[Archived] Michael Appleton - New Rovers Manager

[Roost]

Yup there is a name for them fans. Rather not say it though.

BRAG Members?

[Waggy76]

The more I listen to Appleton and see the way he sets his team up the more he reminds me of Gordon Lee. Appleton, like Lee, seems straightforward and not the type to take any of the rubbish that Shebby and co have been coming out with this season. He has surrounded himself with his own backroom staff and the players seem to be responding to him. The team looks to be better balanced and like Lee he seems to set much store in the work ethic. I thought the players really worked for each other today and there seemed to be a good spirit amongst them. Pedersen had another excellent game in midfield and Appleton clearly values players who are prepared to put a shift in. Young Markus Olsson might not be the most gifted but he certainly worked up and down his wing today to provide support for both the attack and defence. It's early days but I must say that I find Appleton increasingly impressive and hopefully the owners will continue to give him his head to control the football side of things. I don't expect him to get us into the play-offs this season but, hopefully, he will be able to use the rest of this campaign to develop a team that will hit the ground running in August.

Gordon lee , now you are talking !

Pulled us out of the wilderness , one of the greatest games ever Rovers 5 -2 against Plymouth !

[riverside returns]

Quite right saggy, that was a real roller coaster. I, as a 12 yr old had to explain to my mum why I stank of beer. Truth be known, I had not drunk a drop but as a riversides, had been at the Darren end of the riverside and each time rovers scored, this chap behind me threw his pint in the air. What a day....

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Credit where its due, that was about as comprehensive an away win as I've seen in a long time. First half was pretty even, second half we ran riot. But for 2 games running now he's got the players working for each other and a rock solid defence. There wasn't much going forward for me against Brighton but that definitely improved today. Here's hoping its not his Peterborough.

[john.leigh]

Peterborough were/are a bottom three team,

Derby are above us in the table.

[chris_h]

Peterborough were/are a bottom three team,

Derby are above us in the table.

True. Plus the Posh scoreline flattered us. Not so yesterday by the sound of things.

[bypass06]

Appleton wants Premier League team at home

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/blackburn_rovers/news/10188144._/?

[yorkblue]

Gordon lee , now you are talking !

Pulled us out of the wilderness , one of the greatest games ever Rovers 5 -2 against Plymouth !

That brings back childhood memories. Bouncing up and down in the old wooden riverside stand with my dad and uncle.It was a huge game at the top of the old 3rd division. Massive crowd - I think it was around 30000. Thousands of Plymouth fans in town causing chaos with rumours of them spraying rovers' fans green. 2-0 down at halftime then inspired by (i think) Tony Field who scored after running half the length of the field and going past player after player ( or is my imagination getting the better of me?) coming back to win 5-2.

[Parsonblue]

I'm afraid your memory is playing tricks yorkblue. Lee sold Field the previous season to former manager Ken Furphy at Sheffield United to raise funds for his rebuild. It was Beamo who pulled a goal back just before half-time and then Don Martin and Mike Hickman ran riot in the second-half. But as you say it was a wonderful day and is one of the games that is still vivid in my memory bank.

[chaddyrovers]

In the Sunday People,

Alan Nixon has said that Rovers want Blackpool centre back Alex Baptiste. around 1 million pounds.

Top Hopkinson has said that Rovers want free agent Lee Williamson. was at Pompey will Appleton. decent back up player

[JAL]

In the Sunday People,

Alan Nixon has said that Rovers want Blackpool centre back Alex Baptiste. around 1 million pounds.

Top Hopkinson has said that Rovers want free agent Lee Williamson. was at Pompey will Appleton. decent back up player

Are they potentially premiership quality chaddy ?

[Stuart]

Are they potentially premiership quality chaddy ?

I was thinking that at first but we don't need PL quality, we need championship quality.

But then you look at some of the teams in the lower half of the PL table and it makes you wonder what "PL quality" actually is. Is it only those playing for teams competing for Europe, or those who narrowly survive?

We may already have a PL1 and PL2 without the need for any league changes!

[riverside returns]

Yorkblue, I think the crowd was 17500 although that was massive in the dark days of the 70's. it was one of many great days as a small club.

[JAL]

I was thinking that at first but we don't need PL quality, we need championship quality.

But then you look at some of the teams in the lower half of the PL table and it makes you wonder what "PL quality" actually is. Is it only those playing for teams competing for Europe, or those who narrowly survive?

We may already have a PL1 and PL2 without the need for any league changes!

Hard to put into words but putting it another way will they be good enough to get us promotion or will they just make up the numbers in the championship like many of the others have.

[chaddyrovers]

Are they potentially premiership quality chaddy ?

we dont need Premiership quality players!!!

we need players who know the championship and can get us promote first before we even think about Premier league.

Baptiste would be good signing for us.

[Ewood Spark]

Yorkblue, I think the crowd was 17500 although that was massive in the dark days of the 70's. it was one of many great days as a small club.

You were nearly 'bob-on' with the attendance .... it was actually 17818 (Thanks to the oracle written by a previous poster on this thread ).

The match itself is easily in my 'top three Rovers memorable games of all time' ... scrap that .... it was the best.

[Stuart]

Hard to put into words but putting it another way will they be good enough to get us promotion or will they just make up the numbers in the championship like many of the others have.

Baptiste might be ok. 26yo and plenty of championship (and even PL) experience.

Not so sure about Williamson. 30yo, league one standard, another ex-nobber. Wouldn't be on my list but perhaps Appleton trusts him.

Seems like someone joining the dots though and guessing. How often has Nicko been called right on his Rovers stories recently though. That's not (necessarily) a pop, I just don't know.

[gumboots]

I thought it all looked a bit like guesswork too. Presumably they are keeping their cards close to their chests since there have been so many leaks of so much info from the club in the last year or so depending on who wanted their bit of info out there and for what purpose. I'll wait and see who actually turns up and believe it when i see them arriving for a medical or when the club announces it

[riverside returns]

ES it was closely followed by the promotion parties at Port Vale 4-1 that season and at Bury I think in 1980 when the whole ground shook with the rhythm and noise as we went up.

Even the game at argyle in 1992 when we clinched the spot in the play offs. Another great day.

[Stuart]

I thought it all looked a bit like guesswork too. Presumably they are keeping their cards close to their chests since there have been so many leaks of so much info from the club in the last year or so depending on who wanted their bit of info out there and for what purpose. I'll wait and see who actually turns up and believe it when i see them arriving for a medical or when the club announces it

Not long to wait now. 4 days, 13 hours and 5 minutes til that transfer window "slams shut".

Mind your fingers!

[Derbyshire Blue]

Gordon lee , now you are talking !

Pulled us out of the wilderness , one of the greatest games ever Rovers 5 -2 against Plymouth !

What a weekend, woke in a girlfriends flat near Dukes Brow to hear Plymouth fans singing in Town, doubly excited the build up to the match, and I'd lost my virginity

[Kelbo]

Gordon lee , now you are talking !

Pulled us out of the wilderness , one of the greatest games ever Rovers 5 -2 against Plymouth !

Think we were losing that game too, didnt Mike Hickman score 2 in that game?

Walked to Ewood with Stuart Metcalfe who was sent off at Plymouth the week before, remember him saying Plymouth were beatable!!

And they were, great game!!

[Gav]

You need to give the guy a couple of months at least before you start to proclaim him as the best manager we have had for years. Hasn't everyone learned from recent Rovers history?

Is it wrong to heed caution? I don’t think it is, though if people want to get really excited after a few games that's their prerogative, I would rather wait and see what unfolds.

Nobody is 'proclaiming him as the best manager we have ever had' but some are trying to write him off before he's even got going, which is pathetic in my book and just goes to show how far this site has sunk over the past 3-4yrs.

[John]

Appleton has not been afraid to say what he thinks - said indirectly best if the owners don't attend a match and also confident that they will back him in the transfer market.

Also has been talking about moves he will make in the summer suggesting longevity.

Seems to have a very strong bond in place with the Rao family in a short space of time, wonder how he has managed to do that - emphasis on seems there.

[Stuart]

Seems to have a very strong bond in place with the Rao family in a short space of time, wonder how he has managed to do that - emphasis on seems there.

Well it can't be his agent, "he doesn't have one".