Interesting article/interview with Allardyce in the Independent. One extract: "The lingering long-ball ****, the old style, all that rubbish that's never been me and never been a part of what I am. I'm a purist in football terms. I love football. I hate the politics that are involved in football because it's destructive and not for the good of football. I believe in what I do because it works. People work with me, not for me, they enjoy being in this environment." http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...PjvzwY4wHuM3ZCX67RCOxmNrQZDZD&expires_in=5648
So...what are you trying to point out? He isn't a fan of hoofball, yet he still chooses to do it? Guessing Gold has told him to get there in any way possible
Just that he is a really puzzling guy. Not sure he knows what/who he is or how he comes across. Basically, as sharpshooter11 says, full of it.
To be fair the direct style has always suited the teams he's managed. Maybe he doesn't like it but is pragmatic enough to play it out of necessity. I rather doubt he'll ever get a chance to manage a better technical side to prove his point though! What a shame.
How more technical can a team get then West Ham in the Championship... Bentley, Lansbury, Noble, Nolan, Collison, Cole, Faubert and Baldock. How many more technically good players does he need to play attractive football?!
You're right. He could play an attack and midfield of: Lansbury, Collison, Noble, Taylor Maynard and Baldock. Technically strong players.
Work with a West Ham fan and he says when they had Cole and Baldock starting together it was going brilliantly. The little and large combination! Then in January SA brought in Maynard and Vaz Te, who are cocky (trying to be)skilful players that think they're all that. And now their form has dramatically dropped and I can see why!
When Sam was at Bolton, his style of play was to basically miss midfield with the ball over the top. I cannot ever remember him being particularly defensive minded. The players he brought in for them were basically players that were used to that style of Play. When he went to Newcastle it was as plain as the pimple on your nose the Geordie's did not like that style of play. As others have said he has ignored the technical capabilities he has with in the West Ham team and brought in the players that prefer the kick and rush style of play and tried to mix them in the pot. It isn't working.......Personally I don't think he will be in the job next year if they do not go up...........
Spot on Beddy! The West Ham fans will start calling for his head if they don't win their next two games.
On the other hand, he will be a hero if they go up through the play offs, however he plays the game. The play offs are so exciting...just don't want to take part.
If WH end up in the play-offs the pressure on them will be huge much more so than on the other teams. Financially they have to go up tihs year. Fat Sam has spent a fortune!
Beddy Interested to read your comment as this is precisely a conversation that I've been having over the last few weeks with my father as we've walked down to the football. I can't see Allardyce being there next season promotion or not. I think we should not forget that West Ham have a game in hand which they should win and that this would narrow the gap to 6 points. Next weekend's game against Reading will be a fastinating contest and means that we need to win to start to open up an unassailable difference in points. As I've said here before over the last couple of weeks, West Ham look like they are a team under pressure but they are still some way ahead in the play-off pack and have a good squad that should do better. At the beginning of the season I felt that the two automatic promotion places would be taken by West Ham and Leicester. I'd dind't expect anyone else to get within touching distance of them. I would never have put Saints in contention for promotion and would have been happy with mid-table. Funny how this season has trune out as I can't think of any season that I have followed them (since about 1974/5) that they have won games they should have lost! However, wasn't there a season back in the early sixties when we were well clear at the top of the old Third Division with only a few games left and still failed to get promotion?
I think Vaz Te was a good signing. He's having a very good season, and he appears to be doing alright for West Ham. But why on earth they signed Maynard, I've no idea. Pointless signing. Sam bangs on about how his strikers can't score, and how they'd be promoted already if they have Lambert. Well why then Sam, did you buy Maynard? Or Carew for that matter? Why not buy a striker who can score goals, or else leave the money sitting in the bank account, like any responsible manager should?
I disagree. The early prem seasons that he was lauded for included Djorkaeff, Hierro and Campo and they linked through the centre of the pitch. Those first couple of years were a mixture similar to Saints now where there is a mix of diagonals from deep as well as link up play through the middle. Add Nolan in the mix and you have 3 players that controlled the centre/attacking triangle of their games. Add to that Sam was using 'modern' fitness regimes and data/statistical analysis and he was branded 'new school'. It's only now a decade or more later that those 'modern' techniques are looking dated. He hasn't moved on and NA makes him look incredibly Old Shool. With Bolton it was only a few years in once Campo, Hierro and Djorkaeff had retired and they didn't get that kind of quality back, instead moving on with the likes of Taylor, Davies and Diouff. It became much more physical and set piece orientated which was quite simply playing to that current squads strength and again they did well at it. So much so he left stating 'I've taking them as far as I can' and got a 'prestigious' job that most at the time would have said he had worked hard for (talking about Newcastle.) That was of course after he had applied for the England job and publicly stated he should have got it. lol With West Ham it just seems he has a low opinion of the Championship these days and thinks that you can't win with nice football. Maybe he has gotten into a habit of the 'hoofball' style. However I do agree with most statements. We are talking about the present not the past and he is most definitely looking very dated and out of touch with the reality of how the Championship is these days. It is no longer a kick and rush, scrappy league way behind the Premiership (if it ever was) and even down the leagues. Right down to the blue square and beyond there are teams doing very well playing good football. He could do with looking at the likes of Southampton, Reading, and others. Huddersfield, Charlton, Swindon, Crawley. All teams assembled at reasonable cost (not cheap but not silly money) and all of those teams play good passing football however are not afraid to mix in some long stuff if needed. I think most teams use Man Utd as the template. Good football, attacking football, A mixture of short stuff, some intricate stuff, A bit of long stuff, A bit of men behind the ball, A bit of push forward with speed (doesn't necessarily need pace as numbers can move the ball quickly.) In essence a 'blend' of tactics rather than a rigid kick it to the big man. Carlton Cole is looking very ordinary with the ball coming to his head, he is a very good player. Similar to Crouchy and Lambert people think 'tall bloke = target man'. All 3 are much better with their feet
