Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach

[chaddyrovers]

30 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

You mentioned about 400 managers that you would have been happy with. Basically anyone you could think of that didnt have any connection to Burnley.

 

I give my opinions on different links and whether I would be happy or not. Instead you were no, no and no without even given one single name. So I suggested you calmed down. You cant answer the most question of whether you have a ST or not. You got yourself tight in knots over it. 

Edited yesterday at 15:10 by chaddyrovers

[martonrover]

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

I know one thing about Ismael. Its a better appointment than having Travis and/or Tronstad as player manager!

Agreed, but other than that, @onlyonejackwalkerhas nailed it.

Maybe we’ll get lucky but, for many reasons, this looks a poor appointment.

[sharpysharps86]

It is far too early to judge Ismael....but that being said, I don't know whether its the timing of him coming in, the players seemingly choking in the first 7 minutes against bottom of the league, or whatever...but I've not taken a liking towards him at all so far.

I hope he ends up being brilliant, but I'm extremely doubtful. No real reason for it other than feeling cynical about where the club is and where it's heading. Only other thing I'd say is that I've not been overly convinced by him when speaking to the press. Seems quite an unlikeable type.

I am aware of the irony of this post where I've said its too early to judge the guy before then clearly judging him. C'est la vie.

Edited yesterday at 16:10 by sharpysharps86

[Wheelton Blue]

IMO it doesn't matter who the manager is; the place is set up to fail and we'll at best tread water.

We can only hope that whoever is in the manager's seat has enough about them to keep us afloat. We're one bad manager away from oblivion.

[chaddyrovers]

It's way to early to judge Ismael after 2 games in my opinion. 

When have played 2 games and in the First game, he brought on subs who the game like Weimann, Tronstad and Ohashi that help us a point with an equaliser. He didn't tried to change to much but Norwich had a alot of ball. 

Second game, the players got bullied in the first 10 minute and it cost the game. He did moved to a back 3 when Kargbo came off. Which helps us and got us back into the game. Had Yuki scored with his chance, I dont think we lose that game, Second half after Gueye scored towards the end of the first half, we didn't put enough crosses into the box or get Brittain/Ribeiro higher up on the wings. 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 18:23 by chaddyrovers

[simongarnerisgod]

2 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

IMO it doesn't matter who the manager is; the place is set up to fail and we'll at best tread water.

We can only hope that whoever is in the manager's seat has enough about them to keep us afloat. We're one bad manager away from oblivion.

if it all goes completely messed up he`ll no doubt take the fans ire and not the two venkies stooges,maggot and pasha,i feel sorry for ismael tbh,he`s on a bad wicket at ewood,not even viv richards could bat on it😕

[Blow-in]

25 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

if it all goes completely messed up he`ll no doubt take the fans ire and not the two venkies stooges,maggot and pasha,i feel sorry for ismael tbh,he`s on a bad wicket at ewood,not even viv richards could bat on it😕

Don't worry, when it come to this club I have plenty of ire to go around.

[JHRover]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

It's way to early to judge Ismael after 2 games in my opinion. 

Out of interest when is it early enough to judge him?

10 games? End of the season? Next season? Xmas?

I think it is unlikely that he will be here by March 2026. Why? Well our record on managers outside of Mowbray and Bowyer (who got an audience in India) is very short. Berg/Appleton/Lambert/Coyle/JDT/Eustace - averaged what, well under a year each? Berg and Appleton about a month each, Lambert 6-7 months, Coyle 7 months, JDT 19 months but he was offering to leave after 12 and Eustace 12 months and he was offering to leave after earlier than that if reports of him applying for other jobs is true.

So that's 6 managers going back now 13 years under Venky ownership none of whom last very long.

The only exceptions those who got to go to India.

Add into that mix that Ismael himself has an extremely short lifespan at clubs. 8 different teams managed in 10 years, never lasting more than 1 season at a club and an average of 26 games in charge. That would cause me concern if he was coming into a normal club, which we are certainly not.

Combine all the above and I'd say it would be a miracle if he sees out a year or the 2025/26 season. 

When do you judge him during that time?

Is he allowed to lose the next 10 because it isn't his squad or at some point in that time do you criticise?

[roversfan99]

Its too early to judge Ismael.

Goes on to judge him and specifically highlight everything he has done right.

[Blow-in]

1 hour ago, JHRover said:

Out of interest when is it early enough to judge him?

10 games? End of the season? Next season? Xmas?

I think it is unlikely that he will be here by March 2026. Why? Well our record on managers outside of Mowbray and Bowyer (who got an audience in India) is very short. Berg/Appleton/Lambert/Coyle/JDT/Eustace - averaged what, well under a year each? Berg and Appleton about a month each, Lambert 6-7 months, Coyle 7 months, JDT 19 months but he was offering to leave after 12 and Eustace 12 months and he was offering to leave after earlier than that if reports of him applying for other jobs is true.

So that's 6 managers going back now 13 years under Venky ownership none of whom last very long.

The only exceptions those who got to go to India.

Add into that mix that Ismael himself has an extremely short lifespan at clubs. 8 different teams managed in 10 years, never lasting more than 1 season at a club and an average of 26 games in charge. That would cause me concern if he was coming into a normal club, which we are certainly not.

Combine all the above and I'd say it would be a miracle if he sees out a year or the 2025/26 season. 

When do you judge him during that time?

Is he allowed to lose the next 10 because it isn't his squad or at some point in that time do you criticise?

Based on the last 4 managers he is here till the end of his contract regardless of if he is in the Playoffs or working his way through the divisions like the cast of the move The Core.

I mean who cares, the wage budget decreases at the same ratio as the CEO Salary increases, we lose 20million regardless of what we do. I am convinced if BBR won the lottery we would somehow manage to acquire a loss of the equivilent value.

Who gives a fuck at this stage.

Edited 22 hours ago by Blow-in

[Exiled_Rover]

6 hours ago, sharpysharps86 said:

It is far too early to judge Ismael....but that being said, I don't know whether its the timing of him coming in, the players seemingly choking in the first 7 minutes against bottom of the league, or whatever...but I've not taken a liking towards him at all so far.

I hope he ends up being brilliant, but I'm extremely doubtful. No real reason for it other than feeling cynical about where the club is and where it's heading. Only other thing I'd say is that I've not been overly convinced by him when speaking to the press. Seems quite an unlikeable type.

I am aware of the irony of this post where I've said its too early to judge the guy before then clearly judging him. C'est la vie.

Yeah I haven't taken to him at all either.

Partly it was the ridiculous media campaign when he arrived (allez le bleu can get right in the bin!), partly because his track record is woeful apart from one season with Barnsley and partly cos he just seems like a prick. 

[lraC]

4 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Yeah I haven't taken to him at all either.

Partly it was the ridiculous media campaign when he arrived (allez le bleu can get right in the bin!), partly because his track record is woeful apart from one season with Barnsley and partly cos he just seems like a prick. 

I got criticized a fair bit on here, for my comments on his letter. To me, it was fine to rally the troops to a degree, but that letter seemed patronizing in the extreme and after the crazy goings on with the last 2 managers, he would have been better waiting, until he had some decent results under his belt, before coming out with any bullshit like that.

Given the last 2 years, he will only be given a very short period of time, to win the fans over, so not only for the club and the fans, the next 3 games are crucial. Win all 3 and he will have a firm base. Fail to win any of them and I think he will have a monster job on his hands. 

[davulsukur]

If he gets nothing tonight and we put in another total disaster of a performance, I think we can starting writing this guy off as a duffer. 

Struggling against 2 of the worst teams in the league isn't exactly the signs we are looking for in a new manager.

He said he'd come in and change nothing/very little, let's hope he's abandoned that now, as everything we did when we were good, we aren't doing anymore.

[martonrover]

1 hour ago, davulsukur said:

He said he'd come in and change nothing/very little

See, I don't believe this for one minute. 

I just don't think he's that kind of guy.

9 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Yeah I haven't taken to him at all either.

Partly it was the ridiculous media campaign when he arrived (allez le bleu can get right in the bin!), partly because his track record is woeful apart from one season with Barnsley and partly cos he just seems like a prick. 

🙂 come down off the fence and tell us what you really think of him 😉 

[chaddyrovers]

12 hours ago, JHRover said:

Out of interest when is it early enough to judge him?

10 games? End of the season? Next season? Xmas?

Whenever you want JH, I gave my opinion and my opinion only

12 hours ago, JHRover said:

Add into that mix that Ismael himself has an extremely short lifespan at clubs. 8 different teams managed in 10 years, never lasting more than 1 season at a club and an average of 26 games in charge. That would cause me concern if he was coming into a normal club, which we are certainly not.

Sacked by WBA when in the top 6 and sacked by Watford when 9th. Hardly sacking offence of them. 

Maybe he wants to put some roots down and stay at a club for 2 or 3 years. 

12 hours ago, JHRover said:

When do you judge him during that time?

Is he allowed to lose the next 10 because it isn't his squad or at some point in that time do you criticise?

when I think it is appropriate and that ain't after 2 games in which we got a well deserved equaliser and lost the other after 7 mins of the players being bullied and showing no desire. 

in my opinion, people are overreacting to this appointment because we didn't go Cooper or Edwards for example or someone like Duff, but lets be realistic Cooper and Edwards were a no cos of them still being paid their wages from previous club and that is higher than we paid for a high club. Ismael and Wagner(apparently the other option from reports) both fitted in what the head coach role is here and fits into the structure with Gestede and Owen. 

[chaddyrovers]

12 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Its too early to judge Ismael.

Goes on to judge him and specifically highlight everything he has done right.

given to some positive balance to the forum given people negative opinion on very little

10 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Yeah I haven't taken to him at all either.

Partly it was the ridiculous media campaign when he arrived (allez le bleu can get right in the bin!), partly because his track record is woeful apart from one season with Barnsley and partly cos he just seems like a prick. 

woeful record? so having WBA in the top 6 is woeful or Watford 9th is woeful, have either club done any better since he left? no they haven't. even at Besiktas his record is managed 19 games, won 8, draw 8 and lost 3. Is that woeful record? 

he seems like a prick? what a lovely choice of words based on nothing again? 

[roversfan99]

That lovely period where everything he does is right, every tactic he employs even in games we lose is right, his previous record is flawless, and he may well see the assurances hes been given come to fruition.

"Positive balance" ie even when he was sacked, he did well, and when we lose its all down to the players.

[Mattyblue]

He’ll definitely get to put roots down here.

[davulsukur]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

Whenever you want JH, I gave my opinion and my opinion only

Sacked by WBA when in the top 6 and sacked by Watford when 9th. Hardly sacking offence of them. 

Maybe he wants to put some roots down and stay at a club for 2 or 3 years. 

when I think it is appropriate and that ain't after 2 games in which we got a well deserved equaliser and lost the other after 7 mins of the players being bullied and showing no desire. 

in my opinion, people are overreacting to this appointment because we didn't go Cooper or Edwards for example or someone like Duff, but lets be realistic Cooper and Edwards were a no cos of them still being paid their wages from previous club and that is higher than we paid for a high club. Ismael and Wagner(apparently the other option from reports) both fitted in what the head coach role is here and fits into the structure with Gestede and Owen. 

Absolutely no excuse for not appointing either of these 2. We have plenty of cash left over from the £40m+ we've brought into the club (some of which is still coming in), a proper, decent appointment giving us the best chance for promotion and all the riches it offers.

Instead we went for a cheap, out work manager that we've rescued off the scrap heap with absolutely no intention of building on the good work that Eustace laid down before him.

[davulsukur]

2 hours ago, martonrover said:

See, I don't believe this for one minute. 

I just don't think he's that kind of guy.

🙂 come down off the fence and tell us what you really think of him 😉 

That's probably worse, 2 poor performances to start his tenure.

[chaddyrovers]

33 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

That lovely period where everything he does is right, every tactic he employs even in games we lose is right, his previous record is flawless, and he may well see the assurances hes been given come to fruition.

"Positive balance" ie even when he was sacked, he did well, and when we lose its all down to the players.

I haven't said anywhere he does everything right have I RF99??? 

The changed to the back 3 on Saturday helps the team and we were better structural and created chances. I made this point on Saturday night also backed by both people on the Arte Et Labore podcast which you mentioned when they agree with your point. They are also with my point that the Players got bullied within that first 5 mins and show no desire. So are we all wrong and you right? you tell me?

Looks look at his sackings, sacked at WBA when in the playoffs, is that now a sackable offence? and Watford were 9th, is that now a sackable offence? Have either club done better since he was sacked? 

 

[roversinmyblood]

Many on here were scathing of Eustace last season until he saved us with two unlikely victories against Leeds and Leicester. He struggled big time to get wins rather than draws. Whilst I am not exactly thrilled with the appointment of VI, I feel we’ve got to give him a chance to show his quality or lack of it. Teams can take quite a few games to adjust to a new manager’s style of play, just look at Derby. At least if he is an absolute car crash of a manager he won’t get us relegated this year and we can start next year with a different manager. The board will also be held responsible for screwing up yet another promising position.

 

[chaddyrovers]

6 minutes ago, davulsukur said:

Absolutely no excuse for not appointing either of these 2. We have plenty of cash left over from the £40m+ we've brought into the club (some of which is still coming in), a proper, decent appointment giving us the best chance for promotion and all the riches it offers.

Neither were coming here when they are being paid PL salaries. 

6 minutes ago, davulsukur said:

Instead we went for a cheap, out work manager that we've rescued off the scrap heap with absolutely no intention of building on the good work that Eustace laid down before him.

So Allardyce, Mowbray, JDT and Eustace were all cheap out work managers that we've rescued off the scrap heap using your words you have 

How is Ismael cheap? cos he was out of work. so what? He got playoffs with Barnsley, sacked when in the playoffs places at WBA and 9th with Watford. Is that such a bad record. 

Look at Edwards who couldn't turned around the back spell and had Luton in bottom 3, but you seem very happy to appoint him and you see very against Ismael despite his record being decent enough 

[JHRover]

6 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

Looks look at his sackings, sacked at WBA when in the playoffs, is that now a sackable offence? and Watford were 9th, is that now a sackable offence? Have either club done better since he was sacked? 

 

You make out like these were achievements. WBA were fresh out of the PL and armed with cash and a strong squad. Being in the top 6 for such a side is not particularly impressive, and they were on the slide having been top after the first few months.

Watford is more difficult to judge given their turnover in managers and it is correct to point out that others like Wilder and Bilic have struggled there in recent seasons but again, I don't consider 9th for their squad to be anything to congratulate.

[RoversClitheroe]

Absolutely must win territory already for Valerian Ismael.

Shambolic performance against Derby, can't come out with the stupidest quotes I've ever heard, they put Mowbray to shame. 

"They wanted it too much" still laughable.

No shots on targets second half?