[FallOutBoy]

I think he wants to stay. I hope he manages to get rid of Dowling.

Not a fan of Allardyce, but if he manages that he'll have my support

[wodenson46]

Might consider accepting Allardyce/Dowling combo when they prove they can get MP and Yokuslu to stay for at least two more seasons, get at least £25m for SJ, and any fees at all for Livermore and HRK. If Diagne goes then show they can produce a like for like or better replacement, and then build a team with whatever money we have from parachute payments and odds and sods to get promotion and give it a decent go the following season in the prem.

[wbasoprano]

Might consider accepting Allardyce/Dowling combo when they prove they can get MP and Yokuslu to stay for at least two more seasons, get at least £25m for SJ, and any fees at all for Livermore and HRK. If Diagne goes then show they can produce a like for like or better replacement, and then build a team with whatever money we have from parachute payments and odds and sods to get promotion and give it a decent go the following season in the prem.

You'll never accept them then haha

[BaggieNick]

Not a fan of Allardyce, but if he manages that he'll have my support

Absolutely.

Dowling should go regardless.

[WBA]

I think he wants to stay. I hope he manages to get rid of Dowling.

Sam thinks very highly of Dowling. Maybe they're a good mix?

I reckon Sam is staying, why else would he be saying we won't be able to hang on to Pereira and that we can't afford Diagne and Yokuslu?

T

[boinging_along]

Of course he'll want to stay - he knows he can talk the board into a nice big juicy bonus to get us promoted and we'll clearly be one of the favourites thanks to the parachute payments.  He'll also factor in the likelyhood of getting another job as good as this one.

[LiamTheBaggie]

Of course he'll want to stay - he knows he can talk the board into a nice big juicy bonus to get us promoted

That is absolutely fine by me.

Furthermore, If he takes us up then he’ll be best placed to keep us up.

[leeiswba]

That is absolutely fine by me.

Furthermore, If he takes us up then he’ll be best placed to keep us up.

Exactly, if he does then keep us up stick a survival bonus in as well.

No arguments there for me.

[baggie82]

Let's face it, whoever is in charge will be offered a big bonus on promotion and on survival, just as the players wages are linked the same way. Standard stuff.

[wodenson46]

You'll never accept them then haha

Sussed! And I thought I had kept it secret

[Maresca Was A Baggie]

Just seen today's line up. Is Sam for real or taking the ****?
How is HRK anywhere near the squad, let alone starting.

[Dexy]

Just seen today's line up. Is Sam for real or taking the ****?
How is HRK anywhere near the squad, let alone starting.

Is it a message to the board ?

[Dudleylad]

That is exactly what it is.

It may also indicate who has made approaches to stay next season aswell.

However I would rather have seen Grant starting especially as you would imagine he will be a decent part of next seasons squad.

[johnny Cash]

I don’t think it’s a message to the board. He can tell them he wants a striker next season, there’s no need to use this game as a statement.

It isn’t 5 days before  a window closes and he’s got Grant, Diange and Robinson on the bench who could have played, two of which will be with us next season and will be relitively strong options at that level.

I think it’s tactical.

[ttree30]

I don’t think it’s a message to the board. He can tell them he wants a striker next season, there’s no need to use this game as a statement.

It isn’t 5 days before  a window closes and he’s got Grant, Diange and Robinson on the bench who could have played, two of which will be with us next season and will be relitively strong options at that level.

I think it’s tactical.

I agree. I don’t think Allardyce does amateurish stuff like that. It would be unnecessary.

[johnny Cash]

I agree. I don’t think Allardyce does amateurish stuff like that. It would be unnecessary.

Oh don’t get me wrong, I absolutely think Sam’s capable of doing it (doing something to send a message). There is just no reason to do it today.

[ttree30]

Oh don’t get me wrong, I absolutely think Sam’s capable of doing it (doing something to send a message). There is just no reason to do it today.

That’s sad.

[TheJacko2000]

He's scored anyway, so actually a masterstroke... let's hope it doesn't lead to a new deal.

[wbasoprano]

He's scored anyway, so actually a masterstroke... let's hope it doesn't lead to a new deal.

It's inevitable he gets a new deal. As someone, I think Liam, said its an easy fix to fill a place in the squad, whether we agree with it or not.

[Baggies]

Diangana, HRK, Grant and Livermore all given game time at the expense of Diagne, AMN and to a degree Yokuslu.

I may be reading too much into it, but for those who want Allardyce to stay, that's the sort of decision a manager makes with an eye on next season rather than going out with a bang.

[wbasoprano]

Many on here have been calling for Diangana and Grant to get game time. They both look off the pace as you'd expect.

[LiamTheBaggie]

Diangana, HRK, Grant and Livermore all given game time at the expense of Diagne, AMN and to a degree Yokuslu.

I may be reading too much into it, but for those who want Allardyce to stay, that's the sort of decision a manager makes with an eye on next season rather than going out with a bang.

This point wasn’t lost on me either.

Clear that Sam was utilising this second half as a chance to look at a couple of these fringe players.

[Standaman]

If ANY manager played silly buggers with team selection to prove a point to the board then that manager should be out on their ear the following day. I am Allardyce's biggest critic but even I would credit him the ability to have an adult dialogue with the club about the future without performative team selection. 

[Oldbury24]

i hope he stays.  Simples! 

Think he will get something out of Grady and Grant next year.  And he has turned Phillips into a footballer again when I was sure he was done.   Improvement all round the team.

[SirTonyM]

Another competitive performance, we just don't have the quality and we have known since Jan that our bench is not good enough. Can't fault Allardyce today and seems to have the players still giving everything even though we are down.
I always enjoy it when a manager picks the team and there is a meltdown online and then the player scores...You knew HRK would score today. Not sure what it says about Grant though.