Blackburn Rovers column: Appleton must be judged on results (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Blackburn Rovers column: Appleton must be judged on results
12:36pm Sunday 13th January 2013 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
AS Michael Appleton becomes Blackburn Rovers’ fifth manager of the season, the inevitable premature judgement has already started.
Too inexperienced, no track record, and should have kept faith with Gary Bowyer are just some complaints from the critics before a ball has been kicked in his Rovers regime.
There are also many supporters who believe Appleton is a good appointment – and that is the point.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and very few are the same, but no-one has a clue how things will pan out.
All we can do now is get behind Appleton and hope he proves himself to be the right man. He deserves our full backing, just like Henning Berg deserved – and got.
A call from one section of supporters to up the ante against the owners on Thursday if Appleton was appointed was ill-judged to say the least.
It is for the club to decide who should be the manager, not any supporter.
I still stand by my view that Rovers’ hierarchy have not treated caretaker boss Gary Bowyer and his assistant Terry McPhillips with a lot of class. But, after the last two years, that doesn’t surprise anyone.
Just like Bobby Mimms, Eric Black and Iain Brunskill before them, the media was their biggest source of an update. That should be the club’s job, But that is not Appleton’s fault. He has been brought in to do a job and that job is to get Blackburn Rovers promoted.
The time to judge him is when we see if that aim is going to come to fruition, not now.
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (33)
12:56pm Sun 13 Jan 13
Bamber bridge Rover says...
1:37pm Sun 13 Jan 13
merlinrabbit says...
2:03pm Sun 13 Jan 13
To.guy says...
2:10pm Sun 13 Jan 13
srvp28 says...
As for Bowyer and McPhillips, they did a fantastic job but, by Bowyer's own admission, they were only helping the club out. I actually think they're the lucky ones for not getting the job on a more permanent basis. As soon as they lost a couple of games they would've been the latest target for the more fickle fans of Blackburn Rovers.
With regards to the media being their biggest source of an update, Bowyer said on Friday that he was informed of the club's approach for Appleton prior to it being released so please don't try to make something out of nothing, Andy.
2:29pm Sun 13 Jan 13
BRFC0808 says...
2:43pm Sun 13 Jan 13
fishcake 75 says...
3:07pm Sun 13 Jan 13
To.guy says...
3:08pm Sun 13 Jan 13
owd nick says...
3:15pm Sun 13 Jan 13
To.guy says...
3:25pm Sun 13 Jan 13
srvp28 says...
3:39pm Sun 13 Jan 13
To.guy says...
3:43pm Sun 13 Jan 13
Is Eckersley playing? says...
4:06pm Sun 13 Jan 13
fishcake 75 says...
4:59pm Sun 13 Jan 13
golazzo says...
The tide is turning, you will become a PNE, superior my ar*e
5:45pm Sun 13 Jan 13
old man rover says...
6:28pm Sun 13 Jan 13
bburnrover says...
6:37pm Sun 13 Jan 13
Is Eckersley playing? says...
6:53pm Sun 13 Jan 13
To.guy says...
6:54pm Sun 13 Jan 13
i8dingles says...
7:00pm Sun 13 Jan 13
It's Moops says...
Well said Andy and fully agree
7:04pm Sun 13 Jan 13
moh says...
7:05pm Sun 13 Jan 13
riversidefan says...
7:10pm Sun 13 Jan 13
riversidefan says...
7:34pm Sun 13 Jan 13
merlinrabbit says...
8:06pm Sun 13 Jan 13
blueblooded says...
Respect to you Andy, but let's not fuel more fires.
Also GB and co. are probably more savvy than what fans give them respect for, in what they could expect from the owners after what EB's brief caretaking earned him.
If nothing else, this brief period will have done his career a world of good if he ever decides to step up to the line. If Venky's don't value him, I certainly don't see him being out of work long.
Really hope Appleton makes his mark on the squad quickly and decisively. With Shebby no longer in the picture, team selection conspiracies should be put to bed for the time being at least. If he can pull off a few decent transfers and string together a few wins in these home games, the club should be able to get behind him as quickly as they did behind Team GB.
Going to be an interesting week.. Though you can't say its ever boring these days!
8:15pm Sun 13 Jan 13
blueblooded says...
I think you're getting mixed up with Shebbinator's plan and Appleton's appointment which will have been significantly different.
We darn well should hope so too.
9:04pm Sun 13 Jan 13
stick to football says...
Michael Appleton takes over the team on a high after 3 wins and a draw but strengthening it needs
Gary B & Terry Mc deserve the clubs and supporters thanks for their efforts and they should be rightly rewarded.
Rovers need to nurture the academy players and let GB bring them through to first team - it may take time but it will be worth it.
Venkys just tell it as it is not as you dream it - and has Shebby gone or just sulking because he did not get his own way
9:22pm Sun 13 Jan 13
BlueSkies says...
Forget opposition managers saying we have talented players cos we don't. if we had good players we wouldn't be where we are at present. We have a lot of players who are not of the required standard.
If Appleton is to stand any chance of success in his role, he'll need to off-load many of Kean and Shebby's ridiculous signings and bring in his own or utilise last year's youth squad who have ruthlessly been overlooked in favour of these no-marks.
I'm prepared to give him a chance and hope he can at least stabilise us and give us some much needed credibility as a football club.
The problem is still the people 'running' the business.
9:31pm Sun 13 Jan 13
A Rover 45 years and over says...
12:59pm Mon 14 Jan 13
GameRoverMan says...
1:50pm Mon 14 Jan 13
BRFC0808 says...
I still dont believe people trust articles based on frivolous " Sources "
7:27pm Fri 18 Jan 13
say something positive says...
3:13am Tue 22 Jan 13
noddy57 says...