[Archived] Chelsea Prev - VENKY'S OUT

[booth]

I cant see any big name players playing on Sunday as the Venkys will be on a cost cutting mission, they wont want to pay any bonuses so the ones that play will be the ones that dont have bonus related contracts. Goodbye Robbo,Yak,MGP,Dunny,Dann,Formica,Martin O

And that Kean's probably fallen out with most of them.

[Stuart]

Apparently there's a game on this Sunday in London between Rovers and Chelsea. Not sure if anyone signed up for a preview in the end so if they have please delete/merge/ignore.

With the season over and nothing left to play for, not even league placing money, I can't think of a single reason why Kean won't line up with the cheapest eleven players and a bare 3 subs.

("I just felt I'd give the lads who will be with us some valuable PL experience as it'll make them all better players in the Championship increase their value".)

I'm sure he'll enjoy his final game as a Premier League manager, standing on the touchline cheering on his boys, carefully crafted in his image, i.e. ####. Maybe he'll have an onion in his top pocket to bring on a few tears as the fans chant his name for that last time in the PL.

("It's great that 99% of fans are so liberally minded but I don't know why they want me to come out of the closet cos they know I'm married, the wee scamps!")

Chelsea also don't care about this fixture either so no doubt they'll use their squad depth and turn it into a bit of a practise session, attack v defence style.

("I thought we gave a decent account of werselves and were well in the game until the probably 8th, definitely the 9th goal. Not many teams come here, to play a London club, in London, the home of Londoners and can keep a clean sheet for 3 minutes. It was just unfortunate from our perspective that we've sold all wer best defenders and given away our players. But we're in a much stronger position now, as a unit, as a young group, as a collective".)

I've a feeling it'll be a very one sided affair as Chelsea's fringe players look to try to get a bench spot for the Champions League final.

"The slip on goal kick for Chelsea's 5th was a wee bit fortunate on behalf of the Chelsea players and unfortunate on wer boys, and we just felt, if Robbo had just taken a massive backward step he could have taken a big step forward.")

With no shots on target, no attempts, no corners, no tackles, no bookings, are we likely to better a long standing record from 2 games ago? You bet!

("We gave a good account of werselves and I don't agree with the critics who said we didn't fight. If you'd been in the dressing room at half time, well you'd have... wait... what's that Aggers?... Ah... I'm not prepared to comment on Paul Hunt. Lost the dressing room? I what respect? Geographically? No I deliberately walked past it, I went to call the Chelsea players back in, so I could get JT to autograph the Myles Anderson Match Attax card I made for my dog... er... cat, bodyguard.")

Good luck to all the boys and girls parting with £50 for their ticket (plus travel) to watch this match. The club should pay for your costs by way of thanks for your support and an apology for the Spurs match, let alone relegation. You've rocks for balls... or boobs.

Speaking of boobs, I'd like to wish some luck also to the clueless owners, self-serving management, sycophantic players, and Bradley Orr. Bad luck, that is.

(Please don't use that word again) you all. (Please don't use that word again) you very much for a ###### season-and-a-half, culminating in the circus that is our club, following relegation.

Anything to add?

[Glenn]

Philip's "Venky's Out" is technically a match preview. Normally I'd have renamed it. Nice work though Stuart

[darrenrover]

Full Text of th article - Google translated and then hastily cleaned up for tense and literal transkation issues:

When they arrived, they talked about reaching the Champions League. On Monday, after 0-1 at home against Wigan, the fiasco was complete. Blackburn has fallen out of the Premier League after eleven years in the top division. Never before has there been a change in ownership that has failed in such a scale as in the case of Venky's and Blackburn FC. Whatdid they do wrong?

It is easier to turn the question: Have they done even a single thing right? You just have to hope that this story serves as deterrent to fans who assume that the moon follows a change of ownership. Television pictures when teams go out of the league usually last long in my memory. I remember a great weeping Alan Smith be soothed by the fans at Leeds United's nightmare came true spring of 2004. I remember the Newcastle fans' banner when the Magpies crashed down into the Championship in the spring of 2009: "We'll support you even more." I remember a sad Ian Holloway, who last year was close to save Blackpool remain at Old Trafford. Even the United fans suffered with him.

On Monday at Ewood Park, there was very little sympathy from supporters anywhere. A gang stormed the plan on the hunt for coach Steve Kean who had to flee to the playing time. Goalkeeper Paul Robinson, one of the few players who can't be accused of not giving 100% this season, walked around and applauded. He got a few hugs and pats on the back. Mostly I will remember the symbolic events of the match. How a fan ran onto the field to throw his season ticket in front of Steve Kean. How a chicken was unleashed in the first half to chants of, "We're only here for the chicken" Not to mention the banner some supporters raised up: "BRFC RIP killed by cowboys (pictures of the agent Jerome Anderson and Steve Kean) and Indians (pictures of the owners from Venky's)."

In some ways it was fitting when that rooster ran onto the pitch. It spent more time in the Wigan penalty area than any of the Blackburn strikers in the first half and served as a symbolic image:

Venkys have treated this club as the company treats its chickens. They have slaughtered Blackburn Rovers. In a way, it was also fitting that Sam Allardyce a few hours earlier, took a major step closer to Premier League yesterday with West Ham. He should not have been fired.

The Indian company bought the club in November 2010 for £ 43m. They began to pay off the debts. So far, so good, but the question is whether it is still the only sensible thing they made during their 18 months. If you want a manual on how not to run a football club can look at Venky's so-called businessmen. There were those who immediately started talking about recruiting Ronaldinho and David Beckham. It was their chairman Anuradha Desai who said she had never seen a football game. It was they who chose to consult the agent Jerome Anderson as counselors. It was they who sacked manager Sam Allardyce, although he led a modest squad to a middle position in the Premier League. It was they who replaced Allardyce with third coach Steve Kean who had no managerial experience, but who are represented by Jerome Anderson's agent firm. It was they who picked up John Jensen as assistant, probably because he also had the same agent firm, rather than his fitness for the task. It was they who in January last year suddenly gave Steve Kean a two year contract.There were those who ignored the protests in the fall and instead signed a new contract with Kean in November (although the length of contract was the same).It was they who began to make one weird recruitment after the other. When Ronaldinho and Beckham didn't pan out, they signed Myles Anderson - Jerome's 21-year-old son. At the time he had made only one substitute appearance for Aberdeen.

Jerome Anderson's part in Blackburn's downfall is worth examining more closely. The former banker had previously had a close relationship with Arsenal when he represented, among others, Ian Wright and Thierry Henry. Sources around him claimed that he had not been involved in Blackburn's business on a daily basis, only that his role was to identify a new owner who could buy the club from the Walker Trust.

But even in the Fall of 2010 those who doubted. Shortly after taking over in December, Alex Ferguson warned the consequences could be disastrous. "You have a case with Blackburn where an agent is involved and will determine the club's future. Jerome Anderson, he has no clue. It is startling and a threat to the clubs future." said United-coach to the Telegraph.

Jerome Anderson has had a similar "consultant role" in a Premier League club before. He was part of the picture when Thaksin Shinawatra bought Manchester City in 2007 and was highly involved in the decision to hire Sven-Goran Eriksson as coach and then recruit eight players.

Two clubs have been considered to be "agent-driven" in England this season, Blackburn and Doncaster. Both went out of their divisions.

Agent firm Kentaro acted as adviser to Venky's even before the takeover. For a few years, Kentaro has had a partnership with Jerome Anderson's SEM agency business. Anuradha Desai, chairman of Venky's, and her two brothers were well aware that they lacked knowledge within the football industry.It is rumored that before making the purchase did not know that the team could go out of the Premier League, that they thought it was a franchise. We do not know if this is the truth, but it is natural to think that they happily relied on Jerome Anderson's review on strategic decisions.

It is said that Blackburn's chairman, the beloved John Williams, was not even consulted when Sam Allardyce was fired. Williams left Blackburn last spring and his exodus was followed by Secretary Tom Finn. Williams was handpicked later by Manchester City.

Why did the "Big Sam" go? Theory goes that he and Venky's disagreement about possible signings before the January window last year were behind it. Reports that SEM had a wish list where many of the names were players from their own stables are rampant. There have been denials by Venky's. Anuradha Desai was content to declare that Allardyce was not "buying into the vision."

What exactly was that vision? It was not to make Blackburn into a successful football team. When Desai gave her first interview about the takeover she didn't talk about what Venky's could do for Blackburn. She highlighted what Blackburn could do for the company. "I feel that the Venky's brand will get instant recognition if we take over the club, and that's the main reason why we are here." This should already have sent out warning signs and fans should have been worried. Some were. Others were so busy seeing money bags that perhaps they couldn't see the pit of hell opening up underneath them. It is easy in times when an oil tycoon for owners is many fans dearest wish.

After Blackburn sacked Sam Allardyce, Anuradha Desai spoke. "The team will be capable of reaching 5th to 7th and not constantly vying to stave off relegation. I think the team deserves better. Sam did not fit into this vision. We have a long term vision and we want to take the club to new heights."

There were no new heights. After that the team saved off relegation in the final round last season, they have constantly been at the bottom of the table this year.Last fall, ESPN had an interview with co-owner Venkatesh Rao.He could have competed in the World Cup of diplomacy, "The fans have every right to feel frustrated and angry. On Venky's behalf, I want to assure fans that we are fully aware of our responsibility towards them, towards the club and to football." But did they really?

On Tuesday, Sporting Intelligence revealed a letter sent in December by Paul Hunt, the so called "Deputy Chief Executive." He wrote, among other things, to Anuradha Desai:

* That "significant changes to save the club from relegation, maybe even from the administration." were required.

* That you should consider firing Steve Kean who has lost the fans' confidence and the locker room.

* The club is losing fans / customers at an alarming rate.

* We are in danger of losing Umbro as a sponsor if they continued to manufacture unauthorized Rovers shirts in India.

* That you have to pay off £10 million of debt to reduce the risk of putting the club into administration.

It is said that money from the sale of Chris Samba in the January window to Anzji Makhachkala went straight to paying off that debt.

Samba had aired his dissatisfaction much longer. In last year's January window, he tried to move. He was critical of the owners. "New owners have come in and fired the coach who saved us from relegation two years ago. The least they could do is come here and explain their project. They have not done it, it's disrespectful. I do not want to be part of it."

Supporters anger with Venky's and Steve Kean lacks precedent in the Premier League's short history. The chant "Kean out" has been sung in almost every home game. When Venky's banned banners with messages critical of them in the stadium last fall, fans hired an airplane flying above the Ewood Park with the text "Steve Kean Out". Anger was easy to understand. Blackburn were only going in one direction, downhill, and Steve Kean appeared not to be the man who would turn the tide.

But the manager was not the main problem. In my view the ownership structure the big problem. It was Venky's who put Kean in the manager's position. It was Venky's (or their advisors) who, inexplicably, not only gave him a two year contract but also then refused to fire him when he did not perform.

I've always been suspicious of Steve Kean, ever since Sam Allardyce said in an interview after the parting that he thought his assistant had backstabbed him. Keans "Baghdad Bob"-talk has been astonishing. He said in December 2010 David Hoilett would extend his contract within 48 hours. Hoilett never extended any contract. The attacker has still not extended any contract. Hoilett goes on a Bosman when the season is over. Kean said Blackburn, thanks to Venky's, no longer had to sell their best players. A few weeks later, Phil Jones shipped off to Manchester United.He said it was inconceivable that Chris Samba would leave the club. Two weeks later, Samba was sold.

Steve Kean lives in denial. When the team piled up losses last fall, he said before a game that he was optimistic "because the team was undefeated in London." As if it mattered.

At the same time, I had sympathy for the hard pressed coach when the pressure on him turned to hate. I was happy with him after the victory over Sunderland on March 20th, when the team acquired six quick points and looked to save their Premier League status.

He had been threatened and forced to get a bodyguard. He did not dare go into the streets. During the home defeat to Bolton in December protests against Kean reached its climax when the local newspaper Lancashire Telegraph demanded his resignation. Everton boss David Moyes, who was in attendance, said later that he left the match because he was so uncomfortable by the behavior in the stands.

The letter from Paul Hunt was dated Dec. 21. The day after the Bolton match.

If we ignore the little fact that Steve Kean is a bad football manager, I would still defend him. At least a little. Sure, hindsight is 20/20, but we must not forget the ungrateful conditions. The squad was already weak before the season after Phil Jones left for Manchester United. With a further blow - captain Ryan Nelsen was alledgedly injured and Chris Samba refused to play - I doubt that any other coach would have done significantly better.

There were more strange events. Michel Salgado had not played since before Christmas because he was close to reaching that number of matches which would give him a year extension on his contract. Venky's did not want that, so Kean has not been able to use the right-back. Steve Kean has thus in many ways had to act with his hands tied. What provoked the fans above all this was his "stick-you-head-in-the-sand" attitude. Instead of admitting that the squad was weak and that he did not get the signings he wanted, he talked up players such as David Goodwillie (purchased from Dundee) and Myles Anderson. The latter was compared to Chris Smalling. It has not been credible.

Football Managers who feel unwanted usually throw in the towel. For his own sake and for the club's sake. Kean has instead repeatedly reiterated that he has the ability to save the sinking ship. Even after yesterday's relegation, he was not prepared to give up. Instead, he talked about making sure to keep the team and focus on getting back next year.

It will not be considered on the basis that 80 percent of club revenues currently go to player salaries. The cost structure is not sustainable in the Championship where TV money is considerably lower. Relegation will cost around £30 million, according to The Times in India. Only 3,000 have renewed season tickets for next season, compared with 12,000 last year. It is easy to understand if Blackburn fans feel despair. Andy Cryer writes today in the Lancashire Telegraph: "It was branded as an exciting era, but after just 18 months, wBlackburn fans wish that they never heard of Steve Kean and Venky's".

Venkys financial strength was greatly exaggerated in the first reports. There was talk of £100m in annual profit. In fact, earnings are £12m. Approximately one-tenth. They've driven the club from India and rarely endeavored to visit Ewood Park. How could they get control of Blackburn?

Rovers are a traditional club. It was formed in 1875 and is one of only four clubs that have won the Premier League. They did it in 1995 with players like Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton then owner Jack Walker spent big to fulfill his dream.Before Walker died in August 2000, he made sure that ownership would be transferred to family-owned "Walker's trustees." "Blackburn Rovers was in many ways, the love of his life," said the politician Jack Straw after his death.

"Walker's trustees" had no more interest in running the football club. Five years ago, in 2007 they put Blackburn up sale. No one was seriuosly interested until Venky's showed up. Not one British investor was interested in a club that has played ten years in the top division, which had an average audience of 22 000 spectators. One potential owner, Ali Syed, showed interest. The Premier League said no because he did not pass the so-called "fit and proper" test. He bought the Spanish Racing Santander instead. That club is now in crisis, plunged into administration and no one knows where Syed has disappeared to.

With the knowledge of what has happened under Venky's tenure, one must wonder what would have happened to Blackburn if this man had taken over the club instead. It is small consolation for Blackburn's supporters that, if possible, it could have been even worse.

Yesterday reports circulated that Venky's were willing to sell Blackburn. It was denied by Vineeth Rao, a friend of the family owners, the Lancashire Telegraph. "It is not true, not at all. There are no plans to sell."

Last Monday before the Wigan match, a new aircraft was hired to circulate above the Ewood Park. This time it was ordered by rival Burnley fans.

The message?

"In Venky's We Trust."

Sources: BBC, The Guardian, Lancashire Telegraph, Sky Sports, Telegraph, Wikipedia

[CAPT KAYOS]

Why not, you'll never see Rovers in the prem again so might as well watch the last ever game.

The Prem aint everything and means nothing in the context of things imo.

I can understand it being the last game and tradition an all that, but given the circumstances of the last two weeks (never mind the last 18m)it should be enough to finally convince people this is not Rovers anymore, and with the cost and the match having no real meaning or importance would have thought it would give rise to those who have already purchased tickets to return them.

The likelihood of seeing anything other than a defeat is virtually 100% nailed on and any 'protest' or venom thrown at the deluded one will not gain any coverage unless its something spectacular, in what I expect will be a small gathering of Rovers fans amongst a large crowd of Chelski Fans celebrating their Cup win and passage to the European Cup Final.

Credit for you going and anybody else for that matter and I hope you enjoy it.

[darwenfish]

9 pm -Talksport want Rovers fans to ring in now re their thoughts about going to Ewood next season if Kean is in charge !

[Mr Maureen]

Anyone know aprox what time the team coach arrives at Stamford Bridge please.

[darrenrover]

Dan,

That about sums it all up.

In October of last year I had a degree of sympathy for Kean as I blamed the owners for our predicament. It's clearly apparent now that Kean was party and chief protagonist in expediting it.

The only logic that can be applied is that it was relegation at any cost and they will reap the rewards from a betting scam in India.

I didn't agree with the protests during the games but understood.

I could accept relegation under normal circumstances because it's like natural selection but not now, I think it's been contrived.

How can Kean hold a press conference and arrive smirking and say 'we made a fist of staying up'

I was at Swansea and Spurs and many other away games and most at home. I think we had been unlucky until Bolton at home where the wheel fell off ( cue Paul Hunt's letter)

For me, the only logical answer to it all is that Kean, Ballaji ( Barry White/ Tonto) made a mint on the betting circles by taking us down.wonder what the odds were when we were 6 points above the drop zone before we lost 7 out of the last 8 games?

[BiggusLaddus]

Spend half an hour on hold only to be ridiculed and cut off by biased imbeciles?

Talksport can cock off.

[darwenfish]

Biggus Laddus.

Well at least you tried -the idiots.

[B75]

I think we need to somehow get lots of anti venkys banners at the cricket final in India . Not easy and prob near on impossible but something like that may be the only thing that would annoy venkys and take the campaign a bit further

Ipl cricket final I may add

[sw0808]

Anyone know aprox what time the team coach arrives at Stamford Bridge please.

90mins before kick off (usualy)

[BiggusLaddus]

I didn't. I've got no intention of ever calling talksport.

[darrenrover]

I think we need to somehow get lots of anti venkys banners at the cricket final in India . Not easy and prob near on impossible but something like that may be the only thing that would annoy venkys and take the campaign a bit further

Ipl cricket final I may add

For those that may be interested:

The IPL final is on Sunday 27th May at Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

BA flights from Heathrow direct to Chennai out on 25th May back on 30th May. Return price without taxes £ 756

Just in case anyone's interested.

[Tom]

I suggested the same a few hours back on twitter

Pune play on the 19th then the final is the 27th

Problem being in the final do we know who is playing making it even harder to contact people to make it happen

[Baz]

I cannot think of a Rovers game I've ever been so unbothered about. I cannot see anything other than a pasting from Chelsea, and what hurst most is I don't care. That just cannot be right.

[Ste B]

You won't get a visa in time forget it

[BuckyRover]

Have you not got a visa already? Mine lasted a year

[Kamy100]

I suggested the same a few hours back on twitter

Pune play on the 19th then the final is the 27th

Problem being in the final do we know who is playing making it even harder to contact people to make it happen

Venky's don't support Pune Warriors. They are big fans of Rajastan Royals, think that the family are originally from that area.

[ABBEY]

Mine was for a year when I went to Goa.

[Tom]

Venky's don't support Pune Warriors. They are big fans of Rajastan Royals, think that the family are originally from that area.

Fair enough it's a long long shot anyway but some people must have contacts still out in Pune as they got the Kean out signs at the friendly.

[Tom]

How about this for another (ridiculously daft suggestion but ideas cost nothing)

We somehow get a presence here

http://www.poultryindia.co.in/

It's not till October but a large poultry convention in India, notice there are spaces to advertise on there site?

[darrenrover]

Venky's don't support Pune Warriors. They are big fans of Rajastan Royals, think that the family are originally from that area.

I think Paul Collingwood plays for them, I might be able to do something there

[Lurid Coat]

Venky's don't support Pune Warriors. They are big fans of Rajastan Royals, think that the family are originally from that area.

Never even heard of them before, but now I hope some winkers take over that club, assets strip the s*** out of it and urinates all over the club's history.

[47er]

A former Chairman's thoughts

http://www.jewishtelegraph.co.uk/sport_1.html?