[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[John]

Is anyone suggesting we should be doing better than this?

That is the key question. Taking a realistic view, we are doing well. We also need to take into account the teams we have played.

With some of the current views/feelings on here, you would think we are bottom of the table!

[Tris]

Well the current tactics have delivered the best home record at this period in the season since we got back in the top flight, what does that say about our past managers?

So, the Ince or Sam question Tris?

I suspect Hughes delivered an equally good home record by November in one or two of his seasons - and by combining it with a decent away record and an effective way of getting results which was far easier on the eye (and by actually playing his expensive star signings) - didn't alienate the fans along the way.

Neither, thanks.

I do sense what Tris does about the unhappy fans at Ewood and I reckon a big drop in ST sales could well be on the way.

I differ with Tris though on the causes. Yep, there's not too much to get excited about with the performances, but the apathy of the fans is not entirely down to the manager, - it's more to do with the inequality in the league. Not too long ago, clubs could always have hope of getting something from the top four clubs, home or away. Now, no-one gets points from them, unless they get really lucky. The top four now expect to win every game against all the clubs outside those elite clubs, home and away. Not only that, they expect to win those games every season, not just in a good year. The rest only have thier own little relegation battle to play for, - every year.

It's killing the game and the powers that could do something about it, wont.

The league hasn't become like it is today overnight Den. It was the same last year and the year before. We've managed to attract new fans into Ewood knowing full well what the league is like, so if apathy is spreading then I don't think that is the reason for it. Unfortunately, we also have to deal with the current top 5 all still to visit Ewood Park.

[den]

The league hasn't become like it is today overnight Den. It was the same last year and the year before. We've managed to attract new fans into Ewood knowing full well what the league is like, so if apathy is spreading then I don't think that is the reason for it. Unfortunately, we also have to deal with the current top 5 all still to visit Ewood Park.

Outside the top four, gates have been dropping for some time now. Falling season ticket sales at Ewood were arrested by pretty much giving them away last summer. Sales and attendances would almost certainly have fallen after last season if it weren't for the price reductions. That can't be entirely laid at Allardyce's door.

[Eddie]

I'm not the best placed to comment on this as I don't get to many games and don't have a great feel for the views of people in Blackburn itself, but I would imagine that people want to be entertained. At the root of it we watch football because we like watching it, after that comes a loyalty to a team. If you don't enjoy the spectacle then it's hard to maintain an interest in a club. As an example of sorts: this is why I watch la liga football, but generally avoid serie a. If we continue with this "football by numbers" nonsense we will drive away all but the most hardened of supporters and eventually we'll get to them too.

I know that some will respond to this with "you should have seen us in 400bc and the terrible stuff we watched during the ice age". Well, it's now and we're an established premier league club, we spend a reasonably large amount of money (relative to world football) and yet we can't put together a side capable of stringing together a few passes? We leave our best goalscorer on the bench. Persist with a player almost every fan knows isn't good enough. Have Diouf in a seemingly undroppable position. I could go on.

Even with the "expert" at the helm, if we keep playing like this we will go down eventually. We'll do it terribly as well.

Neutrals are starting to dislike us. I did always feel that under Souness and Hughes we got a fair amount of respect from other premier league fans (for the most part). Most people I ran into thought we were a good club and wanted us to do well, of course not at the expense of their own. Now we are just an Allardyce team. That isn't a positive.

[G Somerset Rover]

Eddie I do agree with you for the most part, but you must also remember that under Hughes we got the 'bully boys' tag. Wenger & co. got us so much bad press for a season or so. Not that we or I cared because we ruffled the big boys feathers big time.

Granted now we seemed to be hated by most without having the 'bully' aspect which is solely down to the majority of non-Rovers supporting fans disliking Allardyce and our route one approach.

[ABBEY]

So, the Ince or Sam question ?

none

[S15]

Brilliant Abs. What is it then, the Souey/Tugay dream team? How do you reckon Souey would do without a hefty shopping budget with these players?

Probably very similar to how he did at the end of his last reign.

[ABBEY]

the end included silverware and regular euro footy???? far more impressive than hughsey as well...2nd only to king kenny in the modern era.

soey,tugs,grayson,guillit,king kenny,

[S15]

I loved Souness and still do but to bring him back now would be like King Kevs Messiah reappearance he pulls every now and then.

Gullet? Come on. Daglish? Really? Tugay/Grayson? Totally unproven. Our last big risk didn't pay off.

[ABBEY]

GUILLIT= sexy footy....king kenny ,why not (a lot of scousers want him instead of rafa) and the gamble before ince wasnt that bad tho was it.

[tcj_jones]

On the season ticket / attendance debate, I honestly think that the only factors that matter enough to drive people away are home form and overall league position, not the manner in which points are accrued.

I guess we'll have to wait and see, but that's my own personal opinion.

[Amo]

Isn't this topic about our resident striker? Surely most of this can go in Big Sam's own topic?

GUILLIT= sexy footy....king kenny ,why not (a lot of scousers want him instead of rafa) and the gamble before ince wasnt that bad tho was it.

Wow. You've lost it, mate.

Ruud Gullit - Who couldn't manage LA Galaxy successfully?

King Kenny - Who's been out of the managerial loop for over ten years?

Tugay - He's not even a qualified coach, let alone experienced manager!

Grayson - Yet to prove himself at the top level. Ince-esque gamble.

Souness- Love the man, but would he start where he finished?

[Stuart]

I must admit i am worried about the Kalinic signing. I think Allardyce went against his usual policy and it looks like it may have backfired. I think it's very rare a club like Rovers find a hot young striker at that kind of money and get it bang on. Even Sir Alex has a very mixed record with buying youth from abroad.

I think we would all agree that Alex Ferguson is a better manager than Sam Allardyce, and over the past decade Ferguson has wasted a lot of money on young players which haven't come off, the biggest difference is of course he has more leeway to do this with the lack of financial support the manager of Blackburn Rovers is going to get compared to the manager of Manchester United.

I would have preferred Allardyce to get a safe/older head in up front, and have used that £6m (which I'm sure as of right now is closer to that amount until he makes a certain amount of appearances/scores a certain amount of goals) to strengthen the midfield.

However, had he have done this, certain supporters would have complained about that transfer policy (experienced heads).

I think Allardyce's biggest strength as a manager is getting the most out of talented players. Much more so than spotting the next big thing. Perhaps if some of our support would give our manager the comfort and space to go with his natural instincts and work to his strengths, everyone will benefit.

I know Bolton did.

Good post shillito - you must have been due one!

I think we need a bit of patience here.Once we get to 40 points (which has to be our first priority)then hopefully Kalinic can get some games under his belt before the end of season without any pressure on him.

I don't think we have much option but patience to be honest, bacup.

[S15]

I resent that; The quoted post is just as lousy as usual.

[broadsword]

I loved Souness and still do but to bring him back now would be like King Kevs Messiah reappearance he pulls every now and then.

Gullet? Come on. Daglish? Really? Tugay/Grayson? Totally unproven. Our last big risk didn't pay off.

Mr Allardyce might be our least worst option right now (or he might not be ...) but that doesn't mean we have to like it.

[mellison24]

Mr Allardyce might be our least worst option right now (or he might not be ...) but that doesn't mean we have to like it.

This isn't a dig at you specifically, but some of us DO like Sam Not me so much, I think he's doing a good job, but theres something i dont like about him. (Possibly a resemblance to churchill the dog). But those who don't like him as our manager don't have to like it....but you have to lump it. He's the best we can get and the best option for us at this moment in time.

[47er]

the end included silverware and regular euro footy???? far more impressive than hughsey as well...2nd only to king kenny in the modern era.

soey,tugs,grayson,guillit,king kenny,

No----the end was absolute certain relegation. Luckily Newcastle rescued us and paid money for the dubious privilage . Souey would be a disaster. What you're really saying is anyone but Allardyce. Let's not pretend there are all sorts of people out there better able to run our club.

[Stuart]

I resent that; The quoted post is just as lousy as usual.

[broadsword]

I'm noty liking it, but I'm trying to lump it.

I find his personality a massive turn-off, it's like having Darth Vader as manager, but i really don't have any say in things.

[patrickvalery]

This isn't a dig at you specifically, but some of us DO like Sam Not me so much, I think he's doing a good job, but theres something i dont like about him. (Possibly a resemblance to churchill the dog). But those who don't like him as our manager don't have to like it....but you have to lump it. He's the best we can get and the best option for us at this moment in time.

To be honest we have been unfortunate in terms of the last two appointments. The candidates available to us when Ince got the job were severely limted. We managed to pick the worst of a bad bunch. Not sure any of the names mentioned at the time would have been a revelation. Ultimately when Allardyce got the job we were further restricted. OK, John Williams seemed intent on getting Sam onboard, but there were few options of much note otherwise. Especially considering we were reluctant / unable to court someone employed at the time.

Also believe this was the case with Kalinic too. I know we essentially had the entire planet to scout from. But with our finances and time elapsed, we took a punt on a young lad with a bit of potential. I'm in no doubt that he was not on the shortlist once Santa Cruz left. Sam said he needed to bring in someone who could hit the ground running. Clearly Kalinic does not fit the bill. But things change and with the Di Santo move in place perhaps Sam felt the £6m was a good price for a player of promise.

When i saw his yotube clips i was worried. To me he seemed to lack sufficient ball control to suceed in England. He made hard work of scoring in a very poor league. But i'm encouraged by what we've seen thus far. He seems to have a first class attitude. He has worked hard and when he's had his chances he's looked assured and has (imo) improved each time. I understand the frustration at not seeing him perform to the level you'd expect of our most expensive signing in years. But i'm more than happy to give him time. He could be vital in the season run in.

[mellison24]

I dont really like HIM too much either if i'm honest. But i do think he's what we need. He's just doing what hughes did imo. The only difference being that Hughes had played for us. Sam will get us up there. I'd say we could be (COULD be) europa contenders next season. My guess anyway. Have faith all!

In terms of kalinic, i agree patrickvalery. He'll come good VERY soon at the rate i've seen. His lay off for BenniMac, his GOAL against ManYoo. Both good signs. He also played well (albeit best of a bad bunch) against fulham and chelski! He WILL come good.

[Paul]

I do sense what Tris does about the unhappy fans at Ewood and I reckon a big drop in ST sales could well be on the way.

I differ with Tris though on the causes. Yep, there's not too much to get excited about with the performances, but the apathy of the fans is not entirely down to the manager, - it's more to do with the inequality in the league. Not too long ago, clubs could always have hope of getting something from the top four clubs, home or away. Now, no-one gets points from them, unless they get really lucky. The top four now expect to win every game against all the clubs outside those elite clubs, home and away. Not only that, they expect to win those games every season, not just in a good year. The rest only have thier own little relegation battle to play for, - every year.

It's killing the game and the powers that could do something about it, wont.

The league hasn't become like it is today overnight Den. It was the same last year and the year before. We've managed to attract new fans into Ewood knowing full well what the league is like, so if apathy is spreading then I don't think that is the reason for it. Unfortunately, we also have to deal with the current top 5 all still to visit Ewood Park.

I'm not the best placed to comment on this as I don't get to many games and don't have a great feel for the views of people in Blackburn itself, but I would imagine that people want to be entertained. At the root of it we watch football because we like watching it, after that comes a loyalty to a team. If you don't enjoy the spectacle then it's hard to maintain an interest in a club. As an example of sorts: this is why I watch la liga football, but generally avoid serie a. If we continue with this "football by numbers" nonsense we will drive away all but the most hardened of supporters and eventually we'll get to them too.

I know that some will respond to this with "you should have seen us in 400bc and the terrible stuff we watched during the ice age". Well, it's now and we're an established premier league club, we spend a reasonably large amount of money (relative to world football) and yet we can't put together a side capable of stringing together a few passes? We leave our best goalscorer on the bench. Persist with a player almost every fan knows isn't good enough. Have Diouf in a seemingly undroppable position. I could go on.

Even with the "expert" at the helm, if we keep playing like this we will go down eventually. We'll do it terribly as well.

Neutrals are starting to dislike us. I did always feel that under Souness and Hughes we got a fair amount of respect from other premier league fans (for the most part). Most people I ran into thought we were a good club and wanted us to do well, of course not at the expense of their own. Now we are just an Allardyce team. That isn't a positive.

If someone was to take these three posts they could be turned into a very good summary of the ills of the modern game. I'll have to admit I'm no longer classified as a real hard -core fan according to Parson Blue and those of a similar opinion, this despite 27 years of continuous STs, often 4 per season, and only missing a home game in any competition for the kids Christmas party and the Ipswich semi-final of the FMC. This season I have stopped going to meaningless cup games like Wednesday's and even chose to do other things ahead of a PL game.

Why?

1. The PL is utterly uncompetitive

2. We are satisfied with survival

3. Teams fielding weakened sides in cup games

4. Massive over-exposure of the game

5. We have sold every player bar one that I feel any affinity with

6. We sign has beens and wannabes nobody has heard of

7. We no longer attempt to beat the bigger sides

8. We rest players to aid our survival

9. We buy players for £6m to sit on the bench

10. Anyone who criticises is held up to be some sort of second rate fan

11. 4-5-1 at home

12. The expert effectively tells us all to shut up 'cos he knows best

13. Spanish has-beens who shouldn't be in the county let alone the club

I can't think of a single reason to go to the Chelsea game. It'll be cold, we'll play 4-5-1 and bore ourselves to death before losing. I'm constantly told this is the BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD, in which case why is it full of rubbish footballers, living in Wilmslow who travel to Lancashire 3-4 times a week to train for 90 minutes and probably don't even know where Blackburn town centre is.

If it's so frigging brilliant, this best league in the world, why is the football generally speaking so awful to watch? Please don't give me all this proper supporter garbage. There is nothing left for us now other than to enjoy watching the game which means entertainment not 4-5-1 with half the first-team missing and our supposed star striker left out because he belongs to the opposition. It's a joke.

If John Williams wants my money on Wednesday tell the manager to go out and try to win. Simple. Entertain me because after all we are constantly told we are watching the greatest show on earth.............I have news for you guys at the top, the game is losing real fans and is incapable of understanding why.

There was a time, not many years back, when Chelsea in the quarter-finals was a big game. No longer.

[mellison24]

If someone was to take these three posts they could be turned into a very good summary of the ills of the modern game. I'll have to admit I'm no longer classified as a real hard -core fan according to Parson Blue and those of a similar opinion, this despite 27 years of continuous STs, often 4 per season, and only missing a home game in any competition for the kids Christmas party and the Ipswich semi-final of the FMC. This season I have stopped going to meaningless cup games like Wednesday's and even chose to do other things ahead of a PL game.

Why?

1. The PL is utterly uncompetitive

2. We are satisfied with survival

3. Teams fielding weakened sides in cup games

4. Massive over-exposure of the game

5. We have sold every player bar one that I feel any affinity with

6. We sign has beens and wannabes nobody has heard of

7. We no longer attempt to beat the bigger sides

8. We rest players to aid our survival

9. We buy players for £6m to sit on the bench

10. Anyone who criticises is held up to be some sort of second rate fan

11. 4-5-1 at home

12. The expert effectively tells us all to shut up 'cos he knows best

13. Spanish has-beens who shouldn't be in the county let alone the club

I can't think of a single reason to go to the Chelsea game. It'll be cold, we'll play 4-5-1 and bore ourselves to death before losing. I'm constantly told this is the BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD, in which case why is it full of rubbish footballers, living in Wilmslow who travel to Lancashire 3-4 times a week to train for 90 minutes and probably don't even know where Blackburn town centre is.

If it's so frigging brilliant, this best league in the world, why is the football generally speaking so awful to watch? Please don't give me all this proper supporter garbage. There is nothing left for us now other than to enjoy watching the game which means entertainment not 4-5-1 with half the first-team missing and our supposed star striker left out because he belongs to the opposition. It's a joke.

If John Williams wants my money on Wednesday tell the manager to go out and try to win. Simple. Entertain me because after all we are constantly told we are watching the greatest show on earth.............I have news for you guys at the top, the game is losing real fans and is incapable of understanding why.

There was a time, not many years back, when Chelsea in the quarter-finals was a big game. No longer.

I agree with most of this. Especially the 'losing real fans' part. I think one thing you forgot to add is the fact that football is nearly a non-contact sport. I wont accuse you of not being a real fan (as I have no right to do so), but I will pledge my support to the rovers no matter what. I'd urge many to do the same. It is we the fans who can turn the game around, but we cannot. What happened to the dream that football would be for the fans a couple of years ago? What happened to the original plan for football to be a man's game? It's heading south atmo. I sometimes wish I could go to the 50's and 60's or even simply the 70's or 80's. Past football seems much more magical than what we see today.

[bazza]

Would I rather watch Di Santo or Frank Lord? Would I rather watch El Hadji Diouf or John Aston? Would I rather watch Morten Gamst Pedersen or Terry Shanahan? Would I rather watch Jason Roberts or Bryan Conlon? With all due respect Tris, things are nowhere near as bad as you make out. There have been far darker times at Ewood Park than today and although gates fell to 5,000 and less, the real hard core stuck with the club just like they will today.

Big wake up call for me. I take your point. I will try to appreciate the Rovers players more, starting on Wednesday. However see below:-

I sometimes wish I could go to the 50's and 60's or even simply the 70's or 80's. Past football seems much more magical than what we see today.

Past football was, to me, more magical; even the old third division stuff. Is that a sign that football as a "sport" has become worse or is it that I have become older and yearn for yesteryear?

I can understand Paul becoming disillusioned. I now go to Ewood and sit there quietly, watching the paint dry.

Actually Terry Shanahan was on loan and wasn't too bad a player

[Fife Rover]

Isn't this topic about our resident striker? Surely most of this can go in Big Sam's own topic?

Wow. You've lost it, mate.

Ruud Gullit - Who couldn't manage LA Galaxy successfully?

King Kenny - Who's been out of the managerial loop for over ten years?

Tugay - He's not even a qualified coach, let alone experienced manager!

Grayson - Yet to prove himself at the top level. Ince-esque gamble.

Souness- Love the man, but would he start where he finished?

Right on all points Topman. And to which I would add: Which of the managers in that list (assuming we could persuade them to come) would do any better or even as well as Allardyce with the present budget for signings? None of them would even look at trying it (imo).