[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[gazsimm]

  Eddie said:

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.

Eddie at the moment, it's not about trying to play attractive sexy football, it's about getting the right results and trying to save our premership status. I don't care how we play as long as we stay up this season.

[den]

  gazsimm said:

Eddie at the moment, it's not about trying to play attractive sexy football, it's about getting the right results and trying to save our premership status. I don't care how we play as long as we stay up this season.

That's the bottom line Eddie.

Next season should be different. Allardyce hopefully will have had the closed season to bring in some new faces and we might see a move towards what he wants. Style doesn't matter at all now Eddie.

[John]

  Eddie said:

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.

Great to be ambitious with your comments but you also have to be realistic. With severe financial contraints, there is always going to be a major element of 'ugly' football in our play (if we are to get results and that is the ultimate aim at this moment in time).

[dingles staying down 4ever]

I suggested there was little difference between Sam's style of football and Hughsies' during the summer after MH left. Unfortunately it is not just those who have adopted these tactics. 80% of the premiership football served up has been similar. Liverpool adopt the style at the start of most games especially in Europe. Villa, Everton both teams recently been to Ewood and both have served up similar tatics. They are not fighting for survival so whats their excuse? The Special One's teams are built similarily whilst having some of the World's best players. Why?

The answer is that football is a results industry and it helps to limit goals conceded. If you don't concede you don't lose. The style served up by most premiership managers is a variation of statistical football that the likes of Wilko, Graham Taylor and even Everton under Kendall to some degree where the ball was given to the full backs and they were asked to aim for Andy Gray who would hold the ball and then play off him. Rovers under Dalglish also used to aim long down the channels for Shearer, Sutton and Newell to run into.

Sky TV cash for positions means that every team has something to lose by concedeing goals thus more teams have adopted the must not concede mentality. All have adopted Pro Zone to look at all aspects of the game so all details are analysised and dissected. All players are coached the same way as well as all coaches are forced to have attended the same course, except paul Ince. Team uniqueness is a thing of the past, possibly with the exception of Arsenal.

Sam's football is no worse than Hughes or 90% other premiership managers.

[Paul Mellelieu]

  dingles staying down 4ever said:

I suggested there was little difference between Sam's style of football and Hughsies' during the summer after MH left. Unfortunately it is not just those who have adopted these tactics. 80% of the premiership football served up has been similar. Liverpool adopt the style at the start of most games especially in Europe. Villa, Everton both teams recently been to Ewood and both have served up similar tatics. They are not fighting for survival so whats their excuse? The Special One's teams are built similarily whilst having some of the World's best players. Why?

The answer is that football is a results industry and it helps to limit goals conceded. If you don't concede you don't lose. The style served up by most premiership managers is a variation of statistical football that the likes of Wilko, Graham Taylor and even Everton under Kendall to some degree where the ball was given to the full backs and they were asked to aim for Andy Gray who would hold the ball and then play off him. Rovers under Dalglish also used to aim long down the channels for Shearer, Sutton and Newell to run into.

Sky TV cash for positions means that every team has something to lose by concedeing goals thus more teams have adopted the must not concede mentality. All have adopted Pro Zone to look at all aspects of the game so all details are analysised and dissected. All players are coached the same way as well as all coaches are forced to have attended the same course, except paul Ince. Team uniqueness is a thing of the past, possibly with the exception of Arsenal.

Sam's football is no worse than Hughes or 90% other premiership managers.

Here endeth the lesson. Amen.

[Majiball]

  thenodrog said:

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?

Direct, Physical, not really. We played similar football when Hughes took over as well.

So in answer, no not really except for when we had savage, reid, bender and Gamst flying then we played some good stuff.

As long as Sam can get in a bit more quality we will adopt a better style. But at the end of the day as long as Sam moves us forward I don't care how he does it, as long as he does.

[T4E]

  Majiball said:

So in answer, no not really except for when we had savage, reid, bender and Gamst flying then we played some good stuff.

IMO we played most of our best football under Hughes when we had Bellamy in the team.

[Cocker]

  Tugay4England said:

IMO we played most of our best football under Hughes when we had Bellamy in the team.

You could also say that Bellemy played his best football when he was in our team

[Majiball]

His pace and skill made a huge difference. 2005-06 great year so close to the champions league.

[waggy]

  den said:

That's the bottom line Eddie.

Next season should be different. Allardyce hopefully will have had the closed season to bring in some new faces and we might see a move towards what he wants. Style doesn't matter at all now Eddie.

will style matter next season

[roversmum]

I think it will be crucial. I'm planning to wear blue and white (sorry, Waggy, couldn't resist that!)

Guess we will have to wait and see, but it would be nice to get back to winning ways and go from there, it seems so long since that undefeated run we had last season.

[den]

  waggy said:

will style matter next season

Style is the wrong word Waggy.

Certainly an improvement in the home performances is long overdue.

[Flopsy]

  Tugay4England said:

As far as acting decisively to axe Ince - are you kidding? It was atleast 2 games too late.

this is the main issue to tugs, it meant he lost a bet to me, whichhhe still hasnt paid btw

[gumboots]

I think like most I'd like to see good football being played by us, but that doesn't mean to say i want it now. for now I'll settle for effective, and for the record i don't like watching Arsenal style football either. Football should be skilful but it should also be energetic and robust, with strong fair challenges and a fair amount of physical contact. I don't want to sanitise it so players are afraid to go in for a tackle. Arsène Wenger would have us believe that only his team are allowed to commit fouls - everyone else who tries the more physical approach is a bully. Football is not ballet; it's not even primarily designed to be entertainment, although that shouldn't stop it being entertaining. At the moment the style of our play matters less than our results. Next season I'd like to see the balance swing a bit the other way, but not too far.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Who cares if we play ugly, long ball football this season? If it keeps us up then i don't see the problem.

If we end up playing a similar style next season then its a valid point and one that should be discussed.

[T4E]

  Flopsy said:

this is the main issue to tugs, it meant he lost a bet to me, whichhhe still hasnt paid btw

Ah give it a rest you massive great bender.

[CAPT KAYOS]

  Mozzer said:

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..

I know I haven't seen them as much this season ... but have I missed something here because I can't recall this happening?

[modes98]

  Mozzer said:

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..

I don't think we've scored from one yet have we? Not that I am complaining, I think it's always a good weapon to have, but should be used every now and then rather than every throw. Especially in the last minutes of games when your trying to throw everything at them.

[Hughesy]

Hopefully next season Sam can improve our squad and then make Ewood a fortress. Im pretty sure that if we became more or less unbeatable at home that it would soon improve gates and atmosphere.

We also really need to inject some pace into our attacking play - that is something we have lacked since god knows when!!

[gumboots]

  Hughesy said:

Hopefully next season Sam can improve our squad and then make Ewood a fortress. Im pretty sure that if we became more or less unbeatable at home that it would soon improve gates and atmosphere.

We also really need to inject some pace into our attacking play - that is something we have lacked since god knows when!!

Bellamy?

[Hughesy]

Yeah he is probably the last one we had, and for a long enough time prior to him. His pace made a real difference.

I love fast attacking football, and at the moment our attack is so obvious that it gives opposing teams time to get back and usually stop the move.

[Hughesy]

Good article about Big Sam here

[allrovertheworld]

Maybe this should be posted in the West Ham thread, but it relates to Big Sam's tactics. I know we are fighting for our lives and I am happy to have Sam as manager and like the way he plays. But today we used the long throw too much. I am all for a long throw every now and then and when you are chasing a game. But today it got silly. It was so predictable, and all we got from it was scrappy balls and snatch shots ( sounds like a porno that one). Nothing clean and direct.

I would have liked to see us use the throws to make space for Diouf down the wing for him to whip some crosses in. Also I feel putting so many players in the box left us exposed in midfiel and at the back.

Its the only part of Sams play that I don't like and I got pretty bored wtaching it.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

The throws are more efficient than corners at times, he gets much more dip and accuracy with them. We just need to practice them in training and work out a routine so they cause maximum mayhem.

[LDRover]

The football under Allardyce is utter bilge...end of.

But if it gets us enough points to stay up, I'll live with it...not sure if it will based on today though.