[Archived] BIG SAM GONE

[champions1995]

Whether you loved Allardyce or loathed him, no rovers supporter can criticise the man, or fail to acknowledge what he has achieved for this football club.

When Big Sam arrived at Ewood we were lying in 19th position, with just 13 pts from 17 games, without a win in 11 and on a 6 game losing streak. We were heading for relegation, without a doubt. Big Sam not only saved us from the dreaded drop but did so with ease, finishing 7pts clear of the drop zone having lost 1 in 11 home games since he took charge. Last season he guided Rovers to a 10th place finish, a Carling Cup Semi Final and a league double over Burnley. Plus, we completed doubles over Bolton and Villa, beat Arsenal, held Liverpool, Man Utd and Champions Chelsea to draws, losing just 3 of 19 home games. This year we are in a perfectly reasonable 13th position, 4th in the form table, have won 4 of our last 7 and our last 3 at ewood. Regardless of the quality of football, Rovers were always in safe hands under Big Sam and his football produced results especially in the games which mattered.

Overall, Big Sam lost just 6 home games in 38, gathering a staggering 70 pts. That figure means that we had a Champions League standard home record, one which few sides in our position can boast.

I am shocked, astonished and appalled by the decision taken by the new owners and just hope they make the right choice with Sam's successor. I thank Sam for what he has done for this football club and wish him every success in the future.

[I_saw_Batty_score]

This lot have made Rovers a laughing stock. It makes you wonder what questions Rothchilds asked before recommending these people. Whenever Venkys PR machine goes off it's an embarassment. Sad to be a Rovers fan right now. How long before FC Rovers is a reality?

[OscarRaven]

Trust these fine owners people. On a seperate note, the following very popular video is still available for Christmas...

[nicko]

Got him at 16s this morning with Bet365, but will bookies pay out on the market when it will be "next PERMANENT manager"? Will we have to wait until the summer if he is viewed as an interim until then?

Betfair rate a manager 'permanent' if he is in charge for ten games...which was kind of obvious would be the case early doors today.

Some bookies have different rules.

Hurrah. The children will be fed. Merry Christmas one and all.

[nicko]

Just had this pointed out to me on that F***wit365 site.

How do you feel now, ladies?

Have a word, Scotty...

Best Of British

Daily Mirror 'exclusive' by friend of Mediawatch Alan Nixon: 'Blackburn Rovers want Diego Maradona to replace Sam Allardyce.'

Venky's chairman Anuradha Desai: "Our thinking now is that it will be a British manager."

Tell us Alan, is Buenos Aires now in Norfolk?

[LDRover]

Well, if there's one thing I've learned over the last day or so it's this -

There's some real gobshites who post on here.

[beerwins]

As I have had today to think on this at work, When I heard Sam had been sacked I was shocked at first but deep down I knew that an owner who says they want to see exiting football sometime soon his cards would be up.

My real problem is WHO is running this club? All the interviews I have heard and things I have read leaves me without a shadow of doubt that the owners are totally clueless and that would be kind, we have heard so many different things from each member of the family that in my opinion not a single one of them knows anything and they are asking for us to trust them

I dont blame them and I really dont, the real villain here is the guy sat whispering sweet nothings into the brothers ear in the stands, the guy who job it is to ADVISE Venky's in the best way to run a Premiership club, the guy who has told Venky's that:

We could be a top 5 club by taking players like Geovanni and Boyd.

We dont need a manager to bring players into the club it will be fine.

We can run for 3 months without signing a manager.

We sack a manager without having another one to replace him.

We dont contact senior players at the club to reassure them.

We dont discuss Transfer dealings with the chairman or manager

Does all of this look like someone who is advising owners of a football club for the betterment of Blackburn Rovers or does it look like someone who is lining his pocket because he knows how to spot a few del boys when he sees them.

Venky's need to Ditch the bad advisors and Ditch them fast and listen to a man who has had years of knowledge in the premiership and is one of the most respected chairmen around.

[47er]

To quote the Pune Mirror: "Desai said that there is no unrest or insecurity amongst the players and the decision to discontinue with Allardyce was taken after consulting and convincing 95 percent of the team members."

Now I believe our new owners are also liars - MGP, one of our top performers this season and longest serving (current) players, certainly didn't have a clue!

Or Nelsen. Interviewer asked him his reaction to manager's sacking and that was the first he'd heard of it! And he said he was stunned. Our owners are being economical with the truth.

[chaddyrovers]

This is a joke now. why do you sack a manager but don't HAVE A ****ING CLUE who is going to replace with???

This Situation just get more stupid and we look like a bunch of Idoits with nobody in charge like JW!!!

[LDRover]

Or Nelsen. Interviewer asked him his reaction to manager's sacking and that was the first he'd heard of it! And he said he was stunned. Our owners are being economical with the truth.

Is the 'team' being discussed not the Venky's 'team' because I sure can't see the owners going to the players and discussing the potential sacking of the manager can you?

Mind you, if it's a stick to beat them up with I'm sure there's a few who will use it.

[47er]

Is the 'team' being discussed not the Venky's 'team' because I sure can't see the owners going to the players and discussing the potential sacking of the manager can you?

Mind you, if it's a stick to beat them up with I'm sure there's a few who will use it.

Please LD Rover, at least look at the context of my post. Read the quote above to which I originally replied. Do you really believe the new owners consulted with 95% of the players before sacking the manager?

Clearly you don't but the Pune Thingee quotes Mrs D as saying they did! We are coming up against these direct contradictions all the time.

[LDRover]

To quote the Pune Mirror: "Desai said that there is no unrest or insecurity amongst the players and the decision to discontinue with Allardyce was taken after consulting and convincing 95 percent of the team members."

I did 47er, and my take on it is that the the first part is of the players' initial response to the news and the 2nd part is how the decision was reached within the Venky's 'team'.

[BuckyRover]

This is a joke now. why do you sack a manager but don't HAVE A ****ING CLUE who is going to replace with???

This Situation just get more stupid and we look like a bunch of Idoits with nobody in charge like JW!!!

That last sentence proving that irony is not lost on chaddy

I did 47er, and my take on it is that the the first part is of the players' initial response to the news and the 2nd part is how the decision was reached within the Venky's 'team'.

Please don't say that. It's too sensible.

It's best to conclude that the successful businesswoman Ms Desai is an idiot who doesn't know her arse from her elbow, and is actively engaged in the process of lying to the fans.

[broadsword]

Sheesh, if contradictory press statements and surprise terminations are the sign of things to come, I don't think my poor heart will take it.

I just wish they'd just have one single party line, it would convince me that they have a credible strategy, rather than making this stuff up as they go along.

- Let's get Maradona in!

- No, he's a cokehead, get Mirandinha in instead!

- Let's rename the ground! And get some sponsorship money in!

- No! We'll sponsor it ourselves! Venky Park! No! Venky's Ewood! No! Venky's Ewood Park!

- Right, we've got the keys to Ewood, let's sack the manager!

- Cool, he's gone! Is Maradona still available? No, he's a cokehead! Let's get a really famous name in!

- Alan Curbishley! No, he's too old, we need someone young!

- <ALL TOGETHER> Steve Kean!

- But we'll have someone in by the weekend, tell the press!

- Oooops, no we won't. OK, two months then. Then we'll get Mario Kempes.

- Who? Oh fk it, what do we do now? OK, Steve Kean until the end of the season.

- Hurrah!

[nicko]

By the way, does Revidge Blue want to talk me through the 'spurious' Diego Maradona story again?

Any time will do.

[John]

Sheesh, if contradictory press statements and surprise terminations are the sign of things to come, I don't think my poor heart will take it.

I just wish they'd just have one single party line, it would convince me that they have a credible strategy, rather than making this stuff up as they go along.

I know, their public comments so far have been pretty shocking and not very inspiring - we are hardly into their tenure and already they have been numerous contradictions.

[RevidgeBlue]

By the way, does Revidge Blue want to talk me through the 'spurious' Diego Maradona story again?

Any time will do.

I don't understand your post.

Since when has Maradona been "British?"

[broadsword]

And lest we forget ...

- We'll lease players and be happy with tenth!

- No, we want exciting football, we want to get to fifth, why not?

- We'll be happy with tenth

- We want exciting football, and finish fifth!

Honestly, it's like watching Siamese Twins having a ruck.

[John]

Harry on Sam's sacking

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp feels Blackburn could be "bang in trouble" after sacking Sam Allardyce

Redknapp added on BBC Radio Five Live: "When new owners come in they've all got mates or have heard of someone who is good... they haven't got a clue really.

[nicko]

I don't understand your post.

Since when has Maradona been "British?"

Maybe you should catch up with Mrs Desai's Indian interview and find out that Maradona is/was the first choice.

You reckoned that story was spurious today.

I know, their public comments so far have been pretty shocking and not very inspiring - we are hardly into their tenure and already they have been numerous contradictions.

I think you have to read the Pune Mirror interview again.

It makes everything a lot more understandable.

1...they didn't fancy Sam from the off.

2...they liked the Maradona idea but have not cracked it yet.

3...Kean has the job for the foreseeable.

This explains why Venkatesh Rao talked about a 'target' and someone 'in the pipeline' originally and then backed off from a time-line for his arrival.

Got to admit it was very confusing until the Pune Mirror put it all the right way round.

[King Kenny's Magic]

To quote the Pune Mirror: "Desai said that there is no unrest or insecurity amongst the players and the decision to discontinue with Allardyce was taken after consulting and convincing 95 percent of the team members."

Now I believe our new owners are also liars - MGP, one of our top performers this season and longest serving (current) players, certainly didn't have a clue!

It's a bit cringe-worthy at best when they make statements like that. Hopefully Max Clifford will give them some tips

[BuckyRover]

As LDRover has pointed out, don't you think she meant the Venky's team, rather than the playing staff?

That would be the most likely option (rather than lying about talking to all the players, which would be impractical and stupid anyway)

[67splitscreen]

Maybe you should catch up with Mrs Desai's Indian interview and find out that Maradona is/was the first choice.

You reckoned that story was spurious today.

I think you have to read the Pune Mirror interview again.

It makes everything a lot more understandable.

1...they didn't fancy Sam from the off.

2...they liked the Maradona idea but have not cracked it yet.

3...Kean has the job for the foreseeable.

This explains why Venkatesh Rao talked about a 'target' and someone 'in the pipeline' originally and then backed off from a time-line for his arrival.

Got to admit it was very confusing until the Pune Mirror put it all the right way round.

The problem is Nicko who the hell do we believe any more. It's a terrible thing to say but I'm not even sure I would be confident of believing JW's next press release with what has gone on.

[47er]

I did 47er, and my take on it is that the the first part is of the players' initial response to the news and the 2nd part is how the decision was reached within the Venky's 'team'.

OK that is a possible construct, I accept that. However you'd expect the Venky's team to be on board wouldn't you? Hardly a revelation I'd have thought.

The other explanation is far more plausable.

At the very least its slack communication. And we've seen too much of that.

[nicko]

The problem is Nicko who the hell do we believe any more. It's a terrible thing to say but I'm not even sure I would be confident of believing JW's next press release with what has gone on.

I know where you are coming from. But I can't stress enough...read the Pune Mirror interview. It is a top-class summary of events and the most honest answers yet.