[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[tony gale's mic]

I still maintain we should have gone for Laudrup/ten Cate ahead of anyone else in the summer, including Sam, despite the fact I made this very thread supporting him replacing Ince in mid-November.

[malk]

I didn't want him either and feel a little silly about it now. I thought we were in such a stable position we could take a bit of a risk on someone to push us on the tiny bit we had to go but I was pretty bloody wrong.

Allardyce went up again in my estimation with his frank interview after the weekend's game. Nice to see a manager hold his hands up after a defeat once in a while.

[thenodrog]

I still maintain we should have gone for Laudrup/ten Cate ahead of anyone else in the summer, including Sam, despite the fact I made this very thread supporting him replacing Ince in mid-November.

err which? We can only afford 1.

Oh and have you forgotten Bilc and Hiddink?

*raises hand*

I think after Hughes had laid the foundations to build on, I expected the board to appoint someone exotic who would raise the status of the club.

Top man Topman!

and Malk too. Very few on here are prepared to admit when they are wrong.

[tony gale's mic]

err which? We can only afford 1.

Oh and have you forgotten Bilc and Hiddink?

I think it was pretty obvious I meant either one. Bilic and Hiddink didn't express an interest. Laudrup and ten Cate did.

[thenodrog]

I think it was pretty obvious I meant either one. Bilic and Hiddink didn't express an interest. Laudrup and ten Cate did.

We were led to believe.

Point is you would have put either of those before SA then?

[tony gale's mic]

[/b] We were led to believe.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=744084

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/articl...+job/article.do (no direct quotes from agents here but it's pretty obvious there was an interest).

[thenodrog]

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=744084

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/articl...+job/article.do (no direct quotes from agents here but it's pretty obvious there was an interest).

That was quick! BUT. Neither from the horses mouth TDI. In fact both read like a touch of Nixon inspiration behind the stories.

[tony gale's mic]

Point is you would have put either of those before SA then?

Yep, I've stated the reasons in another thread previously. Both had managed at the highest level, both were fluent English speakers, ten Cate had experience of our league, both would have been ambitious managers who had proved themselves at this sort of level and in Europe too. ten Cate would have been the wise old hand if we wanted, or alternatively Laudrup would have been the promising young manager (but with MUCH more to back him up than the idiot we eventually appointed).

Reads like a touch of Nixon inspiration behind both stories.

There's a direct quote from his agent in the first one.

[thenodrog]

Ten Cate's appointment would not have disappointed me, and I was desperate for Laudrup to head off the Ince talk. Although in fairness both would have been shots in the dark by me compared to the first hand knowledge we all had of Allardyces management of a small prem club.

[tony gale's mic]

Ten Cate's appointment would not have disappointed me, and I was desperate for Laudrup to head off the Ince talk. Although in fairness both would have been shots in the dark by me compared to the first hand knowledge we all had of Allardyces management of a small prem club.

Both would have stood higher chances of taking us to the next level though IMO. And before anyone asks "what next level" - repeated top 6 finishes, possibly a top 5 finish within two years (disregarding City's money as it wasnt apparent at the time), more exciting football, more global contacts and attractive names for signings, better prospects in Europe, maybe even a cup win....

Even if they took some time to find their feet, their basic managerial skills would have seen us more than safe from the drop.

[DP]

Top man Topman!

and Malk too. Very few on here are prepared to admit when they are wrong.

Can't say I was too happy about Allardyce potential appointment last summer. I wasn't dead against it though and certainly didn't sign up to the Facebook site. I just didn't think it was the right move for the club at the time. Looking back though it was probably my heart ruling my head, but then that's football for you.

As it happens, Big Sam's come in when we've needed him most. Who knows, if (and it's still very much in the balance) we do stay up and we have a good clear out this could all work out for the better. He will have the majority backing of the supporters for the start of next season whereas without the Ince regime he might never have gained that in the first place.

Hmmm....... Williams/Allardyce conspiracy anyone?

[Amo]

Let it be said I didn't sign the tainted petition to keep Big Sam out of Ewood, but I did sign the one to get him in!

[thenodrog]

Let it be said I didn't sign the tainted petition to keep Big Sam out of Ewood, but I did sign the one to get him in!

I didn't even sign the poll on here to get Ince out!

[Hughesy]

Both would have stood higher chances of taking us to the next level though IMO. And before anyone asks "what next level" - repeated top 6 finishes, possibly a top 5 finish within two years (disregarding City's money as it wasnt apparent at the time), more exciting football, more global contacts and attractive names for signings, better prospects in Europe, maybe even a cup win....

Even if they took some time to find their feet, their basic managerial skills would have seen us more than safe from the drop.

Would of stood a chance yes, but it wasnt a given that they would succeed. Anyone without prem experience would be a risk!

Big Sam would of been the best bet in the summer. We would probably still have brad and he would of spent his money more wisely than Ince.

It will be an interesting summer with Sam in charge, if he continues his form of Diouf & Givet signings then we should be in for a bright future with a much stronger squad.

[roversmum]

In further response to the long ball debate, I remember many, many times Brad hoofing the ball up, and many of his shots being extremely cringeworthy. What we are now getting is a mixture of long balls (not all that many remembering the Fulham game) and football. If it gets us out of trouble it will do for me. Next season is next season...

[thenodrog]

........ I have to say that taking into account 1. that the fools in charge at the time sold our Number 1 playmaker without adequate replacement and that 2. Bert's absence is being felt, that I have as yet noticed NO DIFFERENCE whatsoever in the variation employed in our build up play to that of this time last year.

In all honesty and with hand on heart can you say that you have?

btw anybody can join in at this point!

In further response to the long ball debate, I remember many, many times Brad hoofing the ball up, and many of his shots being extremely cringeworthy. What we are now getting is a mixture of long balls (not all that many remembering the Fulham game) and football. If it gets us out of trouble it will do for me. Next season is next season...

Thank you Rmum. Odd but it appears that nobody else wants to pass comment on the lack of any difference of the quality of play between Hughes's teams and the team under the long ball hoofer loving Sam Allardyce. Maybe it's cos there is hardly any difference. I guess BRFC fans just like to have a moan more than most eh?

[Majiball]

To be perfectly honest as long as we stay up I don't care if we do it by getting the players without the ball to surround the man in possession and play Monty python style.

long ball, short ball, flat ball as long as it gets the job done so what? Its a style of necessity.

Once we're safe and we have some midfielders, I'll expect a change then.

I may not like the style one bit, but as long as Sam gets the job done and we improve I'll stomach it.

[thenodrog]

To be perfectly honest as long as we stay up I don't care if we do it by getting the players without the ball to surround the man in possession and play Monty python style.

long ball, short ball, flat ball as long as it gets the job done so what? Its a style of necessity.

Once we're safe and we have some midfielders, I'll expect a change then.

I may not like the style one bit, but as long as Sam gets the job done and we improve I'll stomach it.

But thats my entire point majiball....... Taking away the immense Bentley effect I have not seen any change in style between BRFC under Hughes and BRFC under Allardyce. Have you?

[Eddie]

I have. We certainly aren't as fit and I'm not talking about the number of injuries. We don't keep our shape as well and we don't keep the ball on the ground nearly as much.

It's also worth noting,that I wasn't Hughes' biggest fan for the last six months of last season. I thought the quality of our football seriously dropped off last year as well, but it was still more creative and structured than what we are doing now.

[thenodrog]

I have. We certainly aren't as fit and I'm not talking about the number of injuries. We don't keep our shape as well and we don't keep the ball on the ground nearly as much.

It's also worth noting,that I wasn't Hughes' biggest fan for the last six months of last season. I thought the quality of our football seriously dropped off last year as well, but it was still more creative and structured than what we are doing now.

I did ask you to take into account the Bentley effect. Have you?

[Eddie]

I have indeed. Our drop off under the last 6 months of last season was in part down to the fact that Bentley really had a bit of a stinker anyway.

[gumboots]

But thats my entire point majiball....... Taking away the immense Bentley effect I have not seen any change in style between BRFC under Hughes and BRFC under Allardyce. Have you?

I agree. Most of the football we've watched at Ewood over the last year or two has been hit and hope. when we've managed to get forward we've looked pretty clueless on many occasions. bentley and a fully fit and motivated Santa Cruz made a difference and a defence that knew Friedel was behind them played with more confidence but the actual footabll - no, it's not much different if you take them out of the equation.

[patrickvalery]

But thats my entire point majiball....... Taking away the immense Bentley effect I have not seen any change in style between BRFC under Hughes and BRFC under Allardyce. Have you?

Agree entirely. Its no coincidence either. Allardyce is no idiot. He has got us playing this way because its proven to work with the players we have. Hughes used to bleat on about how our football didn't get appreciated as much as it should. Well, i for one liked to agree, but rarely did i truly belive it. Hughes regime was based on fitness and hard graft. Making defensive runs which would not make the individual shine, but would make the unit hard to break down. We hit sides on the break with direct football. Hence players with creative or flamboyant tendancies were stiffled under Hughes. MGP is the prime example of this. Allardyce plays a very similar style. No point denying it. The fact is if he had taken over in August and we were sitting pretty in 7th or 8th most of the idiots on here criticising him would not be shouting from the roof tops. Give the man time. He is working with someone elses squad who are running at someone elses fitness levels. Fitness is gained in pre season and maintained throughout the season. Once games start coming thick and fast it is hard to improve fitness whilst paying the necessary attention to tactics and avoiding fatigue. If we are fortunate enough to stay up this year i think we'll see a very different side next term.

[Mozzer]

I have. We certainly aren't as fit and I'm not talking about the number of injuries. We don't keep our shape as well and we don't keep the ball on the ground nearly as much.

It's also worth noting,that I wasn't Hughes' biggest fan for the last six months of last season. I thought the quality of our football seriously dropped off last year as well, but it was still more creative and structured than what we are doing now.

is that all your bothered about?? weather the football is good enough or not not..incase you aint noticed it isnt the time to play flowing football-its about getting results-and sam allardyce is getting them-albeit he lost 3 times to the top 5..i actually think his tatics are working-not only do we look a capable defensive unit-he has pedersen who has a brilliant long throw causing havoc when we have a throw in-and samba who near enough gets the flick on nearly everyone one-its a genius idea..

stop moaning and get behind allardyce-you have to be blind to realise he aint doing a good job..

[Scotty]

It's also worth noting,that I wasn't Hughes' biggest fan for the last six months of last season.

That's hardly a surprise seeing as you never, ever, have a good word to say about anything to do with the team you supposedly support.