Today’s game will see us up against Sam Allardyce who was manager at Newcastle for a short 8 months, before he was sacked at Newcastle last January.
Sam Allardyce – while Newcastle manager
Many Newcastle fans thought that in May of 2007, when Sam was appointed manager on Tyneside, that he was just the manager to bring out the best of an under-performing squad, but within weeks of him signing on at the club, Mike Ashley had bought the club, and Freddy Shepherd was out as Chairman.
Ashley and the new Chairman, Chris Mort, however, decided, at least initially, to keep Sam on board.
We didn’t do too bad under Sam with 26 points by the turn of the year and in 11th place in the league, better than we have done this season, but that wasn’t good enough for Chris Mort and Mike, and the rest is history.
But Nicky Butt seems to have got on well with Big Sam:
“I personally got on well with him,” He came here with his methods and all of his staff. They tried to change everything and to do that takes time.”
“Unfortunately for Sam he didn’t get that. That happened because there was massive change in the set-up at the club.”
“New owners came in and they have the right to choose any manager they want because they have spent so much money.”
“They obviously didn’t feel Sam was their man, which was unfortunate for him.”
“I think he can repair his reputation at Blackburn. Anyone can fail. He can easily go and do what he did at Bolton at Blackburn.”
“He has a good club there, with good players and I’m sure he will do very well. Hopefully not until after Saturday’s game.”
We on the blog (Ed) liked Sam Allardyce, mainly because he did his very best for the club, and you can hardly ask for more than that, and we were hoping (praying) that he could turn the club around.
Sam Allardyce is famed for a methodical approach unusual in English football and he has a massive staff, that Chris Mort had to bring in, and his staff didn’t come cheap.
Nicky continued:
“Everyone in the dressing room respected him,” “The methods he brought in were different to what we were used to but we all gave it a go.”“It wasn’t down to any of the players that he left.”
“He just wasn’t the right man for the job at the time. He just changed a few things tactically.”
“Sam thought it was the right way forward and it would help players but it didn’t work out.” “As players you have to take on board new ideas.”
“If a manager starts to makes changes and doing things he wants to do, you have to abide by them or you will not be in his plans much longer. It’s like it or lump it really.”
We’re pleased Sam has been given a chance at Blackburn Rovers, after being out of football management for almost 12 months, because he needs to be in football and he’s quite a personality, and the Blackburn club is probably better suited to him and his style. And we think he can do a good job for Rovers, given a little time to shape things up at Blackburn.
We wish Sam all the very best – but of course not today – so let’s rephrase that – we wish Sam the best after today’s game at Ewood Park.
We sure he’ll do just fine at Blackburn Rovers.
Comments welcome.
Note: when we say “we” on the blog – that’s what Ed thinks.
96 comments so far
Spyro
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Comment #41Agreed Toon, but Blackburns midfield’s nothing special. Andrews is no better than Guthrie, and Dunns pretty average imo, although id play him over Butt. Wey that’s just an assumption that’s who they’ll play like.
stevep
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Comment #42All you lot wanting FFS back are dreaming – he almost drove the club to extinction and we wetting our pants when fat Ash took over – unfortunately he is trying to put very little money into the first team but seems quite content to sign a load of youngsters for 400k +
This is all good as long as we still have a prem team for them to get into which at this moment doesn’t look likely. I’m aware that attracting good players to toon is very hard espec when man city, spurs and villa look more positive, (money, london and europe) for a player.
We’ll have to hope that something happens in last couple of weeks of Jan
That article in mirror is just ridiculing nufc as a club which is all the press ever seem to do – move on.
we can get a result against Blackburn today though – they are def not better than us
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Comment #43http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/Football/2009/1/17/Prem-Vuckic-on-move/gnid-35865/
decent read lads
lacedaemonian
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Comment #44Brian Reade is a very poor journalist. There is no story here. It is just another excuse to stick the boot into us. The media were a big factor in the demise of this club. That and the effect they had on some of our mindless fans. Another reminder not to buy newspapers.
kingkinnear
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Comment #45hi
kingkinnear
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Comment #46hi indian toon here. man its been a long layoff. good to be back!
beyethegreat
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Comment #47RyanToon // Jan 17, 2009 at 1:28 PM
http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/Football/2009/1/17/Prem-Vuckic-on-move/gnid-35865/
decent read lads
why didnt milan sign him
kingkinnear
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Comment #48given
edgar coloccini bassong zogbia
jonas lua lua guthrie butt duff
owen
this is the best option we can play at blackburn .
howay the lads
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #49Steve Finnan spotted in the area. True-Faith usually a reliable source.
http://www.true-faith.co.uk/tf/features.nsf/0/0E6DFC52A9CAA19680257541003C5155?OpenDocument
Shot Bru
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #50Prediction for today is that Owen will do his groin or Hamstring.
Toon Graeme
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Comment #51King Kinnear:
JFK wont play 4 – 5 – 1. Its 4 4 2 all the way!!
And we all know that if the opposition play 4 – 5 – 1 we cant deal with it!
lacedaemonian
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Comment #52Hey mate. Does anybody have any links for today’s game?
Stuart79
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Comment #53Just heard an interview with Kinnear and he’s already laying the ground for NO players coming in this window.
He said: ‘whether we bring any players in or not this window, we have a good enough squad when everyone is fit. We need to get tehm back playing!’
That to me says don’t hold ya breath!!!!!!
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Comment #54lacedaemonian
I’ll get you some if you want.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Comment #55lacedaemonian
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=28587&part=sports
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Comment #56lacedaemonian
http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Comment #57why didnt milan sign? him maybe because theve got, inzaghi,pato,shevchenko,ronaldinho,kaka lol
lacedaemonian
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Comment #58Do I need to download a player to stream that, Dan? Cheers by the way.
kingkinnear
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Comment #59kinnear should play lualua atleast in the last 10 or 12 min. he can really do the damage
lacedaemonian
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Comment #60Cross post.
Hope one of these is decent quality.
sirjasontoon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Comment #61Agree with Stuart..also when JK said we will build in the summer…another peasant window…as expected anyway.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Mbia 5m !! is still making me laugh Haha
beyethegreat
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Comment #62RyanToon // Jan 17, 2009 at 1:48 PM
why didnt milan sign? him maybe because theve got, inzaghi,pato,shevchenko,ronaldinho,kaka lol
yeah but most of milan’s players are quite old so if he was gonna be the next big thing surely they would have signed him
or am i hoping for too much
though good to see we have signed a lad in the academy that can play in midfield insteado of up front or cb
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Comment #63lacedaemonian
You have to download software for the likes of TVU and Spocast but it looks like it is mainly browsers that are streaming them todays such as Iraqi goals and media player which you don’t have to download anything else for.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Comment #64lacedaemonian
BEN2SPORTS says you have to download something called Octoshape however i wouldn’t reccoment you use that one as i have done before and it didn’t work even after i had downloaded what i told me to.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Comment #65*recommend
Toon Graeme
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Comment #66Chronicle lead story – Geremi wants to stay!!
What a scoop that is! Well when and if you do play, get a set piece over the first man or into net etc?
We are crap at set pieces
lacedaemonian
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Comment #67Think I have watched the Iraq one before and it was good. I usually use this site:
http://www.liveonlinefooty.com/
But there is a small cost and it does not always show Toon games. Picture quality is normally great though.
shearer4pm
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Comment #68http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_4805716,00.html
surely means givens ous till the summer at least
🙂
lacedaemonian
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Comment #69Toon Graeme – we can not even sell our dross. Smith on 65k a week still hurts me. I get 19.5k a year and I am great at my job.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Comment #70http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/predator/2009/01/17/sunderland-hijackers-cast-votes-for-newcastle-xisco-115875-21048245/
Is this true?
Toon Graeme
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Comment #71Lacedaemonian –
I have a feeling Smith has between now and May to prove himself or he will be put on the sale market. In fact probably every player say over £30K a week will be!
They are gonna rebuild the squad over the summer regardless if we stay up or down. Hence Harper and Butt delay.
I think we will stay up and todays 3 points and heroic turn around will prove that (Wishful thinking).
Toon Graeme
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Comment #72Dan-
If that is true they truely are sad mackem baskets!
Why would we waste out time doing that – who cares about them or their man of the match??!!
If it is true – sounds to good to be real story.
Stuart79
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Comment #73Anyone see Kinnear on Sky just now?
He’s talking about getting the players back fit rather than bringing players in.
I think were in for yet another dissapointing transfer window!
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Comment #74http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1523416,00.html
JONAS SUB?????????????????????????
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Comment #75to play nzogbia ahead of jonas is sickening
beyethegreat
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Comment #76Stuart79 // Jan 17, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Anyone see Kinnear on Sky just now?
He’s talking about getting the players back fit rather than bringing players in.
I think were in for yet another dissapointing transfer window!
yeah he made me laugh did you hear the part where he said we were stable hahahaha
The Real Entertainers
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Comment #77Jonas sub does not surprise me.
Away from home Joe likes to keep it tight, particularly in the first half. Expect Jonas to come on 2nd half with the impact to get us the win, if we can keep it 0-0 at half time!
What a negative attitude to have !
I’m so depressed.
Toon Graeme
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Comment #78Lads – write off this window as complete failure and we start the shit again in the summer.
(pref in prem league)
Stuart79
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Comment #79Think he’s been carrying an injury
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Comment #80i thought wed win today but with no jonas starting we got no chance