[Archived] Michael Appleton - New Rovers Manager

[patrickvalery]

From the start of the first part of that interview:

"I thought the lads that came in did really really well. Once you go in and do well, sometimes in life you deserve an opportunity to stay and continue to do it. So I'm sure they'll be looking forward to the game as much as I am on Tuesday."

Sounds like confirmation Murphy at the very least won't be starting. Probably Orr as well.

I thought the last section was just as poignant. Where he talks about making big decisions and be it now or the end of the season, some people are going to be upset and annoyed. Coupled with the fact that he talks about some of last years players struggling to adapt to the league, i would imagine we will wave goodbye to the likes of Ollson, Murphy and Orr. I suspect too that Bentley might have done less than expected in terms of effort given he was dragged off at half time. If he his given the scope to make significant changes it seems obvious we'll see more seasoned Championship pros like Jones and Williamson coming in to the club. I'm sure most won't be thrilled by it, but in this division you need players who will put a shift in, especially in the midfield. Sod the Fancy Dans like Kean brought in. Half of any football match is won with desire.

[47er]

Well done Michael Appleton. I will now judge his comments on future team selections. What I don't understand though is why he kept picking these 'spineless' wasters.

Talks a good talk doesn't he?

[Oklahoma]

What I don't understand is why MA only saw now that Murphy is underperforming.

And why he doesn't change the starting 11.

After the V's, MA is the one to blame for what is happening. He chose the team!!!

[Blue n White Rover]

If Danny Murphy is in the starting line up, I will not be going straight back down the motorway. Not wasting my money watching a dismal, heartless and gutless performance again.

[patrickvalery]

What I don't understand is why MA only saw now that Murphy is underperforming.

And why he doesn't change the starting 11.

After the V's, MA is the one to blame for what is happening. He chose the team!!!

Who was he supposed to play though? Before bringing in Jones we were down to the bones of our arse in the middle of the park.

You have to be able to trust our most senior pro's. I think Murphy has let him down badly.

[DE.]

If Danny Murphy is in the starting line up, I will not be going straight back down the motorway. Not wasting my money watching a dismal, heartless and gutless performance again.

If Murphy starts on Tuesday I think most of us will lose faith in Appleton. I don't think he's that stupid, though. Barring something unusual happening in terms of injury, I fully expect Lowe and Jones to start in centre midfield, with Henley starting on either the right or left side of defence.

[Guest Norbert]

That is true PaddyV. I can't really think of another central midfielder that has been fit enough to replace Murphy. Perhaps there was no-one we could have got on loan earlier over the past few weeks, and we had to put up with that plum.

Anyway, Appleton has to bench Orr and Murphy at least after his comments about 'spineless' players.

[LDRover]

Don't bench 'em, bin 'em.

[chaddyrovers]

What I don't understand is why MA only saw now that Murphy is underperforming.

And why he doesn't change the starting 11.

After the V's, MA is the one to blame for what is happening. He chose the team!!!

who could have replace Murphy tbh???

Williamson got a bad injury after 2 games and Etuhu was injured.

he has tried for CM on loan for last couple of weeks but alot of clubs said no like Everton when we want Ross Barkley

[Rover_Shaun]

I rated neither.

But How come Berg wasn't given half the rope as Appleton?

Berg would have burning effigies of him hanging from lamp posts tonight

[BRFC1995]

Big words from Appy, but in all seriousness nowt will change when you have so many journeymen/garbage/old/no value crap.

We have a squad that resembles the make up of a portsmouth or a bradford before they slipped off the map no spine, shape, stars just plodding 6th club journeymen and one season wonders playing on past glories.

Who are our star players?Rhodes aside is there anyone we'd get even £3m for?

Love to hear no mark wasters called what they are as much as the next fan, spineless, but i just don't see how without new owners he isnt picking from the same unshiftable crap next season..

Not a great defender Olsson LB

Very Very Ordinary Hanley CB

Very average Dann CB

Sh!t Orr RB

Sh!t Bentley as he is now known RM

Etuhu CM

@#/? Murphy CM

Pensioner Peds LM

Ultimate journeyman CKR ST

2nd only to CKR journeyman DJ ST

I would never, and i repeat never have dreamed 2 years ago it would be possible for our team to go from what it was to this utter shambles

[patrickvalery]

How come Berg wasn't given half the rope as Appleton?

The only reason i am giving Appleton the benefit of the doubt is i think it is refreshing to hear something resembling truth coming out of Rovers. Berg is a nice bloke but he kissed some backsides to get the job and i always felt he couldn't tell it as it was for that reason. The best things Berg did as boss was call an early first press conference so he could get to training and walk out of the Christmas party. The only true signs of management he showed imo. The way he got the job meant he didnt stand a chance. He was working with a squad built by two clowns who were playing at being football managers (Kean and Singh) and he didnt even have the authority to bring in his own coaches.

Appleton seems to hold favour in high places. He seems confident in speaking his mind and telling it as it is. Fans were sick of being told the dross they just watched had 'many positives'. They were tired of being told the club was starring a bright furure in the face when it was coughing and spluttering in front of our eyes. Appleton's results have been glossed over by the Arsenal victory which is wrong. But imo, the big difference is i trust him to do the right thing. And therein is the real crux of the matter. After so many disappointments with sacking Allardyce, appointing Kean, keeping Kean, keeping Kean for a bit longer, relegation, still keeping Kean, dithering over Keans replacement, appointing a rank outsider in Berg when supposedly big names were in the frame, dithering over Bergs replacement etc...... it feels like Appleton might at least give us a football club to support again. Maybe not a great one in terms of on field success. But a football club nonetheless. One where players will be expected to give 100%. After the circus of the last few years, that sounds like the most realistic hope we have now. Ground zero. But somewhere we can start to rebuild from perhaps.

[Oklahoma]

OK, Williamson and Etuhu are injured, there are not many options left.

But I would still prefer Pedersen as a midfielder or one of the kids from the reserves. After all, we have a good number of home grown players and Fernandez, for example, could addapt well.

Other option would be to change formation. There are alternatives to 4-4-2 and they actually work.

I would like to see Nuno Gomes playing behind Rhodes and serving as a link between our midfield and the attack. But hey, he is portuguese, must be his fault that the team is playing badly (just remembering what some said when Berg was the manager and the portuguese players were the problem, even though they hardly played)

MA is acting like the players let him down but he hardly gave a chance to other players to prove themselves.

And even considering the fitness of the team, why use always the same 12 or 13 players when you have games every 3 days?

[DE.]

The only reason i am giving Appleton the benefit of the doubt is i think it is refreshing to hear something resembling truth coming out of Rovers. Berg is a nice bloke but he kissed some backsides to get the job and i always felt he couldn't tell it as it was for that reason. The best things Berg did as boss was call an early first press conference so he could get to training and walk out of the Christmas party. The only true signs of management he showed imo. The way he got the job meant he didnt stand a chance. He was working with a squad built by two clowns who were playing at being football managers (Kean and Singh) and he didnt even have the authority to bring in his own coaches.

Appleton seems to hold favour in high places. He seems confident in speaking his mind and telling it as it is. Fans were sick of being told the dross they just watched had 'many positives'. They were tired of being told the club was starring a bright furure in the face when it was coughing and spluttering in front of our eyes. Appleton's results have been glossed over by the Arsenal victory which is wrong. But imo, the big difference is i trust him to do the right thing. And therein is the real crux of the matter. After so many disappointments with sacking Allardyce, appointing Kean, keeping Kean, keeping Kean for a bit longer, relegation, still keeping Kean, dithering over Keans replacement, appointing a rank outsider in Berg when supposedly big names were in the frame, dithering over Bergs replacement etc...... it feels like Appleton might at least give us a football club to support again. Maybe not a great one in terms of on field success. But a football club nonetheless. One where players will be expected to give 100%. After the circus of the last few years, that sounds like the most realistic hope we have now. Ground zero. But somewhere we can start to rebuild from perhaps.

A good post, pretty much sums up how I feel as well. I wasn't thrilled by Appleton's appointment - truth be told I was irritated - but at the very least it's nice for us to have a manager who isn't afraid to lay bare our numerous issues. Berg for the reasons stated above was never able to do this.

[Oklahoma]

Players used by MA so far (in minutes):

Jake Kean - 900

Scott Dann – 900

Grant Hanley – 900

Jason Lowe – 900

Jordan Rhodes – 874

Danny Murphy – 765

CKR – 682

Bradley Orr – 675

Marcus Olsson – 640

Martin Olsson – 630

MGP – 520

DJ Campbell – 428

David Bentley - 285

Karim Rekik – 283

Williamson – 90

Adam Henley – 90

Dave Jones = 45

Cameron Stewart = 45

Nuno Gomes – 30

King- 10

David Dunn – 7

Can someone explain to me what DJ Campbell, Rekik, Markus Olsson, Danny Murphy or, should I say, almost all the players used have done to deserve being almost always in the starting 11?

And don't tell me it's because there are no alternatives because there are players on the bench that hardly play...

[DE.]

Players used by MA so far (in minutes):

Jake Kean - 900

Scott Dann – 900

Grant Hanley – 900

Jason Lowe – 900

Jordan Rhodes – 874

Danny Murphy – 765

CKR – 682

Bradley Orr – 675

Marcus Olsson – 640

Martin Olsson – 630

MGP – 520

DJ Campbell – 428

David Bentley - 285

Karim Rekik – 283

Williamson – 90

Adam Henley – 90

Dave Jones = 45

Cameron Stewart = 45

Nuno Gomes – 30

King- 10

David Dunn – 7

Can someone explain to me what DJ Campbell, Rekik, Markus Olsson, Danny Murphy or, should I say, almost all the players used have done to deserve being almost always in the starting 11?

And don't tell me it's because there are no alternatives because there are players on the bench that hardly play...

Rekik in particular is a mystery to me. He has no pedigree and is awful.

From his comments today I think Appleton might finally have seen the light regarding a few of these players. Who knows what kept him from realising this sooner.

[Tom]

DJ was one of our less awful players today to be fair

Scored a peach as well shame Rhodes had handled it just before

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Rekik in particular is a mystery to me. He has no pedigree and is awful.

From his comments today I think Appleton might finally have seen the light regarding a few of these players. Who knows what kept him from realising this sooner.

I wonder if he go sucked into the mystery that is our squad - possibly one of the highest paid and most expensive squads - which in theory should be doing far better. The truth is that too many aren't suited to this league - or haven't got the appetite for the hard work necessary in this league.

In Murphy's case - I am amazed it has taken him so long - didn't see today, but on the whole don't think it is necessarily a lack of effort - just that he doesn't have the physical attributes to be a success in this league. Possibly Williamson getting injured prevented him "resting" Murphy sooner.

[Oklahoma]

Ok, DJ today was not bad. But he has been in almost every game he played for Rovers.

What I think is strange is that, even playing badly and with a huge amount of games played in a row, MA hardly changes the starting 11 or makes subs (3 today must be a record).

One would have thought that those would be enough reasons to give other players a chance.

[broadsword]

As I said before, i wanted billy Davies, but in hindsight I fear our squad is so rotten to the core that no manager could sort it in the short term.

Yes, effectively he's lost the dressing room (not his fault, what I mean is he's inherited a nucleus of uncaring players).

Very difficult to turn a situation like that around, particularly with what is likely to be a limited transfer budget. One area of concern already is his judgement of players as transfer targets.

We've bought enough lame ducks already, under appleton we may well but more, and that will likely as not, sink us. The only incoming he seems to have got right so far is Jones.

It's not a job for a rookie. Unbelievable, really. If they bin Appleton in the next 12 months, who will these numb-nuts appoint next? It's like watching Saw, you don't want to, but you have a morbid curiosity about how bad it can get. "Venky Farm 3 - Balaji Unleashed."

I'm sure 12 months from now, things will be worse, it's hardly putting my nuts on the bacon slicer. We've been on a continual downturn ever since these gimptards turned up, and until they go, we'll keep dropping. Whilst I think appleton is some sort of improvement, he is green and is yet to develop the requisite skills to get out of a nightmare like this.

[DE.]

In Murphy's case - I am amazed it has taken him so long - didn't see today, but on the whole don't think it is necessarily a lack of effort - just that he doesn't have the physical attributes to be a success in this league. Possibly Williamson getting injured prevented him "resting" Murphy sooner.

The txts I got from my usual pals who frequent Ewood suggested today Murphy lacked effort in every sense. I do think it's gotten to the point with Murphy where he hates the fans and doesn't respect the manager - therefore he isn't going to put in anywhere close to 100% even if he is able to. No matter how much he's paid it is better that he's left out of the squad because as long as he's in the team he's going to poison the rest of the players' motivation and morale.

[Rover_Shaun]

But he says the right things Bryan . He talks the talk and that seems to make him exempt from actually walking the walk

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Yes, effectively he's lost the dressing room (not his fault, what I mean is he's inherited a nucleus of uncaring players).

Very difficult to turn a situation like that around, particularly with what is likely to be a limited transfer budget. One area of concern already is his judgement of players as transfer targets.

We've bought enough lame ducks already, under appleton we may well but more, and that will likely as not, sink us. The only incoming he seems to have got right so far is Jones.

It's not a job for a rookie. Unbelievable, really. If they bin Appleton in the next 12 months, who will these numb-nuts appoint next? It's like watching Saw, you don't want to, but you have a morbid curiosity about how bad it can get. "Venky Farm 3 - Balaji Unleashed."

I'm sure 12 months from now, things will be worse, it's hardly putting my nuts on the bacon slicer. We've been on a continual downturn ever since these gimptards turned up, and until they go, we'll keep dropping. Whilst I think appleton is some sort of improvement, he is green and is yet to develop the requisite skills to get out of a nightmare like this.

Not defending MA - as I have doubts - but I cling to the hope that it took Souness over 1/2 a season to get things sorted when he took over. Indeed - interesting parallels where we enjoyed a short resurgence when he took over - only to fall away again. Even at the start of his first full season in charge we were hit and miss - and it was the signing of Hughes and Berg that started the surge back to the Premiership.

[Rover_Shaun]

Souness had a track record. In fact, Liverpool apart, it was a bloody brillian track record. We need someone who has the knowledge and not some green PR driven rookie

[Parsonblue]

Souness had a track record. In fact, Liverpool apart, it was a bloody brillian track record. We need someone who has the knowledge and not some green PR driven rookie

At the end of the day we have Appleton and changing him now would be pointless. The time to judge him is next season after he has been given the summer and a pre-season to prepare the squad and to bring in the players he wants. This season we have had five managers and have got nowhere. Appleton may or may not be the right choice but having made a choice the owners have to stick with him and give him time.