[Archived] New Manager Part 3

[47er]

If after all this its still undecided and the contestants are Berg and Holloway, can we all make clear our preference in case anyone "important" reads it?

Holloway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not aimed at Henning in any way, he is a person I really admire.

[roverandout]

if singh comes out onto the pitch with berg at our next home game and starts fist pumping, i am going to throw a brick at his head

[ABBEY]

OGS manager Berg his #2 and running us til season ends in Norway...

made it up !

[adsfortheblues]

"Tip of the ice BERG, Tom?"

Yes we've just hit it and now were sinking.

[mark1875]

Puffsan - don't want to read about 1,500 words.

Your view in one short sentence please.

How ignorant of you, either read it or don't. He put the time into that.

Thanks Puffsan for the information, most people appreciate it..

[DE.]

Puffsan - don't want to read about 1,500 words.

Your view in one short sentence please.

What a stupid post.

If you want to read short sentences I suggest twitter. It's full of inane short-sentence nonsense.

[adsfortheblues]

if singh comes out onto the pitch with berg at our next home game and starts fist pumping, i am going to throw a brick at his head

Haha that was class!

[DE.]

-

[DeadlyDirk]

Well I'm happy to jump on the Berg band wagon if he does get the job.

He wouldn't have been my first pick but far from my last, everyone comes with a risk and we have to appoint someone, may as well be Berg, at least he's someone that doesn't have a whole lot of reason to dislike him which is very important right now.

[BuckyRover]

What a stupid post.

If you want to read short sentences I suggest twitter. It's full of inane short-sentence keans.

He already knows about Twitter. It's where he gets his "tips"

[booth]

Holloway for me. He would be right for the club at this moment in time, he's used to dealing with difficult owners and on a budget, he knows what it takes to get our if this league and it will deplete a local promotion rival.

Berg is a top man but at the moment we don't need an experiment.

[RibbleValleyRover]

People here talk of championship like it is the Champions league or something. It's football!!! Nothing more!!!

History has shown it is a very difficult league to get out of and as far as I’m aware not many sides bounce back straight away after getting relegated from the Premier League. Nearly every season you have up to 10 teams pushing for one of the two automatic promotion places and it is even more difficult to get promoted from the playoffs where form often goes out the window.

Also when you have the added financial pressure of having to get promoted (in our case) it is not an easy task at all.

This is why I wanted us to appoint an experienced manager, one with success in this league and has the experience of getting a side promoted. Every appointment is a risk but the risk is lessened with someone who has been there and done it before.

[Pedro]

Well i can't argue with that Tyrone. I can't say i have ever seen England or Newton play. But i would argue that modern day footballers, with all the advances in fitness and sport science would have shone in days gone by. Berg was an exceptional right back and on occasion, a very good center half. If you'd rather argue over the finer points of my post, then fill your boots. If Mike England or Keith Newton are up for the job then i'll slide Berg down to 3rd choice in the defensive attribute column. Berg was a far more cultured defender than any in out championship winning side and he always gave the fans value for money. I can think of many other candidates i'd prefer, but i won't detract from Hennings fantastic career for Rovers.

I thought he was a very run-of-the-mill player in our championship side. Ferguson identified his potential and transformed him from a steady and capable right back to an excellent, match saving, centre back. I also think his return on loan (alongside that of Berkovic) were the two missing sparks that fired us onwards during the promotion campaign.

[Aberdeen Blue]

Can I just say "Shebby, you are a total tool!"

Five weeks and we look to be ending the "extensive" search of "outstanding candidates" with an unemployed Norwegian with no experience in England.... Jesus H Christ get a fukin grip!

[SirLarsIII]

Puffsan - don't want to read about 1,500 words.

Your view in one short sentence please.

- 1. No need to be rude - by far the best post I have seen on here for a very long time.

Worth the read!

[Mercer]

What a stupid post.

If you want to read short sentences I suggest twitter. It's full of inane short-sentence nonsense.

Never read any post of more than 4 or 5 lines. Similarly, rarely write more than 4 or 5 lines.

If you can't get your message across in 100 words or less then you've failed.

Use the same principles for those I work with.

[chaddyrovers]

In hennings bergs first season at lyn they finished 3rd. his team got a wrong penalty against them in their second last game of the season. If that had not happened they would probably have won the league that season. To put that achievement in perspective. Lyn to finish third in tippeligaen is equivalent to finish third with a club like Sunderland budget wise. No one really expected him to top that table position with the economy they had. The gap up to the big spenders was just too big. The following season they finished 7th, 9th and 7th, which were decent, the season after he left lyn got relegated and then they went bankrupt.

He was signed to take over lillestrøm after the 2008 season but due to them being only 3 points over relegation zone he started his jobs two games before the season ended. In his first game in charge they beat Rosenborg (which won the league by clear margin that season) and secured top flight football.

When he took over Lillestrøm they had the oldest squad in the league, and alot of high earners. He had to clean up their entire squad and in his first season everyone expected them to struggle which they did. The other seasons they were predicted to be higher up, and he had lillestrøm around 5th 6th place until the summer window which due to economic recession in the Norwegian league between 2008-2011 he had to sell his most talented youngsters.

So to sum up he has managed a midget budget wise and had decent success with them, then he managed a sleeping giant from the 80s which were and are in complete in turmoil.

In terms of formation he usually sets his teams up either in 4-4-2 or in 4-4-1-1. He likes to have players with a lot of pace, especially on the wings and the wingers he has used tend to be good to challenge 1on1 (so I guess he has some shopping to do in January). His teams have been rather solid and organized defensively. He is a die hard fan of zonal marking. He plays an attractive possession oriented style with a lot of short passes and mostly passes on the ground. He has also liked to play with two holding midfielders. I think he is very inspired by arsenal and arsene wenger when it comes to playing style and transfers.

In my opinion he was very unfairly treated at Lillestrøm. He did all their dirty laundry, brought in young players and got rid of high earners and when they finally got stable economy they sacked him. The sacking was also a farce. Basically he had the boards support, but then an extern investor contacted the board and said “I will invest xx millions but only if you sack Henning”. So they went for the fast option. Lillestrøm is now a Norwegian QPR version. They have signed 18 new players this season (many of them Norwegian internationals who didn’t play for their foreign clubs) but this has not materialized and they are basically at status quo in terms of league position and their attendance are plummeting.

His ex assistant managers will probably not join him. His first assistant manager is assistant manager at Aalesund and the other one just got relegated as manager for Stabæk after failing to get the job at Lillestrøm. I think he would want to bring his own staff in, and then he will bring people who share the same football philosophy as himself and people he can work with. Maybe he can work with black and Hendry, but if not I think he will get other people in.

I’m obviously a big fan of Henning Berg as I suggested him over 5 weeks ago when he wasn’t even remotely linked with us. I don’t agree with someone saying “5 weeks and we end up with henning berg, what a disaster.” The reason for this is if this had been a quick appointment I don’t think he would even be considered by Shebby and Shaw. If he gets the job I think he will have impressed them with what he has presented to them and they think he is the right choice. I hope shabby and shaw have done a thorough job in talking with potential managers but of course I don’t know if this is correct.

I will now list up a couple of points why I think henning Berg would be a good choice. Someone on here has also said "he can't even get a job in norway, why would we want to sign him". im pretty sure he has been offered different jobs in norway during the past year but he has made a choice not to take any job. Instead he has worked as a pundit for tippeligaen and premier league, and he has also made a couple of trips to manchester to talk to fergie and fill up on his knowledge.

1. he plays attractive and entertaining football and his teams seem to be well organized.

2. He is very transparent when it comes to fans. When in charge at lyn (during a period they did very well) he invited the fans to a discussion on playing style and what he was going to do. he also have met angry Lillestrøm fans to hear what they say, what their opinions were and he also answered their questions.

3. He will not let himself be pushed around. He will demand alot from his players, and will not accept that they sign any player without him giving the thumbs up.

4. He has openly said that he thinks venky should try to get John Willams back, which he highly regards. We can only hope.... He also knows this club, its history etc

5. Theoreticly he is very bright. He knows his football.

6. He has showed a keen eye when it comes to signing talents and unshaped diamonds and turning them into great players. Of course this will be harder to do at a higher level but at least he has shown it at a lower level. A small club like Blackburn need to have someone who can spot talents as we cant compete with the bigger clubs on transfers and wages.

7. He knows british football. Won the league with two different clubs, promoted with rovers aswell. Worked under managers like Kenny, sir alex and souness. He surely must have picked up alot.

8. Arte et labore. That is henning berg's career summed up. He was never a child star with immense talent, but due to his hard work he managed to play at the top level with blackburn rovers and manchester united. Also his manager career shows this. He has done immense work with very little resources in both his club.

9. As a pundit he has done very good analyzis, and when analyzing rovers problems in their defense last season he was spot on.

10. I want him to succeed and i think he would succeed.

on the negative side:

1. we dont know if he will succeed here.

2. He has been critized by fans and board in norway for being to negative in the media (blaming referee decisions, weather, performance etc). I think this would actually be a nice change from alwayspositive lying steve kean.

3. he has had some players openly critizing him in the media, complaining about not playing in their favourite position etc. This have mostly been from african players so maybe its a cultural thing.

edit: added some open spaces to make it more easy to read. wrote it in word while offline and copied it over so didnt see it was comprimied

great post. Post of the year in my view

[broadsword]

It does remind me of the gimmick of re-naming the Blackburn End to curry favour with Rovers fans after so much had gone wrong.

Clearly, ability to get Rovers promoted this season has not been the only criterion at work here, and perhaps other criteria have taken precedence.

I'd be interested to see whether Judan Ali does end up on the coaching staff at Ewood, if he does then you'd have to say that that again was a gimmick.

Just a rich man's plaything ...

[roverandout]

berg the player is not berg the manager, in case anyone hasnt noticed football as moved on alot since the mid 90's, he was a decent solid right back for us, has failed, somewhat, in management and is now a pundit, maybe when singh and berg both leave the club, they can open their own punditry school

[BRFC1995]

no need for scumbag hendry's appalling coaching now hopefully, always thought Berg was the best defender we've had in 25 plus years. Gutted when he went to utd.

[patrickvalery]

I thought he was a very run-of-the-mill player in our championship side. Ferguson identified his potential and transformed him from a steady and capable right back to an excellent, match saving, centre back. I also think his return on loan (alongside that of Berkovic) were the two missing sparks that fired us onwards during the promotion campaign.

Horses for courses. I thought Berg was an extremely consistent performer during those heady days. He read the game very very well imo. Maybe thats what Ferguson liked? Anyway, i guess this isn't the Henning Berg appreciation society thread. But for all his points earned during his playing days (which i clearly value more then others) he has done enough to earn a duration of support from me. But i'll be honest enough to admit, Berg was well down my personal list of candidates. I can't help feeling this is an opportunity missed.

[Pedro]

Never read any post of more than 4 or 5 lines. Similarly, rarely write more than 4 or 5 lines.

If you can't get your message across in 100 words or less then you've failed.

Use the same principles for those I work with.

You often just repeat what your bookie tells you and it's rare it is accurate. That's failing Mercerman.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Well i can't argue with that Tyrone. I can't say i have ever seen England or Newton play. But i would argue that modern day footballers, with all the advances in fitness and sport science would have shone in days gone by. Berg was an exceptional right back and on occasion, a very good center half. If you'd rather argue over the finer points of my post, then fill your boots. If Mike England or Keith Newton are up for the job then i'll slide Berg down to 3rd choice in the defensive attribute column. Berg was a far more cultured defender than any in out championship winning side and he always gave the fans value for money. I can think of many other candidates i'd prefer, but i won't detract from Hennings fantastic career for Rovers.

I liked Berg as a player as well, he was a fine footballer with a good mental attitude. If I'm being picky he lacked a bit of pace to be a really top full back but he had the savvy to disguise it. I've also not forgotten that he was on his toes as soon as he possible when the red rats came calling, he wasn't the only rat to leave the sinking ship though.

Anybody who saw Keith Newton will tell you he had it all, pace, class, elegance on the ball, tackling ability, heading ability, two good feet, the ability to play on either flank without a problem, he could attack and defend, he had a great temperament, you name it - he had it. Held the right back position in the best England team I've ever seen as well as playing right back, left back, centre half , and centre midfield for Rovers. A true Rovers great and all the kean we enduring now can't and won't erase his achievements.

[Emge]

Never read any post of more than 4 or 5 lines. Similarly, rarely write more than 4 or 5 lines.

If you can't get your message across in 100 words or less then you've failed.

Use the same principles for those I work with.

LOL, good night and good luck!

[4000Holes]

Correct 47er, anybody who went to the 2nd leg at Derby would know!! He was outstanding.

Sorry for upsetting you guys but just my oppinion and I thought if Moran had been here 5 years earlier he was a world beater but when he came, he certainly wore his heart on his sleeve and put his body on the line, hence he had to be patched up so often. However I thought he was past his best but only an oppinion.

All is in the past anyway and there are certainly more important matters to be considered just now.

Again appologies for upsetting anyone, not meant at all.