[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[1864roverite]

Perhaps Wggay you can form your own little supporters group.

pubwatchers "samsshiteandpisspoofootball" blue and white supporters club.

Only thing is, to become an affiliated club dont you need a minimum of 25 ?

[Eddie]

The difference now with Sam is he has not had any money to splash around, Souness arrived when Uncle Jack was still putting money into the club, the players Souness could buy are a long forgotten dream now, I just hope the board back Sam!

Souness did a considerable amount with a small budget, or a small budget added to buy sales. I don't know where this thought comes in that he had millions and millions to spend and apart from the Cole and Grabbi signings can't remember him spending any significant amount of money on a player until after the Duff sale (Ferguson). Most of Souness' signings were brought in for a very reasonable price and remain some of the best signings the premiership has seen (Friedel, Tugay being the stand-outs, but Reid until he was injured, Thompson until he was injured, Neill, Emerton, etc as the list could go on for a reasonable amount of time). Souness' problem was when he had money to spend, not when he didn't.

[PAFELL]

well done lardarse for doing your job.how fickle some football fans are,when he was at bolton,you all moaned how poor his football was,now he's the best thing since sliced bread.i was talking to 4 lads on saturday night who took the £20 offer,i said will you be getting season tickets next season,they all laughed and said they spent most off the match at the bar,and they would rather watch it on the telly from the bar,says a lot really

You seem to forget that Sam was a rival manager - of course he came under stick from Rovers fans - that is football supporting.

Well I was also talking to a few people after the game who hadn't been for awhile. Basicaly there view was that Sam's style of football may not be pretty, but it is interesting, because you not know what to expect and that makes it exciting. The atmosphere at ewood was good and they would be coming again.

My wife and I travelled up from the south coast to watch Rovers and it appears that you find it painful to come from rishton - now you were talking about what says a lot.

You either support the club through the good and bad times, which is what genuine rovers supporters do. Or you only support the club when things are going well, like most glory hunters.

[47er]

Souness did a considerable amount with a small budget, or a small budget added to buy sales. I don't know where this thought comes in that he had millions and millions to spend and apart from the Cole and Grabbi signings can't remember him spending any significant amount of money on a player until after the Duff sale (Ferguson). Most of Souness' signings were brought in for a very reasonable price and remain some of the best signings the premiership has seen (Friedel, Tugay being the stand-outs, but Reid until he was injured, Thompson until he was injured, Neill, Emerton, etc as the list could go on for a reasonable amount of time). Souness' problem was when he had money to spend, not when he didn't.

Souness ended up with Dickov, Stead and Bothroyd as our only strikers, then buggered off (rightly).

[Eddie]

He had an entire season where he was pretty fantastic in central midfield and was even rumoured to be a transfer target for United.

[joey_big_nose]

Souness ended up with Dickov, Stead and Bothroyd as our only strikers, then buggered off (rightly).

Yup, he seriously lost the plot at the end.

However Eddie is right - he bought a lot of quality for little money at the start. Arguably as good as anything Hughes pulled off in the transfer market.

However Sparky was better off overall as I don't think he signed a single turkey apart from Vogel - and he was free (a pretty incredible record for any manager)!

[RibbleValleyRover]

He had an entire season where he was pretty fantastic in central midfield and was even rumoured to be a transfer target for United.

The main reason why we finished sixth and only two points off 5th.

I think Reidy will be given a final chance under Sam. I'm sure he signed a new contract not that long ago?

[BRFC1995]

Yup, he seriously lost the plot at the end.

However Eddie is right - he bought a lot of quality for little money at the start. Arguably as good as anything Hughes pulled off in the transfer market.

However Sparky was better off overall as I don't think he signed a single turkey apart from Vogel - and he was free (a pretty incredible record for any manager)!

rigters? berner?

[joey_big_nose]

rigters? berner?

touche! where is Rigters these days? (edit - he is still on our books and on loan at Barnsley!)

Still 3 cheap mistakes in 3 years is not bad. Especially when you consider he got Bellamy, McCarthy, Nelsen, Santa Cruz, Samba, Bentley, Warnock all for very little comparatively.

[JAL]

well done lardarse for doing your job.how fickle some football fans are,when he was at bolton,you all moaned how poor his football was,now he's the best thing since sliced bread.i was talking to 4 lads on saturday night who took the £20 offer,i said will you be getting season tickets next season,they all laughed and said they spent most off the match at the bar,and they would rather watch it on the telly from the bar,says a lot really

I find that interesting what with debate several seasons ago about fans watching the game in the pub, that now they are coming into the ground yet their habits are still serviceable within Ewood Park. Obviously its something the club needs to look into in bringing that pub environment into the ground.

The loss in gate receipts surely can be partly made up from the bar bill.

[Hughesy]

He had an entire season where he was pretty fantastic in central midfield and was even rumoured to be a transfer target for United.

The United rumours never had any foundations, however Tottenham did make an official bid for him, which he very nearly accepted (Main reasons being his family and a house burglary), however he decided to improve with us further (but got injured) and his missus didnt want to leave (she's from bolton) so he stayed and signed a new deal.

[thenodrog]

He had an entire season where he was pretty fantastic in central midfield and was even rumoured to be a transfer target for United.

No he didn't. He lit up only after that goal v Wigan at Christmas, and then had an excellent 2nd half of the season.

[thenodrog]

Yup, he seriously lost the plot at the end.

However Eddie is right - he bought a lot of quality for little money at the start. Arguably as good as anything Hughes pulled off in the transfer market.

However Sparky was better off overall as I don't think he signed a single turkey apart from Vogel - and he was free (a pretty incredible record for any manager)!

Quality for little money? Grabbi? Cole? One thing GS did was to sign Freidel, Neil and Tugay, get Berko on loan and apart from that simply replace some real dross with adequate players. Then the wheels fell off.

Hughes kept the squad on an upward curve in quality and value. Souness didn't.

[sweet]

An interesting fact is that Allardyce has now been in charge of blackburn for the same amount of games as his time at newcastle, before he was sacked (according to his wikipedia page).

Looking at his form makes interesting reading.

Newcastle - P 24 W 8 D 10 L 6

Rovers - P 24 W 9 D 8 L 7

Pretty much identical really, and yet they sacked him! Considering the season they had before he took over, it just adds to the insanity of that club!

[Hughesy]

Joke of a club, look at them now. Bet they wish they had 40 points now!

[philipl]

An interesting fact is that Allardyce has now been in charge of blackburn for the same amount of games as his time at newcastle, before he was sacked (according to his wikipedia page).

Looking at his form makes interesting reading.

Newcastle - P 24 W 8 D 10 L 6

Rovers - P 24 W 9 D 8 L 7

Pretty much identical really, and yet they sacked him! Considering the season they had before he took over, it just adds to the insanity of that club!

Ah but he has gained 1 point more at Rovers - that makes all the difference to whether we fire him or not

[gumboots]

Ah but he has gained 1 point more at Rovers - that makes all the difference to whether we fire him or not

Well yes, because the odd point could be what will keep us up!

[Hughesy]

What was the league form though compared? As that includes all our cup games....

[sweet]

I'm guessing it included Newcastles cup games aswell? Considering he was there until nearly february.

[John]

Will be interesting to see who Sam adds to his backroom staff in the summer.

I am sure they will be some additions, Ricky Sbragia could happen if he leaves Sunderland.

[tony gale's mic]

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has lost patience with Roque Santa Cruz's transfer talk and accused him of "underhand" tactics.

He wants the Paraguay striker to focus on getting fit rather than giving radio interviews back home.

Santa Cruz remains sidelined with a knee injury and will sit out the Barclays Premier League match against Chelsea on Sunday.

He has not played for two months because of the problem yet in the meantime continues to try to engineer a move away from Ewood Park.

Only this week he used the airwaves to reiterate his desire to wear the colours of a bigger club - and he is rapidly losing favour with the fans.

Allardyce has now become tired of Santa Cruz's outbursts and said: "He has become a little bit underhand.

"These kind of remarks always sneak out where we cannot control the situation. It has happened too many times for it not to be him and is disappointing.

"That is life today but Roque should really concentrate on getting himself fit and playing football for Blackburn, never mind talking about where his future may lie.

"Without his fitness and his capability of producing more than last season, he will perhaps struggle to get the move he is looking for."

According to Allardyce, Santa Cruz can move but only if the price is right.

"I have always got on with Roque extremely well and explained the situation to him as it lay in January," said the Blackburn boss.

"If someone meets the value, he is gone. It is that simple.

"It is a shame he has not been fitter because he is a terrific player.

"The fans will always take a dim view of someone who openly says he wants to leave. I understand that, so we will have to wait and see what happens."

Allardyce is, meanwhile, keen to tie up a long-term deal with on-loan defender Gael Givet.

It is understood a £3.5million move is already in place with Marseille for Givet, who has become a regular in the side after arriving in January.

Allardyce, however, wants to see some common sense when it comes to personal terms as the Frenchman was out of favour at his club.

He said: "We are trying as hard as we can and as quick as we can. I know the player wants to stay and I want him to stay. He has been a magnificent find for us.

"But he also has to understand that we have resurrected his career and loyalty needs to be shown both ways.

"Hopefully we can cross that line because at this stage it is always about the financial side of it.

"I hope that he is sensible enough to understand that it isn't just about finance, it is about football.

"Football is the most important thing to him and his family.

"He's had a daughter recently, in the last few days. We congratulate him on that, now let's make his long-term future here at Blackburn."

Well played Sam.

[riverside returns]

Agree with Tony Gale, spot on Sam, keep up the good work!

[Blue blood]

Goodness me, a manager talking sense. Just like the good old days - i.e. pre last summer.

Tells it how it is, doesn't go over the top, yet shows he's not going to take any messing about by rocky lightly. Have really gone off the guy - Rocky not Sam.

[tonygreenbank]

There is always a very interesting section in the Sports Times on a Saturday called the "Fink Tank" where a group of staticians come up with all sorts of interesting data throughout the season.

This week they have nominated their Manager of the Year.

The basis on which they decide is not performance alone but on money spent in relation to the performance. The money is transfers and wages paid over the season. The more money a club pays out the more successful that manager should be;conversely if a manger spends little and performance is good then he will figure high in the list.

A manager had to be in the job for at least 15 games for his job to be assessed.

Anyway their Number 1 choice was Fergie. The first time he has won the honour. The order was Benitez,Pulis,Brown,Moyes,Redknapp,O`Neill with BigSam in 8th! The quote is""it is worth noting that Sam Allardyce did better than expected given the Blackburn Rovers wage bill despite not having a chance to play the transfer market properly".

Paul Ince came next to bottom! Joe Kinnear taking the wooden spoon!

So well done to Sam and the board for taking him on.

[tonygreenbank]

Sorry forgot to mention the others.

In 9th was Hodgson,followed by Wenger.The bottom 10 were managers who did not do as well as they should have given their resources.

Bruce,Hughes,Sbragia,Scolari,Megson,Zola,Mowbray,Southgate,Adams,Ince and Kinnear.