Blackburn Rovers are 'nowhere near finished article' (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Blackburn Rovers are 'nowhere near finished article'
11:30am Saturday 23rd February 2013 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
MICHAEL Appleton has warned Blackburn Rovers are ‘nowhere near’ being the finished product after admitting more disappointments along the way are inevitable.
Rovers earned the performance of the week award for their shock FA Cup triumph at Arsenal on Saturday, as they went six games unbeaten.
But they were brought back down to earth with a bump in Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Hull and Appleton admits the squad is still a work in progress.
Appleton’s men entertain Leeds United this afternoon still seven points adrift of the Championship play-off places, despite a marked upturn in fortunes since Henning Berg’s departure as manager.
But, with many now dreaming of a spot in the end of season play-offs, Appleton insists it is important no-one gets carried away.
He said: “I don’t think we are anywhere near where I want to be as a side and as a club. What we are is a work in progress.
“We are certainly going in the right direction but there are going to be a few more disappointments between now and the end of the season, that is inevitable.
“We just hope there are enough triumphs and victories to overcome the disappointment.
“If you do something properly you can’t do it very, very quickly.
“If you do something properly it has to be done at the right pace and in the right way.
“Then eventually when you end up where you want to be, you end up staying there, rather than paying the price and coming straight back down and getting punished for it.
“There have been plenty of examples of that over the years and I am well aware of one of them having managed one of them. It is a work in progress.
“People have got to be patient, it is not a quick fix, and little results like the one at Arsenal, if we can keep getting ones like that now and again, then we will keep the imagination of the fans.”
While Appleton remains reluctant to discuss Rovers’ chances of making the top six this campaign, he does believe now is the perfect time for anyone in the league to hit top form.
“There are always one or two sides who have been there all season who slip up and there are always sides from 12th to sixth hoping that happens,” he said.
“There is no better time to go on a run than now, this is the best time.
“Because you take it into April and May and the side in the best form is usually the one that gets promoted.”
Rovers’ mini revival under Appleton’s stewardship has been largely based on making the team hard to beat, with the manager stressing the importance of building from the back.
Before Tuesday’s defeat at Hull, Rovers had not conceded from open play for more than nine hours, but Appleton admits there are improvements to make as an attacking outfit.
He said: “There is more to come as an attacking unit but it is down to personnel.
“It is one thing drumming the mentality and getting them in the right frame of mind and being organised and, with the greatest respect to everyone who has played so far, if I can get that and improve the personnel and quality on the pitch then you get that.
“As long as we can keep the mentality I am sure the quality of certain players that come into the side over the coming weeks will improve what we do offensively.
“This week to remind myself, I have watched bits from the Brighton, Bristol City and Ipswich game and we have shown the players, some of the stuff at times was magnificent. It is chalk and cheese sometimes when you actually go in front.
“When a game is quite tight, the quality players will play under any pressure, but on Saturday the first goal is going to be crucial.
“If we are lucky enough to get the first goal, I think you will see a very, very good performance.
“My biggest disappointment was how we reacted to going behind on Tuesday.
“Things happen in games, how you deal with disappointment is the difference between an average team and a good team.
“We want to be making sure people have an opinion of us as a good team and to do that we need to deal with those types of disappointment.”
David Bentley is pushing for his first start since returning to Rovers on loan from Spurs, while DJ Campbell is also hoping for a run.
Leon Best is being pencilled in for a first team return next weekend against Peterborough at home, but will first make a second appearance for the reserves at Middlesbrough on Monday afternoon.
Appleton said: “Leon is getting closer, he has been training for two weeks now.
“He had 70 minutes in the reserves and will play in another fixture on Monday.
“I will get myself up there and I’m sure if he comes through fine, knowing Leon like I do, he will be desperate to be involved next Saturday.
“DJ has had a disruptive time since coming here.
“He has had a family bereavement and has not been able to train as much as we would have liked.
“But he is back up here now, training, in the squad and I'm sure it won’t be long before we see him start a game.
“David Bentley has also shown he is ready.”
Comments(24)
dallydally
says...
12:15pm Sat 23 Feb 13
A Game of Blue & White Halves
says...
12:25pm Sat 23 Feb 13
dallydally wrote:That's due to the fickle nature of football fans.
Talks sense this guy but he's also covering his own backside in case Rovers don't make the playoffs!
I'm just grateful we have stumbled across a Manager who is forthright, honest and constructive in his communication with the fans and media - unlike the odious one, who has caused me to amass a hatred of the Scottish accent!
French Blue&White
says...
12:37pm Sat 23 Feb 13
Captain Dreckley
says...
12:48pm Sat 23 Feb 13
stick to football
says...
12:51pm Sat 23 Feb 13
This guy knows what he is trying to achieve and I think we the fans need to trust him 100%
Promotion is fine if you have the right squad - do we ?
Harwoodstblue
says...
12:52pm Sat 23 Feb 13
You can demolish a house in a day, but it takes much longer to rebuild it.
steralc
says...
1:35pm Sat 23 Feb 13
Venkys out
Applecart out, mark my words
To.guy
says...
1:43pm Sat 23 Feb 13
A Game of Blue & White Halves wrote:No it's due to Venkys setting targets of promotion. Us fans wont determine whether he has a job or not if we arent promoted. If that were the case, Kean wouldnt have lasted 2 years. He talks sense but really, isnt that the minimum criteria for any job? Dyche talks sense, Grayson talks sense, doesnt mean they are high achievers. Our expectations have been lowered by that awful cretin Kean and Venkys first two years of ownership. As much as fans think we arent ready for promotion, there is also the argument that if you arent promoted the first season, it becomes an even harder task. Looking at which clubs might drop down (QPR with money, Villa maybe) and then retaining players for a second championship season or attracting new decent ones isnt easy. Venkys really needed good advice, sack the cretin last May, invest and go for it from the first game of the season.
dallydally wrote:That's due to the fickle nature of football fans.
Talks sense this guy but he's also covering his own backside in case Rovers don't make the playoffs!
I'm just grateful we have stumbled across a Manager who is forthright, honest and constructive in his communication with the fans and media - unlike the odious one, who has caused me to amass a hatred of the Scottish accent!
ChrisDeBerg
says...
2:00pm Sat 23 Feb 13
steralc wrote:maybe from you but not from me...
Lose a couple more and it will be same as
Venkys out
Applecart out, mark my words
RTID
JPainter90
says...
2:18pm Sat 23 Feb 13
dallydally wrote:Maybe he is, but he is still right. How are we planning on staying in the premier league if we somehow not only reach the play offs, but win them as well?
Talks sense this guy but he's also covering his own backside in case Rovers don't make the playoffs!
We need a good couple of transfer windows and a successful season before we want to march in the premier league. We can't go into the premier league with our current squad and we also can't go into the premier league after making tonnes of signings without giving them time to gel together. A good transfer window and a successful season is what we need before thinking about the premier league.
eddio
says...
3:08pm Sat 23 Feb 13
steralc wrote:...'mark my words....' I always do so when I wipe my a**e on your feeble ramblings, oh backward claret !
Lose a couple more and it will be same as Venkys out Applecart out, mark my words
Captain Dreckley
says...
3:57pm Sat 23 Feb 13
eddio wrote:Looks like this dingle has possession of the solitary brain cell in Burnley padiham, Nelson and Colne. Clarets reversed took some thinking up, pure Dingle genius. Burnley will be entering a team for university challenge next. Backward by name, backward by nature kind of sums it up really.
steralc wrote:...'mark my words....' I always do so when I wipe my a**e on your feeble ramblings, oh backward claret !
Lose a couple more and it will be same as Venkys out Applecart out, mark my words
A Game of Blue & White Halves
says...
5:47pm Sat 23 Feb 13
To.guy wrote:I concur with what you're saying.
A Game of Blue & White Halves wrote:No it's due to Venkys setting targets of promotion. Us fans wont determine whether he has a job or not if we arent promoted. If that were the case, Kean wouldnt have lasted 2 years. He talks sense but really, isnt that the minimum criteria for any job? Dyche talks sense, Grayson talks sense, doesnt mean they are high achievers. Our expectations have been lowered by that awful cretin Kean and Venkys first two years of ownership. As much as fans think we arent ready for promotion, there is also the argument that if you arent promoted the first season, it becomes an even harder task. Looking at which clubs might drop down (QPR with money, Villa maybe) and then retaining players for a second championship season or attracting new decent ones isnt easy. Venkys really needed good advice, sack the cretin last May, invest and go for it from the first game of the season.
dallydally wrote:That's due to the fickle nature of football fans.
Talks sense this guy but he's also covering his own backside in case Rovers don't make the playoffs!
I'm just grateful we have stumbled across a Manager who is forthright, honest and constructive in his communication with the fans and media - unlike the odious one, who has caused me to amass a hatred of the Scottish accent!
My comment was supposed to be a reference to the language used by the Idiot and the current incumbent - a difference of Heaven and Earth!
I wasn't referring to MA's managerial skills etc,
Angry From Accrington
says...
6:53pm Sat 23 Feb 13
Harwoodstblue
says...
7:01pm Sat 23 Feb 13
steralc wrote:Oh shut up Dingle.
Lose a couple more and it will be same as
Venkys out
Applecart out, mark my words
Harwoodstblue
says...
7:09pm Sat 23 Feb 13
Angry From Accrington wrote:I don't know about you Mr angry but I prefer a honest manager.
Why can't you lot just admit you were wrong? We were doing far better under Steve Kean but you just had to go and force him out didn't you? We would have been in the automatic promotion places now but the lamebrains and knuckledraggers got their way and yes, we are farther from the finished article and the Premiership than we ever were. There has never been such negative football at Ewood and it will remain that way with Appleton. No ambition, no inspiration, no flair, no creativity but, oh yes, I forgot, he speaks a or of sense. Maybe he can argue our way to the Premiership. Keep those thumbs down coming..........they look like dragged knuckles!
wolsty
says...
10:38pm Sat 23 Feb 13
Angry From Accrington
says...
11:02pm Sat 23 Feb 13
wolsty wrote:Complete 4rse? Believe me, I am not the finished article yet.
why do you talk like a complete arse
champs95
says...
11:47pm Sat 23 Feb 13
Captain Dreckley wrote:steral = stnuc
eddio wrote:Looks like this dingle has possession of the solitary brain cell in Burnley padiham, Nelson and Colne. Clarets reversed took some thinking up, pure Dingle genius. Burnley will be entering a team for university challenge next. Backward by name, backward by nature kind of sums it up really.
steralc wrote:...'mark my words....' I always do so when I wipe my a**e on your feeble ramblings, oh backward claret !
Lose a couple more and it will be same as Venkys out Applecart out, mark my words
noddy57
says...
12:42am Sun 24 Feb 13
Harwoodstblue
says...
9:58am Sun 24 Feb 13
noddy57 wrote:It's been " A recipe for disaster " with Venkys penny pinching since the day they took over.
forget all the stupid hype because we had a few clean sheets and we beat a complacent arsenal, just keep it real,,we are replacing good players with cheap stop gaps, surely a recipe for disaster,we should reach the semis at wembley ,,but forget the play offs ,,l know what l would have preferred,,
moh
says...
1:47pm Sun 24 Feb 13
Harwoodstblue wrote:After watching last few games Mr Appleton seems a very defensive minded manager. It seems his vision/tactics is to stop opposition play and keep clean sheet and hope for some sort of goal at the other end. Quite a few at Blackburn end were continously swearing at Leeds game yesterday and we ll probabbly have to hear more swearing at games.
Angry From Accrington wrote:I don't know about you Mr angry but I prefer a honest manager.
Why can't you lot just admit you were wrong? We were doing far better under Steve Kean but you just had to go and force him out didn't you? We would have been in the automatic promotion places now but the lamebrains and knuckledraggers got their way and yes, we are farther from the finished article and the Premiership than we ever were. There has never been such negative football at Ewood and it will remain that way with Appleton. No ambition, no inspiration, no flair, no creativity but, oh yes, I forgot, he speaks a or of sense. Maybe he can argue our way to the Premiership. Keep those thumbs down coming..........they look like dragged knuckles!
noddy57
says...
7:13pm Sun 24 Feb 13
Harwoodstblue wrote:spot on,,,,,
noddy57 wrote:It's been " A recipe for disaster " with Venkys penny pinching since the day they took over.
forget all the stupid hype because we had a few clean sheets and we beat a complacent arsenal, just keep it real,,we are replacing good players with cheap stop gaps, surely a recipe for disaster,we should reach the semis at wembley ,,but forget the play offs ,,l know what l would have preferred,,
Joey99 says...
12:14pm Sat 23 Feb 13