Valerien Ismael

You are truly a remarkable person and coach of a football team. How we managed to acquire your services I'll never know, but I'm very thankful that we have. Keep up the good work. I'm just a little sad that we, the fans, can't show our appreciation in real life. Because you and the players deserve that, and much much more.

You Reds

 

There's a debate to be had about our best ever manager but in terms of organising the team, getting them fit and implementation of a system I'd say he's the best in my time watching them.

 

Just think would he could do with a pre season

 

The problem is, unless we get promoted, that he'll get poached at the end of the season. Not sure how long his contract is but we should be looking to extend it just as much as we are for Mowatt.

 

The guy has done a phenomenal job. The system is so organised and we have a group of players who are fully buying into it. Can’t believe I’m saying this but I actually think the play offs are a possibility. Just such a shame that we can’t be in the ground to enjoy it....

 

Sadly it'd only mean extra compensation when he goes.

 

At some point we have to get out of that mentality

 

He’ll do

 

Can't argue with any of that, but can someone please tell him to blow his nose ... its driving me nuts

 

From the half season we've had with him, so far I'd say he's the best manager we've had in my lifetime (started going to games in 2000). We've had some good managers in that time who have got some good results, but usually through good relationships with the players, good man management, and a bit of luck.

This is the first time I've seen a manager come in and use pure system and tactical nous to terrify the opposition. And the players seem to like him on top of that.

 

Thank you New York you did us a massive favour!

 

In terms of instant impact there's only Clarke and probably Struber to compare. Heckingbottom and Hunter took over sides already shaped and starting to blossom.
Wilson was a decent manager but I'll always believe he got a bit lucky. No way did the signings of two ageing but decent pros, two unknowns from the lower ranks of Portuguese football and a utility player from Darlington suggest a promotion bid in the offing.
What Ismael has done in honing this system we play is astounding and it's got us in a position of realistically challenging at this stage of the season for only, I think, the fourth time in my 55 years following BFC.
Hope that's not tempted fate. I've been saying all season we weren't good enough to reach the play offs. We're now undeniably in a promotion battle though.
COYR!

 

Totally agree pal and he's only been here 4 months

 

I fear this too. Thinking about the reception VI would get at Oakwell the first time he is able to walk out in front of the fans sets a tingle down the spine. But given that's probably next season, will he be here? When you look at his playing record and what he has done in a short space of time with us, he is surely destined for higher things?

 

I’m a fully paid up member of the Big Val fan club but cannot stand by and have the achievements of Wilson and Hecky so summarily downgraded.
Danny built a team and style of play that saw us sweep teams aside, playing them off the pitch on the way to the Premier League.
Hecky had a huge amount to do having inherited a misfiring squad closer to relegation than promotion, embarking on an incredible winning streak crowned by those 2 days of Wembley joy.
I do so hope that we can keep VI long enough to win something with him at the helm.

 

Doesn’t do anything like justice to the careers of Hendrie and particularly Wilkinson before they came to us. An equivalent of us signing Wilkinson today would be someone like Danny Ings. It was incredible coup. He’d got over 100 league goals, the significant majority of them in the top flight.

 

Marlon’s Majority Report

 

A little harsh on Wilson. Listen to the interviews from the players of that era and they’ll tell you how unbelievable Danny’s man management of that squad was. Also that team played some beautiful football

 

I'm not saying either of them was less than a good manager. Hecky managed the team that provided an unforgettable period in our history. They were awesome on that run to promotion. It was probably my favourite season of all. He did, however, have all the players assembled and they'd already started to fire when he took over.
Wilson played a lovely brand of football and the signing of Hendrie was inspired. If we hadn't had the impetus of that five game winning run at the start of the season though I don't think we'd have gone up. I'd rather watch Wilson's team for entertainment than this one but my point was that I think Ismael has imposed an incredibly strong system. If I could take Ismael back in time and put him in charge for our first game in the Premier league I think we'd have stayed up. But hey, it's all subjective.

 

I think theres some serious hyperbole about VI in comparison with prior managers/coaches.

Wilson was the best by an absolute distance and even gave it a bloody good go in the top flight still playing very good football.

Ismael is more of a Machin comparator for me at this time. Taking a team languishing at the foot of the table low on confidence and galvanising them to be more competitive through a change of system and then (the following season in Machins case) turning them into play off contenders.

Where as Ismaels teams do work harder and essentially deploy the game plan of ruining it as a spectacle and a contest, Machins teams did play football.

10/10 to Ismael for ruthlessly pursuing and implementing a destructive philosophy of football to get results.

2/10 for aesthetic beauty and enjoyment.