[Archived] Michael Appleton - New Rovers Manager

[martonrover]

The difference between this and the Berg appointment seems to be that Appleton has control over players and recruitment.

The rumours suggested that this wasn't a luxury Berg was allowed to enjoy, thanks to Shabby.

Let's hope Appleton gets it right.

But again my feeling is that this is because Appleton has more self confidence and knows what he wants and what's needed.

This has to be translated into results at some point this season but he definitely fills me with more hope than Berg.

[JAL]

I am curious as to why ?

Orr isn't my favourite player - but we do need experience, he is a reasonable Championship right back - will provide cover for Henley - or allow Henley to move to left back if Olsson moves on. He will also provide cover for centre half.

People keep saying we need some Championship style players to get us out of the division - and yet Orr (who has lots of experience in Championship) worries you ?

Rewind to when Orr was playing for the club and why he was omitted. The two young players in Henley and Todd Kane have performed far better than Bradley Orr could ever wish to dream about.

Bringing Orr back has to be a backwards step.

[Andy]

Orr isn't a bad player.

He's not a good one, but certainly good enough for a mid-table Championship club.

What he also is, is a grade-A gobshite.

I'd want him to apologise to the fans for his blatently inflamatory comment after the Wigan match before he got back into the side.

[DE.]

Very disappointed to read Appleton's comments about Orr. if he had any grasp of the situation he would at least acknowledge Orr's disgraceful comments blaming the fans for relegation last season.

By the way, I live in Ipswich and nobody here is shedding tears over Orr returning. Spoke to one Town fan today who goes to every game and he said 'yeah, he's been OK I guess. We'll be alright without him though.'

Like a new signing. Can't wait.

[Stuart]

Like a new signing. Can't wait.

That's the bit that bugs me DE.

It's straight out of the Kean handbook of keans. The only thing missing is likening him to Gary Neville. Perhaps that page was stuck together.

[Ricky]

Chuck Orr in at midfield. At least he has a bit of bite and might actually try to make a tackle in the middle of the park!!

[Rover_Shaun]

Bradley Orr post-relegation interview in all it's g(l)ory

[DE.]

Bradley Orr post-relegation interview in all it's g(l)ory

Some direct quotes from that:

"The gaffer stood out there tonight and took a lot of stick, and I've got nothing but admiration and respect for him."

"One man who can look in the mirror and say he gave it everything is the manager."

"I'll speak on behalf of the dressing room and thank him for everything he's done over the course of the season because he's had to deal with a lot, and mark my words he's took things on the chin that he shouldn't have had to as far as ... erm ... you know .... all kinds of situations." (he wanted to say the fans/protests here but wisely stopped short of saying this).

(in regards to the fans) "I think sometimes a line can be crossed. The way the gaffer's handled things has been exemplary and I just want to give him credit."

Not a single apology to the fans in the entire interview. His only concern, the entire time, is exonerating Steve Kean and apologising to him. You can tell he wants to just come out and say the fans are to blame but knows he'd be well and truly fecked if he dared say it directly.

[imy9]

We have currently got a Chelsea reserve playing at RB.

Henley is not back for a month but is only 18 years old.

We have loaned Orr to a Championship team who are currently four points behind us in the table. The same bloke who won the Championship with QPR a few years back?

Can we afford to be so choosy in our position? I think he'll do a good job til the summer and we'll see after.

[rovers11]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11676/8421070/Blackburn-manager-Michael-Appleton-keen-to-make-changes-during-the-January-transfer-window

MA says we have too many similar players and our recruitment policy needs to be improved 10 fold.

For me, today has been a massive step in the right direction in getting this club where it belongs. A proper coherent coaching team who knows how the manager wants to play plus a new fitness coach which is very significant.

Appleton has also come out and acknowledged what many of us have been saying for ages - the squad is unbalanced!

[jim mk2]

Orr is comfortably the worst right back I've seen at the club in 50 years - and I've seen a few bad ones. If Appleton thinks he's a good player and better than anything we've got he's a very poor judge.

[J*B]

If Orr takes Henleys place ill be devestated. If Orr coming back means Henley moved to left back, and the good Olsson playing left wing ill be delighted.

[OJRovers]

To be fair it doesn't exactly take a genius to see how unbalanced the squad is.

Berg said it when he mention about how we only have players to play in one style of play.

I hope Appleton has said the same thing (regarding the player recruitment) to Venkys face to face, so they realise that their money has been wasted by Shebby, Kean and the various agents.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

I thought Orr crossed a decent ball, something we lack, but his support of the dark lord did it for me. Massive apology needed for redemption.

[imy9]

Orr is comfortably the worst right back I've seen at the club in 50 years - and I've seen a few bad ones. If Appleton thinks he's a good player and better than anything we've got he's a very poor judge.

McCarthy is someone you think is an excellent manager (I do too to be fair) and he signed him and wanted him beyond this window, so what does that say about him?

[Al]

Can we open a thread just for Imy, Chaddy and Ewood Spark to keep telling one another how wonderful things are at Ewood. Perhaps then the rest of us will not have to read their bleatings.

[Mike Graham]

Orr is comfortably the worst right back I've seen at the club in 50 years - and I've seen a few bad ones. If Appleton thinks he's a good player and better than anything we've got he's a very poor judge.

Sadly, based on Appleton's astonishing support for Orr I give +100

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Appleton wants to bring 3 or 4 new faces in.

Appleton goes to London to meet with the owners to discuss said transfers.

Appleton quoted as saying Bradley Orr will be like a new signing.

Hmmm that's 2 or 3 to come in then.

I have no problem signing championship players - we need some hunger - but let's not forget that Orr was bloody useless when he played.

[Roverthechimp]

We have zero defensive cover and our current "leaders of men" are conspicuous by their absence. A gobby, battling prick is what we need, both on the pitch and on the training ground. If Givet leaves and Kane returns to chelsea we literally have nobody (and if anyone says they would rather have an untried portugese cb on the bench/pitch instead of Orr then they can @#/? right off!) Sure he stuck up for his manager, don't forget it was said manager that signed him and if he shared our (the fans) opinion that Stevie was a total keaner then he would still be at QPR...

Give the guy a break, if he comes back and puts the work in on the pitch then he can say what the @#/? he wants for my part...

Orr is comfortably the worst right back I've seen at the club in 50 years - and I've seen a few bad ones. If Appleton thinks he's a good player and better than anything we've got he's a very poor judge.

Atkins came good in midfield but i remember him at right back and he was shocking, even compared to Orr

[jim mk2]

McCarthy is someone you think is an excellent manager (I do too to be fair) and he signed him and wanted him beyond this window, so what does that say about him?

All managers make mistakes, except big Sam of course.

[ChrisyG]

Orr can play centre midfield I think. Might be an option even though he is a to$$er.

[jim mk2]

Atkins came good in midfield but i remember him at right back and he was shocking, even compared to Orr

Super Atko had more ability in his little toe than Orr has in his whole body. Silly post.

[chaddyrovers]

He's done more in his first week than Berg did in total. I have a good feeling about this bloke

same here. He is bring in his own staff and changng things already most fans have been saying for ages like Recuitment policy and Fitness levels

The difference between this and the Berg appointment seems to be that Appleton has control over players and recruitment.

The rumours suggested that this wasn't a luxury Berg was allowed to enjoy, thanks to Shabby.

Let's hope Appleton gets it right.

seem that way for defo.

Me too.

But ONLY if he apologises.

Which he won't, so I guess I'm still against him. A leftover from the Kean era. He will be the new Keith Andrews and we need to get rid of bad smells not bring the back.

I just hope he's bigging him up to sell him - but I doubt it.

It's a minus against Appleton for me, lets hope his pluses are the greater.

Orr has said on twitter that he will do an interview to explain his comments. hopefully with Andy Cryer and the LT.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11676/8421070/Blackburn-manager-Michael-Appleton-keen-to-make-changes-during-the-January-transfer-window

MA says we have too many similar players and our recruitment policy needs to be improved 10 fold.

Pretty much what most fans have been saying since start of the season with the clueless recruitment policy of Kean and Shebby.

interesting that Appleton has bought in his own head of recruiment in Luke Dowling.

Also Chris Nevillie bought in as fitness coach is a good appointment. must be good coach if he is involved in the England coaching setup.

[Roverthechimp]

Super Atko had more ability in his little toe than Orr has in his whole body. Silly post.

Atkins was a shocking right back who came good in midfield. Are you arguing that Atkins was a better right back than Orr or are you just being patronising because you don't like Orr?

[Muddboy]

I thought Orr crossed a decent ball, something we lack, but his support of the dark lord did it for me. Massive apology needed for redemption.

He's just tweeted saying he's going to do an interview to explain why he backed Kean and to answer some other points.

Hope he does.