Kevin Blackwell (1 Viewer)

Don't think he's been too popular with his own fans though has he?

was there at bury, and was there again today

Leeds United

Blackwell left Sheffield United for Leeds United to join Peter Reid as his Assistant Manager in 2003. He remained in this role under Eddie Gray following Reid's dismissal before taking over as manager of Leeds in the summer 2004 following the club's relegation from the Premiership. Handed the task of rebuilding Leeds' team after huge debts forced the jettisoning of its highly paid stars, Blackwell made a record number of signings for the club in 2004–05. He focused on value for money, buying players that, while talented, had not made the highest grade. Although early results were poor, perhaps affected by boardroom turmoil that saw the new board struggle to put the club onto a sound financial footing and in time led to its takeover by Ken Bates, Blackwell led the side to challenge for the playoffs, before a run of draws slowed progress, leaving Leeds in mid-table.



Blackwell had been seen as a temporary appointment, perhaps to be replaced by a more glamorous name, but his success in stabilising the team – and his initial popularity with fans – led Bates to suggest he had a long term future at the club.



In the summer of 2005 Blackwell was given financial backing and bought some high profile players for the new season. Proven strikers Richard Cresswell, Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake gave Blackwell plenty of firepower up front, while USA winger Eddie Lewis arrived to supply the ammunition. Once again Blackwell had convinced in-demand players to join Leeds. Blackwell's shrewd tactics away from Elland Road and attacking style at home (where 9 out of 10 matches were won) proved very effective and, by the end of February, Blackwell had guided Leeds to 3rd spot and an almost guaranteed play off spot, with automatic promotion remaining a possibility. The Leeds team however then produced some distinctly average performances and settled for their play-off place. This made a lot of Leeds fans disgruntled and many blamed it on Blackwell using the same tactics week in week out, with teams being able to predict this and counteract them.



Blackwell took his Leeds team into the Championship play-off final, after beating Preston North End 3–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals. However Leeds lost the final 3–0 to Watford on 21 May 2006. A string of bad results followed in both pre-season and the start of the 2006–07 and on 20 September 2006 his contract as Leeds United manager was terminated. As Blackwell left the club, Leeds were lying 23rd in the table, with seven points from eight games.




Luton Town

On 27 March 2007, Blackwell was announced as the new manager of Luton Town and began his tenure with a draw against Burnley.[3]





The club entered administration in late 2007, and in January 2008 Blackwell announced he would leave Luton after working a month's notice. However, he was sacked a week after making this statement.[4][5]
Sheffield United

Blackwell, took the position of Sheffield United manager replacing Bryan Robson on 14 February 2008 until the end of the season. He was assisted by his former Luton Town assistant Sam Ellis.[6]




After the Blades 2–0 defeat at home to Charlton Athletic on 1 March 2008, Blackwell was critical of his team's performance, describing it as "insipid" and "embarrassing" in an interview on BBC Radio Sheffield.[7][8] Since then, the team went on a five game unbeaten run drawing at Ipswich Town and winning four in a row against Plymouth Argyle, Coventry City, Norwich City and Barnsley to improve his chances of landing the job permanent. The 4-match winning streak ended to a 3–1 defeat against Preston North End. The team responded with a 3–0 victory against Leicester City, James Beattie scored his first hat-trick of the club in that game. In his first Sheffield derby as manager, the Blades showed much improved passion levels as they came from 2–0 down against Sheffield Wednesday to draw 2–2 with Beattie scoring a stunning free kick very late in the game to rescue a point. This was followed by a 2–1 victory at Burnley, with another superb Beattie free kick, and a 2–0 victory over Hull when United went down to ten men after skipper Chris Morgan was sent off. In the penultimate game of the season, the Blades won 2–1 against Bristol City with Speed scoring a brace. With one game remaining in the season, United remained in with a chance of making the play offs, a considerable achievement after the Robson era. Sheffield United lost 3–2 on the last day of the season against Southampton and finished ninth, four points off the final playoff place.





In the 2008–2009 season Blackwell took Sheffield United to The Championship play off final after beating Preston North End 2–1 over two legs. Sheffield United lost the final 1–0 against Burnley.
On 14 August 2010 after losing 3–0 to Queens Park Rangers, the club website confirmed that Blackwell had left the club by mutual consent.

Some good stuff in there but also a few worrying things too.

ccfcway said:

was there at bury, and was there again today

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Maybe he has to study the games and report back to Fisher with his thoughts and ideas. Depending on his report wins him the job? Also think if that's the case he has already agreed a figure, working with Carsley and Shaw and accepting the squad already aquired? So he wants also to study the 'form' of this squad before he puts his own neck on the line?

Why else would he be there? Some say he was working for radio Tuesday but what would he be there for today? Does he live locally?

Just saying.

I don't want him Pax.

Done some good stuff but then was given a lot of money at Leeds and failed and the comment about him using the same tactics week in week out and opposition teams sussing that out is rather concerning.

Otis said:

Some good stuff in there but also a few worrying things too.

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But were gonna find that with any manager when looking through his CV.

If appointed, it wouldn't be the end of the world for us.

What would be a positive for me is that Blackwell has had some success at more than 1 club (Sheffield and Leeds)

You get some managers where it all clicks into place for one season at a particular club and then they never do anything of note again i.e Phil Brown and Aidy Boothroyd

Would rather Blackwell than Ince, but then that isn't saying much at all because I think Ince would be a terrible appointment.

Blackwell does not inspire me and either. i would not like him here. I see him in the same 'mould' as a coleman, Boothroyd etc. Experienced but dull. Might get success then might not.

Wise would guarantee some sparks and excitment on and off the pitch. Maybe that and his experience is what we need to 'inspire' the team?

Paxman II said:

Blackwell does not inspire me and either. i would not like him here. I see him in the same 'mould' as a coleman, Boothroyd etc. Experienced but dull. Might get success then might not.

Wise would guarantee some sparks and excitment on and off the pitch. Maybe that and his experience is what we need to 'inspire' the team?

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Agree. We need an inspirational figure as much as anything else. Someone who can get these players believing in themselves again.

It depends what the squad actually needs. If the players are actually not as good as some think they are then whoever comes in has a problem.

If the squad is good enough then it is other issues that need to be addressed be that motivation, discipline, organisation whatever.

Blackwell would be good at some of these factors. We have to face facts some of this squad collectively have baggage and get managers sacked. Some have contributed to thorn and Boothroyds demise and a couple Coleman as well.

So he would bring some of that. The one concern I actually have about him is he may have peaked as a manager and be on the slide. He has a bit of the Micky Adams about him.

Without being too trivial he was a goalkeeper and i never see them as managers. Some must have made it but we had one once and he was awful.

I see the Mickey Adams in him too.

ccfcway said:

was there at bury, and was there again today

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Where has it been reported he was at todays game? Was he also at the Brum game?

Someone from SBT said they saw him at the ground today.

Otis said:

I see the Mickey Adams in him too.

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Does he refer to himself by name?

Anyway I hope we get someone in early next week

A small piece on John Carver, Kevin Blackwell's head coach, on their time at Luton, in League One, the first year Luton went down from the Championship...
''Brought to Luton Town by his former colleague Kevin Blackwell as Head Coach, John was hoping that he could help the Hatters to gain promotion from League One at the first time of asking, having been relegated from the Championship during the previous season.
Unfortunately for John and the club, things didn't go quite as planned - in fact, that would be a huge understatement! The side's form at the beginning of the season was patchy, the Hatters impressive at home, but extremely poor on their travels, winning only one away League game under new manager Kevin Blackwell in 2007-08.

with his own players and staff, Is this what Cov want ?

Source: http://lutonfc.hostinguk.com/carver.asp

Blackwell is no longer listed on the oddschecker site. What does that mean in terms of his chances? As a non-better I assume that he's either ruled himself out or they've stopped taking bets on him?

After todays let down it is clear to me that we need not only a new "team" manager but also one who is able to galvanise the whole city. Where oh where is the new Jimmy Hill?????

Well I certainly don't think it is Gary Megson or Kevin Blackwell or Paul Ince.

Dennis Wise may be made of that kind of stuff mind.

We need an inspirational figure to give the whole club a shake-up.

There is no two ways about it, this job in my opinion would be great for someone like Wise, it's a chance to get back into football with a realistic chance to have a promotion on your cv.