[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[tony gale's mic]

It isn't a relegation scrap, but our ambitions are nothing above staying up.

I see what you mean about the Newcastle fans, I'd like to think I'm much less fickle than them. Maybe the grass is just seeming greener on the other side of the fence, but I can't help feeling fed up with Rovers these days. At times we have been as bad as I can remember, with a squad that is mostly not a bad one.

What should we be aiming for? Europe? Given that top 5 is Europe and the next two places are only dependent on how the cups go, which ones out of Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, City, Villa and Everton do you suggest we finish above?

Top 10? Well we're not far off, I think we'll fall a bit short of top 10 but I think comfortable mid table was most peoples expectations of this season and that's exactly where we are.

If our ambitions were nothing above staying up we'd be scrapping it out down there right now and would be delighted with the season if we finished 17th. But there's a clear gap between the sides doing that and us.

[47er]

Good club player around the edge of the box but as I keep saying his game is well overrated. The press and media keep building him up and every time they do more people simply accept it and repeat it. I know he's a knack of scoring in big games but has anybody ever seen him dominate and control a match v us? I haven't. Nor have I seen him stand out for England. Like Beckham he has a reputation that he has not earned.

Chelsea were looking at paying 30M for him though a year ago and probably still would if Cole went. Some car-boot sale! You've also omitted Glen Johnson who was their best player against us.

[John]

I cannot understand some people who say 'with the players we have got, we should be doing better' - who are these established top quality players you are talking about?

Enlighten me, please...

[American]

You mean most of the ones who finished top 10 under Hughes?

[S15]

You mean most of the ones who finished top 10 under Hughes?

Remove Bentley, Santa Cruz, Friedel, Warnock and Savage from the last 'Hughes team' and 12th seems about right wouldn't you agree?

[American]

If you're replacing them with players like Diouf, Salgado and Chimbonda, yes.

[John]

You mean most of the ones who finished top 10 under Hughes?

Yeah, name the quality players? Santa, whoops, Bellamy, mmmm, Bentley...

[S15]

If you're replacing them with players like Diouf, Salgado and Chimbonda, yes.

Those players cost less than £5m in fees and probably earn less than the previously mentioned players earned, all of whom were sold for a combined total of around £40m.

Where did the rest of the money go?

[thenodrog]

I see the Allardyce haters are out blinking in the light after going very quiet for a week or two.

[tcj_jones]

Looking at the remaining Premier League games, I don't think we'll be catching Fulham or Stoke, but I can only really see Sunderland from the teams below catching us. 12th, 13th or even 14th really woulodn't be a bad finish, all things considered. It's an improvement on last season, in line with our budget, and comfortably above a relegation scrap that, at one point, we looked certain to be involved in.

We are definitely progressing under Allardyce. A couple of good additions in the summer, and I reckon we'll move up another couple of places next season.

[The Rover of Finland]

Looking at the remaining Premier League games, I don't think we'll be catching Fulham or Stoke, but I can only really see Sunderland from the teams below catching us. 12th, 13th or even 14th really woulodn't be a bad finish, all things considered. It's an improvement on last season, in line with our budget, and comfortably above a relegation scrap that, at one point, we looked certain to be involved in.

We are definitely progressing under Allardyce. A couple of good additions in the summer, and I reckon we'll move up another couple of places next season.

Big Sam must be looking some pace to the team. Spurs match proved it again. We keep the ball well because of five man midfield but can´t do anything sensible in the final third. We can´t play counter-attack because of lack of pace.

[tcj_jones]

Definitely agree with that. Keeping Hoilett was important. Even if he is a raw talent, his pace alone will give us something different.

[MarkBRFC71]

Lets wait for the next home match - and the Sam out brigade will fade away - well until the next away match. This seems to be a reoccuring theme. Maybe it will change - as our home matches are getting more difficult and our away ones easier ?

To be fair, as soon as we scrape a win, the Samettes are out in force to ram home their views, so it's only natural that those who think we should be doing better, going into games with a more positive attitude and aiming higher than merely avoiding relegation should air theirs when we inevitably lose away. I do not hate Sam, but I do think we should be doing better than we are, dislike the football we are playing, view going to home games as a chore rather than an enjoyable experience, and would not be sorry one iota if he went. From the chatter I hear in the Blackburn End every other week, I'm far from alone in those views.

Sam polarises opinion - that's the only thing that's unarguable.

[Hullrover]

The other thing that is unarguable is that there is no-one better qualified(that would want to come to us or that we could afford) to keep us in the Premier League. I seem to remember that Martinez was high on the wanted list before Ince came - no thanks. Maybe other similar candidates would be too much of a risk.

It seems to me that if we can keep hold of Samba and a few other senior players, that we have the chance of building a competent side with a number of (reasonably) exciting young players. It reminds me a bit of 2000 time when Dunn, Duff & Jansen did so well in the second division for us.

I'm relatively optimistic.

[broadsword]

Samba will go at some point, we are now a net selling club.

[mhead]

The team is making great progress for such little investment. If Sam moves a few out and gets another 2 younger players we will have a nucleus of 7 or 8 young players(plus the young Rovers goalie who is always out on loan) and a few of the older Midfield players. The only place we are now weak is surprisingly full-back where we need at least one toughie rather than the soft touches we have now. Grella has to go...he's a joke.And a few on 'Pay as you play' contracts. 40 points by end of month and then do some experimenting. 13th to 15th is acceptable after last Season's sabotage.

Sam is doing a very difficult job really well. Only Away are we showing the 20% improvement we need to make next Season. KEEP THE FAITH.

[FourLaneBlue]

To be fair, as soon as we scrape a win, the Samettes are out in force to ram home their views, so it's only natural that those who think we should be doing better, going into games with a more positive attitude and aiming higher than merely avoiding relegation

I don't think anyone can really argue with our position though. Our squad isn't better than where we are. So to sack Sam would be stupid. It is always a huge gamble to sack a manager and we should only be doing it when the incumbent is obviously incompetent. Ince was. Say what you like abou Sam...and he does make some baffling, infuriating decisions...but he is certainly a competent manager. Considering where we were and that since he joined we have raised a lot of money through transfer fees he has done well.

The negatives has been at times poor, negative football although the last two away games were a marked improvement on our earlier capitualations.

It will be a slow process to really turn us around as we just do not have any money to invest. A sale of one of our better players in the summer (can only really think of Samba or Givet) followed by a replacement for a 1/5 of the price seems likely.

As for "aiming higher than merely avoiding relegation"...we are well away from there and reached a semi-final. Hardly mind-blowing but steady progress.

[thenodrog]

To be fair, as soon as we scrape a win, the Samettes are out in force to ram home their views, so it's only natural that those who think we should be doing better, going into games with a more positive attitude and aiming higher than merely avoiding relegation should air theirs when we inevitably lose away. I do not hate Sam, but I do think we should be doing better than we are, dislike the football we are playing, view going to home games as a chore rather than an enjoyable experience, and would not be sorry one iota if he went. From the chatter I hear in the Blackburn End every other week, I'm far from alone in those views.

Sam polarises opinion - that's the only thing that's unarguable.

Explains a lot Mark. If thats where you choose to view your football from you won't hear a great deal of sense nor will you have a balanced view of match proceedings and the tactical approaches of both teams. Best chance you have will be the Family stand but even so it's still not the best option.

[thenodrog]

Samba will go at some point, we are now a net selling club.

errr we did buy him remember Bryan.

Just like we bought all our other players. It's the only way we can exist. Same as just about EVERY other club is a selling club btw. We had to sell our best player Bentley to Big City club Spurs, Spurs had to sell their best player Berbatov to top 4 club Man Utd, Man Utd had to sell their best player Ronaldo to Worlds No 1 club Real. I've said before that I expect Torres to leave Lpool this summer and quite probably Gerrard too, and I'm sure that avaricious eyes are on Rooney as we speak.

It's never our worst ones that others want is it?

btw Replacement is the key word not selling! I just hope SA has put a chalk mark on Chris's replacement somewhere.

[broadsword]

Buy low, sell high. T'was ever thus.

I think we originally bought Hendry for 30k, got shot for 800k. Did we get Kevin Moran in on a free transfer to replace him?

[Exiled_Rover]

Definitely agree with that. Keeping Hoilett was important. Even if he is a raw talent, his pace alone will give us something different.

We look twice the team when we have Olssen and Hoilett on the wings. Speed kills.

[notac]

Buy low, sell high. T'was ever thus.

I think we originally bought Hendry for 30k, got shot for 800k. Did we get Kevin Moran in on a free transfer to replace him?

That is fair enough but how many of BFS and the idiot Ince's signings will we sell on for the profits experienced by the likes of Santa Cruz, Bellamy etc etc - Can't see many coming in for El Haj or Keith Andrews?

[Stuart]

That is fair enough but how many of BFS and the idiot Ince's signings will we sell on for the profits experienced by the likes of Santa Cruz, Bellamy etc etc - Can't see many coming in for El Haj or Keith Andrews?

I think the days of £18m for a player are unlikely to continue, by the way - as are the days of picking up bargains like Samba and Santa Cruz. Plus Bentley had a massive sell-on fee.

Granted P*** I***'s signings are hardly likely to make any money but many of Sam's could all be sold for profit.

Hoilett (age 19)

N'Zonzi (age 21)

Kalinic (age 22 - just)

Givet (age 28)

Then...

Chimbonda? Possible

Linganzi? - Dunno but age 20 so potentially

Jacobsen - Possible

Diouf - No

Basturk - No

Salgado - No

We are a club in transition - on and off the field - here's hoping Sam steers us clear and leaves a healthy playing staff for whoever takes over when he retires.

[Exiled_Rover]

I think the days of £18m for a player are unlikely to continue, by the way - as are the days of picking up bargains like Samba and Santa Cruz. Plus Bentley had a massive sell-on fee.

Granted P*** I***'s signings are hardly likely to make any money but many of Sam's could all be sold for profit.

Hoilett (age 19)

N'Zonzi (age 21)

Kalinic (age 22 - just)

Givet (age 28)

Then...

Chimbonda? Possible

Linganzi? - Dunno but age 20 so potentially

Jacobsen - Possible

Diouf - No

Basturk - No

Salgado - No

We are a club in transition - on and off the field - here's hoping Sam steers us clear and leaves a healthy playing staff for whoever takes over when he retires.

Why? There's always going to be a player under appreciated at their club or out of favour somewhere that can be taken advantage of.

[Stuart]

Why? There's always going to be a player under appreciated at their club or out of favour somewhere that can be taken advantage of.

Why do you think Hughes got fed up and left?