[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[Big Fat Sam]

Pedersen as a defensive midfielder?

I still maintain he would do well in the middle. Industrious, good all rounder, he is just not a winger could he be our new box to box midfielder?

Give it a go Sam. We have to do something, N'zonzi is the only one I rate (if I'm being honest), we have no money to buy one so maybe we can make one. Grella is the new anderton, andrews is obviously colour blind and Reid has along way to go so I'd shift our underperforming winger inside.

-----------------Robbo------------------

Chimbonda--Samba------Nelsen-----Givet

-----------N'zonzi----Emerton-------------

Hoillet----------Dunn-----------Gamst

----------------Di Santo--------------

Surely??

No, in all seriousness I would move Gamst inside and make him the box to box midfielder (Its him or andy pandy). I just don't think he's effective out wide anymore. He reminds me of Barry before he moved inside. His left foot in the middle would change the type of passes that can be made down the left flank (curl in-field) and hopefully Hoillets pace can exploit them. I would want Emo on the right as when Chimbonda pushes forward Emerton is an effective defender, Hoillets pace should allow him to get back and support Givet when needed.

[thenodrog]

oops

[dulwich]

I still maintain he would do well in the middle. Industrious, good all rounder, he is just not a winger could he be our new box to box midfielder?

Give it a go Sam. We have to do something, N'zonzi is the only one I rate (if I'm being honest), we have no money to buy one so maybe we can make one. Grella is the new anderton, andrews is obviously colour blind and Reid has along way to go so I'd shift our underperforming winger inside.

No, in all seriousness I would move Gamst inside and make him the box to box midfielder (Its him or andy pandy). I just don't think he's effective out wide anymore. He reminds me of Barry before he moved inside. His left foot in the middle would change the type of passes that can be made down the left flank (curl in-field) and hopefully Hoillets pace can exploit them. I would want Emo on the right as when Chimbonda pushes forward Emerton is an effective defender, Hoillets pace should allow him to get back and support Givet when needed.

I can sort of see were you're coming from but I don't think he has enough ball retention to be an effective central midfielder. Obviously he'll stay in the team if only for his long throws.

If it's only industry you're looking for then we need look no further than our Keith. But we both know he isn't the answer, and we need more than that.

[FourLaneBlue]

Why is pace that necessary to play 4-5-1?

Arsenal play one up front and have pace to burn but pre Anelka Chelsea similarly played one up front yet had none. Lpool also have no real speed merchants.

If you look at what I said in the part you quoted I did not say it was necessary to have pace to play 4-5-1 but it is needed to play a really attacking version of it when times break with speed.

As for the examples...Well, yes and so Chelsea played the defensive 4-5-1. They certainly were no Arsenal to watch were they?

For Liverpool Gerrard really makes the difference as he is always quick to get up front. More like a 4-4-1-1 at times I would say. Despite that I think both times generally have more pace throughout the side then we tend to. A midfield pairing of Andrews and Grella can be pretty stationary.

The lone striker has to be of top quality in a 4-5-1. Come Jan Chelsea will likely have 3! Pity there was so much opposition in the summer on this mboard and in the Bolton boardroom to SA going in for one of the best in the business.

Wouldn't be surprised if Sam goes back in for Big Kev in Jan if he is given the money this time.

Presumably he has hopes for Kalinic to fulfil the role in time or why spend so much on him in the first place?

[John]

Wouldn't be surprised if Sam goes back in for Big Kev in Jan if he is given the money this time.

Presumably he has hopes for Kalinic to fulfil the role in time or why spend so much on him in the first place?

In the rags today: Blackburn are tracking £10million-rated Paris Saint-Germain striker Guillaume Hoarau.

[FourLaneBlue]

In the rags today: Blackburn are tracking £10million-rated Paris Saint-Germain striker Guillaume Hoarau.

Where are we going to get 10 million from? If Sam had to kick up a fuss to get a freebie right back in then it isn't like we will be spending anything approaching that much.

[John]

Where are we going to get 10 million from? If Sam had to kick up a fuss to get a freebie right back in then it isn't like we will be spending anything approaching that much.

I know, I do wonder why the papers bother sometimes!

[Amo]

Most of us only contested Kevin Davies because of the inflated price for a 32 year old, not his actual quality as a lone striker.

[Big Fat Sam]

I can sort of see were you're coming from but I don't think he has enough ball retention to be an effective central midfielder. Obviously he'll stay in the team if only for his long throws.

If it's only industry you're looking for then we need look no further than our Keith. But we both know he isn't the answer, and we need more than that.

I'd like to give it a go say against peterbourgh, Pedersen has more talent than Andrews and surely his ball retention can't be as low as Keiths. Trouble is your right we do need more than what we have in those roles, but our finances dictate that we cannot get more than what we have. Sam proved he was willing to experiment by shifting Samba up top, so I'd like to see him try something to fill the gapping hole in our central midfield. At the end of the day I don't see him losing the ball or chasing it like Andrews does.

On the PSG link, perhaps we found 10M stuffed down the back of the sofa from the summer???

[dulwich]

I'd like to give it a go say against peterbourgh, Pedersen has more talent than Andrews and surely his ball retention can't be as low as Keiths. Trouble is your right we do need more than what we have in those roles, but our finances dictate that we cannot get more than what we have. Sam proved he was willing to experiment by shifting Samba up top, so I'd like to see him try something to fill the gapping hole in our central midfield. At the end of the day I don't see him losing the ball or chasing it like Andrews does.

On the PSG link, perhaps we found 10M stuffed down the back of the sofa from the summer???

I'd much rather see Diouf tried in the centre if I'm honest, he's the only player we've got who can keep the ball under pressure, and can give or take a pass. Whether he has the temperament to play there is another matter...

[Rover95]

I'd like to see Emerton tried in CM. Let's be honest - he's not a great winger and for me, played better pre injury in his right back role. Obviously we have Jacobsen there now who (apart from Arsenal game) has been doing a good job. And how much longer can Andrews stay in the side?

[joey_big_nose]

I'd like to see Emerton tried in CM. Let's be honest - he's not a great winger and for me, played better pre injury in his right back role. Obviously we have Jacobsen there now who (apart from Arsenal game) has been doing a good job. And how much longer can Andrews stay in the side?

Seconded. He has to start in the middle alongside NZonzi.

[mellison24]

I'd like to see Emerton tried in CM. Let's be honest - he's not a great winger and for me, played better pre injury in his right back role. Obviously we have Jacobsen there now who (apart from Arsenal game) has been doing a good job. And how much longer can Andrews stay in the side?

What he said ^^^

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I have thought for a long time that Emerton is the answer to our centre midfield problems. Paired with Nzonzi - we wouldn't have the most imaginative midfield - but one with power and a fair amount of pace. Leaving the fancy stuff for Dunny

[Big Fat Sam]

I could get on board with Emerton in the middle. I just don't want to lose another left footer from the team and I also want to get Hoillet in the starting 11.

[Kelbo]

I could get on board with Emerton in the middle. I just don't want to lose another left footer from the team and I also want to get Hoillet in the starting 11.

I would certainly play Hoillet against Burnley, along with Di Santo I think their pace would expose their defence which is not the quickest, As for central Midfield, NZonzi would be my main start as the Dingles midfield is quite small, who plays alongside him?? Anyone except Keith Andrews who even against the dingles would look quite poor!!

Whether Emerton could do a full 90 minutes centre mid, I am not sure, has he had enough minutes on the pitch yet?

I would most definately play Givet and Samba as Central Defenders with Jacobson and Chimbonda as full backs!

Dunny should have a fee role for me, a bit like Rooney, so very difficult to mark if you play that role.

[Amo]

If the fans demand Emerton in the middle, Sam certainly won't do it!

[Big Fat Sam]

No Nelsen?? I wouldn't be dropping our captain from the team for this one.

Completely agree on Burnley, they are weak against pace in the final third and with Di Santo and Hoillet we'd have quite a bit. Add in Dunny wanting to slam another 5 past Burnley/Jensen (the only keeper in football with 6 fingers!!(is that allowed???)) and I reckon it could be a good day.

Dunny will be running round like a jack russell on acid causing merry mayhem in and around their penalty box. I can see him making Alexander feel everyone of the 37 years in his legs on Sunday. He'll run the Burnley defence round in so many rings they'll be being subbed due to dizziness, I can't wait.

If the fans demand Emerton in the middle, Sam certainly won't do it!

Time to get the "Keith to start against Burnley campagin" up and running on facebook!!!

[sambo]

edit - Wrong thread sorry....

[47er]

I'd much rather see Diouf tried in the centre if I'm honest, he's the only player we've got who can keep the ball under pressure, and can give or take a pass. Whether he has the temperament to play there is another matter...

That is well worth a try.

[Miker]

That is well worth a try.

Let's play Jason Brown up front again while we're at it.

[47er]

Let's play Jason Brown up front again while we're at it.

Incisive and intelligent response

[dulwich]

Let's play Jason Brown up front again while we're at it.

I gave an explanation for my idea, what's yours?

[thenodrog]

I gave an explanation for my idea, what's yours?

I'll give you mine dulwich. EHD can't tackle which is quite important in midfield.

EHD needs to be on a wing and to concentrate on not letting Burnley wind him up cos the are sure to try it on with him. Coyle's team talk will centre on ....

1. Kicking Dunny off the park.

2. Winding EHD up.

3. Playing one - twos around our defence.... v Arsenal last week nobody was going with the runner and thats one of the reasons that they got 6.

[Hughesy]

Coyle's team talk will centre on ....

1. Kicking Dunny off the park.

2. Winding EHD up.

3. Playing one - twos around our defence.... v Arsenal last week nobody was going with the runner and thats one of the reasons that they got 6.

Sams team talk: "Listen to that out there, thats how important it is - go out and kick those @#/?s into touch and give them a good stuffing!!"

Coyle can say WTF he wants, if we are on song - Burnley are in for ANOTHER derby day beating!