Good Luck Graeme…
by Craig R. Haydock, 9th September, 2004
(roversactive.co.uk)
Thursday, December 3rd, 1998 - I was itching for a fix of the latest football news. Grasping the remote control in my hand - I keyed in those hallowed numbers, three-zero-and-two; with such speed I may add, that I often impressed myself.
There it was, in glorious pixels, a headline initially startling, but impressive all the same: ‘KIDD FOR ROVERS!’ Uncle Jack still meant business after all.
Fifteen months, twelve days, one relegation, a new stand at Barnsley and a sack or sixty of cash later and I was tapping in those same three numbers - only this time I wasn’t so astounded, never mind impressed. I’d been let down too many times over the last five years, high hopes dashed; champions to relegated, promotion favourites to mid-table mediocrity, down amongst the dead-men of Division One – handing the Ferrari back because we couldn’t afford the repayments. They say every good relationship needs trust and while my love for the club was still strong, I was growing more and more suspect of its fidelity by the day.
It took me just three days to change my mind - it’s a fickle game after all, swiftly convinced that Graeme Souness was the right man to instil my faith once more, the moustachioed messiah, ready to lead us from the wilderness, back into the promised land – waxed and primed, tooth-comb and all. It wasn’t the auspicious point that was earned in the Craven Cottage sunshine that brightened my spirits, but rather the man himself.
Certain men have a presence, an aura that commands respect and glows with poise. For all of his recent misadventures in football management, when Souness led his players across the pitch at Fulham - he had all the conviction of a man who looked geared for success. The cool-arrogance in his stride, the stylish cut of his tailored suit, the glint in his eye, and of course - the famous moustache, maintained to perfection. He looked a far cry from the crazed madman who planted the flag of Galatasaray in the centre circle of their fiercest rivals, Fenerbahce, only seasons earlier.
Fast forward a few more months and the clearance sale was well under way – weaknesses were quickly identified and in came a clutch of impressive signings; Brad Friedel, Stig Inge Bjørnebye, John Curtis and Craig Hignett, before the likes of Mark Hughes, Marcus Bent, Henning Berg and Eyal Berkovic confirmed our promotion aspirations at the end of an impressive first full season in charge (and there we were expecting Aly Dia to pop through the door).
His team was built around the trio of skilful young players that Brian Kidd had chosen to ignore: Matt Jansen, a £4.1m Kidd signing, complemented by the fledgling David Dunn and Damien Duff, three players visibly improved under Souness’ stewardship - combining to form the ‘Crown Jewels’ at Ewood Park.
Rovers struggled at first - in coming to terms with a Premier League they had not been part of for two seasons. Things had changed, times had moved, although the arrival of Andy Cole and an unexpected Worthington Cup triumph brought parity and hysteria, in that order.
European football was subsequently achieved two seasons running, although the jewels had begun to fragment over the course of the 2002/03 season. Jansen had failed to fully recover from a motorcycle accident in pre-season, Dunn was no longer on speaking terms with the manager and Duff, who had somehow survived the vultures after his World Cup heroics, was about to become the first pawn in a Russian revolution at big-spending Chelsea, after firing Rovers to a sixth place finish in the Premiership.
The well was drying up and a lack of finance was tempered by training ground bust-ups and failed signings; last season proved to be a frustrating one for Rovers, buoyed only by the arrival of Jonathan Stead. A giant sword and a gleaming white horse would have been fitting, as Blackburn’s knight in shining armour struck the goals that kept his new club in the top-flight.
A disappointing start to the new campaign, coupled with the last, allowed the Ewood faithful a grunt or two at puzzling team selections. The equivalent to playing Vratislav Gresko in midfield and Dominic Matteo on the left wing would be to tell Alan Shearer that he’s playing sweeper when Souness finally takes the reigns at St James’ Park next Monday.
It’s been suggested that the passionate Scotsman jumped before he was pushed, but for all the mutterings from the discontented, the chant of ‘Souness Out’ never once echoed around the terraces, and was never really likely to either.
There are two memories of Graeme Souness’ time at Ewood Park that best stand out: the shared sentiment to the late Jack Walker after promotion was achieved at Deepdale, and the celebrations in front of the supporters that Souness himself led at the Reebok Stadium, following another last gasp equaliser in August 2003.
Tears are yet to be shed in the blue and white sector of East Lancashire, yet while Souness may have gone ’stale’ as some have suggested, the club always possessed a level of stability that he’d helped, in large part, to maintain under his tenure. The new appointment must do likewise. His first task will be to appease the current members of the squad, Barry Ferguson in particular, who would be a great loss now he’s back to full fitness, not to mention the current club captain.
You couldn’t help but realise that Ferguson’s signing was due to the lure of working under Graeme Souness, the temptation to follow him to the North East might be even greater. There exists a mutual respect between the two and it would be hard to see Ferguson staying at Ewood, unless a man of similar stature can persuade him otherwise.
Who that man is, we’ll just have to wait and see, with a deadline for the new appointment set to two-three weeks, my thumb should be primed for the remote control when the time comes. Let’s just hope the trend of appointing a successful and popular manager continues. By the way, good luck Graeme and thanks for the memories, it’s been emotional.
by Craig R. Haydock, 9th September, 2004
(roversactive.co.uk)
Thursday, December 3rd, 1998 - I was itching for a fix of the latest football news. Grasping the remote control in my hand - I keyed in those hallowed numbers, three-zero-and-two; with such speed I may add, that I often impressed myself.
There it was, in glorious pixels, a headline initially startling, but impressive all the same: ‘KIDD FOR ROVERS!’ Uncle Jack still meant business after all.
Fifteen months, twelve days, one relegation, a new stand at Barnsley and a sack or sixty of cash later and I was tapping in those same three numbers - only this time I wasn’t so astounded, never mind impressed. I’d been let down too many times over the last five years, high hopes dashed; champions to relegated, promotion favourites to mid-table mediocrity, down amongst the dead-men of Division One – handing the Ferrari back because we couldn’t afford the repayments. They say every good relationship needs trust and while my love for the club was still strong, I was growing more and more suspect of its fidelity by the day.
It took me just three days to change my mind - it’s a fickle game after all, swiftly convinced that Graeme Souness was the right man to instil my faith once more, the moustachioed messiah, ready to lead us from the wilderness, back into the promised land – waxed and primed, tooth-comb and all. It wasn’t the auspicious point that was earned in the Craven Cottage sunshine that brightened my spirits, but rather the man himself.
Certain men have a presence, an aura that commands respect and glows with poise. For all of his recent misadventures in football management, when Souness led his players across the pitch at Fulham - he had all the conviction of a man who looked geared for success. The cool-arrogance in his stride, the stylish cut of his tailored suit, the glint in his eye, and of course - the famous moustache, maintained to perfection. He looked a far cry from the crazed madman who planted the flag of Galatasaray in the centre circle of their fiercest rivals, Fenerbahce, only seasons earlier.
Fast forward a few more months and the clearance sale was well under way – weaknesses were quickly identified and in came a clutch of impressive signings; Brad Friedel, Stig Inge Bjørnebye, John Curtis and Craig Hignett, before the likes of Mark Hughes, Marcus Bent, Henning Berg and Eyal Berkovic confirmed our promotion aspirations at the end of an impressive first full season in charge (and there we were expecting Aly Dia to pop through the door).
His team was built around the trio of skilful young players that Brian Kidd had chosen to ignore: Matt Jansen, a £4.1m Kidd signing, complemented by the fledgling David Dunn and Damien Duff, three players visibly improved under Souness’ stewardship - combining to form the ‘Crown Jewels’ at Ewood Park.
Rovers struggled at first - in coming to terms with a Premier League they had not been part of for two seasons. Things had changed, times had moved, although the arrival of Andy Cole and an unexpected Worthington Cup triumph brought parity and hysteria, in that order.
European football was subsequently achieved two seasons running, although the jewels had begun to fragment over the course of the 2002/03 season. Jansen had failed to fully recover from a motorcycle accident in pre-season, Dunn was no longer on speaking terms with the manager and Duff, who had somehow survived the vultures after his World Cup heroics, was about to become the first pawn in a Russian revolution at big-spending Chelsea, after firing Rovers to a sixth place finish in the Premiership.
The well was drying up and a lack of finance was tempered by training ground bust-ups and failed signings; last season proved to be a frustrating one for Rovers, buoyed only by the arrival of Jonathan Stead. A giant sword and a gleaming white horse would have been fitting, as Blackburn’s knight in shining armour struck the goals that kept his new club in the top-flight.
A disappointing start to the new campaign, coupled with the last, allowed the Ewood faithful a grunt or two at puzzling team selections. The equivalent to playing Vratislav Gresko in midfield and Dominic Matteo on the left wing would be to tell Alan Shearer that he’s playing sweeper when Souness finally takes the reigns at St James’ Park next Monday.
It’s been suggested that the passionate Scotsman jumped before he was pushed, but for all the mutterings from the discontented, the chant of ‘Souness Out’ never once echoed around the terraces, and was never really likely to either.
There are two memories of Graeme Souness’ time at Ewood Park that best stand out: the shared sentiment to the late Jack Walker after promotion was achieved at Deepdale, and the celebrations in front of the supporters that Souness himself led at the Reebok Stadium, following another last gasp equaliser in August 2003.
Tears are yet to be shed in the blue and white sector of East Lancashire, yet while Souness may have gone ’stale’ as some have suggested, the club always possessed a level of stability that he’d helped, in large part, to maintain under his tenure. The new appointment must do likewise. His first task will be to appease the current members of the squad, Barry Ferguson in particular, who would be a great loss now he’s back to full fitness, not to mention the current club captain.
You couldn’t help but realise that Ferguson’s signing was due to the lure of working under Graeme Souness, the temptation to follow him to the North East might be even greater. There exists a mutual respect between the two and it would be hard to see Ferguson staying at Ewood, unless a man of similar stature can persuade him otherwise.
Who that man is, we’ll just have to wait and see, with a deadline for the new appointment set to two-three weeks, my thumb should be primed for the remote control when the time comes. Let’s just hope the trend of appointing a successful and popular manager continues. By the way, good luck Graeme and thanks for the memories, it’s been emotional.
No comments:
Post a Comment