Although Blackburn Rovers are unlikely to be a delight to watch anytime in the near future, they have a few players at their disposal who should at least be able to show a little more creativity than some of Sam Allardyce’s previous teams.
Having already managed to undo any attempt made by Paul Ince to turn Rovers into a side capable of keeping the ball on the ground and focusing upon crisp passing and moving, Allardyce would no doubt defend his decision to reverse that trend by revealing the need to play to the strengths of his current players. The latest Premier League odds suggest Blackburn will stay up, and Allardyce will no doubt see this as vindication.
However, although Allardyce often looks to build upon strengths that have to do with the physical side of the game, he has a side at Blackburn that he could (albeit with some effort required on his part) encourage to play some aesthetically pleasing football. This may sound farfetched to many Premier League fans but the likes of Chris Samba, David Dunn and the two Dioufs are more than capable, with a little coaching, of keeping the ball on the ground and playing in a style more akin to Barcelona than the old Wimbledon.
Although Allardyce may suggest that fans ultimately prioritise results over performances, the fact that Rovers continue to see their attendances drop at Ewood Park and are unable to inspire their fans to travel in large numbers to away ties, shows that even the most ardent of fans do not like the way he sets his team out. The football predictions for the weekend suggest another low crowd.
Despite this, it is unlikely that Big Sam will change his philosophy anytime soon, so his vision of fear over wonder may continue to be the battle waged at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoons.
No comments:
Post a Comment