[Archived] Steve Kean

[47er]

It has been an awful season but you cant but it all down to keen.

I think salgardo's recent comments are telling about how the take over and all the big names linked were distracting.

There have been major changes at the club and we could easily have let heads go down and slipped into the championship.

Considering it was his first job keen has actually done okay to keep it together and keep us up.

That's fair comment but he should never have been appointed. We seem to agree on that.

[patrickvalery]

Absolutely fantastic that we are safe, however,

It is this quote (from numerous posters) which is irking me. Putting some begrudging praise before the usual rubbish doesn't fool anyone.

There is a real sense that some people are annoyed that Kean, Venky's and any other party who are down in the popularity stakes, actually won the day. Of course this will be denied, but it feels like people would sooner be proved correct in their hatred of Kean rather than Rovers staying up.

Cut Kean a little slack ? We looked fantastic first half, shame we let 'em back in second half, why ?

Because, as Kean rightly said, they had nothing to lose. I can't believe anyone would have expected Wolves to just roll over and die.

[cruz]

I wouldn't put down saving our skins on the last day as winning the day but we are all mightily relieved that when all looked lost the players lifted their heads out of the sand, grew a pair, and clawed us out of the collective mess we were in.

We live to fight another day

[Majiball]

Honestly, you do seem to be genuinely upset at the moment.

Mate you seem genuinely concerned about my welfare and that's nice, but I'm not single so you'd best look elsewhere.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Surely when you're 3-0 up against Wolves at half-time you're supposed to boo the manager for "not going for it"?

Blimey 47, you are becoming more like Ginger Gordy every day. Right down to the 'rolleyes' smiley.

Clever but not clever enough. You dont believe that a mid table side being 3 up at home, mid season against struggling opposition is on the same planet as being 3 up on survival sunday, at your opponent's bearpit, directly fighting them for your Premier League existence.

Good try though

Mate you seem genuinely concerned about my welfare and that's nice, but I'm not single so you'd best look elsewhere.

Oh dear. Very poor.

[Mercer]

It is this quote (from numerous posters) which is irking me. Putting some begrudging praise before the usual rubbish doesn't fool anyone.

There is a real sense that some people are annoyed that Kean, Venky's and any other party who are down in the popularity stakes, actually won the day. Of course this will be denied, but it feels like people would sooner be proved correct in their hatred of Kean rather than Rovers staying up.

Because, as Kean rightly said, they had nothing to lose. I can't believe anyone would have expected Wolves to just roll over and die.

If Kean was an ace football manager who had pulled-up trees for Rovers, then he would have my full support.

IMO, Venky's & Kean have regressed the club - that is indisputable.

All Rovers' supporters have to be delighted that we are safe but delighted with what has happened to our famous club in the last six months then certainly not.

[Roversi]

Mate you seem genuinely concerned about my welfare and that's nice, but I'm not single so you'd best look elsewhere.

......Cringe

[jim mk2]

Missed the match sadly because of a social engagement but family was there and they said it was one of the most exciting matches they have seen in years.

Watching Match of the Day it was interesting to note the first goal came from a hit and hope hoof / cross by Salgado; the second from a long ball hoof into the box that was cleared straight to Emerton and the third an individual piece of skill by Hoilett after another hit and hope hoof forward.

Now either the players themselves have decided to play that way because they know it was successful up until December or Kean has learnt that you cannot play pretty passing football with players of limited ability and has adopted the tactics he learnt under the wing of the previous manager.

Either way it has worked and combined with results elsewhere we have luckily escaped relegation on the last day. Can Kean repeat the trick next year ?

[Majiball]

Come on maj, imagine you play for us, one of the most settled clubs in football and there has been a constant status for many many years. Then suddenly in the space of weeks there's new owners, the manager has almost unbelievably been sacked, the captain of the whole ship, williams, is gone. Top it all off with the fact that after years of no money and bargain basement signings some of the most famous players in the last decade are being linked.

I dont think thats is the background against which i'd like to take my first ever managers job and I can see how focus in the squad may have dropped.

Yep if sam had remained then none of it would likely been an issue, but he didn't and it is what it is. We stayed up when we could easily have gone and keen did okay in the end.

I'd rather he wasn't our boss next year but we stayed up when times were very difficult and i'll always be greatful for this.

It is what it is has to be my most hated saying ever, it is what you make of it.

Kean made his bed he choose to take the job under those circumstances and I'm sorry but if you know what your getting into, it's not an excuse in my eyes.

Cut Kean a little slack ? We looked fantastic first half, shame we let 'em back in second half, why ?

Samba was out?

[patrickvalery]

If Kean was an ace football manager who had pulled-up trees for Rovers, then he would have my full support.

IMO, Venky's & Kean have regressed the club - that is undisputable.

All Rovers' supporters have to be delighted that we are safe but delighted with what has happened to our famous club in the last six months then certainly not.

In the above case he would have everyones full support. No doubting that. My point has never been to defend him. He shouldn't have got the job full stop. But, he is here. Whether we like it or not, our owners have afforded him the opportunity to learn his trade with Rovers. I think, for someone with zero managerial experience and limited playing career he has done OK. But today, well yesterday, was about staying up. We won the day with Kean in charge. For this he deserves credit.

As for the last point about our demise over the last 6 months. Well yes i suppose that is true. But don't we all agree the club did need a change? Things have been handled poorly in most instances. But you can apply the same logic i'm using with Kean to our owners. They are learning too. Everybody from top to bottom at Rovers will be better for this experience. I truly believe that. Even us fans. Football is unlike any other business and many prudent businessmen and women have made mistakes in the game. I am willing to give this mob a chance even though they have made a pigs ear of it so far.

At the end of the day we survived. We have to hope everyone has learnt from the mistakes made this year. Next season is another chance to progress. We shouldn't be writing it off before it has even begun.

[cruz]

Either way it has worked and combined with results elsewhere we have luckily escaped relegation on the last day. Can Kean repeat the trick next year ?

Hash cakes for dessert through gritted teeth? NO OTHER results combined to save us, we did that all by ourselves.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

In the above case he would have everyones full support. No doubting that. My point has never been to defend him. He shouldn't have got the job full stop. But, he is here. Whether we like it or not, our owners have afforded him the opportunity to learn his trade with Rovers. I think, for someone with zero managerial experience and limited playing career he has done OK. But today, well yesterday, was about staying up. We won the day with Kean in charge. For this he deserves credit.

As for the last point about our demise over the last 6 months. Well yes i suppose that is true. But don't we all agree the club did need a change? Things have been handled poorly in most instances. But you can apply the same logic i'm using with Kean to our owners. They are learning too. Everybody from top to bottom at Rovers will be better for this experience. I truly believe that. Even us fans. Football is unlike any other business and many prudent businessmen and women have made mistakes in the game. I am willing to give this mob a chance even though they have made a pigs ear of it so far.

At the end of the day we survived. We have to hope everyone has learnt from the mistakes made this year. Next season is another chance to progress. We shouldn't be writing it off before it has even begun.

Good stuff PV.

Change can sometimes be achived smoothly but can often be traumatic. In either case a change of ownership was very much needed. What dosn't kill you makes you stronger or so they say.

I have hope for the future, a scary hope but even that is better than the slow death we were suffering under the trust.

[sparkspakespoke]

It is what it is has to be my most hated saying ever, it is what you make of it.

Kean made his bed he choose to take the job under those circumstances and I'm sorry but if you know what your getting into, it's not an excuse in my eyes.

Samba was out?

Sigh. If you cant see that sometimes situations are sometimes beyond our control then I guess our debate is done.

It wasn't keens fault he took the job, it was a great chance for him if it had been offered to you would you have turned it down because you knex there were other better qualified people out there?

It was a difficult situation for any manager let alone a novice, he did okay go my eyes.

Anyway my baby daughter has finally stopped crying about her tooth coming through so I have a window of sleep which is roughly two hours so i'm gonna take it.

Really happy we're still in the premiership, it could have been a lot worse. Coyb!

[Majiball]

Oh dear. Very poor.

What did you expect?

You posted a nice reply which I was in the process of responding to civilly and you jump on another post and claim yet again I am upset we didn't go down. You question my motives, my love for this club and you didn't even wait for me to reply to you before jumped in again. Not on in my eyes.

You claim people scream and shout at you on here I can see why and that's exactly why you got the response you did. You show me no respect I'll show you none.

Your not a rover, you only come on here to try and provoke people who post things you don't like.

not nice is it when people who know precisely the square route of diddly squat about you question your values and believes.......

you reap what you sow.

Goodbye.........

[deryck guyler's spoon]

What did you expect?

You posted a nice reply which I was in the process of responding to civilly and you jump on another post and claim yet again I am upset we didn't go down. You question my motives, my love for this club and you didn't even wait for me to reply to you before jumped in again. Not on in my eyes.

You claim people scream and shout at you on here I can see why and that's exactly why you got the response you did. You show me no respect I'll show you none.

Your not a rover, you only come on here to try and provoke people who post things you don't like.

not nice is it when people who know precisely the square route of diddly squat about you question your values and believes.......

you reap what you sow.

Goodbye.........

I've edited my reply having properly read your's. You misunderstood me. I didn't accuse you of wanting Rovers to be relegated. I think some on here actually did but have never got the impression that you are one of them.

You clearly really dislike Steve Kean. I dont think that he should be Rovers manager either but the vitriol bordering on hatred for the guy puzzles me.

I dont think that you wanted us to go down but I do think that you wanted Kean to fail and, imo, that is reflected in your posts tonight. You seem a bit angry and/or may have had a few scoops.

[Tom]

No idea what has got into some normally level headed posters here. Weird.

[Exiled in Toronto]

I just knew you'd be back in spades if we stayed up! Get some perspective. Its been a awful season no matter how you dress it up.

"In spades" - 2 posts? You're hilarious. How would you quantify your mind-numbing 20 posts a day for the last 4 months all saying exactly the same thing?

Eventful season certainly, but we didn't spend one minute in the bottom three, saw some real talent emerge and had a humdinger final match that will live in the memory banks, so not all wasted. Did you enjoy the game by the way?

[Fraserkirky]

Well Well. We did it.

That first half today was glorious from us, I can't remember a more assured performance from us. As usual we let off the gas in the second half and we invite teams on to us, which brings pressure. To be fair to Wolves the free kick was clever and the hunt finish was class.But back four for us were/are just excellent.

As far as Kean goes, well done that man. I'm on the fence with him, think he deserves a chance next year with money and the squad at his disposal, seems to get on well with Venkys and the Players. However, wouldn't mind a Rafa or Laudrup if thats what Venkys decide.

Tonight though I could not be Happier!

[joey_big_nose]

The match was a game of two halves. Rovers totally dominated in the first and were largely abysmal in the second - a pattern we have seen often enough this season with both Kean and Allardyce. At half time I was totally elated - Junior was outstanding and the team as a whole committed, first to the second ball, good width and good pace on the break. Kean said he wanted the win and he set out to get it. We could have been five up at the break and it would have not been over flattering.

The second half we sat back and this tactical ajustment was a total falure. Wolves were put under little pressure and were allowed to get within 25 yards of goal over and over again. It was very sad after such an exciting first half. Junior drifted out of the game and we had little threat on the break. We came very close to throwing it away.

Now the only question that now really matters is this - should Kean keep his job? For me the answerer is a qualified yes.

If there is a truely outstanding candidate out there then of course I would support him to take over. However from the names linked I do not really believe that to be the case. Benitez is bandied around, and his record is largely excellent, but still there are question marks over his increasingly unstable mentality over the last three years or so from my perspective. I also doubt whether he will come. I would crawl over broken glass to bring Hughes back but again it seems an unlikely prospect. No other realistic names occur to me that are nailed on to be a cast iron improvement to Kean.

Do I think Laudrap, Bilic, Curbishley or whoever else would be a major improvement? Perhaps, but I'm not convinced. No doubt five months ago Ian Holloway or Alex McLesh would be put forward as cast iron quality. They have just taken their clubs down, and McCleish with significant investment behnd them. Steve Bruce went into free fall with Sunderland after an excellent start of the season.

In the last ten games we have only had one really poor performance - away at Everton - and otherwise have put in decent or very good displays. Nzonzi, Hoilett and Olsson have come on leaps and bounds under Kean; Jermaine Jones has been an outstanding aquisition, what he has got out of Emerton in the last four games frankly astounding, and the commitment and cohesion in the squad has been first rate. A decent striker would have seen us clear of the drop weeks ago. Kean has got us playing a better standard of football than Allardyce and has increasingly got the team well drilled and well shaped.

I do have reservations - the decision to bring back Cruz has been proved a very poor one, subsitutions and second half performances have been at times incomprehensible, the decision to sign Myles Anderson seems like lunacy itself, the drink driving charge something that speaks of a real immaturity.

But such has our improvement over recent weeks that I am strongly inclned to see how he does in the first ten games over next season. He will have a chance to bring in the strikers we desperately need, bring Formica and Rochina into contention, and have a pre season to set up the side as he desires. Then we will see the mettel of him.

He has my backing.

[PAFELL]

Cut Kean a little slack ? We looked fantastic first half, shame we let 'em back in second half, why ?

Can you imagine the wolves managers team talk at half time. Losing 3 0 at home in a vital match, knew they were in the relegation. It is little wonder they came out in the second half fighting tooth and nail. What wolves did in the second half is the same as Rovers did v blackpool at home when 2 0 down.

But only Rovers can do that to me. Be 3 0 up away from home and still give me the jitters till the final whistle. Incredible survival sunday - out of the 5 teams involved, only Rovers didn't drop into the bottom 3 yesterday.

Past few games, hate to say it, but there has been improvement. If it is down to Kean learning - then credit due. If it is one or two of the players from the elite group meetings - then again credit due.

Venky's were at the match yesterday. They saw a fantastic first half and Rovers cling on in the second. They must know improvements are required. If they are to be good owners, now in this summer is there make or break time. They are sticking with Kean. But if they change their minds, then Hughes, Moyes would be good replacements.

[RevidgeBlue]

Well done Steve Kean and well done to the players for such a fantastic finish to the season. If anyone had stood up and predicted before the Bolton game we'd finish with eight points from the last four games, they'd probably have been transported in a strait jacket to the nearest padded cell.

Is Kean the man for the job long term? Perhaps not if a big name would come in but I do find him a bit of an enigma.

Started off terribly the first two home games in charge and I mentally wrote him off and thought he should be replaced. Responds with a run of nine points from five games and some terrific football and having got over the upheaval of Sam's sacking I thought we'd uncovered a gem.

Then he tinkers with the team/formation/tactics and at times is downright unlucky and we go on an eleven? match unbeaten run. I mentally write him off for a second time and think he should be replaced. Then he responds with eight points from the last four games and the players clearly like him and are still playing for him.

Funny old game. He certainly goes without any rancour or ill feeling from me if he is replaced with a bigger name. If he stays, I hope the manager that comes out of the blocks at the start of next season is the one from the last four or five games.

Still at least all that positive talk everyone despised so much did the trick!

[Stuart]

I think a lot if the angst in here us because of what has been building for the last 3 months. Our novice manager, backed to the hilt by our novice owners, who both talk rubbish constantly and treat fans like morons, replaced experience at all levels.

When people voiced their fears and concerns they were told 'now is not the time', 'back the team', 'we have to stick together for the good of the club'.

Well, now we are safe and much of that pent-up frustration is now being aired.

But lo and behold, we are now supposed to 'be happy we survived', 'stop moaning because we won a game'. There us one word for these characters 'fickle'. Kean has not suddenly become a good manager and does not deserve all of the kudos for keeping us up.

Now that we are safe, the experiment should be put to one side now - for the good of the club.

[Mattyblue]

I agree with that Jisty, however in my opinion he WILL be manager next season.

He's one lucky bloke and we've all got to hopehe learns fast.

[47er]

I said over a week ago that I thought it was possible that Kean could eventually make it as a manager. I was contradicted immediately by Cruz who said he wouldn't!

I agree with you----I think we've got him whether we like it or not. We have improved over the last month and that encourages me. But will he make the right signings, will the owners allow him to and will top players

come to Ewood to play for him? Finally will Venkys sack him in time if we are in trouble, say in November?

So basically coming to accept it but still have many doubts.

[cruz]

I said over a week ago that I thought it was possible that Kean could eventually make it as a manager. I was contradicted immediately by Cruz who said he wouldn't!

I agree with you----I think we've got him whether we like it or not. We have improved over the last month and that encourages me. But will he make the right signings, will the owners allow him to and will top players

come to Ewood to play for him? Finally will Venkys sack him in time if we are in trouble, say in November?

So basically coming to accept it but still have many doubts.

I said kean would never make it as a manager? Hmmm must have missed that post in fantasy land.

Kean may make it as a manager but I always said(maybe even in phantom fantasy posts too) he should not have been given the job in the first place because we should have gone for an experienced hand.

Feel free to misquote this in a few days/weeks/months all