[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[RibbleValleyRover]

4-3-3 certainly seems the way to go, both Everton and Aston Villa play some form of 4-3-3/4-5-1 and they were easily the 'best of the rest' last year.

Interestingly they play very different variations on it though - Villa rely on speed and counter-attacking whereas Everton seem to be far slower and methodical. Given our personnel I think we'll be far more comparable to Everton next year, unless Van Heerden is better than his CV suggests.

I'd argue that Villa were found out last season.

Teams seem to have finally cottoned on that they play a direct, often long ball counter attacking style of football. Often their game plan was to kick it up long to Carew and rely on the likes of Young and Agbonlawhore to get onto it, or rely on their pacey players to run after the ball. IIRC their stats showed they performed better away from home because that style worked against the general more attacking nature of the home sides.

I think a combination of being found out and not replacing some key players will see them struggle next season.

In regards to Everton its going to be interesting to see what Moyes does with some strikers fully fit and not having to rely on the likes of Feillani to play upfront. Wouldn't surprise me if a change of style might see them struggle a bit.

[Gav]

you make me laugh

I'm glad about that.

I wasn't having a pop at the manager; you should read before engaging fingers

[gazsimm]

I'm glad about that.

I wasn't having a pop at the manager; you should read before engaging fingers

whatever, you and some of your so called mates are always having a pop at Sam, give it a break, without him we would be in the championship now.

[gumboots]

if u want exicting football, maybe you should go and start to follow Newcastle then!! but i think they are in the championship now!!

Misreading there. There's a world of difference between wanting what Newcastle got or tried to get and watching one nil every week. Goals create excitement, as long as it's your team that's scoring so the occasional 2 or 3 nil wouldn't come amiss is all i was saying.

[gazsimm]

Misreading there. There's a world of difference between wanting what Newcastle got or tried to get and watching one nil every week. Goals create excitement, as long as it's your team that's scoring so the occasional 2 or 3 nil wouldn't come amiss is all i was saying.

as long as we win more games then loose then i don't care how boring it is. i think to what exciting football that wins games, a club needs an awfull lot of money to make that happen.

[LeChuck]

Misreading there. There's a world of difference between wanting what Newcastle got or tried to get and watching one nil every week. Goals create excitement, as long as it's your team that's scoring so the occasional 2 or 3 nil wouldn't come amiss is all i was saying.

There was only a single 1-0 result in the league last season under Allardyce. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make to be honest, other than having a dig for the sake of it. There is also a world of difference between entertaining, attacking football and trying to nick one-nil wins every week.

[gumboots]

There was only a single 1-0 result in the league last season under Allardyce. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make to be honest, other than having a dig for the sake of it. There is also a world of difference between entertaining, attacking football and trying to nick one-nil wins every week.

The point was that someone compared the possible styles of Everton and Villa. I simply said that I'd rather our style wasn't like Everton's in that i often find them very dull to watch. I was not criticising Rovers football under allardyce or anything else - just saying that I too like to win, but I'd like it more if we could do it with a bit more than one nil, partly because it's fairly dull and also because it must be too much of a strain on the nerves to get one nil up every week and hope to hold on. It was not a dig at allardyce, his "style" or anything else. I don't know how many times i have to say this - I like to win and if playing boringly is the only way to get it then I'll take it because there is an excitement in winning that I like. However, if I had a choice I'd prefer the win to be by more than the odd goal. I don't think that's a statement many would disagree with and how that's a dig at anyone I do not know.

[Gav]

whatever, you and some of your so called mates are always having a pop at Sam, give it a break, without him we would be in the championship now.

This is a message board and by its very nature it encourages people like you and me to express opinions and air our views. I suggest you don’t visit such places if you don’t like other people having alternative views and opinions to yourself.

That said, I now challenge you to backup:

“You are always having a pop at Sam”

Far to manay people get away with writing cr@p like that, so backup that remark or shut up.

[gazsimm]

This is a message board and by its very nature it encourages people like you and me to express opinions and air our views. I suggest you don’t visit such places if you don’t like other people having alternative views and opinions to yourself.

That said, I now challenge you to backup:

“You are always having a pop at Sam”

Far to manay people get away with writing cr@p like that, so backup that remark or shut up.

Why lie, you are always having a go at the way sam makes his team play , and if you or anyone else are having a 'POP' at Sam, i will always try and defend him. So unless you shut up and stop acting like a little boy, i will always be here to answer you!.

Sam deserves a pat on the back, not all this rubbish which comes from you!

[Gav]

Why lie, you are always having a go at the way sam makes his team play , and if you or anyone else are having a 'POP' at Sam, i will always try and defend him. So unless you shut up and stop acting like a little boy, i will always be here to answer you!.

Sam deserves a pat on the back, not all this rubbish which comes from you!

If I'm always doing it you'll have no problems showing me quotes will you?

[gazsimm]

If I'm always doing it you'll have no problems showing me quotes will you?

gav just look back yourself on this thread, there are plenty

[Gav]

gav just look back yourself on this thread, there are plenty

You said I'm ALWAYS having a pop at him, yet you can't post any examples.

I'd shut up if I was you, you're making yourself look stupid again.

[philipl]

We are only at day 2 of the transfer window but I have to say Sam has served us extremely well thus far.

Ince plus a wretched run of injuries reduced us to strugglers last season, albeit with a record of P20 Pts 28 for the second half of the season which in last season's table was comfortable Europa Cup qualifying form under Sam.

The squad sweating up at Brockhall right now looks something like:

GK Robinson (brilliant at end of last season and every reason for him to shoot for the World Cup), Brown and Bunn (two excellent 20-somethings scrapping it out).

Defense Emerton, Jacobsen, Nelsen, Samba, Zura, Givet, Warnock, Olsson.

Midfield Emerton, Warnock (Ok options from the back line if surplus) Dunn, Reid, Nzonzi, Elrio, MGP, Diouf, Grella, Andrews, Doran, Hoilett (Jack Straw simply has to do the biz on this one- he is in a marginal constituency now)

Up front Benni, Roberts, Di Santo (come in Mr X), expensive Mr Y

With Gallagher and Treacy as substitute blow up dolls for dribbling round.

As I had expected, Sam had not spent his time out management out of the game and no doubt increased his knowledge of players globally by far more than Ince did even by moving up two divisions to come to Rovers.

Looking at that squad and if injuries/recoveries are kind to us, there is definitely a team to achieve a top half finish already at Ewood. In fact the strength in depth is such that IF (BIG IF) we get Emo, Dunn and Reid back to their best, you can pick two complete teams from that squad which would hold their own in the Premier League.

That said, Sam now faces two huge tests.

With money his record at Newcastle was pretty awful. However, when he had some money at Bolton, he usually got it right. Can he get it right for us now?

There are flare players in the Rovers squad- can Sam produce football that is both secure in terms of hard to beat and attractive in terms of pulse raising when we are going forwards?

[Gav]

We are only at day 2 of the transfer window but I have to say Sam has served us extremely well thus far.

Exactly the point I was making Philip, he's gone about things very clinically for me and I've been impressed. I'm sure we now all hope he can get in a striker that will not only excite the fans, but deliver the goods over the coming season, could be the difference between success and failure.

[Silencio]

We are only at day 2 of the transfer window but I have to say Sam has served us extremely well thus far.

Ince plus a wretched run of injuries reduced us to strugglers last season, albeit with a record of P20 Pts 28 for the second half of the season which in last season's table was comfortable Europa Cup qualifying form under Sam.

The squad sweating up at Brockhall right now looks something like:

GK Robinson (brilliant at end of last season and every reason for him to shoot for the World Cup), Brown and Bunn (two excellent 20-somethings scrapping it out).

Defense Emerton, Jacobsen, Nelsen, Samba, Zura, Givet, Warnock, Olsson.

Midfield Emerton, Warnock (Ok options from the back line if surplus) Dunn, Reid, Nzonzi, Elrio, MGP, Diouf, Grella, Andrews, Doran, Hoilett (Jack Straw simply has to do the biz on this one- he is in a marginal constituency now)

Up front Benni, Roberts, Di Santo (come in Mr X), expensive Mr Y

With Gallagher and Treacy as substitute blow up dolls for dribbling round.

As I had expected, Sam had not spent his time out management out of the game and no doubt increased his knowledge of players globally by far more than Ince did even by moving up two divisions to come to Rovers.

Looking at that squad and if injuries/recoveries are kind to us, there is definitely a team to achieve a top half finish already at Ewood. In fact the strength in depth is such that IF (BIG IF) we get Emo, Dunn and Reid back to their best, you can pick two complete teams from that squad which would hold their own in the Premier League.

That said, Sam now faces two huge tests.

With money his record at Newcastle was pretty awful. However, when he had some money at Bolton, he usually got it right. Can he get it right for us now?

There are flare players in the Rovers squad- can Sam produce football that is both secure in terms of hard to beat and attractive in terms of pulse raising when we are going forwards?

I think you are a bit over-optimistic at this stage. With the midfield as it stands, I would expect us to struggle and am hoping we do more business in that area. We also need to wait and see what gets done up front. Defensively we look quite solid though...

[gazsimm]

Whilst I’m not convinced Sam is the man for Blackburn Rovers, especially after some of the pathetic performances we had to endure towards the end of the season.

We need a striker, surely the hardest position to fill successfully, will be interesting to see who he gets, because that position could be the difference between success and failure this season.

Over to you Sam.

Yes agreed T4E.

I'm still traumatized by that display at Stoke, and can’t get over the complete lack of a plan B when the goal went in, hopefully come August I’ll have recovered

Gav these are just a few recent ones, . We are Blackburn Rovers not Man Utd or Chelsea, Sam is doing a great job at Rovers due to the resources he has been given and the mess what Ince left him and any fan of this club who thinks he is not are just complete muppets!!

[philipl]

Sam sounding cautiously upbeat about Dunn, Reid and Emerton all being available for the start of the season.

Gazsimm, give it a rest, please.

[Miker]

Well, I said this on the transfer thread, but the midfielders we have are good quality, or at least have proved to be so in the past. I'm sure Sam would be looking to get them in shape for the new season and prefer that rather than have to spend money on new midfielders that would pretty much be a gamble.

Personally, I really like Dunn and always thought he could have an amazing season if he could stay fit for longer than 2 weeks. Despite criticism on this board against Grella, you guys have to remember that he was part of a record-breaking Australia team in the last world cup, where he was also named as part of the team of the tournament. It's not an easy achievement and he's consistently put in good performances for Australia over the years. I think his assimilation into the premier league was disrupted by the injuries he suffered, but if he can get over them then hopefully he can prove to be one of the highlights of the team like I know he can be.

Emerton is a good one as well, not too sure about Reid... was never a big fan. In any case, I would support Sam 100% if he tried to get the midfielders we have into shape rather than buy new ones.

[Gav]

Gav these are just a few recent ones, . We are Blackburn Rovers not Man Utd or Chelsea, Sam is doing a great job at Rovers due to the resources he has been given and the mess what Ince left him and any fan of this club who thinks he is not are just complete muppets!!

The first one I was praising the manager, don’t edit my comments to suit your argument, the second is hardly having a go at him. I’ve hardly posted anything for months, as you’ve obviously realised or you’d have posted my negaitve comment wouldn't you

At this point I’m of the conclusion you can’t educate a brick, so I’m giving up trying

[tcj_jones]

The club has certainly come a long way since this tim last season when we were little short of a shambles. We looked a soft touch to anybody who wanted one of our players, whilst seemingly impotent in the transfer market. We didn't seem to know what or who we wanted, who we wanted to remain at the club or even appear to have an idea of how to proceed.

Under Sam we are no longer the same soft touch and we've acted quickly, professionally and dynamically to move players on and bring in their replacements. I think we can put this largely down to the manager.

[T4E]

The first one I was praising the manager, don’t edit my comments to suit your argument, the second is hardly having a go at him. I’ve hardly posted anything for months, as you’ve obviously realised or you’d have posted my negaitve comment wouldn't you

At this point I’m of the conclusion you can’t educate a brick, so I’m giving up trying

Calling him a brick is offensive to Jewson's finest.

[tcj_jones]

It did make me laugh though, especially with the smiley afterwards!

Sorry

[thenodrog]

You said I'm ALWAYS having a pop at him, yet you can't post any examples.

I'd shut up if I was you, you're making yourself look stupid again.

I think we all know that you went over the top at times Gav so it's nice to see you admitting as much. I feel that you might have been drawn in and influenced at the time by waggy etc.

Gazsimm poss used the wrong term in his post but the fact remains that to date you have been proven wrong about SA. Given the average tenure of Prem managers no doubt in a couple of years you will be able to come on here and say 'told you so'. Until then it's time to stop digging I'd suggest.

I think you are a bit over-optimistic at this stage. With the midfield as it stands, I would expect us to struggle and am hoping we do more business in that area. We also need to wait and see what gets done up front. Defensively we look quite solid though...

No doubt this will put the cat amongst the pigeons but if he is planning to by-pass midfield with 100% hoofball then why does he need to blow his meagre budget there? Makes no sense when you think about it.

[gazsimm]

gav just admit you hate having Sam in charge of blackburn rovers FFS. u, waggy and trying to make a friend Tugay for england (who said a couple of days ago no french forwards have made it in the prem) are always trying to jump on Sam.

Sam deserves a pat on the back and any real Blackburn Rovers Fan will have the most up respect for what sam has done at the club up to now.

[CrazyIvan]

Will you pair PLEASE give it up!