[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[imy9]

Hughesy, you're talking out your arse.

Allardyce has two more transfer windows to prove himself, but in twelve months time we need to be a much much better team than this or his position needs reviewing.

He is performing at the lowest possible acceptable standard, but in my opinion we were a better team in his first 5 games than we are now.

Is that 'moving forward?'

Losing Tugay was a monumental error IMO.

I expect us to be in a much better position by the start of next season as we will most certainly get rid of a few high earners who are under performing. You simply cannot get rid of masses of players in one swoop, it has been shown in the past with Boro and Charlton that when wholesale changes occur the team in the short term suffers.

If Tugay could still do a job then he would be playing now would he not? Hindsight is a wonderful thing, if Sam knew that we would have the number of injuries we have now in midfield, he may well have kept him.

[S15]

If Tugay could still do a job then he would be playing now would he not? Hindsight is a wonderful thing, if Sam knew that we would have the number of injuries we have now in midfield, he may well have kept him.

You're right, how on earth was Sam to know that Dunn, Reid, Grella and Emerton might be injured throughout the season.

[thenodrog]

Losing Tugay was a monumental error IMO.

Your opinion obviously doesn't count for much then does it? Toogs is a free agent now so tell us all how many other clubs have come in for him?

He's been the best player in terms of ability (not effectivness ) that I have seen at Ewood but he's 40 ffs!

[Hughesy]

Allardyce has two more transfer windows to prove himself, but in twelve months time we need to be a much much better team than this or his position needs reviewing.

The bit in bold I agree with 100% - By the end of the summer I expect to see a team capable of securing 10th-12th as a minimum, not as the target! Lots of things need to settle & by the summer Sam will have a chance to really assess our current squad and cut some deadwood/ injury prone players if necessary.

We have several players on loan who could go - Treacy, Bunn, Judge

Several big earners with little time left - MGP, Reid, Dunn

Big Earners, time to go - Zurab

Unsettle players - Roberts, Benni

Decision needed on - Di Santo

Need to tie down - Hoilett

That is 11 players who could either stay or go between now and the summer.

[S15]

Your opinion obviously doesn't count for much then does it? Toogs is a free agent now so tell us all how many other clubs have come in for him?

He's been the best player in terms of ability (not effectivness ) that I have seen at Ewood but he's 40 ffs!

But your opinion does? With all due respect your own self importance is quite pathetic.

Playing 5 in midfield with Tugay in it is stronger than a 5 man midfield with Andrews in it.

[thenodrog]

But your opinion does?

My opinion seems to be shared by every club manager in Europe. Also you are stating that my opinion that he's been one of the most skillfull players at BRFC is rubbish too? Make your mind up.

[Amo]

Tugay had to leave sooner or later.

Remember, Sam had Dunn, Grella and Reid all returning to pre-season training. He could either cut his losses and scramble around for replacements, or he could give them the benefit of the doubt. There's no question they're three competent midfielders, and that made the decision for him.

However, rebuffing Fulham's approach for Andrews is looking more unusual each week.

[S15]

My opinion seems to be shared by every club manager in Europe. Also you are stating that my opinion that he's been one of the most skillfull players at BRFC is rubbish too? Make your mind up.

Your opinion counts as little as the next poster on here.

Your opinion that Tugay is one of the skilful players is worth nothing, but I agree.

However, I disagree if you think having Andrews in the team is more use than having Tugay. Both have no long term future, however, only one of them can pass a ball.

Tugay had to leave sooner or later.

Remember, Sam had Dunn, Grella and Reid all returning to pre-season training. He could either cut his losses and scramble around for replacements, or he could give them the benefit of the doubt. There's no question they're three competent midfielders, and that made the decision for him.

However, rebuffing Fulham's approach for Andrews is looking more unusual each week.

He is a fool if he thought that four players who hadn't played 10 games between them in his time here would be reliable. Especially considering prior to him arriving here those players had woeful injury records.

He made a bad decision, just as he did when he bought Kalinic.

[Amo]

He is a fool if he thought that four players who hadn't played 10 games between them in his time here would be reliable. Especially considering prior to him arriving here those players had woeful injury records.

He made a bad decision, just as he did when he bought Kalinic.

We would have got peanuts for selling (or less, releasing) those three; and then Sam is supposed to recruit no less than THREE centre midfielders with the proceeds? In that position, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

[S15]

Peanuts are worth more than wrappers.

He had a player with a large amount of ability and let him go without a hint of a replacement. However a striker who cost £6m and doesn't play was bought.

Would you prefer Andrews in the team or Tugay?

[Hughesy]

Tugay everytime......

Im sorry but id rather we played a youth team player with promise than Andrews. He is a liability!

[imy9]

You're right, how on earth was Sam to know that Dunn, Reid, Grella and Emerton might be injured throughout the season.

We are paying probably what:

Dunn- £25K

Reid- £30K

Grella- £30K

Emerton- 30K

£100 thousand plus a WEEK on four players! Sam made a decision, hope two of the four are fit this season- Emerton is hardly a sick note is he?

By the end of the season I expect MGP and Reid to be released, on top of other fringe players like, Zurab, Brown, Andrews, Treacy to be sold, I am amazed at the level of deadwood at the club.

[Hughesy]

I must admit I expected Emerton to return and to stay fit - which I think Sam probably hoped too. On top of that if we could have 1 of the other 3 fit for the other games then that would of been great.

How many games have we had this season where all 4 have been out injured?!

[Amo]

Would you prefer Andrews in the team or Tugay?

Salgado.

[Eddie]

Such a 1 dimensional view of the current position. Im not just talking about how many more points......

Last season we were sh!te - we didnt look like winning hardly any games which we didnt....this season you could say we have dropped around 13-14 points in games where we so nearly took more (Wigan a, Sunderland A & H, Liverpool H, Spurs H, Hull A, Stoke H, West Ham H)

We have got to the semi of the cup - beating a top 4 side

We have taken 4 pts off what would be classed as last season top 6 so far...(Villa & Liverpool)

You need to compare Wigan this season (1-1) to last season (3-0), or Liverpool at home is another to compare....or Villa...or Even at a push Arsenal away.

We are 2nd in the league at coming back into games to take something from it! So the spirit is obviously there and growing too!

There are FAR more positives that there was at this stage last season...IF you cant see that then your the one that needs to wake up!

There are a few more positives, but you are talking nonsense with all this "nearly won this game, nearly one that one". You're even including in that a game that we lost 2-0. Fact is this is a results business and so far the results aren't much better and neither is the football. We're playing badly and we're not picking up many points. We are the worst team, form wise, over the past 8 games and I would quite happily back us as the worst team footballing wise over that same period.

Again, there are reasons for optimism, but you are going way too far. There is need for concern at this moment in time, as there should be for any team that goes such a long period of time without winning. We are close to the relegation zone and several clubes beneath us have games in hand. Things aren't quite as bad as they were last year, but that's comparing this mess to a shambles.

I think we'll be safe, but Allardyce is going to quickly lose any backers (he's already lost most of them) unless this football picks up. Quite frankly, this club needs to realise that football, like any sport, is a form of entertainment. We may well have 10k or whatever supporters who will watch us even if we never touch the ball, but if this club wants to survive it has to make people feel like coming on a Saturday. Things need to be changed.

If the football stays this bad I think we will struggle to give away our season tickets next season.

[philipl]

we are already at the stage of the season where Rovers have to pick up a further 19 points to guarantee Premiership safety and the games that are left are coming thick and fast.

In January we play the folowing:

Man City (a) - Bonus point required.

Fulham (h) - MUST WIN.

Wigan (h) - MUST WIN.

Wham (a) - DARE NOT LOSE.

February sees:

Stoke (a) - DARE NOT LOSE

Hul (h) - MUST WIN.

Bolton (h) - MUST WIN.

Liverpool (a) - Bonus point required.

Looking ahead, cup games aside. Rovers should be looking at 13 points out of that lot, maybe even 14. That should be Sams immediate short term ambition, because if he isnt looking at the games like that we could find ourselves deep deep in relegation trouble.

Absolutely correct- the crunch time is now upon us.

[RevidgeBlue]

but in my opinion we were a better team in his first 5 games than we are now.

Is that 'moving forward?'

Nail hammer head. That's the crux of the matter for me.

When Sam first took over we comfortably disposed of Stoke 3-0 at Ewood. This time round we struggled to a 0-0 draw. We then drew with Sunderland away and Citeh at home who both beat us in the corresponding fixtures this season.

It's not competely inconceivable that we could win the Carling Cup, go on a bit of a run in the League and finish in the top 10.

Neither is it inconceivable imo we could be knocked out of both Cups by Villa and be relegated.

Unless we can improve our midfield and find a striker from within or without who knows where the net is, I would say the latter is looking a lot more likely than the former.

[allanncd]

The fixture list in April and May is is far less helpful than last season when a succession of fellow-strugglers were the visitors. This time it's Chelski, MU and Arsenal. Plus a trip to Spurs and the final match at Villa. Null points and an even bigger negative on the goal difference. Lsst season all of those matches yielded nothing.

[T4E]

Sam needs to (Please don't use that word again) off now. I'm bored of his ######.

[broadsword]

Sam needs to (Please don't use that word again) off now. I'm bored of his ######.

He's the expert, don't you dare question his 10 year plan.

[JAL]

Tugay everytime......

Im sorry but id rather we played a youth team player with promise than Andrews. He is a liability!

You should have more faith in your manager Hughesy.

[Tom]

The blinkers on some people is unbelivable, Sam has done a better job than Ince did but currently he's been baffling in my opinion, crap tactics, bizarre line ups and excuse laden interviews.

[den]

Allardyce has two more transfer windows to prove himself, but in twelve months time we need to be a much much better team than this or his position needs reviewing.

That would be much fairer if Allardyce is allowed to net spend in the transfer market, by the same amount he was denied in the last two.

You can't expect a manager to sell players, reduce the wage bill then improve the squad Shillito.

[S15]

No but you can expect them not to sign three fullbacks and waste £6m on a striker who isn't good enough to get into your already toothless team.

[broadsword]

No but you can expect them not to sign three fullbacks and waste £6m on a striker who isn't good enough to get into your already toothless team.

Ouch.