[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[Bobby G]

We are virtually in the bottom three. Any team from 12th to 17th can consider themselves mathematically and temporarily lucky to be out of that zone, so its such a misleading "comfort" to even suggest that.

[Darwen Rover]

Bet he goes on about budgets........ sorry mate theres no budget required for a whole heart!!

[G Somerset Rover]

Update from Setanta: Can't interview Sam as our dressing room has been locked since final whistle..not even JW can get in aparently.

[PAFELL]

As was Hughes but look how well he did. I may be wrong but I bet Allardyce and Ince between them have spent as much as Hughes did. But even then the manager has a limited lifespan at the club for wanting to move on.

Best course of action is to back Sam with a few transfers that are going to make a difference this window. You can be certain that he will not be getting the sack any time soon.

WRONG it was the tactics, the confidence, the heart, that was lacking. Heard that on espn the rovers changing room is locked - even the chairman cannot get in. Something is happening. Personally, I think the players are not happy with Sam. That is the first part of Sam leaving.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

OH MY GOD!...how we mocked the Newcastle fans and their perceived impatience with 'the expert'.

ITS COMING BACK TO BITE US ON THE ARSE FOLKS!

Hate to say this but are the players playing for 'the expert' anymore?...they looked so un-motivated tonight.

[Steve Moss]

Update from Setanta: Can't interview Sam as our dressing room has been locked since final whistle..not even JW can get in aparently.

WRONG it was the tactics, the confidence, the heart, that was lacking. Heard that on espn the rovers changing room is locked - even the chairman cannot get in. Something is happening. Personally, I think the players are not happy with Sam. That is the first part of Sam leaving.

I agree with the lack of heart. I don't think Sam is the problem. I sincerely hope that Sam is a!s raping (metaphorically, of course) some members of the squad. If I were him, I would purge quite a few players. Why he has been so patient is beyond me.

[broadsword]

I agree with the lack of heart. I don't think Sam is the problem.

Part of the manager's job is to get the players fired up. If he can't lead them, they won't be motivated. So it might well be down to him.

[Tom]

Sam locking the doors screams to me that he's trying to absolve himself of any blame and having a go at the players.

Lead from the front Sam. Look at Mancini how he interacts with his players with affection compared to how Sam is.

[benhben]

FAT SAM OUT! FAT SAM OUT! hate his tactics, hate his mentality hate his football hate his signings. Hes everything I despise about football. Were as bad as we were under ince, at least he had abit of attacking flair to his football. Hate Allardyce teams, always have always will

[Eddie]

Players clearly aren't playing for him anymore. When that happens the manager has to go. I don't think I've ever seen a manager win back a dressing room.

[Wilky]

FAT SAM OUT! FAT SAM OUT! hate his tactics, hate his mentality hate his football hate his signings. Hes everything I despise about football. Were as bad as we were under ince, at least he had abit of attacking flair to his football. Hate Allardyce teams, always have always will

i've never liked him nor wanted him in charge..

we are now out of the cup unless he's gone before thursday

[dazmaz]

how anyone can say its down to the players i past me.... sam picks the ###### players, if a player is playing good enough they stay in the starting 11, if they play like andrews and pedersen they get dropped. why hoilett and kalinic didnt start must be written in the stars and i cant for the life of me figure it out...

Sam has spoken

"Except for the last goal, all of the goals were avoidable," said the Rovers boss. "It was really poor from our point of view, rather than Manchester City's outstanding players using their outstanding abilities.

"We've got to look at ourselves and say that we haven't done our job defensively today to make sure we stayed in the game to try and get a result out of this one."

"It started badly when we went and gifted them the first goal," said Allardyce.

"After that there's no problem and Manchester City aren't as creative as they were in the first ten minutes.

"The game was looking a little bit more of an even contest then lo and behold instead of keeping it at 1-0 going in at half-time, we let the second goal go in.

"We go again, and what do we do? Let Manchester City score with their first attack of the second half.

"Yes we came back and looked good from their on when we got the goal back and had other chances we didn't quite take, but it is too late by then, the game is effectively over."

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~1929565,00.html#continue

[benhben]

Currently Id happily swap any other premier league manager for sam. Supported the club for over 20 years including a relegation, but Ive never been this demoralised with the way were going. Hell we play the worst football in the league but dont get the results. I feel sorry for John Williams. He clearly loves the club, and I bet he doesnt enjoy whats happening, but simple fact is we probably cant afford the compensation to sack sam, even if he wanted to.

[PAFELL]

I agree with the lack of heart. I don't think Sam is the problem. I sincerely hope that Sam is a!s raping (metaphorically, of course) some members of the squad. If I were him, I would purge quite a few players. Why he has been so patient is beyond me.

Another thought is that Sam DID have the funds at newcastle and was not able to turn the side around. Maybe the game has changed so much, that Sam is now past it. That is JW's get out claise if he wants it - retire Sam on medical grounds - or send him to Burnley for rehabilitaion in the championship.

[RevidgeBlue]

Sam was the man for a short term firefight against relegation last season. However I've seen nothing from him to suggest he's a good long term appointment and with the benefit of hindsight we should have given him a contract to the end of the season only - although I'm not sure if he'd have accepted that.

Personally, if we'd done that, I wouldn't have renewed his contract in the summer having seen the away performances at Liverpool, Arsenal and Stoke and unfortunately we've carried on in much the same vein this season, if not worse.

As it is he's on such a good deal I don't know if we've made him virtually unsackable or not.

[67splitscreen]

A few weeks ago Sam was on his sick bed, during that time many commented on the renewed fight in the side.

Mac, may have been acting under instruction regarding team matters but where as that commitment/fight gone since Sam returned?.

I have thought for a month or two now that Sam was losing the dressing room with his tactics.

I think Sam needs to take a good long look at himself, under his guidance we have become the worse team away from home in the Premier league, current home form is not much better.

Sam's results this season are now on a par if not worse than his predecessor, with less games to play a sacking now is not what is needed, we can't afford the compo for one thing.

Sam has until the Liverpool game to get the team playing and winning, after that only scaps remain, I really do fear for our survival this season.

Hopes of a trip to Wembley ................. your having a laugh Sam. maybe for you, I'm sure you'll get a free ticket or a pundits job with ESPN or some TV compant in Dubai.

[67splitscreen]

Edit....

[Mr. E]

how anyone can say its down to the players i past me.... sam picks the ###### players, if a player is playing good enough they stay in the starting 11, if they play like andrews and pedersen they get dropped. why hoilett and kalinic didnt start must be written in the stars and i cant for the life of me figure it out...

Sam has spoken

"Except for the last goal, all of the goals were avoidable," said the Rovers boss. "It was really poor from our point of view, rather than Manchester City's outstanding players using their outstanding abilities.

"We've got to look at ourselves and say that we haven't done our job defensively today to make sure we stayed in the game to try and get a result out of this one."

"It started badly when we went and gifted them the first goal," said Allardyce.

"After that there's no problem and Manchester City aren't as creative as they were in the first ten minutes.

"The game was looking a little bit more of an even contest then lo and behold instead of keeping it at 1-0 going in at half-time, we let the second goal go in.

"We go again, and what do we do? Let Manchester City score with their first attack of the second half.

"Yes we came back and looked good from their on when we got the goal back and had other chances we didn't quite take, but it is too late by then, the game is effectively over."

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~1929565,00.html#continue

In other words he has no ideas and doesn't know what the hell is going on.

Thanks Sam for telling us that we have "defensive lapses". You've known about them for more than a year, yet the defenders are just as clueless as under Ince, and to top it off the strikers aren't scoring.

[Dan]

I feel as crappy this morning as I did against Wigan with Ince in charge. I have to go into work this morning and face a load of Citeh fans. Can I defend my team? Nope, we were awful. What has happened to my Rovers in the last few years? It isn't just about money, though selling your best players for lots of money, then having the owners take 90% of it and give you a few pennies for a replacement doesn't help. Though even if Sam had 20 million to spend I don't think we'd be top half, he'd probably buy a midfielder and then rarely play him. The problem here is we are not the same Rovers we were. We used to play like our motto ARTE ET LABORE, at times it was more LABORE than ARTE, but we'd always fight. We'd lose games because we didn't quite have the quality, but we'd fight and fight. We don't even do that anymore and no longer do we have a star player who can create a moment of magic and pull us out of the brown stuff. The few games we have won this season have been down to Dunn pulling the strings, baring the Chelsea cup game, which it seems was a one off.

I can't think of anyone we can get to replace Sam, but maybe just a change of manager would get the players motivated enough to stay up this season. A 6 month contract to maybe a big name, who needs to prove himself is the best option. The owners need to get their wallets out I'm afraid or their 'burden' will be worth a lot less come the summer time.

[Paul]

His problem is tht he is making a mess of the tools available to him.

Playing 4-5-1 requires players capable of playing that formation. Todays team are not capable of that.

Rovers have a 4-4-2 set up with the players available so why he doesnt do that is a mystery.

This is so, so true and reflects what some have been saying for a long time. TBH I forgot we were playing tonight, checked the result about 10.30 and went to bed, it was all so predictable. Allardyce always has been and always will be the second-hand car dealer of the PL. He got lucky at Bolton and bought a few decent motors. I understand why he was appointed by JW and it was probably the right decision at the time, I still think we can finish 15th/16th but I'm beginning to wonder if the players have lost faith in him? I can see the crowd turning against him if the next two games go badly, it was very close against Sunderland. When the crowd do turn we will be in the sh!t.

If Allardyce were to be sacked, and I'm not sure he will be, I would put McDonald in charge till the end of the season. I'm basing this purely on the Chelsea performance when the players seemed to play with more freedom. No doubt someone will post that Allardyce picked that side, I'm sure he did.........but he wasn't there and I'm wondering to what extent his dour, miserable, unadventurous personality is creating a beaten atmosphere at the club.

[Dan]

This is so, so true and reflects what some have been saying for a long time. TBH I forgot we were playing tonight, checked the result about 10.30 and went to bed, it was all so predictable. Allardyce always has been and always will be the second-hand car dealer of the PL. He got lucky at Bolton and bought a few decent motors. I understand why he was appointed by JW and it was probably the right decision at the time, I still think we can finish 15th/16th but I'm beginning to wonder if the players have lost faith in him? I can see the crowd turning against him if the next two games go badly, it was very close against Sunderland. When the crowd do turn we will be in the sh!t.

If Allardyce were to be sacked, and I'm not sure he will be, I would put McDonald in charge till the end of the season. I'm basing this purely on the Chelsea performance when the players seemed to play with more freedom. No doubt someone will post that Allardyce picked that side, I'm sure he did.........but he wasn't there and I'm wondering to what extent his dour, miserable, unadventurous personality is creating a beaten atmosphere at the club.

I agree Paul, the Chelsea game was the highlight of the season for me(after the Burnley game of course). I thought we'd turned a corner after that match. If we'd played with that same creativity and freedom tonight, we may still have lost, but I'm sure it wouldn't feel as bad as watching us launch it to an isolated Di Santo.

If the club come out and start asking the fans to turn up in numbers and telling us they need us, I'll be annoyed. We could fill the stadium, but Sams negative, dire football won't win us matches, no matter how loud we sing. Would McDonald stay if Sam were to leave? He is definitely worth a gamble, since I can't think of a suitable replacement. I'm just so fed up of our 'anti-football' tactics and useless formation.

[alexanders]

After this match he rues defensive errors.

A couple of days ago he blamed all our strikers and said they where ###### and didnt take the 1 chance they get per game.

He is hiding and a man who lacks the character to take the selfblame.

I miss our "Bully boys" days!

[Roost]

Hang your head in shame Allardyce - that was embarrassing

[LeftWinger]

I was on the Rovers page on sky text the other night – and it had some stats about our team that perfectly summed Allardyce up. It had stats for our top passer and player with most shots. In previous years I’m certain that it was Tugay who was our top passer and the likes of Pedersen, Bentley or McCarthy that had most shots. This season the plaudits go to our goalkeeper for most passes and centre-half (Samba) for most shots. If that doesn’t paint a grim picture I don’t know what does. Lose to Villa and I think Sam will have lost a large section of the supporters.

[Paul]

Lose to Villa and I think Sam will have lost a large section of the supporters.

I suspect more will be looking for a performance. If we roll over and lose without putting up a fight I think you're right but if we perform and lose the crowd will stay with him. Ultimately the Villa game doesn't matter, far more important is the result against Fulham. Failing to perform and losing against Fulham will probably be the end of Allardyce.