Sam Allardyce

[COYBL25]

I think the change was needed in order to bring some stability of mindset if nothing else.

I like Unsworth but a lot of his words were empty and almost cliche. Bringing Allardyce brings calmness because, undoubtedly, he secures sides.

Carrying on with Unsworth or bringing in Silva, they bring with them risk. Whilst you can never say never in football, hiring Allardyce is about as secure as you can get.

I suspect he's also been brought in as a hatchett man, with a free reign to bin a load of the dead wood off. ( hopefully in readiness for whoever takes over in the Summer. )

I should imagine it would've been very difficult for Unsworth to bin off the likes of Baines and Jageilka, due to his long term ties to the club.

 

[JLW]

So if Sam was not needed, what should we have done until March?

Too many folk make statements but do not think them through.

Carried on searching for the correct manager who is not a ‘relegation specialist’ who we could get! Getting Allardyce in is not thinking it through! So in the summer or in 18 months time when we get a new manager he is going to have to clear out most of his signings to get the players in he (whoever that may be) wants. That puts us back 3 years in my opinion.

 

[davek]

If that was the case Dave, then like I said in my other post replying to you, who would have looked at us - no Fonseca, no Silva, no Simeone. Okay if we had been as you think mid table what would we do? Stick with Unsy. All very well making statements but there are times when before doing so need to think of the future.

I think the change was needed in order to bring some stability of mindset if nothing else.

I like Unsworth but a lot of his words were empty and almost cliche. Bringing Allardyce brings calmness because, undoubtedly, he secures sides.

Carrying on with Unsworth or bringing in Silva, they bring with them risk. Whilst you can never say never in football, hiring Allardyce is about as secure as you can get.

The *problem* with the Unsworth experiment was that he was undermined from the outset by the board not simply handing him the job till the season's end. Those players were of the mind after a couple of reversals that they didn't need to put it in every game 100% because they were saving themselves to impress the new boss when they eventually arrived.

If he;d have been given full board backing and not undermined the players would have done a lot better. It wasn't down to tactics with Unsworth as much as swapping and changing line ups...and that was down to having to play these EuroDisney cup matches. He came in and even under that handicap got us 7 points from 5 games.

Appointing and backing Unsworth would have done us until the summer. We'd have been safe enough. Employing Allardyce just means another pay out in June and another manager for next season. A complete waste of time and money.

 

[Toffeelover]

Carried on searching for the correct manager who is not a ‘relegation specialist’ who we could get! Getting Allardyce in is not thinking it through! So in the summer or in 18 months time when we get a new manager he is going to have to clear out most of his signings to get the players in he (whoever that may be) wants. That puts us back 3 years in my opinion.

So while we carried on searching what if we had dropped into the bottom 3, keep fingers crossed, touch wood it will work out but under who? Unsy????????? The people we wanted would not look at us.

 

[mkrudden]

I suspect he's also been brought in as a hatchett man, with a free reign to bin a load of the dead wood off. ( hopefully in readiness for whoever takes over in the Summer. )

I should imagine it would've been very difficult for Unsworth to bin off the likes of Baines and Jageilka, due to his long term ties to the club.

I agree until the point about Baines and Jagielka.

It's just an opinion but I think both are at least worthy of a place in the squad, Baines as a starter.

Look around the PL, how many full backs are there that are definitely better than Baines?

Mendy? Yes
Utd don't have one.
Alonso? Nah.
Alberto Moreno? Not a chance.
Milner? Nope
Danny Rose yes is a better full back.
Bertrand too.

But that's it. Baines just isn't as good as he was. Just life / age.

 

[Toffeelover]

The *problem* with the Unsworth experiment was that he was undermined from the outset by the board not simply handing him the job till the season's end. Those players were of the mind after a couple of reversals that they didn't need to put it in every game 100% because they were saving themselves to impress the new boss when they eventually arrived.

If he;d have been given full board backing and not undermined the players would have done a lot better. It wasn't down to tactics with Unsworth as much as swapping and changing line ups...and that was down to having to play these EuroDisney cup matches. He came in and even under that handicap got us 7 points from 5 games.

Appointing and backing Unsworth would have done us until the summer. We'd have been safe enough. Employing Allardyce just means another pay out in June and another manager for next season. A complete waste of time and money.

Have to say Dave, I do not agree besides the point now anyway.

 

[COYBL25]

I agree until the point about Baines and Jagielka.

It's just an opinion but I think both are at least worthy of a place in the squad, Baines as a starter.

Look around the PL, how many full backs are there that are definitely better than Baines?

Mendy? Yes
Utd don't have one.
Alonso? Nah.
Alberto Moreno? Not a chance.
Milner? Nope
Danny Rose yes is a better full back.
Bertrand too.

But that's it. Baines just isn't as good as he was. Just life / age.

He's fine as a fullback that just defends and doesn't do anything else.

Unfortunately it's not the way the game is played today.

 

[mkrudden]

The *problem* with the Unsworth experiment was that he was undermined from the outset by the board not simply handing him the job till the season's end. Those players were of the mind after a couple of reversals that they didn't need to put it in every game 100% because they were saving themselves to impress the new boss when they eventually arrived.

If he;d have been given full board backing and not undermined the players would have done a lot better. It wasn't down to tactics with Unsworth as much as swapping and changing line ups...and that was down to having to play these EuroDisney cup matches. He came in and even under that handicap got us 7 points from 5 games.

Appointing and backing Unsworth would have done us until the summer. We'd have been safe enough. Employing Allardyce just means another pay out in June and another manager for next season. A complete waste of time and money.

i disagree here mate.

Going essentially 4-4-2 at Leicester with a high line was absolutely horrendous.
Going to an away EL game without Rooney, our best player, was suicide.
As you say, chopping and changing the side.
Rooney benched for the Palace game which was crying out for someone to put their foot on the ball.

He didn't really have much to his set up other than work hard. And credit, they did work harder.

Hopefully he comes back in the future / at another club a better manager for it all. But I maintain, tactically he was pretty poor.

 

[jinkyali]

I agree until the point about Baines and Jagielka.

It's just an opinion but I think both are at least worthy of a place in the squad, Baines as a starter.

Look around the PL, how many full backs are there that are definitely better than Baines?

Mendy? Yes
Utd don't have one.
Alonso? Nah.
Alberto Moreno? Not a chance.
Milner? Nope
Danny Rose yes is a better full back.
Bertrand too.

But that's it. Baines just isn't as good as he was. Just life / age.

Alonso is one of the best in the division.

Andy Robertson is better.

Baines for me is one of the bottom tier.

 

[Toffeelover]

I agree until the point about Baines and Jagielka.

It's just an opinion but I think both are at least worthy of a place in the squad, Baines as a starter.

Look around the PL, how many full backs are there that are definitely better than Baines?

Mendy? Yes
Utd don't have one.
Alonso? Nah.
Alberto Moreno? Not a chance.
Milner? Nope
Danny Rose yes is a better full back.
Bertrand too.

But that's it. Baines just isn't as good as he was. Just life / age.

What about Shaw?

 

[mkrudden]

Alonso is one of the best in the division.

Andy Robertson is better.

Baines for me is one of the bottom tier.

Andy Robertson is nowhere near, and i'd wager never will be, as good as golden age Baines or the current version.

Alonso is a rang average full back. He's just got a brilliant engine as does Moses on the other side - a characteristic Conte loves

 

[JLW]

So while we carried on searching what if we had dropped into the bottom 3, keep fingers crossed, touch wood it will work out but under who? Unsy????????? The people we wanted would not look at us.

So you draft in a manager who’s career operates around the relegation places without actually being relegated? Great!

 

[mkrudden]

What about Shaw?

Hard to say isn't it.
I worry about the fact Shaw looks like the Michelen man.

 

[Toffeelover]

So you draft in a manager who’s career operates around the relegation places without actually being relegated? Great!

But who else? carry on with Unsy? See post by mkrudden!

 

[Toffeelover]

Hard to say isn't it.
I worry about the fact Shaw looks like the Michelen man.

It is but Baines is not upto it now IMO. Noticed number of times when he goes up the wing struggles to get back. Even Martina is faster. But come Jan, do think Garbutt should be given at least one chance.