[Archived] Nicko

[bonerdude]

A badly chosen team today that has to recover in the 2nd half AND Mcdonald may be the Interim on Wednesday.

At least when he was in charge for the few games when sam was in hospita the players had some fight in them.

[tony gale's mic]

I think the board are playing this one correctly at the moment. None of us can reasonably say that Sam should have been sacked by now, however equally this is around the time that things need to be said to the manager.

But the problems are two-fold and for all the people desperate to see the back of Sam these are questions that noone has come close to answering.

1) The cost of sacking Sam and his team, and

2) Who would replace Sam.

Additionally the problem is that the first issue impacts on the second issue as it restricts any wage package/transfer budget we can offer the new manager. Also if we're to keep Sam we need to give him some money to spend on reinforcements.

Either way the trust is going to have to put up some cash. However apart from Hughes who I very much doubt would come I haven't seen a single name mentioned who I think would want to come and who I'd be confident in being able to turn things round. We appointed Sam because we were confident that he'd turn things round for us, and at the time he was the right appointment and did so fairly comfortably. There's no such names on offer right now though.

[Bobby G]

I would rather back the manager with some funds IF HE ADDRESSES THE PROBLEMS which he has yet to do so till date. Sam isnt stupid.

Unless we have someone like Hiddink lined up which wouldnt happen in a million years.

Our options are limited. Everyone would pose a big gamble and truly we may be worse off than otherwise if we sack Allardyce.

[American]

I think the board are playing this one correctly at the moment. None of us can reasonably say that Sam should have been sacked by now, however equally this is around the time that things need to be said to the manager.

But the problems are two-fold and for all the people desperate to see the back of Sam these are questions that noone has come close to answering.

1) The cost of sacking Sam and his team, and

2) Who would replace Sam.

Additionally the problem is that the first issue impacts on the second issue as it restricts any wage package/transfer budget we can offer the new manager. Also if we're to keep Sam we need to give him some money to spend on reinforcements.

Either way the trust is going to have to put up some cash. However apart from Hughes who I very much doubt would come I haven't seen a single name mentioned who I think would want to come and who I'd be confident in being able to turn things round. We appointed Sam because we were confident that he'd turn things round for us, and at the time he was the right appointment and did so fairly comfortably. There's no such names on offer right now though.

Well, if they say the backroom staff is keen, I wouldn't be adverse to Bowen showing what he can do as the man in charge.

[1864roverite]

Bowen is on record as saying he is happy to be a number 2 and didnt have ambitions to be a manager.

[John]

Bowen is on record as saying he is happy to be a number 2 and didnt have ambitions to be a manager.

When the Norwich job became available, when he was assistant here, sure he said he would like the a number 1 in the future.

Anyway, big risk attached to appointing someone who has never managed before.

Completely agree with tony gale's mic post.

[tony gale's mic]

Well, if they say the backroom staff is keen, I wouldn't be adverse to Bowen showing what he can do as the man in charge.

Because this club has never had their fingers burnt by appointing good assistants before?

[Mozzer]

the way i see things - unless hughes said he would definatly come back i dont think sacking allardyce would be a good idea

i mean realistically who else could we get who is better ??

allardyce knows the premierleague , knows how to work on a limited budget - so im all for him staying ...

[American]

Because this club has never had their fingers burnt by appointing good assistants before?

And been burnt by hiring trophy-winning lower-league managers, and experienced Premiership managers.

What does that leave us, being that many other clubs have been burnt by hiring foreign managers?

[Ray-Von]

Bowen was gleefully telling all the Radio Stations/Press how happy he was when he got the nod with Hughes at City and how they had been actively looking for something bigger and better for the previous six months.

Now he is crawling round for a return? No thanks.

[Amo]

What does the board have against non-British managers, anyway?

[Bobby G]

I guess they see it as a risk for the manager to be given time to fit into the football culture. Especially at the midway point.

[Steve Moss]

What does that leave us, being that many other clubs have been burnt by hiring foreign managers?

Stuart Pearce. I know that some don't rate him, but Capello thought he was good enough to manager Englands U-21s. And he was right, Pearce took the U21s to the finals last year and semis the year before.

Or Ricky Sbragia as a caretaker manager/short term contract.

[tony gale's mic]

And been burnt by hiring trophy-winning lower-league managers, and experienced Premiership managers.

What does that leave us, being that many other clubs have been burnt by hiring foreign managers?

Hiring good assistants has very rarely turned out to be anything other than a disaster for the majority of clubs, whereas the other three options have worked for clubs to varying degrees of success. No other club apart from us though was stupid enough to appoint someone who'd done well three divisions below us.

And I'd say that hiring experienced Premiership managers hasn't been a bad option for us - Souness worked and so did Sam initially - they both achieved their initial objectives with ease - though Souness had prolonged success afterwards whereas Sam isn't doing so well.

Now however we don't have any realistic alternatives and you suggesting Mark Bowen only serves to highlight this point.

[Bobby G]

Would people be against Souness for a 6-month stint? Or lets put it this way would you rather Souey or Sam stayed?

[MeanGreenMachine]

Both Pearce and Sbragia are truley woeful managers.

Lower league manager - Billy Davies

Foreign manager - Laudrup

Tried and trusted - Sparkey on a short term deal

We haven't got a bad side, they are just playing to their weaknesses and not their strengths! Get the ball down and play 442 and results will improve.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Stuart Pearce. I know that some don't rate him, but Capello thought he was good enough to manager Englands U-21s. And he was right, Pearce took the U21s to the finals last year and semis the year before.

Or Ricky Sbragia as a caretaker manager/short term contract.

Both bad options imo.

I just can't see a decent candidate out there. If Sam goes we are looking for someone who has experience with relegation battles + winning them and can work on a very small budget.

Forget Hughes, he won't come plus we shouldn't want him back after his behaviour.

Would people be against Souness for a 6-month stint? Or lets put it this way would you rather Souey or Sam stayed?

Big fan of Souey and he overall did a brilliant job for us, but i wouldn't want him back. If he came in he would either kick some arse and get the side battling for their survival, or lose the dressing room and lead us to certain relegation.

[greggyk]

Would people be against Souness for a 6-month stint? Or lets put it this way would you rather Souey or Sam stayed?

Christ...are those the only two options??...erm.....Get Brian Kidd back!!!

[my_name_is_Earl]

Now however we don't have any realistic alternatives and you suggesting Mark Bowen only serves to highlight this point.

I'm sure there are many options out there. The board just need to do their research. The argument that there is no obvious replacement suggests that you're not thinking outside of the box enough.

If sam was to go, we'd be looking for someone to maintain our league status who can mix up the tactics a bit and play to the strengths of the team. Surely, we're not asking for too much there? Even Brian Laws kept the dingles playing to their strengths yesterday and i bet im not the only one who watched the highlights thinking that they could have won that one.

[Bobby G]

I dont know what it is but I always have this nostalgic tendency towards Souness' reign. He was taking the ship down but he gave us some of the best football we have played in the past decade, and our most successful moment in recent history, not to mention taking us to the brink of Champions League football literally to the last day of the season.

I doubt he has the passion for it still though.

[my_name_is_Earl]

I just can't see a decent candidate out there. If Sam goes we are looking for someone who has experience with relegation battles + winning them and can work on a very small budget.

At the end of the day, I don't think we'd be anywhere near a relegation battle if we had been playing to the strengths of the squad from the start of the season. I believe, 100%, that if we reverted back to playing to the strengths of the squad, we'd easily get out of trouble this season.

Sam is not the answer, we need to think bigger and better guys.

[deftangel]

WEDNESDAY - Sam wants to know more about the story in paper, big talks all round, told results need to improve, he says he wants money for new players [preferably young and with re-sale value] which will be run by the Trust.

Herein lies the rub. A large part of the reason for the mess we're in now is that Sam is trying to play his style of football with players who are unable or just plain not up for it. Does backing him mean getting the players who can play hoofball effectively? Because I can't see how that's compatible with addressing the decline in attendances. (which reading between the line seems to be a big part of the concern)

I wouldn't immediately jump to this conclusion because Sam's signings on the "young" front haven't been all that bad. Nzonzi, Kallinic, Hoilliet and Di Santo on loan would get in most people's team today.

Which is why I find it strange. Why sign these players in the first place if you want to play hoofball? Is it a complete lack of faith in midfield? Why not buy the centre mid it's been obvious we need then?

I hope in the meeting with Sam they asked him exactly what he's trying to do with the team and got a satisfactory answer. If they're making this decision Tuesday then today's performance may be instructive. He we attempt for once in our lives to play a whole game without resorting to hoofball it might be quite telling.

[otto man]

Just remember Bobby.....Nostalgia aint what it used to be!

[PAFELL]

If the board decide the stick with sam then they do need to back him fanancially. Questions need to he asked about the need for signing 3 rightbacks when we were crying out for a centre mid though. Give him the cash to fill that void now and we might just be ok. One decent signing could make our season, the league is that tight. It's all well and good moaning about our strikers not scoring but they need the chances.

I do not think money alone is the answer - as I think Sam has totally lost the plot with regards to tactics etc. One thing about Bolton when Sam was there, was that they had a go a teams. Ironically Phil Brown was with Sam during that time. Sam and Brown parted company. Hull City do have a go at teams under Phil Brown. Sam went to Newcastle, had money yet messed up. Sam is at Rovers and he is messing up again, the team sits back, hoofs the ball up front etc. I am beginning to wonder how much influenced Sam was by Phil Brown when they were both at Bolton. Becasue sine they parted company, any team Sam has managed without Phil Brown he has messed up.

Before anybody says anything I am not saying Phil Brown is the answer. But it just seems to be a coincidence that this is happening.

[RibbleValleyRover]

At the end of the day, I don't think we'd be anywhere near a relegation battle if we had been playing to the strengths of the squad from the start of the season. I believe, 100%, that if we reverted back to playing to the strengths of the squad, we'd easily get out of trouble this season.

Sam is not the answer, we need to think bigger and better guys.

Not sure i agree. I think many are overestimating the quality of our squad.