Appleton challenges Blackburn Rovers players to prove their worth

Blackburn Rovers manager Michael Appleton Blackburn Rovers manager Michael Appleton

MICHAEL Appleton has laid down the gauntlet to his Blackburn Rovers squad after challenging them to ‘show me you want to be part of our success’.

A realistic Rovers boss has conceded their Championship play-off dreams are now looking “difficult” and, while refusing to throw the towel in, admits he is already preparing for next season.

Tuesday night’s 3-0 defeat at Leicester City leaves Rovers without a win in four Championship matches and still seven points adrift of the top six.

Appleton said: “Ultimately there are still a lot of points to play for but now they have to show me who wants to be a part of it.

“A team being successful is not about eight, nine or 10 games, it is about doing it over a 46 game period as Leicester, Hull and Brighton are showing.

“We want to be in that pack and that race. I said to the lads in there for me, over the past couple of years, the club has been built on quick sand and that is showing now.

“For it to have the proper foundations that is the only time we can really push forward. At the minute there is not the foundations in place and we have to make sure we do that very quickly.

“Sometimes in life things happen for a reason. Maybe the players getting injured has brought a reality to the football club of where we are.

“I am desperate to be successful at this football club. It doesn’t happen overnight and, maybe with the injuries we have it is time to take stock of where we are, let’s take a step back again, build the foundations right and then kick on.”

After an encouraging start to life as Rovers boss, including wins against Derby County, Bristol City and Ipswich Town, Appleton has seen his side struggle against some of the Championships better sides.

A draw with Brighton has been followed by defeats at Hull and Leicester, showing Appleton how much work is still needed to be done.

He said: “What they have shown is we are where we are for a reason. Ultimately we have not hit the standards the opposition have. The three teams we talk about have consistently been in the top six. That is the standards we have to be aiming for.

“We are where we are, the table does not lie. It is difficult sometimes for Premier League sides to adjust. But the next 12 games have got to be about the detail of building bridges and hopefully in the next 12 games I can see good signs of where we can maybe go and push on at some point.

“As far as I am concerned now it is a case of preparing for next season. We have a very important game against Millwall in the FA Cup which gives you an opportunity of getting to Wembley.

“I don’t think the lads will be allowed to think that far ahead because at the minute we are not good enough to start thinking ahead of ourselves. We have to get back to basics, being hard to beat and see where it takes us.

“It is going to be difficult (the play-offs), there are still 36 points to play for and nothing is impossible. We have to concentrate on winning games of football. If we win four or five on the bounce, the picture changes again.

“I am just being more of a realist than an optimist or a pessimist. We just want to win games and bring a feel good feeling to the football club.”

Meanwhile Appleton is still looking for reinforcements and admits he would be “amazed” if two loan signings were not added by Peterborough’s visit on Saturday.

Comments(44)

dallydally says...
11:12am Thu 28 Feb 13

All of us have known this for some time Appy. There are too many players who don't turn up regularly enough i.e. Murphy, Pederson, Rochina and Formica (when they were here), and some of the recent additions aren't looking the part or playing a part right now i.e. Campbell and Rekik. Planning for next season? You might not be here and who's to say the likes of Rhodes and Hanley will? What's more if Venkys pull the plug Administration will beckon very quickly. Happy days!!

pistols blue says...
11:14am Thu 28 Feb 13

bull bull bull , this is getting to be like a stuck record. Face it ARMCHAIR APPLETON you havent got a clue.THE LAST 2 YEARS HAVE BEEN A TOTAL NIGHTMARE FOR ROVERS FANS. We deserve better

moh says...
11:42am Thu 28 Feb 13

hope the loan signings are worth their salt. Campbell, Rekik have not lived upto it. I hope more people are involved in discussion who to bring in as from past experience other people have brought in people/buddies they know at the detriment of the club.

noddy57 says...
11:55am Thu 28 Feb 13

dallydally wrote:
All of us have known this for some time Appy. There are too many players who don't turn up regularly enough i.e. Murphy, Pederson, Rochina and Formica (when they were here), and some of the recent additions aren't looking the part or playing a part right now i.e. Campbell and Rekik. Planning for next season? You might not be here and who's to say the likes of Rhodes and Hanley will? What's more if Venkys pull the plug Administration will beckon very quickly. Happy days!!
Dont know about the players having to show their worth,,whats your excuse batfink ? you need to kick em up the arse or ship em out,,and if your players arent up for the job as you yourself should be,then we supporters suggest you tender your resignation and hopefully we can at long last get someone in who likes to play attacking football regardless of the outcome,,fortune favours the brave,,,so grow some balls and quick,,

Keen O to Get Kean Out says...
12:06pm Thu 28 Feb 13

reality is the player now are just collecting the cash , just like the other mercenaries. its down to poor leadership from the top, you cant blame heartless players when Venkys make the totally stupid decisions they do , ie SHabby, Hendry etc etc

A Rover 45 years and over says...
12:07pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Can't help feeling that some of the problems are caused by the way you set the team up, you mention that we need to be getting back to being hard to beat therefore does that mean mass defence with little offensive play again.The pundits say you are playing too narrow and allowing teams to hit us on the break.Playing for 8o% of the game defending will tire any defensive unit out eventually. Having said all that we all know your team is lacking quality in midfield to supply the forward line and doesn't give you a lot of options. Not sure you have addressed the problems in the transfer window to get the right balance, pity about Williams don't know what Rekik was about but we are crying out for a classy midfielder who can distribute the ball and you need to play Nunes when possible to improve the attack, and yes the other players have to show they mean business as too many fall short week after week You musn't give up on getting up this season because you may find it hard financially next year plus you may loose some of your better players. Good luck mate and hope you succeed.

pistols blue says...
12:22pm Thu 28 Feb 13

A Rover 45 years and over wrote:
Can't help feeling that some of the problems are caused by the way you set the team up, you mention that we need to be getting back to being hard to beat therefore does that mean mass defence with little offensive play again.The pundits say you are playing too narrow and allowing teams to hit us on the break.Playing for 8o% of the game defending will tire any defensive unit out eventually. Having said all that we all know your team is lacking quality in midfield to supply the forward line and doesn't give you a lot of options. Not sure you have addressed the problems in the transfer window to get the right balance, pity about Williams don't know what Rekik was about but we are crying out for a classy midfielder who can distribute the ball and you need to play Nunes when possible to improve the attack, and yes the other players have to show they mean business as too many fall short week after week You musn't give up on getting up this season because you may find it hard financially next year plus you may loose some of your better players. Good luck mate and hope you succeed.
ARMCHAIR APPY ( sit back, sit back, sit back) CLUELESS

GAZHAY says...
12:32pm Thu 28 Feb 13

For starters on Saturday get Henley back in at right back to give us some more pace and stability as Orr is not good enough, get Givet in at left back as Rekik is not good enough. Get Nunes on the left wing as we are currently playing with Pederson kind of there and he is not good enough. Play Gomes or Goodwillie as Campbell is way off the pace, don't think Best is ready yet. Don't think we have any other centre midfielders as Dunn has another mystery injury but changes are needed there also. WE can all see what changes are needed and yes we do need another couple of bodies but some of the positions needing to be filled right now we have players there waiting....BRING THEM IN and have some bottle.

AshokRover999 says...
12:45pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Steve Kean had to go but his results were not bad and he left with us being 3rd in the table ....Eric Black got a few decent results before Berg took over ..

Bowyer again had a run of good results following Berg's sacking ... and Appleton has made the best of a bad situation, but there has been some bad defeats nonetheless ...

BUT - the reason we are where we are is because under Berg we won 1 game in 10 ... at the Championship level a good run can get you promoted, and a bad run can get see you lose out on the running ... our run under Berg was awful and thats why we havent been able to really claw back the defecit ... results either side of Berg's reign were decent(ish) and we would still have a realistic chance of top 6 at least ...

and who was responsible for Berg's appointment? who was adamant on bringing Berg in when we had a plethora of top management talent interested in the job? whoever that person was that made the decision (and we know who that is) should leave the club as it was a costly costly costly mistake (literally and metaphorically)

French Rover says...
12:45pm Thu 28 Feb 13

I think it is a truthful message from Appleton and the truth is what we have been asking somebody (anybody) at the Rovers to speak for over two years now.

He said: “What they have shown is we are where we are for a reason. Ultimately we have not hit the standards the opposition have. The three teams we talk about have consistently been in the top six. That is the standards we have to be aiming for.

Spot-on MA - we are where we are because we were (and still are mostly) a load of rubbish.

You don't go from zero to hero in half a dozen games - no quick fixes for a patient this sick - it takes time and patience and a truthful understanding of what needs doing.

Seems to me the bloke is a truly a 'realist' and he is doing what we all wanted - laying sound foundations for the future of our club.

Appleton says it as it is and good on him - but that seems to be unpalatable for some Rovers fans who are demanding an instant remedy that does not exist. The club and fans have to take the medicine as prescribed by MA or suffer even bigger disappointments in the future..

1952 rover says...
12:47pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Wow we do have a lot of armchair managers on line today. There is only 2 people blame for this seasons mess Agent Kean and Clown Shebby.

1952 rover says...
12:47pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Wow we do have a lot of armchair managers on line today. There is only 2 people blame for this seasons mess Agent Kean and Clown Shebby.

GAZHAY says...
12:54pm Thu 28 Feb 13

1952 rover wrote:
Wow we do have a lot of armchair managers on line today. There is only 2 people blame for this seasons mess Agent Kean and Clown Shebby.
We also have some realists and people who go on and watch this team slowly go downhill. Agreed Shebby was to blame for some of the appts recently and the other guy well say no more but changes are needed across the park and they are needed now.

bburnrover says...
12:54pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Well its difficult to select a side thats is capable of winning matches when everyone any good is injured

MattNewcastle says...
1:03pm Thu 28 Feb 13

My word

Shaw Agnew and Coar have a lot to answer for.

Going running off to India professing that they know the answer to all our problems - the signing of Appleton and subsequently all his cronies from such esteemed backgrounds as West Brom U18s / Academy - shows their total lack of foresight as to what as a club we were desperately in need of.

All three need to take a long hard look at themselves.

IT WAS NOT A TIME FOR AN INEXPERIENCED MANAGER TO LEARN SUBSEQUENTLY WITH A BUNCH OF HIS MATES THE TRADE OF SERIOUS FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT.

We should be in the playoff places now no problem - and had Berg had a team of support staff with him from the start I think he would have taken us there.

We certainly had the makings of a far better side than this clown albeit losing some games by close margins. I believe he would have turned things round given the support and brought in far better players than Appleton has done. However not worth dwelling on for its in the past.

Trying so hard to sign a - what a surprise West Brom player - who can barley feature in their 1st team squad let alone side says it all.

I doubt the guy even has the clout to approach Premiership sides for players as he is so inexperienced. His lack of experience in all manner of aspects is there for all to see.

For Shaw Agnew and Coar to allow such a manager to take over at this most CRUCIAL of times is an absolute disgrace for if we don't go up, (and Appleton seems to have well and truly given up on this by his soundings and body language) then we will not see the premiership for decades to come.

I will give you some reality: Building for next season - Start from the basis that

Kean
Hanley
Olsson
Dann
Rhodes
CKR

will not be at the club for the entire 2013 / 2014 season to sustain a promotion push for if they don't go in the summer they will go in the January 2014 transfer window disrupting even further a possible Premiership return.

My advice - Give it everything the club has got for the rest of the season - Get the team moving forward and attacking, Harry Rednapp style, and get into the playoffs come what may.

I reckon the playoffs are / were winnable with the format they take on, but with this clown in charge why do I feel a grave doubt.

Wild Rover says...
1:13pm Thu 28 Feb 13

1952 rover wrote:
Wow we do have a lot of armchair managers on line today. There is only 2 people blame for this seasons mess Agent Kean and Clown Shebby.
Well said that Man
Not only armchair managers but fully paid up subscribers to the Negative Agenda
Dally Dally brings up the Administration spectre to try and scare us...woooh
Dally Dally is a Dingle Dingle
We are a mid table club in this league, that will not change this year, but if Appy is left alone to restructure things next year we can do what Cardiff are now
Oh and we will still beat the Dingles...

hotpot8200 says...
1:21pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Good to hear Appleton but please let your players know who are not stepping up to the mark you had a chance as a new manager to give the captains arm band to anybody yet it stay with Murphy who on Tuesday was the poorest player there .How any professional can hang his head and shake it is not on its about digging in and making amends something i certain did not see from Murphy .I`ll start to believe this comments if you start dropping these players to the bench even if it means giving the kids a chance somebody who wants to play for the badge .Appleton we will be watching you to see if walk the walk or just talk the talk .

Harwoodstblue says...
1:26pm Thu 28 Feb 13

1952 rover wrote:
Wow we do have a lot of armchair managers on line today. There is only 2 people blame for this seasons mess Agent Kean and Clown Shebby.
And don't for get Venkys, They are the biggest problem.

dangerous dave says...
1:34pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Share in what success !!!!!! Its about time the Manager and the Players did their talking on the field instead of wild promises in the Press!!!!!!!
Listened to Appletons post match interview on Radio Lancs last night and also an interview with a fan who went to the Leicester match - Mr A said that whilst a bad result some positives from the match and looking for what he described as a 'kick back' next match - the fan said no positives what so ever from a very poor side and with the exception of one player the rest did not put in a full 'shift' and it was an absolute abysmal performance.
Well Mr A for the first time started to make excuses for the poor performance of the team and was just looking for 'kick backs' - well we as fans want more than just' kick backs' we want players who want to play for the club and work hard for their very overpaid wages. Perhaps Mr A can now see that his loan/freebie deals just arent working and if not for Rhodes scoring a few goals in previous matches we would be in the relegation struggle - may still finish up like that with this very poor team.
Forget the Premiership this side has not got the bottle or talent to play in that league and the Venkys havent got the funds to buy the quality players that are needed.
OUT WITH SHAW AGNEW SINGH HENDRY COAR AND MAYBE SOON APPLETON.

Harwoodstblue says...
1:36pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Wild Rover wrote:
1952 rover wrote:
Wow we do have a lot of armchair managers on line today. There is only 2 people blame for this seasons mess Agent Kean and Clown Shebby.
Well said that Man
Not only armchair managers but fully paid up subscribers to the Negative Agenda
Dally Dally brings up the Administration spectre to try and scare us...woooh
Dally Dally is a Dingle Dingle
We are a mid table club in this league, that will not change this year, but if Appy is left alone to restructure things next year we can do what Cardiff are now
Oh and we will still beat the Dingles...
Oh yes, and Christmas will come early for us all when Venkys actually PROVIDE some money for Appleton to build a team with a half decent chance of getting to the Premiership. I think not.
Restructure my @rse..... Do you not know them yet?

benal13 says...
1:59pm Thu 28 Feb 13

French Rover wrote:
I think it is a truthful message from Appleton and the truth is what we have been asking somebody (anybody) at the Rovers to speak for over two years now.

He said: “What they have shown is we are where we are for a reason. Ultimately we have not hit the standards the opposition have. The three teams we talk about have consistently been in the top six. That is the standards we have to be aiming for.

Spot-on MA - we are where we are because we were (and still are mostly) a load of rubbish.

You don't go from zero to hero in half a dozen games - no quick fixes for a patient this sick - it takes time and patience and a truthful understanding of what needs doing.

Seems to me the bloke is a truly a 'realist' and he is doing what we all wanted - laying sound foundations for the future of our club.

Appleton says it as it is and good on him - but that seems to be unpalatable for some Rovers fans who are demanding an instant remedy that does not exist. The club and fans have to take the medicine as prescribed by MA or suffer even bigger disappointments in the future..
same old mantra frenchy you said the same thing about berg look what happened maybe if you paid to watch some of the dros that we do you would have a different opinion i rest my case !!!!!!

noddy57 says...
2:14pm Thu 28 Feb 13

the support for Appleton is dwindling by the hour,what positives did he see at the Leicester game ?,,l didnt see one, he is beginning to sound like steve kean, shaw out and take your mate batfink with you,,you can get murphy to drive you to the airport,,

pwl says...
2:32pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Harwoodstblue wrote:
Wild Rover wrote:
1952 rover wrote:
Wow we do have a lot of armchair managers on line today. There is only 2 people blame for this seasons mess Agent Kean and Clown Shebby.
Well said that Man
Not only armchair managers but fully paid up subscribers to the Negative Agenda
Dally Dally brings up the Administration spectre to try and scare us...woooh
Dally Dally is a Dingle Dingle
We are a mid table club in this league, that will not change this year, but if Appy is left alone to restructure things next year we can do what Cardiff are now
Oh and we will still beat the Dingles...
Oh yes, and Christmas will come early for us all when Venkys actually PROVIDE some money for Appleton to build a team with a half decent chance of getting to the Premiership. I think not.
Restructure my @rse..... Do you not know them yet?
I remain amazed that people are content to accept the damage that Venkys have done and continue to do to the club. They, and their various employees have destroyed everything that Blackburn Rovers and Jack Walker ever stood for. They have peddled the fanciful notion that somehow we are a Premier League club in waiting. For some reason they seem to think that this can be done "on the cheap" using loan/free transfer players and people running the club who aren't sufficiently experienced to deliver but who might with a bit of luck come good.
I can't see anything changing whilst Venkys remain in charge.

MxMave says...
3:17pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Another article constructed to try to win fans over from Appleton. We know Venkys screwed up the last 2-3 years, it's your job to change this and i've seen zero progress since you were appointed. I really don't like Appletons press statements, every single one always reeks of excuses. For me the tactics are to blame for the current issues, a half decent manager would be able to get this squad promoted.

fanny.tickler. says...
3:31pm Thu 28 Feb 13

MxMave wrote:
Another article constructed to try to win fans over from Appleton. We know Venkys screwed up the last 2-3 years, it's your job to change this and i've seen zero progress since you were appointed. I really don't like Appletons press statements, every single one always reeks of excuses. For me the tactics are to blame for the current issues, a half decent manager would be able to get this squad promoted.
You should have stuck with Kean.

benal13 says...
3:57pm Thu 28 Feb 13

MxMave wrote:
Another article constructed to try to win fans over from Appleton. We know Venkys screwed up the last 2-3 years, it's your job to change this and i've seen zero progress since you were appointed. I really don't like Appletons press statements, every single one always reeks of excuses. For me the tactics are to blame for the current issues, a half decent manager would be able to get this squad promoted.
come on he only got the job because he is mates with shaw old preston pals his managment record is worse than keans !!!!!!!!!!!!!1

fanny.tickler. says...
4:21pm Thu 28 Feb 13

APPLETON OUT!!!!

passingfootball says...
4:24pm Thu 28 Feb 13

whod want to come to blackburn now even if appleton left, only decent one who is aviliable and has promotion credentials is nigel adkins, he plays an attacking brand of football and comfortable with handling flair players

leitchy says...
4:30pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Realist or not its Negative and sending the wrong message to the players..

If anyone wants to disagree then look at Appletons half-time team talk against Leicester ! Pathetic !!

moh says...
4:39pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Keen O to Get Kean Out wrote:
reality is the player now are just collecting the cash , just like the other mercenaries. its down to poor leadership from the top, you cant blame heartless players when Venkys make the totally stupid decisions they do , ie SHabby, Hendry etc etc
Hendry and Shebby are not involved in any decisions now. Its Shaw and Appleton. Appleton needs to motivate players and just not talk the talk.

moh says...
4:43pm Thu 28 Feb 13

AshokRover999 wrote:
Steve Kean had to go but his results were not bad and he left with us being 3rd in the table ....Eric Black got a few decent results before Berg took over .. Bowyer again had a run of good results following Berg's sacking ... and Appleton has made the best of a bad situation, but there has been some bad defeats nonetheless ... BUT - the reason we are where we are is because under Berg we won 1 game in 10 ... at the Championship level a good run can get you promoted, and a bad run can get see you lose out on the running ... our run under Berg was awful and thats why we havent been able to really claw back the defecit ... results either side of Berg's reign were decent(ish) and we would still have a realistic chance of top 6 at least ... and who was responsible for Berg's appointment? who was adamant on bringing Berg in when we had a plethora of top management talent interested in the job? whoever that person was that made the decision (and we know who that is) should leave the club as it was a costly costly costly mistake (literally and metaphorically)
Rovers were 4 points from 6th place when Appleton took over (credit to Gary Bowyer). We have not made any progress since Appleton took over.

noddymcleod says...
4:44pm Thu 28 Feb 13

FANS THROW DOWN GAUNTLET TO APPLE.

show us you're not just here because you're a cronie of your former PNE mate ! Show us you're not just here to help Venkys wind up using your experience at Pompey ! Show us you're not just giving jobs to your chums from WBA ! Show us you've not got a list of players NOT to play to avoid appearance bonuses ! Show us you have some strategy other than dogged defence !
Show us you're not reverting to the pathetic daily dose of blah-blah press releases !
That's enough to be getting on with.

moh says...
4:49pm Thu 28 Feb 13

noddy57 wrote:
the support for Appleton is dwindling by the hour,what positives did he see at the Leicester game ?,,l didnt see one, he is beginning to sound like steve kean, shaw out and take your mate batfink with you,,you can get murphy to drive you to the airport,,
It looks like Venkys won't pay for a top manager and we keep getting inexperienced, average managers like Berg and Appleton.

moh says...
4:53pm Thu 28 Feb 13

benal13 wrote:
MxMave wrote: Another article constructed to try to win fans over from Appleton. We know Venkys screwed up the last 2-3 years, it's your job to change this and i've seen zero progress since you were appointed. I really don't like Appletons press statements, every single one always reeks of excuses. For me the tactics are to blame for the current issues, a half decent manager would be able to get this squad promoted.
come on he only got the job because he is mates with shaw old preston pals his managment record is worse than keans !!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I dont blame Appleton, anyone would move if ones salary is doubled.

To.guy says...
5:09pm Thu 28 Feb 13

MattNewcastle wrote:
My word

Shaw Agnew and Coar have a lot to answer for.

Going running off to India professing that they know the answer to all our problems - the signing of Appleton and subsequently all his cronies from such esteemed backgrounds as West Brom U18s / Academy - shows their total lack of foresight as to what as a club we were desperately in need of.

All three need to take a long hard look at themselves.

IT WAS NOT A TIME FOR AN INEXPERIENCED MANAGER TO LEARN SUBSEQUENTLY WITH A BUNCH OF HIS MATES THE TRADE OF SERIOUS FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT.

We should be in the playoff places now no problem - and had Berg had a team of support staff with him from the start I think he would have taken us there.

We certainly had the makings of a far better side than this clown albeit losing some games by close margins. I believe he would have turned things round given the support and brought in far better players than Appleton has done. However not worth dwelling on for its in the past.

Trying so hard to sign a - what a surprise West Brom player - who can barley feature in their 1st team squad let alone side says it all.

I doubt the guy even has the clout to approach Premiership sides for players as he is so inexperienced. His lack of experience in all manner of aspects is there for all to see.

For Shaw Agnew and Coar to allow such a manager to take over at this most CRUCIAL of times is an absolute disgrace for if we don't go up, (and Appleton seems to have well and truly given up on this by his soundings and body language) then we will not see the premiership for decades to come.

I will give you some reality: Building for next season - Start from the basis that

Kean
Hanley
Olsson
Dann
Rhodes
CKR

will not be at the club for the entire 2013 / 2014 season to sustain a promotion push for if they don't go in the summer they will go in the January 2014 transfer window disrupting even further a possible Premiership return.

My advice - Give it everything the club has got for the rest of the season - Get the team moving forward and attacking, Harry Rednapp style, and get into the playoffs come what may.

I reckon the playoffs are / were winnable with the format they take on, but with this clown in charge why do I feel a grave doubt.
I think you are spot on and I agree about Berg. Somebody said his win rate has cost us. Have they forgotten that he was trying to manage with that buffoon Singh down his neck, interfering in his training sessions, causing uproar about Judas Ali. How was Berg supposed to do a job in that circumstance? He was in a lose lose situation. I agree that given the chance he would have made better transfers than Appleton who seems to be another Ince bringing his old colleagues in.

dangerous dave says...
5:29pm Thu 28 Feb 13

noddymcleod wrote:
FANS THROW DOWN GAUNTLET TO APPLE.

show us you're not just here because you're a cronie of your former PNE mate ! Show us you're not just here to help Venkys wind up using your experience at Pompey ! Show us you're not just giving jobs to your chums from WBA ! Show us you've not got a list of players NOT to play to avoid appearance bonuses ! Show us you have some strategy other than dogged defence !
Show us you're not reverting to the pathetic daily dose of blah-blah press releases !
That's enough to be getting on with.
Sorry he's here for the dosh and because he is a mate of Shaw/Agnew just another yes man doing a bit of good talking - but we can now see through this for what he is and his signings are - second raters!!!!!!!!!!!
OUT WITH THE LOT OF THEM

ROVERSPAL1 says...
6:52pm Thu 28 Feb 13

NO TEAMS MAJORITY FANS ARE IDIOTS... FACT!!
MOST OF US KNEW WE NEEDED A MIDFIELDER A TOUGH TACKLER SADLY MAYBE BUNGS DIDNT COME FROM THERE SO WE GOT HALFHEARTED WINGERS/ FORWARDS INSTEAD..
The caps because I dont believe in Appleton.. too too negative and definately needs glasses cant he see we need to close opposition down in both halfs of the field..Murphy and Lowe are as fast as a snail on a summer holiday..

juanbbien says...
8:00pm Thu 28 Feb 13

It's come to something with the anticipation of cobbling loan players in is now our only option in trying to salvage some sort of season,it seems like our premier days never happened with the situation we are now in,it's already become a distant memory.

Arthur Labore says...
8:08pm Thu 28 Feb 13

I think we should have stuck with Black and the same backroom staff for this season,at least the players wre behind and got a few good results,just like Berg after a decent start we have decended into mediocrity again.
we have to stick with Appleton ,but I fear a relegation struggle next season with ths squad.

peely says...
8:13pm Thu 28 Feb 13

"We are where we are because that's where we are where we are , aren't,t we ? You know where we are ". Have you ever heard such verbal diarrhoea in all your life ? This manager gets worse by the day , and if he doesn't, stop digging he gonna find himself in a hole so fecking deep he,ll never be seen again!
Give it a rest MA , if you can't come up with anything constructive please keep it shut , you,re almost making Kean sound intelligent !

passingfootball says...
8:48pm Thu 28 Feb 13

"I don’t think the lads will be allowed to think that far ahead because at the minute we are not good enough to start thinking ahead of ourselves. We have to get back to basics, being hard to beat and see where it takes us. "

We can start this 'back-to-basics' rountine by telling them how to pass to their own team mate, it the moment the passing is so bad that it looks like theyve actually practised giving away possession, whats worse than giving the ball away cheaply without any pressure from the other team.

French Rover says...
10:28pm Thu 28 Feb 13

MattNewcastle wrote:
My word

Shaw Agnew and Coar have a lot to answer for.

Going running off to India professing that they know the answer to all our problems - the signing of Appleton and subsequently all his cronies from such esteemed backgrounds as West Brom U18s / Academy - shows their total lack of foresight as to what as a club we were desperately in need of.

All three need to take a long hard look at themselves.

IT WAS NOT A TIME FOR AN INEXPERIENCED MANAGER TO LEARN SUBSEQUENTLY WITH A BUNCH OF HIS MATES THE TRADE OF SERIOUS FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT.

We should be in the playoff places now no problem - and had Berg had a team of support staff with him from the start I think he would have taken us there.

We certainly had the makings of a far better side than this clown albeit losing some games by close margins. I believe he would have turned things round given the support and brought in far better players than Appleton has done. However not worth dwelling on for its in the past.

Trying so hard to sign a - what a surprise West Brom player - who can barley feature in their 1st team squad let alone side says it all.

I doubt the guy even has the clout to approach Premiership sides for players as he is so inexperienced. His lack of experience in all manner of aspects is there for all to see.

For Shaw Agnew and Coar to allow such a manager to take over at this most CRUCIAL of times is an absolute disgrace for if we don't go up, (and Appleton seems to have well and truly given up on this by his soundings and body language) then we will not see the premiership for decades to come.

I will give you some reality: Building for next season - Start from the basis that

Kean
Hanley
Olsson
Dann
Rhodes
CKR

will not be at the club for the entire 2013 / 2014 season to sustain a promotion push for if they don't go in the summer they will go in the January 2014 transfer window disrupting even further a possible Premiership return.

My advice - Give it everything the club has got for the rest of the season - Get the team moving forward and attacking, Harry Rednapp style, and get into the playoffs come what may.

I reckon the playoffs are / were winnable with the format they take on, but with this clown in charge why do I feel a grave doubt.
biggest load of nonsense (or no sense) on this entire blog Matt, you just outdid your usual claptrap...

No clout to approach prem sides for players? If you knew your facts then you would know that Appleton is a friend people like Ferguson, Moyes and Hodgson and he is liked and well respected by all of them.

And as for saying we should be in the play-offs no problem - have you forgotten why we got relegated last season? We were rubbish and still are in many areas. so the play-offs were always going to be a hope rather than an expectation.

As for mentioning Harry Redknapp as an example of management - well what a great job he is doing at QPR eh! Give it up Matt.....

merlinrabbit says...
9:38am Fri 1 Mar 13

fanny.tickler. wrote:
MxMave wrote:
Another article constructed to try to win fans over from Appleton. We know Venkys screwed up the last 2-3 years, it's your job to change this and i've seen zero progress since you were appointed. I really don't like Appletons press statements, every single one always reeks of excuses. For me the tactics are to blame for the current issues, a half decent manager would be able to get this squad promoted.
You should have stuck with Kean.
You should get behind your team instead of booing. A few poor results and you are on their backs and then you profess to advise rovers fans about supporting their team when we've had over 2years. Chelsea fans might welcome your advice about support!!

stefjam says...
2:28pm Fri 1 Mar 13

MICHAEL Appleton has laid down the gauntlet to his Blackburn Rovers squad after challenging them to ‘show me you want to be part of our success’. How can they, when you keep them on the bench & insist on playing the crud you brought in on loan, Kean lookalike now soundalike !

click2find

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