Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach

[chaddyrovers]

7 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Im not sure he has fully united the dressing room. I think youd have to go back to the Murphy/Etuhu days where it was clear that 100% wasnt being put in.

But we have had problems of players not training properly this season according to Ismael himself, seemingly wasters like Gueye and Tavares. Also Kargbo not bothering to track back leading to a goal, public comments about Carter's preparation.

There have definitely been performances full of grit and real character but also ones showing a real fragility. I certainly wouldnt be able to commit to bigging up Ismael's man management as a positive.

There is certainly a lot of merit to the argument that he has been left with a poor and imbalanced squad, even if he has seemingly played a big part in endorsing the players hes been left with. 

and what did Ismael do with players not training properly? he dropped them from the match day squad. wouldn't you have done similar or not? do the players not have their own self responsible for not training properly? 

4 points in the last 2 games against top 6 side and we see the match day squad playing for Ismael and for each other, and the supporters. 

the squad need readjust due to Ismael changing results to get points on the board. 

Also he has brought Litherland, Pratt, Diamini, Atcheson into the squad and they look fine and in the case of Litherland and Pratt you wouldn't know they were in their first few games at this level

[47er]

2 hours ago, Andy said:

But then the home performances & results show that he hasn't found a way to win games where we have to take the initiative.

Teams play more defensively away from home so he hasn't got the players to cut  through or to put the few chances away.

[roversfan99]

13 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

and what did Ismael do with players not training properly? he dropped them from the match day squad. wouldn't you have done similar or not? do the players not have their own self responsible for not training properly? 

4 points in the last 2 games against top 6 side and we see the match day squad playing for Ismael and for each other, and the supporters. 

the squad need readjust due to Ismael changing results to get points on the board. 

Also he has brought Litherland, Pratt, Diamini, Atcheson into the squad and they look fine and in the case of Litherland and Pratt you wouldn't know they were in their first few games at this level

Obviously the correct treatment is to not include them. My point is, you and others are pointing out his good man management and the great team spirit. I dont see how there is any evidence or foundation to use that as a positive specifically to attribute to Ismael. In fact, players within the squad not training properly, not giving 100% in games or being questioned outside of football would if anything be red flags.

The main barometer for any manager is results. Ismael's overall have been poor.

Obviously with him being currently employed by the club, besides a very brief blip last season, you will go on full unequivocal propaganda mode.

[DE.]

Val has his limitations but he's doing alright with what's available to him. It obviously helps that the division is such a shitshow this season.

Some of his recent comments have been very interesting reading between the lines. He himself identified the fans' discontent goes back many years, which combined with the comment about this being the most difficult challenge of his career and the club being run in an unusual way, was certainly him indirectly pointing the finger in Suhail and Venky's direction. Perhaps subtly enough that they wouldn't pick up on it, or at least he'd have plausible deniability. Self-preservation, for sure, but not the actions of a total yes man. 

[LDRover]

59 minutes ago, 47er said:

Teams play more defensively away from home so he hasn't got the players to cut  through or to put the few chances away.

Exactly this.

We are a team better when we can be reactive rather than proactive.

[47er]

16 minutes ago, LDRover said:

Exactly this.

We are a team better when we can be reactive rather than proactive.

Acknowledging that KHod made the same point a couple of weeks ago tbf.