Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach

[Tim Southampton Rover]

19 minutes ago, Staffordshire Rover said:

I feel there is more to this, it’s as if the staff behind or above VI have come up with the 5 at the back and he is refusing to alter things as it’s on them. Why else wouldn’t you change? Or the bloke is completely clueless and is waiting for his next pay out. 

I'm sure there is always input but at the end of the day it has to be Ismael's choice. He's the manager who's job is on the line. 

I think what the past few months have shown us is that he trusts what he trusts and isn't flexible enough. You'd think at 3-1 down, you'd have changed it with 30 mins to go because then you can see if something else works or clicks better. He brought on like for like replacements and continued to play the same. 
 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

32 minutes ago, Staffordshire Rover said:

In VI post match interview he mentions Toddy (made of tissue paper) having concussion and will be back in 7 days. Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought concussion protocols were 14 days before returning and it starts at midnight of the day of the injury. So the warrior can’t play against Watford

 

Would that concussion have been caused by the elbow he got at the weekend ?

[JHRover]

I'm almost intrigued to see how many more games we can go without winning before they sack him. 

1 win in 13 now, a couple of tough games coming up, we are already beyond the point of what most normal clubs would tolerate, irrespective of league position and excuses.

He'd have been sacked last night if it was me running the club and I'd be on the phone now to Savage at Forest Green, maybe Rowett or Challinor at Stockport/Clough at Mansfield and trying to tempt one of these guys to come into the mad house. 

[MarkBRFC]

2 minutes ago, JHRover said:

I'm almost intrigued to see how many more games we can go without winning before they sack him. 

 

At least two more, then we will beat Sheff Wed and will crow on about it for weeks.

Followed by another long period without a win.

[cesus]

I have made the mistake of listening to this guys interview on Radio Lancs from last night, I cannot comprehend how he can sit there and talk about how everything is set to be fine when the injured players return (no time frame on the majority of them).

There was no mention whatsoever of incomings, none! 

When asked about the system, injuries are the reason for the system and it isn't going to change.

In a club were there is no accountability, our injury list is extremely handy for many people in power. 

Edited 2 hours ago by cesus

[yellowsubmarine]

No club announcement yet. Strange.

[allanncd]

2 minutes ago, yellowsubmarine said:

No club announcement yet. Strange.

Not really. VI is part of the "project" to downsize the club (and more importantly the losses). Sacking him would cost money. 

[rovers11]

More dull excuses from Val after the game. It's either referees or injuries.

Well, what about 2 home wins all season. Is that down to referees and injuries? Oh and the inability to organise a team or instil any sort of fight or passion into a group of players? Or maybe sidelining experienced pros like Pickering and Ribiero for De Neve? I suppose that's down to the referees.

He's never a manager and he wasn't before we appointed him...yet he was deemed the best man for the job

They gave him a THREE year deal despite his horrific managerial record. He would have absolutely taken an 18 month deal so why offer 3 years? 🤔

Edited 2 hours ago by rovers11

[Rover down South]

All the time you have a fox in the henhouse, you are going to have a problem. I'm obviously referring to Rudy, who since arriving here has been allowed far too much power and is acting like some sort of dictator.

I don't rate Ismael one bit. His manner and lack of passion on the touchline is enough for me. I do ask myself though, if, and how much is Rudy involved with team selection and tactics etc?

Too many things don't add up to me. 

In the absence of Travis, Tronstad was always captain. It was the logical choice. I know his contract is up this year, but I still fully expected him to take the armband when Travis left, but no, it goes to Cantwell, then McLoughlin, then Miller?? 

Rumours Harry Leonard was shown the door. You could argue the club decided he was too injury prone and we should cash in whilst we can, yet those injuries don't seem to have hounded him this season?

Tyjon has been completely overlooked. Involved with England youth, has Arsenal circling but despite all the hype of him being the youngster to break through this season, he's not been involved.

I understand Gueye had been poor this season, but with the injury to Gudjohnsen, just maybe he was a better option than Henriksson? Why did Ismael persist with Axel out of position? Why does he persist with De Neve & TGH?

Not saying Waggott was in anyway our saviour. Crikey, we had some questionable moments when he was here, but I feel its gotten a whole lot worse since he left. 

Ismael looks broken and about to crack. I sense he knows he can't turn this around. He is out of his depth, but he has limited control of the outcome. I think he'll leave by mutual consent within the next month, if not sooner.

[RTM08]

4 minutes ago, Rover down South said:

All the time you have a fox in the henhouse, you are going to have a problem. I'm obviously referring to Rudy, who since arriving here has been allowed far too much power and is acting like some sort of dictator.

I don't rate Ismael one bit. His manner and lack of passion on the touchline is enough for me. I do ask myself though, if, and how much is Rudy involved with team selection and tactics etc?

Too many things don't add up to me. 

In the absence of Travis, Tronstad was always captain. It was the logical choice. I know his contract is up this year, but I still fully expected him to take the armband when Travis left, but no, it goes to Cantwell, then McLoughlin, then Miller?? 

Rumours Harry Leonard was shown the door. You could argue the club decided he was too injury prone and we should cash in whilst we can, yet those injuries don't seem to have hounded him this season?

Tyjon has been completely overlooked. Involved with England youth, has Arsenal circling but despite all the hype of him being the youngster to break through this season, he's not been involved.

I understand Gueye had been poor this season, but with the injury to Gudjohnsen, just maybe he was a better option than Henriksson? Why did Ismael persist with Axel out of position? Why does he persist with De Neve & TGH?

Not saying Waggott was in anyway our saviour. Crikey, we had some questionable moments when he was here, but I feel its gotten a whole lot worse since he left. 

Ismael looks broken and about to crack. I sense he knows he can't turn this around. He is out of his depth, but he has limited control of the outcome. I think he'll leave by mutual consent within the next month, if not sooner.

If he goes it will be February again so that the new guy has no influence on the squad and they promise them a rebuild (downgrade) in the summer.

[jim mk2]

Just now, Rover down South said:

Ismael looks broken and about to crack. I sense he knows he can't turn this around. He is out of his depth, but he has limited control of the outcome. I think he'll leave by mutual consent within the next month, if not sooner.

 

He looks like a man who wants to be sacked. The body language, the demeanour, shows a man who does not want to be in the job. His position is unsustainable and he knows it. In days gone by a manager in that situation would have resigned by now - no question  - but the payoffs are so lucrative these days they hang on.

The club should put him out his - and our - misery 

[Roverthechimp]

Won’t be sacked and no chance he will resign as past behaviour indicates the club would want paying off.

We are going down and then the word will be continuity 🫣

[Tomphil2]

He looks exactly how JDT did when he'd realised the game was up.

[JHRover]

Ismael knows he's been left with a squad that isn't good enough, he knows there's no proper backing in January, he knows the 'project' is doomed and he knows he's at the end of his tenure here.

Even if you ignore the other nonsense and results, he's a coach that tends to last a maximum of 12 months at a club (30-40 games) before he moves on. He's reached that point here now. This notion that he's suddenly going to be here long term and deliver success after 8 clubs in 8 years before coming here was fanciful to say the least but sums up the ineptitude of those running the club and handing out 3 year deals.

He needs putting out of his misery for all our sakes but he won't, because the vile people owning and running the club don't care, they'd rather he suffered, we suffered and we get relegated than be proactive and do the right thing. 

Nice people though yeah.

[MarkBRFC]

Ismael is only here to do what this regime wants, and that is to downsize the club to a manageable level for them.

Plenty more work to do after the first relegation is confirmed, whether that this season or next season.

[...]

13 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

 

He looks like a man who wants to be sacked. The body language, the demeanour, shows a man who does not want to be in the job. His position is unsustainable and he knows it. In days gone by a manager in that situation would have resigned by now - no question  - but the payoffs are so lucrative these days they hang on.

The club should put him out his - and our - misery 

All. About.  The paycheck

[TheKitGuy]

VI will leave on the 4th feb after a drab 1-1 against Sheffield Wednesday. Transfer window will be shut, the fanbase will be split in the 'Give it Dunny til the end of the season camp' and the 'i'm not going to another game until all these shysters have left.' 

More infighting within the fanbase and ultimately we finish 22nd on goal difference come the end of the season. 

[booth]

33 minutes ago, rovers11 said:

They gave him a THREE year deal despite his horrific managerial record. He would have absolutely taken an 18 month deal so why offer 3 years? 🤔

Perhaps someone lacking the appropriate experience got a bit giddy, and the other guy who hasn't got one clue about footballers and managers just agreed as it was lunchtime, and the nice biscuits were out.

Edited 2 hours ago by booth

[JHRover]

It's about giving off an impression. Gestede's first managerial appointment after he had seen off that annoying Eustace so it was all about showing everyone there was a plan and a project for the longer term.

I'm convinced part of his ability to persuade the dogsbody that he was the next big thing was to show that Eustace was a 'short term' manager - pointing at his transfer dealings with older players like Batth and Weimann - whereas Gestede was able to provide something 'longer term'. Handing 'his man' 3.5 years was a message - I have a plan and this is it being delivered. 

All sounds and looks good until you have to put it into practice with minimal funding and idiots running it. 

[bazza]

I think Rovers and Sheff Wed will be relegated long before anyone else.

[booth]

1 minute ago, JHRover said:

It's about giving off an impression. Gestede's first managerial appointment after he had seen off that annoying Eustace so it was all about showing everyone there was a plan and a project for the longer term.

I'm convinced part of his ability to persuade the dogsbody that he was the next big thing was to show that Eustace was a 'short term' manager - pointing at his transfer dealings with older players like Batth and Weimann - whereas Gestede was able to provide something 'longer term'. Handing 'his man' 3.5 years was a message - I have a plan and this is it being delivered. 

All sounds and looks good until you have to put it into practice with minimal funding and idiots running it. 

If that was his plan then it confirms what we already knew, that he isn't very bright.

[Rover down South]

1 minute ago, bazza said:

I think Rovers and Sheff Wed will be relegated long before anyone else.

I agree.

Both thanks to shit ownership. 

[davulsukur]

12 minutes ago, TheKitGuy said:

VI will leave on the 4th feb after a drab 1-1 against Sheffield Wednesday. Transfer window will be shut, the fanbase will be split in the 'Give it Dunny til the end of the season camp' and the 'i'm not going to another game until all these shysters have left.' 

More infighting within the fanbase and ultimately we finish 22nd on goal difference come the end of the season. 

Was just about to say the same. 

He'll get sacked but only when the window is shut.

[rovers11]

19 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

Ismael is only here to do what this regime wants, and that is to downsize the club to a manageable level for them.

Plenty more work to do after the first relegation is confirmed, whether that this season or next season.

It is to downsize the club to a level where they no longer have to fund it.

They want the club to be self-sufficient.

[Gav]

23 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

He looks exactly how JDT did when he'd realised the game was up.

VI, like several other managers, has probably been lied to about recruitment. He certainly won’t have expected to lose points because of a waterlogged pitch, which was due to lack of investment. 

You do wonder how long our owners can keep pulling the wool over managers eyes, they come in with the best of intentions, but are quickly hung out to dry.

VENKYS OUT - NOTHING ELSE MATTERS