[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[Jackson]

Living in leafy Cheshire, I'm occasionally privy to some backhanded football rumours and conversations, especially at the gym. Obviously, this comes with frustrations, for example, having the opportunity to throttle Keith Andrews in the changing rooms on the odd occasion.

Anyhow, I digress. According to our ex goalkeeping coach, Sparky et al were approached by Rovers, apparently last week, as to their availability for action. Turkey is the preferred destination, however.

Make of that what you will, fine folks. I have no further info, unfortunately.

[joey_big_nose]

Living in leafy Cheshire, I'm occasionally privy to some backhanded football rumours and conversations, especially at the gym. Obviously, this comes with frustrations, for example, having the opportunity to throttle Keith Andrews in the changing rooms on the odd occasion.

Anyhow, I digress. According to our ex goalkeeping coach, Sparky et al were approached by Rovers, apparently last week, as to their availability for action. Turkey is the preferred destination, however.

Make of that what you will, fine folks. I have no further info, unfortunately.

If that is true - which it may not be - it may give creedence to the idea Sam may be considering stepping aside on health grounds for a while.

However I find it very difficult to believe that we can afford the sort of wages and transfer budget Hughes will be after, or that Hughes will be interested in moving back into a previous job. Doesn't add up for me.

I can however see why JW would ask Hughes as a bit of a long shot given the strong relationship between the two.

[gazsimm]

I think its about time the low wits on here who keep having a go at Sam, get a grip of themselves. Considering the mess we were left with during Ince's regin at the club, i think Sam up to now has done a great job. His tatics and the entertainment of the football of the team might upset a lot of fans, but the main thing which he does best is he gets RESULTS when the team need them. Under Sam i think we will never go down, just because he has the wits about him to get a small club like ours to play to their strengths unlike our previous manager.

I rather us play unattractive football and win more games, then (sexy) football, that we can't play and end up losing games, afterall the main objective of a club like ours is to stay in the Premier League and i don't care how we play football as long we stay in the Premier League.

[CrazyIvan]

I think its about time the low wits on here who keep having a go at Sam, get a grip of themselves. Considering the mess we were left with during Ince's regin at the club, i think Sam up to now has done a great job. His tatics and the entertainment of the football of the team might upset a lot of fans, but the main thing which he does best is he gets RESULTS when the team need them. Under Sam i think we will never go down, just because he has the wits about him to get a small club like ours to play to their strengths unlike our previous manager.

I rather us play unattractive football and win more games, then (sexy) football, that we can't play and end up losing games, afterall the main objective of a club like ours is to stay in the Premier League and i don't care how we play football as long we stay in the Premier League.

I agree mostly. I also think that we actually play some good football occasionally. It showed last night. The move for Olssons goal is a prime example.

Sam is the right man for this club right now. We need to stay in the Premier League based on the fact that we would be financially in some serious danger if we dropped out. Something has to change in football eventually. The money is obscene, the players are massively overpaid prima-donnas (generalisation I know) and it can't go on forever.

While we have little to no investment coming in from outside, we need someone who can introduce young talent to keep us going, to pick up the occasional bargain and to reinvigorate some older talent. While this might result in some poor performances, mostly due to the nature of the players we have, it will keep us financially viable and in the league. Big Sam is the only person I can see doing that for us.

As fans, we need to be aware of the situation our club is in. While accepting that this is a transitional period for the players and the club, we need to be aware that we cannot play like Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and the more attractive footballing teams with what WE CAN AFFORD. Once Sam's has transformed the squad, as he is doing slowly, we should have got rid of most of our massive wage bill, brought in some talented youngsters and be in a much more viable position. If we can stay in this league and watch the teams who have massive debt fall apart, we'll be in a strong place. Making this club relatively self-sufficient was always Jacks aim. I think the only person who could get close to doing that is Big Sam and I'd much rather be in our position than Pompeys.

[waggy]

the problem is there's a lot more rovers fans than me who want him out,winning 3 games at home against teams below us in the league ain't nowt special.the football is dire,and the fans won't stand for it

[CrazyIvan]

the problem is there's a lot more rovers fans than me who want him out,winning 3 games at home against teams below us in the league ain't nowt special.the football is dire,and the fans won't stand for it

I don't think we have much choice. What the club really needs right now is for the fans NOT to desert it and for them to keep on attending and getting behind the team. Otherwise we are writing our own epitaph as a club. The fans desert the club, the club gets less money to spend, the players coming in are cheaper hence worse, the football gets worse. Eventually, that'll lead to oblivion.

[gazsimm]

the problem is there's a lot more rovers fans than me who want him out,winning 3 games at home against teams below us in the league ain't nowt special.the football is dire,and the fans won't stand for it

how do you know what the fans think, when you don't even bother to go to the games anymore (call yourself a fan!!!). I think beating the teams below us in the league is very special actually. If u want to go and watch entertaing football why don't you go and jump on the band wagon at United or Chelsea e.t.c. As long as Rovers stay in premier league that will do for me and under Sam that is going to happen.

[waggy]

how do you know what the fans think, when you don't even bother to go to the games anymore (call yourself a fan!!!). I think beating the teams below us in the league is very special actually. If u want to go and watch entertaing football why don't you go and jump on the band wagon at United or Chelsea e.t.c. As long as Rovers stay in premier league that will do for me and under Sam that is going to happen.

so fans only talk about rovers at the ground,talked to 3 lads this morning who all said it was ###### poor last night,one said THEY SELL NECK BRACES IN THE CLUB SHOP NOW,fair enough if you want to watch crap,bur others don't

[CrazyIvan]

so fans only talk about rovers at the ground,talked to 3 lads this morning who all said it was ###### poor last night,one said THEY SELL NECK BRACES IN THE CLUB SHOP NOW,fair enough if you want to watch crap,bur others don't

That is honestly such a load of tosh. It seems to me that there is a small element of idiots who just want to moan and genuinely talk complete rubbish. Anybody would think the entire game was played in the air last night.

Waggy, if you are a Rovers supporter why aren't you at the game?

[gazsimm]

so fans only talk about rovers at the ground,talked to 3 lads this morning who all said it was ###### poor last night,one said THEY SELL NECK BRACES IN THE CLUB SHOP NOW,fair enough if you want to watch crap,bur others don't

the point is though, how can you call watching your team win crap. We can play neat passes back heels e.t.c but it still does not mean we will get 3 points does it though. Look what happend to West Brom last season, they were very entertaing to watch, but look what happend to them they when straight back down. Sam knows how to win games Waggy and deep down you know he's a very good manager at a club like ours, but you are to much of prat to own up to this!!

[MeanGreenMachine]

Ahh right I get it now

Entertaining football = relegation

Direct route one hoofball = staying up

OR MAYBE there could be a happy medium and mix it up abit? Despite what people believe we do have a good numbers of players decent on the ball in Dunn,Grella,Gamst,Basturk,Emerton,Kalanic. I can accept the long ball being played successfully but 9/10 we fail to get that right.

[unluckymorton]

so fans only talk about rovers at the ground,talked to 3 lads this morning who all said it was ###### poor last night,one said THEY SELL NECK BRACES IN THE CLUB SHOP NOW,fair enough if you want to watch crap,bur others don't

So these lads you talked to don't celebrate when we score or when we win?

I watched the Chelsea highlights and the Villa highlights on MOTD last night, there was a lot of high and long balls... I think the commentators call it 'direct paly' rather than 'hoofball or 'long ball' but I assume that's o.k because they are fashionable clubs?

If it's effective and we win that will do for me.

Did Olssons 'own' goal come from a long ball? No. It came from good build up play. There were also a few neat tidy passes between our midfield. Diouf had a decent game and could be getting used to the formations and the way we switch it round in different periods of the game. You won't see that though wagster, the change in formation, the runs down the wing, the many shots on target. It's better than you, and the doom and gloom brigade, actually think.

People see what they want to see. I see Rovers improving and winning.

[LeChuck]

Ahh right I get it now

Entertaining football = relegation

Direct route one hoofball = staying up

OR MAYBE there could be a happy medium and mix it up abit?

We ARE mixing it up.

This is better football than the survival stuff we played when Hughes arrived (4-5-1, Dickov on his own and Mokoena in midfield).

We do play football, there are numerous goals this season to show that. Last night's a prime example, that came from a well worked move. Emerton should have scored from another well constructed PASSING move.

We don't play hoofball, we mix it up. Sometimes we pass, sometimes we go direct. I haven't seen a single person talk about 'hoofball' or '4-4-2' without coming across as a complete tool.

[John]

Sam has stressed he needs time, as having little resources obviously takes longer in order to make us a competitive, more consistent side.

I think with the addition of Basturk, it shows his intentions to introduce some/more skill to the team.

[MarkBRFC71]

I've heard that Allardyce will be stepping down at the end of the season, and replacing Howard Wilkinson as Chairman of the LMA? Anyone else heard this?

[broadsword]

I've heard that Allardyce will be stepping down at the end of the season, and replacing Howard Wilkinson as Chairman of the LMA? Anyone else heard this?

Sounds like wish-fulfillment!

[mellison24]

I've heard that Allardyce will be stepping down at the end of the season, and replacing Howard Wilkinson as Chairman of the LMA? Anyone else heard this?

I did, but I'm deaf, so put it down to mis-hearing it, as it sounds a little strange (although it would make some kind of sense if Sam was to retire at te season's end). Where did you hear it btw? I thought I caught it on radio (century/real radio), but was only half-listening.

[beerwins]

I did, but I'm deaf, so put it down to mis-hearing it, as it sounds a little strange (although it would make some kind of sense if Sam was to retire at te season's end). Where did you hear it btw? I thought I caught it on radio (century/real radio), but was only half-listening.

Even if it was true it certainly wouldnt be announced until the end of the season thats for sure.

[joey_big_nose]

I've heard that Allardyce will be stepping down at the end of the season, and replacing Howard Wilkinson as Chairman of the LMA? Anyone else heard this?

That sounds bizarrely plausible for some reason.

Believe it when I see it though.

[Seedstral]

the problem is there's a lot more rovers fans than me who want him out,winning 3 games at home against teams below us in the league ain't nowt special.the football is dire,and the fans won't stand for it

Well its about time you did football is in complete meltdown and people like you think we can just sack the manager and his backroom staff bring in someone with better credentials who want a massive transfer budget and you'll be happy yet we are 11th in the premier league (a very poor league i'll admit) with no money coming in and for the last 2 years told to slash the wage bill. Yet because of who the manager is your still bitter. Would you be happy if someone like Hughes came in and took us down with not much chance of coming back. After reading all your negative comments on here no doubt you would because then Big Sam wouldn't be here and you'll get off your sorry backside and start supporting the club you claim to love albeit we could be a championship club by then!!

[unluckymorton]

the problem is there's a lot more rovers fans than me who want him out,winning 3 games at home against teams below us in the league ain't nowt special.the football is dire,and the fans won't stand for it

Winning games at home against teams below is everything wag, you haven't got the grasp of life for a small club in the top flight have you? It's o.k giving the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd & Arsenal a game but if you can't beat those around you you're going to go down! Look at the dingles!

You may want to have a dig at Sam day in day out but the reality is he is the right man for the job at this moment in time. There isn't another manager who would do the job with no money to spend and have the nerve to do it his way. Managers need time, even more so with an extremely limited budget, we should pride ourselves that other than Ince, recent managers have been given the backing and the time to do their job. We'll become another laughing stock like Newcastle if we change managers every few months, look where it got them!

Possible alternatives;

Get rid of Sam, throwing away a few million in the process then settle for one of the following;

Gary Megson. No thanks.

Joe Kinnear. See above.

Paul Jewell. See above.

Peter Reid. See above.

Tony Mowbray. See above + pay Celtic comp.

Hughesy? We couldn't afford him.

Di Matteo? See Ince.

Tony Pullis? No different to Sam but Stoke appreciate him.

Sven?

Alan Curbishley. Not for me but who know's. He'd want to spend to build his own squad. He's been out of football for a while and that tells a story in itself.

Or, stick with what we've got and hopefully progress from here.

[RovertheHill]

Under Hughes we had broadly the same constraints as we have now. For me the team then had two clear differences. Firstly we played a high tempo pressing game when we didn't have the ball - now we appear to sit off. Secondly, and most importantly, he set high expectations. None of this survival stuff. None of this just-be-happy-to-be-here nonsense, which appears to have infected half of our fan base now. The upshot of those two things was that we did well against the teams around us but we also gave those above us a game. They knew they'd played us whether we won or not. And occasionally we got a result. Contrast that to now, when apparently we can write off 8 games before the start of the season, plus probably another 6 to 8 depending on who else you count (Spurs, villa, City, Everton). The problem with this is that if you tell people (and I include professional footballers in that) that they should be thankful they are playing in this league, and that's their only target, and they aren't going to win in potentially nearly half the games then you will get a self-fulfilling prophecy. Which is why when we start losing at one of these places we tend to lose badly.

unluckymorton - I don't necessarily want Allardyce to go.

I just wish Allardyce would show a bit of ambition. We are not that desperate that we have to set up defensively at home to Hull, and retain that formation when they go down to 10 men.

I just wish Allardyce would mix the tactics up a bit.

I just wish Allardyce would start setting higher expectations.

I just wish Allardyce would play a higher tempo game when we don't have the ball.

None of the above are asking anything that is unrealistic.

[gumboots]

Under Hughes we had broadly the same constraints as we have now. For me the team then had two clear differences. Firstly we played a high tempo pressing game when we didn't have the ball - now we appear to sit off. Secondly, and most importantly, he set high expectations. None of this survival stuff. None of this just-be-happy-to-be-here nonsense, which appears to have infected half of our fan base now. The upshot of those two things was that we did well against the teams around us but we also gave those above us a game. They knew they'd played us whether we won or not. And occasionally we got a result. Contrast that to now, when apparently we can write off 8 games before the start of the season, plus probably another 6 to 8 depending on who else you count (Spurs, villa, City, Everton). The problem with this is that if you tell people (and I include professional footballers in that) that they should be thankful they are playing in this league, and that's their only target, and they aren't going to win in potentially nearly half the games then you will get a self-fulfilling prophecy. Which is why when we start losing at one of these places we tend to lose badly.

unluckymorton - I don't necessarily want Allardyce to go.

I just wish Allardyce would show a bit of ambition. We are not that desperate that we have to set up defensively at home to Hull, and retain that formation when they go down to 10 men.

I just wish Allardyce would mix the tactics up a bit.

I just wish Allardyce would start setting higher expectations.

I just wish Allardyce would play a higher tempo game when we don't have the ball.

None of the above are asking anything that is unrealistic.

Can I add - I just wish we sometimes took a quick short throw in - remember them?

[unluckymorton]

Under Hughes we had broadly the same constraints as we have now. For me the team then had two clear differences. Firstly we played a high tempo pressing game when we didn't have the ball - now we appear to sit off. Secondly, and most importantly, he set high expectations. None of this survival stuff. None of this just-be-happy-to-be-here nonsense, which appears to have infected half of our fan base now. The upshot of those two things was that we did well against the teams around us but we also gave those above us a game. They knew they'd played us whether we won or not. And occasionally we got a result. Contrast that to now, when apparently we can write off 8 games before the start of the season, plus probably another 6 to 8 depending on who else you count (Spurs, villa, City, Everton). The problem with this is that if you tell people (and I include professional footballers in that) that they should be thankful they are playing in this league, and that's their only target, and they aren't going to win in potentially nearly half the games then you will get a self-fulfilling prophecy. Which is why when we start losing at one of these places we tend to lose badly.

unluckymorton - I don't necessarily want Allardyce to go.

I just wish Allardyce would show a bit of ambition. We are not that desperate that we have to set up defensively at home to Hull, and retain that formation when they go down to 10 men.

I just wish Allardyce would mix the tactics up a bit.

I just wish Allardyce would start setting higher expectations.

I just wish Allardyce would play a higher tempo game when we don't have the ball.

None of the above are asking anything that is unrealistic.

Valid points and I think they will come in time Rover, my opinion is than Sam is treating this season as consolidation, ensuring survival and build on that for next season. It is a long drawn out process. I appreciate that Hughes had similar constraints but Sam has not inherited the squad that Hughes had, he has to build his own with little funds and this will take time. I think his target for this season was 12th or 13th, there are a lot of clubs, including Fulham, Stoke, Sunderland and West Ham who would settle for that this season. Next season he will set our targets higher therefore going into certain games with a different approach.

Once Sam had built his squad over a period of time at Bolton they could give anybody a game. A few years on this is becoming more difficult but again, given time I believe he can do similar at Rovers.

I also would like to see free flowing football, at times I cringe at the way our players put their boot through the ball when they should put their foot on it and play, 'hoofing' it about is bad enough but we don't even play it into zones! it's just a case of getting rid! We play some good stuff in short sharp bursts, Some good passing and movement but this is not as often as I would like. I know we have issues but hopefully once we have some more points on the board Sam will start being a little more adventurous and show signs of things to come.

[G Somerset Rover]

We don't play hoofball, we mix it up. Sometimes we pass, sometimes we go direct. I haven't seen a single person talk about 'hoofball' or '4-4-2' without coming across as a complete tool.

Only a tool wouldn't see that we do play hoofball every so often.

Chelsea away.

Brum away.

City away.

To name just three games where we couldn't string two passes together and resorted to "hoofball".

It's been evident a lot more than that this season too.