[Archived] Henning Berg - Rovers Manager

[Steve Moss]

Berg is getting undeserved grace simply because he played for Rovers. His comments were Keanesque but sadly his record makes Kean look like the scottish Guardiola

That LET article is absolutely shocking.

Berg's comments are hardly Keanesque. He acknowledged that Cardiff was the better team across the board but he also asserted that we weren't far off. Until Formica missed a sitter, his comments seem to accurately encapsulate the game.

Berg hasn't attempted to turn fan against fan, as did Kean. Berg hasn't referenced a "dew" factor in the failure to score. Berg hasn't compared journeymen players to world class players. Berg isn't Kean and is no where close.

Some opposed Berg from the start. Some are taking an admitedly poor start as an indicator of his lack of managerial skill. Beating the drum about only one win in eight matches misses the point. We are an unbalanced, unfit, and demoralized squad. With that underperforming team, Berg has managed to get a result in four of the eight matches. I believe results will improve, and dramatically so, as he molds the team into his vision.

We need to give Berg until the end of the season. Let's see what he does vis-a-vis his backroom staff and the January transfer window. I'm no expert, but I think Berg will deliver a playoff spot, provided we keep our eye and hand steady. Don't panic, lose our nerve, and pull the trigger on him prematurely.

As to Kean, his time here was marked by the occassional lucky win which kept him in a job. It's far better that we leave him were we left him, in our rear view mirror.

[Rover_Shaun]

Berg needs to learn that sometimes he'll say it best by saying nothing at all (yes I could do it too before anyone makes that predictable and hackneyed retort)

[BPF]

Noone really expected Berg to be the right man did they? It had 'Paul Ince hire' written all over it.

[Ossydave]

We need to give Berg until the end of the season.

I think one of the reasons people are flapping so much is because promotion is an absolute must from a financial point of view THIS season, time is ticking away and the sense of urgency intensifying by the day.

The saving grace is that we aren't a million millions away from the play off spots, thats obviously down to the freakishly good start (from a points perspective). There's been very little lately to suggest we can mount a play-off challenge, its VERY worrrying and causing panic amongst the fans for obvious reasons.

Given the timescales involved you would have thought an experienced manager was the route to go down, I really can't be bothered debating that again though as it's been done to death.

I think this topic just highlights what a set of nervous wrecks we've all become over the past few seasons. I will admit it, I don't particularly like a lot of our fanbase anymore, far too many clique's and hidden agenda's along with all the willy waving that goes on amonst certain people. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels like this, attendances certainly suggest others share a similar view.

So I guess the bottom line is I really want Berg to succeed, but we can't afford to cut him any slack because he was a great player for us, or because he seems a decent honest chap, we need results now I'm afraid

[thenodrog]

well you cant really critize your own players openly in the local newspaper can you?

Correct. In fcat I can't readily think of many managers who have ever done that tbh. Certainly not many top ones. They'll bollock em up hill and down dale in private but never in the press / media. Quite right too.

Sorry,. this doesn't make any sense at all.

They're (Dann and handley) awful because they do cost us many points. That's not because they're playing below their ability. It's because they're crap.

Partly right, they do have faults but be honest what protection are they getting from the men in front of them?

[Kelbo]

Berg's comments are hardly Keanesque. He acknowledged that Cardiff was the better team across the board but he also asserted that we weren't far off. Until Formica missed a sitter, his comments seem to accurately encapsulate the game.

Berg hasn't attempted to turn fan against fan, as did Kean. Berg hasn't referenced a "dew" factor in the failure to score. Berg hasn't compared journeymen players to world class players. Berg isn't Kean and is no where close.

Some opposed Berg from the start. Some are taking an admitedly poor start as an indicator of his lack of managerial skill. Beating the drum about only one win in eight matches misses the point. We are an unbalanced, unfit, and demoralized squad. With that underperforming team, Berg has managed to get a result in four of the eight matches. I believe results will improve, and dramatically so, as he molds the team into his vision.

We need to give Berg until the end of the season. Let's see what he does vis-a-vis his backroom staff and the January transfer window. I'm no expert, but I think Berg will deliver a playoff spot, provided we keep our eye and hand steady. Don't panic, lose our nerve, and pull the trigger on him prematurely.

As to Kean, his time here was marked by the occassional lucky win which kept him in a job. It's far better that we leave him were we left him, in our rear view mirror.

For a Yank, thats a great post, not far from the truth in my opinion!

[thenodrog]

Martin Samuel is a pompous tw@t but he's correct with this one.

Scroll down to Blackburn fans should be careful what they wish for

http://www.dailymail...tin-Samuel.html

Rubbish. As far as I can read behind the lines that fat cockney kean Samuel is simply doing favours for Muttley and Dastardly. He's criticising Berg's record over a few weeks but not a mention of the 18 months we spent in Keans elevator with his finger firmly on the down button. Wouldn't suprise me one bit if his criticism of Singh had been written by the The Fat Controller himself. It's heavily agenda'd bollux designed to damage and destabilise and I'm surprised you've been sucked in by it.

We've seen the power and influence that Anderson can exert over the press many times in the past two years but some appear to have forgotten it.

[Batman.]

Correct. In fcat I can't readily think of many managers who have ever done that tbh. Certainly not many top ones. They'll bollock em up hill and down dale in private but never in the press / media. Quite right too.

Not many "top managers" have to watch their team put together a month's worth of bad performances and results,

Ironic as it is given his publicly documented views on the man, Berg's personality is not what we need, Souness' is.

[Torgeir]

Not many "top managers" have to watch their team put together a month's worth of bad performances and results,

Ironic as it is given his publicly documented views on the man, Berg's personality is not what we need, Souness' is.

Couldn't agree more.

[thenodrog]

He's VERY bad at his job

Is he? Right well in that case Blue and white how about YOU picking our best midfield from the crock of shyte that he's inherited.

[thenodrog]

Not many "top managers" have to watch their team put together a month's worth of bad performances and results,

Ironic as it is given his publicly documented views on the man, Berg's personality is not what we need, Souness' is.

Your memory is very poor imo. Sure Souness got us up but he was taking us right back down again when NUFC suprisingly came to our rescue. The quality of the squad that Mark Hughes inherited was bloody awful and so many of Souness's signings left a bitter taste of corruption in my mouth I'm afraid.

[martonrover]

Is he? Right well in that case Blue and white how about YOU picking our best midfield from the crock of shyte that he's inherited.

Seeing that was the case it would be interesting to know if he tried to bring in a loanee.

If not, why not?

[DE.]

If Berg does not bring in many (or any) players in January does he get to use the "squad he's inherited" excuse for the whole season?

[Stuart]

If Berg does not bring in many (or any) players in January does he get to use the "squad he's inherited" excuse for the whole season?

No.

Although, if he's given no money and can't shift our high earning dross, then it could make it difficult.

I'm very interested so see if he tries to change the backroom team.

[Doug]

If Berg does not bring in many (or any) players in January does he get to use the "squad he's inherited" excuse for the whole season?

Surely that depends on whether the owners / global advisor will allow him to sign a few players. We have a huge (and poor) squad. We need to have a January fire sale with 'buy one get one free' offers to shift some of 'em!

[T.J.Newton]

If Berg does not bring in many (or any) players in January does he get to use the "squad he's inherited" excuse for the whole season?

How would it be an excuse? he has inherited a load off rubbish and if he doesn't get the freedom to buy and sell as he sees fit then further failure will be completely down to the owners.

Other than Rhodes(who is a credit to the game and a serious talent) and to a lesser extent Rochina even our best senior players (Givet, Martin Olson, Robinson, Leon Best) are relatively average and and would struggle to get into any good side.

[John]

Berg's comments are hardly Keanesque. He acknowledged that Cardiff was the better team across the board but he also asserted that we weren't far off. Until Formica missed a sitter, his comments seem to accurately encapsulate the game.

Berg hasn't attempted to turn fan against fan, as did Kean. Berg hasn't referenced a "dew" factor in the failure to score. Berg hasn't compared journeymen players to world class players. Berg isn't Kean and is no where close.

Some opposed Berg from the start. Some are taking an admitedly poor start as an indicator of his lack of managerial skill. Beating the drum about only one win in eight matches misses the point. We are an unbalanced, unfit, and demoralized squad. With that underperforming team, Berg has managed to get a result in four of the eight matches. I believe results will improve, and dramatically so, as he molds the team into his vision.

We need to give Berg until the end of the season. Let's see what he does vis-a-vis his backroom staff and the January transfer window. I'm no expert, but I think Berg will deliver a playoff spot, provided we keep our eye and hand steady. Don't panic, lose our nerve, and pull the trigger on him prematurely.

As to Kean, his time here was marked by the occassional lucky win which kept him in a job. It's far better that we leave him were we left him, in our rear view mirror.

Good post.

Some need to calm down a little.

[Kelbo]

How would it be an excuse? he has inherited a load off rubbish and if he doesn't get the freedom to buy and sell as he sees fit then further failure will be completely down to the owners.

Other than Rhodes(who is a credit to the game and a serious talent) and to a lesser extent Rochina even our best senior players (Givet, Martin Olson, Robinson, Leon Best) are relatively average and and would struggle to get into any good side.

I think you are well off the mark here, its my opinion, the players you have mentioned, would get into all the championship sides, not all together, but they would, most good championship sides have a good balance and decent midfield, they would easily slot into those sides, we are talking of two years of malpractice here at Rovers, speaking of which, one you havent mentioned, Adam Henley, is at the moment being monitored by top clubs both in the UK and Europe, to coin Salgado's quote, 'an amazing young player'

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

If Berg does not bring in many (or any) players in January does he get to use the "squad he's inherited" excuse for the whole season?

He only gets to use it in the first place because the many, many fans that rejoiced at his arrival don't wanna admit they were barking completely up the wrong tree.

I don't remember many fans deeming our squad far too poor to even challenge for promotion from the Championship before Berg arrived.

[4000Holes]

Could not agree more!

It will take a long time to get over the Kean legacy, maybe too long?

Good post.

Some need to calm down a little.

[Amo]

Is he? Right well in that case Blue and white how about YOU picking our best midfield from the crock of shyte that he's inherited.

Well I wouldn't start Marcus Olsson, that's fo' sure.

[Batman.]

Your memory is very poor imo.

My memory is very good actually. I'm not after somebody to guide us to 6th in the Premier League and our first Major Domestic trophy in over half a century, just somebody to get a bunch of under-performing second tier players playing to their potential, and with a few adjustments, back into the top flight.

[riverside returns]

Good post Steve moss. As stated previously, the biggest problem we have is the midfield. No protection for the defense and keeper and no link or invention for the front line. Spells problem in any managers book.

None of that is berg's doing. He is just left to shuffle the crap hand and try to bluff the opposition.

Not exactly the dream hand.

Perhaps some should wake up and realize where the five knuckle shuffler ' kean' took us to.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

He only gets to use it in the first place because the many, many fans that rejoiced at his arrival don't wanna admit they were barking completely up the wrong tree.

I don't remember many fans deeming our squad far too poor to even challenge for promotion from the Championship before Berg arrived.

If I had to describe one word to generalise what the fanbase thought of Berg's appointment it would be "underwhelmed".

So I'm not sure where you're getting this alternate reality from in which you all warned us what was going to happen but we shot you down because we all thought it was the right appointment.

Anyone who was happy probably just preferred Berg to Kean, Shearer, McKinlay etc.

[broadsword]

but be honest what protection are they getting from the men in front of them?

Honestly ... none.

I don't think we have a (decent, legal) tackle in midfield.

We really do have the most distorted squad. Yet some people think we should be in the top two?!