[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

"Big Sam's got a huge ego," says Alan Green.

In the Belfast Telegraph this week, Radio 5 commentator Alan Green has launched an attack on his old foe Sam Allardyce.

Green said: "Allardyce takes self-regard onto a different level. Is there anybody else who rates himself so highly with so little reason?"

Link Here

In 2006, Green became involved in a spat with Allardyce, who was then the manager of Bolton, after Green attacked Allardyce's "ugly tactics" and said that he wouldn't pay to watch Bolton.

Green said: "My choice of the word 'ugly' was appropriate. I was highly critical of the way Bolton played for throw-ins and free-kicks. I said that I wouldn't pay to watch it and Sam Allardyce went ballistic when he heard about it."

Green claims that Allardyce tried to take action within the League Managers' Association to get the BBC to sack him as a commentator. Green said: "I had people threatening to sort me out the next time I turned up at the Reebok, and I'm thinking, 'I criticised Bolton's style of play. Does that really justify physical threats?'

No it does not justify threats of violence.

Green says that other managers quietly supported him during the row and they told him in private that he was absolutely right in his criticisms of Bolton's ugly style of play.

In my view Alan was perfectly entitled to criticise some of Bolton's tactics. Rovers were on the receiving end of Bolton's cheating and diving on more than one occasion while Allardyce was the manager at the Reebok.

I was disgusted with the way Allardyce defended Diouf's cheating against us for a penalty at Ewood Park, just as I was disgusted with the way that Allardyce defended Diouf's false allegations of bananas being thrown at him at Goodison Park.

This season Messrs Allardyce and Diouf have dragged our club into the gutter.

bottom three...expertly steered.

Indeed.

Just to recap, Mr Expert has:

a) Been responsible for the joint-worst defensive record currently in the Premier League

b] Has seen Rovers humiliated against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, conceding 11 goals in just two away games.

c) Has been responsible for 10 consecutive away defeats - heading towards the worst away run in our history.

d) Has failed to address our desperate midfield problems. Stats show that we are one of the worst teams in the Premier League for giving the ball away and conceding possession.

e) Has alienated sections of supporters by having a pop at the fans.

f) Has dragged Rovers into the relegation zone after more than a quarter of the season played.

g) Has defended El Hadji Diouf after he made wild unsubstantiated allegations of bananas being thrown at him against Everton.

Yes, Mr Allardyce kept Rovers up last season. But this season we've seen no improvement so far and frankly the team have been a shambles away from home.

A half-term report on Sam would read: "He should be doing better, particularly as he has such a high opinion of himself as an expert".

A link to an interview with Alan Green in the Independent from 2006, where he discusses his spats with Sam Allardyce and David Moyes is below:

Link Here

[imy9]

a) Been responsible for the joint-worst defensive record currently in the Premier League

CURRENTLY IN THE PL, HOW MANY GAMES HAVE BEEN PLAYED AGAIN? HULL WERE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE POSITIONS THIS TIME LAST YEAR...

b] Has seen Rovers humiliated against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, conceding 11 goals in just two away games.

CHELSEA AND ARSENAL- TWO OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD? WE WERE 3-2 DOWN AGAINST ARSENAL AND HAD A STONEWALL PEN.

c) Has been responsible for 10 consecutive away defeats - heading towards the worst away run in our history.

SEVEN AGAINST THE TOP 5 AND THE OTHERS STOKE, MAN CITY AND SUNDERLAND!

d) Has failed to address our desperate midfield problems. Stats show that we are one of the worst teams in the Premier League for giving the ball away and conceding possession.

GOT RID OF THE AXE, TUGAY AND GALLAGHER AND HAS PURCHASED NZONZI FOR £500K WHO LOOKS A STEAL, GIVE JUNIOR A CHANCE TOO HE LOOKS VERY GOOD.

e) Has alienated sections of supporters by having a pop at the fans.

ALIENATED THOSE FANS BY BEING BIG SAM- NOTHING HE CAN DO ABOUT IT (2000 FACEBOOK MEMBERS WHO WERE ANTI SAM REMEMBER)

f) Has dragged Rovers into the relegation zone after more than a quarter of the season played.

WHAT A LOAD OF TOSH HAS PLAYED THREE OF THE TOUGHEST GAMES IN SEASON AWAY IN A ROW! LETS SEE WHERE WE ARE AT 17 GAMES IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR- WE WERE IN A DECENT POSITION WITH INCE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

g) Has defended El Hadji Diouf after he made wild unsubstantiated allegations of bananas being thrown at him against Everton.

WAS DIOUF CHARGED WITH THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE MADE AGAINST HIM? WERE THEY WILD AND UNSUBSTANTIATED? CAN YOU SHOW ME WHERE SAM HAS DEFENDED DIOUFS ACTIONS AS I CANNOT FIND THEM...

1. Overall this is the same Sam who has worked with both hands tied behind his back- lots of money coming in, very little going out.

2. Saved us from relegation after we had lost how many games on the bounce?

3. Has won EVERY high pressure game we needed to win so far and expect it again tomorrow vs Portsmouth.

[Miker]

"Big Sam's got a huge ego," says Alan Green.

In the Belfast Telegraph this week, Radio 5 commentator Alan Green has launched an attack on his old foe Sam Allardyce.

Green said: "Allardyce takes self-regard onto a different level. Is there anybody else who rates himself so highly with so little reason?"

Link Here

In 2006, Green became involved in a spat with Allardyce, who was then the manager of Bolton, after Green attacked Allardyce's "ugly tactics" and said that he wouldn't pay to watch Bolton.

Green said: "My choice of the word 'ugly' was appropriate. I was highly critical of the way Bolton played for throw-ins and free-kicks. I said that I wouldn't pay to watch it and Sam Allardyce went ballistic when he heard about it."

Green claims that Allardyce tried to take action within the League Managers' Association to get the BBC to sack him as a commentator. Green said: "I had people threatening to sort me out the next time I turned up at the Reebok, and I'm thinking, 'I criticised Bolton's style of play. Does that really justify physical threats?'

No it does not justify threats of violence.

Green says that other managers quietly supported him during the row and they told him in private that he was absolutely right in his criticisms of Bolton's ugly style of play.

In my view Alan was perfectly entitled to criticise some of Bolton's tactics. Rovers were on the receiving end of Bolton's cheating and diving on more than one occasion while Allardyce was the manager at the Reebok.

I was disgusted with the way Allardyce defended Diouf's cheating against us for a penalty at Ewood Park, just as I was disgusted with the way that Allardyce defended Diouf's false allegations of bananas being thrown at him at Goodison Park.

This season Messrs Allardyce and Diouf have dragged our club into the gutter.

Indeed.

Just to recap, Mr Expert has:

a) Been responsible for the joint-worst defensive record currently in the Premier League

b] Has seen Rovers humiliated against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, conceding 11 goals in just two away games.

c) Has been responsible for 10 consecutive away defeats - heading towards the worst away run in our history.

d) Has failed to address our desperate midfield problems. Stats show that we are one of the worst teams in the Premier League for giving the ball away and conceding possession.

e) Has alienated sections of supporters by having a pop at the fans.

f) Has dragged Rovers into the relegation zone after more than a quarter of the season played.

g) Has defended El Hadji Diouf after he made wild unsubstantiated allegations of bananas being thrown at him against Everton.

Yes, Mr Allardyce kept Rovers up last season. But this season we've seen no improvement so far and frankly the team have been a shambles away from home.

A half-term report on Sam would read: "He should be doing better, particularly as he has such a high opinion of himself as an expert".

A link to an interview with Alan Green in the Independent from 2006, where he discusses his spats with Sam Allardyce and David Moyes is below:

Link Here

Ok we get it AESF... you hate black people and fat people, and support people with really english names like Green. You can stop posting now.

[sam_rovers]

who's alan green?? and who cares what he thinks?

[Mattyblue]

"Big Sam's got a huge ego," says Alan Green.

Is there anybody else who rates himself so highly with so little reason?"

Pot, kettle anyone?!

[DeadlyDirk]

I honestly had to check who Alan Green was and now as I suspected he's the tit of five live, I'm no huge Sam fan but the man's doing a decent job, Mr Green should keep his gob shut.

[thenodrog]

"Big Sam's got a huge ego," says Alan Green.

In the Belfast Telegraph this week, Radio 5 commentator Alan Green has launched an attack on his old foe Sam Allardyce.

Green said: "Allardyce takes self-regard onto a different level. Is there anybody else who rates himself so highly with so little reason?"

Link Here

In 2006, Green became involved in a spat with Allardyce, who was then the manager of Bolton, after Green attacked Allardyce's "ugly tactics" and said that he wouldn't pay to watch Bolton.

Green said: "My choice of the word 'ugly' was appropriate. I was highly critical of the way Bolton played for throw-ins and free-kicks. I said that I wouldn't pay to watch it and Sam Allardyce went ballistic when he heard about it."

Green claims that Allardyce tried to take action within the League Managers' Association to get the BBC to sack him as a commentator. Green said: "I had people threatening to sort me out the next time I turned up at the Reebok, and I'm thinking, 'I criticised Bolton's style of play. Does that really justify physical threats?'

No it does not justify threats of violence.

Green says that other managers quietly supported him during the row and they told him in private that he was absolutely right in his criticisms of Bolton's ugly style of play.

In my view Alan was perfectly entitled to criticise some of Bolton's tactics. Rovers were on the receiving end of Bolton's cheating and diving on more than one occasion while Allardyce was the manager at the Reebok.

I was disgusted with the way Allardyce defended Diouf's cheating against us for a penalty at Ewood Park, just as I was disgusted with the way that Allardyce defended Diouf's false allegations of bananas being thrown at him at Goodison Park.

This season Messrs Allardyce and Diouf have dragged our club into the gutter.

Indeed.

Just to recap, Mr Expert has:

a) Been responsible for the joint-worst defensive record currently in the Premier League

b] Has seen Rovers humiliated against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, conceding 11 goals in just two away games.

c) Has been responsible for 10 consecutive away defeats - heading towards the worst away run in our history.

d) Has failed to address our desperate midfield problems. Stats show that we are one of the worst teams in the Premier League for giving the ball away and conceding possession.

e) Has alienated sections of supporters by having a pop at the fans.

f) Has dragged Rovers into the relegation zone after more than a quarter of the season played.

g) Has defended El Hadji Diouf after he made wild unsubstantiated allegations of bananas being thrown at him against Everton.

Yes, Mr Allardyce kept Rovers up last season. But this season we've seen no improvement so far and frankly the team have been a shambles away from home.

A half-term report on Sam would read: "He should be doing better, particularly as he has such a high opinion of himself as an expert".

A link to an interview with Alan Green in the Independent from 2006, where he discusses his spats with Sam Allardyce and David Moyes is below:

Link Here

Quite right Chris. Despite SA having the safest and most experienced pair of 'hands' for a financially impoverished club lets sack the fecker, pay him massive compensation, enjoy subsequent relegation and move downward to football oblivion shall we? Rem the BBC made lots of accusations against Allardyce etc which could not be backed up, were not backed up and ulimately were nothing more than a mud slinging exercise. Small wonder he deems them not worthy of the steam off his s1ht is it? RFW and wenger defend their teams to the hilt in the face of overwhelming criticism at times and they are seen as top managers so how the hell can you complain when our man does it?

[Claytons Left Boot]

Come on AESF, I normally like your posts but, hell's teeth, let's get behind Sam and cut out the sniping. We're all supposed to be in this together. Green is just prolonging his three year old spat and looking for attention.

[Paul Mellelieu]

"AESF has a huge sense of his own self importance," says PM.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

"AESF has a huge sense of his own self importance," says PM.

Wow That coming from Manchesters very own Che

[Stonesrick]

Losing Savage without finding a proper replacement was also a stunning blow, since not having him around exposed Tugay's tired legs. That meant we effectively lost our central midfield duo over one night.

Interested to see Derby v Coventry last night. Most influential player on the park...Robbie Savage, seems to have got his legs back, closed opposition down at every opportunity, in their faces all night long and picked out the right pass at the right time.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Interested to see Derby v Coventry last night. Most influential player on the park...Robbie Savage, seems to have got his legs back, closed opposition down at every opportunity, in their faces all night long and picked out the right pass at the right time.

Who has taught him how to pick a pass?

[Silencio]

Don't mind Alan Green myself. Sure, he is sensationalist but gives much better value than the likes of Lineker, Dixon, Shearer, Lawrenson, Ian Wright and many other idiots on the BBC's football payroll.

Let's be honest, we all hated Bolton when Sam was in charge there and would have said he was fair game. Some still think he is. The jury's out for me, he does some good things but the way he carries himself sometimes does him or the club no credit. I'm certainly not in the "sack him" camp though...

[thenodrog]

The jury's out for me, he does some good things but the way he carries himself sometimes does him or the club no credit. I'm certainly not in the "sack him" camp though...

He is a leader, a general, conceited / arrogant probably but many players seem to need managers of that ilk. Ince was not a leader of men.

[broadsword]

Respect is everything, once that is lost you are dead in the water. It doesn't matter what your other good points are, the players have to want to play for you. They don't have to like you, they just have to believe in you.

Ince of course, never had a bloody clue what he was doing, so he was stuffed.

Souness initially did very well, but alienated too many and he was then a dead man walking.

The players believed in Hughes all the way, and that really showed.

Allardyce? I'm yet to be convinced ... I'm not saying either way yet, but there's definitely been some low points. Beat Pompey today and all will be well again ... until the next defeat. Such is football.

[Silencio]

He is a leader, a general, conceited / arrogant probably but many players seem to need managers of that ilk. Ince was not a leader of men.

Ince was clearly out of his depth and should have been gone within a fortnight of being appointed (or never been appointed at all).

Allardyce inherited a squad that was old and had been on the slide for 18 months. He has had little to work with and kept us up last season. He has also brought in a couple of younger players and at youth and reserve level we certainly seem to be improving. He has made a few decent signings (and a couple of dubious ones) so he is doing ok. I just think he can be questioned on tactics sometimes but the biggest gripe I have is with the way he shows himself and the club up in the media at regular intervals.

I think his Fergie sidekick/Benitez enemy act is pathetic and he made a complete tool of himself before and after we got thrashed by Liverpool last season. His "shut your mouth and welcome to the Premier League" response to Roberto Martinez also left a sour taste last week. He should also lay off the "when I was at Bolton the Big Four used to hate playing against us" shtick now, it's completely irrelevant.

Like I said, he is a decent to good manager and I suppose, given our circumstances, that is the best we can hope for but do you not think he would do himself a big favour by cutting out all the crap he comes out with in the media?

[Amo]

Let's also remember Fergie/Wenger/Mourinho et al can get away with all their bluster because they win far more wins than they lose. Sometimes Sam's comments are tongue-in-cheek, which is fair enough, but otherwise he makes himself and the club look rather silly - especially all the stuff about Bolton vs. the Big Four, when we can't wait to lose against them.

[CrazyIvan]

Big Sam is big in many respects not least of all ego. That one attribute very often shows itself as arrogance and can be very irritating for the fans at times. Ince had arrogance but bugger all to back it up with. Sam, at least, has some things he can back it up with (although this seasons capitulations against the top 4 away from home take the gloss off that). Being the boss requires the ego, very little success comes to those with little self-esteem and self-belief. I'm not being negative in any respect towards Sam but that is the man and the role demands it. Souness was and is as arrogant, Hughes too but he doesn't show it in quite the same way. I think the way Sam has shown it in the past has alienated a number of fans and continues to do so which is a shame because he has qualities you really need as a leader.

Annoying at times, quite humourous at others. Self-opinionated, arrogant, full of self-belief and a leader. It's the role and it's Sams.

[rovers_rob]

This season Messrs Allardyce and Diouf have dragged our club into the gutter.

So what are you saying ? You don't want Sam as manager ? So in a word (not an essay) who would you want as manager ? Maybe Mary Poppins would fit the bill.

Oh sorry I forgot you can't write short answers can you, I tell you what why don't you have a think and then post another essay this afternoon while I am at ewood supporting the team. You could maybe search the interweb and find another shocking example of a player doing something wrong and write about that as well.

[DE.]

Using Alan Green as the focal point of an argument, ffs.

[emerton]

full credit to sam for recognising the changes which needed to be implemented at 1/2 time v pompey.

[DE.]

He's paid to do that. Everybody on here knew we needed to change it in the second half. He did what most of us would have done (except maybe bringing Roberts on, but I think with Kalinic on we still would have won the match), so I don't think too much credit should be given to him for that. We were playing Portsmouth at home, after all. It wasn't hard to improve from that first half shambles of a performance.

It'll be very interesting to see how Sam approaches the next game. Roberts & McCarthy staked a big claim for a place in the team today, whilst MGP had another anonymous game.

Edit: Diouf was terrible as well.

[tony gale's mic]

He's paid to do that. Everybody on here knew we needed to change it in the second half. He did what most of us would have done (except maybe bringing Roberts on, but I think with Kalinic on we still would have won the match), so I don't think too much credit should be given to him for that. We were playing Portsmouth at home, after all. It wasn't hard to improve from that first half shambles of a performance.

It'll be very interesting to see how Sam approaches the next game. Roberts & McCarthy staked a big claim for a place in the team today, whilst MGP had another anonymous game.

Thats rubbish. For one, everyone was screaming for 4-4-2 not 4-3-3. Also most of us (including myself) would have much preferred to see Kalinic, but since Roberts got us two of the goals then you can't really say that we would have won if Kalinic had started. Maybe we wouldve done but Roberts did really well for both his goals today.

Give Sam credit where it's due. The second half today was the difference between a manager like Sam and a manager like Ince.

[DE.]

Thats rubbish. For one, everyone was screaming for 4-4-2 not 4-3-3. Also most of us (including myself) would have much preferred to see Kalinic, but since Roberts got us two of the goals then you can't really say that we would have won if Kalinic had started. Maybe we wouldve done but Roberts did really well for both his goals today.

Give Sam credit where it's due. The second half today was the difference between a manager like Sam and a manager like Ince.

The formation appeared to be a mixture of 4-4-2/4-3-3. I'm not going to get bogged down in formation specifics because that's the wrong way to look at it. He changed to a far more attacking formation, which is what everybody wanted.

Also, I said I believe we would probably have won if Kalinic was on. I didn't say we definately would have. It's just an opinion.

I give Sam his due for changing things, but how could he not? He earns his money by analysing things that are going wrong in the game and changing them. He did that, good on him.

I've defended Sam plenty of times on here. I'm not anti-Sam, but I also think he deserves only limited praise for today. The only reason we needed to make such drastic changes was because the formation we started the game with was wrong.

[tony gale's mic]

That formation worked very well against Burnley though, who City struggled at home against today. You can't blame him for starting with it this time. And it was most definitely 4-3-3, with the wide men taken out and three proper strikers together with Dunn who'd been a support striker recently. That's a big difference from a classic 4-4-2 formation. Other managers mightve waited till the 60th minute or not made such drastic changes but Sam did and for that he definitely deserves credit. His team talk must have worked wonders too.