Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach

[Tom]

Ultimately came up short of what he had to this season, when Eustace effectively left we were a point inside the play offs but missed out by a couple.

I would say I think January killed us though and I’d wager (without facts backing it up) that his return isn’t too dissimilar to the points haul from Eustaces towards the end of his reign.

The owners and powers that be just cut the legs from under the team at every opportunity and bar a fluke no manager will be able to truly succeed

Stick with him, the alternative is another random roll of the dice 

[Old Codger]

Now we get to see what plan A looks like (plan B was some horse-shite back of fag-packet nonsense in the unlikely event we made the playoffs despite the staged nose-dive).

I'd wager it involves further rationalisation of the playing staff (cheaper, lower quality, less experienced) and further cost cutting (as if this was possible) to render the match day experience at non-league standard or below.

There will be a barrage of communications from the club towards the end of the summer, to the effect that 'our glorious but ultimately disappointing charge to premier league glory cost more than we anticipated, so cuts are needed' but almost complete radio-silence from all concerned until that point.

Players who are out of contract will be quietly let go, and no replacements recruited until very late in the day. Any player whose stock has risen during this season, or who might realise some kind of cash flow windfall, will be allowed to find another club (as long as a fee is generated in our favour).

We will start pre-season with a worse than threadbare playing staff, with some key players no longer part of the set up - so a complete overhaul of approach and (crucially) expectations will be the main aim for the manager.

To misquote / paraphrase Scott of the Antartic, " "Had we lived (i.e. got to the playoffs), we should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of our companions which would have stirred the heart of every Rovers Fan," Instead, we are left with the almost certain conviction that 'not quite good enough' is the true motto of those whose greedy, grubby and despicable hands are at the helm of our once proud club, rather than a true and heartfelt adherence to Arte et Labore, in the tradition we would all prefer to see brought back to life.

Simples.

VENKYS OUT! AND TAKE YOUR (EXPENSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE) TRASH WITH YOU!

[CaptainBeanfart]

3 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Drastic.

Has to go for me.

Waits until the 80th minute to make attacking changes in a must win game?

Valerian out.

Surely the performances of the subs shows why he was reluctant? He deserves support next season, he's not the problem here. 

[roversfan99]

6 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Drastic.

Has to go for me.

Waits until the 80th minute to make attacking changes in a must win game?

Valerian out.

He has to go because of today?

I can see why he didn't bring on the crap off the bench sooner.

[Waggy76]

4 hours ago, CaptainBeanfart said:

Surely the performances of the subs shows why he was reluctant? He deserves support next season, he's not the problem here. 

No he is not the main problem, it was suggested there's a 3 month clause in his contract put in by the club to end his employment .. I wonder if he has a similar clause, he has been here long enough now, to realise what is going on? 

[arbitro]

One aspect of Ismaels time so far where I think every supporter agrees on was persisting with Toth over the calamitous Pears. Since Toth came in at Luton we have only conceded three goals in five games and none of them were down to him. 

It's difficult to point to any one incident that cost us a playoff place but I can't help but think back to Bristol City away when Pears gave Twine two thirds of the goal to shoot at from a free kick. Drawing that game would have seen us over the line.

 

[47er]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

It's difficult to point to any one incident that cost us a playoff place

Dolan disallowed goal at the Turd?

If we all put our heads together we'll go top of the Championship!

[Herbie6590]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

One aspect of Ismaels time so far where I think every supporter agrees on was persisting with Toth over the calamitous Pears. Since Toth came in at Luton we have only conceded three goals in five games and none of them were down to him. 

It's difficult to point to any one incident that cost us a playoff place but I can't help but think back to Bristol City away when Pears gave Twine two thirds of the goal to shoot at from a free kick. Drawing that game would have seen us over the line.

 

Toth caught two crosses yesterday…for that alone he’s my number one number one…

[arbitro]

31 minutes ago, 47er said:

Dolan disallowed goal at the Turd?

If we all put our heads together we'll go top of the Championship!

Of course there are lots of incidents which affect the season but I was specific about Pears error at Bristol because a draw there would have seen us get into the playoffs and not having had the pressure of having to win yesterday.

[Mattyblue]

Don’t think you can pick individual games and say ‘that’s the one’.

As who knows how the other games would’ve subsequently gone. Could’ve got a point down Bristol, but then not got that late Sheff Wed goal.

We’ll never know, but what my opinion is not backing Eustace is what cost us.

[gazzaa2]

18 hours ago, Tom said:

Ultimately came up short of what he had to this season, when Eustace effectively left we were a point inside the play offs but missed out by a couple.

I would say I think January killed us though and I’d wager (without facts backing it up) that his return isn’t too dissimilar to the points haul from Eustaces towards the end of his reign.

The owners and powers that be just cut the legs from under the team at every opportunity and bar a fluke no manager will be able to truly succeed

Stick with him, the alternative is another random roll of the dice 

We had 48 points from 32 games when Eustace left.

Only needed 20 points from 14 games to get in the play offs (with a win yesterday). Only managed 18.

Edited yesterday at 09:01 by gazzaa2

[RevidgeBlue]

He's failed in his task for this season but we're likely stuck with him for the forseeable so no alternative but to get behind him unless or until he proves otherwise next season.

Personally think he'll be fairly bomb proof if he keeps us bobbing along just above the safety line whilst introducing a few Academy players along the way. 

Probably not what the majority of us want to see as fans but I suspect that's as good as it will get under this ownership from now on.

One thing's for certain though, if he's genuinely expecting substantial support in the summer to remould the squad in his own style, he's likely to end up as disapppinted as the last 2 Head Coaches.

[Tomphil2]

If we are struggling by next Jan and he needs some backing and doesn't get it he'll probably bail out before he gets a relegation on his cv.

Ditto if we are doing well then players start dropping like flies mid season and he's told there's nothing in Jan he'll get the feelers put out for another gig and Rovers will happily gobble up the compen before scouring the scrapheap again.

If we are plodding along going nowhere and a firesale of players is brewing nicely he'll probably get an extension.

[Upside Down]

13 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

Don’t think you can pick individual games and say ‘that’s the one’.

As who knows how the other games would’ve subsequently gone. Could’ve got a point down Bristol, but then not got that late Sheff Wed goal.

We’ll never know, but what my opinion is not backing Eustace is what cost us.

100% that is the reason.

no surprise that once again our form turned to shit when key players started to pick up injuries.

With millions brought in over the last 12 months, the solution to a backup midfielder was to sign a guy that had his contract cancelled by the team at the bottom of the table.

Pretty obvious to anyone who has eyes and a functioning brain that the ownership does not want to get promoted back to the premier league.

[philipl]

Difficult to judge.

The club failed massively for the second time in 18 months to retain a coach who was clearly capable of winning promotion with by Championship standards, minimal financial backing (JDT and JE got negative backing).

JE departure was also protracted and massively mishandled by the management.

Ismael's start was as inauspicious as they come and in the run of defeats we had all the breaks go against us, and we're losing without being noticeably bad but with key players missing.

The second half against Wednesday came out of nowhere and Ismael managed to capture that spirit and get the back to back wins despite losing Weimann and Beck.

Not winning at Sheffield United is not a damning indictment.

Replacing Pears with a rebuilt confidence Toth and retaining Ribeiro over Pickering were sound decisions as was late use of decidedly hit and miss subs.

I fear he will have a much worse squad to work with next season.

So jury out for me. Might not be the basket case I thought he was.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

The fact he wants to retain Hedges and Forshaw gives a good indication of our prospects under hin next season. 

[Tomphil2]

They represent experience given Gestede will likely push the age of the squad right back down again plus they fit the bigger wages but short deal category.

That' 'the model' now 🫣

[RoversClitheroe]

7 hours ago, philipl said:

Difficult to judge.

The club failed massively for the second time in 18 months to retain a coach who was clearly capable of winning promotion with by Championship standards, minimal financial backing (JDT and JE got negative backing).

JE departure was also protracted and massively mishandled by the management.

Ismael's start was as inauspicious as they come and in the run of defeats we had all the breaks go against us, and we're losing without being noticeably bad but with key players missing.

The second half against Wednesday came out of nowhere and Ismael managed to capture that spirit and get the back to back wins despite losing Weimann and Beck.

Not winning at Sheffield United is not a damning indictment.

Replacing Pears with a rebuilt confidence Toth and retaining Ribeiro over Pickering were sound decisions as was late use of decidedly hit and miss subs.

I fear he will have a much worse squad to work with next season.

So jury out for me. Might not be the basket case I thought he was.

Him walking down the tunnel at the end of a lot of the games and clapping the fans. Alongside losing 5 on the bounce, I don't want him near Rovers.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

4 hours ago, Tomphil2 said:

They represent experience given Gestede will likely push the age of the squad right back down again plus they fit the bigger wages but short deal category.

That' 'the model' now 🫣

They fit the 'shit' category.!

[speeeeeeedie]

Ismael inherited a squad in turmoil and proceeded to not have a clue what to do with the players. He looked lost and his ideas weren't working. Somehow, whether it was players returning from injury, a lack of pressure, or him figuring it out, he finished the season unbeaten in 6 and had Rovers in the playoffs for about 5 minutes. 

He will be Rovers manager next season barring he himself deciding to leave. Dropping Pears was a good decision so I hope that is an insight into his m.o. and he is able to kick on.

However, with Venkys owning the club new signings are likely to be has-beens, gambles, and Prem loanees without any pedigree so he's on a hiding to nothing. 

[roversfan99]

4 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Him walking down the tunnel at the end of a lot of the games and clapping the fans. Alongside losing 5 on the bounce, I don't want him near Rovers.

I dont get why the first part of your judgement is around whether he claps the fans.

[M_B]

If we're looking for one incident, then losing Weimann was the main factor. For a team which doesn't score many to lose it's top scorer, was a big deal. That game at Sheffield was made for him.

[Hasta]

Trav getting injured at Millwall. The start of the rot. Baker leaving a few games later and then Tronstadt getting injured compounded the lack of depth in that position.

Plus Baath getting injured. If either of those two didn’t happen we’d have done it comfortably.

Edited 5 hours ago by Hasta

[Waggy76]

5 hours ago, speeeeeeedie said:

Ismael inherited a squad in turmoil and proceeded to not have a clue what to do with the players. He looked lost and his ideas weren't working. Somehow, whether it was players returning from injury, a lack of pressure, or him figuring it out, he finished the season unbeaten in 6 and had Rovers in the playoffs for about 5 minutes. 

He will be Rovers manager next season barring he himself deciding to leave. Dropping Pears was a good decision so I hope that is an insight into his m.o. and he is able to kick on.

However, with Venkys owning the club new signings are likely to be has-beens, gambles, and Prem loanees without any pedigree so he's on a hiding to nothing. 

I can see the manager leaving, depending on what the stooges have promised him. 

Precedents have been set at BRFC, I would be surprised if he is managing Rovers on the last game of the season.. 

[RoversClitheroe]

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

I dont get why the first part of your judgement is around whether he claps the fans.

Respect the fans.

No one is better than the fans.