[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[thenodrog]

If we don't beat Burnley I will lose faith in the man. If we lose I will want him gone.

Obviously it would be unfair and a bit crazy, but we can never lose to that rabble

Was one of your ancestors a Lemming possibly sambo?

[grizfoot]

The pre-match comments baffled me also. For one it wasn't four full-backs it was two fullbacks (Jacobson & Olsson) and a centreback who can play fullback (Givet) and a defender who can supposedly play anywhere along the back four (Chimbonda).

I was under the impression that when Big Sam signed Chimbonda he signed him has a player who can play anywhere along the back line hence he could be a back-up centreback if need be. Zurab being loaned to Newcastle also pointed to this, as we already have four possible centrebacks options to cover for injuries/suspensions.

He did the same last season when complaining we had to play Samba upfront because we had no other striking options, when in fact he was th eone that agreed to loan Derbyshire to Olympiakos when he knew very well that Santa Cruz and McCarthy were more than likely going to miss games due to injury.

[Miker]

8 AWAY DEFEATS ON THE BOUNCE...6 GOALS CONCEDED IN TODAYS GAME.....AWSOME ,FANTASTIC,SUPER D DUPER,WHOOOPYBLOOODYDOO,FAITH FAITH FAITH ...

And we've only lost twice at Home under Sam (back in Feb against Villa and 1st game of the season) out of 16 games

Get a grip man.

[thenodrog]

He has blown the majority of the available wages on defenders - Givet, Jacobsen, Salgado, Chimbonda

Granted from what I have seen of Salgado he looks like he has nothing to offer BUT imo Chimbonda is a quality player (albeit his poor left footed clearence lead to an Arsenal goal) and Givet and Jacobsen seem like damned good signings to me. Do you not like them? I know that you have an irrational hatred of Allrdyce Tris but surely you cannot be trying to hang him out to dry on the signing of those lads?

You have never answered my question a week or so ago on the level of support that SA has in the boardroom, and I can understand that an answer might embarrass you. Your reticence in commenting is fine but rem any opposition and hindrance from there toward the manager can only prove detrimental to the club in the fullness of time. In my experience there can be no winners in boardroom battles. Lord of the Rings part 3 was on last night and I really hope that you are not playing out the role of 'Wormtongue' on here. Your post suggests that SA forced Warnock out, well maybe and maybe not I don't have your insider knowledge but remember that lot 'upstairs' overlooked and imo virtually engineered Hughes's departure and then managed to convince themselves that the complete and utter dud that is Paul Ince possessed the qualities to manage our club! How the f*** anybody in charge of BRFC could have seen any potential in him astounds me, and quite honestly scares me. Truth is the more I think about it the more concerned I become. Seriously.

Honestly Tris you really have to question those above Allardyce rather more than a manager who may have an abrasive / arrogant / domineering personality but who undeniably possesses the qualities necessary to manage a club in the Prem with meagre resources.

And we've only lost twice at Home under Sam (back in Feb against Villa and 1st game of the season) out of 16 games

Get a grip man.

In fairness you walked right onto that one Abbey.

[Miker]

Granted from what I have seen of Salgado he looks like he has nothing to offer BUT imo Chimbonda is a quality player (albeit his poor left footed clearence lead to an Arsenal goal) and Givet and Jacobsen seem like damned good signings to me. Do you not like them? I know that you have an irrational hatred of Allrdyce Tris but surely you cannot be trying to hang him out to dry on the signing of those lads?

Salgado so far is the only poor signing Sam has made, although I've only seen him for 1 game, so it would be silly of me to judge.

Jacobsen, Chimbonda, Givet, Diouf and N'zonzi are all quality signings from Sam and they've all contributed something to the team so far this season and the last. Di Santo on loan was also a very shrewd acquisition. The only question marks at the moment lie on Salgado, Kalinic and van Heerden. Neither of them have really had much of a chance to prove themselves yet though.

[philipl]

We got the good, the bad and the controversial of Sam yesterday.

Good- not only set us up to hit Arsenal very hard on the counter but actually to match them in many key respects in the first half. Half time summaries were purring about a classic encounter. Then he sent the lads out with a plan that neutralised Arsenal for a short while and gave the Arsenal back line a tough time culminating in the "penalty".

Bad- playing Andrews, unable to risk Salgado in a situation Sam presumably dreamt would have been the perfect stage for him when splurging the wages for him and ending up a tad short at the back because he'd been forced to send Zura to Newcastle because he had messed up on the wages budget (see Salgado). But what really stuck in the craw was Sam saying after the game the players gave up when he gave up with the substitutions; albeit the players are paid a heck of a lot to do a darned sight better than they did in the last 25 minutes.

Controversial- there were plenty of calls on here for Dunn to be rested ahead of the dingles game. Well when the game went 4-2, Sam hauled a visibly unhappy Dunn off the pitch to avoid any risk of injury in a lost cause but also, I suspect, any chance of a recall to the England squad as he was the only English outfield player and having a belter in front of Capello and co (who stayed for the second half and watched the Robbo show).

Few managers would have the balls to have subbed Dunn when Sam did. Few would have the balls to sign Salgado in the circumstances Sam did. One gamble will probably pay-off spectacularly in two weeks' time; the other looks to be a horrible dud.

Sam is a flawed character but a very good manager who stands up to be counted.

There are two many simpletons posting on this board who cannot handle nuanced argument and are all Sam good or Sam bad. Life's not like that but this board has lost a lot of good contributors and is nowhere nearly as good as it used to be.

[Zulu]

We got the good, the bad and the controversial of Sam yesterday.

Good- not only set us up to hit Arsenal very hard on the counter but actually to match them in many key respects in the first half. Half time summaries were purring about a classic encounter. Then he sent the lads out with a plan that neutralised Arsenal for a short while and gave the Arsenal back line a tough time culminating in the "penalty".

Bad- playing Andrews, unable to risk Salgado in a situation Sam presumably dreamt would have been the perfect stage for him when splurging the wages for him and ending up a tad short at the back because he'd been forced to send Zura to Newcastle because he had messed up on the wages budget (see Salgado). But what really stuck in the craw was Sam saying after the game the players gave up when he gave up with the substitutions; albeit the players are paid a heck of a lot to do a darned sight better than they did in the last 25 minutes.

Controversial- there were plenty of calls on here for Dunn to be rested ahead of the dingles game. Well when the game went 4-2, Sam hauled a visibly unhappy Dunn off the pitch to avoid any risk of injury in a lost cause but also, I suspect, any chance of a recall to the England squad as he was the only English outfield player and having a belter in front of Capello and co (who stayed for the second half and watched the Robbo show).

Few managers would have the balls to have subbed Dunn when Sam did. Few would have the balls to sign Salgado in the circumstances Sam did. One gamble will probably pay-off spectacularly in two weeks' time; the other looks to be a horrible dud.

Sam is a flawed character but a very good manager who stands up to be counted.

There are two many simpletons posting on this board who cannot handle nuanced argument and are all Sam good or Sam bad. Life's not like that but this board has lost a lot of good contributors and is nowhere nearly as good as it used to be.

This comment has been made to introduce a lighter note to the thread - yes?

[JAL]

We got the good, the bad and the controversial of Sam yesterday.

Good- not only set us up to hit Arsenal very hard on the counter but actually to match them in many key respects in the first half. Half time summaries were purring about a classic encounter. Then he sent the lads out with a plan that neutralised Arsenal for a short while and gave the Arsenal back line a tough time culminating in the "penalty".

Bad- playing Andrews, unable to risk Salgado in a situation Sam presumably dreamt would have been the perfect stage for him when splurging the wages for him and ending up a tad short at the back because he'd been forced to send Zura to Newcastle because he had messed up on the wages budget (see Salgado). But what really stuck in the craw was Sam saying after the game the players gave up when he gave up with the substitutions; albeit the players are paid a heck of a lot to do a darned sight better than they did in the last 25 minutes.

Controversial- there were plenty of calls on here for Dunn to be rested ahead of the dingles game. Well when the game went 4-2, Sam hauled a visibly unhappy Dunn off the pitch to avoid any risk of injury in a lost cause but also, I suspect, any chance of a recall to the England squad as he was the only English outfield player and having a belter in front of Capello and co (who stayed for the second half and watched the Robbo show).

Few managers would have the balls to have subbed Dunn when Sam did. Few would have the balls to sign Salgado in the circumstances Sam did. One gamble will probably pay-off spectacularly in two weeks' time; the other looks to be a horrible dud.

Sam is a flawed character but a very good manager who stands up to be counted.

There are two many simpletons posting on this board who cannot handle nuanced argument and are all Sam good or Sam bad. Life's not like that but this board has lost a lot of good contributors and is nowhere nearly as good as it used to be.

Spot on Philipl, fully see Rovers being top of the bottom half come the end of the season, if not higher, maybe our expectations as fans are higher but then can we not believe in the unacheivable.

[philipl]

This comment has been made to introduce a lighter note to the thread - yes?

Yes, we will enjoy the joke when Dunn destroys you.

Seriously, Dunn is playing better than I've seen him play before and he already has one England cap. I'd rate him on current form ahead of someone like Milner who is in the squad now. Dunn was easily the best midfielder on the field in the Rovers v Villa encounter.

Whilst he was on the park yesterday, it was quite possible he was going to run through the Arsenal dodgy backline again.

PS Thanks JAL.

[Zulu]

Yes, we will enjoy the joke when Dunn destroys you.

Seriously, Dunn is playing better than I've seen him play before and he already has one England cap. I'd rate him on current form ahead of someone like Milner who is in the squad now. Dunn was easily the best midfielder on the field in the Rovers v Villa encounter.

Well, he may destroy us, he may not. That's wasn't where I was coming from. It's just that I see Dunn as a good competent Premier League player - nothing more. I would think that there is a fairly sizeable queue of better players for Capello to consider.

It's not a Blackburn v Bolton thing - honest!

[joey_big_nose]

This comment has been made to introduce a lighter note to the thread - yes?

As amazing as it sounds he has been tremendous. If Engalnd were short in attacking midfield he might have a shot at a squad place, but it's not really an area where England are struggling is it? Lampard, Gerrard, Joe Cole, Wright Phillips, Lennon etc....

Good on him though after so many injuries. The difference seems to have been made by giving him a free role. Shame Souness didn't think of this formation years ago.... we could have had a side like this:

---------------Cole

-----Duff-----Dunn----Thompson

--------Tugay---Flitcroft

Nissa---Berg---Short---Niell

--------------Freidal

That would have been pretty bloody good.

[G Somerset Rover]

---------------Cole

-----Duff-----Dunn----Thompson

--------Tugay---Flitcroft

Nissa---Berg---Short---Niell

--------------Freidal

That would have been pretty bloody good.

It would have been good but then you mentioned Nissa. I'd been trying to forget some of his performances!

[47er]

Those criticising Dunn's substitution should reflect on what they would have said if Dunny had been injued in the last few minutes with the result already decided and was then forced to miss the Burnley game. You would have gone ballistic.Manager can't win if you simply hate his guts.

[Paul]

In fairness to the 'expert' jibes appearing in this thread, the majority of us fans always assume we know the best line-up and the ideal positions for our players without any credentials to back it up. Sam is the manager, and until our downfall looks imminent, he is the man in charge.

I don't pretend to be a football manager or have a tenth of the insight of some on the MB, however Allardyce went on national television and proclaimned to his critics "I'm the expert" and, effectively, "shut up and watch what I'm doing." Well I'm watching and to date it's not very good. If he wanted to lose the support that is precisely the way to achieve the aim. I lost any respect I had for The Expert that day.

Add to this I'm extremely worried by the Burnley game. This is a match we have to win, it's one to rip up all the tactics and modern nonsense and just bloody well play football with passion and committment. Perhaps sticking on a couple of strikers who will score goals will help, though God knows where he'll find them.

[Hughesy]

Those criticising Dunn's substitution should reflect on what they would have said if Dunny had been injued in the last few minutes with the result already decided and was then forced to miss the Burnley game. You would have gone ballistic. Manager can't win if you simply hate his guts.

And there lies the problem for most.

[Bobby G]

I agree its a big game and a must win, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that this is the match where our fans get to have some pride and passion and rarely does that happen over a season of mid-table obscurity let alone one game.

Cant see any changes to the tactics or formation. Id love to see Kalinic up there with Di Santo and Dunn behind them.

[Hughesy]

So people say if we lose they want Sam out.

What happens if we win - do people then start to support Sam?!

[AggyBlue]

So people say if we lose they want Sam out.

What happens if we win - do people then start to support Sam?!

You're joking Hughesy. After the two following fixtures they'll be at fever pitch

[Bobby G]

Nope its not about Sam being sacked or not. Its a matter for the club. We need to collect our 10th point at the end of the game and that's all I care about. Now if we recover the goal difference lost during the game, then that's a bonus!

[Hughesy]

You're joking Hughesy. After the two following fixtures they'll be at fever pitch

No doubt about it.

[dulwich]

Well I still stand by my point made "hysterically" yesterday, Allardyce is tactically inept.

[joey_big_nose]

Well I still stand by my point made "hysterically" yesterday, Allardyce is tactically inept.

Thats a bit harsh. Tactically I think he has done pretty well. Against Villa we were tactically superb and yesterday we did cause Arsenal serious problems for the first hour. We have competed against everyone we have played this season.

The only really poor tactical performance was Everton. Even West Ham we were the better team, although the game was boring.

Sam has many failings but I would never say that he is tactically inept. It may be easier to make the assessment affter the dingles. Coyle is no mug either and there is greater parity between the squads than there were between us and Arsenal.

I do however have major issues with his substitutions. Couldn't fathom them at all yesterday.

[dulwich]

Oh come on...

You surely can't say that he's done well tactically, then have issues with the substitutions?

Isn't that a major issue, we need to play to 90 minutes. Fabregas is running riot against us, and to counter that we play the last 30 with Andrews and Nzonzi?

Is Zulu around? I'd like to hear his honest views on this.

[OscarRaven]

Those criticising Dunn's substitution should reflect on what they would have said if Dunny had been injued in the last few minutes with the result already decided and was then forced to miss the Burnley game. You would have gone ballistic.Manager can't win if you simply hate his guts.

It's last season all over again the anti- vs pro- the sad fact is most people are neither (Hughsey and Waggy exempted).

Manager has something to prove to the fans, track record or no track record he is not above questioning, despite his proclamtions to the contray and likewise until the season takes shape (which it hasn't yet), no-one can possibly say things are bad enough to warrant sacking the Manager.

If I can add one observation is the hyper reactivity of the board high as a kite one week (Villa) and morbidly depressed the week after (Arsenal). Let people express an opinion, vent anger, celebtrate and stop trying to ram this your pro or anti rubish down each others throats when a result goes one way or another.

Like him or hate him, we need him to succeeed but current form suggests we are in a relegation battle (1pt /game), of course there is going to be debate, I'm just shocked that it comes as such a surprise to you all?

[Hughesy]

Thats a bit harsh. Tactically I think he has done pretty well. Against Villa we were tactically superb and yesterday we did cause Arsenal serious problems for the first hour. We have competed against everyone we have played this season.

The only really poor tactical performance was Everton. Even West Ham we were the better team, although the game was boring.

Sam has many failings but I would never say that he is tactically inept. It may be easier to make the assessment affter the dingles. Coyle is no mug either and there is greater parity between the squads than there were between us and Arsenal.

I do however have major issues with his substitutions. Couldn't fathom them at all yesterday.

I agree Joey. Yesterday we caused them problems, when we didnt get the rub of the green and it went 4-2 it was game over, simple as that!

Everton is the only poor tactical decision and most of that was caused by Salgado.

Fabregas is running riot against us, and to counter that we play the last 30 with Andrews and Nzonzi?

Is Zulu around? I'd like to hear his honest views on this.

You keep banging the drum about Andrews n NZonzi - who would you of played there?

And why would you want a Bolton fans view on Blackburn Rovers & Sam?