[Archived] Steve Kean

[47er]

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

You said it alright! Thought it was odd at the time!

[philipl]

Thank you and good bye (hopefully)

[Gav]

I mentioned yesterday that the glass half full brigade certainly have cause for optimism. Some of the football in patches has been great to see, and the dealings on the transfer Market has had a major impact on us stating up.

If Steve Kean stays we can hold on to that.

[S15]

Absolutely fantastic that we are safe, however, there's always a danger that some supporters will get carried away with Kean in the midst of their delirium and that's certainly in evidence on this MB.

Simple question - is there anyone better to progress Rovers.

Based upon Kean's track record then the answer has to be yes. 22 points from 21 matches with just 2 wins in the last 14 games does not cut it for me.

We have some superb young talent: Jones, Hoilett, Olsson, Nzonzi etc.

Let's be honest, we've just had an almighty close call and we got a bit lucky.

We don't want to be in the same position next season.

Unfortunately, I think Venky's will stick and live to regret their decision.

Honestly, you have spent the last month or two posting some of the most defeatist/ pathetic crap I've ever seen on here. Why you think anybody cares about your assessment of the situation is beyond me.

[cruz]

You said it alright! Thought it was odd at the time!

Still can't remember that. But hey, if you say so it must be true....right?

[47er]

Still can't remember that. But hey, if you say so it must be true....right?

Right!

[JAL]

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.

Remember joey big nose that it was always the strength of the players at the club that were here already, that carried or allowed Rovers and Kean to achieve safety in the end.

[roversmum]

Remember joey big nose that it was always the strength of the players at the club that were here already, that carried or allowed Rovers and Kean to achieve safety in the end.

Exactly. And now they have remembered that they can actually play football with passion and desire, I can begin to look forward to going to matches again and to enjoying my football. Thank you Steve Kean.

[cruz]

At least the summer is a clean sheet and we can start again

I wonder how long it will take Kean to pledge his future to Rovers and with the other face chase Arab cash?

[Roversider]

Thank you and good bye (hopefully)

Thankyou and hopefully we can have a stable summer, adding to the squad, keeping key players - and our manager.

Oh, and an injection of smiles to cheer up some of the miseryguts who have wanted Kean to fail because of his connections to the owners.

[Blackpool_Rover]

My first post in this thread and I left it on purpose because quite frankly the attitude of many on here is disgusting.

Steve Kean...yes it could have all gone horribly wrong but is it his fault? How can it be? He didn't sack Allardyce, the owners did. The players were clearly bemused by that sacking and no matter who came in after christmas it was always going to be a tough task. The fact that Kean got the players playing for him in and got us safe...well he deserves massive credit. Lets not forget the guy has turned Hoillet and Olsson into first team regulars, which Sam wouldn't do...he refuses to play crap like Keith Andrews who played every game under Sam. He brought in Jermaine Jones in January who has played a vital part. He seems to have got the best out of Emerton and Samba has been playing out of his skin for him.

If the players had a problem they would have let it known to the hierarchy and Kean would have gone. For me, looking at our games over the last 2 months, the players are well and truly behind Kean. I knew that ever since Fulham away.

Too many people on ehre think managing a football team is as simple as playing a computer game. It isn't. Kean has done well to keep us up. Whilst things wouldn't have been so close had Sam stayed, we would have been lingering around mid table playing the same old boring stuff with Andrews playing every game. Of course, i would prefer that than be so close to going down but that was the positon the owners actions put us in, not Kean. We have been playing attractive stuff under Kean and Allardyce in a similar position as him yesterday would have lost us the game for sure. He would have played one upfront and defended. We took the game to Wolves...that's why we won.

Kean has a chance now to really put his name on the job and prove the doubters wrong. He has money to spend and players to talk to. Lets not forget he convinced Samba to stay before. If we are bottom by November I will eat my hat and he will be sacked but something tells me that won't be the case. He's been in football a long time, he knows many in the game and you can see how close he knows some of the top managers in the game. He's a young manager who has a good relationship with the owners. I'm positive and saw enough in the last 2 months to give me reason to be. The kids on here will have to find something else to moan about me thinks. Get real.

[Paul Mellelieu]

But B'pool Rover, Kean nearly led up to relegation after being 7th in January.

[mattyc2422]

Great post Blackpool Rover.

[Roversider]

But B'pool Rover, Kean nearly led up to relegation after being 7th in January.

I guess you could point to McLeish and say he won the Carling Cup and then took his team to relegation as well?

Owen Coyle has been lauded this season at Bolton but they only finished three points and a place above us.

We were never in the bottom three and finished in 15th. This season has seen teams at the bottom perform better than previous seasons - how far away would we have been points wise from relegation in previous seasons with our current tally?

Kean has had a hard start but saying he was the sole cause of us being in a fight is unfair. Sacking Sam and the timing was unfortunate but he understandably took what was offered and has tried to change the style of the team. Quite a few negatives about his start but also positives.

I was not happy with losing Sam Allardyce but Steve Kean has not deserved some of the comments that have been made. He has managed to make a positive impact in the back-end of the season.

I am looking forward to some stability as we approach the next season and that includes retaining the manager.

[yoda]

Does anybody remember Alex Furguson's 1st season at Old Trafford!

[jim mk2]

Kean has not deserved some of the comments that have been made. .

Disagree. Amid all the euphoria about the great escape from relegation it should be remembered that we have been lucky to get with it. Kean took us to the brink of relegation after two wins in the past 4 months. Most of the football under him has been dire. Two of the goals yesterday would have been derided as "hoofball" goals under Sam. Yesterday was exciting but quite frankly I could do without the excitement of a last-day relegation battle thank you.

I expect the owners to stick with Kean. Hopefully he will have learnt some lessons from this season's traumas and hopefully he will have a stronger squad after the owners fulfill their promise to spend some real money.

I'm not holding my breath on either happening though.

[cruz]

Does anybody remember Alex Furguson's 1st season at Old Trafford!

Yes, they came 2nd

[47er]

Thankyou and hopefully we can have a stable summer, adding to the squad, keeping key players - and our manager.

Oh, and an injection of smiles to cheer up some of the miseryguts who have wanted Kean to fail because of his connections to the owners.

That sour old smear again. NOBODY WANTED Kean to fail because we are all Rovers fans and his failure would be our's.

I was ecstatic during and after the game and I'm sure every other Rovers supporter felt the same. I don't take to the bloke but that's secondary to Rovers welfare.

Sick of that rubbish. I don't want him as manager next season either but I'm sure we'll get him so I hope he does brilliantly.

[ada2020]

I have to say the last four matches have given me hope and a different view of Steve Kean.

I believe with some financial backing he might be the man to lead Rovers up the table next season, I hope he manages to get Jermaine Jones to sign on permanently and gets us a good striker.

I think on the squad front the people at the top need to be prepared to right off some cash and get rid of as much dead wood as possible, Andrews and co, all the usual suspects.

Thanks goodness we survived yesterday, I cannot help but feel we are on the verge of something special here with the core of young and experienced players we have, relegation would have torn that apart but now I think we can look forward to a summer of transfer activity and further improvement.

Well done to the players, and Steve Kean.

[Paul Mellelieu]

I think there's a lot of wise after the event here.

I hated the football under BS, but i knew at that stage he represented the best chance of us staying in the PL considering the lack of resources available. That he was sacked was a huge gamble and that's why it is right that to say that the club has been lucky not to get relegated. One or two different results and down we go. We all know that.

Kean should never have been appointed as manager. Anyone disagree? Now after the worse run in 25 years, somehow we managed to scrape to safety. Even then a turn of events at White Hart Lane and a third goal by Wolves would have had us really in trouble. It was that close.

Now I quite like Kean and I concur with RB's posts in charting his progress since Xmas.

As for mentioning Bolton and Stoke's position in the league, that's just daft. They were safe, they had both had the stuffing knocked out of them at Wembley and just wanted the season to finish.

Time to stare reality in the face - we were nearly relegated due to stupidity at the top of the club. We now need good leadership in the Boardroom and in the Manager's role.

There is a possiblity that Kean could do the job, but on this season's showing is that a chance worth taking? If he stays I hope I'm proved wrong. Really do.

[imy9]

Disagree. Amid all the euphoria about the great escape from relegation it should be remembered that we have been lucky to get with it. Kean took us to the brink of relegation after two wins in the past 4 months. Most of the football under him has been dire. Two of the goals yesterday would have been derided as "hoofball" goals under Sam. Yesterday was exciting but quite frankly I could do without the excitement of a last-day relegation battle thank you.

I expect the owners to stick with Kean. Hopefully he will have learnt some lessons from this season's traumas and hopefully he will have a stronger squad after the owners fulfill their promise to spend some real money.

I'm not holding my breath on either happening though.

Define luck? We got 43 points and were 4 points ahead of the drop zone. There are at least FOUR games that I can think of where referees decisions have cost us badly, so yes we have had luck... bad luck otherwise we would have had a similar tally to last year- but has Kean moaned about it? Dignified throughout. This hoofball you talk about, the way that we played football has fundamentally changed, nothing wrong with goals coming from a long ball as long as that is not your ONLY option.

I do however agree with your statement in bold- it can be said that Kean has learnt plenty based on the setup of the team in the last month.

[Roversider]

That sour old smear again. NOBODY WANTED Kean to fail because we are all Rovers fans and his failure would be our's.

I was ecstatic during and after the game and I'm sure every other Rovers supporter felt the same. I don't take to the bloke but that's secondary to Rovers welfare.

Sick of that rubbish. I don't want him as manager next season either but I'm sure we'll get him so I hope he does brilliantly.

If the cap fits ......

Anyway, I am happy and I know every Rovers fan is also happy with the result. Never felt that anyone wanted Rovers to struggle, just a number of people who wanted Kean sacked as soon as he was given the job.

[cruz]

Even then a turn of events at White Hart Lane and a third goal by Wolves would have had us really in trouble. It was that close.

Had Wolves equalised and Brum bagged twenty eight goals at White Hart Lane WOLVES would have been relegated on goal difference

Nice try though Paul

[47er]

If the cap fits ......

Anyway, I am happy and I know every Rovers fan is also happy with the result. Never felt that anyone wanted Rovers to struggle, just a number of people who wanted Kean sacked as soon as he was given the job.

You spoke of 'the misery guts who wanted Steve Kean to fail". Pleased to see you are moderating your stance.

A large number wanted Sam sacked before he arrived at Ewood and, in the end, Souness was a very divisive manager so i think we are all going to have to live with it.

[Kelbo]

I think there's a lot of wise after the event here.

I hated the football under BS, but i knew at that stage he represented the best chance of us staying in the PL considering the lack of resources available. That he was sacked was a huge gamble and that's why it is right that to say that the club has been lucky not to get relegated. One or two different results and down we go. We all know that.

Kean should never have been appointed as manager. Anyone disagree? Now after the worse run in 25 years, somehow we managed to scrape to victory. Even then a turn of events at White Hart Lane and a third goal by Wolves would have had us really in trouble. It was that close.

Now I quite like Kean and I concur with RB's posts in charting his progress since Xmas.

As for mentioning Bolton and Stoke's position in the league, that's just daft. They were safe, they had both had the stuffing knocked out of them at Wembley and just wanted the season to finish.

Time to stare reality in the face - we were nearly relegated due to stupidity at the top of the club. We now need good leadership in the Boardroom and in the Manager's role.

There is a possiblity that Kean could do the job, but on this season's showing is that a chance worth taking? If he stays I hope I'm proved wrong. Really do.

I would put this as one of the most accurate posts on here, we mustnt get too carried away and for me, whoever is manager, we mustnt lose Robbo, Jones, Hoillet, Ollsen or Samba and build around those, looking at Nzonzi, I would make sure we keep him too and try and retain the services of Jermaine Jones, I think with the correct signings, the emergence of some good young players in the reserves, we could push forward, however I too hold reservations about Keans ability to take us forward.