[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[philipl]

We all know Sam divides games into three categories-

a) close to no hopers

must not lose

c) big chance to get 3 points.

The fans saw West Ham at home as a c) but given the players' situation and the table, Sam saw it as a

If he does the same for the dingles game, there will be problems with the fans even though if he loses either game, he could come 7th and still won't be forgiven.

At Bolton, Sam turned a)s into rumbustuous up and at 'ems yet with Rovers thus far he has turned them into abject surrenders.

I am taking consolation from the long periods of domination Rovers enjoyed against City and Sunderland in the hope that West Ham was a one-off designed to get the first point on the board. The next three games are going to be very important for getting at least two wins.

[Paul]

So the period of grace is now 8 games for me. And heaven help Allardyce if he f****s up number 8 like he f****d up against West Ham.

I'd say the chances of f*****g up number 8 are worryingly high. Our problem is simple, we have only one player, David Dunn, who has a clue about what this means and we have a manager who while understanding the importance of beating Burnley is very likely to opt for the cautious approach.

Now I haven't seen Burnley play in years, I don't know any of the squad, but I read they are doing quite well. As the newly promoted team they will be truely up for this. I'd suggest a home defeat on October 18th is more than 50/50. God help the manager if that happens. Personally I expect the team to die for the cause in that game, but I see nothing to suggest they will.

Given our fixture list elsewhere I suggested we could have 10 points from 9 games by the end of October. I thought we would have 4 by now, beating WHU and drawing with City. It's beginning to look like 7 from 9 if we manage to beat Burnley.

[joey_big_nose]

Would it be fair to say that Big Sam has no idea what his first choice line up & formation is?

I think he knows now what the team will be if everyone who is fit now or soon is available. It will be a minor change to the team that finished Saturday's game. Di Santo, Salgado and Emerton will come in somewhere.

There has been a large amount of progress in this area in the last week.

[Parsonblue]

The past few pages have made interesting reading to say the least. I wonder what some of you would have done in the early 70's. Bottom of Division Three and in complete turmoil with gates well below 10,000 and falling. So far we have played three League games and been unfortunate to lose two of them. We have made progress in the League Cup with a tie in the next round that gives us a chance of further progress. Yet there seems to be a section of supporters who are already gearing themselves up to get the manager out. I find it incredible.

I am beginning to think that I am in a minority because my viewpoint is completely different.

For me, as a supporter of almost 50 years, the Jack Walker years were wonderful. However, they are over and they are not likely to return in the near future. This season marks our 9th consecutive season in the top flight since we won promotion in 2000-01. That is now the longest run of top flight football for this club since 1935-36! The top flight is not our natural home. Therefore, to me, Premier League status is something to be guarded at all costs. If that means playing the type of football we witnessed on Saturday then so be it. Yes, I was disappointed with the performance, but on reflection I can fully understand why Sam approached the game as he did. Maintaining a clean sheet means you get a point and if you can nick something at the other end you get all three. It's an approach that has worked for previous managers of this club - Howard Kendall did it brilliantly when getting us promotion. The simple fact is that without Premier League football this club will fall quicker than it did in the late 60s and early 70s. We will become the new Southampton.

Sam's pragmatic approach is, I believe, the correct one for the club in the present circumstances. He is strong enough to realise that two wins against Burnley are meaningless if we are relegated. If the choice was between losing those two games and Premier League survival I know which I would choose. Yes, they are important for local pride, but the bigger prize is Premier League status and the money it brings.

I genuinely believed that Ince had to go last season simply because he didn't have the experience to lift us out of trouble. If we are in the bottom three this Christmas I would expect the club to stick with the present manager because he has experienced relegation battles in the past. The time to judge him will be at the end of the season not after 8 or ten games and certainly not on the basis of two games against Burnley. If he can retain Premier League status then he will, in my view, have done the job he has been asked to do.

[Big Fat Sam]

Given the way one drab performance has been leapt on by the Anti-Allardyce brigade as proof that he is rubbish/tactically inept/trying to censor the internet, I fully expect that when we play well and win one match (which we will do) that they will instantly insist he is brilliant/tactically genius/a bastion of free speech? Of course not because that would be foolish after a single game.

I remember being tortured last season whilst he kept us up. Like everyone on here I am happy he did and he currently has my support. But even in our first three games we still put the ball in the air all the time. All free kicks are launched into the box all throw ins as well, its like watching instant replys for 90 minutes.

What we want to see is Sam develop something new at our club and not replicate what he's always done. You'll notice Mourinho adapts his tactics even now playing with two up top Fergie as well, its the sign of a good manager. Sam may have changed the formation and such but we still just hit it up to the big man hope he wins it and then try to play from there. Sorry if I expect better or at least some variety in our play but I reckon it would also help our play.

You will only ever see this style of play in our country, hit and hope was what it used to be called but alas now its the percentage game.

No-one will ever convince that our players cannot mix it up a bit, we do need a passer desperatly but given Sam's had oppurtunity to get one in this summer I'm dissappointted because it means longer balls a lot of the time.

I'm in the same boat as Tris 10 games as always, what happened last season counts for nothing this season.

EDIT: I'm also baffled by all this after Christmas suggestions, how many teams have stayed up without changing their managers before Christmas in the premiership. We did our last year in November and just made it. If we are struggling at that stage its going to be the biggest decision of the season for us. Hopefully thats not what happens but why show loyalty to Sam when the second a better job comes along he will be off. Sam's reward is his 45,000 pound a week pay check, which I would not be surprised if it makes him the highest paid person at the club.

[Parsonblue]

EDIT: I'm also baffled by all this after Christmas suggestions, how many teams have stayed up without changing their managers before Christmas in the premiership. We did our last year in November and just made it. If we are struggling at that stage its going to be the biggest decision of the season for us. Hopefully thats not what happens but why show loyalty to Sam when the second a better job comes along he will be off. Sam's reward is his 45,000 pound a week pay check, which I would not be surprised if it makes him the highest paid person at the club.

I don't think it's a case of showing loyalty to Sam but a case of who would want the job. If we sack Sam we get the reputation for being a sacking club. We then have to bring someone in who can work on a very limited budget - indeed after paying off another manager and his staff - it would be a zero budget in January. That's why I believe that no matter how bad it gets this season, I believe the club will stick with the manager - financially I don't think the club have any other option. Having said that, I really don't expect us to be in the relegation places come Christmas.

[Stuart]

The past few pages have made interesting reading to say the least. I wonder what some of you would have done in the early 70's. Bottom of Division Three and in complete turmoil with gates well below 10,000 and falling. So far we have played three League games and been unfortunate to lose two of them. We have made progress in the League Cup with a tie in the next round that gives us a chance of further progress. Yet there seems to be a section of supporters who are already gearing themselves up to get the manager out. I find it incredible.

I am beginning to think that I am in a minority because my viewpoint is completely different.

For me, as a supporter of almost 50 years, the Jack Walker years were wonderful. However, they are over and they are not likely to return in the near future. This season marks our 9th consecutive season in the top flight since we won promotion in 2000-01. That is now the longest run of top flight football for this club since 1935-36! The top flight is not our natural home. Therefore, to me, Premier League status is something to be guarded at all costs. If that means playing the type of football we witnessed on Saturday then so be it. Yes, I was disappointed with the performance, but on reflection I can fully understand why Sam approached the game as he did. Maintaining a clean sheet means you get a point and if you can nick something at the other end you get all three. It's an approach that has worked for previous managers of this club - Howard Kendall did it brilliantly when getting us promotion. The simple fact is that without Premier League football this club will fall quicker than it did in the late 60s and early 70s. We will become the new Southampton.

Sam's pragmatic approach is, I believe, the correct one for the club in the present circumstances. He is strong enough to realise that two wins against Burnley are meaningless if we are relegated. If the choice was between losing those two games and Premier League survival I know which I would choose. Yes, they are important for local pride, but the bigger prize is Premier League status and the money it brings.

I genuinely believed that Ince had to go last season simply because he didn't have the experience to lift us out of trouble. If we are in the bottom three this Christmas I would expect the club to stick with the present manager because he has experienced relegation battles in the past. The time to judge him will be at the end of the season not after 8 or ten games and certainly not on the basis of two games against Burnley. If he can retain Premier League status then he will, in my view, have done the job he has been asked to do.

It's hard to argue with that post PB. I think one of the problems is that there are a lot of fans who go to the games now who only really remember the early 90s and after. To them their yardstick for success, and therefore expectation, is far different to yours and mine.

There is also the fact that there is so much money swashing about in the PL that there is disbelief when we are told that 'there is no money'. We don't even seem to be able compete with half of the Championship. The reaction tends to be frustration (blame the manager) or denial (the hope of signing a midfielder in the next two days).

You say we should guard against relegation at all costs, and I firmly believe that Allardyce is the right man for our current situation, I just hope that the tactics of playing for a draw against Wham at home pays off because there won't be many weaker teams come to Ewood this season.

Add to this that the club appear to be downgrading the playing staff which suggests that, rather than guarding against relegation, we are preparing for it.

[thenodrog]

The past few pages have made interesting reading to say the least. I wonder what some of you would have done in the early 70's. Bottom of Division Three and in complete turmoil with gates well below 10,000 and falling. So far we have played three League games and been unfortunate to lose two of them. We have made progress in the League Cup with a tie in the next round that gives us a chance of further progress. Yet there seems to be a section of supporters who are already gearing themselves up to get the manager out. I find it incredible.

I am beginning to think that I am in a minority because my viewpoint is completely different.

For me, as a supporter of almost 50 years, the Jack Walker years were wonderful. However, they are over and they are not likely to return in the near future. This season marks our 9th consecutive season in the top flight since we won promotion in 2000-01. That is now the longest run of top flight football for this club since 1935-36! The top flight is not our natural home. Therefore, to me, Premier League status is something to be guarded at all costs. If that means playing the type of football we witnessed on Saturday then so be it. Yes, I was disappointed with the performance, but on reflection I can fully understand why Sam approached the game as he did. Maintaining a clean sheet means you get a point and if you can nick something at the other end you get all three. It's an approach that has worked for previous managers of this club - Howard Kendall did it brilliantly when getting us promotion. The simple fact is that without Premier League football this club will fall quicker than it did in the late 60s and early 70s. We will become the new Southampton.

Sam's pragmatic approach is, I believe, the correct one for the club in the present circumstances. He is strong enough to realise that two wins against Burnley are meaningless if we are relegated. If the choice was between losing those two games and Premier League survival I know which I would choose. Yes, they are important for local pride, but the bigger prize is Premier League status and the money it brings.

Hear Hear.

[Big Fat Sam]

I don't think it's a case of showing loyalty to Sam but a case of who would want the job. If we sack Sam we get the reputation for being a sacking club. We then have to bring someone in who can work on a very limited budget - indeed after paying off another manager and his staff - it would be a zero budget in January. That's why I believe that no matter how bad it gets this season, I believe the club will stick with the manager - financially I don't think the club have any other option. Having said that, I really don't expect us to be in the relegation places come Christmas.

This is all hypothetical but if by the middle of November we are in the bottom three I'm afraid I will want change. History has shown us that leaving it much later is a disaster. I would rather sack Sam than go down which would be far worse than sticking with him. If we went down under Sam I wonder whether he would stay or look for a new job in the premiership? I'm not going to beat around the bush its going to be a long season IMO and I've thought that all summer if I'm being honest, especially with all our fundraising. Hopefully for the finaicial security of our club I hope that we don't end up in the bottom 3, but if thats the case? We are not there yet but we've got some serious games coming up and we need to raise ours and vary it up a bit so we get something out of them.

I'm grateful to Sam for last year but if we look like going down then I will want him out, sorry. Relegation will kill us, it won't kill Sam. I would also refuse to believe that there wouldn't be someone interested who could do the job. I do not believe Sam is the only manager who can manage Rovers within our current remit.

[Mattyblue]

The past few pages have made interesting reading to say the least. I wonder what some of you would have done in the early 70's. Bottom of Division Three and in complete turmoil with gates well below 10,000 and falling. So far we have played three League games and been unfortunate to lose two of them. We have made progress in the League Cup with a tie in the next round that gives us a chance of further progress. Yet there seems to be a section of supporters who are already gearing themselves up to get the manager out. I find it incredible.

I am beginning to think that I am in a minority because my viewpoint is completely different.

For me, as a supporter of almost 50 years, the Jack Walker years were wonderful. However, they are over and they are not likely to return in the near future. This season marks our 9th consecutive season in the top flight since we won promotion in 2000-01. That is now the longest run of top flight football for this club since 1935-36! The top flight is not our natural home. Therefore, to me, Premier League status is something to be guarded at all costs. If that means playing the type of football we witnessed on Saturday then so be it. Yes, I was disappointed with the performance, but on reflection I can fully understand why Sam approached the game as he did. Maintaining a clean sheet means you get a point and if you can nick something at the other end you get all three. It's an approach that has worked for previous managers of this club - Howard Kendall did it brilliantly when getting us promotion. The simple fact is that without Premier League football this club will fall quicker than it did in the late 60s and early 70s. We will become the new Southampton.

Sam's pragmatic approach is, I believe, the correct one for the club in the present circumstances. He is strong enough to realise that two wins against Burnley are meaningless if we are relegated. If the choice was between losing those two games and Premier League survival I know which I would choose. Yes, they are important for local pride, but the bigger prize is Premier League status and the money it brings.

I genuinely believed that Ince had to go last season simply because he didn't have the experience to lift us out of trouble. If we are in the bottom three this Christmas I would expect the club to stick with the present manager because he has experienced relegation battles in the past. The time to judge him will be at the end of the season not after 8 or ten games and certainly not on the basis of two games against Burnley. If he can retain Premier League status then he will, in my view, have done the job he has been asked to do.

100% spot on.

Looking around the Blackburn End on Saturday (a sold out Blackburn End), listening to some of the total s***e coming out of the mouths of many fans, it struck me that we really dont know how good we have it.

Yes it was poor, a dull 0-0 like the club has witnessed countless times over the years. What has changed is the expectations of many fans, like other posters have pointed out, many do not remember a pre Sky era. I'm 25, my first season saw us nearly relegated to the old third division in 1990/91, the Riverside was seen as our new 'Grandstand', we had a team of loanees, journeyman and those well over the hill, we were happy with a 10000 crowd.

Look at us now, 19000 season ticket holders from a very limited catchment area, a team of internationals and we have spent 15 of the last 17 years in the top flight. We've got a manager who is PROVEN to get results from a small budget .

PERSPECTIVE please

[1864roverite]

Paul, I share your thoughts regarding our old enemies from deep dark East Lancs, but I want to try and put your thoughts to bed.

Burnley's little bubble of form will have well and truley been burst by the time October 18th arrives. At the moment they are a new fish in a big brand new world and are playing through the ardrenilin of the games versus the big clubs. Yes they play or try to play pretty patterns but as we saw this weekend, Chelsea tore through them at will. Granted, it was Chelsea but as they settle into this league they will simply fade away, much earlier than the likes of Hull and Derby ever did.

I have watched their progress and they havent gone very far. Yes they beat a manure side that was misfiring big time and I have no doubt that they will get a result from a game they are expected to lose.

THAT GAME WILL NOT BE AT EWOOD PARK.

Burnley's test will come when we take to their hovel. That is when they will be up for it and that is when we will rub their noses into the turd moor turf.

Rovers have a stuttering start, they have injuries and some unsettled players, some fans are restless whilst som are still optimistic.

Rovers have a squad that is better than 50% of the current Premiership, we just need that little bit of spark to set us off.

I dont think we will see this current Rovers set up lie back and die against the big 4 or top 6. We have seen they can play football v City. We have seen they can fight v Sunderland. When it comes good I think we will see Rovers giving out some beatings on the park.

Relax, Paul and watch it come good

[ABBEY]

100% spot on.

Looking around the Blackburn End on Saturday (a sold out Blackburn End), listening to some of the total s***e coming out of the mouths of many fans, it struck me that we really dont know how good we have it...... AYE IT TWAS TOP DRAWER .

Yes it was poor, a dull 0-0 like the club has witnessed countless times over the years. What has changed is the expectations of many fans, like other posters have pointed out, many do not remember a pre Sky era. I'm 25, my first season saw us nearly relegated to the old third division in 1990/91, the Riverside was seen as our new 'Grandstand', we had a team of loanees, journeyman and those well over the hill, we were happy with a 10000 crowd......I REMEMBER THE THIRD DIVISION DAYS (ONLY JUST)...I REMEMBER JIM ILEY ,SAXTON ET AL ....I DONT REMEMBER US EVER PLAYING SUCH DIRE BORING NON ATTACKING FOOTBALL....I REMBER WIMBLEDON AT HOME WITH NOT MANY ON.(YOU DIDNT EXPECT WORLD CLASS FOOTBALL AND 1ST DIVISION PLAYERS,BUT THATS WHO WERE MIXING IT WITH OVER THE 15 YEARS OR SO.

Look at us now, 19000 season ticket holders from a very limited catchment area, a team of internationals and we have spent 15 of the last 17 years in the top flight. We've got a manager who is PROVEN to get results from a small budget . ... HE DIDNT EVEN TRY AND WIN AND SATURDAY,IF THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU THEN YOUR VERY EASILY PLEASED.

PERSPECTIVE please

[Ninjathunder]

The past few pages have made interesting reading to say the least. I wonder what some of you would have done in the early 70's. Bottom of Division Three and in complete turmoil with gates well below 10,000 and falling. So far we have played three League games and been unfortunate to lose two of them. We have made progress in the League Cup with a tie in the next round that gives us a chance of further progress. Yet there seems to be a section of supporters who are already gearing themselves up to get the manager out. I find it incredible.

I am beginning to think that I am in a minority because my viewpoint is completely different.

For me, as a supporter of almost 50 years, the Jack Walker years were wonderful. However, they are over and they are not likely to return in the near future. This season marks our 9th consecutive season in the top flight since we won promotion in 2000-01. That is now the longest run of top flight football for this club since 1935-36! The top flight is not our natural home. Therefore, to me, Premier League status is something to be guarded at all costs. If that means playing the type of football we witnessed on Saturday then so be it. Yes, I was disappointed with the performance, but on reflection I can fully understand why Sam approached the game as he did. Maintaining a clean sheet means you get a point and if you can nick something at the other end you get all three. It's an approach that has worked for previous managers of this club - Howard Kendall did it brilliantly when getting us promotion. The simple fact is that without Premier League football this club will fall quicker than it did in the late 60s and early 70s. We will become the new Southampton.

Sam's pragmatic approach is, I believe, the correct one for the club in the present circumstances. He is strong enough to realise that two wins against Burnley are meaningless if we are relegated. If the choice was between losing those two games and Premier League survival I know which I would choose. Yes, they are important for local pride, but the bigger prize is Premier League status and the money it brings.

I genuinely believed that Ince had to go last season simply because he didn't have the experience to lift us out of trouble. If we are in the bottom three this Christmas I would expect the club to stick with the present manager because he has experienced relegation battles in the past. The time to judge him will be at the end of the season not after 8 or ten games and certainly not on the basis of two games against Burnley. If he can retain Premier League status then he will, in my view, have done the job he has been asked to do.

Excellent post.

[den]

The past few pages have made interesting reading to say the least. I wonder what some of you would have done in the early 70's. Bottom of Division Three and in complete turmoil with gates well below 10,000 and falling. So far we have played three League games and been unfortunate to lose two of them. We have made progress in the League Cup with a tie in the next round that gives us a chance of further progress. Yet there seems to be a section of supporters who are already gearing themselves up to get the manager out. I find it incredible.

I am beginning to think that I am in a minority because my viewpoint is completely different.

For me, as a supporter of almost 50 years, the Jack Walker years were wonderful. However, they are over and they are not likely to return in the near future. This season marks our 9th consecutive season in the top flight since we won promotion in 2000-01. That is now the longest run of top flight football for this club since 1935-36! The top flight is not our natural home. Therefore, to me, Premier League status is something to be guarded at all costs. If that means playing the type of football we witnessed on Saturday then so be it. Yes, I was disappointed with the performance, but on reflection I can fully understand why Sam approached the game as he did. Maintaining a clean sheet means you get a point and if you can nick something at the other end you get all three. It's an approach that has worked for previous managers of this club - Howard Kendall did it brilliantly when getting us promotion. The simple fact is that without Premier League football this club will fall quicker than it did in the late 60s and early 70s. We will become the new Southampton.

Sam's pragmatic approach is, I believe, the correct one for the club in the present circumstances. He is strong enough to realise that two wins against Burnley are meaningless if we are relegated. If the choice was between losing those two games and Premier League survival I know which I would choose. Yes, they are important for local pride, but the bigger prize is Premier League status and the money it brings.

I genuinely believed that Ince had to go last season simply because he didn't have the experience to lift us out of trouble. If we are in the bottom three this Christmas I would expect the club to stick with the present manager because he has experienced relegation battles in the past. The time to judge him will be at the end of the season not after 8 or ten games and certainly not on the basis of two games against Burnley. If he can retain Premier League status then he will, in my view, have done the job he has been asked to do.

That's fair enough Parsonblue, I can't argue with your viewpoint. Neither am I one for changing the manager, because that just isn't going to happen and at this point, it shouldn't happen.

Let me put an opposing view to you though. Yes, you see the way Sam is approaching games as acceptable, and in fact you think it's the right way to approach games. Two points for your consideration:

1] If the tactics/performances continue as the last game did, do you think the fans will accept that?

2] If the tactics/performances continue as the last game did, would you accept that?

[Gav]

100% spot on.

Looking around the Blackburn End on Saturday (a sold out Blackburn End), listening to some of the total s***e coming out of the mouths of many fans, it struck me that we really dont know how good we have it.

Yes it was poor, a dull 0-0 like the club has witnessed countless times over the years. What has changed is the expectations of many fans, like other posters have pointed out, many do not remember a pre Sky era. I'm 25, my first season saw us nearly relegated to the old third division in 1990/91, the Riverside was seen as our new 'Grandstand', we had a team of loanees, journeyman and those well over the hill, we were happy with a 10000 crowd.

Look at us now, 19000 season ticket holders from a very limited catchment area, a team of internationals and we have spent 15 of the last 17 years in the top flight. We've got a manager who is PROVEN to get results from a small budget .

PERSPECTIVE please

I've said the same myself many times over the years, but you've got to remember that many of todays supporters have been brought up on success and thats the problem. Whilst the injection of support in the 90's was welcome, this is a by product that we have to live with.

On the manager, I'm not in his camp as many will already be aware, he needs to convince me he's the man for the job. But I do appreciate he has limited resources to work with, but so did Hughes and look what we achieved under him. I wasn't at the game on Saturday but got numerous texts about the manager being "clueless" and "negative" and playing the team he did isn't going to win him any brownie points and the clock is ticking.

Lets hope he turn things around, because we should be beating the West hams of this world at home.

Back to the beach for me

[Mattyblue]

Abbey, course I was'nt happy, I have'nt come off Ewood as wound up as that for a long time. But at the moment its one bad performance, give the guy a chance to stamp his mark these season, if its week after week of that then by all means get on his back.

Allardyce does'nt help himself at times with his tactics or his arrogance. However in the grand scheme of things, lets put it down to a rank bad afternoon.

[ABBEY]

Hear ya matty but it was a rank afternoon that could have been avoided if we hadnt treated wham like brazil.

[The Prof.]

Sams signings - Excellent (about as good as we're going to get anyway)

Sams record - Excellent overall (We'd be close to Europe if not in it overall including last year)

Sams management of the board (and it needs managing) -Excellent

Sams performances this year -2 excellent 1 dire

Sams media skills - awfull

Our management options - nil (no ones come up with a stunning alternative anyway)

Overall it's still A- and we have a new team which looks a sight fresher than the one we started last season with.

We had multiple injuries, have LEAKED quick goals for a year and in hindsight we played 1 dire -men- behind- the- ball- half.

I'm no Allardycite (and have reservations as we nearly always seemed to beat Bolton when he was in charge- statto's?) but dear me some on here need a reality check.

8 games is panic time not 3.

Boo boys need to tell me a better manager though and have singularly failed to muster enough grey matter between them to do that.

[Parsonblue]

That's fair enough Parsonblue, I can't argue with your viewpoint. Neither am I one for changing the manager, because that just isn't going to happen and at this point, it shouldn't happen.

Let me put an opposing view to you though. Yes, you see the way Sam is approaching games as acceptable, and in fact you think it's the right way to approach games. Two points for your consideration:

1] If the tactics/performances continue as the last game did, do you think the fans will accept that?

2] If the tactics/performances continue as the last game did, would you accept that?

Those are two very good points den. I can't answer for others, although Saturday suggests that there are a section of fans who will not put up with this type of display, but for me, if the tactics and performances continue as the last game did I would accept it if it ensured Premier League survival. I really believe that relegation will be the beginning of the end for this club and that there would be no way back. So in truth, I would accept any type of football that brought sufficient points to stay up. I know that won't be a popular answer but I remember the years of being out of the top flight and I would much rather watch the stuff we watched on Saturday than return to the lower divisions. Without a new benefactor there would simply be no hope of a return to the top flight.

I know that the football we played on Saturday would see supporters drift away but, those of us old enough to remember know only too well, relegation to the lower divisions would see support fall through the floor.

I suppose I take the view that in our present situation, with finances exceptionally tight again, I view Premier League survival as more important than the style of football we play.

[Bobby G]

Allardyce needs to work on his PR. His post-match statement about supporters was totally unacceptable. Sounds like a frustrated man. I do understand its a difficult situation raising so much money which is held back, but nonetheless, he doesnt need to get on the wrong side of fans, like me, who support his work.

Its a one strike for Allardyce in my book in that sense.

[tcj_jones]

Allardyce has been busy signing three full-backs - Jacobsen, Salgado and Chimbonda - but there's no sign of him recognising the desperate need for a playmaker in midfield. Sam doesn't seem to feel that a fluent approach which creates chances through open play by incisive passes from midfield is a priority for the team. Sam is happier with the percentage-based approach of nicking a goal at a set-piece and grinding out results.

Indeed, he cannot complain about limited funds for a CM when he's already brought in three bloody RBs!

Then again, I agree that he doesn't really view this an important area of the side to strengthen. Not when you consider that he has already brought in a combative player in N'Zonzi and when he has given Andrews a four year contract.

When he first came here, he was the epitomy of professionalism in a manager; he couldn't go wrong in his interviews, especially in comparison to Ince. But the last few weeks, he has really annoyed me with his 'small time / town club' (whichever it was, the interview was hardly pleasant watching) and now with his post-West Ham comments. I think he needs to concentrate less on complaining and more on actually getting some points on the board!

Bobboy: he knew the situation when he came to the club. We offered him a route back to the Premier League and an opportunity to rebuild his reputation after Newcastle. He knows he got the job because of his experience with working on next to no money and he knew he'd have limited funds to work with. He has no right to complain, especially after just three league games! Maybe in two seasons time, but not now.

[joey_big_nose]

I like Sam and i like what he is doing with the team. I think we have a lot of talent in there and real solidarity with a lot of options. What we need now is goals. And that utterly depends on the three young uns (Di Santo, Kalanic and Hoilett) as no one else is going to score them.

That's alot of eggs in an untested basket, but that is what Allardyce has backed. In fact it is quite a bold and exciting decision, completely at odds with the "hoofball" picture that some have tried to paint. Sam's been around the block so he must think the kids can get the goals. We are shaping up to be quite a technical ball on-the-deck side as these are the strengths of the kids and Dunn who it is clear we depend on. We don't have a kevin davis or James Beattie. Even Roberts, our "muscle", is rubbish in the air.

The one thing that has annoyed me is that we have not signed a quality attacking midfielder. The rest of the transfers have looked very good, epitomised by Chimbonda's performance on Saturday.

Anyhow, for me we need twelve points after 8 games. If we don't manage that then I will begin to question Sam a bit more.

Also: Yes his interviews have been off recently. He looks annoyed. But I like that he is a fighter and backs himself. He has ambition and a plan so I will interested to see how it pans out.

If he was scared of the crowd I would be far more worried because that would suggest that he doesn't back himself.

[tcj_jones]

Sorry Joey, not meaning to nit-pick, but there is no way that we'll have twelve points on the board after eight games, just no way.

[BuckyRover]

"Completely at odds with the hoofball picture"

If you believe that statement to be true, could you please answer as to why everytime any of our back 5 received the ball they immediately booted it up front, many times conceding possession.

I agree we have the players to play nice football, but why aren't we doing it?

[joey_big_nose]

Sorry Joey, not meaning to nit-pick, but there is no way that we'll have twelve points on the board after eight games, just no way.

Next five fixtures:

Wolves

Everton

Villa

Arsenal

Burnley

Hmm. All very hard games, so I would take ten points on consideration - three wins. Its a very tall order but we simply need to get those sorts of points on the board irrespective of how difficult it is. Otherwise we are going to be in real trouble. So Kalinic needs to find his scoring boots.

"Completely at odds with the hoofball picture"

If you believe that statement to be true, could you please answer as to why everytime any of our back 5 received the ball they immediately booted it up front, many times conceding possession.

I agree we have the players to play nice football, but why aren't we doing it?

We didn't hoof the ball against West ham. They played the longer ball for Cole more than we did to Roberts. The ball retention was good (if not exactly productive). Once Hoilett and Kalinic came on we started to pass it well in the final third.

Once Dunn, Kalinic, Di Santo and Hoilett are all playing together I think we will see some good passing going on. If we don't we are sunk because we are hardly going to be able to brutalise teams with that lot.