[Archived] Steve Kean

[nicko]

That's OK so long as you think fans have no place in a modern football club. Venkys will be embarassed, financially and otherwise, we will be heart-broken.

Anyway, what I asked you was did you think the managerial change was a good move? You seemed to be implying it was with references to balls in the ether and Hoilett getting his chance (which I think he would have anyway).

Do you still think we've got a gem here?

If you are a fan you are always heart-broken with relegation. I would know a bit more about that than you in the past 30 years with my mob...but we will move on.

As for the managerial change...you buy the club, you make the call. That's what Venkys did.

I love this belief that Hoilett would have played under Sam and been allowed to go where he wants on the pitch and try things. We must be talking about another Sam.

I do think you might have a gem in the manager. But he is going to have to prove it in the next six weeks.

Kalinic has done a lot more than Roberts has, that's for sure. Same for Mame Diouf. That's two players.

TWO MANAGERS HAVE LEFT OUT KALINIC ON A REGULAR BASIS. AS FOR THE CHOICE OF STRIKERS AVAILABLE I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT A DOZEN DIFFERENT SETS OF OPINIONS ON THEIR QUALITIES JUST THIS MORNING ALONE. ENOUGH SAID.

Not saying Sam is God, but he is far superior to the imposter we have now, who can't win a game to save his life.

He's a slightly better version of Paul Ince. If we go down, will you still be as smug as you are now?

SMUG? NO. HYSTERICAL? NEITHER.

If this wasn't Kean and it was some other manager, you would be saying how bad he's doing.

I AM GIVING HIM THE BENFIT OF THE DOUBT FOR NOW.

You seem to be loving all of this.

HARDLY.

Nicko, what do you think will happen in the summer if we do stay up. A lot of our squad are past it and only junior as you have mentioned seems capable of producing game in, game out. are the owners prepared to spend big to sort it out. I think we will stay up but only just

The first thing you would have to do is buy a striker. Or two.

The defence is settled and proven. The midfield needs a bit more, but that is not the main priority.

[Waggy76]

When the dust as settled on this season in a few weeks time , the decision to sack Sam Allardyce and replace him with Kean ,regardless of relegation or not will be the MOST LUDRICOUS footballing decision that this club as ever made ..

[Billy Castell]

Can't fault your commitment in yours views on Kean Nicko. I wish I had your optimism, but the results speak for themselves. He's been pretty pants, and has not taken advantage of a very tight, and poor season. He might become a good manager with practice, but I wish he got that experience at another club first, and not have us fretting about relegation.

[booth]

I don't think bringing in Givet for Olsson and pushing him into midfield would have made much of a difference yesterday.

And what has Kalinic done lately?

Every player who DOESN'T appear these days is better than one who DOES.

A bit like every manager who isn't there...

I will agree to disagree about Olsson. Givet with Olsson or Olsson with Pederson? I'm not one of Givet's biggest fans but I know which I would prefer. Pederson put in another very poor performance yesterday which just underlines it.

Kalanic hasn't been allowed to do anything? What has Roberts, Benjani, Roque or Rochina done lately? Could Kalanic do any worse? For that matter could Formica be any worse than Dunn, Pederson or Emerton? I like all three personally for the past service they've given, but they are shadows of their former selves.

And even though under SA it wasn't a bed of roses, it shows how we've fallen doesn't it. And let's not forget that a lot of Sam haters did concede that his resources were limited.

I do agree that a huge blow was dealt due to mistakes in the January transfer window though. Imagine if we would have gone for Adam right at the start with a decent bid. Blackpool would be on their arses, and we would have a very capable player. And Sturridge was my pick of the available strikers, and sadly he's been brilliant for Bolton

[Majiball]

No money? Kalinic was a free? That explains things.

He wasn't 'forced' to sell Roque. He wanted to go to Man City and play for Sparky. Fantastic business.

If you define having no money as 'fine' - then that's up to you.

So RSC demanding to leave doesn't mean his hand was forced?

As people have rightly pointed out previously we spent negatively that summer, hence no money. You highlighted that we would have to sell to buy had the trust remained and I merely pointed out that had occurred before and we were fine, in fact we improved. All I have done is highlight the scenario you have used to shift blame onto our previous owners from your new ones and shown that the previous regime coped fine with said scenario. This means that the odds favour a similar result should said incident occur again.

[G Somerset Rover]

I do think you might have a gem in the manager. But he is going to have to prove it in the next six weeks.

You HAVE to be on a wind up here Nicko?

[Mercer]

You signed Roque early...and that was supposed to be the solution.

Ba would not have passed a proper medical at your place, Pav is not available and Shane Long is a decent Championship striker.

And RSC did ? Speculation has it that RSC's medical was 'a bit light'.

[roverwhelmed]

And RSC did ? Speculation has it that RSC's medical was 'a bit light'.

I don't get that, if true. That would serve nobody's interests whatsoever.

[Majiball]

Givet wasn't in the 'right mind to play' and frankly his presence would not have made a difference.

Kalinic was not prefered to the other [three] strikers on the bench. Enough said.

Worth pointing out that neither were needed at Arsenal the week before...?

And how can you say the players were not up for it yesterday? The last thing you could accuse them of was lack of effort. Shortage of guile in the box, yes. Unlucky to lose Hoilett, yes.

I don't get it you claim our defence is sound and yet Givet has been a stalwart of said defence for 2 years. His presence yesterday would have meant Olsson on the wing where he belongs against Carr who is so slow and kicks people to death. Instead we saw MGP who is not the man for battle make Carr look amazing. Givets presence yesterday would have made all the difference.

How is your man handling Elmanders contract issue??? has he dumped him off or is he still playing and working hard to keep him in the right frame of mind and playing?

Off course they weren't needed at Arsenal they are two completely different games. Arsenal we went to pinch something to defend and counter against Birmingham we needed to attack and create chances and win the game.

You claim Hoillet wasn't played as often as he should have been under Sam, neither then was Kalinic and the same has occured under Kean for him. Yet you just dismiss him even though he's our top goal scorer and you say we need a goal scorer. MB Diouf is sat on the same number of goals and yet he also didn't get on yesterday? When he could have replaced Hoillet and still given us a pacey outlet.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Givet wasn't in the 'right mind to play' and frankly his presence would not have made a difference.

The whole Givet situation was really odd. Kean had spoken to the local paper this week saying that Givet would be back and the contract situation would not be an issue at all. What the hell is going on there?

Kalinic was not prefered to the other [three] strikers on the bench. Enough said.

Kalinic has shown he has a knack of scoring goals, even if sometimes they look clumsy or a bit like a fluke. Roberts is a championship striker at best and he won't score the goals needed, Roque looks like the player I expected without Bentley making him look better than he actual is and Benjani works hard but is never going to score the goals needed either. Kean has shown bad management in my view by not including our top scorer in the squad in recent weeks.

Worth pointing out that neither were needed at Arsenal the week before...?

Arsenal was a decent result but we didn't look like scoring, not surprising considering who we were playing up front.

And how can you say the players were not up for it yesterday? The last thing you could accuse them of was lack of effort. Shortage of guile in the box, yes. Unlucky to lose Hoilett, yes.

Pedersen was one who clearly wasn't, though I am not surprised...

Nicko i can understand why you are so vocal in your support for Kean, I want to see young managers coming through the game and given chance to make a name for themselves. However this is a results based business, no wins in nine (our last win was in January!), near the bottom of the form table and we can't score or create goals. It doesn't matter if the ref's have made poor decisions or we have suffered key injuries it’s all part of the game.

Football manager's live or die by their results. Kean would have recieved his P45 at many clubs ages ago.

[Mercer]

It's simple - Sam's track record is proven and excellent.

Kean's track record stinks the place out.

I am tired of hearing trite, prescripted cliches from this A+ bullsh1tter who now has to resort to 'basking in reflected glory' on the back of Sam's home record.

IMO, the man is a walking disaster for Rovers.

I still find it extraordinary that no one can find an official list with his name on as a UEFA Pro License holder. Even Wiki which lists every man and his dog who has one of these licenses does not include Kean. The Irish advertising stuff proves nothing - it is not an official list.

Mercerman MA, MD, LLB, FCA

[Mattyblue]

One win in 2011.

Home games against bottom half Newcadtle, Blackpool, West Ham, Stoke, Birmingham= zero wins.

Forget Sam, forget conspiracies just look at the facts- his record is appalling.

[blue_and_white]

Pedersen was one who clearly wasn't, though I am not surprised...

I thought he had an all right game and was up for it 10 times as much as Santa Cruz. But I do accept the argument that he's the current designated scapegoat when Andrews isn't playing and these things take some time to change. Most likely Pedersen will get blamed for every poor result for the rest of this season, and if he stays Santa Cruz will start to be blamed for every poor one in the first half of next season.

[cruz]

If you want to see a team thats gone backwards lets look from the date of 13th December 2010 onwards!

On December 13th we were a whopping 2 points further away from the drop zone

[booth]

I thought he had an all right game and was up for it 10 times as much as Santa Cruz. But I do accept the argument that he's the current designated scapegoat when Andrews isn't playing and these things take some time to change. Most likely Pedersen will get blamed for every poor result for the rest of this season, and if he stays Santa Cruz will start to be blamed for every poor one in the first half of next season.

Pederson was poor yesterday. He was a passenger in a game that was a must win. He's not Andrews poor, but that doesn't mean that's the benchmark for calling people poor.

Santa Cruz also didn't look up for it.

Dunn is knackered.

However, that doesn't mean any of them are in any way scapegoats, even Andrews. The main problem is the manager.

[cruz]

One win in 2011.

Home games against bottom half Newcadtle, Blackpool, West Ham, Stoke, Birmingham= zero wins.

Forget Sam, forget conspiracies just look at the facts- his record is appalling.

Sadly I have to agree. I'm getting 1999 deja-vu

[modes98]

I still find it extraordinary that no one can find an official list with his name on as a UEFA Pro License holder. Even Wiki which lists every man and his dog who has one of these licenses does not include Kean.

Mercerman MA, MD, LLB, FCA

I didn't know you were a member of the 'Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans', huh you learn something new everyday.

Kean isn't on the list because he doesn't have or need the qualification. This has been covered before a couple of times. If you had the previous level of qualifications and have been in the game for a certain amount of time then you don't need to have the pro license. A fair number of PL managers do not hold the qualification. Just looking at the Wiki list I can think of Fergie, Coyle and Holloway.

[cruz]

I don't hold a qualification to change a light bulb. Does that mean I have to sit in the dark?

[Kelbo]

I didn't know you were a member of the 'Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans', huh you learn something new everyday.

Kean isn't on the list because he doesn't have or need the qualification. This has been covered before a couple of times. If you had the previous level of qualifications and have been in the game for a certain amount of time then you don't need to have the pro license. A fair number of PL managers do not hold the qualification. Just looking at the Wiki list I can think of Fergie, Coyle and Holloway.

Now my understanding, and I think I am correct, is that if you get a dispensation to manage a PL club without the pro License, you must have MANAGED for a number of years, Kean hasnt managed prior to Rovers!

[JMillZz]

Givet wasn't in the 'right mind to play' and frankly his presence would not have made a difference.

Kalinic was not prefered to the other [three] strikers on the bench. Enough said.

Worth pointing out that neither were needed at Arsenal the week before...?

And how can you say the players were not up for it yesterday? The last thing you could accuse them of was lack of effort. Shortage of guile in the box, yes. Unlucky to lose Hoilett, yes.

My argument is that Kalinic SHOULD HAVE been preferred to the other strikers as he is better than them. He's our last striker who scored and our only striker who is looking decent. Santa Cruz is looking like he can't be assed and fair play to Benjani, despite being crap he did ok yesterday.

Kean is clearly letting his "me me me I'm the boss" issues get in the way of what's best for the club. He chose his a$$ lickers over Niko and he rightly got upset. Niko scores goals and plays well and gets dropped, all because Kean wants to prove RSC can still do it.

RSC has played incredibly poorly recently and had that been Niko, Kean would have instantly dropped him. It is blatant there is favouritism and that is simply poor management. There is very little argument to support Kean in my eyes. I pay to watch every week and when I see one striker doing well and another doing poorly and the poorer one being picked due to who is Kean's favourite it pi**es me off.

If you watched our games as a loyal supporter Nicko you would see how tits up it's gone and how devastating a relegation could be, all because of bad judgement on both the part of Venkys and Kean.

[nicko]

If you watched our games as a loyal supporter Nicko you would see how tits up it's gone and how devastating a relegation could be, all because of bad judgement on both the part of Venkys and Kean.

I don't want to play the 'boring old tw@t' card here, but I have seen Rovers good bad and indifferent for over 30 years now.

What you have now is a problem, but there have been far worse times - far less hope.

I also don't get the 'sack the manager' stuff because if you look throughout the Premier League there are teams in the bottom half who are having a struggle - and only probably Houllier is under genuine pressure. In private if not in public.

Wigan find it hard to win, but support their manager. Wolves have just lost their best striker, but still stand by their boss. West Ham should be doing better, but have opted to stand by their man - for now]. Blackpool are in a nosedive, but no-one questions Holloway [yet]. Birmingham are toiling, but Big Eck is liked. Sunderland are in the worst form of all, but Bruce does not get stick. Stoke are far from out of this and Pulis is rightly admired.

What makes Rovers THAT different? You have a new manager, trying to dodge the blows and keep it positive. His players are with him. His owners are with him. He needs a goalscorer, he hasn't got one. So it is going to get sweaty between now and the end.

Anyway, I was having a right good day and weekend up until this point. So I will leave it at that.

[Mattyblue]

Because they are all ACTUAL managers with track records, Kean is a nomark.

Not his fault, ambitious bloke took his chance- the blame rests entirely elsewhere.

[LeChuck]

I don't hold a qualification to change a light bulb. Does that mean I have to sit in the dark?

Does that really make any sense to you? What a daft analogy.

[JMillZz]

I don't want to play the 'boring old tw@t' card here, but I have seen Rovers good bad and indifferent for over 30 years now.

What you have now is a problem, but there have been far worse times - far less hope.

I also don't get the 'sack the manager' stuff because if you look throughout the Premier League there are teams in the bottom half who are having a struggle - and only probably Houllier is under genuine pressure. In private if not in public.

Wigan find it hard to win, but support their manager. Wolves have just lost their best striker, but still stand by their boss. West Ham should be doing better, but have opted to stand by their man - for now]. Blackpool are in a nosedive, but no-one questions Holloway [yet]. Birmingham are toiling, but Big Eck is liked. Sunderland are in the worst form of all, but Bruce does not get stick. Stoke are far from out of this and Pulis is rightly admired.

What makes Rovers THAT different? You have a new manager, trying to dodge the blows and keep it positive. His players are with him. His owners are with him. He needs a goalscorer, he hasn't got one. So it is going to get sweaty between now and the end.

Anyway, I was having a right good day and weekend up until this point. So I will leave it at that.

I never called for him to get sacked, simply said his appointment was poor judgement. You failed to acknowlege my argument on Kean's dropping of Kalinic and sticking with RSC to be poor judgement and poor management. It's a fact it is.

[Majiball]

Wigan find it hard to win, but support their manager. Wolves have just lost their best striker, but still stand by their boss. West Ham should be doing better, but have opted to stand by their man - for now]. Blackpool are in a nosedive, but no-one questions Holloway [yet]. Birmingham are toiling, but Big Eck is liked. Sunderland are in the worst form of all, but Bruce does not get stick. Stoke are far from out of this and Pulis is rightly admired.

WBA sacked Matteo and are now practically safe.

Everyone of the managers you highlight has history with those clubs, has achieved at those clubs. They have either taken them into the league or saved them before. One has even delivered silverware this season. Kean's record is now worse than Paul Inces as at the end of the day we can only judge him on what he has achieved at rovers, as that's all there is. We can't even look at his managerial history as we can the others and take solace in that.

Can I ask given at the end of the day it's a results business whether at the time you felt Ince had to go? Ince just like Kean had his supporters amongst the players and that wasn't considered enough then.