Just mulling over our season during the international break, and despite our stunning success thus far some posters on this forum simply state that the reason we're doing so well is the terrible standard of the Championship.

Now the Championship might be worse than when we last played at this level, however given all the turmoil and turnover in personnel, plus Vinny learning this league as well as implementing an entirely new style of play for many in our squad, what he and all the staff have done is nothing short of remarkable in my view anyway, and they should be duly congratulated for their sterling work in rebuilding our fortunes so quickly.

I wasn't sure what this season would bring, however I doubt many could have expected things to go so swimmingly, and for us to coast back to the PL at the first time of asking.

And it's not just the results it's the enjoyment that VK has brought back to our club following the devastation of relegation.

However Vinny Kompany will be the first to admit that this success isn't purely down to him, but comes about from Craig Bellamy and all the other backroom staff putting in long hours doing the hard yards that we as supporters won't see.

Fans won't know what the coaches are doing though. It's all done out of sight.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:25 pm

Fans won't know what the coaches are doing though. It's all done out of sight.

And that comment essentially closes the topic thread
Agreed

More often than not, most coaches at most clubs don't get the credit they deserve.
For example, we all acknowledged the work Mercer did with our GK's, but it was rare any other of the coaches here under Dyche got any credit.

Now, I couldn't name our GK coach without googling it but they're clearly doing good work with Muric and BPK, yet there was some panic about Mercer leaving.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:48 pm

More often than not, most coaches at most clubs don't get the credit they deserve.
For example, we all acknowledged the work Mercer did with our GK's, but it was rare any other of the coaches here under Dyche got any credit.

Now, I couldn't name our GK coach without googling it but they're clearly doing good work with Muric and BPK, yet there was some panic about Mercer leaving.

I agree about Mercer's coaching abilities, with both Heaton and Pope representing their countries, and they certainly were not International standard when they joined. I think Dyche had a massive playing influence on the central defenders ie Keane, Tarks and Mee.However I struggle to see what Stone & Woan coached into the other players. However this season I see improvements across the team ie Muric, Maatsen, Roberts, Beyer, Barnes, Brownhill, Jay, Benson, Zarroury

I don't think the standard is any lower than last time but simply we are the side better than the remainder.

It happens most seasons.

Some very good points re: coaches. Though coaches are “ a bit like goalkeepers “ They’re all “ bloody good” and are also “ ten a penny” . Like with managers it’s often the vibe,culture and current form throughout a club that dictates how well players work with coaches . Not unlike grassroots, you can have brilliant coaches nursing teams through yrs of up n downs then wallop ! It’s all over in a few words from a disgruntled parent . You only need a dip in form and a few sulking players at a prem club and “ everyone’s sh1t “ and sacked .
VK and team have done a very good job ,and given budgets so they should .

Standard of the Championship really has fallen over the past few years - that doesn't take anything away from VK's achievement with our team, especially as we have beaten the better sides as well.

The impact of an assistant or coach is impossible to judge from the outside - but sometimes it is revealed when the assistant leaves. John Ward at Burnley is one example.

When Ian Loughlan left under Dyche,we were never the same.

Stoney and Woaney.

I shudder when I hear it.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 6:13 pm

Stoney and Woaney.

I shudder when I hear it.

Sounds like two that were involved in the Brinks Mat robbery

Accy Clarets coaches should get a mention too
Leisure, Grassy and everyone involved do a great job!

Usually when a team walks The Championship (I'm tempting fate a bit!) after coming down it's because they managed to keep hold of their best players. Watford and Norwich have pretty much done that this year and yet they have struggled to get in the play off places - surely that's a credit to other Championship teams?). What we've done is rip out the heart of our Premier League team, brought in many players most of us have never heard off and used remaining players that perhaps couldn't be sold and in some cases were practically written off - Barnes, JBG, maybe Rodriguez.

From this I would have expected the sort of season Blackburn are having - at times doing unexpectedly well and then failing. Yet we got it together pretty quickly to be at least a steady top half Championship side and then shot forward with the only blip being that Sheffield United defeat.

It's bloody amazing and when the dust settles this season will be looked back on as exceptional, and surely not just be us fans but other sections (perhaps even 'Arise Sir Vinny', seeing as we have a Royal supporter). VK and his coaching team deserve any credit they get and I hope he can keep, even add, to them to make progress in the Prem..

Stoney and Woany,were clueless with tactics,along with Dyche,at times,so frustrating,nothing to do with crime!

k90bfc wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 5:39 pm

When Ian Loughlan left under Dyche,we were never the same.

Wish we could have kept hold of him and Tony Woan had left instead.

k90bfc wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:22 pm

Stoney and Woany,were clueless with tactics,along with Dyche,at times,so frustrating,nothing to do with crime!

Comma, comma, comma, cooma Chameleon, you moan and droan, you moan and drooooan

forzagranata wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 5:00 pm

Standard of the Championship really has fallen over the past few years - that doesn't take anything away from VK's achievement with our team, especially as we have beaten the better sides as well.

The impact of an assistant or coach is impossible to judge from the outside - but sometimes it is revealed when the assistant leaves. John Ward at Burnley is one example.

I’m not sure the standard has fallen at all, simply that we’re just a much better side than the rest.

JohnMac wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 4:53 pm

I don't think the standard is any lower than last time but simply we are the side better than the remainder.

It happens most seasons.

Totally agree John, I think that fans are putting down our achievement this season by saying that the competition is shite.

BurnleyFC wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:24 pm

I’m not sure the standard has fallen at all, simply that we’re just a much better side than the rest.

Agreed 100% if anything there are more teams trying to get the ball down and play now, reall annoying when you read that the Championship is atrocious etc just because we are at the top of it.

I think the Championship has remained fairly strong this season, and we should not belittle our club by saying its a poor year for the quality of teams in this Division. However I believe the PL has moved on quite noticeably. You only need to see who is in a relegation battle-genuinely any 3 of 9 could go down this season, and there are some very good teams and players in that band of the PL

I don't think the standard is any worse than in 2015/16.

The influence of Vincent Kompany and his coaching staff will be felt in the Championship long after we've departed.
We'll be the template others will try to copy for years to come.

If the wheels go round as and when required then we have to say that's brilliant.

One or two have mentioned on here how the standard in the championship has declined in the last few years.
Based on what exactly?

It hasn’t got worse. But the Standard in the Prem is getting better, so people think it has.

Hapag Lloyd wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:31 pm

Wish we could have kept hold of him and Tony Woan had left instead.

Stoney, Tony, Moany Moany, Groany and Woany. Add in a handful of loany's and we have a team!

Quicknick wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 25, 2023 9:51 pm

I don't think the standard is any worse than in 2015/16.

Its not ... We are just better by a country mile