Berg believes in Blackburn Rovers ambition
12:50pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
ON February 2 1993, Henning Berg made his Blackburn Rovers debut as a substitute in the 2-1 Premier League home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Now, almost 20 years on, the Norwegian will start his Rovers managerial career against the very same opponents – this time at Selhurst Park – as he looks to make his mark on the club after nearly a decade away from Ewood Park.
Having won the Premier League in his first spell as a player in East Lancashire and then helped the club back to the top flight and on to Worthington Cup success in 2002 during his second spell, Berg’s Rovers’ impact has already been significant.
He is guaranteed ‘legend’ status at the club but is under no illusions about the size of the task that now awaits him.
The club Berg left in 2003 is a very different one to what he arrives at now. Rovers have been a crisis club for almost two years, with owners Venky’s lurching from one bad decision to another.
Berg himself slated the running of the club just a few months ago – claiming things had to change for any credible manager to take the job – but he insists he has now seen signs of improvement.
He said: “Looking at it from the outside, it’s been a difficult time. But now I think the owners are making big decisions. They are putting money in and buying players, like Best, Rhodes, Murphy, Etuhu, Gomes, big players, important players for this team.
“So the owners are showing their intent.
“They have done that by changing the management as well.
“They are taking the club in the right direction, looking to make sure this club gets back into the Premier League.
“The comments were made by me looking in from the outside. But I know what they have done in the summer, I know what they think. I know what they want for the fans and for the club.
“I had long talks with Shebby Singh, Paul Agnew and Derek Shaw and I spoke to the owners as well after that.
“They are committed and they want to get this club back into the Premier League.
“They are involved in the club, there’s no doubt about that.
“I think with the steps they have taken in the summer and now, they have shown to everyone what their ambitions are. On the pitch there has been an improvement in the last few games and I think we want to continue that.”
Berg will travel to Crystal Palace tomorrow knowing an instant Premier League return is his target.
If you listen to global advisor Shebby Singh, that is the minimum the club expect of him.
The 43-year-old appears to be taking the pressure in his stride though but, after rumours of external influences on former boss Steve Kean, he is adamant he will be doing things ‘his way’.
“As a manager you will have to have the final say in most things,” he said.
“But you have to have discussions. I don't think one person should be doing everything on his own.
“When it comes to picking players, when it comes to buying players, the manager’s words have to be important.
“It’s no good bringing in players if the manager doesn’t want to use them – that’s not money well spent.
“I don’t think that will be a problem and I’m sure I have enough character to make sure the football decisions and team decisions I will have the last word.
“When you’re a manager, of course you have the final say on things.
“At the same time there will be staff working, directors, chief executives who are all working in the same direction.
“We’ll all work together, we have to co-operate to be as good as we can be. We have our own rules, our own responsibilities and we’re working towards that.
“I think Shebby has a great relationship and dialogue with the owners so I’m not going to be flying there all the time. I will meet the owners when they come over and we will talk, even if I don’t fly over.”
The future of Kean’s assistant and Rovers’ caretaker boss for the last month, Eric Black, together with the rest of the backroom staff, remains unclear.
Berg though insists he will assess the situation with an open mind.
He said: “I think they have done well as a caretaker. It would be foolish for me to come in and to make a lot of changes before I know everyone personally.
“I will assess and see if we can work together. Hopefully we can. At the moment, I am looking at everything with open eyes.”
Comments(29)
zenoufthebirdcatcher
says...
1:06pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Is Eckersley playing?
says...
1:13pm Fri 2 Nov 12
bring back the good old days
says...
1:18pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Arron1212
says...
1:18pm Fri 2 Nov 12
waggyonthewing
says...
1:25pm Fri 2 Nov 12
inflightmagazine
says...
1:25pm Fri 2 Nov 12
b12simon
says...
1:27pm Fri 2 Nov 12
FCBurnley
says...
1:42pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID.
Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
MxMave
says...
1:52pm Fri 2 Nov 12
BeatleBill
says...
1:52pm Fri 2 Nov 12
FCBurnley wrote:Can't wait to see you eat your own "chicken" words, troglodyte. Cathedral of soccer, indeed. More like ancient ruins....
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor.
Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID.
Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
bigste
says...
1:54pm Fri 2 Nov 12
inflightmagazine
says...
2:33pm Fri 2 Nov 12
FCBurnley wrote:Clearly a cryptic message as you have used the word soccer instead of football, so let me try an dechiper, Cathedral of soccer, Cathedral comes from the latin and greek words meaning seat, Soccer is thought do derive from Association as in football assocciaters. So piecing this togethor another type of seat is a stool, taking this as an acronym we get tools, therefore revealing the true meaning,
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor. Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID. Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
Tools Association - Turf Moor, Brilliant
Gaz M
says...
2:43pm Fri 2 Nov 12
FCBurnley wrote:What have we to be afraid about we get results every time we turn up ,from the juniors through to the first team we even out sing you you sorry lot ! gret back to carving silly faces in your pumpkins bumpkin!!
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor.
Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID.
Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
FCBurnley
says...
2:46pm Fri 2 Nov 12
inflightmagazine wrote:Wow you are clearly too intelligent for me. Lots of long words. Care to explain `assocciaters` and `togethor` ?
FCBurnley wrote:Clearly a cryptic message as you have used the word soccer instead of football, so let me try an dechiper, Cathedral of soccer, Cathedral comes from the latin and greek words meaning seat, Soccer is thought do derive from Association as in football assocciaters. So piecing this togethor another type of seat is a stool, taking this as an acronym we get tools, therefore revealing the true meaning,
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor. Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID. Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
Tools Association - Turf Moor, Brilliant
inflightmagazine
says...
2:53pm Fri 2 Nov 12
FCBurnley wrote:No need my lightly IQ`d friend I think the message hit home just fine. Give it 10 mins when the cider wears off a little and you will undersatnd.
inflightmagazine wrote:Wow you are clearly too intelligent for me. Lots of long words. Care to explain `assocciaters` and `togethor` ?FCBurnley wrote: And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor. Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID. Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.Clearly a cryptic message as you have used the word soccer instead of football, so let me try an dechiper, Cathedral of soccer, Cathedral comes from the latin and greek words meaning seat, Soccer is thought do derive from Association as in football assocciaters. So piecing this togethor another type of seat is a stool, taking this as an acronym we get tools, therefore revealing the true meaning, Tools Association - Turf Moor, Brilliant
eddyo
says...
3:04pm Fri 2 Nov 12
FCBurnley wrote:`Assocciaters` and `togethor` are phonetic spellings, He's mocking your Bonleh accent - 'fiko'.
inflightmagazine wrote:Wow you are clearly too intelligent for me. Lots of long words. Care to explain `assocciaters` and `togethor` ?
FCBurnley wrote:Clearly a cryptic message as you have used the word soccer instead of football, so let me try an dechiper, Cathedral of soccer, Cathedral comes from the latin and greek words meaning seat, Soccer is thought do derive from Association as in football assocciaters. So piecing this togethor another type of seat is a stool, taking this as an acronym we get tools, therefore revealing the true meaning,
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor. Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID. Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
Tools Association - Turf Moor, Brilliant
blueblooded
says...
3:17pm Fri 2 Nov 12
inflightmagazine wrote:hahahaha! Briliant ;)
FCBurnley wrote:Clearly a cryptic message as you have used the word soccer instead of football, so let me try an dechiper, Cathedral of soccer, Cathedral comes from the latin and greek words meaning seat, Soccer is thought do derive from Association as in football assocciaters. So piecing this togethor another type of seat is a stool, taking this as an acronym we get tools, therefore revealing the true meaning,
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor. Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID. Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
Tools Association - Turf Moor, Brilliant
Anyone else think Dyche's Dykes are a bit rattled at seeing the teams heading in opposite ends of the table already?
blueblooded
says...
3:21pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Sean Dyche:
As a player
Chesterfield Bass Charity Vase winners: 1990–91
Derbyshire F.A. Centenary Cup winners: 1994–95
Bristol City First Division runners-up: 1997–98
Millwall Second Division champions: 2000–01
Northampton Town League Two runners-up: 2005–06
Manager:
Watford
Burnley
So League two runner up as a player and ex-manager of Watford? I wonder why he lowered himself to the Turd?
dangerous dave
says...
4:20pm Fri 2 Nov 12
OUT WITH SHAW AGNEW SINGH BLACK HENDRY.
Abu dabi
says...
4:42pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Alan42
says...
5:01pm Fri 2 Nov 12
FCBurnley wrote:Carry on looking upwards Dingle. That's where you will see Rovers and has been for 30 odd years.
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor.
Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID.
Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
FCBurnley
says...
5:45pm Fri 2 Nov 12
inflightmagazine wrote:And there was me thinking you were just another of the long line of Ewood illiterates ! By the way, I don`t understand undersatnd !!
FCBurnley wrote:No need my lightly IQ`d friend I think the message hit home just fine. Give it 10 mins when the cider wears off a little and you will undersatnd.
inflightmagazine wrote:Wow you are clearly too intelligent for me. Lots of long words. Care to explain `assocciaters` and `togethor` ?FCBurnley wrote: And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor. Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID. Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.Clearly a cryptic message as you have used the word soccer instead of football, so let me try an dechiper, Cathedral of soccer, Cathedral comes from the latin and greek words meaning seat, Soccer is thought do derive from Association as in football assocciaters. So piecing this togethor another type of seat is a stool, taking this as an acronym we get tools, therefore revealing the true meaning, Tools Association - Turf Moor, Brilliant
cathedral citi
says...
6:31pm Fri 2 Nov 12
FCBurnley wrote:Yes, I'm VERY afraid of 'Dyche the Douche' and his Ginger minger mug..... Just look at him.... He looks like he's just had another stint with the ol' colonic irrigation..... You dingles are renowned for your unhealthy sexual deviations...... High time we had a wall built right round your devious horrible town, and keep you all away from us Lancastrians.....
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor.
Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID.
Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
Dyche the douche.... The expert of colonic irrigation....
glp
says...
11:58pm Fri 2 Nov 12
FCBurnley wrote:I am sure even Venkys Blackburn Rovers can carry on the wonderful tradition of beating the Dingles at Turd Moor. Even at our worst we always triumph over the Yorkshire Inbreds
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor.
Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID.
Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
RespectTheK-Dog
says...
1:25am Sat 3 Nov 12
Now they've got a DEAD RINGER for the baldy.
Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Just admit it you were GUTTED when Kean walked out and left you. GUTTED. You'd pay his demands and double his salary in a flash to have him back.
Don't deny it and don't pretend otherwise lie. Steve Kean receives 500 letters of support a week still from upset fans like yourselves.
smellthecoffee
says...
3:56am Sat 3 Nov 12
smellthecoffee
says...
4:01am Sat 3 Nov 12
wrralrover wrote:Wow..where were all these people when the LET poll was active...? Berg polled just 4 votes (0.5% of the entire vote) yet 46 "people" are claiming he is the savour!! Surely it cannot have anything to do with Kentaro attempting to brainwash supporters into thinking all is rosey and to part with their hard earned money??
I would like to wish Henning Berg every success in his new appointment as manager of the most successful town club in history. Come on everyone lets get behind him.
Cumbrian Blue
says...
9:29am Sat 3 Nov 12
FCBurnley wrote:And we now have a manager that has experienced playing against Burnley firsthand. Knows what it means and more importantly what it is like to beat you at Turf Moor and thrash you at Ewood.
And a warm Burnley welcome to The Chicken Berger. Not long to wait before you get to visit the Cathedral of Soccer that is Turf Moor.
Be AFRAID. be VERY AFRAID.
Lose and your honeymoon will be over almost before it began.
The passion will be there and you can expect Dunn to play some part in your demise this time round.
wrralrover says...
12:56pm Fri 2 Nov 12