[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[tony gale's mic]

Thanks for your constructive post. Moron.

You're looking to get rid of a manager in the summer who has us well clear of any relegation danger, sitting at 10th in the table, with next to no resources, having made some very successful/promising signings...all because he's not getting our current side to play with very much flair.

Constructive arguments aren't necessary.

[Parsonblue]

talks a good game.

10th in the League, a major Semi-Final appearance and a point at West Ham United - a graveyard for previous managers. Seems he does more than talk a good game Abbey!

[ABBEY]

oh

[thenodrog]

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.

Really Mark? Explain waggy then.

Fact is I support SA cos he's about the best we could hope for. He's far from perfect and some of the football has been dreadful, but I hasten to add that that is more because of the poor squad of players that he inherited rather than anything tactical.

We are getting stronger and will continue to do so imo, but with a small budget it is a slow process.

Sams problem was that he picked up the pieces of a demoralised and disjointed squad which Ince had left. Both players and fans were on an almighty downer from the over achievements of Hughes reign. We compare Allardyce to Hughes but it's not really fair. Hughes was excellent for us and a one off in his ability to buy cheap and sell dear. The whole thing soured of course and we'd need to hear Hughes's version to make valid judgement but it would be much fairer for people to compare Allardyce to Ince, Souness, Kidd and Hodgson.

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.

That crossed my mind but the fact that no one else has gone in for Tugay rather suggests that the decision to retire him though sad has been validated. He'd not have to buy a drink in my local if he was there all night but the fact is that if he had something to offer he'd be playing somewhere else.

[roversmum]

Anyway, he gave me a wave from the team coach as it arrived at the ground yesterday ...

[DE.]

That crossed my mind but the fact that no one else has gone in for Tugay rather suggests that the decision to retire him though sad has been validated. He'd not have to buy a drink in my local if he was there all night but the fact is that if he had something to offer he'd be playing somewhere else.

Aye, there was talk of him moving to QPR but it never happened.

I'm personally glad he didn't go anywhere else - I'm proud he finished his playing career here and want it to stay that way.

[joey_big_nose]

Aye, there was talk of him moving to QPR but it never happened.

I'm personally glad he didn't go anywhere else - I'm proud he finished his playing career here and want it to stay that way.

I am also pleased that he seems to take a big interest in the club despite not being connected in an official capacity - turned up at a few games this season, including being in the box for the Semi on his own.

Not too sure too many former Rovers would do that. Plus he has been heavily involved in the Basturk signing. I get the feeling he will join the club infrastructure at some point, he seems interested.

[Steve Moss]

Not too sure too many former Rovers would do that. Plus he has been heavily involved in the Basturk signing. I get the feeling he will join the club infrastructure at some point, he seems interested.

It would be a hugely positive PR move for same if he brought Tugay into the heirarchy is some capacity. Is Tugay really working on his badges?

[Exiled in Toronto]

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!!

We have a goal difference of -15 and have let in 50 goals, so I'm not sure who you are comparing them too!

[Exiled in Toronto]

10th in the League, a major Semi-Final appearance and a point at West Ham United - a graveyard for previous managers. Seems he does more than talk a good game Abbey!

Personally, I think there is no way we will be 10th by the end of the season given who we have at home and our terrible away record. We need as many points as poss now because we will drop like a stone in the last 8 games.

Sam's style and PR approach means that he needs results to win friends. If we tank in those last 8 games playing too much hoofball, that's what many fans will remember when it comes to sT renewal time - they won't be fondly reminiscing about a 3 game unbeaten run against Fulham, Wigan and WHU which were all far from memorable games.

However, if we do well in the run in and finish around 10th, I will stop whingeing about him, because that's where we should be aiming given our squad versus the dross beneath us.

[ABBEY]

However, if we do well in the run in and finish around 10th, I will stop whingeing about him, because that's where we should be aiming given our squad versus the dross beneath us.

its not the dross below us its the dross negative attitude to our play and the boredom that comes with it.

[Exiled in Toronto]

its not the dross below us its the dross negative attitude to our play and the boredom that comes with it.

I agree, but for us to finish 10th, we will have had plenty to cheer about given who we have to play.

[ABBEY]

no way do we finish 10th like you say.

[47er]

Personally, I think there is no way we will be 10th by the end of the season given who we have at home and our terrible away record. We need as many points as poss now because we will drop like a stone in the last 8 games.

Sam's style and PR approach means that he needs results to win friends. If we tank in those last 8 games playing too much hoofball, that's what many fans will remember when it comes to sT renewal time - they won't be fondly reminiscing about a 3 game unbeaten run against Fulham, Wigan and WHU which were all far from memorable games.

However, if we do well in the run in and finish around 10th, I will stop whingeing about him, because that's where we should be aiming given our squad versus the dross beneath us.

A reason to hope we do well then! Not that I needed one.

[Kelbo]

Personally, I think there is no way we will be 10th by the end of the season given who we have at home and our terrible away record. We need as many points as poss now because we will drop like a stone in the last 8 games.

Traditionally, the last 8 games dont go that way, lots of draws etc. points collected and dropped unexpectedly all over the place!

[47er]

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.

We were worthy winners against Wigan and not remotely lucky. I don't think Sam told his players to sit on on a 1-0 lead I just think Wigan changed their approach and had a good patch for about 20 mins as most teams do at some point in a game. We finished well on top and we hit the woodwork twice--how is that lucky? Did Sam tread on your foot and forget to say sorry or something?

[bob fleming]

Personally, I think there is no way we will be 10th by the end of the season given who we have at home and our terrible away record. We need as many points as poss now because we will drop like a stone in the last 8 games.

You'd have thought so EiT. 28 points now, but 10th with our games left?

Stoke - A - 0 Pts

Hull - H - 3

Bolton - H - 3

Liverpool - A - 0

Brum - H - 1

Spurs - A - 0

Chelsea - H - 0

burnley - A - 1 (worst case)

Portsmouth - A - 1

Man U - H - 0

Everton - H - 1

Wolves - A - 1

Arsenal - H - 0

Villa - A - 0

A totally pointless and pesimistic view of course (above). However home wins against Hull and Bolton are crucial I reckon. 34/35 points by the end of Feb be very welcome.

[47er]

You'd have thought so EiT. 28 points now, but 10th with our games left?

Stoke - A - 0 Pts

Hull - H - 3

Bolton - H - 3

Liverpool - A - 0

Brum - H - 1

Spurs - A - 0

Chelsea - H - 0

burnley - A - 1 (worst case)

Portsmouth - A - 1

Man U - H - 0

Everton - H - 1

Wolves - A - 1

Arsenal - H - 0

Villa - A - 0

A totally pointless and pesimistic view of course (above). However home wins against Hull and Bolton are crucial I reckon. 34/35 points by the end of Feb be very welcome.

I'd like to think we can get more than 2 wins from our last 14 games. That would be a disaster.

[Steve Moss]

Stoke - A - 1 Pts

Hull - H - 3

Bolton - H - 3

Liverpool - A - 0

Brum - H - 1

Spurs - A - 0

Chelsea - H - 0

Burnley - A - 3

Portsmouth - A - 3

Man U - H - 0

Everton - H - 1

Wolves - A - 3

Arsenal - H - 0

Villa - A - 0

I think the above tally is me wearing some blue and white glasses. 18 points in our next 14 games. Doable but there isn't any wiggle room. 46 points should put us at around the 10th to 14th mark (I hope).

[bob fleming]

I'd like to think we can get more than 2 wins from our last 14 games. That would be a disaster.

Me too 47 - that's why I said "pointless and pessimistic" (I'll add a 3rd s this time). But hey, I don't consider us safe yet. Beat Bolton and Hull and we're nearly there. Then who knows?

[philipl]

My hope is we bag the points now so we can at least try to give it a go in that tough run in and entertain otherwise at sales will be awful.

[unluckymorton]

You'd have thought so EiT. 28 points now, but 10th with our games left?

Stoke - A - 1 Pts

Hull - H - 3

Bolton - H - 3

Liverpool - A - 0

Brum - H - 3

Spurs - A - 0

Chelsea - H - 0

burnley - A - 3

Portsmouth - A - 3

Man U - H - 0

Everton - H - 1

Wolves - A - 3

Arsenal - H - 0

Villa - A - 0

A totally pointless and pesimistic view of course (above). However home wins against Hull and Bolton are crucial I reckon. 34/35 points by the end of Feb be very welcome.

20 points and those below us need to be winning games too. Why all the doom and gloom bob? I never had you down as a pessimist. I think we are improving, slowly yes but Sam always said is would take time to build. It's as if he's knocked us down to build us back up again instead of just patching up. I am confident things will turn round but we will never be a fashionable club and will never play 'sexy' football. I'm happy competing with the best and slowly improving. Look at all the teams below us and the money they've spent recently, most have games in hand on us but the pressure is on them to win those games. As the performances improve the confidence is building and we can go into games against Stoke, Bolton and Hull with our heads held high and take something out of the games.

[Hughesy]

18 - 22 pts more....putting us on 46-50 pts.

[unluckymorton]

18 - 22 pts more....putting us on 46-50 pts.

In my book that makes this season a success.

[waggy]

18 - 22 pts more....putting us on 46-50 pts.

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