[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[Stuart]

All I have said about Allardyce is I don't like him as a personality but am prepared to be won over by his football. I'd use Craig Bellamy as a similar example, not someone I'd have expected to support until I saw the marvellous performances he was able to give us. I don't enjoy Allardyce's personality and approach but I'm more than happy to praise him when he produces good football.

An unheathy situation which can only damage the club? In the past I'm sure you've referred to this place as just a messageboard, a sentiment I'd agree with. So how are a few opinions on our football style going to damage the club? It's just a message board, the modern equivalent of writing to the LET. As I recall your longterm and widely espoused future for Blackburn Rovers is to amalgamate with local teams to create a local "super club" playing under another name. So there are those of us who you say are damaging the club by criticising the style of football and then we have the fan who would do away with the club name altogether. I don't quite follow this logic.

If you take a close look at those who criticise Allardyce I think you would be very hard-pressed to find one example of someone whose interest is to damage the club. Those I know or who post on here are long-term, core supporters who do nothing other than question what they have seen to date under the manager.

A good half post there Paul. I've not met him but I reckon Theno's a good guy really who does enjoy a bit of baiting now and again. Water off a duck's back mate.

Here's an interesting insight into the footballing ethos at BRFC ..... About 5.06 to the end.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/8397351.stm

See. Good spot that Theno. I hope that gets as much highlighting as his 'expert' faux pas.

[Silencio]

Hatred? Hmmm a very strong word but I think you'll find it difficult to find any instance where I have expressed such an emotion. Compare this with much of your own posting describing Paul Ince as lacking sufficient intelligence to pass his coaching badges, directly questioning his mental ability and various other barbs aimed at him as an individual. I suspect a little searching would find these are not isolated instances. So if you wish to discuss hatred please look at yourself first. Wasn't it yourself who declared you'd be playing golf rather than watching Rovers under Ince? I'm not sure on this but think it's the case.

Where you fall down here Paul is that Ince IS thick as chips and gravy and does not have the mental ability to manage a Premier League club, or even a League 1 club by the looks of it. That's not a matter for debate, it's plain to see.

I can see why some don't like Allardyce, I don't like what he says in the media much but there is no doubt that he is a decent manager who gets results and results are what we need. He certainly isn't thick like Ince...

[LeChuck]

I might get pelters for saying this but it's interesting that this resurgence in form and confidence, brought on (IMO) by the change in playing style have coincided with Sam missing the last few games. I wonder if McDonald been given some license or if this change in tack would have happened regardless?

Sam has said he expected us to be 4-4-2 this season (evident by the four strikers in the squad), it was only the form of Dunn in the hole that was making him play the formation we have been using. It should be no surprise that we use 4-4-2 in his absence.

If McDonald wanted a change of attitude then why 4-4-1-1 against Stoke? It doesn't make sense. Every reputable news source has said Sam has been in touch and picking teams throughout his absence, it's quite disrespectful to suggest the improvement is related to his absence. It's quite easy to logically follow what's happened and why Allardyce has got us playing the way we have.

- Terrible first half against Pompey = 4-3-3 in the second half (Allardyce in charge)

- That worked wonders, Roberts forced himself into the team hence 4-4-2 against Bolton

- Same team and approach against Fulham, 3-0 defeat

- After a heavy defeat, returned to the 4-4-1-1 that has brought wins at home against mid-table teams

- Surprise against Chelsea, matching their 4-4-2 diamond man-for-man

- Similar approach against Liverpool, dropping a striker for a midfielder as they play five in there

[Miker]

All I have said about Allardyce is I don't like him as a personality but am prepared to be won over by his football. I'd use Craig Bellamy as a similar example, not someone I'd have expected to support until I saw the marvellous performances he was able to give us. I don't enjoy Allardyce's personality and approach but I'm more than happy to praise him when he produces good football.

An unheathy situation which can only damage the club? In the past I'm sure you've referred to this place as just a messageboard, a sentiment I'd agree with. So how are a few opinions on our football style going to damage the club? It's just a message board, the modern equivalent of writing to the LET. As I recall your longterm and widely espoused future for Blackburn Rovers is to amalgamate with local teams to create a local "super club" playing under another name. So there are those of us who you say are damaging the club by criticising the style of football and then we have the fan who would do away with the club name altogether. I don't quite follow this logic.

If you take a close look at those who criticise Allardyce I think you would be very hard-pressed to find one example of someone whose interest is to damage the club. Those I know or who post on here are long-term, core supporters who do nothing other than question what they have seen to date under the manager.

Questioning is fine, I think everyone here has questioned Sam's decision at some point over his reign here so far. The thing is that you, as many others, were criticising Sam way too harshly from the start. Every bad result or mistake was pounced upon and the players he signed were written off way too quickly. Sure, it's your opinion, but it doesn't really help the club much if people are causing hysteria over the team, players and the manager before we were even 10 games into the season. It's only now that we've actually beaten a big four side and drawn with another, in the space of 4 days, that people are starting to take notice and be won over.

The difference is, of course, that you praising Sam for his tactics now makes you come off as someone that only wants to support the team when we're doing well. Might not be true, but that's the way it seems.

[tony gale's mic]

So what should be our target this season?

We have Hull, Brum and Wigan away and Spurs at home till we've played everyone once. That should bring a minimum of 6 points which would take us onto 24. If we double that and maybe add a couple as we tend to do better in the second half of seasons that'd take us to 50. Usually that takes a side to 10th and if that happens it'd definitely be a job well done.

The real depressing thing is that with the re emergence of Spurs, moneybags City together with Villa and the big 4, the highest we could realistically end up is 8th and it's hard to see this changing next season either. Even if both the extra Euro places end up going to the league they only end at 7th. While this season we'd all be pretty happy with somewhere a little below, if we finished mid table there'd be very little tangible to aim to kick onto for future seasons other than just finishing a place or two higher.

[Ninjathunder]

Big Sam to change ways and stop kicking opposition players in the swingers then shout defiantly from the touchline

[JAL]

So what should be our target this season?

We have Hull, Brum and Wigan away and Spurs at home till we've played everyone once. That should bring a minimum of 6 points which would take us onto 24. If we double that and maybe add a couple as we tend to do better in the second half of seasons that'd take us to 50. Usually that takes a side to 10th and if that happens it'd definitely be a job well done.

The real depressing thing is that with the re emergence of Spurs, moneybags City together with Villa and the big 4, the highest we could realistically end up is 8th and it's hard to see this changing next season either. Even if both the extra Euro places end up going to the league they only end at 7th. While this season we'd all be pretty happy with somewhere a little below, if we finished mid table there'd be very little tangible to aim to kick onto for future seasons other than just finishing a place or two higher.

8th spot for this season is the outside target obviously something a little lower would have to be the realistic one. Along with a couple of good cup runs which we aint doing to badly in the first cup competition.

[philipl]

On the basis that I reckon at this stage of the season, a good run can gain you a 9 point advantage over the clubs around us, qualification for the Europa League is certainly within range.

[47er]

So what should be our target this season?

We have Hull, Brum and Wigan away and Spurs at home till we've played everyone once. That should bring a minimum of 6 points which would take us onto 24. If we double that and maybe add a couple as we tend to do better in the second half of seasons that'd take us to 50. Usually that takes a side to 10th and if that happens it'd definitely be a job well done.

The real depressing thing is that with the re emergence of Spurs, moneybags City together with Villa and the big 4, the highest we could realistically end up is 8th and it's hard to see this changing next season either. Even if both the extra Euro places end up going to the league they only end at 7th. While this season we'd all be pretty happy with somewhere a little below, if we finished mid table there'd be very little tangible to aim to kick onto for future seasons other than just finishing a place or two higher.

We can't assume anything about any of those games except that we are unlikely to get anything out of the Spurs game. Brum are having a great run, Wigan and Hull are all over the place. We could get 7 points, we could get none.

[waggy]

ust admit i was shocked when i heard the team on sat,2 up front shock horror,all we need to do now is to stop robbo booting the ball into the oppositions penalty area,such a poor tactic and we never looked like scoring from it saturday,still rome was'nt built in a day

[tony gale's mic]

On the basis that I reckon at this stage of the season, a good run can gain you a 9 point advantage over the clubs around us, qualification for the Europa League is certainly within range.

Which of City, Liverpool, Villa and Spurs do you think we can finish ahead of?

[Steve Moss]

Which of City, Liverpool, Villa and Spurs do you think we can finish ahead of?

All of them.

[Ninjathunder]

This accolade would never have happened had Big Sam still been managing notlob. Who's Who

[Miker]

ust admit i was shocked when i heard the team on sat,2 up front shock horror,all we need to do now is to stop robbo booting the ball into the oppositions penalty area,such a poor tactic and we never looked like scoring from it saturday,still rome was'nt built in a day

I agree, especially going by the stats posted in another thread. Robinson's pass success rate is less than 50% for his long boots up field, which is pretty horrendous and in stark contrast to the excellent success rate of our outfield players like Nelsen and Grella.

[FourLaneBlue]

I agree, especially going by the stats posted in another thread. Robinson's pass success rate is less than 50% for his long boots up field, which is pretty horrendous and in stark contrast to the excellent success rate of our outfield players like Nelsen and Grella.

Apples and oranges there though surely?

How does robinson compare with other keepers? Mentioning Grella and Nelsen is just stupid.

[67splitscreen]

Apples and oranges there though surely?

How does robinson compare with other keepers? Mentioning Grella and Nelsen is just stupid.

Using the stats from their last game only

Pass................Total......Successful......Unsuccessful

Robinson.........21..............10............11............5 successful passes where into the opposition's half with 11 unsuccessful

Freidel.............14................5..............9

Schwarzer........27...............9.............18

Hart.................21...............7.............14

Reina...............32.............24...............8............. only 9 of these where into the opposition half of which 2 where successful.

Howard...........19................8.............11

Cech...............19..............10...............9

Sorensen........15.................7...............8

Given.............14.................8...............6

Almunia.........15...............12...............3............. all but three where inside his own third the three that weren't unsuccessful

Gomez...........22................9...............13

Green.............14................6................8

Hahnemann...16.................6..............10

Fulup.............29...............14..............15

Kirkland..........6..................2................4...............did he play the full game

Begovic..........21.................7...............14

Kuszczak.......15.................9.................6 ..............guess what four into the opposition half all unsuccessful

Duke.............21.................9................13

Beast..........20.................13..................7 ..............

Jaaskelainen 21..................8................13

Someone else can work out the %, best part of 50% looks pretty good to me.

[Majiball]

I agree, especially going by the stats posted in another thread. Robinson's pass success rate is less than 50% for his long boots up field, which is pretty horrendous and in stark contrast to the excellent success rate of our outfield players like Nelsen and Grella.

You can't compare out field players and keepers passing. The vaste majority of the time that the ball is played to Robbo, its due to the fact we have not been able to pass our way through and the outfield players cannot find a way forward. So its played back to Robbo who just like the outfield players has no real option and so it gets punted up the field. I'm not advocating it as I'd like to see a bit more variety and our players make bigger efforts to ensure that one of them can receive the ball so we can avoid going back to Robbo.

I'd actually wager he's got one of the better completion rates for a keeper in our league, he's pretty accurate with them as well.

[Hughesy]

Robbo's kicking is usually very good - its just that our players sometimes get beaten in the air - I bet 90% of the time the ball goes direct to where our player is, its just that sometimes we dont win all the aerial battles.

[den]

Hmmm, stats.

Liverpool's individual stats would have been far more impressive than ours. Means nothing though. It's what you do with your pass/posession that counts.

Stats are the things that people use to justify poor players and performances.

[CrazyIvan]

Hmmm, stats.

Liverpool's individual stats would have been far more impressive than ours. Means nothing though. It's what you do with your pass/posession that counts.

Stats are the things that people use to justify poor players and performances.

Den, you are talking complete and utter rubbish. Stats are used by all of the professionals in the game to watch players fitness levels, effectiveness and all manner of things. To dismiss them like that show that you have a dinstinct lack of understanding about what statistics are and why they are used. I agree, they cannot be used as the only tool to judge a players performance but they give a massive indication as to how a player and a team is doing. If you saw the level of statistics used in the current game you would quickly change your opinion of the value of them.

[adopted scouser]

Lies, damn lies .......

[den]

Den, you are talking complete and utter rubbish. Stats are used by all of the professionals in the game to watch players fitness levels, effectiveness and all manner of things. To dismiss them like that show that you have a dinstinct lack of understanding about what statistics are and why they are used. I agree, they cannot be used as the only tool to judge a players performance but they give a massive indication as to how a player and a team is doing. If you saw the level of statistics used in the current game you would quickly change your opinion of the value of them.

Garbage.

The professionals can use them to good effect, but I'm not talking about them. People on here could probably use them to prove a point on whether Keith Andrews is a better right winger than Bryan Douglas was.

[T4E]

Garbage.

The professionals can use them to good effect, but I'm not talking about them. People on here could probably use them to prove a point on whether Keith Andrews is a better right winger than Bryan Douglas was.

How many Premier League goals has Bryan Douglas scored?

[den]

How many Premier League goals has Bryan Douglas scored?

4 less than KA.

[mellison24]

The league table is a table of statistics though.....so does that mean the table DOES lie? Statistics aren't the be all and end all, certainly not. BUT they are very good indicators as to the various attributes of players and teams. Hell, the bookies use them every day! Yet they always seem to get my money (just a pound a week on a few favourites).....bloody stats!