Dave Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/284966/MAN-CITY-3-BLACKBURN-1.html The Allardyce Way is a step back in time From CHRIS BASCOMBE at Eastlands, 02/05/2009 WATCHING Blackburn can be as attractive as a day trip to a Mexican pig farm. Five seconds on the clock and El-Hadji Diouf passes to Stephen Warnock at left-back and he unleashes a 60-yard diagonal ball towards the 6ft 4in frame of Christopher Samba. With one move, a century of tactical variations are deconstructed and all sense of joy from watching football drains from your soul. Welcome to the Sam Allardyce Way. Forty-five minutes later, the Blackburn players were heading for the tunnel heads bowed, with a 3-0 deficit, asking themselves 'Where has this gone wrong?'. Robinho, Elano and, most reassuringly, the home-grown Stephen Ireland had restored the lost faith of that opening Blackburn salvo. They resisted it and punished it, not only for the sake of their own fans but for the neutrals who want the Stone Age brand of football brutalised out of existence. You wonder what Blackburn's players think when they hear their weekly game plan. Are they overwhelmed by a sense of admiration for such a well- considered ploy as aiming high balls for the big defender up front? Or are they simply compelled to follow orders due to their perilous position, while privately cursing how they've found themselves playing such an unimaginative game? In Stephen Warnock, Tugay, Benni McCarthy and Ryan Nelsen, Rovers have players who possess the class to do so much better. Tugay's show of dissent when he was subbed on 64 minutes hinted all is not well in the Blackburn camp. "Ugly, but effective," Allardyce's supporters will say. Not this time. Just ugly. Despite this hammering, Blackburn will survive and deserve congratulations for doing so given the mess they were in at Christmas. They probably do not need to win another game as the five teams below them in the league are so bad and the end undoubtedly justifies the means, for now. But avoiding relegation because there are three abysmal teams considerably worse than yours is as hollow as it gets. The survival drum can be beaten by Allardyce with justification but the substance-over-style argument will wear thin for the Blackburn faithful the longer they endure it. If Big Sam's history with Bolton is anything to go by, the notion this is just a necessary-but-brief evil to avoid the drop should be treated with caution. There is little to suggest any side of his will ever play differently and he would probably rage against the suggestion there is anything wrong with his approach anyway. He claimed his side played well for all but two corners here, yet the only save Shay Given made was from Diouf's penalty. Even his directors will tolerate his myth that the percentage game is worthwhile since he has kept his side of the bargain by getting the club out of the bottom three. But if they are confronted with more of the same next August, they will surely be asking themselves why they bother going to matches. It certainly cannot be to enjoy themselves. Some of us think football should be played with the feet, not on a calculator by those who worship at the altar of Prozone statistics and the relentless pursuit of the 'second ball'. The fans who endured this defeat could at least keep their sense of humour. Sub Carlos Villanueva had Rovers' first shot an hour into the game. The fans greeted his deflected free-kick with the same enthusiasm as their Premier League title of 1995. Only when the Samba-as-a-striker experiment was abandoned did Rovers grab their consolation, although that was courtesy of a generous penalty decision. Given saved after Nedum Onuoha tripped Morten Gamst Pedersen but sub Keith Andrews knocked in the rebound. Rovers had long been punished for their self-inflicted errors as their former boss Mark Hughes continued his bid to prove he is the man to take City to greater heights than the Europa League next season. There was a jazz band playing near the Eastlands' main reception but it was the Samba beat in full volume on the pitch. They always have the best music at City. A plethora of modern indie classics from the superior Manchester music scene builds the atmosphere. No ground in the land whips you into more of a frenzy of anticipation. You could close your eyes and listen to the sounds all day, which for recent generations has not been such a bad idea given the quality of football. For too long, the music has died when the players take to the field, leaving you yearning for the PA to come back on. Boss Sparky is bidding to be the first manager in decades to change the record. You certainly get entertained by City nowadays. His side did not have to be at their best but their attacking midfield trio hit all the right notes in a dominant first half. Felipe Caicedo punished woeful defending by Andre Ooijer to nudge home the first on 27 minutes. Then seven minutes later, Robinho provided a reminder that a single moment of genuine class lives in the memory longer than 89 minutes of alehouse football by an opponent. In first-half injury time Ireland's clever back-heel forced Ooijer to handle, allowing the outstanding Elano to secure the points from the penalty spot. City's form suggests the end of the season has come at the wrong time and their supporters could not contain their glee at the expense of a manager once linked with their hotseat. "We've got Robinho, you've got Sam Allardyce," they sang, triumphantly. They were not alone in being thankful for the gulf in style. Quality assassination. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 If there is any poetic justice to be had at the end of this season, then please let it be that Allardyce takes Blackburn down on goal difference to us on the last day of the season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
juniatmoko Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 allardyce face just like total pair of tits Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 allardyce face just like total pair of tits Yep. That too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Not like you to harbour a grudge for a disproportionately long time... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Not like you to harbour a grudge for a disproportionately long time... That's one of my new ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gash Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Or that in a season where Derby got 11 points they picked up 4 from you? (Although BS Allardyce can only be partially accountable for 3 of them) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Or that in a season where Derby got 11 points they picked up 4 from you? (Although BS Allardyce can only be partially accountable for 3 of them) He was still manager when they drew at SJP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gash Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Or that in a season where Derby got 11 points they picked up 4 from you? (Although BS Allardyce can only be partially accountable for 3 of them) He was still manager when they drew at SJP. Were you managerless at Pride Park? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Or that in a season where Derby got 11 points they picked up 4 from you? (Although BS Allardyce can only be partially accountable for 3 of them) He was still manager when they drew at SJP. drew at SJP and should have won. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Or that in a season where Derby got 11 points they picked up 4 from you? (Although BS Allardyce can only be partially accountable for 3 of them) He was still manager when they drew at SJP. Were you managerless at Pride Park? Yes..we had Asdaprice in charge.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Or that in a season where Derby got 11 points they picked up 4 from you? (Although BS Allardyce can only be partially accountable for 3 of them) He was still manager when they drew at SJP. Were you managerless at Pride Park? Essentially. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bovineblue Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 But avoiding relegation because there are three abysmal teams considerably worse than yours is as hollow as it gets. Personally I'd take it at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DubblyDubblyDubbly Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Admin.. can we lock this ? I never want to see his name again never mind his face.... don't know what posessed me to even read this. I turn the telly off every time the useless fu**ing CU*T comes on.. he's destroyed our club... and we gave him £5million or so to Fu** OFF. There's about 8 billion people in this world, but there's only one I despise Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveItIfWeBeatU Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I thought the media said one of the reasons we are in trouble is because we sacked Allardyce without giving him a chance? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil K Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Yeah, we've really improved since Allardyce was booted out, haven't we ? :-[ Everbody cheer 'cos we got Kinnear.... :weep: :weep: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistle17 Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I thought the media said one of the reasons we are in trouble is because we sacked Allardyce without giving him a chance? That's exactly what I thought when I read it. Fucking idiots. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I still haven't got over going to Derby and having one shot, from David Rozehnal. Not like you to harbour a grudge for a disproportionately long time... :lol: Just seen this now and have to admit to having thought it myself on Saturday when Wull was slagging Jenas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Get the fuck outta here! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 It's one of the things that makes you magical mate, don't ever let it go. Must admit I don't mind Peanut head much these days as he's done fuck all since leaving, really. Allardyce is still high on the hitlist though, just for being a massive cock-end basically. Oddly enough my best mate at university is related to the Blackburn club doctor and is doing his dissertation on Big Sam next year, so I assume he'll be spending a fair bit of time with him. He might be alright after all. Or he might just be the cunt he appears to be. Pretty good of him to agree to partake in an undergraduate dissertation though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 15 million on Barton, Rozhenal, Smith, as well as large contracts for Geremi, Cacapa, and Viduka. Rivals Souness as our worst ever transfer dealer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Aston Villa midfielder James Milner insisted Newcastle would not be in relegation trouble if they had kept Sam Allardyce as manager. (Express) Thanks for your kind words James Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.R. Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Aston Villa midfielder James Milner insisted Newcastle would not be in relegation trouble if they had kept Sam Allardyce as manager. (Express) Thanks for your kind words James I'll take relegation and the chance of next season being enjoyable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now