[Archived] Henning Berg - Rovers Manager

[thenodrog]

It's all relative Theno. At the time, feelings were high as a result of the 7-1 defeat against United as you point out.

I'm not going to be a hypocrite, I very often found myself bored stiff during Allardyce games - but that was balanced by the great feeling of victory walking up Bolton Rd afterwards.

I accepted the boredom because I knew Allardyce was the right man for the club at the time. There were many debates at the time though about people forgetting why they enjoyed football in the first place!

Saying that, one has to think his time was up before the signature ink was wet on the purchase contract. I don't think you're so naive as to believe that "fan power" had ANYTHING to do with Allardyce's sacking - not considering how fans feelings have been ignored at EVERY juncture since Venkys took over.

Hindsight works in more than one way, you know.

I'm pretty certain fan power and the booing (as well as his salary) was used by you-know-who to influence the venkymob into sacking him. Do you doubt this?

[John]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="thenodrog" data-cid="1350675" data-time="1356004452"><p>

I'm pretty certain fan power and the booing (as well as his salary) was used by you-know-who to influence the venkymob into sacking him. Do you doubt this?</p></blockquote>

I think it was part of the plan the whole time to get rid of him - there were strong rumours pre takeover from the Kentaro camp that he was going to get sacked.

[Stuart]

I'm pretty certain fan power and the booing (as well as his salary) was used by you-know-who to influence the venkymob into sacking him. Do you doubt this?

At the time, no.

Now, yes, I doubt it. I could imagine a villainous twirl of the moustache and a sneaking "icing on the cake comment" but let's face it, in the great scheme of things, the reaction to the Wolves game was nothing. Sam laughed it off after the game.

They didn't sack Kean after the Wigan game. Very inconsistent of them, don't you think?

[Gav]

I'm pretty certain fan power and the booing (as well as his salary) was used by you-know-who to influence the venkymob into sacking him. Do you doubt this?

Absolutel bunkum gordon, Kean stabbed him in the back, thats the reason for his dismisal and probably his wages as you say.

By the way West Hams manager has gone, you can't live in the past.

[jim mk2]

Absolutel bunkum gordon, Kean stabbed him in the back, thats the reason for his dismisal and probably his wages as you say.

By the way West Hams manager has gone, you can't live in the past.

Hughes has gone too and is in the past, but you want him back.

You should let it go on Allardyce - accept you made a plonker of yourself and move on.

[Athlete]

Huge mistake in making this public now.

Robinson has always been a confidence player. When he came here, big same said he spent a few weeks, just rebuilding his confidence and it payed dividends with no fans missing friedal, because robbo was doing so well.

But its clear he hasn't been himself this season, or the 2nd part of last season either. Its a shame that henning couldn't see that he had a great nplayer that was just going through a confidence crisis. Hardly surprising given whats going on at the club.

But that aside - big brad has still got what it takes at this level for at least 2 more years, so if he's coming in jan, then it will be great news.

I would have preferred for the work to be done behind the scenes though, as it will be very disruptive to the team spirit

tried to change things too quickly at qpr - but the management also have to take some blame in buying 12 players in 1 transfer window.

listen I'd be very surprised if Freidel came back even short term the major reason being Venkys won't pay his wages why do you think Robbo can leave ? we'll have JK and the polish lad as back up due to there relatively low weekly wages...reading between the lines can see as many players as poss being shifted on in Jan and possibly cheaper less effective players coming in if anything...

BTW anyone thinking Hughes would come back here and work for Venkys even if he was allowoed to bring in Eddie and the rest of his backroom staff as been on the Christmas booze ......Cos it won't happen..imagine Shebby discussing tactics with Mark Hughes ? NO neither do I

[Gav]

Hughes has gone too and is in the past, but you want him back.

You should let it go on Allardyce - accept you made a plonker of yourself and move on.

You should read the thread properly before you start mud slinging, I'm backing Berg, surely I've made that clear.

By the way lets not forget you wanted John Williams sacked, then wanted him knighted when he left, which makes you the biggest plonker or all.

Lets both move on before you get banned again

BTW anyone thinking Hughes would come back here and work for Venkys even if he was allowoed to bring in Eddie and the rest of his backroom staff as been on the Christmas booze ......Cos it won't happen..imagine Shebby discussing tactics with Mark Hughes ? NO neither do I

Absolutely no chance, if rumours are to be believed, venkys they had a chance to bring him back sometime ago but passed.....

[tomphil]

I was told the other week that the idea was for Freidal to come in as number one and work with the two backup keepers with the idea that Jake Kean becomes number one over the next season or so and Freidal is a coach and Bergs assistant. It would make sense i suppose especially if they can get some kind of fee for Robbo but as always the timing and handeling of it all is bobbins. Don't blame Robbo for wanting out of this crackpot circus at all, he probably figures if he's going to be on the bench it might as well be at a Prem club. Thing is we will end up with no Robbo and the two inexperienced lads for No 1's as we fight possible relegation. Utterly fecking stupid as usual .

[Athlete]

Yes. City's setup was nothing like ours. He had full control there.

ha ha Cooke may have got a few players in behind his back but I'd safely say the set up there was a lot better than the one currently at Ewood

[K-Hod]

Yes. City's setup was nothing like ours. He had full control there.

To be fair, I didn't recall him complaining at the time........

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Robinson isn't being moved on cos of his ability or his temperament imo.

So he has been a huge success this season ? He has looked over weight - which irrespective of the fitness coach is very poor for an experienced keeper like Robinson.

At the end of the day what do you do with a keeper obviously in his comfort zone ? Berg took the option to drop him - a huge gamble which actually didn't have a baring on the result at Blackpool.

James Ducker of The Times reporting Berg has 3 games to save his job - Xmas period will decide his future.

I think most of us could have guessed that one when the assistant decision was delayed until January.

[Hasta]

So he has been a huge success this season ? He has looked over weight - which irrespective of the fitness coach is very poor for an experienced keeper like Robinson.

At the end of the day what do you do with a keeper obviously in his comfort zone ? Berg took the option to drop him - a huge gamble which actually didn't have a baring on the result at Blackpool.

I think most of us could have guessed that one when the assistant decision was delayed until January.

That's going to be great for Black and Mimms isn't it. Try and help Berg win the next 3 games and your out of a job. Make the team lose the next 3 and you will be back in charge.

[jim mk2]

Y

By the way lets not forget you wanted John Williams sacked, then wanted him knighted when he left, which makes you the biggest plonker or all.

Questioned his salary, thought he should have sacked Souness earlier and said at the time of his appointment he was making a big mistake with Ince. Apart from that acknowledged he was doing a good job.

On the other hand you routinely called Allardyce names, refused to see the good job he was doing and threatened to stop going to Ewood if he continued as manager. Good call GAV.

[Athlete]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Hasta" data-cid="1350712" data-time="1356010867"><p>

<br />

That's going to be great for Black and Mimms isn't it. Try and help Berg win the next 3 games and your out of a job. Make the team lose the next 3 and you will be back in charge.</p></blockquote>

Just proves what a farce it all is

[Stuart]

That's going to be great for Black and Mimms isn't it. Try and help Berg win the next 3 games and your out of a job. Make the team lose the next 3 and you will be back in charge.

It's quite possible you've just summed up our owners warped view of how to run a football club in three short sentences.

However, if they lose the next 3, they will probably all be out... and we'll be looking for a fourth manager in little over 2 years.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Judan Ali brought in as manager with Shebby as DOF.

[John]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Hasta" data-cid="1350712" data-time="1356010867"><p>

<br />

That's going to be great for Black and Mimms isn't it. Try and help Berg win the next 3 games and your out of a job. Make the team lose the next 3 and you will be back in charge.</p></blockquote>

Plus you have got snakes in the boardroom causing mischief.

All pulling together in one direction towards one common goal.......

[Athlete]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Stuart" data-cid="1350718" data-time="1356011651"><p>

It's quite possible you've just summed up our owners warped view of how to run a football club in three short sentences.<br />

<br />

<br />

However, if they lose the next 3, they will probably all be out... and we'll be looking for a fourth manager in little over 2 years.<br />

<br />

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Judan Ali brought in as manager with Shebby as DOF.</p></blockquote>

Stu if that scenario happens there'll be less than 5k on at Ewood

[Stuart]

Stu if that scenario happens there'll be less than 5k on at Ewood

Interesting one. Judan Ali might have appealled to Blackburn's asian population - although I'm not sure of Ali's religious background (muslim or hindu).

However, the majority of asian football fans I know are only into Premier League teams. Although I know some good asian Rovers fans too!

[Steve Moss]

Rovers need to stand by Berg at the moment and see whether he can turn it round.

i think Berg will turn it round and get us challenging for Playoffs shortly.

+1

I agree with all of this and good to see your love-in with Sam is continuing. But you do know he's not coming back don't you ?

More's the pity.

I was told the other week that the idea was for Freidal to come in as number one and work with the two backup keepers with the idea that Jake Kean becomes number one over the next season or so and Freidal is a coach and Bergs assistant. It would make sense i suppose especially if they can get some kind of fee for Robbo but as always the timing and handeling of it all is bobbins.

Great idea. Which is why it'll never happen. Far too practical.

[Gav]

Questioned his salary, thought he should have sacked Souness earlier and said at the time of his appointment he was making a big mistake with Ince. Apart from that acknowledged he was doing a good job.

On the other hand you routinely called Allardyce names, refused to see the good job he was doing and threatened to stop going to Ewood if he continued as manager. Good call GAV.

This is getting rather tedious and boring for the rest of the readers, lets keep on subject Jim.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

The attracting asian fans thing could have worked with Venkys I think. But you need success to go along with it. If they'd kept everything the same, maybe put in £5m a year investment and let Allardyce nudge us towards Europe, that would have been enough success I think to swell our asian fanbase. Plus the general mood around the club would have been a positive, happy one, far more encouraging to potential new fans than the acrimony and occasionally intimdating one we have at the moment. So simple and easily within reach, and so needlessly thrown away.

[Stuart]

I know you don't mean it in this way but to be honest I think that whole argument is patronising. If I was based in India and any British manager came to look after a team over there I'd hardly be able to say I'd be chomping at the bit to go and see them play.

I also think this has been disproved with our current owners as the perfect example of how it's naive to think that, just because they're Asian, Asians will turn up to the matches. It's interesting as I'm sure this was one of the suggestions put forward quite heavily when Asian owners were starting to get involved with Rovers yet nothing much has been mentioned on its failure to attract Asian fans since.

There's definitely a cultural aspect though, Tom. I bet if you did a poll of local asians they would still view league football as dominated by white males. We've said for a long time that if the club could tap into the local asian community and inspire them by football, bringing them into Ewood, it would swell attendances. Should the club ignore the local demographic?

This can be seen, similarly, when you look at cultural attachment overseas. I'd suggest this is why some clubs attempt to bring in talent from China, Korea or Japan (e.g. Man Utd, Celtic, Everton). People want to be able to identify with players and managers and it therefore interests people, and with that comes increased sponsorship.

If a local asian lad could get into Rovers first team, I'm sure it would be massive but we seem a long way away from this happening.

The attracting asian fans thing could have worked with Venkys I think. But you need success to go along with it. If they'd kept everything the same, maybe put in £5m a year investment and let Allardyce nudge us towards Europe, that would have been enough success I think to swell our asian fanbase. Plus the general mood around the club would have been a positive, happy one, far more encouraging to potential new fans than the acrimony and occasionally intimdating one we have at the moment. So simple and easily within reach, and so needlessly thrown away.

Maybe but I don't think it would have been so easy. Everyone needs something they can relate to.

We are in a position where we can't identify with players because of the money they earn and their disconnection from the real world. The main connection for older fans is the stadium location, the badge, the shirts. Provided success comes with it, the money paid to players is "a necessary evil" to see their badge and shirts and the top end of the tables and some of the best teams around being put to the sword at Ewood. Take away success and even those who currently have feelings for the club fall away.

So, in my opinion, you need both. But the "it's MY club" factor can outweigh a lack of success. Sadly instead of making more people feel it's their club, we've taken away any semblence of success from those who already did.

Backwards!

[Steve Moss]

This can be seen, similarly, when you look at cultural attachment overseas. I'd suggest this is why some clubs attempt to bring in talent from China, Korea or Japan (e.g. Man Utd, Celtic, Everton). People want to be able to identify with players and managers and it therefore interests people, and with that comes increased sponsorship.

If a local asian lad could get into Rovers first team, I'm sure it would be massive but we seem a long way away from this happening.

It would be great if we could bring in some talented Asians. Of course, I and most fans will be focused on the word "talent", while Singh and Agnew will be focused on "Asian". So I don't expect much positive in that direction.

[Athlete]

Apart from the Asians who follow Rovers most who ate interested in football are only interested in Utd , Arsenal, etc....Venkys missed an opportunity due to there great business attributes due to employing Kean, relegation, etc

[Kelbo]

Interesting one. Judan Ali might have appealled to Blackburn's asian population - although I'm not sure of Ali's religious background (muslim or hindu).

However, the majority of asian football fans I know are only into Premier League teams. Although I know some good asian Rovers fans too!

Without being racist here, if I see another bloody Asian at our club I will puke, they have done enough damage whether they be Indian, Malaysian or anywhere else!!