[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[Zulu]

I don't see any reason why a Rovers manager would leave for Bolton, or vice versa, as long as we are both in the top flight. We are very similar sides. I do find it amusing when fans of either clubs try and suggest their club is "bigger" than the other. If we have a non-identical twin knocking around anywhere, it is at the Breezeblock. Unless one side suddenly had a big war-chest or one got relegated, it does not make sense.

This.

In spades.

[47er]

Hey? He took them to fifth- twice playing excellent football, Idont recall where they were when he left but I do remember the fans being very upset with his sacking.

Let me help you. They were in the relegation zone with one win in their first 10 games and that was against Derby! This was despite spending 40M (worth considerably more than today).

[Zulu]

If I were you I'd be more concerned about coming up with someone to replace Coyle when he does find a club that matches his ambitions.

Yes, that's a given. Well done!

Doesn't solve your current dilemma though, does it?

[Mattyblue]

'matches his ambition' is such a euphemism for our time. In other words who ever gives him more money to spend on players?

John Williams always said n'ever mistake our lack of spending power for lack of ambition', unfortunately John that attitude gets you nowhere!

[Majiball]

With Bolton sitting pretty in 6th with 3 points over 7th, I don't see Coyle leaving anytime soon.

He could never have become our manager, he was a dingle and would never have been accepted by all. Its a pointless discussion.

Sam's here he's done alright so far and despite what some of us think he deserves his chance to spend a few million and see if he can push us further up the table. We then take stock at the end of the season and see where we want to go. But he has to get these signings right and given its January that won't be easy, but it is doable.

For this though the owners need to let him choose who he wants and not try and force players upon him, as is being reported. I hope they don't do this as one of the main traditions we are currently lauded for in the game is letting the "big man" get on with his job how he wants too. That is a highly attractive proposition to any manager in the game.

[Mattyblue]

With Bolton sitting pretty in 6th with 3 points over 7th, I don't see Coyle leaving anytime soon.

He could never have become our manager, he was a dingle and would never have been accepted by all. Its a pointless discussion.

Sam's here he's done alright so far and despite what some of us think he deserves his chance to spend a few million and see if he can push us further up the table. We then take stock at the end of the season and see where we want to go. But he has to get these signings right and given its January that won't be easy, but it is doable.

For this though the owners need to let him choose who he wants and not try and force players upon him, as is being reported. I hope they don't do this as one of the main traditions we are currently lauded for in the game is letting the "big man" get on with his job how he wants too. That is a highly attractive proposition to any manager in the game.

Taking Coyle from Burnley was not on the agenda at that time, but the fans would certainly not have been against it.

If we had have been managerless and we had nicked Burnley's brightest star in decades we would have absolutely loved it! Cementing the Dingles place as our subordinates.

[Majiball]

Taking Coyle from Burnley was not on the agenda at that time, but the fans would certainly not have been against it.

If we had have been managerless and we had nicked Burnley's brightest star in decades we would have absolutely loved it! Cementing the Dingles place as our subordinates.

I see your angle but I honestly couldn't see 100% of the fans being happy with it.

£10.00 quid says ABBEY would never accept it.

[Mattyblue]

I see your angle but I honestly couldn't see 100% of the fans being happy with it.

£10.00 quid says ABBEY would never accept it.

Maybe not, but I bet he would have got people onside quicker than Sam ever has with some of the fanbase.

[Majiball]

Maybe not, but I bet he would have got people onside quicker than Sam ever has with some of the fanbase.

Most likely. I like Coyle I think he's done a great job so far at Bolton, he's got them playing decent football with a good balance. They can play it simple and be direct when they need too, their a good team. He's also got Elmander firing and hasn't really spent a lot of money doing it.

[chris]

very true, still be interesting to see him prove himself over a few years, he got Burnley up (who went down) and he built on the Bolton squad nicely, some key players are still from the Big Sam's era.

He could end up like George Burnley though.

[Hughesy]

He's also got Elmander firing and hasn't really spent a lot of money doing it.

Maybe not...but they have got £90m+ debt hanging over them.

Hopefully they could soon lose Cahill to balance the books abit...and then with abit of luck Elmander will leave for free in summer.

[RevidgeBlue]

One of Sam's major faults in my opinion is that he doesn't seem to treat all games as being of equal importance and an opportunity to win three points. He seems to prioritise games into winnable and less winnable fixtures and treats them accordingly which in my view makes it far more likely you're going to get humiliated from time to time as we have just been at Old Trafford and to a lesser extent at White Hart Lane. That's simply not acceptable imo, you have to fight tooth and nail to get a result in EVERY game not just the "winnable" ones.

It's difficult to think the new owners will view Saturday's result with much enthusiasm. Is Sam doing a good job? We're so poor away from home I gave up bothering to travel to away games at the start of last season and now can't even be bothered wasting ninety minutes watching it in a Pub on foreign TV. That can't be good.

Also, approaching the half way point in the season we sit a point behind newly promoted sides West Brom and Blackpool (operating on a fraction of our budget in Blackpool's case) whilst both of those teams seem able to play attractive football and combine it with the same sort of results as ours at the same time.

So whilst we can all acknowledge that the previous owners left the squad dangerously bereft of quality,I don't think Sam is doing anywhere near as miraculous a job as he would have us believe. Is it too much to expect organisation and genuine determination and some ambition away from home? I'm still far from convinced he won't take us down this season.

[Majiball]

Maybe not...but they have got £90m+ debt hanging over them.

Hopefully they could soon lose Cahill to balance the books abit...and then with abit of luck Elmander will leave for free in summer.

Eye, they have a lot of debt but Coyle has hardly spent a penny. Bolton looked like going down before he came along and now they are 6th with a 3 point gap.

Its not dissimilar a position to the one Sam took us over in.

[chris]

One of Sam's major faults in my opinion is that he doesn't seem to treat all games as being of equal importance and an opportunity to win three points. He seems to prioritise games into winnable and less winnable fixtures and treats them accordingly which in my view makes it far more likely you're going to get humiliated from time to time as we have just been at Old Trafford and to a lesser extent at White Hart Lane. That's simply not acceptable imo, you have to fight tooth and nail to get a result in EVERY game not just the "winnable" ones.

It's difficult to think the new owners will view Saturday's result with much enthusiasm. Is Sam doing a good job? We're so poor away from home I gave up bothering to travel to away games at the start of last season and now can't even be bothered wasting ninety minutes watching it in a Pub on foreign TV. That can't be good.

Also, approaching the half way point in the season we sit a point behind newly promoted sides West Brom and Blackpool (operating on a fraction of our budget in Blackpool's case) whilst both of those teams seem able to play attractive football and combine it with the same sort of results as ours at the same time.

So whilst we can all acknowledge that the previous owners left the squad dangerously bereft of quality,I don't think Sam is doing anywhere near as miraculous a job as he would have us believe. Is it too much to expect organisation and genuine determination and some ambition away from home? I'm still far from convinced he won't take us down this season.

its not unusual for newly promoted teams to have a bit of a honeymoon first half to the season, I'd imagine Blackpool will do well to finish 16th 17th this season.

Maybe based on the fact we were the "LOWEST" spending team in the transfer window and have sold assets such as Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Warnock, Bentley over the last 3 years or so, results in Sam not having full confidence in his team.

A decent investment will help Sam get to where he wants to be quicker.

But he still might have to do gamble purchases will either turn out to be a big star Santa Cruz or flop Grabbi.

I think Sam would consider games of more equal importance if we had better players. Roberts is our best striker and Sam would love to sell him, because he's only the best as the rest are poor and we sold our talented strikers.

[philipl]

Fair points from Rev. Would it be more honest of Sam to do a Holloway or a McCarthy and make 10 or 11 changes for games we stand little chance in?

Fair point re Blackpool but remember where Hull were this time two seasons ago in Holloway's achievement is put into perspective. WBA have played being a yoyo team to perfection financially and have actually invested significantly in their team this summer- they are now set up to be a PL fixture.

[MarkBRFC71]

Roberts is our best striker and Sam would love to sell him, because he's only the best as the rest are poor and we sold our talented strikers.

Didn't someone spend (waste?) £6m on a misfiring, barely scouted Croatian?

Who was that then?

[chris]

Didn't someone spend (waste?) £6m on a misfiring, barely scouted Croatian?

Who was that then?

Much like Grabbi.

Still Sam was going to have a hard time replacing Santa Cruz.

I guess when Sam had money at Newcaslte he bought a few misfiring players too.

but he did get Anelka on the cheap.

[Steve Moss]

Didn't someone spend (waste?) £6m on a misfiring, barely scouted Croatian?

Who was that then?

I don't think that is completely fair to Kalinic. I think he's got a bagful of talent, he works hard and will be a big plus to our squad. Especially if Sam can reinforce the supply line.

[broadsword]

I remember Sam wittering on about Kalinic during his first season.

Somethign about him being here for 4 years, should be judged over 4 years, needs to be blended in, don't expect too much, too soon.

Well, it's been 18 months so far, I think. If he doesn't start scorign this season, it's gonna need a pretty spectacular last 2 years of his contract.

[Gav]

One of Sam's major faults in my opinion is that he doesn't seem to treat all games as being of equal importance and an opportunity to win three points. He seems to prioritise games into winnable and less winnable fixtures and treats them accordingly which in my view makes it far more likely you're going to get humiliated from time to time as we have just been at Old Trafford and to a lesser extent at White Hart Lane. That's simply not acceptable imo, you have to fight tooth and nail to get a result in EVERY game not just the "winnable" ones.

It's difficult to think the new owners will view Saturday's result with much enthusiasm. Is Sam doing a good job? We're so poor away from home I gave up bothering to travel to away games at the start of last season and now can't even be bothered wasting ninety minutes watching it in a Pub on foreign TV. That can't be good.

Also, approaching the half way point in the season we sit a point behind newly promoted sides West Brom and Blackpool (operating on a fraction of our budget in Blackpool's case) whilst both of those teams seem able to play attractive football and combine it with the same sort of results as ours at the same time.

So whilst we can all acknowledge that the previous owners left the squad dangerously bereft of quality,I don't think Sam is doing anywhere near as miraculous a job as he would have us believe. Is it too much to expect organisation and genuine determination and some ambition away from home? I'm still far from convinced he won't take us down this season.

Just about sums things up for me, nothing new here but all spot on.

Its interesting that some of the long standing supporters don't bother going away these days.

I love a good away trip, but not whilst Allardyce prioritise games like he does, my £100 going to Bolton is staying in my pocket. I'm just not willing to take a chance on Allardyce going there for a 0-0 draw, he treats the fans with contempt in my book with such an approach.

I remember Sam wittering on about Kalinic during his first season.

Somethign about him being here for 4 years, should be judged over 4 years, needs to be blended in, don't expect too much, too soon.

Well, it's been 18 months so far, I think. If he doesn't start scorign this season, it's gonna need a pretty spectacular last 2 years of his contract.

Simply not good enough to play the loan striker role, the sooner Allardyce sees that the better.

[MarkBRFC71]

I don't think that is completely fair to Kalinic. I think he's got a bagful of talent, he works hard and will be a big plus to our squad. Especially if Sam can reinforce the supply line.

I agree he's a good player, but I don't think we'll see the best of him until either he moves elsewhere, we spend big on supporting players or we get another manager who isn't as tactically rigid as BFS.

He's a player we should be building the team around and playing to the strengths of, instead of trying to make him into Kevin Davies - especially given how much we paid for him.

[MarkBRFC71]

One of Sam's major faults in my opinion is that he doesn't seem to treat all games as being of equal importance and an opportunity to win three points. He seems to prioritise games into winnable and less winnable fixtures and treats them accordingly which in my view makes it far more likely you're going to get humiliated from time to time as we have just been at Old Trafford and to a lesser extent at White Hart Lane. That's simply not acceptable imo, you have to fight tooth and nail to get a result in EVERY game not just the "winnable" ones.

It's difficult to think the new owners will view Saturday's result with much enthusiasm. Is Sam doing a good job? We're so poor away from home I gave up bothering to travel to away games at the start of last season and now can't even be bothered wasting ninety minutes watching it in a Pub on foreign TV. That can't be good.

Also, approaching the half way point in the season we sit a point behind newly promoted sides West Brom and Blackpool (operating on a fraction of our budget in Blackpool's case) whilst both of those teams seem able to play attractive football and combine it with the same sort of results as ours at the same time.

So whilst we can all acknowledge that the previous owners left the squad dangerously bereft of quality,I don't think Sam is doing anywhere near as miraculous a job as he would have us believe. Is it too much to expect organisation and genuine determination and some ambition away from home? I'm still far from convinced he won't take us down this season.

Spot on for me Rev, sums up my thoughts exactly. BFS is no guarantee of safety, just as a change in the manager would not guarantee relegation as some would have you believe.

[Mattyblue]

BFS is no guarantee of safety, just as a change in the manager would not guarantee relegation as some would have you believe.

Under Trust ownership, JW believed that Allardyce with his track record was the best optionto keep us away from relgation- he was not ensuring it as nobody could guarantee that with our squad and then finances. After Ince, gambles on the likes of Holloway could not be attempted.

Now under Venky's the outlook may be different and therefore such a safety first approach may be changing.

[Mattyblue]

double post!

[Mattyblue]

triple post