[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[DE.]

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.

Hmmm... I don't know. Maybe the 4-4-1-1 only works against certain teams. We should never start a game in a way that we are unable to hit a single shot on target against the bottom club in the league at home. That's a terrible error of judgement whichever way you look at it. It's about time he got his team-talks right, although you could argue that the players were simply happy to finally have a formation where they could express a little creative freedom.

Was it the personnel, was it the formation? Who knows. It's all speculation. I'm happy it turned around in the end, but as I said, it's limited praise. We seem to be a one-half team right now, and we need to find a way to be a two-half team. The next game will be an interesting one, because after today's match there are a lot of questions that Sam has got to resolve in regards to both tactics and players.

[philipl]

Well done Sam for turning it around. I really had my doubts at half time you would get it sorted but you certainly did!

[Eddie]

4-4-2 Mr Allardyce...4-4-2

[rovers_rob]

4-4-2 Mr Allardyce...4-4-2

4-4-2 ? We didn't paly 4-4-2 at any time today and we won 3-1 and you want us to play a 4-4-2 ?

Superb management from Big Sam today, I expected 1 change at half time but he was spot on to get roberts and benni on. We were superb in the 2nd half.

Well done Mr Allardyce...well done.

[Eddie]

We still brought on two strikers and moved away from the 4-5-1. This season and last season under Allardyce we've played best when we've had two up front.

[RIML]

When the third went in you could see what it meant to Big Sam

[Bobby G]

He went ballistic celebrating it.

Obviously a relief to him.

We played 4-4-2 in the second half in reality cause Benni was played like an attack minded winger on the left side.

[dillhallblue]

Full marks to Big Sam for the half time changes. All people in the ground would have made one change but two !! Wow, very suprising but it showed real balls from the manager.

Also with the half time changes, did it show for the first time in his Ewood career that Big Sam was just starting to feel the pressure !!! What with the boos ringing out at half time ! Because a defeat today would have been unthinkable.

[Miker]

It's not that the 4-5-1 doesn't work, it's that Portsmouth play a narrow formation that stopped us from playing as we usually do. Sam identified that and changed the formation accordingly, so we could effectively challenge them and make a break through.

[OscarRaven]

It's not that the 4-5-1 doesn't work, it's that Portsmouth play a narrow formation that stopped us from playing as we usually do. Sam identified that and changed the formation accordingly, so we could effectively challenge them and make a break through.

you spotted that all by yourself did you? Not just parrotting sams post match comments?

[DE.]

It's not that the 4-5-1 doesn't work, it's that Portsmouth play a narrow formation that stopped us from playing as we usually do. Sam identified that and changed the formation accordingly, so we could effectively challenge them and make a break through.

If our formation is that easy to nullify, and a team the likes of Portsmouth can render us toothless, we need a new approach. We may have won 3 previous games at home with this formation, but we've also lost 10 on the road with it, and two of our home wins were against the mighty Wolves and Burnley . Villa was a random one, but it was an off-day for them, and they struggle to play narrow.

4-4-1-1 relies far, far too much on Dunn and Di Santo firing on all cylinders all the time. If the formation is rendered useless by one of the two having an off-day or the opposition playing narrow then we must tweak it (or ditch it completely).

We've always looked strong when playing with 2 up front, and with 4 very good strikers to choose from, it seems to make sense to go down that route.

But whatever, I'm not the expert. Happy with the win today, though it was fully expected. There were, however, many questions raised by the game that Sam needs to answer by the next match.

[Tris]

Well done Sam for turning it around. I really had my doubts at half time you would get it sorted but you certainly did!

Superb management from Big Sam today, I expected 1 change at half time but he was spot on to get roberts and benni on. We were superb in the 2nd half.

Well done Mr Allardyce...well done.

Well done????? Superb????? More like you f**ked up the first half so badly you couldn't do worse after the break? Why did it need 45 minutes of nonsense to trigger the correct approach to this game??????

I wonder ... what was the catalyst for such a drastic mid-match change?

Was it the biggest chorus of half-time booing I've ever heard at Ewood Park?

Was it the fact that the first half was without any doubt the most, drab, depressing load of @#/? ever to be served up since the new stands were built?

Was it Allardyce fearing for his job?? I've never seen John Williams looking more grumpy before half time.

Football is a simple game, even at Premier League level. Play strikers, give them the ball, and goals will be scored.

Play talented players (like Benni M) and the ball will find its way into good positions from where other players will score for the Rovers.

It's taken a discredited and on-the-ropes BFS at 0-1 down against the worst club in the division to finally make proper use of the players he has on Rovers books. Was it desperation or was it calculation?

Either way, I hope 4-5-1 will never be seen again at Ewood Park this season. It's been a disaster for the manager, the players detest it, and so do the fans.

The game we follow is all about scoring goals, and in the second half today - finally - we were equipped to do just that.

[Parsonblue]

I thought Big Sam got it about right today. The system he started with had produced some good results at Ewood this season and therefore I felt he was justified to start with it. However, Portsmouth had done their homework and nullified the threat from Dunn in the first half which left us looking rather poor, in terms of attacking options. At half time I suspect most would have predicted changes but wouldn't have predicted he would replace both wide players and opt for the system which he introduced. Chimbonda and Emerton looked a threat down the right, while Benni seemed to drift between the left wing and a position behind the front two with Dunny operating in central midfield and interchanging with Benni on the left. Once again the work which the manager and his staff have done with the players on set pieces was rewarded in terms of goals.

Although I believe that the manager, like all managers, has made mistakes this season, I believe that today he got things right and deserves credit for turning things around.

[thenodrog]

Well done????? Superb????? More like you f**ked up the first half so badly you couldn't do worse after the break? Why did it need 45 minutes of nonsense to trigger the correct approach to this game??????

I wonder ... what was the catalyst for such a drastic mid-match change?

Was it the biggest chorus of half-time booing I've ever heard at Ewood Park?

Was it the fact that the first half was without any doubt the most, drab, depressing load of @#/? ever to be served up since the new stands were built?

Was it Allardyce fearing for his job?? I've never seen John Williams looking more grumpy before half time.

Football is a simple game, even at Premier League level. Play strikers, give them the ball, and goals will be scored.

Play talented players (like Benni M) and the ball will find its way into good positions from where other players will score for the Rovers.

It's taken a discredited and on-the-ropes BFS at 0-1 down against the worst club in the division to finally make proper use of the players he has on Rovers books. Was it desperation or was it calculation?

Either way, I hope 4-5-1 will never be seen again at Ewood Park this season. It's been a disaster for the manager, the players detest it, and so do the fans.

The game we follow is all about scoring goals, and in the second half today - finally - we were equipped to do just that.

Some of that is valid, some of that is rubbish....... Just as an aside have you now become John Williams unofficial mouthpiece Tris? You've steadfastly ignored my insinuation in the past so if you continue in this vein can I assume that this is indeed the case? Are you playing politics by firing the bullets that somebody else is supplying?

[Gamst]

Play talented players (like Benni M) and the ball will find its way into good positions from where other players will score for the Rovers.

Either way, I hope 4-5-1 will never be seen again at Ewood Park this season. It's been a disaster for the manager, the players detest it, and so do the fans.

Whilst Benni is talented, he is also lazy and slow, neither of which are particularly enduring qualities. He wouldn't make my starting 11.

Funny what you say about 4-5-1 (or 4-4-1-1), I seem to remember us beating the dingles whilst utilising that tactic not so long ago. The fans and players enjoyed that one and I don't think it will rank as one of Sam's managerial disasters!

[Mr. E]

I think BFS is an odd case. On one hand he persisted with Andrews for so long without the slightest justification, on the other he throws 2 strikers on at half time and changes the game, which even the boldest of managers out there rarely do. Let's just hope he's reevaluating our best starting 11.

[The Harwood Yankee]

Pretty damned obvious Sam dropped a bollock with his first half selction. He's stubborn beyond belief so he sticks to 451 but one striker up front at home is pitiful and if he persists with that then we're relegation fodder. No wonder we havent won a single point away from home all season.

[philipl]

if you go to the Pompey thread and read the comments between 2pm and 3pm yesterday you will see universal agreement that Sam had picked the strongest and best side available.

What happened first half yesterday is that MGP and Diouf whose performances have been poor appear to have fallen off a cliff despite facing opponents who were playing narrow and so should have given them enormous opportunities to have had great games.

Second half Sam took Pompey on down the middle of the park with Pompey having no answer for Benni's intelligent movement.

I do think Sam deserves credit for playing Bert centrally. I think this could come to be the rescue of our season but we do desperately need Hoilett and Van Heerden to come through as real alternatives to Diouf and MGP as opposed to romantic figments of supporters' immaginations.

[patrickvalery]

I'm astounded at some of the view points on here. Football isn't about having pitting your wits against a static opposition who stick to a rigid game plan (cue comments about our recent performances). Pompey had done their homework and made us look exceptionally ordinary first half. Dunn was not allowed to dictate play and Hart had clearly identified our midfield as a weak spot. Credit to them, they over ran us. But being a good footballer and a good coach is about rolling with the punches and adapting your style to overcome the obstacle which you face. Big Sam did exactly that. He was bold enough to make the changes very early on and it paid dividends. I recall Souness saying that its almost impossible to express yourself to the players during playing time. The message is lost in translation. Big Sam used half time to implement new ideas and yesterday, as he said, he earned his money.

I've been critical of Sam over recent weeks for what i considered to be some heartless displays against the likes of Chelsea. Today i have to hold my hands up and congratulate the man. He got it right at a stage when we were still able to turn the tide and take the points. Some on here need to learn to praise as well as criticise. I've also been exceptionally critical of McCarthy in the past. He is not my type of player. He doesn't show enough determination for me. But yesterday he had a storming game and its important to recognise that. If he continues to do that i will be more than happy to eat my words.

Yesterday was a big win. We all know its not going to have rectified all the problems we've seen. But its important to understand that IF there is the slightest bit of doubt in the players minds about Sam's ability, yesterday will have helped ease that. When a manager makes such bold changes during a match and it ultimately changes the outcome of the game, it must surely give the playing staff a belief they are in capable hands. The next step is key. McCarthy and Roberts must keep their places now. If they don't after that performance it sends the wrong message to the rest of the staff. Perform well you get your chance. Play badly you warm the bench.

[Paul]

However, Portsmouth had done their homework and nullified the threat from Dunn in the first half which left us looking rather poor, in terms of attacking options.

I pointed this out weeks ago, interesting to see it's now happening.

[Stuart]

1) There are things about Allardyce's management and tactics which people do not like.

2) When people point these out after a defeat, they are branded idiots and asked "where were these comments last week when we beat so-and-so".

3) When people point these out after a victory they are branded idiots and asked to accept "we won didn't we; all's well that ends well; no harm no foul".

4) People are entitled to their opinion even if you do not agree with it. Rather than stick a negative rep mark and describe people as insane, why not try debating the finer points. You might learn something about each other!

5) Whilst there are limits of taste and decency, the only poor opinion is "My opinion is that your opinion is crap".

Now, Sam made a rod for his own back by saying, even in jest, "Leave it to me, I'm the expert, not you". It was obviously tongue-in-cheek but he gave his detractors some ammunition for every bad decision.

The second half line up yesterday smacked of a bit of desperation, and it paid off. That's quite a valid opinion.

By all means, enjoy the victory, we've even clawed back 2 points on the dingles with a game still in hand, but this is a football message board. It would be a little boring if we all agreed with each other!

[47er]

Some of that is valid, some of that is rubbish....... Just as an aside have you now become John Williams unofficial mouthpiece Tris? You've steadfastly ignored my insinuation in the past so if you continue in this vein can I assume that this is indeed the case? Are you playing politics by firing the bullets that somebody else is supplying?

Don't overrate him, its just the same old @#/?.

[Stuart]

1) There are things about Allardyce's management and tactics which people do not like.

FAIR ENOUGH- BUT IT IS CLEAR MANY DISLIKE SAM-THE MAN.

Be careful with that one. It's clear to many that I dislike Sam. However I do not dislike him.

2) When people point these out after a defeat, they are branded idiots and asked "where were these comments last week when we beat so-and-so".

THE SAME PEOPLE POINT THEM OUT AFTER A WIN TOO.

Maybe but there are also people who think Sam is an untouchable genius. Especially Sam himself. When we lose, he blames the players!

3) When people point these out after a victory they are branded idiots and asked to accept "we won didn't we; all's well that ends well; no harm no foul".

IT BECOMES TEDIOUS WHEN YOU HEAR "WE WON INSPITE OF SAM" COMMENTS AFTER A WIN AND "WE LOST BECAUSE OF SAM" COMMENTS AFTER A DEFEAT.

Tedious is an apt description of yesterday's first half, plus some others.

4) People are entitled to their opinion even if you do not agree with it. Rather than stick a negative rep mark and describe people as insane, why not try debating the finer points. You might learn something about each other!

HOW CAN YOU DEBATE "I HATE SAM"? A LOT OF THE COMMENTS STEM FROM AN UNDERLYING HATRED FOR THE MANAGER- IF PEOPLE PUT THIS TO ONE SIDE AND THEN TRIED DEBATING THE FINER POINTS OF THE GAME IT WOULD BE A MORE FUN PLACE TO BE!

I am an example of someone who tries to constructively criticise rather than just purport "I Hate Sam". You are one of the few people who actually thinks about the post and respond constructively (thanks for that). However, there are equally staunch "I Love Sam" commentators who will just read one line (if that) and click the minus button.

5) Whilst there are limits of taste and decency, the only poor opinion is "My opinion is that your opinion is crap".

AGREED.

Now, Sam made a rod for his own back by saying, even in jest, "Leave it to me, I'm the expert, not you". It was obviously tongue-in-cheek but he gave his detractors some ammunition for every bad decision.

THE GIVE AWAY WAS THE TONGUE IN CHEEK- WHY SHOULD THIS BE HELD AGAINST HIM?

Because... "see my signature"

The second half line up yesterday smacked of a bit of desperation, and it paid off. That's quite a valid opinion.

IT SMACKED OF A MANAGER ANNOYED AT HOW HIS TEAM PERFORMED IN THE FIRST HALF AND MADE THE NECESSARY CHANGES FOR THE 2ND HALF- AN EQUALLY VALID OPINION.

Sam did at half time what most of us have been asking for for weeks, play positively. There were thousands of fans who were bloody annoyed at half time yesterday. That was down to the tactics. I still doubt he would have changed if it had been 0-0 at half time. Sam's M.O. is keep it tight, don't concede and nick it 1-0. Rovers do not do that as a rule. It will take time for Sam to build a team which is capable of it.

Two things follow that:

1) We struggle to play well for the moment because the players struggle to adapt to the system. Just look at the difference in the body language of the players, the appetite and the atmosphere, second half, even before we scored.

2) Many fans are put off by the fact that if he is here long enough, he may well create a team which will excel at this kind of football. If he does a George Graham and 'boring boring Rovers' are a comfortable top half team then he may well say he's succeeded but we will need to continue with cheap season tickets to compensate fans for a lack of entertainment.

By all means, enjoy the victory, we've even clawed back 2 points on the dingles with a game still in hand, but this is a football message board. It would be a little boring if we all agreed with each other!

[RovertheHill]

This really is a depressing messageboard these days. And before anyone jumps on my back I'm not calling anyone an idiot but ffs we won yesterday and still it seems we aren't allowed to enjoy it because all it proves is that the manager was desperate and gambled at half-time. So f-ing what? It worked. Don't worry, I'm sure we'll lose an away match again soon and then there will be plenty to moan about, which paradoxically seems to be what many people want

[Stuart]

This really is a depressing messageboard these days. And before anyone jumps on my back I'm not calling anyone an idiot but ffs we won yesterday and still it seems we aren't allowed to enjoy it because all it proves is that the manager was desperate and gambled at half-time. So f-ing what? It worked. Don't worry, I'm sure we'll lose an away match again soon and then there will be plenty to moan about, which paradoxically seems to be what many people want

Were you at the match yesterday, mate? What did you think of the first half?

I don't think it's a coincidence that the players looked more comfortable in the second half formation than in the first.