[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[braddock]

sam seems to run the club like a democracy come match day. waits to listen for the fans to sing what they want, then elivers. only problem be it ends up twisted out of shape and not exactly what we'd hope for (a camel is a horse designed by committee) - like last night when he took kalinic off and waited till we were winning to go 4-4-2 (though the kalinic sub was for the best in hindsight, had we not won he would have looked foolish). he also used to wait for the crowd to sing benni mccarthy before bringing him on.

he'll still come out and praise his own tactical nouse come the end of the game though.

[speeeeeeedie]

Here's an article from Soccernet; Allardyce's Rovers. I think it sums up what's going on pretty well.

[MarkBRFC71]

Here's an article from Soccernet; Allardyce's Rovers. I think it sums up what's going on pretty well.

Was just about to post that - I agree, a very accurate depiction of the current situation.

[broadsword]

I've found myself missing games because I can get more entertainment doing something else.

A telling remark (and I don't mean that as a criticism of you, Paul)!

These days, what with ticket prices as high as they are, fans expect entertainment.

For the clubs, it is hard to provide that when even bog-ordinary players cost $$$ in a weekly wage, and TV money becoming the dominant income stream, providing entertainment for the fans is very much a secondary consideration. everything is focussed upon staying in the top flight to preserve the TV money so we can carry on paying players money they don't deserve using an unsustainable business model, with wages being 80% of turnover.

I'm sure back in the day, fans were more focussed on supporting their team through thin and thin rather than expecting entertainment. Maybe my memory is deceiving me.

[alexanders]

But seriously how cant you be entertained when a game is 1-1 and exciting and nervewrecking? I dont get it.

[cn174]

But seriously how cant you be entertained when a game is 1-1 and exciting and nervewrecking? I dont get it.

Are you suggesting that last nights game was exciting and nervewrecking?!

I know the games you are on about, but last night wasn't one of them!

[braddock]

i don't really agree with that article at all

superficial knowledge on what's been happening

[CrazyIvan]

i don't really agree with that article at all

superficial knowledge on what's been happening

Nor do I. It's a very negative article which gives Sam very little credit.

[rovers_rob]

Are you suggesting that last nights game was exciting and nervewrecking?!

I know the games you are on about, but last night wasn't one of them!

I disagree. I was nervous as hell last night and I was very excited when we scored.

I think I am in a minority but as long as we win I really don't care how we win. When I am at the game I don't sit back and admire how we are playing because I am a complete wreck until the final whistle.

Looking back at last nights game it reminded me of the sort of performances we had under Hughes. We just did enough to win.

Some people want the result and a good performance which is fair enough but there is no way I will ever criticise the manager when we win because in my opinion that is what I want to see when I go to a game.

I just want to see us win. Thats all.

[speeeeeeedie]

i don't really agree with that article at all

superficial knowledge on what's been happening

Nor do I. It's a very negative article which gives Sam very little credit.

Interesting. Maybe the bloke wrote it from reading this forum?

It paints a decent picture for me. Although I live abroad I've been to live games this season, and watched enough on TV to be of the opinion that the football we're playing is a bit sh!te. I hope it changes but most of all I hope we stay up.

[FourLaneBlue]

Sam's not exactly wrong with what he's saying, but he should perhaps be a bit more circumspect in saying it.

I bet he screwed us into the ground with his own personal terms when we approached him to take over here, and as others have said he'd probably be away from here like a rat up a drainpipe himself if he was offered a job elsewhere paying more and/ or with some money to spend on players.

Sam would do better to stop speaking so much to the press.

Every other day he is coming out with stuff and much is not related to our games. Concentrating on the games and not talking about individual players so much is the way to go.

[Blackpool_Rover]

To be honest i think Sam has felt the pressure in the last three weeks, i think he was worried, had to change something and i just have a feeling...maybe premature....that hes come through it. He earned his money in the last 2 weeks, we looked better in the last couple of games, played more attractive stuff and he has been given the green light to sign players. 2 new midfield players.....end for keith andrews? Got rid of Benni...almost and got something good out of morten.

[tony gale's mic]

I'd say with us being 7 points from the drop zone, with a couple of winnable games coming up, several of his signings looking good and the possibility that he's managed to find a way to get the best out of MGP, the Sam-ometer is swinging very much in the right direction right now.

Let's hope we keep the momentum going.

[LeChuck]

I'd say with us being 7 points from the drop zone, with a couple of winnable games coming up, several of his signings looking good and the possibility that he's managed to find a way to get the best out of MGP, the Sam-ometer is swinging very much in the right direction right now.

The thing is...it takes an almighty effort to get it anywhere near positive, yet only takes a minor incident to become stupidly negative.

We're doing well this season, especially following on from last season's disaster, coupled with a -£15 million summer budget. I bet clubs like Sunderland, who have spent a hell of a lot more, would love to swap places with us right now. That's just the league too, we've already been in a cup semi as a bonus.

[John]

The thing is...it takes an almighty effort to get it anywhere near positive, yet only takes a minor incident to become stupidly negative.

It is because some have a personal dislike of the manager, regardless of results. It happened with Ince and also with Souness to a degree.

The word perspective seems lost these days and that is with football fans in general.

[CaliRoverNYC]

It is because some have a personal dislike of the manager, regardless of results. It happened with Ince and also with Souness to a degree.

The word perspective seems lost these days and that is with football fans in general.

John what happened with Ince was not regardless of Results, it had absolutely everything to do with results.

But I'm happy as long as we get results, and I think most fans are in the same boat... alot less Sam bashing after these two wins than before them. With our funds it is difficult to get results in the most competitive league on earth, and Sam has to get them any way he can.

On a side note, why do many English football fans love Becks for his free kicks, but look down on Big Sam's use of free kicks?

[Fylde Coast Fan]

On a side note, why do many English football fans love Becks for his free kicks, but look down on Big Sam's use of free kicks?

Same story as the difference between "Ryan Nelsen hoofs it into the box" and "Cesc Fabregas's beautifully weighted 45-yard through ball fell perfectly for Arshavin"...

[John]

John what happened with Ince was not regardless of Results, it had absolutely everything to do with results.

But I'm happy as long as we get results, and I think most fans are in the same boat... alot less Sam bashing after these two wins than before them. With our funds it is difficult to get results in the most competitive league on earth, and Sam has to get them any way he can.

Perhaps I did not explain myself clearly enough. Some had a dislike of Ince 'the man' from the beginning - they simply did not like the man, from his playing days.

Of course the fact he was a shyte manager too, made minds up for a lot of people.

[mellison24]

Same story as the difference between "Ryan Nelsen hoofs it into the box" and "Cesc Fabregas's beautifully weighted 45-yard through ball fell perfectly for Arshavin"...

Or "Pedersen's shot just crept into the top corner" and "Torres smashes it into the top corner"

[tony gale's mic]

Perhaps I did not explain myself clearly enough. Some had a dislike of Ince 'the man' from the beginning - they simply did not like the man, from his playing days.

Of course the fact he was a shyte manager too, made minds up for a lot of people.

Hmm I was one of those against Ince's appointment from the start. But although I disliked the man, that wasn't the reason. It was because he was a pretty terrible appointment on paper; a man with only two and a half seasons of basement league experience to his name who couldnt even be bothered to take the necessary coaching badges. However if he ever started getting results for us, this would have changed.

I disliked Sam when he was at Bolton, chances are if he wasnt with us I'd still dislike him now. As a man I don't have the same like of him as I did when Hughes was here (though Hughes has shown his true colours since). However although I didn't, and don't, feel he was the best option after Hughes left, after the Ince debacle I felt he was the best man for the job and I stand by that now. You can't argue with results at the end of the day and he's just about getting them - in a considerably tougher situation than Hughes had to work in.

Same story as the difference between "Ryan Nelsen hoofs it into the box" and "Cesc Fabregas's beautifully weighted 45-yard through ball fell perfectly for Arshavin"...

To be fair, there is often a difference between a hoof and a beautifully weighted lofted long ball. Tugay used to pull off the latter for us and when he did, the journalists usually looked upon them favourably.

[John]

If its any consolation, I disliked Ince from the start and was horrified when we appointed him.

However, having that dislike for someone means you tend to overexaggerate all the negatives, as is happening here.

Whilst I get annoyed with some of Sam's comments etc, I think he is the best manager for us at this moment in time - that is what matters.

[Dufflite]

The man who wrote this very superficial article is Mr R Jolly - Bolton fan. I think there is a little mischief making going on there and perhaps many Trotters fans are secretly hoping Sam will fail at Rovers. I dont think he will.

I'll wager that when he calls it a day for whatever reason many of us will be very sorry to see him go.

[den]

I disagree. I was nervous as hell last night and I was very excited when we scored.

Aw don't worry about Clare's lack of excitement Rob. She's getting old now and things aint wot they used to be.

[CaliRoverNYC]

Same story as the difference between "Ryan Nelsen hoofs it into the box" and "Cesc Fabregas's beautifully weighted 45-yard through ball fell perfectly for Arshavin"...

Ha Ha Fair enough.

[greco]

im becoming more impressed with sam..

he inherited ince´s mess, a squad which was well on its way to "securing" championship football, and yet found a way to survive.

Not only did he inherit a mess, but also an old squad which missed some key ingredients. (pace, technique,flair, youth and so on)

here we are a year+ later, sam getting us to the semi´s, looking good in the league. What impresses me the most is, that our results are getting better, while the squad is getting re-build, with young players getting a chance. THAT IS NOT AN EASY TASK..

in the era of Football manager, where succes is achieved overnight, the same cant be said when it comes to real life. Patience is really a virtue, an area where i sometimes fail aswell.

yep the football havent been the prettiest, but given the circumstances in which sam has to do his job, isnt it quite an accomplishment, so far, as to what he has achieved..?