Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach

[booth]

  On 20/03/2025 at 10:23, davulsukur said:

It's all just meaningless words.

There won't be enough money spent to replace the high number of out going players with enough quality to do anything, let alone switch the style of play to a possession based approach. 

A big summer ahead but one that will likely leave us incredibly short on quality but asking players of lesser ability to play beyond their capability. 

It's going to be a scrap at the bottom next season.

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I fully expect more Woodrow and Forshaw type signings.

[roversfan99]

So weve already written off this season. 

So the "project" has to be restarted? You do surprise me.

And we on our meagre budget plan to try and play possession based football with a core of players that have shown in the past that they cant really do that. Headed by a head coach whose only career  success came playing really direct football? This isnt doomed to failure, honest.

[martonrover]

  On 20/03/2025 at 10:00, RTM08 said:

He's already talking about doing a full rebuild in the summer. Imagine instead of having to rebuild with a new manager we every season we actually back the ones we have when in a good position? Crazy I know.

Dour football, dour personality, zero motivation and has turned us into cannon fodder. Next season is going to be awful.

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Ismael obviously doesn’t realise how many times we’ve had to swallow this bullshit in recent years.

I’m not swallowing any more, and I pity the poor idiots who do, (no names, no pack drill)

Away games only next season.

Edited Thursday at 10:41 by martonrover

[davulsukur]

  On 20/03/2025 at 10:32, booth said:

I fully expect more Woodrow and Forshaw type signings.

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Same.

Cheap and shite. Back on the pathway to League One.

[roversfan99]

Tomasson was a far better head coach, tactically he was very good, he managed to convert JRC into one of the best right backs in the league drifting into midfield such was his tactical acumen, he also had a goalscorer in Brereton and then Szmodics, he did benefit initially from a bit of spending, and even amidst all that, it didnt really work. We nearly made the play offs but our results declined when we started to play more pleasing on the eye football, and when the cuts came in the summer everything fell to shit.

Ismael has had his only success playing quite the opposite of possession based football. He did try to play like that more at Watford where he had a really good squad and it didnt work.

You look at some of the players we have now. Gueye would simply not suit a possession based style, we may aswell get rid in the summer. Batth and Weimann (the latter I wouldnt offer a new deal anyway after his injury and at his age) would clearly need to go. Our midfield which was our strength is not a possession focused one. Our defenders arent particularly good on the ball.

If anyone reads what he has said and thinks that could work, then they must have been living in a cave.

[rigger]

  On 20/03/2025 at 11:03, roversfan99 said:

Tomasson was a far better head coach, tactically he was very good, he managed to convert JRC into one of the best right backs in the league drifting into midfield such was his tactical acumen, he also had a goalscorer in Brereton and then Szmodics, he did benefit initially from a bit of spending, and even amidst all that, it didnt really work. We nearly made the play offs but our results declined when we started to play more pleasing on the eye football, and when the cuts came in the summer everything fell to shit.

Ismael has had his only success playing quite the opposite of possession based football. He did try to play like that more at Watford where he had a really good squad and it didnt work.

You look at some of the players we have now. Gueye would simply not suit a possession based style, we may aswell get rid in the summer. Batth and Weimann (the latter I wouldnt offer a new deal anyway after his injury and at his age) would clearly need to go. Our midfield which was our strength is not a possession focused one. Our defenders arent particularly good on the ball.

If anyone reads what he has said and thinks that could work, then they must have been living in a cave.

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At least our keeper is alright with the ball at his feet. Oh !

[davulsukur]

  On 20/03/2025 at 11:03, roversfan99 said:

Tomasson was a far better head coach, tactically he was very good, he managed to convert JRC into one of the best right backs in the league drifting into midfield such was his tactical acumen, he also had a goalscorer in Brereton and then Szmodics, he did benefit initially from a bit of spending, and even amidst all that, it didnt really work. We nearly made the play offs but our results declined when we started to play more pleasing on the eye football, and when the cuts came in the summer everything fell to shit.

Ismael has had his only success playing quite the opposite of possession based football. He did try to play like that more at Watford where he had a really good squad and it didnt work.

You look at some of the players we have now. Gueye would simply not suit a possession based style, we may aswell get rid in the summer. Batth and Weimann (the latter I wouldnt offer a new deal anyway after his injury and at his age) would clearly need to go. Our midfield which was our strength is not a possession focused one. Our defenders arent particularly good on the ball.

If anyone reads what he has said and thinks that could work, then they must have been living in a cave.

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An excellent summary really. 

When the bulk of our signings are likely to be free transfers, loans or circa £250k, trying to get them playing like Barca will be an absolute disaster. 

We're basically going back to the days of Owen Coyle, champagne football on a lager budget.

Edited Thursday at 11:30 by davulsukur

[lraC]

  On 20/03/2025 at 11:23, davulsukur said:

An excellent summary really. 

When the bulk of our signings are likely to be free transfers, loans or circa £250k, trying to get them playing like Barca will be an absolute disaster. 

We're basically going back to the days of Owen Coyle, champagne football on a lager budget.

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I think most people can see the way this is heading, as they could under Coyle.

The decision makers were warned by many fans that appointing Coyle, would end in disaster and despite the calls to terminate him, fairly early on, it was thought by some, that he should be given a chance and had he been axed, even 3 weeks sooner that what he was, then maybe, we would have stayed up.

The same is happening all over again and we can be pretty sure that a poor end to this season and a poor start to next, will be ignored, until it is too late.

[Forever Blue]

  On 20/03/2025 at 10:12, chaddyrovers said:

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25022883.blackburn-summer-transfer-clue-ismael-sets-clear-vision/

Sound like Hedges and Hyam could move on. 

Also going back to possession based team

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Could someone paste the article please?

[MarkBRFC]

  On 20/03/2025 at 10:12, chaddyrovers said:

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25022883.blackburn-summer-transfer-clue-ismael-sets-clear-vision/

Sound like Hedges and Hyam could move on. 

Also going back to possession based team

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Thought they would at least trigger the options on those two.

Suppose they will think cheaper replacements can be found though.

EDIT - Elliot saying that Hyam's option has been triggered, presumably so they can sell him on for a small fee like Gallagher last summer.

Edited Thursday at 12:23 by MarkBRFC

[JHRover]

  On 20/03/2025 at 10:00, RTM08 said:

He's already talking about doing a full rebuild in the summer. Imagine instead of having to rebuild with a new manager we every season we actually back the ones we have when in a good position? Crazy I know.

Dour football, dour personality, zero motivation and has turned us into cannon fodder. Next season is going to be awful.

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The 'rebuild' line is only going to be spouted more and more and more over the coming 3-4 months as form hits disastrous levels and we slide down the Championship table. 

The stooges are going to need to come up with something somehow to try and stop a calamitous drop off in already poor season ticket sales. They have done everything they can to ensure sales are poor over the course of the last few years but will now try a few minor things to try and arrest that decline. 

We saw one yesterday with the 'safe standing' story. The cost of fitting a few hundred safe standing rails across the back corner of the BBE dressed up as investment in Ewood and listening to fans/trying to improve the atmosphere. It is pathetic. Most Championship clubs have had safe standing for years, in far larger numbers than our few hundred spaces. But it is a cheap gimmick to try to distract people from what is going on.

We know that Rovers have deliberately run down the contracts of all senior players over the last few years. Deliberate. No attempt made to renew any contracts. This wanton reckless policy has left us in a position where it is inevitable that most of our senior players will either be out of contract/loan, coming into the last 12-24 months, looking elsewhere and wanting to move on. Therefore a huge turnover in personnel is necessary. 

They will dress this up as a good thing, desirable, exciting. Unfortunately with Nixon in overdrive every Sunday morning and the Football Manager laptop brigade speculating about who we are going to sign, people will delude themselves into thinking this rebuild is going to lead to a brighter future and a revolution in our approach/playing style.

Been there, done that. 

It is a cost cutting measure, designed to trim the wage bill further and inevitably means we end up with youngsters, kids, and short term deals. Basically a modern version of the old Accy Stanley or Oyston's Blackpool, having to throw together a squad at the last minute every year.

Ismael will probably have been told that the club is serious, has plans, will invest, will allow him to build something. It won't. They lie.

[G Somerset Rover]

Just the latest in the never ending list of ‘projects’ or ‘plans’ under these cretinous owners. The others haven’t worked and this one sure as hell won’t either.

Edited Thursday at 12:27 by G Somerset Rover

[Tricky]

  On 20/03/2025 at 11:53, Forever Blue said:

Could someone paste the article please?

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12ft

[RoversClitheroe]

Absolutely a PR stunt by the club - sickening.

[Exiled_Rover]

From 'significant January investment' to 'summer rebuild' in 4 matches.

Ismael's career at Rovers is going at warp speed.

[TimmyJimmy]

VI says "Because a lot of players will leave the club at the end of the season. And it's a chance to reset and to take exactly the profile of the player we need."

Good, at least someone other than us recognises that we don't have players worthy of the badge. His challenge is extracting the money from Venky FC to buy decent players.

Journeymen, loans and academy promotions is all he'll get.  We know  he doesn't (yet). Welcome to the mad house son. Enjoy.

[MarkBRFC]

  On 20/03/2025 at 13:14, RoversClitheroe said:

Absolutely a PR stunt by the club - sickening.

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Had a good week of it so far, all helped by Elliot Jackson.

Safe Standing going ahead

VI going on about a summer rebuild and how exciting it is

Hyam contract option triggered

Wonder what other PR driven nonsense we'll see before the next game.

[islander200]

  On 20/03/2025 at 09:53, den said:

Neither of them continually spouted garbage either. They didn’t blame individuals in public nor did they tell the fans that the team played well when they put in an awful performance.That’s the point. When they spoke you listened, you didn’t laugh.

maybe it’s obvious to some but not others.

 

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John Eustace was doing it last season .

He has been here for 4 games ffs.People are too hasty writing people off.

I suggest you go back and read the john eustace thread from when he was appointed.We didn't win in our first ten.

[Waggy76]

  On 20/03/2025 at 10:33, martonrover said:

Ismael obviously doesn’t realise how many times we’ve had to swallow this bullshit in recent years.

I’m not swallowing any more, and I pity the poor idiots who do, (no names, no pack drill)

Away games only next season.

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Similar to my plans for next season.

[roversfan99]

  On 20/03/2025 at 13:41, islander200 said:

John Eustace was doing it last season .

He has been here for 4 games ffs.People are too hasty writing people off.

I suggest you go back and read the john eustace thread from when he was appointed.We didn't win in our first ten.

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Out of interest. You speak about not "writing him off" or judging too soon.

Had we won the first 4 games, do you think people would be saying the same?

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

  On 20/03/2025 at 10:00, RTM08 said:

He's already talking about doing a full rebuild in the summer. Imagine instead of having to rebuild with a new manager we every season we actually back the ones we have when in a good position? Crazy I know.

Dour football, dour personality, zero motivation and has turned us into cannon fodder. Next season is going to be awful.

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A full rebuild with what,League two players?..we dont have a pot to piss in.

[islander200]

  On 20/03/2025 at 14:04, roversfan99 said:

Out of interest. You speak about not "writing him off" or judging too soon.

Had we won the first 4 games, do you think people would be saying the same?

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No I don't.Thats my point 

Did we not just have this with Eustace last season?Yes man...Eusless ...interviews dour putting people to sleep and so on

0 wins in 7 pre the 6 game winning run with 5 of those losses ..1 win in 9 after it with 6 defeats.

We lost under Eustace...and had long periods without a win under Eustace, and lost to teams towards the bottom of the table under him.

Ismael deserves more than 4 games to show what he can do.If we won our next 4 games I wouldn't be coming on here saying he is the right man for the job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bigbrandjohn]

Seems  a lot of money to pay a manager to avoid us getting to the play offs. 

As he has pulled up the play off anchor and is sailing towards the "promised land" of money for new signings next season , we all know which rock that voyage founders on.

 

 

[Forever Blue]

  On 20/03/2025 at 11:53, Forever Blue said:

Could someone paste the article please?

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Pretty please 

[Hasta]

  On 20/03/2025 at 14:47, Forever Blue said:

Pretty please 

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