Leeds will be back if they go down – but Sam Allardyce will not
By Rob Bagchi 21 May 2023 • 6:48pm
Leeds United’s race is run in the Premier League, barring a minor miracle. This chastening defeat by a West Ham team with nothing to play for domestically leaves Leeds relying on Bournemouth taking something from Everton on the final day.
Even then Leicester could win twice and relegate Leeds and Everton. In any scenario, Leeds will need a win next Sunday at home to Spurs. On this evidence that is the least likely result of all. They were the opposite of what their manager Sam Allardyce usually stands for. Wasteful in front of goal, disorganised at the back and seemingly lacking in motivation.
Gambling is all the rage in the current Premier League, with the two current model clubs, Brentford and Brighton, run by men who made millions via betting. If Matthew Benham and Tony Bloom are all about tirelessly working the numbers to find an overlooked edge, Leeds appointing Allardyce felt more like chasing lost life savings at 4am in a retail park casino.
With only four games to turn their listing ship around, one of those against Manchester City, bringing him in always seemed optimistic.
He did not seem enormously downbeat after the game, nor was he careful to protect the fragile-looking group who applauded the travelling fans who had remained. “I expected a better impact from the subs, so that gives me an even bigger look at the situation, the squad as whole, looking who can make a difference,” said Allardyce. “I don’t think any of the subs made a difference today when we needed them.”
One of those was Crysencio Summerville who squandered Leeds’s best chance to equalise after Jarrod Bowen held his run then his nerve to put West Ham 2-1 up.
It had started encouragingly for Leeds with an opening goal in the 17th minute which was perfectly Allardycean, Weston McKennie’s Scud of a long throw hammered in by Rodrigo. It was fair reward for the visitors’ early dominance as West Ham appeared to be saving themselves for the Europa Conference League final.
Scoring early seemed to spook Leeds, who were soon sat deep in a 4-5-1 looking like they were defending a lead in second-half stoppage time. West Ham picked them apart quickly, Declan Rice finishing a beautiful team move to equalise. In his likely final appearance at this stadium in claret and blue, the captain was eager to go out with a bang.
He was his usual imperious self, dominating the centre of the pitch and ably supported by Jarrod Bowen’s verve and Lucas Paqueta’s flair. The sway they held over the game could not be disturbed by Leeds and Manuel Lanzini made it 3-1 in the fourth minute of injury time to make their disastrous day even worse.
“It depends on the injuries we have to Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford,” said Allardyce. “If both of those miss, based on what we do up front, it’s a big ask. That is fact. Who am I going to play up front if those two are missing? We might have to choose to play a completely different system with the players we’ve got available.”
This is not exactly fighting talk. Some of that came later, from a question about what Allardyce made of the club as a whole. “I won’t tell you now, it’s private. It doesn’t take you long to work it out.
“I sorted this club [West Ham] out when I came here, didn’t I? They’re still here. I’ve sorted a few other clubs out. So the experience is all there to know what is wrong, what is right and what you have to put right.
“I can only try my best and give the players the right sort of instructions and show them how to win a game of football. Unfortunately for me and for them that hasn’t worked yet. It was always going to be a difficult task.
“A lot of people have said how mad I am taking it but I’m not mad, I just love football and Leeds United was too big a job to turn down, however short it was.”
Allardyce was surely speaking here about the time he had to save the club from relegation, rather than assuming he will not be in charge next season, but the future is uncertain for both him and his employer.
Should they go down, at least Leeds can rebuild with a promising crop of youngsters in the Championship.
In that event, it would mean two successive relegations for the one-time saviour of Premier League clubs in crisis. One day, Leeds will be back. The same cannot be said for Allardyce.