Blackburn Rovers blog: Sam will rule over the 'Messiah' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn Rovers blog: Sam will rule over the 'Messiah'

3:10pm Tuesday 7th December 2010 in John Myles By John Myles, Blackburn Rovers fan columnist

I think it was Napoleon who when asked what qualities he looked for in his generals said he wanted them to be lucky.

It’s also a useful attribute for a football manager and I think we can safely say that in that department Sam Allardyce has the edge on Mick McCarthy, the Wolves boss who has been bemoan-ing his ill fortune since the season began.

He and the travelling contingent realised it was not going to be their day after three minutes when the woodwork at the Black-burn end had to come to our rescue twice.

On that second occasion it was not so much struck as positively caressed.

That Rovers went on to record their biggest win of the season after such a sloppy start and a less than convincing last half hour was frankly a bit surreal.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining and we’ve had games this season where we’ve played better and got nothing.

To achieve a rather flattering scoreline, against a team that we really have to keep below us, after the debacle of Old Trafford was a real boost as we enter the busy Christmas period.

And yet, as I left the ground there were mumblings of discontent, based mainly on what some fans saw as a defensive retreat at 3-0 when many believed that pushing on would have yielded more goals.

I’m looking forward to our next game against those other Wanderers of Bolton this Sunday. Owen Coyle, pictured, has transformed the Trotters from a workman-like outfit to a side bursting with flair and intent.

That itself would be some achievement but what is remarkable is that he appears to have accomplished it with the same players.

Sam Allardyce whose football philosophy is somewhat less prosaic is nevertheless rightly regarded with great respect by Bolton fans who appreciate the remarkable job he did for them.

However I don’t yet buy all the hype about the “new Bolton”. While I would accept that Coyle has made a decent start and his instincts do seem to favour attacking football, let’s see where they finish up before we hand out plaudits.

Let’s not forget also that he made an impressive start with his previous charges before the natural order was restored.

It will be a tough game and we may need our luck to continue to come away with the spoils, but I’m having a wager that the messiah will still be waiting to get one over on Big Sam come 3.15pm.

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