[Archived] Michael Appleton - New Rovers Manager

[T.J.Newton]

Folk, including the likes of Savage and Gallacher, making comments about what Appleton has done and his record, need to have a look at the background first:Firstly, he was Hodgson's highly respected sidekick at WBA and they tried desperately to keep him but the guy wanted to manage in his own right.

What have those two done in football since hanging there boots!

Savage is just like a welsh Shebby Singh(tv pundit that talks tosh for a living and loves himself) and Gallagher seems to just pop up on radio talk shows talking about rovers(mostly sitting on the fence) does nothing else, both contradict themselves on a daily basis.

[Mercer]

What have those two done in football since hanging there boots!

Savage is just like a welsh Shebby Singh(tv pundit that talks tosh for a living and loves himself) and Gallagher seems to just pop up on radio talk shows talking about rovers(mostly sitting on the fence) does nothing else, both contradict themselves on a daily basis.

Agree. IMO, Savage seems all over the place with his views whilst Gallagher as a pundit is a joke - can't recall him once criticising Kean whilst he was killing our club and (you wonder if Gallagher was after a coaching job under Kean !) then has the temerity to state in LT that Appleton hasdn't set the world alight at Blackpool (or words to the effect).

[wampam]

Admin within next 18 months methinks. Finances are dire currently. No promotion this year obviously. Haemorraging support and money.A demotion and possibly worse. @#/?s they are. Nobody in charge of anything. Just a financial vehicle. Shame.. We aren't the only ones. Sell your club to Indians. Yeah , great idea. What is the point any more ? @#/?s they are.

[martonrover]

I just get the feeling with Appleton that prima donna strops will not be tolerated and expect him to cope far better than Berg.

[T.J.Newton]

Just noticed that even Ashley Westwood seems to have more managerial experience than Kean had(although he also has a driving ban to match) and he also has plenty of experience of getting promoted during his playing career- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Westwood

(WARNING!! Westwoods win-ratio% as manager may make a stat geeks head explode)

[John]

Not been following the chat on here - is Appleton's assistant rated highly?

Appleton clearly likes to keep himself in decent shape!

[T.J.Newton]

Not been following the chat on here - is Appleton's assistant rated highly?

Appleton clearly likes to keep himself in decent shape!

Seems like Westwood is very new to coaching/management, literally about a years worth of experience it seems, so doesn't really have a reputation at all to be fair.

[chaddyrovers]

Just noticed that even Ashley Westwood seems to have more managerial experience than Kean had(although he also has a driving ban to match) and he also has plenty of experience of getting promoted during his playing career- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Westwood

Firstly, He deserve a second chance after commiting a offence but he accept the punishment and did it.

He was given 80 hours of unpaid work, banned from driving for one year, had three points put on his driving licence, and was ordered to pay the prosecution costs of £700.^[46]

We should judge Appleton and Westwood on their coaching ability and results for BRFC

[T.J.Newton]

Firstly, He deserve a second chance after commiting a offence but he accept the punishment and did it.

He was given 80 hours of unpaid work, banned from driving for one year, had three points put on his driving licence, and was ordered to pay the prosecution costs of £700.^[46]

So lets stop with this witchhunt. NOBODY IS PERFECT IN LIFE!!!!

What the hell are you on fella, i've been one of their biggest advocates since Appletons name came up, so chill the frack out.(try reading peoples posts in context before mouthing of about them)

[chaddyrovers]

What the hell are you on fella, i've been one of their biggest advocates since Appletons name came up, so chill the frack out.(try reading peoples posts in context before mouthing of about them)

my post wasnt aimed at you mate.

just saying that people deserve a second chance after doing something wrong.

I know you have been one of their biggest advocates since Appleton came in as manager.

I enjoy reading your posts aswell

[T.J.Newton]

fair does

[Tom]

They can't expect him to get promoted and consider anything less a failure IMO when you look at what he's taking on

7 points behind 6th place and 11 behind 5th would take a gargantuan effort to get promoted this season

[chaddyrovers]

Tom,I think if Appleton gets off to a good start and we go on a good run we could get into the playoffs but if we dont then He got to be allow to next season to get us promote and allow to buy and sell the players he wants without interfere from anybody.

[Mercer]

This league is all about confidence and momentum.

I expect us tio win our next 4 on the bounce, considering all home games and the opposition and then game on !

Anyhow, that's me done for tonight, got a couple of Burnley friends round tonight and they are going to be full of it !

[T.J.Newton]

I think how things go from here is largely going to be whether certain players accept the new manager from the off and get on with their jobs(giving 100%), also after seeing last nights game we still desperately need to strengthen the centre of midfield with a solid box to box type and also hope Leon Best is back in contention soon to take some pressure of Rhodes, I think these are the key things we need if we want to really step up in the 2nd half of the season.

[perthblue02]

Would people be happy with a top ten finish this season , letting Appleton build his own squad over the summer and a massive push for promotion next season?

(obviously the above is fully dependant on if finance wise we don't have to go up this season)

[chaddyrovers]

I think how things go from here is largely going to be whether certain players accept the new manager from the off and get on with their jobs(giving 100%), also after seeing last nights game we still desperately need to strengthen the centre of midfield with a solid box to box type and also hope Leon Best is back in contention soon to take some pressure of Rhodes, I think these are the key things we need if we want to really step up in the 2nd half of the season.

Agreed TJ.

still expect Givet and Formica to leave and hopefully a Centre back and box to box midfielder in

[Salgado Is A Hero]

Would people be happy with a top ten finish this season , letting Appleton build his own squad over the summer and a massive push for promotion next season?

(obviously the above is fully dependant on if finance wise we don't have to go up this season)

We're only 7 points outside the playoffs......were City 8 points behind Utd with a few weeks to go? Something like that.

4 home games now against Bristol City, Ipswich, Brighton and Charlton....at least 3 wins should see us narrowing that gap even further.

If we don't go up, I can see Vukcevic, Rochina, Martin Olsson, Givet and probably Dann leaving if they don't go in January.....Rhodes and maybe even Henley will have suitors.....Nuno Gomes might be finished.

We can buy solid Championship players but not the pick of them......can't really see how we're gonna build a side good enough.....maybe one that will sneak into the playoffs but I'd be less optimistic than I am now.

We won't be able to shift Murphy and Etuhu so will still be paying them high wages......don't know about Best, can't see a Prem team paying him what we offered after another long-term injury seeing as they didn't in the summer anyway.

This season is our best chance to go up for a while imo......bring in at least a CM to play alongside Murphy or Vukcevic and it can definitely be done.

[47er]

I'll agree with that I listened to his interview and I don't see what all the fuss is about. Seems like people are just looking for anything to spew hate about

The "hate" is reserved for The owners and their brawling deputies at Ewood, I don't think anyone is blaming Appleton for going for it.

However , you must have strong reservations about the process surely?

No ad, no applications, no interviews?

Someone decided he was the ONLY man for the job 9 weeks after he didn't feature in the thinking at all! No other candidate in the whole of the world was worth considering apparently and his salary has quadrupled!

He must be quite a manager, yet he has limited experience and his results do not suggest anything special.

Its hard to go past the suspicion that Shaw knew him at Preston and Shaw wants a manager he can feel comfortable for reasons of his own.

All the criticism of this appointment is fear about how the Club will suffer further, particularly when Bowyer was doing so well.

It still could work out and I hope it does, but, as with the sacking of Sam and the appointment of Berg, it doesn't look promising.

[Mike E]

The "hate" is reserved for The owners and their brawling deputies at Ewood, I don't think anyone is blaming Appleton for going for it.

However , you must have strong reservations about the process surely?

No ad, no applications, no interviews?

Someone decided he was the ONLY man for the job 9 weeks after he didn't feature in the thinking at all! No other candidate in the whole of the world was worth considering apparently and his salary has quadrupled!

He must be quite a manager, yet he has limited experience and his results do not suggest anything special.

Its hard to go past the suspicion that Shaw knew him at Preston and Shaw wants a manager he can feel comfortable for reasons of his own.

All the criticism of this appointment is fear about how the Club will suffer further, particularly when Bowyer was doing so well.

It still could work out and I hope it does, but, as with the sacking of Sam and the appointment of Berg, it doesn't look promising.

A few things:

Was it not reported that his interview was done via Video link to Venkys as well as Shaw and Agnew? (Genuine question, as I'm sure I've read that somewhere).

His salary has QUADRUPLED to a WHOPPING 8k/week. About right for a manager at this level (possibly less?).

His limited experience suggest something pretty frigging special at Pompey where he had to throw kids in just to get a squad on the pitch and occasionally without a bench to speak of. While at B'pool, he could've done better but nonetheless he stopped a 5-game rot and that's with a squad either on par with ours or slight lower depending on outlook. W/o Ince, that B'pool squad is nowt to write home about tbh.

Re: Shaw, it's possible that he has used his contacts to go for a manager that he feels comfortable with, yes. But why's that a bad thing? His role is that of JW, while Shebby's title is no more than 'media-man' in reality.

I can certainly see where you're coming from, but (as with all circumstances) everything can be spun in a negative (yours) or positive (my) way.

[47er]

You make some good points. There are certainly extenuating circumstances with regards to both the Portsmouth and Blackpool jobs but no outstanding record of results. Sure it might have been different with normal circumstances but we can only hope that can't we? We can't be confident of it. Its another gamble. After all, as you say, he has limited experience. is that really what we need right now?

He may or may not have had an' interview" but if he's the only candidate, then it just amounts to a chat?

I don't want to spin this appointment anyway but you do have to spin it to get the positives!

If his relationship with Shaw is designed to firm up Shaw's position within the club, then that's a bad thing. All I care about is "can he manage?"

Finally I hope it works out for all our sakes BUT!!

[Rover_Shaun]

Could the real Mercerman please stand up!

Tread with care. He did say Sheff Wednesday would get promoted this season

[Fife Rover]

The "hate" is reserved for The owners and their brawling deputies at Ewood, I don't think anyone is blaming Appleton for going for it.

However , you must have strong reservations about the process surely?

No ad, no applications, no interviews?

Someone decided he was the ONLY man for the job 9 weeks after he didn't feature in the thinking at all! No other candidate in the whole of the world was worth considering apparently and his salary has quadrupled!

He must be quite a manager, yet he has limited experience and his results do not suggest anything special.

Its hard to go past the suspicion that Shaw knew him at Preston and Shaw wants a manager he can feel comfortable for reasons of his own.

All the criticism of this appointment is fear about how the Club will suffer further, particularly when Bowyer was doing so well.

It still could work out and I hope it does, but, as with the sacking of Sam and the appointment of Berg, it doesn't look promising.

Who is his agent?

[bazza]

Re: Shaw, it's possible that he has used his contacts to go for a manager that he feels comfortable with, yes. But why's that a bad thing? His role is that of JW, while Shebby's title is no more than 'media-man' in reality.

You have hit the nail on the head for me. I never realised that this is the case.

I think you're right and, hopefully, the trip to Pune brought clarity to the Rao family too.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Conveniently forget that the ony two managers to get us into the top flight in the last 40 years were both experienced managers who had achieved things.

You get nowhere employing wet behind the ears novices

Wet behind the ears was how Howard Kendall was once described !