[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[Amo]

The thing is, during his Bolton days, Sam had a certain amount of pride and satisfaction in screwing over the so-called top four. It doesn't quite feel like the same man in charge for us.

[booth]

Until we get a decent backer, we will get more of the same. And I don't think Strachan would do any better - maybe an initial bump like most new managers get (even Ince) but after that back to this...

I'm not the biggest fan of Strachan, but I suspect he'd be playing 4-4-2.

As for those saying he's targetting games to win, and forgetting about the top four. That's just daft. Sure, be realistic and expect a defeat, but don't go there to get a defeat. Put up a fighting challenge. There are always upsets in football and there always will be, but not with tactics like Allardyce's.

Let's face it today he was hoping for a 0-0 draw against Chelsea, or nothing.

He did that sort of thing with Bolton, but the difference is that Rovers are not hard to break down in the slightest compared to Sam Allardyce's Bolton team. He hasn't yet realized that.

[patrickvalery]

The thing is, during his Bolton says, Sam had a certain amount of pride and satisfaction in screwing over the so-called top four. It doesn't quite feel like the same man in charge for us.

My thoughts exactly. When he arrived i thought we may never reach the levels Hughes took us to. But we sure as #### will have a couple of scalps here and there.

The fact is we are labelled a bullying, a physical, a never say die, a set piece specialist, ugly mother of a side. But the fact is without Samba we don't really trouble sides from set pieces. We rarely engage in, let alone win a physical battle and we don't grind out results. We have one massive soft under belly. It called our midfield. And we choose to pack it out with as much dross as we can muster. Poor N'Zonzi has to learn his trade from these clowns. The only ray of sunshine is surrounded by tosh and is having to take the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

I've always been pro Allardyce. I'm not turning on him now. But the willingness to roll over against the top sides and the lack of attention paid to that shambles of a midfield in the summer are two sins i have to lay at his feet. I don't mind an ugly approach if we are winning. But we don't have the personnel to play ugly and win more often than not. We also don't have the personnel (other than Dunn) to win by playing purist football.

One final point. Kalinic. Playing that poor lad today was unforgivable. Already low on confidence, throwing him in against Chelsea when we're already 2-3 down will do little to remedy that. Someone said after the Wolves match he should have been blooded when we were 3 up. He should have been. Today was not the place for him.

[Steve Moss]

I don't think Sam is stupid. He must realize the Rovers need an extensive overhaul. Today was a disgrace. McCarthy, Pedersen, Roberts, Andrews, Emerton and Nelsen all need to go. The question is whether Sam can raise anything for them and, if he does, will he be allowed to re-invest the funds in the club. Though as to those 6, even saving their wages and getting in some free agents with heart (even if not the best) would be a plus as they would at least show up and play, not roll over and play dead.

[Mr. E]

"We then felt that we had to go and try and open up and attack even more and when you are playing against a side of this quality they are just going to score more goals so I am bitterly disappointed in the players' lack of understanding of the situation that they had got themselves in.

"Instead of making themselves more difficult to beat they made themselves easier to beat after the second goal.

"And that is why we got beat 5-0."

Basically he's blaming it all on the players, but the "expert" himself is faultless.

[nick123]

Our second string have been played off the park by what many feel are the best team in europe!!!!

Hundreds of millions of footballing talent, their play at times is breathtaking!!

Now just realise we are BLACKBURN ROVERS, i know we had no fight, no spirit and no ideas, but what do you expect when Roberts hasnt a clue what a ball is, Gamst is picking up a wage and keef just wants to point at things he has seen in the crowd.

Keep the faith, could be worse, we could be watching Burnley.

[broadsword]

apart from olsson there wasn't a second string player out there.

[nick123]

Five players who should of played for the ones who did tonight.

Dont see me throwing my season ticket in the bin yet, or sacking a manager for the sake of it.

All Im saying is be realistic

[imy9]

apart from olsson there wasn't a second string player out there.

My definition of second string would be players who when others are fit and available would not start.

Chimbonda, Samba, Di Santo, Grella and Dunn would start- that is FIVE first 11 players out. The second string, i.e. Andrews, Olsson, Roberts and co are not up to scratch (I am willing to give Olsson time as he is only young).

[nick123]

My definition of second string would be players who when others are fit and available would not start.

Chimbonda, Samba, Di Santo, Grella and Dunn would start- that is FIVE first 11 players out. The second string, i.e. Andrews, Olsson, Roberts and co are not up to scratch (I am willing to give Olsson time as he is only young).

I totally agree with you some players are just not good enough ......

[broadsword]

My definition of second string would be players who when others are fit and available would not start.

Chimbonda, Samba, Di Santo, Grella and Dunn would start- that is FIVE first 11 players out. The second string, i.e. Andrews, Olsson, Roberts and co are not up to scratch (I am willing to give Olsson time as he is only young).

Nonsense.

Di Santo - how many games has he started then? Grella, how many games has he started? Why would he be first choice? There's only Olsson out there who wouldn't have been acceptable as a first string player. The manager clearly disagrees with you, because he's quite happy to pick andrews and Roberts when there are other options available. nelsen - played a lot of prem games. givet - undisputable first string 11.

We don't have an out-and-out first-choice 11, but he should have been able to come up with a permutation today to avoid a mauling. He quite palpably failed to do this

[Stuart]

Basically he's blaming it all on the players, but the "expert" himself is faultless.

Is your first name Wag?

[broadsword]

Christ alone knows what he says in his half-time talks, he'd be better off keeping his enormous gob shut next time.

Today was another abject performance and I'm beginning to wonder if he's lost the dressing room. Maybe his methods which served him so well at Bolton are now behind the times.

But still, I'm not the expert, so let's just leave it to him, eh? It's obviously working.

[tashor]

YES I KNOW THE FLURERKIN' CAPS LOCK IS ON..........

TONIGHT I FEEL ASHAMED TO BE A ROVERS FAN.........

BUT NOT BECAUSE OF THE TEAM........

SO MANY OF OUR FANS ARE ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS.............

WHO DO TOU THINK WE ARE................

I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT A LITTLE TOWN CLUB PERFORMING WELL BEYOND OUR NATURAL LEVEL..........

I LOVE FOLLOWING THE MIX OF ALSO-RANS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS THAT WEAR THE BLUE AND WHITE HALVES......

I BELIEVE THAT SAM WILL KEEP US UP THIS SEASON..........

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT........

IM AM DISGUSTED AT SO MANY PATHETIC DELUDED POSTERS ON THIS SITE........

THE SOONER THE REMAINING GLORY HUNTERS PISH OFF AND FIND A NEW DARLING HOBBY THE BETTER..........

LEAVE SUPPORTING ROVERS TO THOSE THAT ARE RATIONAL AND IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL..........

[Mr. E]

YES I KNOW THE FLURERKIN' CAPS LOCK IS ON..........

TONIGHT I FEEL ASHAMED TO BE A ROVERS FAN.........

BUT NOT BECAUSE OF THE TEAM........

SO MANY OF OUR FANS ARE ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS.............

WHO DO TOU THINK WE ARE................

I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT A LITTLE TOWN CLUB PERFORMING WELL BEYOND OUR NATURAL LEVEL..........

I LOVE FOLLOWING THE MIX OF ALSO-RANS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS THAT WEAR THE BLUE AND WHITE HALVES......

I BELIEVE THAT SAM WILL KEEP US UP THIS SEASON..........

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT........

IM AM DISGUSTED AT SO MANY PATHETIC DELUDED POSTERS ON THIS SITE........

THE SOONER THE REMAINING GLORY HUNTERS PISH OFF AND FIND A NEW DARLING HOBBY THE BETTER..........

LEAVE SUPPORTING ROVERS TO THOSE THAT ARE RATIONAL AND IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL..........

Not sure who are the pathetic ones. Those who actually feel pride for the club and know that we can achieve so much more, or those "rational" ones like you that accept getting hammered and feel that simply surviving is "a major achievement". I'd much rather be angry and miserable at performances like this but feel that the club is bigger than this, than surrender and accept bottom-table mediocrity. What is even the point in the latter? How does that bring you any satisfaction or happiness?

Also glory-hunters at Rovers? How is that even possible? I've never heard of "glory-hunters" sticking with a club 15 years after it actually achieved that "glory".

[Big Fat Sam]

The thing is, during his Bolton days, Sam had a certain amount of pride and satisfaction in screwing over the so-called top four. It doesn't quite feel like the same man in charge for us.

Thats because its not.

Sbragia, Brown, Roden, Littlewood, Nesti and the other 27 members of his back room team are not with him. Do not under estimate the input thy had and no longer have.

PS patrickvalery, great post.

[tomphil]

Im behind Sam although i had my doubts and i dont really have a problem with the style of footy we play but it has to be said that despite some good home results this season his signings and tactics have been distinctly average so far.

[thenodrog]

Probably very close to the truth. But the trouble is when does this stop? If City haven't joined that elite they soon will. So when do we write off those 6 points. Sunderland are heading that way. As are Spurs. Do we forget those 12 too? Birmingham look like they might have some to spend too. So in couple of seasons we can forget about turning up for those matches too. If this approach is taken then we are accepting our fate and aiming to simply die of Chinese water torture. Drip by drip, fixture by fixture we head towards our 'natural' low league level. ###### to that. Why do we have to roll over against the so called big 4? Villa were considered to have the potential in all respects to crack the top 4 last season. This year we turned them over! Chelsea are not that far ahead of Villa. They're miles ahead of us. But not that far from Villa. Why is it we are to accept we may get something from Villa but not Chelsea, Utd, Arsenal or Liverpool? The fact is we shouldn't accept it. If we are 'conserving' energy for games in our own mini league then we're doomed to fail. Because year on year that mini league is decreasing. Soon we'll get relegated finishing 18th but told to be happy we won our mini league.

I see your objections .... so without some idiotic 'investor' with a death wish what are your solutions?

[Hughesy]

IT WASNT EVEN THAT BAD AGAINST WIGAN LAST SEASON WHEN INCE GOT SACKED

Wigan was 3-0 after 20 mins or something....Today we played a team who have spent over £200m in the last few seasons, with an awesome home record...missing 5 1st team players - lets put things in perspective eh!! Also previous to Wigan we hadnt jsut beaten Villa & Burnley!!!!

He's quite obviously written off games against the top teams. Poss quite rightly too.

Best way forward is for all fans to avoid all away trips to the top clubs.

Exactly...Usually £40-45 a ticket + travel - its exactly what iv stopped. All the rest im happy to attend but the big 4 (which are usually on TV anyway) are just a waste. Sam knows at this stage we dont stand a chance at thier homes. Nothing wrong with being a realist!

The thing is, during his Bolton days, Sam had a certain amount of pride and satisfaction in screwing over the so-called top four. It doesn't quite feel like the same man in charge for us.

He will eventually...f he gets us into the team HE WANTS. At the moment he still has some deadwood that needs shifting and that takes time.

1 - MGP

2 - Roberts

3 - Andrews

4 - Nelsen

My definition of second string would be players who when others are fit and available would not start.

Chimbonda, Samba, Di Santo, Grella and Dunn would start- that is FIVE first 11 players out. The second string, i.e. Andrews, Olsson, Roberts and co are not up to scratch (I am willing to give Olsson time as he is only young).

Spot on.

[DarrellH]

Unfortunately Mr Allardyce lost a lot a respect from me when he came out with the claptrap that he is the expert and we are not... Wait a minute big shot - I pay money out of my pocket to watch football and I believe that I merit an opinion. Yes you are a Premier League manager and I am not, but don't get ahead of yourself and think that your ideologies are not questionable... If I see my team capitulate like today I have every right to question your management methods. Simple things like pressing the ball spring to mind... I'd love to hear why he decides that we sit off our opponents and lets them attack us at will? Bizarre tactic!

[Hughesy]

Unfortunately Mr Allardyce lost a lot a respect from me when he came out with the claptrap that he is the expert and we are not...

The same comment based on fans booing him at home, chanting Gallagher and Derbyshite? Im hardly suprised he came out with that statement to be honest.

HE kept us up last season....he earned alot of respect for that... Get behind your manager...get behind your club...get behind you players and Grow a pair!

Fickle, Fickle fans!

[DarrellH]

The same comment based on fans booing him at home, chanting Gallagher and Derbyshite? Im hardly suprised he came out with that statement to be honest.

HE kept us up last season....he earned alot of respect for that... Get behind your manager...get behind your club...get behind you players and Grow a pair!

Fickle, Fickle fans!

No doubting it Hughesy, he kept us up last season... but after Ince we couldn't have got much worse. But I'm afraid this guy is not bigger than Blackburn Rovers. I have supported us for nigh on 30 years - I am far far from being fickle, I'll be supporting this team when I'm gasping my last breath. I don't expect us to win the league every year, I just expect us to compete - Understand?!

[patrickvalery]

I see your objections .... so without some idiotic 'investor' with a death wish what are your solutions?

Theno,

I'm not some idealistic dreamer. I know that more often than not the top sides in the country will beat us. The quantity and superior level of talent they posess will, more often than not, win the day. This i have no problem with. But do you not wish you could go into a game with said opposition with a little hope? I saw some TV advert the other day about football. The fan said something along the lines of "I can deal with the despair, its the hope that kills me". Well i'd bloody kill for some hope!! I never expect us to beat the top sides. But i do expect a level of commitment and passion. All we hear from the club is how the wages we pay are excessive for our size and thus we have limited transfer funds. Well if this is the case then we are paying distinctly average players (midfield mostly) far too much money. I realise this can't be remedied overnight as contracts are contracts. The blame lies with who signed them. But in the summer, off the back of selling two of our top stars we failed miserably to address a shockingly bad midfield. I mean truly awful.

To then expect fans to readily accept inept and uncommitted performances against Everton, Arsenal and then Chelsea is simply not fair. I know there is not a solution other than investment which will put us on alevel playing field as the top teams now. Its plain to see. But do you not expect more than yesterdays showing? If we have the mentality that we're only going to show up for games we can win then we may as well just offer to swap leagues with either Celtic or Rangers for god sake! I understand the notion of small targets. Highlighting games as opportunities to take points. But instead of writing off the games against the big boys, why can't we see it as a freebie? A chance to take any bonus points we might be able to get. But the attitude seems to be 'lets just get this 90 minutes out of the way, try to keep the score below 10 and get back to masterminding a victory over Portmouth/Hull/Bolton etc...' Whatever happened to my beloved dogged Rovers. Robbie Savage tearing the place up getting up everyones noses. Now all we've got is Keith Andrews doing a poor Night Fever impression!

[Hughesy]

No doubting it Hughesy, he kept us up last season... but after Ince we couldn't have got much worse. But I'm afraid this guy is not bigger than Blackburn Rovers. I have supported us for nigh on 30 years - I am far far from being fickle, I'll be supporting this team when I'm gasping my last breath. I don't expect us to win the league every year, I just expect us to compete - Understand?!

No 1 man is bigger than BRFC - Agree totally

Till your last breath - Good on you

Compete - I understand totally, however any team containing MGP, Roberts & Nelsen is never going to do that against a top 4 premier league side...its as simple as that...Its time to move them on

[Amo]

Compete - I understand totally, however any team containing MGP, Roberts & Nelsen is never going to do that against a top 4 premier league side...its as simple as that...Its time to move them on

BUT HE PLAYED THEM.

Like I said earlier, Sam is incapable of adapting the formation for the players he has. And his substitutions are also rather baffling. He doesn't play Kalinic when we're outplaying Wolves, but he does when Chelsea are spanking us silly?