Paul
Lambert is approaching the 15 games in charge mark which is the number that
Michael Appleton reached before his tenure was ended. When you look at the
records of both men they are not miles apart but the attitude towards the
ex-footballers feels different both at board level and from the stands. Do
board members and fans become fixed on playing careers, playing achievements
and reputation, which means they are more lenient with a Champions League
winner than a League One winner?
This is not meant to be a reflection on Paul Lambert though the comparison is
there, this as the title suggests, is a tip of the cap to Michael Appleton and
recognition from Rovers fans that the former Pompey and Blackpool boss had
plenty more to offer, which is relevant as our paths cross in this weekends FA
Cup clash.
Like during the first of his 67 days in charge at Ewood, Appleton faced criticism from fans as he
tried to change a team that had only known the leadership of Chris Wilder for
so long. However now with his feet firmly under the table Oxford play a very
different type of football from your average League Two side, which is why they
are in the mix for automatic promotion. Appleton
wants to make the most of the terrific pitch the players have at their disposal
and encourages them to get the ball down and pass whenever possible, a far cry
from the style of football witnessed by Rovers fans in recent weeks. Appleton is progressive
in his approach to football using his full time video analyst, a head of
football logistics and a sports science department. The former WBA player
himself is studying for a Masters in Sports Directorship which when you
consider the level of professionalism in the 4th tier of English football is at
the least encouraging and in reality very impressive.
There are a number of relevant questions surrounding his time in charge of
Rovers, such as what can change in 67 days? And would it have mattered who had
taken the job? Given the situation at the club behind the scenes were the
managers doomed to fail from the beginning?
What can change in 67 days?
Results began to deteriorate and although his record was not terrible in the
context Rovers had endured Henning Berg's attempt at management and could not
afford another depressing spell if they were to survive relegation.
Would it have mattered who got the job, were they doomed to fail?
The atmosphere behind the scenes at the club had gotten to the stage that Derek
Shaw and Shebby Singh watched the games from different boxes at Ewood such was
fractured nature of the clubs hierarchy. Singh had been responsible for the
appointment of Berg and there was a certain amount of wanting to even the score
with Shaw who had been given more control in a bid to save the club. This
impossible situation culminated in Singh, who had never spoken with Appleton, advising him he
had been relieved of his duties without consulting Shaw prior to the
announcement. No matter who was to come into such turmoil it would have been
impossible to thrive and as such Appleton
found himself a victim of circumstance, for the third time in his short career.
The situations at Pompey, Blackpool and Rovers were the beginning of a more
common trend which is creeping into football most recently at Bolton.
Appleton has been unfortunate enough to become
associated with failure and this will have played a part in why it took almost
18 months out of the game before he was given another chance with Oxford. Even with all
that has happened, Appleton
is still a young manager at only 40 years old, so he can put what he has learnt
so far into practice to ensure he does not make the same mistakes in the
future. Appleton
has admitted making mistakes in selecting jobs in the past and now knows the
importance of being patient and choosing only positions which feel right for
him.
When we look at Michael Appleton the man it is clear to see what Derek Shaw
recognised and why he believed that Appleton
was a good fit for Rovers. Born in the North West, a player for Manchester
United and a successful player for Preston he
knows how to act around the fans and what Rovers would expect. The attitude Appleton displayed at
Pompey vowing to stay and fight on when they were hit with administration is an
admirable quality, which Shaw perhaps understood would be required for what was
to come in the future.
