[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[JAL]

Eh. Except Vogel played last year and proved he was capable.

He's probably just an ass.

Big Sam said Vogels legs are running out on him as he gets older i.e. hes getting slower so he cant reproduce his skill on the pitch anymore same goes for Villanueva except drop the older bit.

[JAL]

Any key points from the night?

He said the technology he had at Bolton and Newcastle isnt present at Ewood at the moment and thats why he's currently standing on the touchline in his words, sort of leading from the front, when he gets the monitors and earpieces etc., then he'll probably move into the stands for the first half rather than stand on the touchline.

His vision for next seasons squad is he wants 18 HIGH quality players as opposed to a squad of 24 with not quite the same high level of ability.

Intimated he and John Williams turned down some very good money for Roque Santa Cruz in january but if it comes around again in the summer then Roque would probably go.

Talked about the importance of recruitment of players said if the club were safe he'd probably throw one or two youngsters into the first team, gave Aaron Doran a big mention only 17.

All in all he came across very relaxed, very positive, very knowledgeable in a wide range of issues and hinted at how he was going to improve the management and coaching staff at Brockhall in order to improve the players without giving too much away.

[No Nay Never]

He wouldnt have passed the bloody medical so your thinking is wrong.

Give the club some credit.

they didnt want to sell they didnt.

they didnt need the money so he stayed

no matter what he remains a Rovers and is still a sellable asset

I agree with that but don't think we will see the same sort of money offered in the January window, which of course would be irrelevant should we stay up (which we will). Sam half implied that if the offer comes in this summer then Roque will be away. Which I hope is true so the money will be there for Sam to put his stamp on the team.

[rover6]

Still can't stand the fact that he has no football ideals beyond scrapping for every point.

Overly physical football sucks Big Sam. No-one fell in love with football because of long throws.

The punters will let him know before the end.

[gumboots]

Still can't stand the fact that he has no football ideals beyond scrapping for every point.

Overly physical football sucks Big Sam. No-one fell in love with football because of long throws.

The punters will let him know before the end.

and I like to see my manager n the touchline. I don't know why because he may be more effective in the stands but it gives you a feeling of confidence if you know he's on the touchline

[thenodrog]

Generally (not word for word):

He is mindful of the youngsters but doesn't think it will help their development to play them in the senior team in the current situation. Mentioned Aaron Doran and Andrew Howarth in particular; is hopeful that we will pick up enough points to enable them to play a part after we reach safety, then give he will them a chance in pre-season.

Would eventually aim to have a quality squad of say 18, they are looking into ways of limiting injuries to enable this.

Roque's knee problem has gone from one knee to the other, if there is no improvement within a couple of weeks further investigation will be needed.

Dunny's achilles has also occurred in his other foot, Dunny in himself is very fit so there is obviously a problem with his bio(?) contributing to these injuries and they are trying to find out what.

His wife didn't speak to him for three weeks after he signed for Rovers and had to miss their planned Dubai trip (tic I think!)

He would like Mohammed Ali as a dinner guest, he also thought Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher would be interesting dining companions as he is very interested in politics.

He said the scouts are unsung heroes, travelling all over the place etc.

He hates matchdays and beneath his calm exterior is anything but.

He will probably revert to sitting up in the stands next season.

Loads more, there will be an edited version on Radio Lancashire tomorrow, not sure if it will be on the web broadcast.

Very entertaining evening, much enjoyed by the audience.

Crikey thats nearly word for word. Were you taking the minutes?

I have a spare ticket going for free. If anybody wants it drop me a pm before 6:00pm and I will arrange to meet you down at Ewood.

Did Waggy not ring you Neil?

[No Nay Never]

and I like to see my manager n the touchline. I don't know why because he may be more effective in the stands but it gives you a feeling of confidence if you know he's on the touchline

I thought the same before last night gumboots. Sams explanation was though when he is up in the stand he has 2 TV monitors. one running live and one with a 15 second delay. So he can get a better Idea of who is working to the full potential both In and Out of possesion. He also has the stat man up there with him so he can judge the players stats and deliver the correct half time team talk. Of course he is linked up to every member of staff down on the bench. He said there was 2 reasons he hadn't done this yet at Blackburn..

1) The technology wasn't in place.

2) He wanted to show the fans he was leading from the front line.

[gumboots]

I thought the same before last night gumboots. Sams explanation was though when he is up in the stand he has 2 TV monitors. one running live and one with a 15 second delay. So he can get a better Idea of who is working to the full potential both In and Out of possesion. He also has the stat man up there with him so he can judge the players stats and deliver the correct half time team talk. Of course he is linked up to every member of staff down on the bench. He said there was 2 reasons he hadn't done this yet at Blackburn..

1) The technology wasn't in place.

2) He wanted to show the fans he was leading from the front line.

Yes I understand the efficiency angle but it's not the same. Sometimes I think you need to see him there getting wound up about it all. It must make a difference or why is it a punishment to banish the manager to the stands?

[thenodrog]

Big Sam said Vogels legs are running out on him as he gets older i.e. hes getting slower so he cant reproduce his skill on the pitch anymore same goes for Villanueva except drop the older bit.

And he said the the same for Tugays.... as if we didn't all know that already.

RSC ... Sam said words to the effect that the club showed great strength to resist the money that was being offered but inferred that this summer would likely be a different matter. Sounded to me like a deal might have been done with RSC's and his agent.

Never mentioned MGP at Arsenal but talked at length about diving. Took edited videos of fouls on Kevin Davies and EHD to Keith Hackett (said he's in regular contact with KH) to illustrate the fact that a player who struggles and tries to stay on his feet when fouled does not get the decisions from the referees as much as those that go to ground and that THIS ineptitude by referees more than anything is the root cause of the diving tactics.

SA showed (many times) that he is a great one for statistics and said that more than 58% of Prem playeres are now foreigners. If it had been an open question session and taking into account the excellent ref at Wembley on Wed I would have asked him why the richest league in the world does not import the best referees in the world.

[LeChuck]

Bolton never lacked effort or commitment so he obviously doesn't find it a problem. As long as the supporting staff are component I can't see us having motivation problems, especially as they know Sam is monitoring their every move from the stands.

[thenodrog]

Still can't stand the fact that he has no football ideals beyond scrapping for every point.

Good in that case go and give some support to Tony Mowbray at WBA.... God only knows he needs it.

Just to suit you even more Allardyce scoffed at the thought of a club with Rovers squad taking the likes of MU and Arsenal on at a passing game, given the relative squad values.

Whatever slant you feel the need to apply in your fantasy world Rover6 that comment was completely realistic and totally honest. It's not what we all want of course but we don't make the rules and IT IS what the Champions League has left us with. Compare that to the goon who sat in his chair before.

and I like to see my manager n the touchline. I don't know why because he may be more effective in the stands but it gives you a feeling of confidence if you know he's on the touchline

I disagree gumboots. First half all managers should be in the stands. The tactics of both teams are much more apparent up there.

[thenodrog]

He said the technology he had at Bolton and Newcastle isnt present at Ewood at the moment and thats why he's currently standing on the touchline in his words, sort of leading from the front, when he gets the monitors and earpieces etc., then he'll probably move into the stands for the first half rather than stand on the touchline.

He said that the next generation of technology will see chips down the socks and in the shirt so that players performance and physical state can be relayed back to the bench and monitored with sub changes made sooner and to greater effect .............

..... (Those chips should suit Benny and Dunny .)

[JAL]

Still can't stand the fact that he has no football ideals beyond scrapping for every point.

Overly physical football sucks Big Sam. No-one fell in love with football because of long throws.

The punters will let him know before the end.

That type of question was put to him to which he replied along the lines of, 'you've got to utilise what you've got to full effect' he went on to say, you simply cant out play the Manchester United's at a passing game, its simply not possible, especially after they have spent £250m but it is acheivable to beat them via other ways.

If you think our central midfielders can play attarctive football then your on another planet rover6.

[gumboots]

Good in that case go and give some support to Tony Mowbray at WBA.... God only knows he needs it.

Just to suit you even more Allardyce scoffed at the thought of a club with Rovers squad taking the likes of MU and Arsenal on at a passing game, given the relative squad values.

Whatever slant you feel the need to apply in your fantasy world Rover6 that comment was completely realistic and totally honest. It's not what we all want of course but we don't make the rules and IT IS what the Champions League has left us with. Compare that to the goon who sat in his chair before.

I disagree gumboots. First half all managers should be in the stands. The tactics of both teams are much more apparent up there.

which is why i said I understand why they do it, but it still doesn't feel right. I'm not going to tell him how to do his job - he does it the best way he feels he can and unlike a lot, i don't pretend to know more about it than he does. However, given a choice, I'd like to see him down there

[JAL]

He said that the next generation of technology will see chips down the socks and in the shirt so that players performance and physical state can be relayed back to the bench and monitored with sub changes made sooner and to greater effect .............

He did say that also, which I found fascinating about how the future from the touchlines will take shape.

He seemed to embrace everything about the new scientific aspects of the modern game which for an older guy than myself, I found highly inspiring.

I was definitely one who didnt want Big Sam, but after listening to the guy last night I've every confidence in the man, just hope the club dont pee him off with financial restrictions on certain players he wants to bring in the future.

[JAL]

And he said the the same for Tugays.... as if we didn't all know that already.

RSC ... Sam said words to the effect that the club showed great strength to resist the money that was being offered but inferred that this summer would likely be a different matter. Sounded to me like a deal might have been done with RSC's and his agent.

Never mentioned MGP at Arsenal but talked at length about diving. Took edited videos of fouls on Kevin Davies and EHD to Keith Hackett (said he's in regular contact with KH) to illustrate the fact that a player who struggles and tries to stay on his feet when fouled does not get the decisions from the referees as much as those that go to ground and that THIS ineptitude by referees more than anything is the root cause of the diving tactics.

SA showed (many times) that he is a great one for statistics and said that more than 58% of Prem playeres are now foreigners. If it had been an open question session and taking into account the excellent ref at Wembley on Wed I would have asked him why the richest league in the world does not import the best referees in the world.

Good queston about the refs being imported, big Sam did say they've had seven years now yet the standards are still relatively poor. I share his thougths, Keith Hacking has alot to answer for.

I'd like to see the video clips he means about fouling Kevin Davies yet Davies manages to stay on his feet, a difficult one for the referee i'd have thought.

[No Nay Never]

Good queston about the refs being imported, big Sam did say they've had seven years now yet the standards are still relatively poor. I share his thougths, Keith Hacking has alot to answer for.

I'd like to see the video clips he means about fouling Kevin Davies yet Davies manages to stay on his feet, a difficult one for the referee i'd have thought.

If a player stays on his feet then the referee is surely going to play the advantage rule assuming the player or the players team still has control ??

[JAL]

If a player stays on his feet then the referee is surely going to play the advantage rule assuming the player or the players team still has control ??

You'd think so No nay never, I suppose you've got to watch it with Sam to understand what he means by it.

[den]

If a player stays on his feet then the referee is surely going to play the advantage rule assuming the player or the players team still has control ??

Fairly obvious that Sam was discussing the occassions when the player stays on his feet and dosen't have control of the ball?

[92er]

Big Sam said Vogels legs are running out on him as he gets older i.e. hes getting slower so he cant reproduce his skill on the pitch anymore same goes for Villanueva except drop the older bit.

Vogel didn't seem that slow last year-surely he can't now be slower than Grella?-and he didn't miss as many matches due to injury as Grella.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I think there must be more to it than Vogel being deemed too slow, from what I saw last season particularly in the United game he was superb and he showed signs of being able to do a job. With a full preseason under his belt I was expecting him to play a contribution this season, with an injury plagued midfield and a club fighting for survival his experience could have helped even if that was just a bench role.

Perhaps something has happened in the background that we don't know about or never will know about, I just don't buy into Sam's reasoning or excuse.

[RevidgeBlue]

Sam was quite clear that in his view neither Carlos nor Vogel were up to the physical demands of the Premiership and inferred Vogel's legs had gone. (as had Tugay's). I can't see any reason not to take that at face value.

It was a fantastic evening, Sam is a brilliant speaker, and if his teams played half as well as he spoke, we'd be swapping places wioth Manchester United.

He was also amazingly candid I thought, effectively writing off Gallagher (didn't know anything much about him) Derbyshire - can't afford to carry a player who scores and does little else these days - (wonder where that leaves Benni?) Tugay and Vogel (legs have gone) and Carlos (not up to the physical demands of the Premiership either)

Re: Dunn, Sam said he was a fantastic player but at the moment they coudn't get him fit for a prolonged period. He said Dunny was in terrific physical shape but his biometrics (body shape and make up etc.) were causing him these injury problems. He said getting to the root of his problems was a major challenge for his staff. He also said he Dunn loved the Club and you should appreciate those sort of players as there aren't many of them about.

When asked if he would still be here after the summer if we went down he just said emphatically "yes".

He clearly isn't in favour of signing British players feeling they are over-priced. He said if you dip down into the Divisions you will be quoted 3-6m for a Championship player and 1-2m plus add ons for a Div 1 player and he feels that represents far too much of a gamble for a Club our size.

Re: the MGP long throw etc. he feels you have to make the best of the assets or advantages you have and he thinks that is the most accurate long ball available anywhere.

Described his managerial style as "winning football."

Hopes we can challenge for Europe and get to the odd Cup final occasionally in future, beyond that he sees it as not being particularly realistic.

Said he left Bolton because he wanted to take them onto the next level by challenging for 4th etc. but the owners didn't want to invest. Said they ended up signing David Thompson on a free who was very much at the wrong end of his career and he felt he he had to leave. (Can't see him not running into similar problems here on that basis.)

All in all a very enjoyable evening and very successful from the Disabled Supporters Club point of view. A big thank you to Sam, the Club and all who attended.

Hope the players perform as well tomorrow lunchtime as Sam spoke last night.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I'm curious, did he mention Judge at all?

Doing well at Plymouth and highly regarded by some friends of mine as someone that could make the step up to premier league football. The few times i've seen him myself he looks a decent prospect.

[RevidgeBlue]

I'm curious, did he mention Judge at all?

Doing well at Plymouth and highly regarded by some friends of mine as someone that could make the step up to premier league football. The few times i've seen him myself he looks a decent prospect.

No - he did specifically mention Aaron Doran who at 17 was a lot younger than many of the others on the fringes but he inferred he was looking the most impressive. He said he'd like to introduce some of the yougsters to see if they can hack it at Premiership level but doesn't feel he can do it in our present situation. Said he'd be able to have a look at them pre season or possibly if we were safe before the end of the season. Said ideally you'd like to bring the youngsters in if they were good enough because it saves buying people in.

[CAPT KAYOS]

Derbyshire - can't afford to carry a player who scores and does little else these days - (wonder where that leaves Benni?)

Que? - he scores goals - that's his job

Sorry but I don't like that - if a player does what he is then where's the problem.

Roberts is a destructor but doesn't score many goals - so where's the difference?

Santa is a goalscorer but doesn't play many games now.

Robinson is a keeper but doesn't come to collect many crosses.

Sorry crap answer and more to it than just that.

Still worries me that he is relying on stats and prozone instead of what is happening in regards to the stats in the actual game.

If he's a winning man - why 7 defenders against Arsenal? (don't give me that was all available as it wasn't)