Dion Dublin has told The Weekend Wrap that Sam Allardyce is somewhat behind the times and has not caught up with the Premier League since returning to it with Leeds United – after West Ham secured a 3-1 win over the Whites.
In what was billed a must-win game for Leeds on Sunday, the Whites suffered a dismal 3-1 loss despite taking the lead through Rodrigo. Declan Rice equalised, before duo Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini scored in the second 45.
Leeds are now staring at the barrel of relegation. Two points adrift, with one more game to play. Everton host Gary O’Neil’s Bournemouth next weekend, a team that are already likely to be on the beach. He may even make changes.
Leeds face Tottenham, who will still have Europe to fight for come the last weekend. Allardyce has managed to win just one point from a possible nine since his arrival, and Dublin has criticism for the ex-England boss in his analysis.
“Unrealistic [to improve defence in short space of time]. Teams are getting better since he was in it last, teams are finding different ways to score. He’s come in, finding it very difficult. Is he going to get them out of it? I don’t know.”
Dion Dublin: Sam Allardyce has not caught up since return with Leeds
Allardyce has hardly had it easy. A trip to The Etihad to begin with, third-placed Newcastle next in which Leeds did perform well – only drawing the match because of two silly penalties conceded, and Patrick Bamford missing his.
Then, a trip to West Ham. The feeling was that it was a good time to play the Hammers. But they were also buoyant after reaching a European final and sometimes, confidence and form outweighs tiredness. That showed on Sunday.
Is Allardyce behind the times? Perhaps, but one thing is for sure and that is, he has not been given enough time to do that he has become so renowned for. If Leeds do stay up, it will be a miracle next weekend. Leeds look down.
