KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: I needed to knock Huge Sam down once I performed in opposition to his Bolton facet… count on Allardyce to play a again 4 with loads of safety as he appears to be like to save lots of Leeds in four-game shootout
- Allardyce will lead Leeds for the primary time in opposition to Manchester City on Saturday
- He’ll look to make his facet laborious to beat before everything earlier than constructing
- It may be a monumental survival act however Huge Sam is able to doing it
At Arsenal, we didn’t like dealing with Allardyce’s groups. There was a sense that, as Sir Alex Ferguson’s mate, he beloved tripping us up greater than anybody else. I nonetheless bear in mind Huge Sam’s huge grin in April 2003 after my very own aim secured Bolton a 2-2 draw on the Reebok Stadium.
That price us with Manchester United finally successful the title. I used to visualise a sliding sort out on an opposing participant by the sideline that may additionally wipe out Allardyce in his technical space, too! After I later acquired to fulfill Allardyce and work with him for a UNICEF charity match, I gained an appreciation for why gamers labored so laborious for him.
His huge expertise is why Leeds have gone with him now. They’ve checked out his whole profession — not what occurred at West Brom in 2020-21 when he was relegated for the primary time — however a visit to Metropolis is essentially the most difficult begin he may ever have envisaged.
Huge Sam talks the discuss
Huge Sam burst by way of the Elland Street doorways with the largest of statements, declaring: You’ll not discover a higher Premier League supervisor than me. Not Mikel Arteta. Not Jurgen Klopp. Not Pep Guardiola, who he faces on Saturday.
Sam Allardyce’s groups are all the time laborious to beat and he’ll look to instill that mentality at Leeds
![He said he was a better manager manager than Pep Guardiola when he arrived at the club](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/05/20/70631569-0-image-a-13_1683314661421.jpg)
He stated he was a greater supervisor supervisor than Pep Guardiola when he arrived on the membership
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/05/21/70633541-12052365-image-a-31_1683317885036.jpg)
Allardyce’s Bolton groups again within the day have been extraordinarily troublesome and horrible to play in opposition to
It created an awesome sense of theatre to his return, alongside his supporting actors in Karl Robinson and Robbie Keane, and despatched a transparent message to a Leeds dressing room filled with gamers from all all over the world: For those who didn’t know me earlier than right now, you actually know me now.
Anybody who wasn’t conscious of his status wakened on Thursday morning listening to how Guardiola had endorsed Allardyce’s opinion of himself. Huge Sam talks an excellent recreation. Anybody who can persuade a World Cup winner in Youri Djorkaeff to signal for Bolton should have the present of the gab!
However he must be crystal clear in his message to Leeds’ gamers if he’s to show this workforce round. This has been a Premier League season unprecedented in its managerial adjustments — 15 in whole — and Leeds at the moment are on to their third appointment in Allardyce. For all their good work in harrying and hurrying opponents underneath Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia, they haven’t been taking sufficient care of the ball.
The statistics say they’ve regained possession extra instances than every other Premier League workforce this season however have additionally given it away greater than anybody else. Trying again by way of the 23 targets conceded in April, it’s clear to see that on too many events, Leeds’ midfielders and attackers are usually not caring for the ball.
They lose it and the workforce are then punished on the counter.
The again 4 appears to be like susceptible, lacks tempo and doesn’t deal nicely sufficient with direct balls into the field. Their marking has been questionable and now their 23-year-old goalkeeper Illan Meslier is making primary errors because the stress builds.
Allardyce could have been learning all of those shortcomings with a view to creating them laborious to beat, before everything.
Towards Metropolis, Leeds would possibly need to observe what West Ham tried on Wednesday. David Moyes’ males pressed excessive however as soon as Metropolis broke by way of, the entire workforce dropped to guard their field. It was sufficient to frustrate Metropolis till West Ham finally conceded from a poor set-piece within the second half.
![While playing for Arsenal we didn't like facing Sam Allardyce's and his Bolton Wanderers team](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/05/21/70634547-12052365-image-m-17_1683319437623.jpg)
Whereas taking part in for Arsenal we did not like dealing with Sam Allardyce’s and his Bolton Wanderers workforce
![They tripped us up in a 2-2 draw that proved key to us losing the Premier League title in 2003](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/05/21/70634545-12052365-image-a-16_1683319434764.jpg)
They tripped us up in a 2-2 draw that proved key to us shedding the Premier League title in 2003
![Ilan Meslier looks shot for confidence in the Leeds goal and Big Sam may make a change](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/05/20/70631629-0-image-a-14_1683314708970.jpg)
Ilan Meslier appears to be like shot for confidence within the Leeds aim and Huge Sam could make a change
![Allardyce, flanked by Karl Robinson, has four games to save Leeds from top flight relegation](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/05/20/70631659-0-image-a-15_1683314768213.jpg)
Allardyce, flanked by Karl Robinson, has 4 video games to save lots of Leeds from high flight relegation
![Patrick Bamford needs supplying if he is going to recapture his confidence up front](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/05/20/70631657-0-image-a-16_1683314771162.jpg)
Patrick Bamford wants supplying if he’s going to recapture his confidence up entrance
Allardyce will need Leeds’ again 4 to be protected by a midfield line staying in shut proximity and I count on him to return to a 4-2-3-1 set-up, as a result of the gamers appeared uncertain of their roles within the 3-4-3 formation utilized in Gracia’s ultimate recreation in cost.
They possess an excellent risk within the broad areas from Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville, and Patrick Bamford wants supplying as he appears to be like to recapture his confidence for this four-game shootout.
Leeds are in a dangerous place. They’re out of the Premier League’s relegation zone on aim distinction however given they misplaced 7-0 at Metropolis final season, that would quickly be eradicated. Particularly if Kevin De Bruyne — or Kevin De Good as we may name him — is again to feed Erling Haaland, the deadly marksman who has already scored essentially the most targets in a Premier League season.
After Metropolis, Leeds face Newcastle and West Ham — two of Allardyce’s former golf equipment — after which Tottenham. That is going to take a monumental survival act. If Leeds keep up, that press convention unveiling will dwell lengthy within the reminiscence. But when they don’t survive, fairly just like the accusations levelled at Marsch every time he made excuses, Allardyce shall be accused of speaking codswallop.