Sam Allardyce

[gonetomorrow]

Would you have said that a month ago? i honestly wondered where our next goal was coming from, never mind our next win.

And it sure wasn't "entertaining".

 

[Gladystweet]

And it sure wasn't "entertaining".

It was..just for everyone else....

 

[PhilM]

Mad what a couple of wins can do. Defence looks solid at the moment.

Equally, a few poor results on our part combined with others getting the results they need and we could easily be back in the mixer.

We're still only ten points eight points above WBA in the relegation zone, so I'm content with Sam to continue grinding out much needed results.

 

[Gladystweet]

Equally, a few poor results on our part combined with others getting the results they need and we could easily be back in the mixer.

We're still only ten points eight points above WBA in the relegation zone, so I'm content with Sam to continue grinding out much needed results.

Agreed. Let's get comfortable, then go from there. Of course there's going to be bumps in the road ahead, but we're getting the basics right again at last.

 

[Jreverton1]

Equally, a few poor results on our part combined with others getting the results they need and we could easily be back in the mixer.

We're still only ten points eight points above WBA in the relegation zone, so I'm content with Sam to continue grinding out much needed results.

The teams that are really in the relegation battle are so much worse than we are. We have decent players, we just needed someone to make training/tactics less complicated.

 

[Baines' left foot]

Can't wait for the fume when he posts pictures of his family Christmas tree.
Baubles from Bolton, Newcastle, Palace, Sunderland, West Ham, Blackburn etc and a massive Everton star on top.

Remember when people were crying over Koeman having red baubles on his tree last year?

Some of our fans are so precious.

 

[Gladystweet]

The teams that are really in the relegation battle are so much worse than we are. We have decent players, we just needed someone to make training/tactics less complicated.

Anyone who can get Williams, who looked like he'd never seen a football this season, to start doing the basic things like actually defending again, is obviously doing something right.
Confidence obviously plays a massive part, and wins clearly help, but we just look different somehow.

 

[Gladystweet]

Remember when people were crying over Koeman having red baubles on his tree last year?

Some of our fans are so precious.

He took them down as well due to "twitter outrage"

I'd have told them all to 'koff

 

[Jreverton1]

Anyone who can get Williams, who looked like he'd never seen a football this season, to start doing the basic things like actually defending again, is obviously doing something right.
Confidence obviously plays a massive part, and wins clearly help, but we just look different somehow.

Getting the players fit and all this sport science stuff must do something, even if he only gets an extra 2% out of the players, I'd say that would make a big difference or in fact, has made a big difference.

 

[Gladystweet]

Getting the players fit and all this sport science stuff must do something, even if he only gets an extra 2% out of the players, I'd say that would make a big difference or in fact, has made a big difference.

....or it could be just an arm round their shoulders, and a smile, telling them they're not that crap after all....

 

[kenada_blue]

Anyone who can get Williams, who looked like he'd never seen a football this season, to start doing the basic things like actually defending again, is obviously doing something right.
Confidence obviously plays a massive part, and wins clearly help, but we just look different somehow.

He's got a makeshift back 4 keeping clean sheets (two under 23s, a past it CB, and a 3rd choice free transfer). Mind-blowing IMO.

 

[Jreverton1]

Remember when people were crying over Koeman having red baubles on his tree last year?

Some of our fans are so precious.

Looking back, that was the start of the end for him, the players basically downed tools after that.

 

[Baines' left foot]

The whole 'wanting to be entertained' notion is a bit silly I think.

How many clubs have gone from their so called 'long ball' tactics to a more 'expansive' game and failed miserably in the process? We gradually got worse until we fell of a cliff under Martinez after the Moyes era (who despite contrary to popular belief got us playing some lovely stuff at times). I'd rather have a pragmatic manager with the ambition to gradually make us more expansive as opposed to trying to change it overnight because it's fashionable. All this 'philosophy' nonsense. Some managers try to overcomplicate the game but Sam isn't one of those.

Sure, Guardiola is a master at getting his sides playing beautiful football. But even he couldn't do it with the wealth of talent City had last year and had to spend hundreds of millions this season to get it right. It's only really possible if you have the resources for it.

Fans say "I'd rather finish 14th and have a go at playing the 'right way' than settle for 7th again!!!". No. No you wouldn't.

Look at how Stoke have gradually declined after trying to become a Home & Bargain version of Barcelona. Crystal Palace flirted with De Boer for a few weeks before crapping themselves and appointing Hodgson. There's more but I can't be bothered to rack my hungover brain.

 

[PhilM]

The teams that are really in the relegation battle are so much worse than we are. We have decent players, we just needed someone to make training/tactics less complicated.

On paper I'd 100% agree that they were/are much worse, however only a mere month or so ago I genuinely believe we were one of the worst.

Our defending was bordering on negligence with the mistakes we made, our midfield was stretched and offensively we offered little to nothing.

Whatever Sam has done, be it on the training ground or through simply instilling confidence in the players, we're now addressing the basics.

My point is that while some fans are now moaning that we're not the new Harlem Globe Trotters I'm happy with the simple, effective steps.

There's no point in getting beyond ourselves with some flamboyant play and starting to drop points again, when we can build on a solid base.

 

[Jreverton1]

On paper I'd 100% agree that they were/are much worse, however only a mere month or so ago I genuinely believe we were one of the worst.

Our defending was bordering on negligence with the mistakes we made, our midfield was stretched and offensively we offered little to nothing.

Whatever Sam has done, be it on the training ground or through simply instilling confidence in the players, we're now addressing the basics.

My point is that while some fans are now moaning that we're not the new Harlem Globe Trotters I'm happy with the simple, effective steps.

There's no point in getting beyond ourselves with some flamboyant play and starting to drop points again, when we can build on a solid base.

Can't argue with a single thing you've just said there. My thoughts exactly.