[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[DE.]

Of course Digard has a lot to prove, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a good signing. Players with things to prove are exactly the type of players we buy; Bentley, Samba, Nelsen, Santa Cruz, Warnock etc. All had something to prove at Premiership level for one reason or another and we gave them a platform to do that. I'm not sure where this idea of buying proven Premiership players has come from, it hasn't been our attitude for the last few years.

Again, not what I'm saying. I've not been convinced by his current performances to suggest he'd warrant us buying him when other options might be available - obviously it would depend on his price and wages, if it represents a good deal for us then I'd be more inclined to give him a go. If others who have regularly see him play think he's good enough then okay, fair enough. I can only go by the opinion of the times I've seen him play for Boro and by the opinions of the Boro fans I know, which is that he's a prospect but at the moment a fringe first teamer. Not sure that is what we need right now, we need to be stronger before we can start gambling on younger prospects.

[LeChuck]

But isn't that what we have lacked in our midfield recently? The lack of proven premiership quality?

We lack quality, whether they are proven in the Premiership or not really isn't an issue.

Palacios wasn't proven in the Premiership when he joined Wigan, but you can't argue that he isn't quality. Bentley wasn't proven in the Premiership when he joined us but turned into our main creative force. We can't afford proven Premiership quality, so we have to get unproven quality really.

[Blue n White Rover]

We lack quality, whether they are proven in the Premiership or not really isn't an issue.

Palacios wasn't proven in the Premiership when he joined Wigan, but you can't argue that he isn't quality. Bentley wasn't proven in the Premiership when he joined us but turned into our main creative force. We can't afford proven Premiership quality, so we have to get unproven quality really.

However, we have the likes of Villanueva and Grella, who are quality players, but aren't up to scratch in the premiership. In that sense we have lacked Premiership quality, we could have easily spent £4million on a premiership midfielder, and we wouldn't have had the major problem we have had this season.

[Exiled_Rover]

Grella is certainly up to scratch when he plays. It's just unfortunate that he his muscles appear to have the consistency of warm string cheese.

Oh and if Allardyce is pushing Tugay through the door it's well after his time. The guy was finished in this league two years ago.

[thenodrog]

Grella is certainly up to scratch when he plays. It's just unfortunate that he his muscles appear to have the consistency of warm string cheese.

Oh and if Allardyce is pushing Tugay through the door it's well after his time. The guy was finished in this league two years ago.

Nobody can argue with any of that.

[mellison24]

Grella is certainly up to scratch when he plays. It's just unfortunate that he his muscles appear to have the consistency of warm string cheese.

Oh and if Allardyce is pushing Tugay through the door it's well after his time. The guy was finished in this league two years ago.

i agree with the first bit, but the second bit helps me understand your name lol. we all know he was past it *excuse my language brothers* but it is blasphemy to actually SAY that!!! lol. I cudn't care less. I'd have him playing in a zimmerframe if i could! haha

[John]

Like with Souness to a certain extent, it is clear some just don't like Allardyce the man.

We were a club on its knees when he took over, lacking confidence/organisation, and in one of the worst run of results in our entire history. In addition, we sold two of our best players last summer, and made the awful decision in appointing Ince. Obviously we are not mathematically safe yet, however, he has done a remarkable job in a short space of time, our results back that up (especially with the major injuries we have had to key players). He has also added quality to the squad in Diouf and in particular Givet.

It might not be pretty on the eye but survival and picking up points is the name of the game, simple. We don't have the finances to be picky. Fact is that Sam is a very good Premiership manager, who knows how to get results with minimal financial resources. Be careful what you wish for...

[Exiled in Toronto]

and in one of the worst run of results in our entire history.

Over-egging the pudding a bit there I think. 2nd from bottom and 5 losses in a row is bad, but hardly unprecedented in our long history. I've seen a lot worse quite a few times - not least when we were plummeting towards the 4th division until Furphy brought in proper skillful players for buttons.

I cannot believe that people think Allardyce will change to Jay-Jay fancy tricks and flowing football next season. He has a huge ego and a point to prove to the FA England selectors, Newcastle and football in general. We are merely the vehicle for Sam to show the world his approach is right and they were/are all wrong. Maybe he was right at one point, but I don't think he is now. Fair do's for keeping us up (touchwood), but next year we'll be chock full of players designed to play his system to the letter and it'll be sh!t to watch.

I already feel like I'm watching Allardyce Rovers - it's all about him. When we win he's spouting how the players were on their knees when he arrived; when we lose it's nowt to do with him. Every press report is about him rather than us.

And for the record, I think Souness on a 6 month contract would have kept us up, and I was one of the first calling for his head pre-Hughes. He turned us round after Kidd and successfully won 2 relegation battles. He also might have sold Crocky and strengthened midfield.

[Amo]

We were going doooown.

Allardyce has taken us uuuuuup.

I don't see the problem.

[DE.]

Over-egging the pudding a bit there I think. 2nd from bottom and 5 losses in a row is bad, but hardly unprecedented in our long history. I've seen a lot worse quite a few times - not least when we were plummeting towards the 4th division until Furphy brought in proper skillful players for buttons.

It was our worst run in a decade. Bad enough.

[BRFC1995]

Over-egging the pudding a bit there I think. 2nd from bottom and 5 losses in a row is bad, but hardly unprecedented in our long history. I've seen a lot worse quite a few times - not least when we were plummeting towards the 4th division until Furphy brought in proper skillful players for buttons.

I cannot believe that people think Allardyce will change to Jay-Jay fancy tricks and flowing football next season. He has a huge ego and a point to prove to the FA England selectors, Newcastle and football in general. We are merely the vehicle for Sam to show the world his approach is right and they were/are all wrong. Maybe he was right at one point, but I don't think he is now. Fair do's for keeping us up (touchwood), but next year we'll be chock full of players designed to play his system to the letter and it'll be sh!t to watch.

I already feel like I'm watching Allardyce Rovers - it's all about him. When we win he's spouting how the players were on their knees when he arrived; when we lose it's nowt to do with him. Every press report is about him rather than us.

And for the record, I think Souness on a 6 month contract would have kept us up, and I was one of the first calling for his head pre-Hughes. He turned us round after Kidd and successfully won 2 relegation battles. He also might have sold Crocky and strengthened midfield.

inces run of doom, oct 4th to dec 13th league results, winter of discontent ptII...........L/D/D/L/D/L/L/L/L/L/L

[Eddie]

It was bad, but even in my relatively short time supporting rovers (roughly a decade and a half now) I've seen worse times. We were on a terrible run, the decision to change the manager was most likely the right one, but we were far from un-salvageable as has been seen from the way that we pulled out of it so quickly.

Totally agree with what Exiled in Toronto has said.

[Amo]

We were on a terrible run, the decision to change the manager was most likely the right one, but we were far from un-salvageable as has been seen from the way that we pulled out of it so quickly.

Well duh, but that doesn't mean Sam wasn't the right man for the job. In fact, it reinforces that he is.

[tashor]

Sam "Spade" Allardyce is sat in his kitchen somewhere in Bolton............

Yes, sweetheart?

A man wants to see you. His name's Williams.

An employer?

I guess so. You'll want to see him, anyway. He's desperate.

Shoo him in, Lynn, darling. Shoo him in!

Will you come in, Mister Williams?

Thank you.

- Won't you sit down, Mister Williams? - Thank you.

I inquired at the F.A. for a reliable manager.

They mentioned you.

Suppose you tell me about it from the very beginning.

I'm from Blackburn.

I'm trying to save my football club.

I believe we are going to be relegated...

...with a manager by the name of Ince, Paul Ince.

I don't know why we got him.

We've never played as well as Rovers ought to.

If we had, Ince could have told me he was running a decent team.

Our fans are leaving in droves. I must find a new manager before they return.

- They'll be back under me. – Ince has had word of his sacking?

A warning from me about two weeks ago.

It said nothing except that things better come right.

I sent a text begging him to go home.

I sent it to his mobile phone number, the one he gave.

I waited a day and no answer came so I decided to come out here to see you.

I told him that I was coming. I shouldn't have, should I?

It's not always easy to know what to do.

You haven't yet sacked him?

No. I wrote in my text that I'd be at the J.J.B and we better win there.

I waited for us to score goals. They didn't come. We didn't even trouble their keeper.

It was horrible. Watching.

I sent him another text.

Yesterday afternoon I went to the clubs office.

Ince didn't come to the meeting, but his agent did.

He wouldn't tell me where Ince was.

He said he didn't want to see me.

I can't believe that.

He promised to bring him to a hotel if I’d come.

I said I knew he wouldn't. I’d promised to keep him if we’d won.

Excuse me.

It's all right, Craig. Come in.

Mister Williams, my son, Craig Allardyce.

Mister Williams’ manager had it away with a football team named Rovers.

They play in Blackburn.

Mister Williams has a date with Incey tonight.

Maybe he'll kill the mother-flucker. The chances are he won't.

Mister Williams wants me to save the Rovers, get them away from the relegation area and back up the table.

- Right? - Yes.

Now it's simply a matter of having Big Sam at Ewood Park by tonight...

[Eddie]

Well duh, but that doesn't mean Sam wasn't the right man for the job. In fact, it reinforces that he is.

In the short term I think he was ONE of the right men for the job. The ease and speed at which we improved would tell me that it was a very manageable job, but if you want to believe that it was a job only Allardyce could do then call the Vatican and tell them that we've got the second coming...the Mormons will be ######.

[47er]

In the short term I think he was ONE of the right men for the job. The ease and speed at which we improved would tell me that it was a very manageable job, but if you want to believe that it was a job only Allardyce could do then call the Vatican and tell them that we've got the second coming...the Mormons will be ######.

No "the ease and speed with which we improved" shows that the new manager knew what he was doing. I can't think of anyone else with years of PROVEN Premiership experience with a similar club to ours who wanted to come. Can you?

[DE.]

I wouldn't start this argument, you'll want to bang your head against a wall after a short while.

[BRFC1995]

inces run of doom, oct 4th to dec 13th league results, winter of discontent ptII...........L/D/D/L/D/L/L/L/L/L/L

bar grella he had a larger team to choose from with roque up front, the stats of goals for in that 11 game run of a whopping 9 and goals against 22 says everything. sams here to stay and people need to get over it and get on with supporting the club, the future was understandably bleak on dec 13th as we where going down..........we are now looking good to stay up and all a lot of people can do is pre-empt what the manager will do in the summer and slag him off for things he has'nt done and bitch about future tactics we have'nt used with players we have'nt signed

if we stay up its huge.please just enjoy the moment

[Eddie]

No "the ease and speed with which we improved" shows that the new manager knew what he was doing. I can't think of anyone else with years of PROVEN Premiership experience with a similar club to ours who wanted to come. Can you?

I'm sure Curbishley would have taken the job. I'm sure Peter Reid would have been interested. Venables? Souness? The list is long of managers who have shown themselves capable of handling a team in a similar situation, not that I would have wanted any of them appointed, but I didn't want Allardyce either. I'm sure under any of them (Peter Reid maybe being the exception) we would have stayed up, but obviously as they didn't get the job I can never prove it nor can you disprove it. I will say that the immediate turn-around in results, before Allardyce really had any time to change anything the players were doing apart from basic instructions, shows that any decent manager could have done it. If you can't see why I believe that then I think you are just being stubborn. You believe that Allardyce is such a good manager that he was able to very quickly turn things around and that is a testament to his quality, rather than an indication of how relatively simple the task was. I have nothing concrete to show that this isn't the case, so I can see why you think it. We're not the first side to be in the bottom three and not end up there, three sides who were close to us at the time are now in the top 10, so that is part of the reason why I also think that Allardyce wasn't the ONLY man for the job. Other managers have done it before him, other managers will do it in the future and I strongly believe that other managers will do it now.

I'm not that unhappy with Allardyce now, all we needed to do was stay up (although we could be higher in the table even after where we were in December), but I really don't think he is the man for the future and that is why I am unsure about him. I hope he proves me wrong, that's really all I can say and if you are totally unable to see why I feel that way then stop bringing it up, you won't change my mind and I'm not trying to change yours. I can see why you believe he can keep us safe for several years and even have us in the top half, I just don't see it that way. I keep going on about it because I dislike how you and several other posters seem to think that I am an idiot for holding my beliefs, or that I don't support the club because I think it or that it is totally unacceptable for me to think it. I don't like that. I strongly believe that any person who knows a decent amount about the premiership and doesn't have blinders on would recognise that there is a possibility, a very real possibility, that what I fear may well happen. Equally, I accept that it is very possible that he may be a success here.

Not the first time I've been in such a minority, won't be the last I am sure (as you will all say), but if you pay attention you'll know that quite a few times that minority has ended up being correct. Just think about that when you are so quick to dismiss the other opinion.

[DE.]

Allardyce's previous record suggests he'll keep us up and improve us. His style of football won't be to everybody's liking, but towards the end with Souey we weren't exactly playing beautiful football either. Ditto with Hughes.

Why, Eddie, do you think Allardyce is going to put the long term future of the club in jeapordy? I don't see where this belief is coming from. All current and past evidence suggests the exact opposite.

[Eddie]

Because I see sufficient room for doubt regarding how he is handling affairs at the moment. We don't look threatening, we continue to be vulnerable from set pieces and haven't improved our own that much, despite that being his main area of focus (just because we now take long throws every time doesn't mean that the quality of set pieces has really improved) and he seems to try and play the same brand of football at every club he is at, regardless of the personnel at his disposal (didn't work at Newcastle and to be honest isn't working that well here). He's been reluctant to play 4-4-2 despite it clearly being our best formation and the one we've had the most success with under him and I think the way that he has set the team out has mean that a few of our victories have been through luck or in spite of what he has actually set the team out to do, rather than because of it (Spurs and Fulham come to mind). I also don't think I've seen him "outsmart" an opposition manager yet and generally we actually have looked ill-prepared for many encounters. We haven't looked committed in a lot of games and this is from the manager who says he'd rather be ugly and in your face then pretty and get played off the park (ugly and played off the park isn't so good).

I also don't like having a manager who portrays himself as being faultless and who appears to think that he is probably too good for all of this (this is a lesser grievance). It disturbs me that people think he should be immune from criticism this year so long as we are out of the drop zone as it is never smart in life to take that point of view. Now I don't believe this is all his fault either, but Ince was also criticised for not being able to keep the squad fit, now with the exception of Emerton the same could be said for Allardyce. There are other things, some of them more serious and others less so.

If you can't see why I worry over a few of those things (mainly that he only knows one style of football and will rigidly impose it on the team regardless of the players he has) then just leave it there. I'm just expressing myself, I'm not the only one to hold this fear and actually think if you look at some of those who do have this view it is some of the more respected and level-headed contributors to this messageboard (I'm not including myself in that list). I think they are legitimate concerns, now I can't say with 100% assurance that I am right, but neither can you and if you believe that you can then you are foolish. I've said all along that time will tell on this one, but I have a bad feeling about it.

[47er]

I'm sure Curbishley would have taken the job. I'm sure Peter Reid would have been interested. Venables? Souness? The list is long of managers who have shown themselves capable of handling a team in a similar situation, not that I would have wanted any of them appointed, but I didn't want Allardyce either. I'm sure under any of them (Peter Reid maybe being the exception) we would have stayed up, but obviously as they didn't get the job I can never prove it nor can you disprove it. I will say that the immediate turn-around in results, before Allardyce really had any time to change anything the players were doing apart from basic instructions, shows that any decent manager could have done it. If you can't see why I believe that then I think you are just being stubborn. You believe that Allardyce is such a good manager that he was able to very quickly turn things around and that is a testament to his quality, rather than an indication of how relatively simple the task was. I have nothing concrete to show that this isn't the case, so I can see why you think it. We're not the first side to be in the bottom three and not end up there, three sides who were close to us at the time are now in the top 10, so that is part of the reason why I also think that Allardyce wasn't the ONLY man for the job. Other managers have done it before him, other managers will do it in the future and I strongly believe that other managers will do it now.

I'm not that unhappy with Allardyce now, all we needed to do was stay up (although we could be higher in the table even after where we were in December), but I really don't think he is the man for the future and that is why I am unsure about him. I hope he proves me wrong, that's really all I can say and if you are totally unable to see why I feel that way then stop bringing it up, you won't change my mind and I'm not trying to change yours. I can see why you believe he can keep us safe for several years and even have us in the top half, I just don't see it that way. I keep going on about it because I dislike how you and several other posters seem to think that I am an idiot for holding my beliefs, or that I don't support the club because I think it or that it is totally unacceptable for me to think it. I don't like that. I strongly believe that any person who knows a decent amount about the premiership and doesn't have blinders on would recognise that there is a possibility, a very real possibility, that what I fear may well happen. Equally, I accept that it is very possible that he may be a success here.

Not the first time I've been in such a minority, won't be the last I am sure (as you will all say), but if you pay attention you'll know that quite a few times that minority has ended up being correct. Just think about that when you are so quick to dismiss the other opinion.

Curbishley was great at West Ham wasn't he? Peter 'relegation" Reid at Sunderland? Souness-----damaged goods---left us in the ###### and then ruined Newcastle? Venables is the best of that lot but there is no evidence that he wanted the job and no evidence other than your feelings that ANY of the candidates were actually interested. In the circumstances that faced us ie we needed an experienced Premiership manager damn quickly I think we got the best outcome we could.You have taken a position and forced yourself to keep it going irrespective of reality.

You're in a minority because you're so obviously wrong!

[John]

Over-egging the pudding a bit there I think. 2nd from bottom and 5 losses in a row is bad, but hardly unprecedented in our long history.

Sorry! As we are taking a statistical approach these days, I should have said we were in our worst run of results for 42 years.

[thenodrog]

It was bad, but even in my relatively short time supporting rovers (roughly a decade and a half now) I've seen worse times.

When exactly eddie? My memory is struggling to rem a worse run of results.

[PAFELL]

I'm sure Curbishley would have taken the job. I'm sure Peter Reid would have been interested. Venables? Souness? The list is long of managers who have shown themselves capable of handling a team in a similar situation, not that I would have wanted any of them appointed, but I didn't want Allardyce either. I'm sure under any of them (Peter Reid maybe being the exception) we would have stayed up, but obviously as they didn't get the job I can never prove it nor can you disprove it. I will say that the immediate turn-around in results, before Allardyce really had any time to change anything the players were doing apart from basic instructions, shows that any decent manager could have done it. If you can't see why I believe that then I think you are just being stubborn. You believe that Allardyce is such a good manager that he was able to very quickly turn things around and that is a testament to his quality, rather than an indication of how relatively simple the task was. I have nothing concrete to show that this isn't the case, so I can see why you think it. We're not the first side to be in the bottom three and not end up there, three sides who were close to us at the time are now in the top 10, so that is part of the reason why I also think that Allardyce wasn't the ONLY man for the job. Other managers have done it before him, other managers will do it in the future and I strongly believe that other managers will do it now.

I'm not that unhappy with Allardyce now, all we needed to do was stay up (although we could be higher in the table even after where we were in December), but I really don't think he is the man for the future and that is why I am unsure about him. I hope he proves me wrong, that's really all I can say and if you are totally unable to see why I feel that way then stop bringing it up, you won't change my mind and I'm not trying to change yours. I can see why you believe he can keep us safe for several years and even have us in the top half, I just don't see it that way. I keep going on about it because I dislike how you and several other posters seem to think that I am an idiot for holding my beliefs, or that I don't support the club because I think it or that it is totally unacceptable for me to think it. I don't like that. I strongly believe that any person who knows a decent amount about the premiership and doesn't have blinders on would recognise that there is a possibility, a very real possibility, that what I fear may well happen. Equally, I accept that it is very possible that he may be a success here.

Not the first time I've been in such a minority, won't be the last I am sure (as you will all say), but if you pay attention you'll know that quite a few times that minority has ended up being correct. Just think about that when you are so quick to dismiss the other opinion.

Like everybody else you are entitled to your opinion on this and any subject. I hope big Sam does good for Rovers.

We may not all like the style of Sam's team football, but pretty football has seen teams relegated. I believe that until the day happens that Rovers are financally stable, Rovers supporters may have to put up with any style of football, as long as it gets Rovers the right results to keep them in the prem, this year and in the future - failure to do that would see Rovers go bust.

For some strange reason Blackburn Rovers are a club that the media appears to hate - do we care? NO.

Football is a money driven business and Rovers like all other teams have to do what they can to survive - Rovers can not compete for league titles etc, only to survive in the premiership.

One thing about Sam's style of football is that teams hate to play against it and to me that is in itself a good thing. This also helps in getting the right results, being a team hard to beat that other teams hate playing against. Let the media and any others hate Rovers for the style of football / manager etc etc. Rovers have to do what they can to stay solvent. Big Sam, I believe is the man currently to do that.

The speed in which he turned Rovers around has to be praised. The team was on its knees and running around like headless chickens, Sam changed that.

Though I would also say that only time will tell with Sam - the close season in the transfer market and next season should tell us what we need to know about Big Sam and if he is right or not for Rovers.