[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[JAL]

Excellent interview with Sam on 'Goals on Sunday'. I've always believed he was the right man for the job and still do. He accurately described how times have changed in the last few years in football for clubs like the Rovers and Bolton. That the chances of picking up experienced internationals for next to nothing - as he did at Bolton - have long gone. He again stressed the importance of developing young players for a club like the Rovers and said that it was pleasing that the Rovers were getting the mix of youth and experience correct.

Sam sounded very enthusiastic about the future for the Rovers and that his health problems were behind him and that he was enjoying management. Once again he pointed out that it takes time to build up the club and stated that he wanted to get to 40 points as quickly as possible so that he could start planning for next season at Ewood Park with regard to strengthening his squad.

He pointed out that he would give John Williams a list of players he wanted but that it was simply a fact of life that the players he would end up with would be the players at the bottom of the list because players would want to move to clubs that they perceived to be 'bigger' than the Rovers and to clubs where they could earn more money. Nonetheless, he seemed quite happy with the situation and would happily work with whatever the club could provide.

He certainly put the Rovers in a very postive light and seemed intent on developing the club's long term future as a whole.

When you see the progress the youth team are making, and the aquisition of young players like Kalinic, Hoilett, Di Santo, N'Zonzi aided by the emergence of Olsson and then to find that we are linked with a couple of ageing duds like Beattie and Benjani, you cant help but feel a little bit deflated.

Just when everything looks to be moving positively forward, we get hit by being interested in some middle of the road footballing journeymen.

[mellison24]

When you see the progress the youth team are making, and the aquisition of young players like Kalinic, Hoilett, Di Santo, N'Zonzi aided by the emergence of Olsson and then to find that we are linked with a couple of ageing duds like Beattie and Benjani, you cant help but feel a little bit deflated.

Just when everything looks to be moving positively forward, we get hit by being interested in some middle of the road footballing journeymen.

They would be 'experience' to complement the youth, ye daft beggar! We can't have all of one, or we'd be fecked as a club. We need that mix and we've lost an experienced striker in Benni (I'm glad btw) so we need more experience up front so that we have 2 young and 2 experienced.

[MarkBRFC71]

Whilst the last three results have been most welcome, some of the praise for Sam is now going well OTT.

We were fairly fortunate against Wigan imo, once again Sam got the tactics wrong in the second half after a decent first half performance and the crowd quite rightly voiced their displeasure.

If Sam hadn't got lucky and we hadn't scored from the corner prior to him hauling the outstanding Kalinic off, I think there'd have been a mini riot.

What you will find is that those who support him unwaveringly are the ones who do not go to games for whatever reasons. The ones who suffer every week in attendance at the games are the ones who are critical.

[Claytons Left Boot]

Great news re the Sam interview above. He's definitely the right man for the job. Just need to mix our styles of play a bit more, with emphasis on getting the ball down and passing it around, because when we do so, we can be quite a threat. Bring on the youth, get rid of the deadwood in the summer, add to the squad here and there and I can see us staying in that 7-10th bracket.

[John]

What you will find is that those who support him unwaveringly are the ones who do not go to games for whatever reasons. The ones who suffer every week in attendance at the games are the ones who are critical.

Personally, I have been to 14 games this season. For the ones I have not seen in person, I have seen one way or another.

Some matches have been grim, but for me, its all about results (I know some have commented that they want entertainment which is fair enough).

We do play too direct at times, but good technical players, who can pass the ball accurately, usually cost a lot of money.

[Kelbo]

They would be 'experience' to complement the youth, ye daft beggar! We can't have all of one, or we'd be fecked as a club. We need that mix and we've lost an experienced striker in Benni (I'm glad btw) so we need more experience up front so that we have 2 young and 2 experienced.

At last common sense!! The right blend of Youth and experience!!

Good post

[greco]

could someone elaborate on the rumour, of sam losing the dressing room..?

i know it old news, but i wasnt reading the mb at the time.

i imagine benni being a apart of it.

[MarkBRFC71]

Personally, I have been to 14 games this season. For the ones I have not seen in person, I have seen one way or another.

Some matches have been grim, but for me, its all about results (I know some have commented that they want entertainment which is fair enough).

We do play too direct at times, but good technical players, who can pass the ball accurately, usually cost a lot of money.

We've just sold our arguably our best technical player, albeit one with a few issues (weight, attitude and application!). We also let our best technical player retire last season, when with hindsight he might still have been able to offer something this year. It is what we are sorely lacking, but I'm not confident that we would play 'technically' with BFS in charge - I think he just prefers workhorses and percentage football unfortunately.

I'm not saying sack him now (I believe he has turned a corner in the last couple of weeks), but I still think he doesn't get the best from the players at his disposal. Based on what we see every week at present, I would look to get rid in summer, but who knows - he may surprise us and suddenly start playing positive football. I just think he's too much of a dinosaur in footballing terms to change from his favoured gameplan though.

[mellison24]

could someone elaborate on the rumour, of sam losing the dressing room..?

i know it old news, but i wasnt reading the mb at the time.

i imagine benni being a apart of it.

Rumours are that players 'let Sam know' about his tactics and the R Keef lamped him one. More likely: simple clear the air talks, which has resulted in more adaptable/suitable tactics for OUR players, rather than fitting our players into a system. And the results speak for themselves imo.

[MarkBRFC71]

Rumours are that players 'let Sam know' about his tactics and the R Keef lamped him one. More likely: simple clear the air talks, which has resulted in more adaptable/suitable tactics for OUR players, rather than fitting our players into a system. And the results speak for themselves imo.

Andrews lamped Allardyce?! Go on Keith!!

[tony gale's mic]

We've just sold our arguably our best technical player, albeit one with a few issues (weight, attitude and application!). We also let our best technical player retire last season, when with hindsight he might still have been able to offer something this year. It is what we are sorely lacking, but I'm not confident that we would play 'technically' with BFS in charge - I think he just prefers workhorses and percentage football unfortunately.

I'm not saying sack him now (I believe he has turned a corner in the last couple of weeks), but I still think he doesn't get the best from the players at his disposal. Based on what we see every week at present, I would look to get rid in summer, but who knows - he may surprise us and suddenly start playing positive football. I just think he's too much of a dinosaur in footballing terms to change from his favoured gameplan though.

Congratulations. You know nothing about football.

[MarkBRFC71]

Congratulations. You know nothing about football.

Thanks for your constructive post. Moron.

[mellison24]

We've just sold our arguably our best technical player, albeit one with a few issues (weight, attitude and application!). We also let our best technical player retire last season, when with hindsight he might still have been able to offer something this year. It is what we are sorely lacking, but I'm not confident that we would play 'technically' with BFS in charge - I think he just prefers workhorses and percentage football unfortunately.

I'm not saying sack him now (I believe he has turned a corner in the last couple of weeks), but I still think he doesn't get the best from the players at his disposal. Based on what we see every week at present, I would look to get rid in summer, but who knows - he may surprise us and suddenly start playing positive football. I just think he's too much of a dinosaur in footballing terms to change from his favoured gameplan though.

Campo, Djorkaeff, Hierro, Okocha, Stelios, Dunn, Basturk....

I put them in that order because I think Sam has used the 'workhorses' to secure our position, before adding the flair to our game (See how Dunn came into the fore this year? We're also using Pedersen's skill more readily since the Shitteh game and have got in Basturk). He likes the workhorses to BE THERE before adding flair to it. And McCarthy was being an ass.

[John]

We've just sold our arguably our best technical player, albeit one with a few issues (weight, attitude and application!). We also let our best technical player retire last season, when with hindsight he might still have been able to offer something this year. It is what we are sorely lacking, but I'm not confident that we would play 'technically' with BFS in charge - I think he just prefers workhorses and percentage football unfortunately.

I'm not saying sack him now (I believe he has turned a corner in the last couple of weeks), but I still think he doesn't get the best from the players at his disposal. Based on what we see every week at present, I would look to get rid in summer, but who knows - he may surprise us and suddenly start playing positive football. I just think he's too much of a dinosaur in footballing terms to change from his favoured gameplan though.

Not much choice with Benni in the cirumstances. Who knows what Benni would have been like with another manager, but even under previous Rovers managers, he let himself go. Tugay, questionable if he should have stayed, but we have to take into account tight financial (wage) constraints too - need to ensure we have enough to pay Salgado!

He likes flair too I think and this has been proved with the Basturk signing and in his Bolton days.

Whilst being one dimensional in his approach, he feels, with his experience, he can make us a decent Prem league team again - should he not be given time to do that?

I am not saying he is 100% perfect, but he is a good fit for now.

[greco]

Rumours are that players 'let Sam know' about his tactics and the R Keef lamped him one. More likely: simple clear the air talks, which has resulted in more adaptable/suitable tactics for OUR players, rather than fitting our players into a system. And the results speak for themselves imo.

thanks mellison.

and since the talks we´ve gained 7 out 9. Seems okay

[MarkBRFC71]

Campo, Djorkaeff, Hierro, Okocha, Stelios, Dunn, Basturk....

I put them in that order because I think Sam has used the 'workhorses' to secure our position, before adding the flair to our game (See how Dunn came into the fore this year? We're also using Pedersen's skill more readily since the Shitteh game and have got in Basturk). He likes the workhorses to BE THERE before adding flair to it. And McCarthy was being an ass.

Fair enough, but we've yet to really see Rovers play with any flair under BFS. Dunny's always injured, Pedersen has never been a flair player although we seem to have found a position where he has a positive impact, and Basturk's a bit of an unknown quantity at present.

You're right about McCarthy - he was being a prize c0ck and had to go.

[mellison24]

Fair enough, but we've yet to really see Rovers play with any flair under BFS. Dunny's always injured, Pedersen has never been a flair player although we seem to have found a position where he has a positive impact, and Basturk's a bit of an unknown quantity at present.

You're right about McCarthy - he was being a prize c0ck and had to go.

My point being (going along with what you just said now) is that we are doing the hard work in our first 18months under Sam, then he'll really start to bring in some flair.

Hughes did the same: Mokoena, Nelsen and sav were his first signings, then he brought in some flair. Solid before flair. We'll start playing better footy soon enuff, don't you worry lad

[MarkBRFC71]

My point being (going along with what you just said now) is that we are doing the hard work in our first 18months under Sam, then he'll really start to bring in some flair.

Hughes did the same: Mokoena, Nelsen and sav were his first signings, then he brought in some flair. Solid before flair. We'll start playing better footy soon enuff, don't you worry lad

Ok, but I'll hold you personally responsible if we are not playing like Brazil 1970 in May.

[John]

Ok, but I'll hold you personally responsible if we are not playing like Brazil 1970 in May.

And its Andrews to Roberts, GOOOAAALLLLL!

[MarkBRFC71]

And its Andrews to Roberts, GOOOAAALLLLL!

I think those are 6 words you will never hear in that order - ever. Unless it's on FIFA or Pro Evo.

[John]

Sam Allardyce believes Blackburn could launch a challenge for Europe if they start putting away their chances in front of goal.

[ABBEY]

talks a good game.

[Gav]

talks a good game.

Usually 'bigging' himself up

But I'm not going to knock him, any Blackburn Rovers manager that can get a point at West Ham deserves some credit

[Kelbo]

talks a good game.

I will ask you one question, what have Done Revie, Bill Shankly and George Graham got in common? apart from building top sides?

Think about it carefully, they all built from the back, winning the league with lots of 1 - 0 wins, we score and they wont!!

Its the basic principle of good management to build from the back, then straight down the middle of the park, GK, Centre back and centre forward!! unfortunately top strikers and flair players cost much more money nowadays and our out of our reach!!!

Cheeky bid for Fletcher at Burnley anyone?

talks a good game.

And so do you Abbey, but they are your opinions, If Sam or any other manager or player doesnt believe in themselves, how can anyone else believe in them?

[ABBEY]

i hear ya kelbo ,but theres talking a good game ,beliving in yourself and talking cobblers...case in point ,the pitch being blamed for hoof .if thats the case what happened before the snow?