Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach

[London blue]

A note on the contract. Either he's had assurances over player contracts and the future of the club (which will very likely be lies) or he's had us over a barrel, which I see as a) more likely and b) depressing.

Not cos he's a bad appointment, he's probably muddle of the pack in terms of my excitement levels, but he's hardly hot property, is he?

I hope he'll work out but as ever with Rovers, I've more questions than answers.

[RoversClitheroe]

3 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Does your seat at Ewood face the pitch?

Mowbray certainly had faults but he didnt play hoof ball to Armstrong. When he was up front, we tried to dominate the ball and it didnt work, so quite the opposite.

Im sure Mowbray must have done something to you personally as your hatred isnt normal.

He had a period of time where he played hoofball to Arma.

I just think he sucked the absolute soul out of the club.

Hated his negativity and belittling of our players in the press.

Acceptance to just take a packet and no ambition.

Playing players constantly in the wrong position.

[Penwortham Blue]

2 minutes ago, London blue said:

A note on the contract. Either he's had assurances over player contracts and the future of the club (which will very likely be lies) or he's had us over a barrel, which I see as a) more likely and b) depressing.

Not cos he's a bad appointment, he's probably muddle of the pack in terms of my excitement levels, but he's hardly hot property, is he?

I hope he'll work out but as ever with Rovers, I've more questions than answers.

Apart from an end date, we have no idea of what the contract provides for. It wouldn’t surprise me if a break or release clause has been included to give both club and employee an option in the summer, once the outcome of the next 12 (hopefully 15) matches is known.

[islander200]

16 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Go look at his managerial history. He's been sacked basically everywhere he's been except Barnsley - and often within 12 months. 

Iv looked .

Sacked after a very short period with results not the worst in the world.

At Watford Every manager ends up getting sacked, and altho not great had them 9th nowhere near relegation. But accepted the players he had should have done better 

West Brom 7 months after an exceptional season at Barnsley,  when sacked they were in poor form but he wasn't given a chance to turn things round. They were still fifth ,only 8 points behind 2nd. They finished the season 10th so their replacement didn't make things better.

The expectations at both those clubs was to at a minimum finish in the top 6 ,but pressure was on even to finish in the top 2.

At Barnsley he did excellent, I watched a number of their games that season and they were very good. 

He has never had a team in this country anywhere near relegation places.

I would have much preferred the club had splashed the cash and brought in more of a name and better record on a short term appointment and really make a statement that we believed promotion was a possibility. 

But I don't think this is a bad appointment, not as much pressure or expectation similar to Barnsley .

I still think we ain't the only club that would have considered hiring him.If clubs like Cardiff, Sheff Wednesday  even maybe the likes of Hull and a couple of others I think he would be a name in the frame.

Edited 19 hours ago by islander200

[London blue]

Either the way the club were keen to stress a long term contract. But with the way we approach contracts it's antibodies guess.

[paullarrygher]

The length of the contract is the thing that stood out to me too. Bizarre that he got offered a longer deal than Kargbo, particularly given his history for not sticking around too long.

[rovers11]

Decent appointment and one I can get behind. An experienced manager who has had some success in the Championship before. Also not a yes man which I'm pleasantly surprised about as I do think we need a manager who can challenge the board and the owners.

One criticism is that his style of football is not great. The style of football under JDT was supposedly great but we lost most weeks; the style of football under Eustace was very poor but it got us into the top 6. I'll take ugly football all day long if it gets results.

[Herbie6590]

44 minutes ago, J*B said:

Wouldn’t want to fight him, and I’m considering that a good thing. 

See also, Souness & Hughes…Allardyce as well frankly…

[islander200]

32 minutes ago, martonrover said:

The poster I challenged said he would be off in the Summer, because of lies and broken promises.

That is what I was challenging.

I agree with what you are saying, but to have any offers in the Summer, he will have to get us at least in the Play Offs, and probably at least to the final.

Add to that, he's not going to be cheap to pinch having signed a 3 + year deal.

I expect he'll have insisted on a release clause, but we won't be talking about peanuts.

Apologies it didn't twig with me that it was this coming summer ye where talking about  

Yeah he still be here at the beginning of next season 

[JHRover]

In the middle bracket for me. Not an appointment that excites me or enthuses me, but not what I would describe as a poor or shocking appointment. There is logic to it and reasons for optimism.  I'm not sure there are many that would enthuse me whilst these owners are in charge because even if we hit the jackpot and get a managerial genius all we know for certain is it cannot last long here.

I'm perplexed by the awarding of the 3 year contract. I don't know who they are trying to kid with this. I find it doubly baffling that they've given this guy longer than Eustace and JDT despite not renewing a players contract in over a year, even though Ismael has never lasted more than a season in any of his 8 club jobs to date. It is almost like they are trying to make a point to the fans and to themselves.

Maybe they consider it a price worth paying to create a pretence of a plan and stability. Of course Ismael references the obligatory 'pathways' for the academy players AKA we are going to release all our proven quality senior players, get their wages off the books and then throw in the kids and hope it works out ok so we can save the owners money and we hope we've found a manager willing to go along with that.

They aren't fooling me and of course Waggott can't resist getting on the bandwagon to gather some free brownie points from this.

I just hope nobody loses sight of the real issue or forgets the events that led us here - our manager walking out to join a side likely to be going into League One - that's the important thing, not what soundbites they come out with now whilst they distract the masses with this sideshow.

[JHRover]

Edit - double post

Edited 18 hours ago by JHRover

[Tugayisgod]

 

[Tom]

Is Gueye’s native language French? (I did check but Senegal has quite a lot of languages). May help Big Mak as well if so.

Like all Rovers fans I just really really hope it works out

[roversfan99]

31 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

He had a period of time where he played hoofball to Arma.

I just think he sucked the absolute soul out of the club.

Hated his negativity and belittling of our players in the press.

Acceptance to just take a packet and no ambition.

Playing players constantly in the wrong position.

He really didnt have a period of time where we played hoofball to Armstrong.

I suspect that such is your bizarre dislike of him where your hatred of him randomly spews out when he hasnt been previously mentioned, his time here has become an absolute disaster in your mind when all in he did a good job.

For what its worth, every manager (and player) is here for the packet. In his last season, he publically showed his frustration at not getting funds either that summer or in January when he wasnt able to trade freely. 

On the topic of player treatment, all the players seemed to love Mowbray. Not the case with Tomasson (who I liked as a manager, again did a good yet flawed job in a different way) who seemed to be tactically ahead but lacking on the man management side.

Coming back on topic, Ismael seems to also have history with man management question marks. Lets hope they dont happen here and he can get the players playing to their maximum.

[Groundhog]

I remember leaving the Watford game at home in 2023 saying that I wish we had a positive manager like Ismael who could rile his team up in the second half to come from behind. Yes, he had help from a two absolute gifts from Wahlstedt, but his subs were bold and Watford looked like a team that had been rattled and wanted to prove something.

"At half-time, I was loud with the players. If we think that 80% will be enough to win a game in the Championship, then we make a big mistake and we will have a lot of regrets."

[Upside Down]

30 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

See also, Souness & Hughes…Allardyce as well frankly…

I wouldn't want to take a swing at JDT or Eustace either TBF.

[TugaysMarlboro]

As I said when we appointed Eustace. He and the team will get my backing, until given a reason not to. My issues, as always, are with those higher up.

Allez les bleus.

[LeftWinger]

4 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

I wouldn't want to take a swing at JDT or Eustace either TBF.

JDT and Eustace not in the same league as Hughes or Souness in the hard man stakes.

[...]

5 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

I wouldn't want to take a swing at JDT or Eustace either TBF.

Eustace would be trying to tell you not to fight its more than that its about togetherness, then proceeds to try and hug you

[CottonTownBoy]

2 hours ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Received this from my well connected Baggies pal:

 

I was speaking to my elderly father; life long Rovers fan, about this and he came out with, "Who gives a fuck about West Brom." I've been chuckling about it ever since.

[aletheia]

Won’t get fooled again…oh hang on…

Bread and circuses for the masses.
New man in, short term enthusiasm, we’re rebuilding, we did the best we could given that JE left us prematurely, not our fault, yada, yada…

Meanwhile, budget tightened, players sold, contracts not renewed, Raos still in situ…

Will be interesting to see the depth of Ismael’s patience. Summer shenaningans will test it, January inertia could break it. Let’s see.

Still, deserves a chance –good luck.

 

[Forever Blue]

51 minutes ago, London blue said:

But with the way we approach contracts it's antibodies guess.

They certainly shouldn’t be immune to criticism 😉

[CottonTownBoy]

Welcome Val,

Good luck and all that,

Take no prisoners and enjoy the ride.

Allez les bleus.

[simongarnerisgod]

22 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

I wouldn't want to take a swing at JDT or Eustace either TBF.

jdt would duck then proceed to lecture  you about the ills of violence and how you can make yourself a better person for sure!!!

 

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