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Paul Ince feeling at home at Blackburn Rovers
10:50am Wednesday 9th July 2008
Comments (21)
PAUL Ince has praised his players for the way in which they have embraced his new regime during the first few days of pre-season training.
The newly-appointed Blackburn Rovers chief says he is already starting to feel at home in his new job, after spending an enjoyable first couple of days on the training ground at Brockhall.
And with the players seemingly ready to buy into his new ideas, Ince is confident Rovers will be fighting fit and ready to hit the ground running come August 16, when they face Everton at Goodison Park on the opening day of the season.
The former MK Dons chief said: “The first few days have been very enjoyable.
“The lads are in good spirits and they’ve come back pretty fit as well, which is always handy because we can then get straight into the things that we want to do, rather than having to spend a week or so getting their weight back down again.
“So everyone is raring to go and the first week to 10 days is all about getting their conditioning right and doing a lot of running.
“It’s also about us getting to know the players, and them getting to know us, after all the changes.”
In the two weeks since he was officially installed as Mark Hughes’ successor, Ince has been busy assembling a new-look backroom team to replace the members of staff that followed Hughes to Manchester City.
Five appointments have already been confirmed, in Ray Mathias (assistant manager), Mark Howard (fitness coach), Duncan Russell (assistant fitness coach), Archie Knox (first team coach) and Karl Robinson (assistant first team coach).
But Ince has revealed he is still planning on making several further appointments, one of which is thought to be a goalkeeping coach, before the week is out.
“There’s still one or two people we need to bring in but hopefully all that will get sorted out in the next week or so,” said the Rovers chief.
“It was very important to get Archie Knox in, because his experience in the Premier League will be vital to us.
“To have people like him and Ray Mathias, who was fantastic for me at MK Dons, on board is absolutely crucial.
“I think we’ve got the blend right; we’ve got a bit of experience and a bit of youth as well, and most importantly everyone is hungry to succeed here.”
Where do Rovers need to improve their squad for next season? Add your comments below.
Your Say YourBlackburn Citizen
Robbie, Manchester says...
11:43am Wed 9 Jul 08
Ribble Rover, Ribble Valley says...
11:45am Wed 9 Jul 08
Trev Manchester, The real deal... says...
12:58pm Wed 9 Jul 08
cant believe we being linked with green and robinson, and your right, not a chance they'll wanna be his understudy, its not even as if Brown needs replacin anyway, he takes his chances really well albeit very little of them.
other than those i think we have a strong side and keepin in mind stability and only lettin one star (in bentley) go, theres no reason why we cant finish top 6, providin we get in a decent replacement in larsson, lennon, benayon or pennant plus chelsea are lookin to trim too so could go for SWP...
Robbie, Manchester says...
1:21pm Wed 9 Jul 08
m wooops
no doubt robbo and green are good, but i would hate to see brad leave, i think the only main out going should be and will only be bentley.
we need a right back, a replacement for bents (unless brett gets one more chance), and someone to fight with gmp for his place.. and a quick skillful goal scoring centre midfielder.
i make that 4 players and we will have around 25/28 million to spend (if ince gets the funds for bents that is)
Trev Manchester, The real deal... says...
1:36pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Robbie, Manchester says...
1:48pm Wed 9 Jul 08
rover2000, sydney says...
1:48pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Concentrate our limited funds on where they are needed for God's sake.
Jason, Accrington says...
3:24pm Wed 9 Jul 08
rover2000 wrote:I dont think he is going to sell Brad, i think he is just lining up a replacement!
Cannot believe I keep seeing us linked with new goalkeepers----none of whom imo are as good as Brad.If Ince sells Brad he's selling the heart of the club and committing managerial suicide.Concentrate our limited funds on where they are needed for God's sake.
Fair enough Brown is good but he is still young for a GK and who knows, maybe Ince is one day hoping to make Friedel his GK coach, now that would be good!
Spanish_Rover82, España says...
3:57pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Trev Manchester, The real deal... says...
5:43pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Trev Manchester, The real deal... says...
5:44pm Wed 9 Jul 08
tugay 4 ever, chorley says...
9:21pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Market Trader, Darwen says...
11:36pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Robbie, Manchester says...
9:09am Thu 10 Jul 08
anyone know anything about this guy. i know he plays for red star, but is he a centre mid or winger?
Robbie, Manchester says...
9:16am Thu 10 Jul 08
sports.com/blogs/air
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Robbie, Manchester says...
9:16am Thu 10 Jul 08
sports.com/blogs/air
wolf09/2006/10/23/Al
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illo_Red_Star
Morst the 88th min Heartbreaker, Accrington says...
9:41am Thu 10 Jul 08
Robbie, Manchester says...
10:02am Thu 10 Jul 08
and yeah trev they have sorted it the reading down thing out.. i was rather confused for a moment trying to work out thwere the new posts had gone.. i so should have been blonde..
Trev Manchester, The real deal... says...
11:03am Thu 10 Jul 08
10 mil and they havent made it through the intertwo bob yet, silly beggers!
who makes up the security words...
rover2000, sydney says...
1:59pm Thu 10 Jul 08
How many signatures would it take to convince the club we love Brad Friedal? And to sell him, would be a huge disaster? I can hear the sound of season tickets dropping through the club's letter-box now.
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Trev Manchester, The real deal... says...
11:33am Wed 9 Jul 08