional and I believe we would have prospered under him. Regardless, he is gone now, I appreciate his service and look forward to a [hopefully] bright Venkys future.

Time will tell. In fairness, his performance to date, other than set forth above, have made me hopeful.

I am hopeful. I believe that this was thought through. Sam did a great job keeping us up and getting us to mid table. I am sure that Venkys thought Sam would pay lip service to them and do it his way. So they got rid, and brought in someone who is up and coming who they can trust with their money. Someone who will toe the line when needed, but communicate in a respectful way to achieve what he wants. In the meantime he has Kentaro to give him advice and suggest new angles to develop the club.

Bottom line, the players have more freedom to play, and the fans look forward to the Football. Nobody likes sudden change especially when their team is involved, and even more so when there appears to be no logic.

I am a convert. I think Kean conducts himself well with the media and appears to have the dressing room on his side. They know he is there for the long term and therefore needs to be taken seriously. There is a great deal to look forward to and with the prospect of young Europeans and South Americans being attracted to the club, we sure ain't "your Dads" Football Club anymore. I can live with that.

[braddock]

Sam Allardyce meant I wouldn't have got a season ticket last year for the first time in over a decade and a half.

I have no respect for anybody who can do that.

[chris]

When Sam was in charge many ppl accepted hoofball as they believed that the squad just wasnt good enough to play passing football. If an inexperienced coach like Kean can instill some fluid football there was no reason why Sam couldnt especially after keeping us up. I will always be respectful towards Sam as he kept us up. But as a manager im afraid he was pretty much a one trick pony. I just hope Kean can maintain the happy medium of results amd decent football.

really good post as I agree, as much as I liked Sam, it's just been refreshing since he is gone.

Whether Kean can buy good players and maintain the squad, time will tell, Harford and Kidd particularly did a lot of damage from being more successful coaches, so I remain slightly nervous.

[joey_big_nose]

It's a bit of a snap judgement but I think Kean is going to make it. Steadied the boat in a very tricky situation, been bold, got the most out of our players (to be brutally honest more than Allardyce).

Also he has made two good signings (RSC was a bit of a gift as he wanted to come back, but Jones seems like he is absolutely the ticket).

My area of (albeit major) concern is that we look unstructured in the middle sometimes - against WBA the game became almost ludicrously stretched right from the off. However when we played Chelsea we did keep our discipline well so obviously he can set up both ways as need demand.

A massive test will be after around fifteen games when opposition managers begin to get Kean's number.

However something about him (certainly not his dress sense....) makes me think we have a bit of a gem on our hands. Knows what he is doing and forceful about it - much like Hughes before him.

[LeChuck]

I was very impressed with the way Kean set up the team against West Brom.

My fear with a 4-4-2 (ish) system is that it can be very rigid and predictable, whilst possibly resulting in being outnumbered in the centre of midfield.

We were very fluid though, only Jones seemed to have a fixed position in that deep role. Having Olsson overlapping meant that we could push in from the left of midfield, meaning we weren't overrun in the middle. Even Hoilett seemed to have license to drift, his goal being a perfect example (cutting in from the left side). Whoever we play up front seem to be willing to close down and drop deep where necessary as well.

I do worry how fluid it will be with Givet at left back though, I really would like Olsson to have a prolonged run in that role. Maybe we can put Givet there in difficult away games, but otherwise Olsson offers us far more.

[Tom]

I think Kean looks like he could make it and I've been very impressed in some games, my main worry is even in the games we've won his substitutions have been a little naive and odd.

Morris in CM could have been disastrous and N'Znozi left wing when Pedersen was still on the pitch was just odd. Olsson at right back looked inspired though at the other end of the scale.

[XLM]

I was very impressed with the way Kean set up the team against West Brom.

My fear with a 4-4-2 (ish) system is that it can be very rigid and predictable, whilst possibly resulting in being outnumbered in the centre of midfield.

We were very fluid though, only Jones seemed to have a fixed position in that deep role. Having Olsson overlapping meant that we could push in from the left of midfield, meaning we weren't overrun in the middle. Even Hoilett seemed to have license to drift, his goal being a perfect example (cutting in from the left side). Whoever we play up front seem to be willing to close down and drop deep where necessary as well.

I do worry how fluid it will be with Givet at left back though, I really would like Olsson to have a prolonged run in that role. Maybe we can put Givet there in difficult away games, but otherwise Olsson offers us far more.

I think that Givet at left back makes it a far more fluid system. If say we lined up with:

Robinson

Emerton - Samba - Nelsen - Givet

Hoilett - Jones - Dunn - Olsson

Santa Cruz - Kalinic

Then it would be very easy to shift to:

Robinson

Samba - Nelsen - Givet

Emerton - Jones - Dunn - Olsson

Hoilett

Santa Cruz - Kalinic

Of course I have no idea whether Kean intends to play Emerton as a RB/RWB but Givet gives you the option to shift formations mid game. Pretty good asset to have in the left back role if you ask me.

[braddock]

Then it would be very easy to shift to:

Robinson

Samba - Nelsen - Givet

Emerton - Jones - Dunn - Olsson

Hoilett

Santa Cruz - Kalinic

With those players on the pitch I would prefer Dunn in the hole, Hoilett on the wing and Emerton in the middle.

[J*B]

I'd prefer Dunn on the bench with his recent form. Potentially even if that means we play with 10.

[LeChuck]

I think that Givet at left back makes it a far more fluid system. If say we lined up with:

Robinson

Emerton - Samba - Nelsen - Givet

Hoilett - Jones - Dunn - Olsson

Santa Cruz - Kalinic

Then it would be very easy to shift to:

Robinson

Samba - Nelsen - Givet

Emerton - Jones - Dunn - Olsson

Hoilett

Santa Cruz - Kalinic

Of course I have no idea whether Kean intends to play Emerton as a RB/RWB but Givet gives you the option to shift formations mid game. Pretty good asset to have in the left back role if you ask me.

I see where you're coming from, interesting take on it that I hadn't considered.

Personally I don't like the 3-5-2 system though, and Emerton won't be first choice right back. Virtually all teams that play fluid football have attacking, overlapping full backs.

[XLM]

With those players on the pitch I would prefer Dunn in the hole, Hoilett on the wing and Emerton in the middle.

I see where you're coming from, interesting take on it that I hadn't considered.

Personally I don't like the 3-5-2 system though, and Emerton won't be first choice right back. Virtually all teams that play fluid football have attacking, overlapping full backs.

The rest of the players weren't really important, just an example.

Just saying I like a right/left back who can slot in field as a third centre back. Personally I like the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation. All the benefit of havinng 5 in the midfield without losing a striker.

You'd get murdered by a side with 2 quality, pacey wingers but by the same token you can exploit a side like Arsenal (without Walcott) who like to have their wide players cutting inside. Givet playing at left back gives us that option to switch mid game and give the opposition something different to think about.

[Ricky]

I think dropping Gamst would be a mistake, his delivery and general play has been much better this season, although he was shocking against west brom

[LeChuck]

I think dropping Gamst would be a mistake, his delivery and general play has been much better this season, although he was shocking against west brom

Agree there. Despite XLM's convincing case, my strongest team at the moment would be...

Robbo

Salgado Samba Nelsen Olsson

Hoilett Jones Dunn Pedersen

Santa Cruz Kalinic

Givet could could easily replace Nelsen, and any striker could partner Santa Cruz really. I'd only play Pedersen on the left if Olsson was behind him so that he could drift from the wing.

[47er]

I'd prefer Dunn on the bench with his recent form. Potentially even if that means we play with 10.

Interesting though that Dunn looked more like his old self on Sunday. Something to do with having a "spoiler" in central mid-field at last? Could be.

[92er]

I'm not going over board about Kean but I do enjoy going to matches now because I feel we'll carry on trying to score even when we get a goal up and hearing what some of the players say, they're enjoying games more too.

You make a good point about the entertainment factor-this is a point someone else who is a season ticket holder made recently.

My underlying fear is of style rather than substance with a dread of the style running aground and no means of moving on.

[92er]

Time will tell. In fairness, his performance to date, other than set forth above, have made me hopeful.

Remember that his other performances at home are primarily a draw against the team at the bottom of the league, a loss whilst his away results are a win against a team who had lost 7/10 previous matches and losses against Sunderland and Chelsea.

My point is not to write him off but just to make the point he has to do a lot more to do to prove his capabilities for managing our club.

[Eddie]

Hold on. A draw against a team that were bottom of the table...that was after only having been in charge of the club for a few days. Certainly since he has had more time with the squad the results have improved and, more importantly, the performances have improved significantly.

The Allardyce sacking and Kean appointment had to do with improving the quality of football and no one could argue that over the past four or five games we have seen Rovers play better football than they have in the last two years. More importantly, many used to argue that it was impossible for us to play good football with this current crop of players and this has also been shown to be false. Given more time to work on tactics and approach and with a window or two to bring in players who fit in to this new regime then I have no doubt that the quality of football will continue to rise and that the results will continue to come.

Kean had a nice set of fixtures to get to grips with the job and I am sure that the Rao's thought of this at the time that they made their decision, but that isn't to say that he has had the easiest run of games. The first two games didn't go particularly well, but the Stoke game has been the only real disappointment for me. The Sunderland result was mainly due to how many players we had out and the 3-0 certainly flattered them.

The next month will be an interesting test for the team. We don't have any really easy fixtures, although Wigan away looks very winnable based on current form. If we can pick up some league points and make it through to the next round of the cup then the first full two month of the Kean era will have to be seen as a success.

[gumboots]

You make a good point about the entertainment factor-this is a point someone else who is a season ticket holder made recently.

My underlying fear is of style rather than substance with a dread of the style running aground and no means of moving on.

Surely the fact thta the manager has brought in Jones to relieve pressure on the defence by breaking up play in midfield and that Nzonzi is coming back to help shore up defensive midfield mean that Kean himself is aware of the need to be able to absorb presuure and change styles during matches and not merely be entertainers up front, but solid at the back.

[92er]

Surely the fact thta the manager has brought in Jones to relieve pressure on the defence by breaking up play in midfield and that Nzonzi is coming back to help shore up defensive midfield mean that Kean himself is aware of the need to be able to absorb presuure and change styles during matches and not merely be entertainers up front, but solid at the back.

Hopefully Jones will fill that role effectively, and indeed it does appear to be a recognition by Kean for the need for such a player.(My reservation about Jones is that on the postings about him, it looked as though he had missed quite a number of games this season for disiplinary reasons and at 29 he has to adjust to a very pacy league).

Roque looked a class apart on Sunday and hopefully that will continue to the end of the season.

Are we really paying huge wages for both players?

Will be able to continue that next season with the 2 same players?

How would Kean fare with lesser players?

[47er]

Hold on. A draw against a team that were bottom of the table...that was after only having been in charge of the club for a few days. Certainly since he has had more time with the squad the results have improved and, more importantly, the performances have improved significantly.

The Allardyce sacking and Kean appointment had to do with improving the quality of football and no one could argue that over the past four or five games we have seen Rovers play better football than they have in the last two years. More importantly, many used to argue that it was impossible for us to play good football with this current crop of players and this has also been shown to be false. Given more time to work on tactics and approach and with a window or two to bring in players who fit in to this new regime then I have no doubt that the quality of football will continue to rise and that the results will continue to come.

Kean had a nice set of fixtures to get to grips with the job and I am sure that the Rao's thought of this at the time that they made their decision, but that isn't to say that he has had the easiest run of games. The first two games didn't go particularly well, but the Stoke game has been the only real disappointment for me. The Sunderland result was mainly due to how many players we had out and the 3-0 certainly flattered them.

The next month will be an interesting test for the team. We don't have any really easy fixtures, although Wigan away looks very winnable based on current form. If we can pick up some league points and make it through to the next round of the cup then the first full two month of the Kean era will have to be seen as a success.

Don't forget the Chelsea game Eddie. That was truly awful. Scoreline flattered us there alright.I know we had no expectations but it was just as well!

[BuckyRover]

What?

Bolton got spanked 4-0 by Chelsea at home. Do you remember last year at Stamford Bridge? That was a bad performance.

We did well

[LeChuck]

Kean can't afford to keep making team selections like he has in the last two games.

He built up trust initially but it's still very fragile given his time in the job. It wouldn't take many more of those weird decisions for people to think he's not cut out to be a manager after all.

[DE.]

Has made some dodgy calls with our line-up.

His substitutions are far more of a concern though. Is yet to make a good one.