Jon Dahl Tomasson - Officially No Longer Our Head Coach

[Mattyblue]

2 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

The problem was, it wasn’t 3-0. It was usually walking out feeling deflated after watching the most horrendous match of your life before a long punt upto Samba had been headed down for Diouf to bundle over the line….every match!

Its the first and only time in my life when I stopped enjoying us win. Like a weird form of torture.

No it was often a bloody good win at Ewood. 

If you stopped enjoying being a comfortable PL side with a fantastic home record and a packed Ewood that’s up to you, I loved it and knew the day of his sacking where we were going to end up.
 

Edited June 18, 2022 by Mattyblue

[Mattyblue]

3 minutes ago, Paul Mellelieu said:

When Souness and Hughes were his predecessors I think it's understandable to be disappointed by Sam's style of play.

I understood budgets had been cut to the bone by the Walker Trust, so we were ‘weeing with the willy we had’, others obviously knew better!

[Ossydave]

Sam did a great job, no doubt about it, I'd never have got rid of him the way we did.

I think ultimately we'd have started to struggle though ala Dyche at Burnley. He only really had 1 way to play, suss that out and you're snookered.

I guess that's part of the reason I'm excited for next season, fresh ideas, tactics, players (hopefully).

Had Mowbray still been somehow in charge I'd be dreading it.....

[Mattyblue]

Did he? Not how his late Bolton sides played. 

[Paul Mani]

3 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

No it was often a bloody good win at Ewood. 

If you stopped enjoying being a comfortable PL side with a fantastic home record and a packed Ewood that’s up to you, I loved it and knew the day of his sacking where we were going to end up.
 

I loved being a mid table PL side. But I hated the football. HATED it. It literally made me feel like not wanting to watch.

For the record, there’s no way I would’ve sacked him. Sam, Williams and Finn were Venkys golden ticket. Their decision on that trio has genuinely cost them £200m 🙈

[glen9mullan]

Given the last 6 weeks, the fact that GB managed to pull this rabbit out the hat, gets him massive Kudos straight away. 

It was not looking good prior to GB coming in.

JDT speaks very well, is a decorated player and has a decent pedigree for his age on in what he's achieved to date as a coach.

His appointment appears to have been widely received very well, and given whats gone before i'm pleased with the appointment.

The hard work starts now for him and GB in identifying the players we need to start the season. It will be interesting on the loan front what connections GB has.

During Mowbray's reign the loan market is something he thrived in, with the level/calibre of players he got through his relationships with the likes of City and Liverpool.

Whatever happens we cannot go backwards, we finished 8th last season and now need to become serious top 6 contenders. TM put the stability back in the club, but couldnt kick us on. JDT as per his interviews knows he has inherited a team which needs some players and is stable. He has a great chance now to really showcase his talent.

If he gets it right, his reign maybe short as the bigger clubs come sniffing, but for me getting promotion is the expectation over this next 3 seasons,  anything more is a bonus., anything less is failure given where we finished last season.

Edited June 18, 2022 by glen9mullan

[Mattyblue]

Any goss on what happened with Farke, Glen?

[glen9mullan]

25 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Any goss on what happened with Farke, Glen?

Was not willing to do 2nd 3rd interviews and be pissed about, and was not alone in that.

One by one they all walked away due to amateurish way we presented ourselves.

Telling top coaches

"We've lots of people to see, so after todays interview, if you make our short list we will get you in again, where we will hold more interviews with those who made it through. After those second interviews, there will be a final interview and an opportunity to discuss the terms and conditions. Sadly the process will take up to 4 weeks"

Lots of candidates had other options, and there has to be a desire to get things done. The interviewing process gave off the opposite vibe, and similar to when Kean went, rather than us rule managers out, those managers ruled themselves out.

Had Broughton not come in, i think we would still be looking for a manager. JDT, has said it happened all very quickly and Broughton is who persuaded him to take it on. 

This was never our plan, and where that leaves Suhail and Waggott, i'm hoping its down the road.

An exciting CEO appointment now, could really tip the scales in Venkys favour. There is a genuine feeling/vibe of optimism on these appointments. Clearing the decks now and not later will reap the rewards 

Edited June 18, 2022 by glen9mullan

[Andy]

46 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

With Sam, Williams and Finn the club was absolutely primed to kick on.

All you need to do Rao family was keep things as they are, up the budgets a bit, wait for the new TV deals to be signed and you are laughing. Put ‘Venky’s’ on the shirt if you want, and let the dosh roll in…

Alas they went a very different route

I think this is an important point - Sam plays to the strengths of what he has to his disposal.

At Rovers, he was able to organise us to be very competitive in the Premier League, with an inferior team to the majority of the top half of the league (at least).

With some proper investment, I have no doubt that the 'style' would have improved as better players came in. I didn't care less; we won matches and were a top half Prem club - that was more important to me than the method of how we picked points up.

Football is a competitive sport first, entertainment second.

Edited June 18, 2022 by Andy

[glen9mullan]

Just now, Andy said:

I think this is an important point - Sam plays to the strengths of what he has to his disposal.

At Rovers, he was able to organise us to be very competitive in the Premier League, with an inferior team to the majority of the top half of the league (at least).

With some proper investment, I have no doubt that the 'style' would have improved as better players came in. I didn't care less; we won matches and were a top half Premium club - that was more important to me than the method of how we picked points up.

Football is a competitive sport first, entertainment second.

100%, you use what's in your toolbox.

During his Bolton days and the JJ Okocha, Hierro etc period they played excellent football.

Results always first, and I was very disappointed when he was removed, it hadnt even crossed my mind that he would get potted.

We've suffered ever since for that decision, and everything which has come since will always go back to that one decision.

[Andy]

Good point Glen - was going to mention that.

When he had the likes of Okocha, Hierro and Djorkaeff at Bolton, they certainly weren't playing long ball.

Sam gets a bad rap, but he's a very good and effective manager, certainly at mid to lower Prem level.

Edited June 18, 2022 by Andy

[glen9mullan]

3 minutes ago, Andy said:

Good point Glen - was going to mention that.

When he had the likes of Okocha, Hierro and Djorkaeff at Bolton, they certainly weren't playing long ball.

Sam gets a bad rap, but he's a very good and effective manager, certainly at mid to lower Prem level.

He deservedly got the England job, sadly it ended under controversial circumstances, would of been very interesting how he would of done with all that talent at his disposal 

[Paul Mani]

18 minutes ago, glen9mullan said:

100%, you use what's in your toolbox.

During his Bolton days and the JJ Okocha, Hierro etc period they played excellent football.

Results always first, and I was very disappointed when he was removed, it hadnt even crossed my mind that he would get potted.

We've suffered ever since for that decision, and everything which has come since will always go back to that one decision.

They really did not.
 

Most of my family and all of my wife’s family are Bolton fans. They all love Sam. He’s a Bolton legend. But they still say his football was terrible and when comparing to their all time great teams prefer the exciting football of Rioch in the Mcginlay era.

Sam was a one trick pony, and a bloody good one at that. But ask any supporter at any club he managed whether they enjoyed the football. The answer is always the same…

[Displaced Rover]

12 minutes ago, glen9mullan said:

He deservedly got the England job, sadly it ended under controversial circumstances, would of been very interesting how he would of done with all that talent at his disposal 

He’s an infinitely better manager than Southgate so think he’d have done alright! Wouldn’t have let two big games (WC semi, Euro final) drift away from us when we were well on top.

[Mattyblue]

7 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

They really did not.
 

Most of my family and all of my wife’s family are Bolton fans. They all love Sam. He’s a Bolton legend. But they still say his football was terrible and when comparing to their all time great teams prefer the exciting football of Rioch in the Mcginlay era.

Sam was a one trick pony, and a bloody good one at that. But ask any supporter at any club he managed whether they enjoyed the football. The answer is always the same…

Massive generalisation based on folk you know.

You are literally seeing a load of posters right now saying they enjoyed it. Good football is winning football. A good manager is one that has you punching above your weight. 

Edited June 18, 2022 by Mattyblue

[glen9mullan]

6 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

They really did not.
 

Most of my family and all of my wife’s family are Bolton fans. They all love Sam. He’s a Bolton legend. But they still say his football was terrible and when comparing to their all time great teams prefer the exciting football of Rioch in the Mcginlay era.

Sam was a one trick pony, and a bloody good one at that. But ask any supporter at any club he managed whether they enjoyed the football. The answer is always the same…

I watched a lot of their games, and found them very entertaining.

Ultimately though its a results game, id take any brand if the end result is success

[Paul Mani]

1 minute ago, Mattyblue said:

Massive generalisation based on folk you know.

You are literally seeing a load of posters right now saying they enjoyed it.

Eh? I’m seeing a load of Rovers fans saying what they think Bolton played like. Meanwhile I’m providing opinion from Bolton fans (about 20 or so - unfortunately for me) about a period in their history.

Im not seeing anyone saying that they enjoyed Sam’s brand of football at Rovers. Sure we enjoyed being a mid table PL but we were awful to watch.

[Paul Mani]

2 minutes ago, glen9mullan said:

I watched a lot of their games, and found them very entertaining.

Ultimately though its a results game, id take any brand if the end result is success

Sound 👍🏼🙄

[47er]

1 hour ago, Paul Mellelieu said:

When Souness and Hughes were his predecessors I think it's understandable to be disappointed by Sam's style of play.

Difference between Souness and Sam? Souness was taking us down.

[Guest]

And back on topic, JDT has a great opportunity to show what HE can do, in the transfer market and on the field of play. All talk of Big Sam, Souness, Sparky or any other previous incumbent is, frankly, irrelevant at this point.

JDT's Blue and White Army!

[Mattyblue]

In your opinion, Paul. 

I enjoyed it, loads on here are literally telling you they enjoyed it!

I respect that you didn’t, game of opinions, but don’t start telling everybody else what they did or didn’t think!
 

 

 

[Paul Mani]

4 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

In your opinion, Paul. 

I enjoyed it, loads on here are literally telling you they enjoyed it!

I respect that you didn’t, game of opinions, but don’t start telling everybody else what they did or didn’t think!
 

 

 

I’m really happy you did. Quite frankly, it made my eyes bleed.

I pray to God JDT plays better! 👍🏼

[Mattyblue]

Not bothered how he plays as long we are successful.

[Tricky]

18 minutes ago, Displaced Rover said:

He’s an infinitely better manager than Southgate so think he’d have done alright! Wouldn’t have let two big games (WC semi, Euro final) drift away from us when we were well on top.

This, Southgate is just a poor man's Big Sam.

9 minutes ago, Shirley Crabtree Wrestler said:

And back on topic, JDT has a great opportunity to show what HE can do, in the transfer market and on the field of play. All talk of Big Sam, Souness, Sparky or any other previous incumbent is, frankly, irrelevant at this point.

JDT's Blue and White Army!

Here here! 

[Dreyski]

My only issue with Sam was his approach to playing the big teams.

A 4-0 loss to Liverpool with Samba up front, and that 7-0 to Man U with Venkys watching stick in the mind.
At least under Hughes and even Souness we would have been competitive.