Sam Allardyce was resigned to never receiving another call from a club in crisis after his failure to keep West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League two years ago. But the 68-year-old has suddenly found another taker for his well-honed ‘Fireman Sam’ routine in Leeds United, with only four league games left to pull off survival at a club in meltdown. Allardyce’s appointment caps a dysfunctional period at Elland Road, where the club has moved from the all-out attacking intensity of Marcelo Bielsa, through the failures of Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia, to the arch-pragmatist former England manager. To say this completes a shift in style and emphasis is an understatement, but desperate clubs take desperate measures and Leeds are very desperate as they career towards the Championship. Allardyce’s appointment is one final throw of the dice to maintain their top-flight status.
The big problem is that this current Leeds team looks such an ill fit when placed against Allardyce’s trademark strategies. Leeds’ squad has been shaped in the all-out attack image of Bielsa then tweaked by Marsch, and they have been vulnerable defensively. Allardyce will know exactly what he wants from his players and has proved he knows how to get it, but how can he possibly do this with a squad to which his style may be alien territory, in the space of four games?
Allardyce will at least bring his iron-clad self-belief and confidence to Elland Road, and will attempt to transmit that to his new charges as quickly as possible. He must somehow shore up that leaking defence, take a decision on goalkeeper Illan Meslier, and get the best from attacking talents such as Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto. There is still time for Leeds to save themselves, and if one man will be convinced they have time on their side to ensure they are in the Premier League next season, then it is Sam Allardyce.