Jon Dahl Tomasson - Officially No Longer Our Head Coach

[Mattyblue]

You have to roll the dice from time to time. Fresh people, fresh ideas. A new voice is needed every now and then, especially in the modern game.

He may crash and burn, but that’s football, you have to be ready to accept that, or else we may have just given TM a new ten year deal and left him to it.

[Sweaty Gussets]

3 hours ago, arbitro said:

I absolutely love the way he refers to us as 'Rovers'. He really comes across as a grounded individual who has the uncanny knack of saying the right things and certainly isn't getting carried away. For his nice demeanour and interviews I'd wager he's a right b****** to cross.

I may be reading to much into this but what he says about Rovers fans paying 'a lot' of money to watch Rovers was quite telling. It was as if he knows it's too much but didn't want to say it too loud in case Waggott heard! 😉

Great interview though. He comes across as passionate and single-minded. 

Edited August 12, 2022 by Sweaty Gussets

[Mattyblue]

Regular on brfcs, I reckon, so he knows the score - and we have had an influx of newbies recently…

[JHRover]

I think the big thing for me is the structure. I have faith in it.

I've loved everything about Tomasson so far and long may that continue, says and does all the right things, an impressive resume to back it up. One thing I have picked up on is that he is adept at playing the media and handling them very well. He seems to be one step ahead of questions, can come up with a smart response in inteviews and is no fool. I remember watching an interview of his after Malmo had played Juventus in the Champions League and I detected a whiff almost of arrogance (in the good sense) in the way he handled the media.

But at the end of the day he is the 'head coach' and he's always quick to remind us of that - he shouldn't be integral to the success or future of the club - the structure and setup should see to that.

So if he ultimately turns out to be a dud, or if he gets a better offer from elsewhere, or if he gets fed up after a couple of years and leaves it isn't the end of the world, we task Broughton with finding another one, rather than persisting on easy street for 5 years with Mr Unsackable in the dugout.

Most of the good stuff - the academy, the development of good players, the investment, the signings, the backroom staff - should keep going year on year regardless of who the head coach is - I think this is key.

Importantly his appointment has shown for those doubters out there that this is an attractive club, that good coaches from across Europe - JDT, Carvalhal, Farke - will be interested and will come here and manage in the Championship. This is the market we need to be looking at moving forward no more overpromoting coaches, no more scrapheap appointments

No more of this 'lets never sack a manager because we can't possibly do better' which we were hearing last season. Even the Mowbray worshippers are starting to acknowledge that things are looking good and have now resorted to crediting him with laying the foundations.

[Mattyblue]

“But ‘oo we gonna get?”

[Sweaty Gussets]

8 minutes ago, JHRover said:

had played Juventus in the Champions League and I detected a whiff almost of arrogance (in the good sense) in the way he handled the media.

I've thought exactly the same, especially with the interview he did with Clem on the BBC. JDT predicted the next question and Clem said something along the lines of 'i'll just let you interview yourself' and JDT just said 'exactly' 🤣

 

[roversfan99]

Mowbray was a 3 or a 4 on a dice, I don't think we would have been relegated if he stayed for a considerable period longer. Since we have come back up, we have never been in danger at all, just steadily mid table.

That being said, for us to go up or even make the top 6, considering our resources, we have to roll at least a 5, most likely a 6 to overachieve. 

I am not sure that Tomasson is akin to Farke or even Carvalhal in that he does not have their track record at this level but that doesn't mean that he is inferior and again going back to the budget limitations etc, it can take a bit more of a "gamble" and/or a left field appointment that could in theory backfire to get us performing beyond our resources. Take Carvalhal for example, he has a track record at this level but no promotion yet even he was beyond our means, whereas teams may be wary of a manager who has never managed in England before or be unaware of his record abroad. I am not convinced that he was close to being first choice by the decision makers but lets hope that he turns out to be a masterstroke, however he ended up in the dug out. So far, so good.

[47er]

19 minutes ago, JHRover said:

No more of this 'lets never sack a manager because we can't possibly do better' which we were hearing last season. Even the Mowbray worshippers are starting to acknowledge that things are looking good and have now resorted to crediting him with laying the foundations.

How true.

[tomphil]

I'm still wondering what Phil Brown is gonna do when he gets here, mow the grass ?

[RoversClitheroe]

Anyone got the Times article?

[Mattyblue]

double 

Edited August 12, 2022 by Mattyblue

[Exiled_Rover]

9 hours ago, smiller14 said:

I absolutely love listening to this man talk football. His enthusiasm is infectious, but you also know that he is deadly serious and players will be well aware of expectations and the repercussions should they not meet his expectations.

Having the youngsters deliver presentations should increase their knowledge, confidence and most of all achieve buy-in with Tomasson's ethos and way of doing things. 

On a personal level, I really want JDT to do well. Obviously I'd wish that for any Rovers manager, but this fella just seems to get it. I'm truly sold on the entire project. 

 

He was a brilliant player in his own right - he knows what it's meant to look like. Added to that he's clearly an intelligent bloke and has had a long time to learn how to manage as an understudy (after failing in his first foray into management). Obviously that paid off at Malmo and so far is doing so here. 

Early days, but it looks like we've made a sensational hire. 

[Trinidad Rover]

Jon Dahl Tomasson: I saw how Carlo Ancelotti dealt with Silvio Berlusconi and learnt about management

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/240ec036-1a41-11ed-b4a0-f11f082a3a3c?shareToken=4ccdcd1503ebc3398f80e30ba3cd19d9
 

Here you go. Brilliant interview, hard not to really, REALLY like JDT. Interestingly it was Suhail he spoke to…..

We are lucky to have him, hope it’s for a good amount of time before he moves on. 

[Mattyblue]

Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer, The Times

At 18, Jon Dahl Tomasson told his parents he was quitting his maths studies in Copenhagen to follow his dream to play football in the Netherlands. “My parents said, ‘You need to be brave, look forward, make good decisions and take all the possibilities in the world. You can make mistakes, no problem, we will stand behind you,’ ” Tomasson recalls.

With that backing, the gifted striker set off on an adventure of 27 years and counting that has taken him through five countries, Champions League glory and heartache, into management and now top of the Sky Bet Championship as head coach with Blackburn Rovers.

He also believes in empowering youth. So it was fitting to find him at Rovers’ Brockhall Village training ground on Thursday afternoon about to listen to tactical presentations from the teenagers who had done so well in the previous night’s 4-0 win over Hartlepool United in the Carabao Cup. The Dane expects them to take responsibility, to understand the game, to question, find solutions and grow. As he did.

“Two of the players made analysis of the first half, two of the second half,” he says. “We’ve done it a couple of times before. The first time they were nervous. It was like they were playing in the biggest stadium in the world, with all the supporters against them, instead of sitting in a room giving the presentation, but slowly we get that brain going regarding football. It makes them more mature and gives them confidence. That’s also part of their development.”

While Tony Mowbray’s selfless work at such a financially challenged club will never be forgotten, fans are taking to Tomasson. They like the attacking football, the excellent results so far (three games, three wins, eight goals scored, none conceded), the desire to develop players and that he calls the team “Rovers”.

“When you’re coming as a player, also a manager, to a club you need to create a connection with the fans, because the fans are the soul of football,” Tomasson says. “They love the football, they love the club. One of my tasks, and the players’, is to show passion, team spirit and always be a team who work hard and fight for each other. The fans need to see those things.

“When you look at the amount that fans are paying for tickets, travel, merchandise — they need the shirts — then you have a responsibility to give something back. Football’s a way of life here in England. Even if you went to a lower league, there’s passion.
 

“Some of the players understand the fans’ passion. Those who don’t understand need to be taught. Fans are the soul of football. We can’t play football without fans. We saw that in Covid. It was a nightmare playing those games [behind closed doors].”

Tomasson has always taken responsibility. “Life is about making decisions and one of the first decisions I made as an 18-year-old boy was I want to go abroad,” he says. “I wanted to chase my dream of being a footballer.” With his parents’ blessing, he packed his boots and headed off.

So began a playing journey in 1994, taking in Heerenveen, Newcastle United, Feyenoord, AC Milan, Stuttgart, Villarreal and finally back at Feyenoord. “I have a Danish heart but I got my education in Europe in how to survive.”

He learnt Dutch, English, Italian, German and Spanish. He acquired people skills, as well as constantly inquiring about tactics that serve him well in management. “The last 27 years I’ve been in six different countries,” he says. “I get rich as a human being travelling around getting used to coping with different cultures, different mentalities, different clubs.”

At Heerenveen he was coached by Foppe de Haan, who took the teenager off to analyse opponents. “Those scouting trips and learning about the game was a great education,” Tomasson says. “He took care of people. Foppe is a legend in Holland.

“In Denmark you need to have an opinion about everything but not as much as in Holland! So I learnt from an early age to explain my views, communicate with people and have knowledge of the game.”

In 1997, Newcastle came calling with a £2.2 million bid. Kenny Dalglish’s plan was to partner Tomasson, such a clever No 10, with Alan Shearer. “It’s a great club and of course I should have played behind Shearer but he got injured,” Tomasson continues. With Les Ferdinand sold, Dalglish had no choice but to play Tomasson as a lone striker. “I played out of position. At that time I was not good enough to play alone. Four years later I could have. It was a very difficult time for a young boy but I learnt a lot. Newcastle are a massive club. I always look at how Newcastle have been doing. Dalglish, of course, is a legend here at Rovers.”

After three goals in 34 appearances, Tomasson was sold for £2.5 million to Feyenoord. He loved it there. “I had a great time at Feyenoord, playing for Leo Beenhakker, who’s extremely good in the press as well, and Bert van Marwijk. Getting opportunities to pick a little piece from each was positive. I had the luck to play under a lot of great managers.”

Not luck, I argue, it’s ability that lifted him into their orbit. “Yes, yes,” he agrees. You don’t go to Milan with luck. “True, spot on.” He had a gift, timing and finishing, such as scoring what proved the winner for Feyenoord in the 2002 Uefa Cup final against Borussia Dortmund at De Kuip. “A memory I look back on is scoring the goal in 2002, my last game for Feyenoord [in his first spell], man of the match, a fairytale, just before signing that contract with Milan.” He actually rejected Barcelona. “Exactly. At that time Milan were the best in the world.”

The competition at San Siro was fierce: Filippo Inzaghi, Rivaldo, Andriy Shevchenko and Hernán Crespo. “I was fighting for a spot every game, and there’s pressure. In Italy, football is the No 1 [obsession] for fans, then religion, then wife. I had three excellent years, two Champions League finals [winning in 2003], one losing — and we all know which. Against Liverpool so we are not talking about that.”

But what of Istanbul 2005? Tomasson came on for Crespo at 3-3, the game heading into extra time and beyond. “I was in that penalty shoot-out,” he recalls. “I needed to score, otherwise we would have lost at that time [had John Arne Riise converted Liverpool’s third]. Shoot-outs at that level could be quite stressful. Luckily I scored.” Famously, Milan still lost 3-2 on penalties.

Tomasson still cannot believe what unfolded in Istanbul. “Leading 3-0 and then losing in that way . . . it should never happen but it happened,” he reflects. “Liverpool did a great job. I haven’t watched the game back and I will never.” Too painful? “Yes. I hate losing, and losing like that’s not nice.” Did he swap shirts with anyone? “No idea. Can’t remember.

“The moments I look back on are the moments when you’re winning, scoring that [final] goal for Feyenoord, becoming champion at Feyenoord, and scoring for Denmark — 52 goals [a national record for the modern era]. That Liverpool game hurt a lot. I hate to lose.”

It was even more shocking for Tomasson because of the amount of leaders Milan had. “A lot of those players became managers afterwards,” he says of Andrea Pirlo, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Shevchenko, Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso and himself. “It was a thinking team.”

His own well of thoughts was deepened watching Carlo Ancelotti calmly dealing with egos, and ensuring the reserves felt a part. “It was the way he worked with the group, he did a tremendous job and with the way he managed above well with the board [and Silvio Berlusconi].”

He also learnt while representing Denmark. “Having Morten Olsen as coach, being captain, getting responsibility, and getting closer to the decision-making.” In a way, a player who always thought deeply about tactics was preparing for management, including starting to assist the Danish national side in 2016. “That was beautiful to be part of,” he says, smiling. “If you’re a small country — only six million people — you need to do things a bit better than other countries. We’re proud people. We had a great spell, we qualified for the [2018] World Cup, for [Euro] 2020.” He left but Denmark’s good form continues. “It’s tremendous to see. They’re even better now because of the foundations built.”

These are good people as well as good people. The world saw that when Simon Kjaer, Kasper Schmeichel and the team rallied around the stricken Christian Eriksen in Copenhagen during their Euro 2020 game against Finland. “I was not surprised at all because I knew those players,” Tomasson says of their support network. “They have that leadership, friendship and togetherness.

“Eriksen has been one of the best players in the Premier League and Italy for years, and for the Danish side, and he’s very likeable as well. He’s a great boy who loves the game. If you give him a ball he’ll smile all day.”

Tomasson was managing Malmo at the time. “The club hadn’t won anything for two or three years, so winning two titles and taking them into the Champions League [in 2021] made me very proud,” he recalls. “If you play four qualification rounds, where you are not seeded in two of them, [and reach the group stage] is Mission Impossible, it shouldn’t happen. But it happened.”

Malmo promptly got drawn against Chelsea, Juventus and Zenit St Petersburg. “It was like being that young boy playing around in the schoolyard and you want to join in with the big boys and you’re trying and trying but it’s tough,” he recalls. Malmo still made €30 million from the campaign. “We built foundations for the club financially,” he says.

Tomasson stood down as head coach after the final game of the group stage, in Turin in December. “It was a surprise for many people when I left. I was searching for a new project. The club respected my decision, and of course [were] not happy with it. It was nice to go out of the front door. It doesn’t happen that many times that the manager goes out the front door.”

He had a break. “I spent time with family, and with Covid I haven’t seen that much of them. I took a break but I never really took a break! I went around different clubs, just travelling around to get inspiration.”

So why Rovers with their financial constraints? “I had a lovely chat with Suhail [Shaikh, head of international business at Venky’s, the owners]. I only spoke with the owners through emails and telephone calls. When Gregg [Broughton, director of football] and the owners wanted me in as a manager I was very pleased with the idea behind it.

“We want to build a sustainable Premier League club over time and when you build that it is not just about getting there but staying there. That’s the challenge. Football is always about winning but combining winning and building is the most difficult to do. I see the ambition here but I also see the patience.

“Eight players left the club from last season. We have three players in so far. Tyler Morton is a loan player [from Liverpool], did well [against Hartlepool] as well as being a good boy.” Callum Brittain and Sammie Szmodics have been recruited on permanent deals from Barnsley and Peterborough United respectively.

Can Rovers hold on to Ben Brereton Díaz? “Yes, hopefully,” Tomasson replies. “But if Ben is going then we need to get money in as well and then we need to spend some of the money. Every player’s for sale, as always, you just need the right amount but I see Ben work hard every day. I see him perform every day.”

He wants Rovers performing on the front foot, attacking and pressing. “We need to play a game that people enjoy,” Tomasson says. “We should never play ‘the Dutch disease’, which I call it, where they just play it around, around, around. We want to play a possession game which is speedy towards goal, an intense game with and without the ball.”

Two youngsters left on Thursday proudly carrying Rovers shirts. Tomasson’s sons, Luca and Liam, and his wife, Line Dahl Kongeskov Tomasson, were over from Rotterdam. “They were here for 14 days, we stayed in a small cottage here in Whalley, very nice,” Tomasson says.

Typically, Tomasson turned up at Brockhall Village on Thursday with a thank-you gift for Lesley Fielding, the manager’s popular PA, who helped to sort his accommodation. “When you’re coming from abroad to another club, you need all the help you can get!” Tomasson says, smiling.

His sons flew back to resume training and schooling. Luca is at Excelsior and Liam at Feyenoord. He found it difficult to say goodbye to them. “Of course. I’m very lucky to have a strong wife. She does a tremendous job regarding the family, keeping every part together, because it’s tough, and I’m sitting here chasing a dream.” Just as Tomasson has since he was 18.




 

 

 

[jim mk2]

Good interview. Henry Winter's always had a soft spot for Rovers going back to his Daily Telegraph days. Unlike many national newspaper journalists, he knows and sympathizes about our torturous history since Venky's showed up too. Tough for the new manager to live apart from his family. In the long term it won't work

[chaddyrovers]

thanks for the links guys. 

Another great interview from JDT and very impressive comments from him

[arbitro]

40 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer, The Times

At 18, Jon Dahl Tomasson told his parents he was quitting his maths studies in Copenhagen to follow his dream to play football in the Netherlands. “My parents said, ‘You need to be brave, look forward, make good decisions and take all the possibilities in the world. You can make mistakes, no problem, we will stand behind you,’ ” Tomasson recalls.

With that backing, the gifted striker set off on an adventure of 27 years and counting that has taken him through five countries, Champions League glory and heartache, into management and now top of the Sky Bet Championship as head coach with Blackburn Rovers.

He also believes in empowering youth. So it was fitting to find him at Rovers’ Brockhall Village training ground on Thursday afternoon about to listen to tactical presentations from the teenagers who had done so well in the previous night’s 4-0 win over Hartlepool United in the Carabao Cup. The Dane expects them to take responsibility, to understand the game, to question, find solutions and grow. As he did.

“Two of the players made analysis of the first half, two of the second half,” he says. “We’ve done it a couple of times before. The first time they were nervous. It was like they were playing in the biggest stadium in the world, with all the supporters against them, instead of sitting in a room giving the presentation, but slowly we get that brain going regarding football. It makes them more mature and gives them confidence. That’s also part of their development.”

While Tony Mowbray’s selfless work at such a financially challenged club will never be forgotten, fans are taking to Tomasson. They like the attacking football, the excellent results so far (three games, three wins, eight goals scored, none conceded), the desire to develop players and that he calls the team “Rovers”.

“When you’re coming as a player, also a manager, to a club you need to create a connection with the fans, because the fans are the soul of football,” Tomasson says. “They love the football, they love the club. One of my tasks, and the players’, is to show passion, team spirit and always be a team who work hard and fight for each other. The fans need to see those things.

“When you look at the amount that fans are paying for tickets, travel, merchandise — they need the shirts — then you have a responsibility to give something back. Football’s a way of life here in England. Even if you went to a lower league, there’s passion.
 

“Some of the players understand the fans’ passion. Those who don’t understand need to be taught. Fans are the soul of football. We can’t play football without fans. We saw that in Covid. It was a nightmare playing those games [behind closed doors].”

Tomasson has always taken responsibility. “Life is about making decisions and one of the first decisions I made as an 18-year-old boy was I want to go abroad,” he says. “I wanted to chase my dream of being a footballer.” With his parents’ blessing, he packed his boots and headed off.

So began a playing journey in 1994, taking in Heerenveen, Newcastle United, Feyenoord, AC Milan, Stuttgart, Villarreal and finally back at Feyenoord. “I have a Danish heart but I got my education in Europe in how to survive.”

He learnt Dutch, English, Italian, German and Spanish. He acquired people skills, as well as constantly inquiring about tactics that serve him well in management. “The last 27 years I’ve been in six different countries,” he says. “I get rich as a human being travelling around getting used to coping with different cultures, different mentalities, different clubs.”

At Heerenveen he was coached by Foppe de Haan, who took the teenager off to analyse opponents. “Those scouting trips and learning about the game was a great education,” Tomasson says. “He took care of people. Foppe is a legend in Holland.

“In Denmark you need to have an opinion about everything but not as much as in Holland! So I learnt from an early age to explain my views, communicate with people and have knowledge of the game.”

In 1997, Newcastle came calling with a £2.2 million bid. Kenny Dalglish’s plan was to partner Tomasson, such a clever No 10, with Alan Shearer. “It’s a great club and of course I should have played behind Shearer but he got injured,” Tomasson continues. With Les Ferdinand sold, Dalglish had no choice but to play Tomasson as a lone striker. “I played out of position. At that time I was not good enough to play alone. Four years later I could have. It was a very difficult time for a young boy but I learnt a lot. Newcastle are a massive club. I always look at how Newcastle have been doing. Dalglish, of course, is a legend here at Rovers.”

After three goals in 34 appearances, Tomasson was sold for £2.5 million to Feyenoord. He loved it there. “I had a great time at Feyenoord, playing for Leo Beenhakker, who’s extremely good in the press as well, and Bert van Marwijk. Getting opportunities to pick a little piece from each was positive. I had the luck to play under a lot of great managers.”

Not luck, I argue, it’s ability that lifted him into their orbit. “Yes, yes,” he agrees. You don’t go to Milan with luck. “True, spot on.” He had a gift, timing and finishing, such as scoring what proved the winner for Feyenoord in the 2002 Uefa Cup final against Borussia Dortmund at De Kuip. “A memory I look back on is scoring the goal in 2002, my last game for Feyenoord [in his first spell], man of the match, a fairytale, just before signing that contract with Milan.” He actually rejected Barcelona. “Exactly. At that time Milan were the best in the world.”

The competition at San Siro was fierce: Filippo Inzaghi, Rivaldo, Andriy Shevchenko and Hernán Crespo. “I was fighting for a spot every game, and there’s pressure. In Italy, football is the No 1 [obsession] for fans, then religion, then wife. I had three excellent years, two Champions League finals [winning in 2003], one losing — and we all know which. Against Liverpool so we are not talking about that.”

But what of Istanbul 2005? Tomasson came on for Crespo at 3-3, the game heading into extra time and beyond. “I was in that penalty shoot-out,” he recalls. “I needed to score, otherwise we would have lost at that time [had John Arne Riise converted Liverpool’s third]. Shoot-outs at that level could be quite stressful. Luckily I scored.” Famously, Milan still lost 3-2 on penalties.

Tomasson still cannot believe what unfolded in Istanbul. “Leading 3-0 and then losing in that way . . . it should never happen but it happened,” he reflects. “Liverpool did a great job. I haven’t watched the game back and I will never.” Too painful? “Yes. I hate losing, and losing like that’s not nice.” Did he swap shirts with anyone? “No idea. Can’t remember.

“The moments I look back on are the moments when you’re winning, scoring that [final] goal for Feyenoord, becoming champion at Feyenoord, and scoring for Denmark — 52 goals [a national record for the modern era]. That Liverpool game hurt a lot. I hate to lose.”

It was even more shocking for Tomasson because of the amount of leaders Milan had. “A lot of those players became managers afterwards,” he says of Andrea Pirlo, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Shevchenko, Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso and himself. “It was a thinking team.”

His own well of thoughts was deepened watching Carlo Ancelotti calmly dealing with egos, and ensuring the reserves felt a part. “It was the way he worked with the group, he did a tremendous job and with the way he managed above well with the board [and Silvio Berlusconi].”

He also learnt while representing Denmark. “Having Morten Olsen as coach, being captain, getting responsibility, and getting closer to the decision-making.” In a way, a player who always thought deeply about tactics was preparing for management, including starting to assist the Danish national side in 2016. “That was beautiful to be part of,” he says, smiling. “If you’re a small country — only six million people — you need to do things a bit better than other countries. We’re proud people. We had a great spell, we qualified for the [2018] World Cup, for [Euro] 2020.” He left but Denmark’s good form continues. “It’s tremendous to see. They’re even better now because of the foundations built.”

These are good people as well as good people. The world saw that when Simon Kjaer, Kasper Schmeichel and the team rallied around the stricken Christian Eriksen in Copenhagen during their Euro 2020 game against Finland. “I was not surprised at all because I knew those players,” Tomasson says of their support network. “They have that leadership, friendship and togetherness.

“Eriksen has been one of the best players in the Premier League and Italy for years, and for the Danish side, and he’s very likeable as well. He’s a great boy who loves the game. If you give him a ball he’ll smile all day.”

Tomasson was managing Malmo at the time. “The club hadn’t won anything for two or three years, so winning two titles and taking them into the Champions League [in 2021] made me very proud,” he recalls. “If you play four qualification rounds, where you are not seeded in two of them, [and reach the group stage] is Mission Impossible, it shouldn’t happen. But it happened.”

Malmo promptly got drawn against Chelsea, Juventus and Zenit St Petersburg. “It was like being that young boy playing around in the schoolyard and you want to join in with the big boys and you’re trying and trying but it’s tough,” he recalls. Malmo still made €30 million from the campaign. “We built foundations for the club financially,” he says.

Tomasson stood down as head coach after the final game of the group stage, in Turin in December. “It was a surprise for many people when I left. I was searching for a new project. The club respected my decision, and of course [were] not happy with it. It was nice to go out of the front door. It doesn’t happen that many times that the manager goes out the front door.”

He had a break. “I spent time with family, and with Covid I haven’t seen that much of them. I took a break but I never really took a break! I went around different clubs, just travelling around to get inspiration.”

So why Rovers with their financial constraints? “I had a lovely chat with Suhail [Shaikh, head of international business at Venky’s, the owners]. I only spoke with the owners through emails and telephone calls. When Gregg [Broughton, director of football] and the owners wanted me in as a manager I was very pleased with the idea behind it.

“We want to build a sustainable Premier League club over time and when you build that it is not just about getting there but staying there. That’s the challenge. Football is always about winning but combining winning and building is the most difficult to do. I see the ambition here but I also see the patience.

“Eight players left the club from last season. We have three players in so far. Tyler Morton is a loan player [from Liverpool], did well [against Hartlepool] as well as being a good boy.” Callum Brittain and Sammie Szmodics have been recruited on permanent deals from Barnsley and Peterborough United respectively.

Can Rovers hold on to Ben Brereton Díaz? “Yes, hopefully,” Tomasson replies. “But if Ben is going then we need to get money in as well and then we need to spend some of the money. Every player’s for sale, as always, you just need the right amount but I see Ben work hard every day. I see him perform every day.”

He wants Rovers performing on the front foot, attacking and pressing. “We need to play a game that people enjoy,” Tomasson says. “We should never play ‘the Dutch disease’, which I call it, where they just play it around, around, around. We want to play a possession game which is speedy towards goal, an intense game with and without the ball.”

Two youngsters left on Thursday proudly carrying Rovers shirts. Tomasson’s sons, Luca and Liam, and his wife, Line Dahl Kongeskov Tomasson, were over from Rotterdam. “They were here for 14 days, we stayed in a small cottage here in Whalley, very nice,” Tomasson says.

Typically, Tomasson turned up at Brockhall Village on Thursday with a thank-you gift for Lesley Fielding, the manager’s popular PA, who helped to sort his accommodation. “When you’re coming from abroad to another club, you need all the help you can get!” Tomasson says, smiling.

His sons flew back to resume training and schooling. Luca is at Excelsior and Liam at Feyenoord. He found it difficult to say goodbye to them. “Of course. I’m very lucky to have a strong wife. She does a tremendous job regarding the family, keeping every part together, because it’s tough, and I’m sitting here chasing a dream.” Just as Tomasson has since he was 18.




 

 

 

The Dutch Disease - brilliant quote.

[tomphil]

You know interest in Rovers has been pricked again when Henry turns up.

[J*B]

He’s so refreshing after Mowbray. This isn’t going to be all sunshine and rainbows, there will be bad times, especially with a young team. I hope we can stick behind him when that does happen. 

Interesting that his first conversation was with Suhail, even more interesting to hear Suhail now has a job title. Don’t let him get too involved, Gregg. 

[chaddyrovers]

1 minute ago, J*B said:

He’s so refreshing after Mowbray

I agree and the way he speaks about football, Rovers and the players. 

2 minutes ago, J*B said:

Interesting that his first conversation was with Suhail, even more interesting to hear Suhail now has a job title. Don’t let him get too involved, Gregg

I wonder if that was after Gregg Broughton approach him or was it Suhail who approach him?

[roverandout]

My only worry if things go well this season and say we make the playoffs but fail at the last hurdle.  Then Newcastle sack howe because they're struggling, the arrogance of Newcastle will be they can tempt him away because he played 20 games for them. Oooh everyone who plays for Newcastle has the dream of managing them. This guy needs to be given a couple of seasons to get his imprint on the club because I fully believe he will deliver.  

[tomphil]

18 minutes ago, J*B said:

He’s so refreshing after Mowbray. This isn’t going to be all sunshine and rainbows, there will be bad times, especially with a young team. I hope we can stick behind him when that does happen. 

Interesting that his first conversation was with Suhail, even more interesting to hear Suhail now has a job title. Don’t let him get too involved, Gregg. 

Hes had that title for a good while now.

[Blue blood]

I think that's one of my favourite interviews of all times. So refreshing, so encouraging to hear! Great stuff!

Shame about the typo in the TM reference  (It's spelt self interested) but my word we seem to have a manager with a bit of nous, ambition and who knows what he is doing. Is it really Rovers?

[oldjamfan1]

21 minutes ago, roverandout said:

My only worry if things go well this season and say we make the playoffs but fail at the last hurdle.  Then Newcastle sack howe because they're struggling, the arrogance of Newcastle will be they can tempt him away because he played 20 games for them. Oooh everyone who plays for Newcastle has the dream of managing them. This guy needs to be given a couple of seasons to get his imprint on the club because I fully believe he will deliver.  

He’s his own man mate and I think he’ll stay at Rovers for as long as he’s moving us forward. I have massively high hopes for the next 2 or 3 years. 

[arbitro]

10 hours ago, oldjamfan1 said:

He’s his own man mate and I think he’ll stay at Rovers for as long as he’s moving us forward. I have massively high hopes for the next 2 or 3 years. 

If JDT continues as he has I'm certain that in the next few months he will be linked with other jobs. He sounds an ambitious sort so it's inevitable there will be interest from clubs here and abroad. He also comes across as a genuine person, a proper man who will stay loyal until such times. At the moment there is a freshness about the place, fans are looking forward to games and many have reconnected with the club. I am confident that the man in the Technical Area will make the right decisions. It's been a while since I felt like that.