The Guvnor's ready to raise the strandard
INCE CAN CUT IT
by CHRIS BASCOMBE
ON accepting the Blackburn job, Paul Ince played down notions he may be perceived as a test case for young, gifted, black English managers.
But few appointments have been welcomed so much for their symbolism in Premier League history.
Ince finds himself carrying far more than the burden of responsibility to continue Mark Hughes’ work at Ewood Park.
Succeed, and every manager following in his lead will namecheck Ince as the man who convinced the cynical top- flight board members to bury any lingering prejudices and inspire a new generation.
Fail, and then the I told-you-so smugness from those who have ignored the claims of up-and-coming black English bosses may be too much to bear.
Lethal
His focus will be on proving his triumphs at Macclesfield and Milton Keynes were no fluke.
Ince has already raised eyebrows with his early appointments, leaning heavily on his ex-Anfield ties rather those of Manchester United, where he enjoyed so much success.
Robbie Fowler is on trial after being given an unexpected chance to prove he’s as lethal as ever at the highest level, and Ewood’s new chief scout Barry Whitbread signed Ince’s teenage son, Thomas, while at Liverpool’s Academy.
Jermaine Pennant is also in Ince’s sights.
The loss of Hughes and all his backroom team, and players such as Brad Friedel, David Bentley and possibly Roque Santa Cruz must concern Rovers’ fans.
Friedel’s departure could be as significant as the manager’s. He’s been the league’s most consistent keeper for the past five years.
His replacement, Paul Robinson, arrives from Spurs having gone from England No 1 to a keeper viewed with suspicion rather than confidence.
With defender Stephen Warnock also attracting bids from Newcastle, there’s a sense of deflation that Hughes’ improving squad is being disbanded.
Fear
How wisely Ince spends his raised funds will determine the season. His judgement was flawless at lower level, but the jury is deliberating whether he can spot a player who is Premier League standard.
Chilean midfielder and player of the year, Carlos Villanueva, 22, is on his wanted list, but he’ll also need a right back and holding midfielder.
The fear must be Ince will find the instant shift from the Coca-Cola League to Premier League football too much to deal with.
But if, as Sir Alex Ferguson said, every team reflects the personality of their manager, the Ewood faithful will have nothing to worry about.
Rovers will be brash, in-your-face, aggressive and 100 per cent committed to their cause. Even so, Blackburn may settle for mid-table consistency, away from any relegation perils, while their new boss cuts his teeth in the first of what promises to be a long career.
KEY TRANSFERS
IN: Paul Robinson (Tottenham) £3.5m.
OUT: David Bentley (Tottenham, right) £17m; Brad Friedel (Aston Villa) undisc; Raffaele De Vita (Livingston) free; Jamie Clarke (Accrington Stanley) loan.
OUR PREDICTION: 13th
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