[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[dulwich]

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.

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?

Like I said during the match thread yesterday, I'd have been sorely tempted to put Salgado on and told him to stop Fabregas at any cost. Andrews is no defensive midfielder, whatever division he's playing in, and N'Zonzi is only 20. So sorry to keep "banging the drum", but I'd have even put a half fit Emerton on him.

We may well have caused them problems yesterday, and Aston Villa problems last week, but play the same system week in, week out and it's bound to work against someone at sometime.

I'd just like to see a bit of tactical nouse. Is it too much to ask of a manager who's "an expert", relies on statistics, and is qualified to the eyeballs?

[Hughesy]

Like I said during the match thread yesterday, I'd have been sorely tempted to put Salgado on and told him to stop Fabregas at any cost. Andrews is no defensive midfielder, whatever division he's playing in, and N'Zonzi is only 20. So sorry to keep "banging the drum", but I'd have even put a half fit Emerton on him.

We may well have caused them problems yesterday, and Aston Villa problems last week, but play the same system week in, week out and it's bound to work against someone at sometime.

I'd just like to see a bit of tactical nouse. Is it too much to ask of a manager who's "an expert", relies on statistics, and is qualified to the eyeballs?

Ah the old "Expert" quote - so original.

Salgado was too slow to keep up with Everton, never mind the free-flowing Arsenal

Emerton was knackered, hence why he went off.

Next? Like they say, leave it to the "Experts".

[dulwich]

So should I proclaim myself as "an expert", and totally alienate you and a few others?? Because if you ask me it was the quote of a man under pressure...

And I'm glad you enjoy my "originality", as you won't be seeing any on the pitch for a while...

[LeChuck]

And I'm glad you enjoy my "originality", as you won't be seeing any on the pitch for a while...

Making snide comments about the team you're meant to support?

Hughesy needn't bother picking holes in your posts, you're doing a grade A job of making yourself look like a ###### as it is.

[joey_big_nose]

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.

You can like one and not the other. How you use substitutions and tactics are different aspects of the rather complex and interwoven fabric of being a football manager. For example I feel the team is set up tactically is clever and does, I feel, use the resources we have in the squad the best way possible, allow us to build up consistency over a number of weeks, and creates a lot chances. I have no problem with the formation or the marking system, or the way we exploit set pieces, or all those things. Sam is doing well imo.

Substitutions is a slightly different kettle of fish and something I don't personally agree with, alongside his continued use of Andrews when other options are available. The other main gripe is Salgado who looks like an utterly pointless aquisition.

For me a lot comes down to Burnley next week. If he gets it wrong there I may well drastically alter my opinion that he is doing a decent job. He has a nearly entriely fit squad, the team is settled now, and we have on paper a squad that is someway better than Burnley's. We need to put in a good performance and get three points, and that is not even taking the rivalry into account.

Personally i think he will achieve that.

[mellison24]

I thought our tactics were spot on actually. I think it was just a case of mental draining of the players. Think about it: We went ahead twice and they drew level, then we had stonewall penalty not given. Add to this that Arsenal pass and pass and pass for eternity and these balls have to be constantly chased. The draining on the players when it went to 4-2 must have felt HORRIBLE. The scoreline looked abysmal, and yes we pretty much gave up towards the end. But I was VERY happy with the effort we gave. We scored 2 goals against a MUCH better arsenal side and I'm happy enough with that. We played without our 1st choice centre backs and Fibreglass had the game of his life!!

My only criticism would be taking Dunn off, as all our attacks involved him in some way. BUT I understand taking him off as he is the ONLY player in our squad who feels what we feel heading into the Burnley game. If he'd got injured, we couldn't guarantee he'd play in 2 weeks time. All in all I'm happy with what we tried to do, and we had a go at them. Unfortunately, Arsenal played as we know they can and the difference in quality showed. I would however express my worry at how much we seem to rely on Dunny.....

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I was in favour of the appoinment of Big Sam last year. I was confident he'd get us out of trouble and he did. The problem was always going to be the following season. We'd still have a preponderence of players he didn't sign. I was hoping that during this close season he'd be able to sign his own players and play in a more effective manner. Where we are now is a direct result of hardly any of his signings having any real impact.

Kalinic- May come good but how long do we have to wait ? How long can we afford to wait ?

De Santo- Looks handy but has a lot to learn and anyway he's back to Chelsea after Xmas.

Jacobsen- Seems a steady player but is he any better than Brett was at right back ?

Hoilett- Already with the club but to me he's very promising. Still very raw in Prem League terms.

Van Heerden ? - Never featured.

Nzonzi- A good find, could well become a very important player for the club. But again still learning the game over here.

Chimbonda- Blowing hot and cold at the moment.

Salgado- Totally inexplicable signing.

Last Season

Givet- Great signing, Sams best.

Diouf- I wanted us to sign the guy but his lifestyle seems to have robbed him of that vital yard you need on the wing. Not the player I thought he was.

Managers live or die by their signings- at the moment some of Sam's are killing him.

[thenodrog]

I don't pretend to be a football manager .................

................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.

Yet within a sentence or two thats exactly what you are doing!

Even West Ham we were the better team,

I don't really agree with that. 1st half we were all over the place and a shambles mainly because Andrews would not play on the right wing as instructed.

[LDRover]

Wtf is everyone having a go at dulwich for ? It's like watching a load of playground bullies ffs.

For me, his points (which he's more than entitled to) are completely valid, especially the Salgado one. It was plain to see that Andrews was completely out of his depth and that Fabregas was running the show. Man marking him with Salgado would have made perfect sense and would have nullified 75% of their threat and there's absolutely no reason why he couldn't have done that, in fact, there can be no argument he'd have done it a darn site better than Keef.

For me, he's got well placed concerns, and at least he's got the balls to come out with them. But all he gets on here are patronising responses and suggestions that he's anti rovers and no supporter of the club.

Could it not be that maybe, just maybe, he's voicing these concerns because he cares..really cares.

[thenodrog]

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.

I agree with your opinion too Gunner but that was not the best time to make a grammatical error that those simpletons you mention might make was it?

[dulwich]

Wtf is everyone having a go at dulwich for ? It's like watching a load of playground bullies ffs.

For me, his points (which he's more than entitled to) are completely valid, especially the Salgado one. It was plain to see that Andrews was completely out of his depth and that Fabregas was running the show. Man marking him with Salgado would have made perfect sense and would have nullified 75% of their threat and there's absolutely no reason why he couldn't have done that, in fact, there can be no argument he'd have done it a darn site better than Keef.

For me, he's got well placed concerns, and at least he's got the balls to come out with them. But all he gets on here are patronising responses and suggestions that he's anti rovers and no supporter of the club.

Could it not be that maybe, just maybe, he's voicing these concerns because he cares..really cares.

Thanks LD Rover.

I'm neither pro or anti Allardyce, I'm a Rovers fan first and foremost. I'll support the team through thick and thin, with or without him. Those that know me will know that.

And I'll always be grateful that he managed to keep us up last season. BUT that doesn't mean he should be above question about his tactics, signings and general demeanour.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Thanks LD Rover.

I'm neither pro or anti Allardyce, I'm a Rovers fan first and foremost. I'll support the team through thick and thin, with or without him. Those that know me will know that.

And I'll always be grateful that he managed to keep us up last season. BUT that doesn't mean he should be above question about his tactics, signings and general demeanour.

Correct.

[AggyBlue]

So sorry to keep "banging the drum"

Not another one.

Do you realize how long it took to get rid of the last one?

[Hughesy]

Managers live or die by their signings- at the moment some of Sam's are killing him.

Id disagree with that - who are the 3 weakest players in our squad - Pedersen, Roberts & Andrews? None of Sams signings....Give him time I tell ya!

[bigbrandjohn]

I certainly don't feel as manic as some after the Arsenal game, I am not sure why but I am not. What does concern me is the fact that both of our big time "investments" are needing time to bed in as Alan Titchmarsh used to say.

We simply do not have the luxury of leaving millions of quid learning their trade in the reserves like they do at Man U or Liverpool. Either Sam is being overcautious, or he has made a couple big mistakes. Either way he does not want to show himself up, which is why these guys are being held back. Sooner or later he has to bite the bullet and get these guys in the game. It isnt as if 20,000 crowds crowds are going to spook Salgado out and Kalinic will be an expensive punt if he does not get a game and pop a few in soon.

[joey_big_nose]

Thanks LD Rover.

I'm neither pro or anti Allardyce, I'm a Rovers fan first and foremost. I'll support the team through thick and thin, with or without him. Those that know me will know that.

And I'll always be grateful that he managed to keep us up last season. BUT that doesn't mean he should be above question about his tactics, signings and general demeanour.

Totally agree. My point is only that in the context of things Allardyce is doing reasonably well. We will get a better picture once he has played some teams more on our level. I personally think we will do rather well against the Burnley, Hulls and Stokes of this world, with a few results like Villa thrown in for good measure.

Could be wrong, but that is the way I see it atm.

[Paul]

I agree with your opinion too Gunner but that was not the best time to make a grammatical error that those simpletons you mention might make was it?

I agree too but perhaps this was not the best time to point out a grammatical error when the error was incorrect word usage.

[tonyoz]

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.

I would suggest that referring to fellow posters as "simpletons" is unlikely to raise the quality of debate.

[CrazyIvan]

Sam is not going to face any action over what he said about the pen at Arsenal according to Sky this morning. If that's true, it says a lot about what Mr Hackett thinks about the decision and also what facts Sam has to back up his statement than it does about said statement.

[thenodrog]

I would suggest that referring to fellow posters as "simpletons" is unlikely to raise the quality of debate.

Au contraire Tony, thats Mr Lar de Dar Gunner Graham at his imperious best. He's very popular amongst the lower orders, I'm sure that if you click back you'll find lots of posts from those simpletons on here who are in support and even awe of him.

[47er]

I certainly don't feel as manic as some after the Arsenal game, I am not sure why but I am not. What does concern me is the fact that both of our big time "investments" are needing time to bed in as Alan Titchmarsh used to say.

We simply do not have the luxury of leaving millions of quid learning their trade in the reserves like they do at Man U or Liverpool. Either Sam is being overcautious, or he has made a couple big mistakes. Either way he does not want to show himself up, which is why these guys are being held back. Sooner or later he has to bite the bullet and get these guys in the game. It isnt as if 20,000 crowds crowds are going to spook Salgado out and Kalinic will be an expensive punt if he does not get a game and pop a few in soon.

Yuo speak for me there. Sam has been spinning the line that Kalanic isn't yet ready for the Premier league but that wasn't the story in the summer. Then the search for a striker was stated to be urgent and all other signings to be on hold till we found one.The only conclusion is that Sam found Kalanic wasn't good enough only after he'd signed him. As for Salgado ,we should have kept Zurab is the only comment I feel the need to make.

[Billy Castell]

I just hope Kalinic isn't another Grabbi. Sam had better get things going again, otherwise my hair will be getting grey even quicker. We've had a pretty up and down start to say the least, and I'm starting to wonder if the high profile signings are worth it.

It's definately not the time to start shouting "Sam Out!" though. Especially as the only person likely to take over will be Dennis Wise or Joe Kinnear.

[Hughesy]

Sam is not going to face any action over what he said about the pen at Arsenal according to Sky this morning. If that's true, it says a lot about what Mr Hackett thinks about the decision and also what facts Sam has to back up his statement than it does about said statement.

Yep - says it all, Sam faces no action where as Fergie has to explain his words....Do we get an apology? Its like when Diouf was fouled down the wing but didnt get anything, yet 2 mins later the ref gave them a foul by him. Double standards!

[philipl]

Sam chose his words carefully so there could be no action taken un less calling for the use of technology is a heresy.

I also chose my words carefully. The case for Sam is not clearcut and the case against him has the immediate problem of needing to explain why we are in the Prem this season. I was complaining about the vehemence of the positions taken on both sides which I consider to be utterly simplistic and unrealistic.

Obviously the 'drog neither uses nor understands nuance.

[dulwich]

Sam chose his words carefully so there could be no action taken un less calling for the use of technology is a heresy.

I also chose my words carefully. The case for Sam is not clearcut and the case against him has the immediate problem of needing to explain why we are in the Prem this season. I was complaining about the vehemence of the positions taken on both sides which I consider to be utterly simplistic and unrealistic.

Obviously the 'drog neither uses nor understands nuance.

you're doing a grade A job of making yourself look like a ###### as it is.

For example?