[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[Parsonblue]

This well may be a vain hope but if we were to get relegated, would that not force the board to invest some money in the club simply to keep it as a viable/attractive option to potential buyers? After all a club that is utterly stuffed financially in the championship with no prospects is hardly an appealing prospect to invest in.

If we are relegated again I would expect a similar pattern to that which happened following our relegation in 1965-66. Crowds dropped, the better players were sold and the club continued to fall until we reached the lower reaches of the Third Division. Without the television money the club simply couldn't maintain the upkeep of the fixtures and fittings at Ewood Park, not to mention the Senior Training Complex and the Academy. Add the wage bill on top and we would be looking at a firesale at best or administration at worst.

If the club had not been sold at that point it is unlikely that it would attract serious investors as the amount of cash needed to restore it to Premier League status would be huge. Indeed, as others have shown in the past, even throwing large amounts of money at it is no guarantee of winning promotion. Hence the reason why many of us believe that relegation would be catastrophic for the club in financial terms and might well threaten its very existence as we know it.

[Yorick]

We're not getting massive gates in the Premiership right now either. But gates being affected by relegation isn't something unique to Rovers is it?

It would be unique to see attendances following a relegation accompanied by a virtual doubling of our currently subsidised admission prices. That is the Domesday scenario that I think you have overlooked.

[Yorick]

the arguement about the way lard@rse plays football will rage until he dissapears into oblivion,what i want to know is why we can play bloody decent football one week and the next game revert to the long ball/hoof ball/percentage football.

I wonder if it's something to do with the fact that we aren't playing the same opposition two games running.

[Amo]

Sam's a tit. If he's not flapping his gums chewing a crate of Wrigleys, it's to make the most outrageous self-promotion out there. He's achieved very little tangibly in the game, and yet he believes he's entitled to manage one of the G-14? He didn't exactly make the most of his time at Newcastle, did he... I'd humour him if the club was defying all expectations and punching 100lbs above weight, but we've made a stuttering start, already dumped out the league cup, and the football is prehistoric, at times. Also, his overbearing hubris means the club's ambition is constantly downplayed to hype his own achievements. I remember when Hughes was here, he talked about aiming for the Top Four and raised the profile of the club, which obviously rubbed off onto the players. With Sam, you always get the impression that he comes before anything and anyone else.

[dunc]

Sam's a tit. If he's not flapping his gums chewing a crate of Wrigleys, it's to make the most outrageous self-promotion out there. He's achieved very little tangibly in the game, and yet he believes he's entitled to manage one of the G-14? He didn't exactly make the most of his time at Newcastle, did he... I'd humour him if the club was defying all expectations and punching 100lbs above weight, but we've made a stuttering start, already dumped out the league cup, and the football is prehistoric, at times. Also, his overbearing hubris means the club's ambition is constantly downplayed to hype his own achievements. I remember when Hughes was here, he talked about aiming for the Top Four and raised the profile of the club, which obviously rubbed off onto the players. With Sam, you always get the impression that he comes before anything and anyone else.

What do you mean by tangible? Are you saying that you have to lift a trophy to be classed as successful? Finishing 10th last season was great. Are we to dismiss it? 19 sides in the Premiership don't win a trophy! Is getting into Europe, as he did at Bolton twice tangible? Finishing 5th and top eight 3 seasons running? League Cup Final, promotion with Notts County?

These are all notable achievements given the budgets he has had to work with.

[rebelmswar]

What do you mean by tangible? Are you saying that you have to lift a trophy to be classed as successful? Finishing 10th last season was great. Are we to dismiss it? 19 sides in the Premiership don't win a trophy! Is getting into Europe, as he did at Bolton twice tangible? Finishing 5th and top eight 3 seasons running? League Cup Final, promotion with Notts County?

These are all notable achievements given the budgets he has had to work with.

You are a Samite and will be shot.

Pasts mean nothing, future means nothing, now is everything.

[S15]

Sam's a tit. If he's not flapping his gums chewing a crate of Wrigleys, it's to make the most outrageous self-promotion out there. He's achieved very little tangibly in the game, and yet he believes he's entitled to manage one of the G-14? He didn't exactly make the most of his time at Newcastle, did he... I'd humour him if the club was defying all expectations and punching 100lbs above weight, but we've made a stuttering start, already dumped out the league cup, and the football is prehistoric, at times. Also, his overbearing hubris means the club's ambition is constantly downplayed to hype his own achievements. I remember when Hughes was here, he talked about aiming for the Top Four and raised the profile of the club, which obviously rubbed off onto the players. With Sam, you always get the impression that he comes before anything and anyone else.

Topman, I hate to say this, but what a pile of crap!

[Dufflite]

Lots of panicy twaddle on here. Sam is a top manager...fact.

He has a gob on him and is not as debonair as some other managers and his tactics jar with the football fantasists. He does not endear himself to many but he really doesnt give a toss.

However he will, over a season, get results and one thing no one can take away from him is that he is immensely popular with the players and they have the utmost respect for his methods. His piers in the game are also very complimentary about his abilities and he has been in the premiership longer than most.

You may not like but we are in safe hands and we will again be punching above our weight over the season.

[Amo]

Topman, I hate to say this, but what a pile of crap!

How so?

I don't doubt Sam is a solid manager, and has enjoyed relative success, but he's no where near as great he thinks he is. Jose Mourinho has won the CL TWICE and finds himself in the Real Madrid hotseat. Is Sam really talking about himself in the same bracket? Calling it delusions of grandeur would be an understatement. Ten years on from managing Bolton, he's come full-circle managing another small, unfashionable North-West side. If he was such the footballing revolutionary he really believes to be, he'd be in charge of a club deserving of his majesty.

[rebelmswar]

How so?

I don't doubt Sam is a solid manager, and has enjoyed relative success, but he's no where near as great he thinks he is. Jose Mourinho has won the CL TWICE and finds himself in the Real Madrid hotseat. Is Sam really talking about himself in the same bracket? Calling it delusions of grandeur would be an understatement. Ten years on from managing Bolton, he's come full-circle managing another small, unfashionable North-West side. If he was such the footballing revolutionary he really believes to be, he'd be in charge of a club deserving of his majesty.

think you fell for the patented Sam mindfek.

The gummonster toys with peoples minds like a virgin with a womans breasts.

[Amo]

think you fell for the patented Sam mindfek.

The gummonster toys with peoples minds like a virgin with a womans breasts.

I think the fact we're even having this debate should tell us everything about Big Sam.

[Blue blood]

Personally I'd say Sam is a good manager, although not the great one some people, and Sam himself, make him out to be.

The most disappointing thing about his comments is that it is being commented on everywhere and always in a negative way to Rovers. Hardly the PR rovers need - he should have kept his gob shut.

When he's won us a couple of trophies and comfortably top half of the table then he can start saying he'd be suited to real madrid. At the moment comments like that only serve to make him look stupid (who cares?) but more importantly reflect negatively on the club.

[broadsword]

he should have kept his gob shut.

IMPOSSIBLE!

He thinks he's being clever and tongue-in-cheek and having a little pop back at his detractors. But really, he's playing into the media's hands and making himself look a right unit.

It must be frustrating not to get the respect you feel you deserve - let's be honest, he's in no way a bad manager, but he's not in the top bracket - but this is not the way to right perceived wrongs. He's made himself look a right goon and he's peeved off a significant proportion of fans. not clever.

[rebelmswar]

Hell yes.

without his charisma oozing from the touchline we would easily of lost the game.

spectacular sub bringing on Bert too.

God-like management.

[MarkBRFC71]

Anybody dare to credit Allardyce for today's win?

There's only one person to credit for today's win. Lady Luck.

[tony gale's mic]

There's only one person to credit for today's win. Lady Luck.

Would you be lamenting Lady Luck if we ended up losing with a last minute goal?

Or would you be blaming the manager?

Hmm..that's a tricky one...

[MarkBRFC71]

Would you be lamenting Lady Luck if we ended up losing with a last minute goal?

Or would you be blaming the manager?

Hmm..that's a tricky one...

If we lost to a last minute goal after sitting back and trying to defend a 1-0 lead - when we've done that several times with a p1ss-poor success rate - then yes I (and many others) would justifiably lay the blame at Sam's door.

I suppose you're crediting the manager's genius for the 3 points then? You're nothing if not equally predictable TGM.

[S15]

If we lost to a last minute goal after sitting back and trying to defend a 1-0 lead - when we've done that several times with a p1ss-poor success rate - then yes I (and many others) would justifiably lay the blame at Sam's door.

I suppose you're crediting the manager's genius for the 3 points then? You're nothing if not equally predictable TGM.

Sitting in 8th after a fairly tough start.

Not arsed how lucky he is, it's lasted over 18 months now.

[tony gale's mic]

If we lost to a last minute goal after sitting back and trying to defend a 1-0 lead - when we've done that several times with a p1ss-poor success rate - then yes I (and many others) would justifiably lay the blame at Sam's door.

I suppose you're crediting the manager's genius for the 3 points then? You're nothing if not equally predictable TGM.

Nope, this is what I said after the equaliser, most of which I still stand by:

For the first time I think Sam really does have something to answer for with his tactics. I didn't much care about the hoofball arguments when they were getting us results these last one and a half seasons, but when the way we're playing is affecting results against teams like Blackpool now, when we keep throwing away leads - something desperately needs to change as this isn't good enough.

I don't think we should be sitting back on 1-0 leads as we are but then defending our lead wasn't such a big problem last season - it's something that's crept in this season. Last season we had issues with conceding the first goal and around November people were calling for Sam's head but he rectified the problems and we finished strongly and ended up finishing 10th. We had issues with away form but we've played well away from home this year.

Even now we're 8th, if we add on a point at Birmingham and two points vs Fulham (ie if we didn't have this problem) we'd be 5th level on points with City with 11 points from 6 games after playing a fairly representative cross section of the league so far.

Yes there's issues that really need addressing but if they get fixed we could do very well this year, especially if we do get some cash this January.

[Doaksie]

Sam's celebration to Emerton's winner today was hilarious! The drunk cowboy. I could watch that on repeat.

[John]

In Sam's pre-match Blackpool comments, he stated a relegation battle should not be a concern for us this season - he said due to the ability/confidence in the squad, and development, our sights should be higher. He said there is always the possiblity we could get dragged into a scrap.

Very early days, however our away form seems to be a slight improvment so far, taking into account we should have got more out of the Birmingham game.

As I said early days still and best to judge things, more accurately, after a few more games - looking ahead, I do worry if we are to suffer a few injuries, it would leave us quite stretched in certain areas.

[Miker]

As I said early days still and best to judge things, more accurately, after a few more games - looking ahead, I do worry if we are to suffer a few injuries, it would leave us quite stretched in certain areas.

I think we have enough depth in the current squad to ensure that we're not severely weakened if we get some injuries. Losing Samba is always a problem, but so is the case for any team who lose their star player.

[Miker]

Anybody dare to credit Allardyce for today's win?

Only the team deserves credit and blame, the manager should solely be judged on the results. The manager has to get the best out of players, he doesn't instruct them to produce a good finish (like Emerton) or to stupidly show an attacker onto the goal instead of away (like Givet).

[Guest bluerovers]

Even now we're 8th, if we add on a point at Birmingham and two points vs Fulham (ie if we didn't have this problem) we'd be 5th level on points with City with 11 points from 6 games after playing a fairly representative cross section of the league so far.

[sarcasm]Yeah and if Emo hadn't scored a last gasp winner yesterday we'd have been 14th, below Bolton, one place above Liverpool and just 2 points above the relegation zone.[/sarcasm]

[S15]

Yeah and if Emo hadn't scored a last gasp winner yesterday we'd have been 14th, below Bolton, one place above Liverpool and just 2 points above the relegation zone.

Goals are eligible whatever point in the 90 minutes they are scored.

Your argument is meaningless, we won, end of.