[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[saxo1man30]

most impressive thing for me about sam is the way all the players seem to be on the same wavelength and know exactly what is expected of them. he can change the side and `rest` players, yet the players that come into the side seem to slot in seamlessly. i didn`t always feel that was the case under ANY of our former managers going back as far as dalglish. it always seemed a personell change within the team under any of those managers affected the performance. that doesn`t happen under sam and that`s the sign of a very good coach imo. that`s before getting to how effective his substitutions seem to be, even the ones that initially you don`t understand until you see the effect on the game.

[John]

Was Paul Robinson reading my comments from Sunday night!? Quite similar....

“It has been some turn around in a fairly short space of time hasn't it?" said the Rovers goalkeeper. "I think that's down to the manager. You have to give him a lot of credit.

"I definitely believe the club is heading in only one direction now, and that's upwards. You've seen the manager's track record in the transfer market and the players he has brought in here in a short space of time.

"If you think back to when he first came in, we were adrift at the bottom of the league table. Now we are looking at that top half and taking points against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.

[alexanders]

I think he should be one of the candidates for the manager of the year title. What a turn around with the personnell he has available.

[LeChuck]

I think he should be one of the candidates for the manager of the year title. What a turn around with the personnell he has available.

If we finish ninth he may have a slim outside chance.

I'd feel quite offended if he got it for finishing tenth or below. We're not a small, newly promoted team; we're an established Premier League outfit.

[alexanders]

If we finish ninth he may have a slim outside chance.

I'd feel quite offended if he got it for finishing tenth or below. We're not a small, newly promoted team; we're an established Premier League outfit.

I agree to an extent, but he has turned us around without spending much money. He certainly deserves a lot of credit and respect for the job he has done!

[Bobby G]

I dont think Manager of the Year will go to Big Sam, but he has done an excellent job.

Goes to prove that success and failure only has a thin line separating them, and that usually could be time.

Had we capitulated against Villa in the cup semi final, then he could have been out of a job right after. We found the belief that we can compete against the bigger sides during those 90 minutes.

Overall, we have had steady improvement. With a few summer signings, and getting some consistency, we may be an outside shot for a Europa League place next season.

[CrazyIvan]

I dont think Manager of the Year will go to Big Sam, but he has done an excellent job.

Goes to prove that success and failure only has a thin line separating them, and that usually could be time.

Had we capitulated against Villa in the cup semi final, then he could have been out of a job right after. We found the belief that we can compete against the bigger sides during those 90 minutes.

Overall, we have had steady improvement. With a few summer signings, and getting some consistency, we may be an outside shot for a Europa League place next season.

I think the turn-around happened at the earlier round against Chelsea. To beat them at our place (on penalties), was an incredible result and gave the team hope and belief. We've been increasingly hard to beat home and away since.

[67splitscreen]

Woy will be in contention, media darling.

Sam should be in with a shout but a manager of a small town club kicking arse again in the Prem and spoiling Sky's last day party, no chance.

[Bobby G]

IIRC we went on a barren run after Chelsea and it pushed Sam towards the brink.

[thenodrog]

most impressive thing for me about sam is the way all the players seem to be on the same wavelength and know exactly what is expected of them. he can change the side and `rest` players, yet the players that come into the side seem to slot in seamlessly. i didn`t always feel that was the case under ANY of our former managers going back as far as dalglish. it always seemed a personell change within the team under any of those managers affected the performance. that doesn`t happen under sam and that`s the sign of a very good coach imo.

Last easter at Ewood he said that he wanted to form a smaller squad with less specialist players and have instead players that could play in a number of positions. To a greater or lesser extent we now have Olsson, Samba, Salgado, Givet, Chimbonda, MGP, Emerton, Hoillet, N'Zonzi and EHD who can fit into more than one position if needed.

The only real specialist players we have now are right down the spine of the team which does really need to be strong i.e. the gkeepers, Nelsen, Jones (I think), Grella and the centre forwards.

The obvious thinking imo is to be able to pay top wages to fewer players making BRFC a more desirable proposition for players and agents.

Simples eh? The outline plan has been missed by many critics on here but when slowly thought through they will see that it really does carry the stamp of an expert.

[CrazyIvan]

IIRC we went on a barren run after Chelsea and it pushed Sam towards the brink.

Yeah, you're right. The turning point, looking at our record, has to be the Man City game. After that Big Sam and this team have turned it around.

[unluckymorton]

Woy will be in contention, media darling.

Sam should be in with a shout but a manager of a small town club kicking arse again in the Prem and spoiling Sky's last day party, no chance.

Yeah it's got Woy's name written all over it. If Sam keeps up the improvement of our club he could well be in contention next season if the media can see as far as Lancashire.

[bob fleming]

The turning point, looking at our record, has to be the Man City game.

Undoubtedly it was the Man City game. There was a graph on here at the time (done by Clare I think) basically his popularly couldn't go any lower after than debacle. Something changed, Benni left for a kick off, and then we had Villa away. A tremendous effort and the fight and spirit was back.

Anyway, I'm holding my hand up here, for what it's worth, I'd have quite gladly seen Sam go after that City performance. Now he is doing a tremendous job! Fickle? Maybe, but we were truly dreadful at the time. We are well and truly on the right track now. It might not be pretty at times but then you need a serious amount of cash to be pretty and effective in this league. Keep it up Sam!

[broadsword]

I think Allardyce has tucked himself up in a way.

He's got us safely mid-table with a negative budget. The trustees want to spend as little money as possible on this club whilst keeping us in this division so they can eventually flog us.

There's a real danger that he won't be given more than the bare minimum of cash.

[unluckymorton]

I think Allardyce has tucked himself up in a way.

He's got us safely mid-table with a negative budget. The trustees want to spend as little money as possible on this club whilst keeping us in this division so they can eventually flog us.

There's a real danger that he won't be given more than the bare minimum of cash.

Is that tucked with an F Bryan?

[broadsword]

Both are acceptable

[Amo]

I think Allardyce has tucked himself up in a way.

He's got us safely mid-table with a negative budget. The trustees want to spend as little money as possible on this club whilst keeping us in this division so they can eventually flog us.

There's a real danger that he won't be given more than the bare minimum of cash.

Absolutely. It's the same problem Hughes had overachieving year after year. Why would the board put their hand in their pocket when managers keep us afloat on buttons?

[cletus]

I`ve said on several occasions on this messageboard, Big Sam`s objective last season was to turn around the mess Paul Ince got us in.

His main goal was premiership survival.....He achived that goal

This season`s aim was to improve on last season`s points total (41) & league position (15th).....He`s achieved the points goal (43 so far) & we`re currently above 15th

Next season`s goal is to improve again points-wise & league position (& away form!!)

I think it`s time we give Big Sam a break & gave him the praise he richly deserves. He`s managing a small club, with a small budget in a league full of big city clubs owned by millionaires & billionaires. It`s the richest league in the world & we`re a small unfashionable club holding our own.

[BuckyRover]

Quite right Bob. That performance along with Sam's demeanour at the time meant that even his most ardent fans were (quite rightly) questioning his tenure.

He has come through it in a fantastic way. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. The belief has now returned, I now fancy our chances in EVERY game. Can't ask for much more than that.

[chaddyrovers]

Big Sam has done a fantastic job since becoming rovers boss. When we where on a bad in December and start of January, I said i wanted him out, BUT since then we be on a good run. 5 win out of last 7 at home including 2 draws against Cheslea and Man Utd. He's building a team now at rovers slowly but surely. If we would had a better away form then we would have been in the top 8. So i'm positive about next season and pushing on for Europe next season. We do need to strength in midfield and striking departments. Big Sam knows that aswell. Think sam would have been scouting players all season.

WE ALL NEED TO HAVE FAITH IN THE MANAGER. It's all take time to build the team and style of play the manager wants.

[thenodrog]

I think Allardyce has tucked himself up in a way.

He's got us safely mid-table with a negative budget. The trustees want to spend as little money as possible on this club whilst keeping us in this division so they can eventually flog us.

There's a real danger that he won't be given more than the bare minimum of cash.

Some might opine that that is how it should be.

[John]

Looking back on this season, don't think the month of October helped us much. You could not hand pick more difficult fixtures all coming at once, Burnley aside.

That said, don't think Sam knew his best 11 for a while even though we did suffer injuries too - losing Dunn our goal scorer to injury, which was not a surprise, was a big blow as he was in really good form.

[thenodrog]

Looking back on this season, don't think the month of October helped us much. You could not hand pick more difficult fixtures, Burnley aside.

That said, don't think Sam knew his best 11 for a while even though we did suffer injuries too - losing Dunn our best player to injury, which was not a surprise, was a big blow too.

For me it was early January. The Villa matches, selling BennyM and moving Di santo on to the bench all contributed to squad morale.

[roversnick]

i guess the fact that big sam has been looking into getting his summer signings wrapped up early (dindane, polish chap) suggests that the rumours about him stepping down on health grrounds at the end of the season were rubbish?

[Majiball]

i guess the fact that big sam has been looking into getting his summer signings wrapped up early (dindane, polish chap) suggests that the rumours about him stepping down on health grrounds at the end of the season were rubbish?

The man had an angioplasty not a bypass, he'll be fine. I assume they came about as we playing like crap at the time.