[Archived] Michael Appleton - New Rovers Manager

[broadsword]

if he does nothing else except give Bradley a right good shellacking, may I propose a statue of him at Ewood?

[Gav]

I think the club as a whole needs to be patient with Appleton and give him time to sort this out. I know words are cheap and it's actions that count, but I do believe he'll fix it if given time. He's approaching it with a passion and dedication that we would be very lucky to find again, so we must stick with him.

The fact that he's already talking down a potential trip to Wembley, which would be a big thing on his CV, shows that he's in this for the good of the club and not for himself.

Spot on

[DE.]

I think the club as a whole needs to be patient with Appleton and give him time to sort this out. I know words are cheap and it's actions that count, but I do believe he'll fix it if given time. He's approaching it with a passion and dedication that we would be very lucky to find again, so we must stick with him.

The fact that he's already talking down a potential trip to Wembley, which would be a big thing on his CV, shows that he's in this for the good of the club and not for himself.

Have to agree with this. For the first time since Allardyce left I feel like we have a manager who truly sees things the same way the fans do. It's taken Appleton a little while, but Saturday seems to have really opened his eyes to the truth. His post-match interview is exactly what we've been dying for somebody inside the club to say for nearly two years. Berg alluded to it a couple of times, but Appleton has dropped truth bombs all over Ewood with his latest comments and there has to be some fallout from it.

If Murphy and Orr are in the starting line-up Tuesday, though, we have every right to assume Appleton is all talk. I fully expect neither of these freeloaders to start.

[Guest Norbert]

What are the other youngsters coming through like? Henley seems pretty good, Lowe has at least tried but what about these other players mentioned like Fernandez, Cotton etc. ?

Now the season is more or less over, giving a few games to these guys could be a good idea.

[Blue n White Rover]

The word from Brockhall is Appleton is fuming with some of the first team squad. Some serious plans will be drawn up to help eradicate the cancer within the squad. I expect changes for tomorrow night, but more importantly, expect a lot of changes in the summer.

[Stuart]

At least no-one will mind when we have a fire-sale in the Summer.

If we get rid of the dead rubber (that we can all name) and hang on to the few players of quality then I'll be very pleased with Appleton.

However, if he puts everyone 'at risk' and sells the likes of Jordan Rhodes then I may view it more cynically.

[Amo]

However, if he puts everyone 'at risk' and sells the likes of Jordan Rhodes then I may view it more cynically.

What if selling Rhodes allows us to shift some of the deadwood and reinvest in the side? Hypothetically speaking, ofc.

[den]

We have to be a bit careful here. Yes Appleton does seem to have grasped the reasons for us being, as a club, where we are now. I do get the feeling though, that some fans are thinking that dropping Orr, Murphy and one or two others - which needs doing - is going to change the current direction of the club from this moment on. Well we still have the same squad today, as we had on Friday and there's still a lot of work to be done. Short term we might see some reaction, or we might not. The job that needs doing requires another 12 months work on it and the bottom line is that while Appleton can rid the first team of under performers, his - and our future - will be decided by who he replaces these players with. I can't agree that throwing a few youngsters in is the right way to go. The focus still has to be to win as many games as possible before the end of the season. So, like I said, he's still stuck with the current group of players and he's limited what he can do. One or two of the longer term injuries coming back would help though.

[Stuart]

What if selling Rhodes allows us to shift some of the deadwood and reinvest in the side? Hypothetically speaking, ofc.

Then I'll be very cynical about it.

[LDRover]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11676/8539838/Michael-Appleton-planning-summer-clear-out-at-Blackburn

Regarding the comments below the piece, mryummy is am bit of a c0ck isn't he?

[DE.]

We have to be a bit careful here. Yes Appleton does seem to have grasped the reasons for us being, as a club, where we are now. I do get the feeling though, that some fans are thinking that dropping Orr, Murphy and one or two others - which needs doing - is going to change the current direction of the club from this moment on. Well we still have the same squad today, as we had on Friday and there's still a lot of work to be done. Short term we might see some reaction, or we might not. The job that needs doing requires another 12 months work on it and the bottom line is that while Appleton can rid the first team of under performers, his - and our future - will be decided by who he replaces these players with. I can't agree that throwing a few youngsters in is the right way to go. The focus still has to be to win as many games as possible before the end of the season. So, like I said, he's still stuck with the current group of players and he's limited what he can do. One or two of the longer term injuries coming back would help though.

At the end of the day Den, the minimum we as fans want to see is 100% effort from the players. If they aren't good enough, so be it, but the first step to building bridges with the fans again is to field a side that is giving its all for the cause. Right now with Murphy and Orr in the team we aren't getting that, and it's causing the atmosphere both on the pitch and in the stands to sour very quickly.

I don't think anybody is under the illusion that removing a couple of players is going to solve our long-term problems. Appleton says so explicitly in the quoted articles, but it's a huge relief to hear that he at the very least understands the problems and is committed to putting them right. Whether he's able to do so remains to be seen.

[thenodrog]

Too many seeking vengeance on here. Last thing Appleton should do is go public with his feelings and I'll be very disappointed in him if he does. There should be a brief statement to the press along the lines of "what went on during that first half is not acceptable to me, the club, the supporters or the owners and it's my job to sort things out". And thats all. Any discipline / bollockings / humiliation / should certainly be done, done hard but be done in secrecy. If he does that he'll get the respect of the players that he wants to work with and if he doesn't then he won't and the baby could easily go out with the bathwater. The 'goodies' will know that the 'baddies' are screwing over the club and their own careers and they will should strive for him once the rotton apples are weeded out. I hope he has learned that from Fergy cos everything at MU goes on well behind closed doors. Any player that is giving his all for the club will be supported through hell and high water by Ferguson no matter what his crimes. Fear wont get the best out of players ..... respect will.

[Amo]

Then I'll be very cynical about it.

Shifting high-earners when there's no takers will cost millions. Money that will dictate any transfer funds we have in the summer. If cashing in on Rhodes allows Appleton to clean house, then perhaps it's a hit worth taking? Just throwing that out there.

[DE.]

Any player that is giving his all for the club will be supported through hell and high water by Ferguson no matter what his crimes. Fear wont get the best out of players ..... respect will.

The players Appleton is referring to in his interviews aren't giving their all for the club though, so what's the problem?

[jim mk2]

Fear wont get the best out of players ..... respect will.

Nonsense. Clough and Ferguson thrive on fear. All the players who have played for them say so.

[den]

The players Appleton is referring to in his interviews aren't giving their all for the club though, so what's the problem?

I think Theno explained it quite well.

While I'm glad Appleton has said what he did, it's something that can only really be said in public once. After this, these kind of comments should be kept in house.

[Stuart]

Shifting high-earners when there's no takers will cost millions. Money that will dictate any transfer funds we have in the summer. If cashing in on Rhodes allows Appleton to clean house, then perhaps it's a hit worth taking? Just throwing that out there.

We need to shift some deadwood. That will cost money that we don't have. The thoughts are already that we have mortgaged the parachute payments so if we assume there will be no more shares issued, then we'll probably lose Rhodes just to cover operating losses.

We'd almost certainly have to sell Rhodes anyway to cover the cost of the pay-offs and/or wages, and go towards the remainder of the £8m we purchased him for. There will be nothing left for strengthening the squad. We'll simply bring in more loanees and risk-laden freebies using the wage budget. (Although we'd get a higher workrate, we'd probably get lower quality, potentially relegating us).

What we have now though is a climate where this need to get shut of players could mean anyone can be sold, and fans will comply - hence my cynicism/paranoia. (Was this the plan all along?).

I'm hoping this is a bluff from Appleton and it has the necessary effect, because - as you rightly point out - no-one's going to pay us for this dead rubber but they will want our better players.

[DE.]

I think Theno explained it quite well.

While I'm glad Appleton has said what he did, it's something that can only really be said in public once. After this, these kind of comments should be kept in house.

Theno explained his position fine, but his opinion seems to be that Appleton shouldn't have said anything at all in public about how badly the players are letting the club down, which I disagree with. I think he said what has needed to be said for a long time.

In saying that, I do agree that once it's been said there is no need to say it again. Allardyce did a similar thing with Peds, Diouf and a few others I seem to recall a few years back, and it certainly worked.

[A cup of beans]

I think Theno explained it quite well.

While I'm glad Appleton has said what he did, it's something that can only really be said in public once. After this, these kind of comments should be kept in house.

I'd normally agree, Den. But now more than ever, I feel it's important Appleton keeps the fans informed, illustrating the issues and how he's remedying them.

That's the major reason why I posted the dressing room stuff. It needed to be told.

The majority of fans have lost faith and pride in the Rovers and Appleton's honest interviews are really the first steps towards building bridges and trust with us.

The fans need to have a Manager that we can believe in- and this gives hope for the future.

[Amo]

Who's to say that wasn't a statement for the owners' benefit?

[A cup of beans]

Who's to say that wasn't a statement for the owners' benefit?

Explain how those statements will benefit the owners.

?????

Pleeeeeeeeease dont say a clear out is just to alter the wage bill etc...

If he'dve wanted to benefit the owners, he would never have been so honest. He'dve just simply trotted out the same old football cliques.

[den]

I'd normally agree, Den. But now more than ever, I feel it's important Appleton keeps the fans informed, illustrating the issues and how he's remedying them.

That's the major reason why I posted the dressing room stuff. It needed to be told.

The majority of fans have lost faith and pride in the Rovers and Appleton's honest interviews are really the first steps towards building bridges and trust with us.

The fans need to have a Manager that we can believe in- and this gives hope for the future.

Yeah, like I said, I'm glad he's said it. He has to get the players to come together and find a bond - you know - the one for all and all for one, win or fail together attitude, so now this has been said he needs to move forward. Continually airing players failings in public wouldn't allow that.

[Amo]

Explain how those statements will benefit the owners.

?????

Pleeeeeeeeease dont say a clear out is just to alter the wage bill etc...

If he'dve wanted to benefit the owners, he would never have been so honest. He'dve just simply trotted out the same old football cliques.

You misunderstand. I'm suggesting that he's made those comments for the owners sake, as much as ours, so they know the nature of the job at hand and will back him in the summer.

[A cup of beans]

You misunderstand. I'm suggesting that he's made those comments for the owners sake, as much as ours, so they know the nature of the job at hand and will back him in the summer.

Ah apologies.. I thought you meant to aide the asset stripping!

[LeChuck]

What if selling Rhodes allows us to shift some of the deadwood and reinvest in the side? Hypothetically speaking, ofc.

Honestly if anyone offered us the money we paid for Rhodes I think we should snap their hands off.

I think he'll go onto bigger and better things and I'd love that to be with Rovers, but right now I think we need that money to build elsewhere. No point having some fancy icing for a cake that is rotten underneath.

You don't need to be anywhere near an £8 million striker to score goals in this league. If Leon Best comes back ok then we've already got a replacement anyway.