13 Feb 2018 06:58:50
Well we are almost safe now. Think back to just before Sam arrived. We were all s***ing bricks and thinking how bad things were. Relegation was being talked about big time. Having said that, we still have a dreadful away record as he pointed out. But we should now secure the few points needed with some winnable home games. So that leaves Sam with a handful of away games to win over doubting fans. He needs to set us up without the defensive pairing of Gueye and Schneids, because it clearly does not work and invites the home team to attack us constantly. He has to pick Rooney in the deeper role because he is the creative one who looks for forwards passes. He has to pick Gueye to cover Rooney's lack of defensive ability these days. He then has to put Tom Davies in as the engine and presser helping out whoever is in attack. And I would continue with Gilfi on the left because the guy is class and although a more forwards thinking player, he works his socks off just like Davies and Niasse. So I would have Niasse in too. The defence is anyones guess. I just hope Seamus is not out for long. But that team should not sit back and allow the opposition to press us all the time because it is capable of attacking and breaking. Of course Wallcott on the right is a no brainer. Best signing since Lukaku. Actually since Moyes. So if Sam continues with a back 5 or 2 defensive mids that one is Shneids. I will join all you Sam haters and want him out too. It clearly does not work and the run of 5 games without a shot on target proves that. let's see what he does next few away games. But so far he has done what we never thought possible and got us nearly safe with about 10 games to go.

1.) 13 Feb 2018
13 Feb 2018 07:17:04
good post degsy but Sam isn't bothered about away wins hence the reason he makes so many changes he knows with our home record that should be enough to keep up in the top half and that is his only aim.

2.) 13 Feb 2018
13 Feb 2018 07:30:02
Sorry BLUEY79, but I read things and sometimes wonder? How do you know Sam isn't bothered about away wins? Did you get your doctorate in mind reading a while back? Of course he is bothered. You are right that he may think we have more chance of securing home wins but to say he is not bothered . beggars belief. I also just looked up what he actually said about Tosun. People saying he won't play him until we are safe. which is partly the story. but he also said because he is not fit enough. If I was manager, I would want fit players playing in the premier league. I guess people are just looking for comments to slag the man off. Sam also said it is important that Tosun succeeds at Everton because he was responsible for wanting him at Everton. that's not how people on here were portraying Sam's comments. I understand we have looked bad. but we looked bad (in fact we looked worst) when Koeman was manager earlier this season.

3.) 13 Feb 2018
13 Feb 2018 09:28:13
We know he's not bothered about away wins because he hasn't tried to win away since his first away game.

4.) 13 Feb 2018
13 Feb 2018 10:33:25
Big Sam stated that it was important to win your home games. It should be important to try and win all of the games. With all the changes he makes for the away games it does make you wonder if he is bothered about the 5000 fans that go to the away matches. The balance of the team looked a lot better on Saturday. For me he should start the same 11 for our next match. Rooney playing deeper makes things happen.

{Ed002's Note - Don't worry you'll manage to drive him out and drag the club down. The toxicx will get what theyt want.}

5.) 13 Feb 2018
13 Feb 2018 10:41:16
Good posts Degsy Thumbs up from me mate lol.

6.) 13 Feb 2018
13 Feb 2018 12:42:05
Good post Degsy, although i do think Allardyce shouldn't have mentioned anything about playing him only when we are safe. It doesn't do the player any good. he should have just said, he isn't fit enough yet, but as soon as he is he will play. You have to wonder whether he said the same to Lookman and Lookmans thought, sod that.

Thats my biggest gripe with him, some of his comments are contradictory and not helpful to the players or fans sometimes.

7.) 13 Feb 2018
13 Feb 2018 14:44:37
Thing is Smit do we want a manager who lies to us or a manager who tells the truth? He gets asked direct questions he does not volunteer the info he gives. Maybe the way forward would be if we stopped having and press conferences.

8.) 13 Feb 2018
13 Feb 2018 15:34:06
He just needs to stop making statements that set himself up for a fall.
All the spiel about how his 1st signing has to be right, and how it would define him as a manager to the fans. What happens? he doesn't play the lad.
then he backtracks with stats about how many foreign january signings take a long time to settle.
Its his bombastic approach to interviews that needles me more than his game management Grumpy.