[Archived] BIG SAM GONE

[Mike Graham]

Modern football stinks, thank goodness I have a proper game to fall back on (Rugby League) that does not suffer from the nancy boys, cheats and chickens (sic) that are ruining football.

I did not like BFS's football...Bolton away just about summed up the hoofball cr@p we have had to suffer, never mind the away games every season at Chelsea, Arsenal, manure and Liverpool that we had "thrown" before a ball was even kicked. I did by the way respect BFS regardless of his football, which was restrained because of the cards he was played in terms of no money and inherited rubbish.

However regardless of BFS's football tactics he was a star when it came to saving us some relegation. As for his treatment at the hands of The Chickens it stinks....I want these Chickens to get the hell out of my club Blackburn Rovers and go play with something that they know about like battery farming or playing on the railways (or a railway line).

Obvious to a blind man on a galloping horse that a manager of Sam's standing neither would nor could take advice on football matters from some middle aged woman in a sari 7000 miles away whose knowledge of football is limited to buying a Man U shirt from some street trader for a couple of quid for some infant male relative.

I vote this the best and most insightfulpost of 2010.

[Montfort]

I remember the first game that I saw when Brian Kidd was present at the match. He was not meant to be in charge but only watching. However, he could not resist making his prescence felt and doing some impromtu coaching from the touch line. This was not only ineffective but confusing and disrespectful to the caretaker manager.

I can remember thinking " I hope that I am wrong, but this guy could be an idiot and a disaster". I have exactly the same feeling now.

[alexanders]

A little bit rough Preston.

If you had bought a company which had a division leader or project leader who always thought about only ONE WAY to do stuff and had no desire at all to change his ideas you probably would look around after a new project leader yourself. Even IF it was a correct way of doing it and you made money, but you didnt win any market shares or new customers. Your plan was to exceed the business and grow steadily - you need new innovative ideas.

I agree he saved us from the relegation fodder, but the football has been very boring at times.

[philipl]

@drog's posts are adding nothing to this conversation and are just showing him up to being a numbskull.

Posted the LT story in the dawn of a new era thread.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Having read the Telegraph we are now in deep ****. I wasn't a fan of Sam but if you're getting shut of someone like him you need a replacement lined up. To wait 2-3 months for a replacement with our poor squad is suicide. It seems pretty obvious that they have no money and little, if any credibility.

Fuming!

[Blueandwhitemike]

Unbelievable!

Disgusting and disgraceful... One of the worst days in over 20 years of supporting the club.

Like his football or not Big Sam deserved respect for the amazing job he has done at Rovers.

Negative transfer budget, no money at all in the summer, and he saves us from a likely relegation, gets us to 10th the next season, has us mid table this season, and brings through a large group of young players at the same time.

The fact that this has happened and the circumstances surrounding bring embarrassment and shame on the club. I've reserved judgement on the new owners and even been cautiously optimistic given the recent names that have been linked with us. Judge them on their actions I thought, and now this...

If I were JW I'd probably resign.

Sure they may do some good stuff in the future, we might get a good new manager and some money, don't know yet, but sacking our manager because he wanted his own players... It's just wrong.

I've always been proud to be a Rover, the small club battling the big boys, the family club, the real football club... now I don't know.

Still too angry to be articulate... but Venky's have made me wish we were still owned by the trust even with no money, at least we would still be proud and have JW in charge (whether he resigns or not, he clearly isn't).

Thanks Sam

[nicko]

Not sure if this the right thread...but so what.

Trying to find out more about Maradona thing. I believe he is hanging around in Spain after his visit to England.

Pals of his say he might find it hard to manage a club because of his 'erratic' time-keeping.

The story came from someone who knows a bit about the Raos. Frankly you could not make it up. They have definitely been talking about bringing him in.

The chap did suggest they wanted Maradona in a 'senior role' - so let's see how that shakes down.

Steve Kean will be in charge until they find the 'sexy' name they want. He is well-liked. So who knows how that will span out.

I can't see the chairman hanging round for long if yesterday's events are as they seemed to be...maybe more on that later.

The timing of this is very strange. It is easy to sack a manager, much harder to replace him.

So the Venky's folk have to get this one right or the whole thing could fall apart.

[Bobby G]

So you actually think they got it right by sacking a manager of a stable PL club in the run up to 4-5 fixtures which could potentially guarantee safety for the season even before the January window was up?

[nicko]

So you actually think they got it right by sacking a manager of a stable PL club in the run up to 4-5 fixtures which could potentially guarantee safety for the season even before the January window was up?

Where did I say that? I think the timing is very strange.

[Roversider]

The story came from someone who knows a bit about the Raos. Frankly you could not make it up. They have definitely been talking about bringing him in.

So the Venky's folk have to get this one right or the whole thing could fall apart.

Firstly, look on the bright side Nicko, you will get plenty of column inches under the new regime!

It is a gamble, still isn't all football at a club like Rovers. The alternative was always going to be a slow slide down into the Championship. Guess we can look forward to a lot of ineresting stories. I was getting bored with the TV soaps anyway.

[Bobby G]

No no nicko, I meant do you think? Straight question.

[nicko]

Firstly, look on the bright side Nicko, you will get plenty of column inches under the new regime!

It is a gamble, still isn't all football at a club like Rovers. The alternative was always going to be a slow slide down into the Championship. Guess we can look forward to a lot of ineresting stories. I was getting bored with the TV soaps anyway.

It is all too bizarre.

But you are right about the previous regime of the Trustees dying a slow death - even Ryan Nelsen said the club was 'dead in the water.'

Fascinating times.

There is a line in the Venky's statement that interests me more than any - I think Steve Kean will be in charge for a bit. Until they find a sexy figurehead.

There is no form or logic to this one.

Totally mental.

[modes98]

Until they find a sexy figurehead.

Found one!

If Maradona comes then that is officially it for me. There is no one in football I hate more than that man, I have seen dead flies with more managerial talent with that guy.

Also if they are appointing British then there are no "sexy" names out there, unless they mean Shearer and I think you can refer to his shambles of a Newcastle team for the answer to that one. MoN is the only other high profile and we wouldn't have the transfer budget to keep him happy.

[LeChuck]

There is no one in football I hate more than that man

Why?

[Billy Castell]

Perhaps the plan is to have Maradona doing the media stuff, jumping about by the pitch etc., Steve Kean actually organising tactics, training and so on with transfers being handled by Kentaro.

[Tom]

I was looking at the potential positives last night but if they really want kean in charge for now we are in real trouble.

I presumed like most that someone must be lined up but it appears they may just want a Kentaro yes man.

I'm scared.

[BuckyRover]

Let me just put this one out there.

 

Sam talked last week about jumping before being pushed (a strange thing to say, basically indicating that he would know if he was about to be sacked)

He has also been suggesting very expensive players, former players in many cases that the fans would love to have back (even though the figures being bandied about didnt make sense).

Now he has been sacked and the stuff about Boyd/Geovanni is doing the rounds.

End result, Sam is the victim, get's payoff and can move to another job without them having to pay. (West Ham are stuggling to afford to pay off Grant). He knew was leaving in the summer, maybe he didn't want to suffer the ignominy of being let go without a whimper then.

 

Digest and flame. But remember, who stands to gain the most from this little tete a tete. This is all conjecture, just putting forward an alternative theory to the last 24 hours.

[nicko]

Perhaps the plan is to have Maradona doing the media stuff, jumping about by the pitch etc., Steve Kean actually organising tactics, training and so on with transfers being handled by Kentaro.

That is one of the most sensible deductions I have seen so far...

Kean is clearly going to run the team and will stay there while the results are good.

The 'figurehead' appointment above him could just be a symbol.

And Kentaro are clearly going to be doing the transfer stuff.

I do also note that Mrs Desai says they would like a British manager but would not stick to that if someone suitable was out there.

[Bobby G]

Is there any positive light you can shed on anything nicko? I doubt it, but...

[joey_big_nose]

I was looking at the potential positives last night but if they really want kean in charge for now we are in real trouble.

I presumed like most that someone must be lined up but it appears they may just want a Kentaro yes man.

I'm scared.

I agree - that there doesn't really seem to be a plan is worrying. Unless Kean is the real deal.

Anyone know how Kean is close to Kentaro?

[Bobby G]

They represent him. How else?

[nicko]

Is there any positive light you can shed on anything nicko? I doubt it, but...

Just heard John Williams and Tom Finn quit stories may have something in them...

Been a meeting since early doors.

Oh dear.

Meltdown.

[Bobby G]

Finally some proper feeling and input from you on this nicko.

You've been on the fence for far too long on the whole thing.

Disastrous.

[Billy Castell]

Might as well replace them with Siegfried and Roy at this rate Nicko!

[slough_rover]

Interesting stat I just saw on SSN. Under Sam Blackburn played the second highest percentage of long balls in the league, but had the lowest percentage in suceeding with them. Guess that didn't fit in with the owners idea of sexy football.