[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[John]

I have got a different perspective on Sam. As I have stated on many occasions, he is the best fit and manager for our club (which is the main point in all of this) - that's not to say I agree with everything he does, I have disagreed with a few things he has done since taking over.

Whilst he has a very high opinion of himself, why not?? No one else is going to give him or us credit, so why not speak highly of yourself, especially when you have a decent track record to back it up. We can moan about it but he is not going to change his ways so late in his career (especially such a personality trait). Different circumstances, but until the later days Hughes felt he was never given much credit as a manager here. But as he is a different character it comes across differently.

Most PL managers like Sam, the reasons why? It’s that they respect his achievements and they can also have an honest laugh with him.

Similar to Souey, some people simply don't like Big Sam the man and will twist the knife in at every possible opportunity - everything is his fault in their eyes. Admittingly, I was the same with Ince, I never liked him, and had a go when I could (even maybe unfairly). The difference is/was, he was so bloody useless for us.

This post is a bit of a ramble, as in a rush, but the key for me is who can do the best for our club, and in my view its Sam at this moment in time!

[ABBEY]

Steve if that's you asking me then yes I have, only once. That was enough!! I asked Miker the question because I know / think there is more to ABBEY than matches what he posts on here, or the style he uses anyway.

AW SHUCKS.....MY BAD.

[47er]

The first half against Pompey did nothing to win over the person who took my STs, the second half got a mention but nothing like the mention the first half received!

But that's so Blackburn isn't it? The cup is always half empty, if its a fine day today don't enjoy it because it will rain tomorrow etc etc.My abiding memories of that game are a great 2nd half come-back, 3 goals and 3 points. I consider that a NORMAL response.

[mellison24]

But that's so Blackburn isn't it? The cup is always half empty, if its a fine day today don't enjoy it because it will rain tomorrow etc etc.My abiding memories of that game are a great 2nd half come-back, 3 goals and 3 points. I consider that a NORMAL response.

what he said

[thenodrog]

you say i spout crap.nicola and saldalgo just blows that out of the water

Thats silly. Granted I cannot see much in Salgado but every manager we've had made good and bad signings. Off the top of my head Souness made plenty of ricks with Grabbi, Baggio and Amoruso to the fore but he also signed Tugay and Brad, Hughes signed Djorkaeff and Vogel but redeemed himself over and over again with RSC, Bentley, Warnock, Samba etc etc. Kidd signed Per Pederson, Ashley Ward but also unearthed Matt Jansen. Hodgson made good and bad signings, Parkes signed Per Pederson to replace Alan Shearer for goodness sake and amongst all the superstars Kenny managed to sign Matty Holmes!

Rome was never built in a day and its only fair to describe the team as 'work in progress' for Allardyce, he is tasked with changing personel and tactics and it will not happen overnight. Just ask Man U fans how long it took Alex Ferguson to mould a team.

I'm just glad you don't do the shirt printing! Learn to spell our players names for crying out loud!

Wait a minute....... Betnley? Satna Cruz? I'd say waggy might well do it.

[Paul]

Yes it should and everything else is a bonus given the 40m or bust threat of relegation!

Rem Paul We didn't make the rules we just have to work within them.

If you are going to quote me I would prefer it if you did not edit my post. The word INITIAL is not mine.

[thenodrog]

If you are going to quote me I would prefer it if you did not edit my post. The word INITIAL is not mine.

Sorry just trying to make a point. I thought inserting it in bold capitals would have differentiated sufficiently.

Fact remains that the word initial should have been included in the first place.

[S15]

Ray Harford signed Matty Holmes.

[FourLaneBlue]

Not that I'm too fussed ... Rovers under Kenny used to play very direct at times, they never got accused of hoofball.

Yes they did. Or other words to that effect. They were accused of being direct, one-dimensional, reliant on one player and far less pretty on the eye than our rivals of the time from Stretford.

Not many Rovers fans were gullible enough to let the media pull the wool over their eyes. Some might wonder how times have changed in that regard.

We may not be Brazil 1970 but neither are we Cambridge under John Beck. Some damn good football has been played at times this season as well as some poor football. It was no different under Hughes. We were often uneasy on the eye then but had our moments of class. That was when we had better players as well as less of a gap between sales and buys.

[FourLaneBlue]

I'm beginning to find myself in a quandry. I have never liked Allardyce as a personality, I don't hate him so please don't put me in the Allardyce hater category his supporters like to use.

OK...so you were against him even before he came. Not a great view to take. Especially as so many on here riled against those who did not give Ince a fair chance to prove himself.

The person who took mine phoned at half-time to say, and I do quote, "I can't believe I've given up half a day to watch this absolute sh!te," and then went on to tell me how terrible the Rovers were and the team had been roundly booed off the pitch. Now this was from a person with no Allardyce axe to grind.

We all agree the first half was appalling. It has been reported in all the press and in umpteen posts on this board. Not one person, as far as I can recall, has suggested it was anything other than cack. Not sure why you need to quote someone and reiterate they were not anti-Allardyce. Even Allarduce himself admitted it was woeful.

From the other side it's very difficult to argue against those who have the persuasive arguement of our home form

And why is that? It is because the home form has been excellent. Fifth best in the league. It is also, likewise, "very difficult to argue against" thos who the persuasive argument of our away form. As it has been awful. Worst in the entire league.

So...when fans are arguing against our home form by focusing on formations or luck on Sam's part or poor opposition they are not focusing on the bigger picture which is an excellent return.

Not too sure why people are trying to pick holes in our home form. When did we last have a better run than 4 wins on the trot or five including the cup? Let's stick to demanding better returns away from home. Starting with our next two games where we should be looking for, at least, 2 points return.

[thenodrog]

Ray Harford signed Matty Holmes.

I wondered about that. But was KMD still ludicrously in place as director of football or had he gone by then?

[thenodrog]

I'm beginning to find myself in a quandry. I have never liked Allardyce as a personality, I don't hate him so please don't put me in the Allardyce hater category his supporters like to use.

Hmm I prefer waggy or Abbeys stance Paul. At least they are honest about their dislike. Your apparently even handed stance makes your arguments more persuasive to some and your agenda more sinister.

You remind me of a subsversive character in Lord of the Rings but I can't quite rem his name.

[47er]

I wondered about that. But was KMD still ludicrously in place as director of football or had he gone by then?

As I recall it, Holmes was signed over the summer so Dalglish was indeed in situ (hypothetically).

[thenodrog]

As I recall it, Holmes was signed over the summer so Dalglish was indeed in situ (hypothetically).

no doubt in situ on Hillside GC.

[waggy]

happen lardarse could take a leafout of benfica's manager and wear a rovers scarf round his neck.looked bloody great on telly and we all know he's in to self publicity

[unluckymorton]

happen lardarse could take a leafout of benfica's manager and wear a rovers scarf round his neck.looked bloody great on telly and we all know he's in to self publicity

Maybe waggy should try the same and start going to Ewood to support the lads.

[gazsimm]

Maybe waggy should try the same and start going to Ewood to support the lads.

no i rather the numpty stayed away from ewood thanks!! Big Sam's blue and white army!!!

[47er]

Hmm I prefer waggy or Abbeys stance Paul. At least they are honest about their dislike. Your apparently even handed stance makes your arguments more persuasive to some and your agenda more sinister.

You remind me of a subsversive character in Lord of the Rings but I can't quite rem his name.

Gollum?

[Paul]

Sadly these posts typify much of the response on the MB, especially towards those who question the health of football in general and the influence this has on the Rovers. It's becoming increasingly pointless in attempting to offer honest views as no matter how carefully words are chosen there will always be those who chose to twist them

OK...so you were against him even before he came. Not a great view to take. Especially as so many on here riled against those who did not give Ince a fair chance to prove himself.

I don't like Allardyce as a personality, that is very different to disliking his football. I didn't like Craig Bellamy's public image, though I now know he has a very different and less publicised side to his life, but that didn't stop me being rapidly won over by his wonderful football. The recent remarks from Allardyce have done nothing to improve my view of his personality. I'm quite happy to be won over by his football but I'm still waiting for some real excitment. Nothing wrong with these views, I'm most certainly not stupid enough to sign a Facebook petition, it just isn't that important. I'm giving Allardyce a chance and my post was worded to suggest I'm being won over.

As for Ince I riled against the attacks on him as a person, I didn't support his football. I feel precisely the same about Andrews, hundreds on here need to take a long hard look at themselves over their constant attack of Andrews. I for one think it utterly unreasonable and will nnot criticise him for the same reason. I'd suggest they do more to undermine the side than my comments about Allardyce.

We all agree the first half was appalling. It has been reported in all the press and in umpteen posts on this board. Not one person, as far as I can recall, has suggested it was anything other than cack. Not sure why you need to quote someone and reiterate they were not anti-Allardyce. Even Allarduce himself admitted it was woeful.

You don't see the importance of this? I'm very surprised. The club has made enormous efforts to increase attendances to the extent the perceived value of football at Ewood is now so low it will be impossible to raise ST prices to any sensible level. I leant my ticket to someone who hasn't been for years, sadly the quality of the football did nothing to encourage a return. This is the point and anyone who ignores it also ignores the impact our current football style, or lack of it, will have on next year's ST sales. I suspect our football style is wasting all the effort put into raising ST sales.

And why is that? It is because the home form has been excellent. Fifth best in the league. It is also, likewise, "very difficult to argue against" thos who the persuasive argument of our away form. As it has been awful. Worst in the entire league.

So...when fans are arguing against our home form by focusing on formations or luck on Sam's part or poor opposition they are not focusing on the bigger picture which is an excellent return.

Not too sure why people are trying to pick holes in our home form. When did we last have a better run than 4 wins on the trot or five including the cup? Let's stick to demanding better returns away from home. Starting with our next two games where we should be looking for, at least, 2 points return.

I'm not persuaded by all this 5th best in the league form stuff, it means little especially so when anyone who critices the away form is told to look at who we've played - Arsenal, Utd, Chelsea. Well frankly Burnley, Wolves and Pompey are hardly the creme de la creme so the same arguement could be applied to home form. If it's acceptable to lose to the best then it is is expected to beat the some of the worst. There's nothing wrong with the home results and given the teams we've played the results are what they should be.

I'm again surprised as you appear to be in the camp of only enjoying the result. I like to see a bit more style and excitment in our football. There's nothing wrong with the results but I'd suggest there is concern about the 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 approach. Our football is very workman like, lacking any real flair, this is my complaint not the results. I haven't picked holes in the home form, but have expressed views about the way we approach home games, too cautious by far. A great example being the Burnley game when they were there for the taking, instead we sat back, on Sam's instructions, and risked throwing away the win. Dangerous tactics.

Another illustration of the Allardyce style, and his intransigence, is the McCarthy situation. Said by many to have more talent and skill than any other player in the squad he'll be leaving in January. To be replaced by who? I don't know but I bet he's 6 foot plus and puts himself about a bit. Looking forward to that.

Hmm I prefer waggy or Abbeys stance Paul. At least they are honest about their dislike. Your apparently even handed stance makes your arguments more persuasive to some and your agenda more sinister.

You remind me of a subsversive character in Lord of the Rings but I can't quite rem his name.

It's blindingly obvious you are the person with subversive agendas, on just about every topic one can imagine. You seem infected by a desire to see the worst in absolutely everything. I'm simply posting my open views, worded to be as even handed as possible and to avoid misunderstanding. It's something you might want to consider trying, posting open and honest views, something you've never achieved to my knowledge. I have no agenda other than wishing to discuss football.

[DP]

Great comments Paul. Pretty much my view on things.

I'm not a big 'big' Sam fan. But its what we've got, so we have to make do.....

[Paul Mellelieu]

The crux of the matter is, with our budget, can we play good football and stay in the top flight?

To be honest I don't know, but I'm sure we can do better, which if the rumours are true, Sam is planning a clear out.

[thenodrog]

Gollum?

Nope. Not him.

[jim mk2]

. I'm simply posting my open views, worded to be as even handed as possible and to avoid misunderstanding. It's something you might want to consider trying, posting open and honest views, something you've never achieved to my knowledge. I have no agenda other than wishing to discuss football.

[Removed - keep it on topic and the spats to your PMs]

Returning to topic, I understand fans' misgivings about Allardyce - in addition to one or two performances this season the first 70 minutes against Spurs last spring was the worst I have endured in a long time but of course was forgotten in the euphoria of the vital 2-1 victory achieved in the final minutes of the game.

Having said that, I also remember some dire matches under Hughes and many games when his tactics and team selections made little sense. Hughes did a very good job for Rovers but he was not by any stretch of the imagination the managerial genius many people think he was.

For what it's worth I think that in the club's present straitened financial circumstances Allardyce will continue to do an excellent job for Rovers and as long as he is in charge we will continue to be a thriving and successful Premier League club punching far above our weight for a town of our size. Until another wealthy benefactor comes along I am grateful to him for that.

[Steve Moss]

Hmm I prefer waggy or Abbeys stance Paul. . . .

You remind me of a subsversive character in Lord of the Rings but I can't quite rem his name.

Wormtongue. Though I do not believe Paul can be compared to that character. His concerns seem straight forward, though I disagree with him in that I think Sam is doing a fine job and will do better as time goes on. Especially when he offloads MGP, EHD, Roberts and McCarthy.

For what it's worth I think that in the club's present straitened financial circumstances Allardyce will continue to do an excellent job for Rovers and as long as he is in charge we will continue to be a thriving and successful Premier League club punching far above our weight for a town of our size.

Absolutely. Which is why I back Sam. He's an excellent manager and we will be a top 10 side under his watch.

[Paul]

Wormtongue.

Thanks smoss, just Googled the name as I don't recall the character............really set me up for the day!