[Archived] Michael Appleton - New Rovers Manager

[LeChuck]

Why is every link posted in the Appleton thread?

I don't know. Bypass generally seems a good poster, but does this a hell of a lot!

[DE.]

Appleton receives award

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/appleton-receives-award-672143.aspx

Hmmm. Whilst it was a good result and a good defensive performance, the truth is we got mullered in this game and if not for significant luck and Arsenal being quite spineless when the pressure is on we would have lost comfortably. Add in the result and performance at Hull and this award doesn't quite have the merit it should. It should probably go to Jake Kean as opposed to Appleton or the club.

[imy9]

Appleton receives award

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/appleton-receives-award-672143.aspx

Probably correct, not many teams get a victory at The Emirates- especially a lower league team. Don't think we will see a 'Appleton team' until next year once he has had a full pre-season and the players he wants at the club. Signs look promising at this stage that we are tough to beat, key will be how do we react to a loss under Appleton?

[chaddyrovers]

Appleton in today's LT says Rovers are nowhere near being the finished product.

says we must improve defensive n attacking wise.

[Ricky]

His honesty is a refreshing change after the last 2 years.

[Stuart]

Appleton in today's LT says Rovers are nowhere near being the finished product.

says we must improve defensive n attacking wise.

We have defenders and we have attackers so he can only be talking about the contribution from our woeful midfield. Shame this wasn't a priority in the January window...

[Gav]

His honesty is a refreshing change after the last 2 years.

Yes I was thinking the same a few weeks back Ricky, how did that rat get away with spouting the same bullkean week in week out?

[chaddyrovers]

We have defenders and we have attackers so he can only be talking about the contribution from our woeful midfield. Shame this wasn't a priority in the January window...

we need to improve as a team attacking wide under him. he has said this a number of times.

he want proper wingers which we have lack for 3 years.

we need a left winger like Thomas and box to box midfielder. im sure Appleton will overhaul the sqaud in the summer. probably at least 10 players leaving with 7 or 8 coming in.

[USABlue]

Jury still out, we seem void of attacking ideas and if Rhodes is not on song we ain't gonna score. We should have seen a big response but we did not, no subs bar the forced one. Why not throw on a quality striker like Gomes to try and nick one. It sounded like Campbell wasn't up to much. Frustrated with a draw in a winnable game nad being second best.

[Amo]

Defensively, the performances have been very encouraging and it's good to see a manager who actually recognizes the need to build from the back. However, on paper, we have players who should be presenting more of an attacking threat at this level (Murphy, CKR, Bentley, Olsson, DJ Campbell, Rhodes, et al), and it's not happening. The lack of substitutions is worrying, too. Have we fallen foul of the weekly budget again or does Appleton have little to no faith in the rest of his squad?

[BRFC1995]

not seen anything to make me believe he's the answer just yet......arsenal result which was a massive fluke aside and a few clean sheets.

this season will peter out to being utterly pointless in a few weeks, all i want from the manager is to get 10 more points quick knock the possibility of relegation on the head and then try the youth try something for the last 7-8 games other than the proven dross, try anything that gets rhodes into games........service to the attackers seems a very low tactical priority at the moment Rhodes could read a few books inbetween touches at the minute.

[G Somerset Rover]

2 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses in the league since Appleton came in.

Jury is still out as USA commented. He appears to be completely unable to change anything, and I mean ANYTHING during games. An ability which good managers possess. As I've said in the match thread, fans will start to demand more, particularly at home as we've been so lacklustre it's unbelievable.

On a side note, it's hard to see Rhodes reaching the 25 mark this season, let alone 30 as many of us thought he would.

[LeChuck]

On a side note, it's hard to see Rhodes reaching the 25 mark this season, let alone 30 as many of us thought he would.

He's definitely gone off the boil recently, sounds like he had 2 or 3 good chances today. Best can't return quickly enough to ease the burden on Rhodes.

[Tom]

For me this season is gone and I'm happy that we are building from the back

I hope Appleton makes the central mids a priority this summer as that is our main problem by far.

It's been steady and unspectacular since he came but clear progress has been made

Wonder if Shebby is getting ready to meddle?

[G Somerset Rover]

He's definitely gone off the boil recently, sounds like he had 2 or 3 good chances today. Best can't return quickly enough to ease the burden on Rhodes.

I also hope we haven't agreed a permanent deal for DJ judging by his start to date!

[GanG2245]

we need 3,4 back to back wins to reach playoff places. not sure if thats possible.

[G Somerset Rover]

we need 3,4 back to back wins to reach playoff places. not sure if thats possible.

I'll tell you now, it's not.

[broadsword]

I'll tell you now, it's not.

You're not positive!

Look around my eyes ... not into my eyes ... YOU'RE UNDER! Repeat after me, we're bang on target for 6th place and an FA Cup win and Myles Anderson is the next Chris Smalling.

[chaddyrovers]

For me this season is gone and I'm happy that we are building from the back

I hope Appleton makes the central mids a priority this summer as that is our main problem by far.

It's been steady and unspectacular since he came but clear progress has been made

Wonder if Shebby is getting ready to meddle?

hope Shebby doesnt go anywhere near football side of the club. his involvement isnt needed.

we need a goalscoring midfielder and midfielder playmaker with Bentley and Pacey winger(Thomas) in hopefully.

plus a pacey striker, back up GK and Centre defender.

[Oklahoma]

Use of players so far by Appleton (in minutes):

Jake Kean – 720

Scott Dann – 720

Grant Hanley – 720

Jason Lowe – 720

Jason Rhodes – 712

CKR – 682

Martin Olsson – 630

Danny Murphy – 630

Bradley Orr – 540

Marcus Olsson – 505

MGP – 475

DJ Campbell – 248

David Bentley- 150

Karim Rekik – 148

Lee Williamson – 90

Nuno Gomes – 12

King- 10
David Dunn – 7

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Todd Kane – 271

Ruben Rochina –158

Vukcevic – 70

[Mike Graham]

The last two games have summed up Appleton for me = clueless.

[T.J.Newton]

For me this season is gone and I'm happy that we are building from the back

I hope Appleton makes the central mids a priority this summer as that is our main problem by far.

It's been steady and unspectacular since he came but clear progress has been made

Wonder if Shebby is getting ready to meddle?

I'm of the same opinion(though all never count anything out), If we drop points from our next games then that would be it for the league this season and id want(expect) us to go all out to get to the cup final(silver lining!!!)

[DE.]

Didn't he get mostly draws in his 10 games at Blackpool as well? I'm all for defensive solidity but if we don't improve in the attacking third we'll struggle again next season. Is there a reason he's hesitant to use subs?

[Tom]

Didn't he get mostly draws in his 10 games at Blackpool as well? I'm all for defensive solidity but if we don't improve in the attacking third we'll struggle again next season. Is there a reason he's hesitant to use subs?

If he thinks the options on the bench aren't going to improve what is on the pitch he won't change it

Probably still stinging from the Goodwillie disaster

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Not sure MA is clueless, he is realistic, he is back to basics, we would have lost today under Coco/Berg.