[Archived] Michael Appleton - New Rovers Manager

[gumboots]

The owners are learning very fast - is that fast by your standards Derek or fast by ours. To us they look to have learnt nowt yet

[John]

Chris Neville is a good appointment (fitness coach) - has worked with the England set up before.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Good news about him building his own backroom team. As for the points thing under Kean, i'd stake my house it wouldn't have lasted. Teams were just about sussing us out then, Boro did it then we had Charlton & Forest away which i think nailed on we would have lost. All the old problems synonymus under SK reign were still there, a lot still are but i think finally slowly this will be a new dawn. If it works for MA i don't know but we'll have a good idea after the next 3 home games how it may pan out.

To some extent someone (be that Kean or whoever else was bringing players in during summer) did seem to realise we were lacking and.....wait for it....I can see what they were trying to do. Murphy to provide the creativity, Etuhu to provide the physical presence,ditto Best up front.

Unfortunately, Best got injured, Murphy's legs have gone and Etuhu is just plain awful, so we addressed 2 areas of the team that were lacking, just with unfortunate/crap signings. In theory they should have been good enough to dominate at this level. Maybe if they'd looked at Fulham's away record they would have got a better idea of they're battling abilities.

Caveat: This is in no way an endorsement of Steve Kean!

.

[Rover_Shaun]

Blackburn: Derek Shaw coy on Rovers power struggle

http://www.bbc.co.uk...tball/21120563?

I wonder how long it took them to work a VHS player? I bet it was made obsolete by DVD by the time they figured it out and the DVD player ws made obsolete by Blueray before they figured out how to work that

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

If our players are so bad can someone explain to me why they've picked up 30 points in 16 games under Steve Kean, Steve Kean's assistant and our reserve team manager? And I'm not buying the luck argument when we're talking about over a third of a season.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Anyone remember the kids program "Don't open that Trapdoor"? I'm sure Appleton played the skull.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Ultimately it was most of the players yet again who let themselves and everybody else down on Saturday but i thought his tactics were poor from the start. Hopefully it was a one off and he's learned how lightweight this lot are. No one can expect a 35 year old Murphy to start being an all action ball winnning midfielder which is what's being asked of him. MA needs to be strong enough to demand some cash to change some of these players and make us more robust and boot out/freeze out some of the underperformers no matter who they are. No manager will whip this lot into shape, too many not suited to the battle of this division, changes needed or else nothing will improve. I hope he recognises this an has the minerals to carry it through. They finaly seem to be removing all traces of SK from behind the scenes so the next step is the squad.

I found his tactics interesting - if uninspiring. What I found of most interest - was how little our full backs got forward. This could be as a result of Charltons tactics (pushing their wingers on) - but could be an example of the safety first approach he seemed to have at Blackpool.

The only hope - is the noises we are hearing about him complaining of lack of fitness, desire and motivation from the players. To be honest - if he can perform a miracle - and sort these out we could still creep into the play offs (with the right incoming transfers). But after Saturday I am not holding my breath.

[martonrover]

Good news about him building his own backroom team. As for the points thing under Kean, i'd stake my house it wouldn't have lasted. Teams were just about sussing us out then, Boro did it then we had Charlton & Forest away which i think nailed on we would have lost. All the old problems synonymus under SK reign were still there, a lot still are but i think finally slowly this will be a new dawn. If it works for MA i don't know but we'll have a good idea after the next 3 home games how it may pan out.

Agree with most of that but I would say we will know by the end of the season if he's the man to turn it around, rather than after the next three games, such is the extent of the task.

[roverandout]

also looks similar to this guy

[Mike E]

If our players are so bad can someone explain to me why they've picked up 30 points in 16 games under Steve Kean, Steve Kean's assistant and our reserve team manager? And I'm not buying the luck argument when we're talking about over a third of a season.

I think it's because they've been playing for their mate, which is never the way it should be, as it got us relegated as much as selling our best players did. The players need to respect the manager. There are far more complex issues such as fitness and diet that need addressing rather than just 'the manager'. You can point to the manager straight away, but you wouldn't after one game, even at a normal club. And we are far from a nromal club.

[Blue n White Rover]

Not getting carried away with Appleton's latest comments on the Official Website. He is saying the right things, but so did Berg. If he implements what he is saying then hopefully we should have a much better performance come tomorrow.

The concerns are there for all to see, it's whether Appleton can address those concerns. Hopefully he can and we can push on to at least give us fans a decent end to the season. I've given up on promotion.

[Stuart]

One thing that worries me with people who think Appleton will be a strong character and 'give it up 'em'. I'm not sure players are wired that way any more. Didn't Fergie once say that he had to change his approach?

Now I know we don't have players of the quality of United but our better players may need a more 'modern' style of management.

Fair enough if people think we should just get rid of the preening PL prima donnas but if we replace them with lower league cloggers - who do respond to that style - we become lower league clogger (if we haven't already). Effectively all 'labore' and no 'arte'.

Perhaps I'm not explaining that very well, but I just think of Ince and how his no-nonsense style worked at Macclesfield and MK Dons but not here. I could imagine Appleton being of the same ilk. Kean started the work of bringing the squad down to his level. I hope Appleton doesn't continue with that approach.

It'll be interesting to see the level of quality that comes and that which leaves. Don't forget he and Venkys are 'ambitious'.

[Mercer]

Spoilt players should just get on with the job they're told to do, regardless of who their manager is.

Do you get to sulk at your work if you don't like your manager?

If you don't like your manager then there's a simple solution - go and find another job somewhere else, working for a manager you do like.

Until then shut up whining and moaning and get on with the job your paid to do. Players need to get a grip and come to the real would.

+1 million

[OJRovers]

Blackburn: Derek Shaw coy on Rovers power struggle

http://www.bbc.co.uk...tball/21120563?

Mind blowing comments.

"The owners deserve some luck"

In what world do they deserve any luck, all this mess is their fault, completely.

"They want the club right"

It has gone from being one of the best run small clubs to a laughing stock under their ownership. They are never going to be able to make it 'right' whilst they are still owners.

[USABlue]

Well I do like the noises Appleton is making, maybe the first in a while to give an honest, if somewhat tempered, assesment. Gives me a little hope but he has to transfer his words to performances on the pitch. Let's see how the line up looks tomorrow, it will speak volumes.

Mind blowing comments.

"The owners deserve some luck"

In what world do they deserve any luck, all this mess is their fault, completely.

"They want the club right"

It has gone from being one of the best run small clubs to a laughing stock under their ownership. They are never going to be able to make it 'right' whilst they are still owners.

In this situation the clearly made their own luck they are paying for their terrible terrible decisions.

[Mercer]

Appleton has inherited one almighty mess.

As one poster this morning said, the squad is so out of balance and many of the players we have are, IMO, eiother simply not good enough or are here for the money and don't have the love or commitment for the club that is needed.

At least he has brought three of his own, and possibly another one to come, backrom staff in. This is vital as you need trust in the people around you.

I think we can write this season off, we wont be challenging.

Unless Appleton proves to be a complete fool over the remainder of the season, the time to judge him will be early next season.

[Kelbo]

Chris Neville is a good appointment (fitness coach) - has worked with the England set up before.

Wonder what Majiball knows of him?

[Willie Eckerslike]

One thing that worries me with people who think Appleton will be a strong character and 'give it up 'em'. I'm not sure players are wired that way any more. Didn't Fergie once say that he had to change his approach?

Now I know we don't have players of the quality of United but our better players may need a more 'modern' style of management.

Fair enough if people think we should just get rid of the preening PL prima donnas but if we replace them with lower league cloggers - who do respond to that style - we become lower league clogger (if we haven't already). Effectively all 'labore' and no 'arte'.

Perhaps I'm not explaining that very well, but I just think of Ince and how his no-nonsense style worked at Macclesfield and MK Dons but not here. I could imagine Appleton being of the same ilk. Kean started the work of bringing the squad down to his level. I hope Appleton doesn't continue with that approach.

It'll be interesting to see the level of quality that comes and that which leaves. Don't forget he and Venkys are 'ambitious'.

You're right. Ferguson was speaking at Harvard University before Christmas and said that the old ways don't work any more. Nowadays he has to know when to give it the occasional hairdryer and when to put his arm round someone. He also said he has to be very careful in what he says when United are behind at half time or have lost

Not sure if Appleton is capable of this approach - perhaps at the moment he doesn't need to be but he needs some decent man management skills to get this lot playing for him -does he have those skills?

As for players needing to come into the real world - no, they don't. If you or I sulk and do a bad job, we will get the sack. They just get dropped to the bench and keep picking up thousands a week for the remainder of their contract. They have too much money and that's why the best managers know how to converse with them and get the prima donnas onside and doing a job for them. Shouldn't be like that but it is

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

I think it's because they've been playing for their mate, which is never the way it should be, as it got us relegated as much as selling our best players did. The players need to respect the manager. There are far more complex issues such as fitness and diet that need addressing rather than just 'the manager'. You can point to the manager straight away, but you wouldn't after one game, even at a normal club. And we are far from a nromal club.

Whatever way gets results is the way it should be. Whatever way doesn't get results is the way it shouldn't be. Thats the point of football (and all competitive sports).

I can't for the life of me understand why fans are blaming the players when we've just changed our manager and just lost our first game in 5. Its like a detective story for pre-school children that people for some reason are unable to solve.

Whats changed? The manager. Who's to blame? The players.

[gumboots]

they are if they decided beforehand like so many on here have not to give the manager any chance and not to try for him. They were trying before for bowyerso what's changed - the manager - and it could be they don't fancy him.

[dwayne cage]

Hope a first win will be on the cards aftet that awful performance against Charlton. Personally I think it will be a draw and Appletons 1st point. I hope Appleton has the courage to drop players who are not performing well too. Hoping also he uses Nuno more

[martonrover]

they are if they decided beforehand like so many on here have not to give the manager any chance and not to try for him. They were trying before for bowyerso what's changed - the manager - and it could be they don't fancy him.

Have to say that's how it looked with a number of players on Saturday which is why it's going to be a medium / long term job for Appleton to sort it out.

Like others, I'm encouraged by his proactive start in bringing his own staff and, to me, he does seem to clearly see what's wrong and what's needed.

I never got that feeling with Berg who just appeared to bumble along.

[SamTheShrew]

He loves Bradley Orr. Urgh

"100% he'll be back here after Saturday's game to be a Blackburn player," revealed Appleton.

"He is someone I have tried to sign a couple of times, he's got a vast experience of the championship. He's very vocal, he's a good character, a good personality and he is someone who I'd rather have in my side than up against me.

"For me it is almost like a new signing, he's a lad that has got lots and lots of games in the championship and someone that is going to be vital for us between now and the end of the season."

[Al]

He loves Bradley Orr. Urgh

"100% he'll be back here after Saturday's game to be a Blackburn player," revealed Appleton.

"He is someone I have tried to sign a couple of times, he's got a vast experience of the championship. He's very vocal, he's a good character, a good personality and he is someone who I'd rather have in my side than up against me.

"For me it is almost like a new signing, he's a lad that has got lots and lots of games in the championship and someone that is going to be vital for us between now and the end of the season."

Oh sh1t.

[Amo]

I'm sure inevitably the same thing would've happened with Bowyer as it did when Parkes took over 99/00. Initially, he got a response from the players and was doing such a steady job that Jack saw no reason to rush the appointment, then it went tits up (and at one point Parkes wanted to offload Jansen, Dunn... etc.) and Souey got the call. Of course, that's where any comparison begins and ends between now and then. Souey's stock wasn't high when he came in but at least he had honours to his name and his 'no-nonsense' approach was still applicable to the time. Just don't know what 'Appy' has going for him.