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Paul Ince was embroiled in renewed controversy last night after the Blackburn Rovers manager squared up to Joe Jordan, the Tottenham Hotspur coach, at half-time in Rovers' 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane. Ince, who also criticised Fabio Capello, the England manager, after the game, is coming under increasing pressure after his side slipped to next to bottom in the Barclays Premier League.
Blackburn have not won a league game for two months and their chances of beating Tottenham disappeared when Martin Olsson was sent off after a series of crude challenges on Aaron Lennon in the first half. Ince and Jordan squared up in the tunnel after the Tottenham coach complained to Howard Webb, the referee, about Blackburn's tackling in the first half.
“Joe Jordan was talking to the referee about André Ooijer and saying that he kicked Lennon two or three times,” the Blackburn manager said. “We'd already had a man sent off and he was trying to get another man sent off.”
Ince replaced Mark Hughes at Ewood Park in the summer but little has gone right for the former England captain since he left Milton Keynes Dons, who had just been promoted to Coca-Cola League One, to join Blackburn in the top flight. Although Ince convinced Roque Santa Cruz to stay at the club - the Paraguay forward is expected to join Manchester City in January - Blackburn have won only three league games this season and Ince has become involved in a series of high-profile spats.
Two weeks ago, the former Manchester United and Inter Milan midfield player accused Ray Wilkins, the Chelsea assistant manager, of disrespecting his players after a 2-0 home defeat by saying that he was expecting a physical game. “I was upset with him for coming out with that garbage,” Ince said at the time.
Yesterday, Ince also had Capello and Ray Clemence, the England goalkeeping coach, in his sights as he complained about the treatment of Paul Robinson when the goalkeeper was called into the England squad for the friendly against Germany last week. “I was disappointed that he did not play some part of the game,” Ince said. “I was very annoyed. Clemence has been to see Paul three times and two of those times he was astounding, so why he wasn't playing baffled me. He's the best goalkeeper in the Premier League as far as I am concerned.”
Robinson was in good form as he returned to White Hart Lane for the first time since he was told that he did not have a future at the club by Juande Ramos, the former head coach, in the summer. Blackburn would have lost by more than one goal if Robinson had not been at his best and after receiving a standing ovation on the final whistle, threw his gloves to the Tottenham fans before leaving the pitch.
Roy Keane, Ince's former United team-mate, was also feeling the heat as his Sunderland side slipped below Tottenham in the table after a 1-0 home defeat by West Ham United. “You can talk all you like about new players still finding their feet at the club, but that's little consolation after three home defeats in a row,” Keane said. “We want and we need to be doing better than that and that's why we all need to be taking responsibility. We need to sort it out. Every time the club has been in the Premier League it's been hard work or a struggle.”
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Give the guy some slack. He has a chip on his shoulder true, but so do a lot of people.
Come to think of it, I think a few have posted on this article...
SW, Lytham,
Lighten up fellas. It's only a game.
anna, kendal, uk
Anyone who remembers a 6 ft 1980's toothless Jordan put the ball ,keeper, defender and anything else into the back of the net will know that Big Time Charlie is well out of depth.
Andy Pearson, alicante, spain
Arsenal didn't get half the fee. They received, courtesy of Spurs, a percentage of the profit Rovers made over the original £7m paid for him. More than enough to compensate for the solitary point that his flukey "wonder" goal contributed to.
Bob, Blackburn,
Thanks Ryan. Always nice to be patronised by our more sophisticated neighbours from that haven of progress that is Manchestoh.
Incidentally, the vast majority of Blackburn fans are local, a concept which is obviously very difficult for some of you glory hunters to comprehend.
Bob, Blackburn,
Notwithstanding the 1-0 mauling that multi-million pound Tottenham gave Rovers' remaining 10 men , we have been relegation fodder for about as long as Spurs have been certs to begin their domination of Europe. Still not happened yet has it? Spurs are a massive two points in front of us though.
Bob, Blackburn,
Bob, I thought Arsenal got 50% of the fee?
9lives, Dublin,
Blackburn Bob, Bentleys goal against Arsenal was worth at least 18 million!
Shall we call it evens?
ash, bedford, beds
Bob sounds like the typical local Blackburn fan. One can only laugh at the poor souls. Blackburn is a slightly backwards town and the clubs over-achievement is due to come to an end.
Ryan, Manchester, England
Well well Paul, I can only use one phrase to sum up how the other managers in the Premiership compare to you... men against boys. Ouch.
Chris, Twyford,
Enjoy the Championship Bob,
Jules , Northampton,
Joe Jordan was complaining at the perceived 'treatment' that Bentley (over-rated Beckham wannabe who can't make 2nd reserve for England and booked for simulation in this match) was receiving from Ooijer, a seasoned pro with a long and successful career with PSV and Holland. Thanks for the £18m.
Bob, Blackburn,
Dave in Wolverhamton. Hull City got a penalty at Old Trafford.
Tom, Bridlington, UK
Joe Jordan had a valid point! Paul Ince puts out a team in his own playing image - gutsy but scrappy and niggly. The referee indulged this style too much, while giving yellow cards to Bentley and Jenas when they themselves had been fouled.
Austin, London,
Ince has'nt got it................Men against boys.........
Alan, glasgow,
Paul, dry your eyes - you're losing the plot and we're all laughing at you
Terry Tibbs, Glasgow, UK
Ince is in way over his head.Will be fired come January and replaced by Allardyce.
R.Moss, Bolton, England
Poor Mr Ince. There are some other things that are certain in modern day football. If you have a player constantly hacking out at an opponent he will likely get sent off, especially if he has already been booked. That is neither Joe Jordan nor the referee's fault but indiscipline from the player.
Paul, Petersffield,
Ince will never change he has a chip on his shoulder as big as the UK he was the same when he played, he will always react like this.
Its probably the job is too big for him and he is cracking up.
Best get back to Milton Keynes or wherever he was a big fish in a little pond
J Barrett, Newcastle on Tyne, England
Poor Premier clubs have some substandard players.
Example: Blackburn's left back, red carded after
at least 3 dangerous tackles.
Answer: don't defend bad players.
Address gap between wealthy clubs and paupers
e.g. Man City Buffon bid 50 million?
Can Blackburn, Stoke etc match this?
Leigh Vernier, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Poor Mr Ince. There are some things that are certain in modern day football. One, that you are not going to get penalties against Chelsea, Man U or Liverpool, particualrly at their grounds, and two, the same applies to any team managed by Harry Redknapp. No, I don't know why that is either.
David, Wolverhampton,