Sam Allardyce’s reign as Leeds United manager only lasted for the final four Premier League games of the 2022-23 campaign, failing to prevent Leeds from being relegated in what was an impossible task.
Leeds‘ bid to survive relegation unraveled after the World Cup break in 2022. It looked bleak beforehand before Jesse Marsch secured two wins in a row over Liverpool at Anfield and then against Bournemouth.
Marsch was sacked after a defeat to Nottingham Forest in February. It saw Michael Skubala take charge of three games before Javi Gracia came in, but 4-1 an 5-1 losses to Bournemouth and Palace saw him exit.
In came Allardyce with tough matches against Manchester City, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham left to save Leeds. Allardyce managed one point against Newcastle with Patrick Bamford missing a penalty.
Allardyce stunned at how much Leeds paid for Georginio Rutter
Rutter was bought in January from Hoffenheim for a club-record £35m fee. The Frenchman was eyed as the man to provide some attacking reinforcement at Elland Road, but he was too young and struggled.
He managed just one Premier League start from January until relegation against Chelsea under Gracia. At the time, Allardyce said Rutter would not play in his four games as he was too young, not worth the risk.
He did come on in the 4-1 loss to Tottenham and nabbed an assist for Jack Harrison’s consolation goal. Rutter of course starred in 23-24, having a hand in 24 goals and then earning a £40m move to Brighton.
Allardyce has told the Undr The Cosh podcast that he could not believe how much Leeds had paid to sign Rutter from Hoffenheim, when asked why he didn’t play the Frenchman in his four matches as manager.
“Not good enough. I couldn’t believe they had paid that much money for him. Under the circumstances, he is too young, playing in a struggling side in the Premier League, that young, was a lot to ask,” he said.
Danny Murphy praised Leeds for the sale of Rutter to Brighton
Following his incredible season in England’s second tier at Leeds in which he scored eight goals and laid on 16 more assists, Brighton decided to buy Rutter for £40m after £29m and £35m bids were rejected.
Danny Murphy praised Leeds for raking in so much cash for Rutter, a player he describes as “inconsistent”. But Leeds supporters were left gutted at the sale of their fan favourite in August.
Murphy said: “I was surprised that they spent what they did on Rutter from Leeds. I have seen quite a lot of him and he is talented, but he is unpredictable and inconsistent.”
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