Valérien Ismaël: Blackburn Rovers Head Coach

[Mattyblue]

He’s ‘open and honest’, remember, certainly no shilling for the regime here and he definitely wouldn’t throw his players under the bus whilst doing so.

Edited November 29, 2025 by Mattyblue

[Tomphil2]

He ain't done a lot wrong today until the same old stupid subs that don't fit what we are doing and are crap anyway.

Wouldn't be surprised if he's told he has to get Gueye on for mins so when they try and move him his stats look better.

De Neve obviously comes on for energy because he can get up and down but that is cancelled out by the fact he's brainless.

2 decent for this level - by our current standards -proven left sided defenders on the bench but he always throws a the wing back who can't defend on to compensate for who he takes off.

Never works and neither does Gueye whose gone from being offside the entire time to getting more involved but giving it away all the time because he can't control a football.

Why keep doing the same thing that doesn't work it's absolutely brainless especially if you want to take the sting out of a game and hang on.

[J*B]

Strictly on how unlikeable our recent managers have been, Ismael is right up there. 

[47er]

On 28/11/2025 at 03:30, K-Hod said:

Seems very arrogant.

Fits in perfectly.

[Miller11]

9 minutes ago, J*B said:

Strictly on how unlikeable our recent managers have been, Ismael is right up there. 

Second only to the obvious.

[wilsdenrover]

Arrogant and thin skinned, much like Gestede.

[simongarnerisgod]

val getting angry with the ref,it was his substitutions that cost us 3 points,first time this season he`s really annoyed me,putting deneve on at a crucial time in the game when it`s clear he`s got no defensive nous at all

[StHelensRover]

I just remembered something else he said on radio lancs today which I didn't really understand. It may have been a bit lost in translation, not sure. He said something along the lines of "I wish we had conceded the equaliser earlier rather than right at the death". I don't know why that makes a difference, maybe he thought that would give us chance to still go on and score again. Usually when a team pulls level against us, they go on and get another. So f*** knows what he was getting at. 

[London blue]

37 minutes ago, J*B said:

Strictly on how unlikeable our recent managers have been, Ismael is right up there. 

Ince is up there.

[RevidgeBlue]

2 hours ago, London blue said:

Ince is up there.

Thought Ince was sheepish as a manager rather than dislikeable personally.

The total opposite of what he was like as a player.

[Ghost7]

3 hours ago, StHelensRover said:

I just remembered something else he said on radio lancs today which I didn't really understand. It may have been a bit lost in translation, not sure. He said something along the lines of "I wish we had conceded the equaliser earlier rather than right at the death". I don't know why that makes a difference, maybe he thought that would give us chance to still go on and score again. Usually when a team pulls level against us, they go on and get another. So f*** knows what he was getting at. 

He was just highlighting how the timing of the goal felt worse and like a loss but still fairly bizarre way of putting it, from a manager I don't rate. He must be difficult to follow.

[RoversClitheroe]

Valerian Ismael is a terrible terrible manager.

It's a shame it seems as though our local journalists have been told they can't ask tough questions or they'll lose access.

It really is a sad state of affairs.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Absolute Gobshyte.

[G Somerset Rover]

His game management is absolute chalk and cheese with Eustace. Being one up under JE you were hugely confident in keeping the three points. Under this bloke you hide behind the sofa/seat before the inevitable happens. He keeps making the same mistakes with personnel over and over again.

[StHelensRover]

Another masterclass from Val again. It'll be the refs fault today though I reckon. Let's see. 

Referee was poor but he didn't stick the ball in the back of our net. 

How many matches has Val been in charge of at Ewood Park and how many have we won? Not including friendlies or Old Etonians

Edited December 2, 2025 by StHelensRover

[Tomphil2]

Clueless T##t.

[Ferrit]

Another masterclass from big Val

Edited December 2, 2025 by Ferrit

[Waggy76]

The manager should be sacked ASAP! 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Waggy76

[StHelensRover]

His post match presser is bonkers. He goes on a 4-5 minute rant about referees and produces a list he has been keeping of decisions that went against us.  Hopefully he gets banned for Saturday's game, so we can start the same XI and he can't change it if we score.

I don't really know what he expects to happen as a result of his list and rant. Is he hoping to be invited to St George's Park to devise a new reffing course? I thought it was embarrassing. You never see successful managers on bitter rants like that, was Kevin Keegan stuff.

Edited December 3, 2025 by StHelensRover

[rog of the rovers]

We’ve got a deep dive coming on Ismael in this months podcast. Should be out on Friday morning as usual.

“4000 Holes Podcast” on your Apple/Spotify 

[alex l]

4 hours ago, StHelensRover said:

His post match presser is bonkers. He goes on a 4-5 minute rant about referees and produces a list he has been keeping of decisions that went against us.  Hopefully he gets banned for Saturday's game, so we can start the same XI and he can't change it if we score.

I don't really know what he expects to happen as a result of his list and rant. Is he hoping to be invited to St George's Park to devise a new reffing course? I thought it was embarrassing. You never see successful managers on bitter rants like that, was Kevin Keegan stuff.

Not sure it's a list he has kept, perhaps him scribbling down the decisions which came to mind when he lost his cool at the ref performance?

I think he got the sub of hedges wrong, Yuri would more likely have sat in and helped the backline. I prefer him being honest and not biting his tongue tonight, at least it shows some passion, even if it may come from concern for his own position 

[arbitro]

7 hours ago, StHelensRover said:

His post match presser is bonkers. He goes on a 4-5 minute rant about referees and produces a list he has been keeping of decisions that went against us.  Hopefully he gets banned for Saturday's game, so we can start the same XI and he can't change it if we score.

I don't really know what he expects to happen as a result of his list and rant. Is he hoping to be invited to St George's Park to devise a new reffing course? I thought it was embarrassing. You never see successful managers on bitter rants like that, was Kevin Keegan stuff.

It's frustration like it has been for many of us and last night was the culmination of several incorrect decisions.

I believe he is totally right to put it out there.

Do you think we should just accept them?

[arbitro]

2 hours ago, alex l said:

Not sure it's a list he has kept, perhaps him scribbling down the decisions which came to mind when he lost his cool at the ref performance?

I think he got the sub of hedges wrong, Yuri would more likely have sat in and helped the backline. I prefer him being honest and not biting his tongue tonight, at least it shows some passion, even if it may come from concern for his own position 

Hedges was injured.

Surely you saw that.

[roversfan99]

10 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Hedges was injured.

Surely you saw that.

Isnt he/she suggesting that the issue waant having to take Hedges off but bringing the useless De Neve on?

[arbitro]

9 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Isnt he/she suggesting that the issue waant having to take Hedges off but bringing the useless De Neve on?

Fair enough if he is but I read it as he would have kept him on.