[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Presumably we all post on here because we love Rovers and have the club's best interests at heart but constantly criticising a proven and successful manager to the extent that he should leave is a strange way of going about it. If the takeover does not happen I get the feeling Allardyce will leave of his own accord anyway but until then he deserves all our support.

I've posed this question before but I'll ask the anti-Allardyce brigade again: suggest a better manager who is 1) available 2) cheap 3) experienced 4) could be guaranteed to keep Rovers in the PL ?

Over to you Abbey, Waggy and Gav.

[Blue blood]

I'm getting fed up with the quality of our play too, we can't pass the ball well at all at the minute. That said we are nowhere near needing to get rid of Allardyce. We are currently 9th in the table, and while it can be argued that we were lucky to get three points yesterday, we probably deserved more than we got against Arsenal and Birmingham.

On balance you have to say that there are no candidates out there who would not represent a major risk. Allardyce is here until results go sour or he gets a new job. I am happy to see how it develops for now.

The takeover, imo, is not going to happen. I know nothing more about it than what I have read here, but my gut feeling is that something doesn't stack up. So I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Spot on, top post. Not 100% sure about the takeover not going through (think we can't afford for it not to) but the rest sums up our situation perfectly. Sam is doing a good-ish job, but at the cost of attractive football. Since there is no-one better suited to managing us at the moment Big Sam and all his faults, and all his good points too, is here to stay.

Things could be better. But they could be a lot, lot worse.

[sweet]

I have full confidence in Allardyces managerial ability. I also expect alot of people to be quite surprised come the end of the season. I fully expect us to improve upon last years position.

[jim mk2]

Didn't you do exactly that when Souness was in charge?

I

Yes, and I was proved right when the club slowly sunk to the edge of the abyss under Souness. Same with Ince.

There is no reason to change manager at present, nor do I expect there to be with or without change of ownership of the club.

No manager is perfect (United and Arse fans complain about their managers) but Sam is good for Rovers.

[Exiled in Toronto]

I've posed this question before but I'll ask the anti-Allardyce brigade again: suggest a better manager who is 1) available 2) cheap 3) experienced 4) could be guaranteed to keep Rovers in the PL ? I'll give you the answer - he doesn't exist.

Under the existing ownership regime, those are indeed the criteria that would limit the managerial field, and I would add a fifth: needs to rehabilitate himself and hence would come to a club with no money. Slim field indeed in those circs.

But Allardyce certainly will not be sacked under the current regime as they wouldn't pay him off and he is keeping us up, which seems to be their only goal. Whether he would leave of his own accord is an interesting question. Personally, I can't see a club with higher ambitions than us wanting him; maybe someone deep in trouble at Xmas would be tempted, but then he's just back where he started: a fireman where no-one cares how the fire gets put out.

Should the mythical takeover ever happen though, the criteria will surely change. Not necessarily currently unemployed, not necessarily cheap, experienced and good enough to take Rovers onwards and upwards will be more like it, and that opens up a much wider field.

[tony gale's mic]

I'd be over the moon with seeing some actual football, played on the ground, and the odd trip to Europe. That's not too much to ask is it?

The "odd trip to Europe" is rather a lot to ask these days when there's more clubs in the league spending tens of millions than there are actual European slots.

Yes, and I was proved right when the club slowly sunk to the edge of the abyss under Souness. Same with Ince.

There is no reason to change manager at present, nor do I expect there to be with or without change of ownership of the club.

No manager is perfect (United and Arse fans complain about their managers) but Sam is good for Rovers.

To be fair Souness was a very good manager for our club. One or two costly bad signings and the end of his tenure was terrible but what he achieved before that was fantastic, with promotion, the League Cup win, getting us to 6th place and signing Tugay and Friedel all massive.

[MarkBRFC71]

The "odd trip to Europe" is rather a lot to ask these days when there's more clubs in the league spending tens of millions than there are actual European slots.

To be fair Souness was a very good manager for our club. One or two costly bad signings and the end of his tenure was terrible but what he achieved before that was fantastic, with promotion, the League Cup win, getting us to 6th place and signing Tugay and Friedel all massive.

Which is why, should we become one of those clubs, we need the right manager. We did it under Hughes on a small budget, it's not unreasonable to think we could do it again if there's any truth in the monetary figures being bandied about, and with the right man at the helm. Is that Allardyce?

I agree about Souness - our best manager since King Kenny? Although it did go spectacularly t*ts up in a very short time at the end of his reign. Newcastle could not have timed it better!

[1864roverite]

What job would Sam actually be considered for currently ?

England ? Might get an interview if lucky.

Current top 4 (clubs) - Chelsea, manure, Arsenal and City ? NO chance.

Second tier teams - Spurs, Liverpool, Everton and Villa ? NO chance.

I am afraid that after the above teams are dealt with, there is not a team better or bigger than the Blackburn job. Sure, there are better supported clubs but playing platform wise no-one else can offer better than Rovers.

Wham may pay a bigger wage but please, do you think the dildo twins will sack Grant and come knocking ?

UNLESS Rovers implode he is here to stay, even with a cash influx. Should this supposed takeover materialise, then Rovers have an established team that only needs minor additions, not a complete overhaul.

We saw yesterday his reaction to the winning goal, clearly he cares. He doesnt always get it right but neither do the players. The lashers wouldnt have scored if it hadnt been for MGP dawdling yet we had the fright of our lives until EMO turned in the winner. We also saw how together we supporters are because it was a bloody good atmosphere in our end compared to the silence of the main stands.

Sometimes its ugly, sometimes its awful lets just get on with it for the time being.

[jim mk2]

Should the mythical takeover ever happen though, the criteria will surely change. Not necessarily currently unemployed, not necessarily cheap, experienced and good enough to take Rovers onwards and upwards will be more like it, and that opens up a much wider field.

The criteria might change but after his achievements of the past 2 seasons Allardyce would deserve the chance to show what he can do with money to spend.

[Yorick]

To be fair Souness was a very good manager for our club. One or two costly bad signings and the end of his tenure was terrible but what he achieved before that was fantastic, with promotion, the League Cup win, getting us to 6th place and signing Tugay and Friedel all massive.

Souness would have been a legend if he'd gone to Spurs when they were nosing around after him 2 seasons before he left. As it was I'm convinced he would have taken us down that final season.

[Yorick]

The fickleness of football fans is not restricted to the rovers fans and Sam Allardyce. The full time whistle was greeted with a chorus of boos at the Emirates and the Birmingham crowd despite them going one full year without defeat at St Andrews spent much of the second half chanting 4-4-2 in the direction of Alex McLeish.

[roversmum]

I sometimes think we get carried away with the media view of the type of football we play. We usually mix it up, but all you get is 'crick in the neck stuff'- not least from those who should know better, and lazy journalists. Sometimes people only see what they want to see and not what is actually happening.

[eire3382]

I have been reading this message board for quite some time and have always been content to just read. But I am sick of hearing that we have the worst manager in the history of football (from some members) and that our football is simply hoof ball. We are a club with little or no (more likely) money to spend and have a manager who has kept us competitive in this league under these conditions. He came to the club and managed to fix the mess of the previous idiot and succeed at keeping us up against all odds. Then in his second season we finished in the top half. What more do people want? We haven’t got the players to play like Arsenal and the job of any manager is to get the best out of what you have. Is that not exactly what Sam has done? I am not saying everything he has done has been right but even the top managers have their failings. If this take over goes through then I believe he deserves a chance to show what he can do and who knows he may well surprise some around here.

Just judge the man fairly is all I am really saying. End of first ever post!!!!!

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I sometimes think we get carried away with the media view of the type of football we play. We usually mix it up, but all you get is 'crick in the neck stuff'- not least from those who should know better, and lazy journalists. Sometimes people only see what they want to see and not what is actually happening.

Totally agree - too many Rovers fans are driven by the perception rather than the reality. I found it interesting watching Football First after going to the Blackpool match. I know they are only edited highlights - but do show that we do play football. The move that lead to Jones heading against the legs of the keeper was superb - and there were other moments when the ball wasn't just hoofed. I think over 90 minutes people concentrate on certain aspects of our game - depending on their viewpoints. Personally I think we could play more football - but also agree that it is pointless stringing together 10 passes to only give away the ball - when a long ball from Robinson gets you straight into the attacking third. We just need to mix it up a bit more - and yesterday there was signs of that. Though there is a huge difference between the current side and the one that won the EPL - our style of football in winning the EPL was essentially direct - though granted with more finesse than the current side.

[S15]

I sometimes think we get carried away with the media view of the type of football we play. We usually mix it up, but all you get is 'crick in the neck stuff'- not least from those who should know better, and lazy journalists. Sometimes people only see what they want to see and not what is actually happening.

Best post in this thread.

[47er]

Which is why, should we become one of those clubs, we need the right manager. We did it under Hughes on a small budget, it's not unreasonable to think we could do it again if there's any truth in the monetary figures being bandied about, and with the right man at the helm. Is that Allardyce?

I agree about Souness - our best manager since King Kenny? Although it did go spectacularly t*ts up in a very short time at the end of his reign. Newcastle could not have timed it better!

We "did it" under Hughes with a relatively small budget but we didn't do it and couldn't have done it with no budget at all. That's why he left.

[Miker]

I have been reading this message board for quite some time and have always been content to just read. But I am sick of hearing that we have the worst manager in the history of football (from some members) and that our football is simply hoof ball. We are a club with little or no (more likely) money to spend and have a manager who has kept us competitive in this league under these conditions. He came to the club and managed to fix the mess of the previous idiot and succeed at keeping us up against all odds. Then in his second season we finished in the top half. What more do people want? We haven’t got the players to play like Arsenal and the job of any manager is to get the best out of what you have. Is that not exactly what Sam has done? I am not saying everything he has done has been right but even the top managers have their failings. If this take over goes through then I believe he deserves a chance to show what he can do and who knows he may well surprise some around here.

Just judge the man fairly is all I am really saying. End of first ever post!!!!!

Nice first post eire. I, like you, initially joined the board and was content to just read what was being said for about a year or two but was convinced to start posting my views after a portion of this board tried to wage the Holy Crusades on Sam for reasons that were greatly exaggerated. It's always nice to add some balance to the discussions...

[neekoy]

Nice first post eire. I, like you, initially joined the board and was content to just read what was being said for about a year or two but was convinced to start posting my views after a portion of this board tried to wage the Holy Crusades on Sam for reasons that were greatly exaggerated. It's always nice to add some balance to the discussions...

How crazy is it you guys joined up one day apart

[Steve Moss]

Sam's a decent manager who is producing results. I suggest that we all take a deep breath and wait until December before we call for his head. To the extent that there are problems, he'll adjust and we'll be fine.

[CrazyIvan]

How crazy is it you guys joined up one day apart

I basically said the same thing in another thread. It's time some people started watching rather than ranting.

[Stuart]

We have owners who have been good for the club - particularly in terms of security (the Trust) - but this has waned recentl due to their desire to sell.

We have a manager who has been good for the club - particularly in terms of security (keeping is in the league on a shoe string) - but this has waned recently due to his desire to tell everyone that he's better than Rovers!

If this kind of thing doesn't divide fans' opinion, nothing will.

Let's just keep the personal jibes to a minimum during debates though, eh?

[S15]

Nice first post eire. I, like you, initially joined the board and was content to just read what was being said for about a year or two but was convinced to start posting my views after a portion of this board tried to wage the Holy Crusades on Sam for reasons that were greatly exaggerated. It's always nice to add some balance to the discussions...

You joined a different board to the one you were reading then.

However, I personally think rescuing Rovers from the Ince epidemic should have been enough to win the fans over, but for some reason they can't see past his Bolton past and this garbage image journalists have created (the same journalists we love to slag off and say have an agenda against our club).

Frankly, it's all a bit ridiculous. How a guy can take you from five points adrift at the bottom (at Xmas) to finishing tenth (same kinda positing Hughes had us) whilst spending less on players than the amount we've received but still have fans on his back?

Because some fans have an agenda of their own. There isn't a sentence summing up Allardyce's reign here that would make him sound anything less than successful.

[riverside returns]

Allardyce has done a good job on limited resources. Given the position from where he started, to get to where we are now is exceptional adding in the lack of funds, the sale of good players and the constant negativity of press and a large section of the support.

At the moment, he is the best manager for the job. It will be the responsibility of the new owners (should it ever happen) to decide if he is the best manager at that time.

The football played, in my opinion, is improving year on year and we are now starting to play more football on the ground. We cannot expect to play like Arsenal or Utd as this is unrealistic given the funding on players and infrastructure over many years.

[Amo]

Just curious, but where has anyone actually called for his head?

[S15]

Just curious, but where has anyone actually called for his head?

Read the thread an you'll see. Plenty of people have said ''it's time for him to go.''