[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[USABlue]

Dan's question stands, who and when. I don't recall loads of games, or any at the moment. He just looks to me like a player that needs to play facing goal rather than always with his back to it. He is not physically strong enough yet and gets zero favours from officials on the fouls. PLay Benjani alongside or Pappa Diouf. Sam played Diouf and Benjani together so why not one of them with Niko

[den]

Dan's question stands, who and when. I don't recall loads of games, or any at the moment. He just looks to me like a player that needs to play facing goal rather than always with his back to it. He is not physically strong enough yet and gets zero favours from officials on the fouls. PLay Benjani alongside or Pappa Diouf. Sam played Diouf and Benjani together so why not one of them with Niko

At various times he's been on the park alongside Di Santo, Roberts, McCarthy, Mame Diouf and even Hoilett. He also has support even when he's the lone striker in the team. Home games in particular, midfielders do get alongside him [occassionally ]

All I'm asking [and I'm not having a go at Niko] is, how was he any different when there were two of them? The argument is that he is a better player when he has a strike partner. Please give me an example?

[philipl]

Not difficult at all........ PhilipL was dithering as usual and sensing a chenge in the wind. I was steadfast in my opinions.

http://www.brfcs.co.uk/mb/index.php/topic/19503-everton-preview/page__view__findpost__p__661750

Thats only the Everton thread. I'd imagine that I was just as committed to my opinion on the Ince thread too.

Incidentally I was proven right in just 3 short months. Waggy is 2 years down the line and his objections are sounding increasingly feeble and definitely personal. Any logic has been abandoned long ago. Take note though one day his time will indeed come but thats the way with football.

I suggest you go and look up the word "if" in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Not everyone is as block-headed as you are.

[DanLad]

You've never seen Kalanic on the field at the same time as another striker?

Did I say that? No.

You've provided the names of players who you allege have played up from with Kalanic loads of times. I don't recall these players partnering Kalinic loads of times. Please tell me when these loads of times have occurred. If it's loads of times, I'm sure you will be able to provide a substantial list.

[den]

You've never seen Kalanic on the field at the same time as another striker?

Did I say that? No.

So you have seen him play with another strike partner? I mean, I've seen him when there have been three strikers on the pitch at the same time, I assume you have as well? Did he look a bigger threat, or a better player in this/these games? If Niko is a better player with a strike partner, then someone must have seen this when he has had one, albeit as a starter, or during games when the substitutes have come on.

In my view, Niko is Niko, whoever else is on the park - whether there are one, two or three strikers with him.

It's no big deal either way, just a point of view and I'm not going to fall out about it.

[Amo]

How come if you bash Sam it's an "agenda", but your constant critique of Kalinic is fair game?

[Al]

How come if you bash Sam it's an "agenda", but your constant critique of Kalinic is fair game?

Actually I see where Den is coming from.

Kalinic doesn't score goals. Isn't a target man, doesn't create chances for others and doesn't hold up the ball. In my opinion he has had plenty of chances and doesn't appear to be any better than the day he arrived.

I have held an open mind for a long time but sadly I am now of an opinion that we have wasted £6mil. He is not a youth player any more and at 22 he may improve a little but I fear not much more. I honestly don't know what to do with him. It's hard to admit that you have thrown that much money down the drain.

[Amo]

Actually I see where Den is coming from.

Kalinic doesn't score goals. Isn't a target man, doesn't create chances for others and doesn't hold up the ball. In my opinion he has had plenty of chances and doesn't appear to be any better than the day he arrived.

I have held an open mind for a long time but sadly I am now of an opinion that we have wasted £6mil. He is not a youth player any more and at 22 he may improve a little but I fear not much more. I honestly don't know what to do with him. It's hard to admit that you have thrown that much money down the drain.

When a club like ours spends £6m on a player, we should build the team around them (especially a striker). I'm not saying everything is out of Kalinic's hands, but he's still a young player learning his trade in a fast-paced league. Has his development been helped by the majority of our tactics? Lobbing it forward for Kalinic to wrestle the centre-backs whilst the midfield's 40 yards behind play? I've seen enough of the guy to see he has the talent, but unfortunately we have not made the most of his ability or negotiated a system to get the best out of him. Imagine if we had someone like Bentley, who could open defences and spot a pass? Then we could see what Kalinic is like in front of goal.

So while people *cough*Den*cough* defend Sam and say he's doing the best with the players he's got, I'd make a similar case for Kalinic.

[Bobby G]

I stick to what I have always said about Kalinic. He is talented and he will MAKE it big. Whether it is at our club or even our league, that is looking less and less likely by every game. He has the Inzaghi in him and is a good player back to goal. He goes down too easily and I would love to see stats in terms of SHOTS to GOALS cause I cant recall too many chances coming his way.

[Amo]

I stick to what I have always said about Kalinic. He is talented and he will MAKE it big. Whether it is at our club or even our league, that is looking less and less likely by every game. He has the Inzaghi in him and is a good player back to goal. He goes down too easily and I would love to see stats in terms of SHOTS to GOALS cause I cant recall too many chances coming his way.

7 shots on goal this season, according to NBC.

[den]

So while people *cough*Den*cough* defend Sam and say he's doing the best with the players he's got, I'd make a similar case for Kalinic.

Sam is doing the best he can with the players he's got Topman - you think we should have done better than a top ten place, from a relegation situation - and be in a position now, whereby if we win tomorrow we'll go above Aston Villa? You disagree?

As for saying Sam should build a side around one of the poorer performers in the team - well glad you're not managing us. You build a team around your best players surely.

The difference between me and you, is that you have made your mind up about Allardyce and his hoofball, and blame Kalanic's shortcoming on him as well. The truth is that Sam has done well so far, while Niko hasn't.

Seems like one of us has an agenda and one just tells the truth.

EDIT: You're right on one thing though Topman, I do get into this Kalanic thing too often, so, for that reason, I'm out.

As for your Sam agenda, you'll have to sort that out yourself.

[Amo]

Sam is doing the best he can with the players he's got Topman - you think we should have done better than a top ten place, from a relegation situation - and be in a position now, whereby if we win tomorrow we'll go above Aston Villa? You disagree?

I think Sam is doing a decent job, but there are many times when he's his own worst enemy.

As for saying Sam should build a side around one of the poorer performers in the team - well glad you're not managing us. You build a team around your best players surely.

If Sam has enough faith to pay £6m for Kalinic, he should be looking to make the most of his investment. We're not a club who can afford to write off that kind of money. If Kalinic can't play as a target-man, shouldn't Sam have done his homework on the player first?

The difference between me and you, is that you have made your mind up about Allardyce and his hoofball, and blame Kalanic's shortcoming on him as well. The truth is that Sam has done well so far, while Niko hasn't.

I believe Sam should bear the responsibility for Kalinic, yes. Don't you?

Seems like one of us has an agenda and one just tells the truth.

Very gracious of you.

[den]

Very gracious of you.

I've edited above Topman. I'm done for now.

[den]

.......apart from one thing Topman. Yes Kalanic has had a difficult task, asked to play on his own up front. In fact, if you want to look back through this very topic Topman, you'll see that from very early days I was arguing against quite a few folk, I was saying that he couldn't play the lone striker, while they were saying I was against the lad and of course he could. How odd now, that the main thrust is from people arguing that he shouldn't be used in this way.

That is strange.

[JMillZz]

.......apart from one thing Topman. Yes Kalanic has had a difficult task, asked to play on his own up front. In fact, if you want to look back through this very topic Topman, you'll see that from very early days I was arguing against quite a few folk, I was saying that he couldn't play the lone striker, while they were saying I was against the lad and of course he could. How odd now, that the main thrust is from people arguing that he shouldn't be used in this way.

That is strange.

Main reason for commenting was to say it's KALINIC not KALANIC as you have been continuously spelling it.

I am not going to argue too much. I just feel that Kalinic is unfortunate as very rarely do chances come his way. And it isn't like his movement is bad. He hasn't been played up front with another striker since sometime last season. Hoilett played behind Kalinic in recent games.

Anyways this is the big sam thread...

[Amo]

.......apart from one thing Topman. Yes Kalanic has had a difficult task, asked to play on his own up front. In fact, if you want to look back through this very topic Topman, you'll see that from very early days I was arguing against quite a few folk, I was saying that he couldn't play the lone striker, while they were saying I was against the lad and of course he could. How odd now, that the main thrust is from people arguing that he shouldn't be used in this way.

That is strange.

I still reckon Kalinic could play the lone striker, but we need players who can stretch defences and also get to the byline. A lot of our play, regardless of the striker, involves them playing with their back to goal. This obviously isn't Kalinic's strength, which is why he looks out of his depth.

If we're going to play 4-5-1, we need a second-striker who can play the role. It made sense when Dunn was playing in-form, but often I question whether we'd look better with another forward up top.

[Bobby G]

7 shots on goal in about 10 or so starts this season for him says its own story. No service coming his way. Some players get that many chances created for them a game.

Our fundamental problem has been creating chances for our strikers. You could argue that both of his goals this season came from chances he created for himself.

Give him the right service and he will score. He is a poacher and an opportunist by nature.

[67splitscreen]

It's coming home, It's coming home, football's ....................... slowly. Some good stuff today I thought mixed with no nonsense clearing the lines when we needed, especially in the last 15min, when we conceded that extra 10 yards to them.

Would have liked to have seen M Diouf replace E Diouf, not that he deserved taking off he does hold the ball up well for us, he just can't get going again once he stops. ( just to see M Diouf, Hoilett and Roberts really getting at them). I know at that time we did not need to go gun ho, I just would like to see us really finish a team off in style.

Pleased we got the clean sheet.

On the whole again I'd say Sam got it pretty much spot on today.

[BuckyRover]

We are playing like we did at the back end of last season.

Great stuff

[Tom]

Good starting line up but I thought he brought Hoilett off too soon personally. He was having a good game and it left us with just the one sub which we needed to make soon after.

We played some good stuff today though at times and Roberts justified his place for sure.

[tony gale's mic]

And yet there's buffoons on here who want to see the back of the manager, despite two successful years in charge of the club..

[LeChuck]

We are playing like we did at the back end of last season.

Great stuff

I feel we can beat anybody at home when we play like that. We've started mixing it up much better over the last few games, evidenced by the increase in goals. We created a lot of chances from open play today and really should have won by more.

Absolutely no chance of us going down this year, so really it's a question of how high Sam can take us. If he can have us around this position come January, a good signing or two could even see us better last year's position.

[Tom]

I feel we can beat anybody at home when we play like that. We've started mixing it up much better over the last few games, evidenced by the increase in goals. We created a lot of chances from open play today and really should have won by more.

Absolutely no chance of us going down this year, so really it's a question of how high Sam can take us. If he can have us around this position come January, a good signing or two could even see us better last year's position.

I still wouldn't be confident enough to say that, we are certainly better equipped than most down there but this season is crazy it could be anyone from about 8 teams.

Hopefully we are on the up though and we couldn't have asked for a kinder December.

[BuckyRover]

I'm prysing for a good FA cup draw. A good run in that competition would bs very welcome.

[Amo]

I feel we can beat anybody at home when we play like that. We've started mixing it up much better over the last few games, evidenced by the increase in goals. We created a lot of chances from open play today and really should have won by more.

I wish someone would explain this to Den. Apparently we've played the same football throughout.