[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[47er]

I can't believe I'm getting slagged off for daring to suggest we should be trying to beat Man City, Sunderland, West Ham and Wolves.

You lot have gone soft. You'll be telling us next that it's ok to finish 17th this season - which is clearly Allardyce's only target.

Man City came to Ewood on the back of defeats on pre-season to club sides in South Africa. They may be flying high 6 weeks later, but they were there for the taking on August 15th.

I'm not even going to defend the notion that we should be aiming for 3 points off the other 3. West Ham has drawn more than enough comment on this MB and if we think Sunderland are out of our reach then we're truly bolluxed.

Villa, Arsenal, Burnley, Chelsea and Man Utd to come - so there's 15 points to play for. How many do you apologists want to have on the board by the end of October??????

Right now I'd settle for 17th. What have Man city's results in South Africa got to do with anything?

[thenodrog]

Let's face it, there are certain vultures on this forum who were just waiting in anticipation for Sam to slip up so they could swoop in for the kill. For Eddie to say he would prefer Ince is charge is hysterical and downright inexplicable. I can only assume it's some sensationalist cry for attention.

Nah. It's just as I have said before Eddie knows the square root of FA about football. Now he's simply out to prove it.

[thenodrog]

Going to into a new season without a left back?! Playing 4-5-1 a formation that never works at blackburn (yes we beat an appalling wolves team, but I reckon we would have done playing 1-6-3 ). Playing Salgado away at Everton-what about Emerton? Leaving it far too late to make changes to the team/setup. These are not difficult spots-this isnt me playing too much football manager and asking 'how come we havent sold Roberts for 10m and brought in Defoe and Bent to replace him?' Its basic common sense!

Yes its only 5 games in, but we will be 2nd bottom by the end of October and we look like a total shambles!

1. Rubbish dont twist facts, we started the season with Warnock and Givet vying for that spot.

2. Woy and Fulham must not have your tactical nous.

3. Agree about Emerton. He should be on the pitch somewhere. I'd have thought that he's a Sam type player too.

[Blue blood]

I've tried to forget about last season, it was a bad one to say the least.

However for my birthday someone brought me the season review, which I've recently just finished watching. Interestingly, it wasn't quite how I remembered it. Before watching I thought it'll be pretty dire first half and then the second half will be a good watch. However on watching it, I found only the first half was an accurate recount of what had happened. Far too often in the second half I still saw rovers get hammered - not just loose but hammered - as well as seeing some other pretty bad patches of performance.

This was a suprise really as during last season, I had a growing sense of optimisim under Sam. Maybe it was because I didn't get to any of the away games, and the home games I saw were the ones without the bad patches of football (Spurs being the exception - granted we got three points but we were shocking). In light of what I saw the second half of last season seemed pretty good, especially in comparison to the first half. Watching it on DVD, whilst the second half was better it wasn't that good or enjoyable a watch at all.

I guess this is a long winded way of saying that most of last season was bad to varying degrees. And looking back I think the optimism we all felt at staying up masked over some very big cracks and some bad performances.

Now I'm not going anti-Sam just yet. In fact looking on last season the task he had in front of him was even bigger than I thought - which suggests he needs a fair bit more time and should be cut more slack. The problems we are having now are not as suprising when considered in the light of last season.

As a mark against him though, watching last season's review makes me think we didn't make quite as much progress as I thought.

I still think Sam needs more time to get the team how he wants it, and there's been enough encouragement to stick with him and to be optimistic that things will get better. Certainly on paper in terms of the squad this is the case. The squad seems stronger, and with 2 of our 4 crocked midfielders already back to fitness, and early signs are that Sam might have got this gamble right, and if he can find a few more players of Givet's quality he'll be doing very well in the transfer market.

Having said that, given the October we have got, I think Sam really should have gone for more points. Granted we were a tad unlucky with Sunderland and City, but really Wham and Everton should have yielded us at least 4 points. In both cases the timing for playing them could not have been better, and I can't help thinking we're going to kick ourselves at missing these points.

To me 13th was the mimimum at the start of the season, and even now after our start and a retrospective look back at last season, I think anything below 15th is unacceptable. In fact I'd still be disappointed if we didn't get 13th although a good cup run and a lot more optimism and being well placed for a good go at things the season after would mollify me.

One silver lining might be of our current situation that Sam cannot write off the games against the big 4 as we desperately need the points.

[OscarRaven]

Thanks for the personal insult too.........

It wasn't directed at anyone in particular... not surprised however that you can identify with it.

Keep up the situation defying positive outlook however, creates debate and adds a nice balance to us 'drama queens' wasn't it?

[John]

Sam has won the benefit of the doubt after clearing up Ince's mess, but if things haven't picked up around the end of November serious questions will be asked.

What worries me about our current situation is our next 5 fixtures - if we had say Hull, Pompey etc coming up, I would be hopeful of points. However, surely our situation is only going to get worse before it gets better - looking at October you would struggle to hand pick harder fixtures.

If we had more of an accurate idea of our best 11 it would help, but I don't think any of us really do, including the manager!

I do think there has been an over reaction here and whilst we had money to spend in the summer, it is still a relative pittance in the world of the PL these days. I do think Sam is the right man for our club, but he is not immune from criticism either.

[cn174]

However for my birthday someone brought me the season review, which I've recently just finished watching.

That's just cruel!! I bought it for myself and it was bad enough, to give it someone for their birthday is just tight!!

[Gav]

Let's face it, there are certain vultures on this forum who were just waiting in anticipation for Sam to slip up so they could swoop in for the kill.

Absolute cr@p, most anti Allardyce fans hope the guy succeeds, but won't be the silent majority should he continue in the way he’s started.

Poor = must do better.

[John]

Absolute cr@p, most anti Allardyce fans hope the guy succeeds, but won't be the silent majority should he continue in the way he’s started.

Poor = must do better.

By the sounds of things, some still cannot let go of Paul Ince and want him back, madness!

With the ridiculous inlfated prices this summer, buying any quality was harder than ever - plus the fact we let more of our best players go. Sam has made mistakes but most managers would find it bloody hard/challenging to keep us up.

[den]

Absolute cr@p, most anti Allardyce fans hope the guy succeeds, but won't be the silent majority should he continue in the way he’s started.

Poor = must do better.

What is it about this M/B, that labels us as either pro, or anti the manager? Pro or anti Andrews? Why can't people just be allowed to say what they see? I thought Allardyce would be the right man for us and he might still be. If things aren't working out though, I have no problems in saying so.

Too many ego's trying to save face.

[mellison24]

I think a lot of people are over-reacting a little. I still think we could be okay. I'll wait until the end of october to make up my opinion on Allardyce. Surely there can be no bigger test of a manager's ability than 3 games away to the top 4 and a home derby match! I'm feeling very worried, but I'll not yet pass judgement.

And well said, Den!!

[Amo]

Absolute cr@p, most anti Allardyce fans hope the guy succeeds, but won't be the silent majority should he continue in the way he’s started.

Poor = must do better.

I don't have any problem with fans criticizing his decisions, as I've done so myself, but some here are taking the proverbial. I think the fact there are members who would actually prefer that wally Ince in charge just shows the prejudice towards our current manager.

He's not flawless, but Sam has been around the block and knows what this league is about. That's why I'm prepared to cut him some slack and see where we are in at the end of November.

[BRFC4EVA]

1. Rubbish dont twist facts, we started the season with Warnock and Givet vying for that spot.

2. Woy and Fulham must not have your tactical nous.

3. Agree about Emerton. He should be on the pitch somewhere. I'd have thought that he's a Sam type player too.

Dont be so literal. I meant the end of the transfer window, which is effectively the start of the season. Givet is a centre back who can be used at left back and Warnock had been sold and a right back bought has his replacement. So as I said we have gone in to effectively a full season without a player who first position is left back. Is that ok now?

[LDRover]

You know what? When all is said and done, I'm not pro or anti anyone I'm just sick of watching @#/? football.

[bellamy11]

That's just cruel!! I bought it for myself and it was bad enough, to give it someone for their birthday is just tight!!

But have you taken it out of the wrapper yet?!?

[cn174]

But have you taken it out of the wrapper yet?!?

I have now, it was better in it than out

[mellison24]

I have now, it was better in it than out

I think most girls say that nowadays. Whether they mean it or not.....I'll get my coat, awful joke

[Blue blood]

It's a pretty shocking one isn't it. Even the Tugay tribute was depressing ramming home that the legend has left the club.

[imy9]

I find it odd that after every game so far this season, we are either European candidates or relegation favorites!

My own personal opinion is that this season I want consolidation, I want to see some youthful players in the first 11, a victory against a top 5 side and to finish higher than 15th.

Sam has been at the club for MONTHS, he has bought his own players but these guys need a chance, some people are writing off Kalinic after 2 apps, Salgado after one ,surely there is some middle game.

I have a sneaky feeling that we will win a game against a top 4 team in the next few games and I expect a team somewhere along the line to take a real pasting against us... well thats the dream anyway

[mellison24]

I find it odd that after every game so far this season, we are either European candidates or relegation favorites!

My own personal opinion is that this season I want consolidation, I want to see some youthful players in the first 11, a victory against a top 5 side and to finish higher than 15th.

Sam has been at the club for MONTHS, he has bought his own players but these guys need a chance, some people are writing off Kalinic after 2 apps, Salgado after one ,surely there is some middle game.

I have a sneaky feeling that we will win a game against a top 4 team in the next few games and I expect a team somewhere along the line to take a real pasting against us... well thats the dream anyway

I was gunna say I could see us beating villa and the dingles with draws against all the big4. I just hope the Everton game was the kick up the backside it ought to be!

[ABBEY]

DONT DARE PLAY 1 UP FRONT TOMMOROW MR EXPERT.

[mellison24]

DONT DARE PLAY 1 UP FRONT TOMMOROW MR EXPERT.

WELL SAID SIR!!!!

[American]

Your hatred of Allardyce is nonsensical. Did he refuse to pay for one of your drinks ?

Maybe he wasn't nice to his kid?

Oh wait, that was why you had irrational hatred for our second most successful manager of the past 20 years.

[Paul]

What is it about this M/B, that labels us as either pro, or anti the manager? Pro or anti Andrews? Why can't people just be allowed to say what they see? I thought Allardyce would be the right man for us and he might still be. If things aren't working out though, I have no problems in saying so.

Too many ego's trying to save face.

No idea den but I'd suggest it has something to do with age.

[jim mk2]

Maybe he wasn't nice to his kid?

Ehh upp, me stalker's back, and getting it completely wrong as usual.

Interesting to note that from a small base at the start of the season the anti-Allardyce faction is growing.

Sam (and Rovers) need a good win at Forest tomorrow.