Sam Allardyce set for shock Premier League return as he’s ‘in the frame to replace Javi Gracia at Leeds’
SAM Allardyce is a shock candidate to take over at Leeds if the relegation strugglers sack Javi Gracia.
The club, outside of the drop zone only on goal difference, held crisis talks yesterday over the future of Javi Gracia.
AFP or licensorsSam Allardyce is the shock name in the frame to take over at Leeds if they sack Javi Gracia[/caption]
Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth was greeted by a furious fan backlash and means the Spaniard has won just three of his 11 matches since replacing Jesse Marsch.
And it’s led the club to consider relegation specialist Allardyce, 68, who has been out of management for two years after last working at West Brom.
The Athletic report that the former England manager is being ‘strongly considered’ for the job to try to keep Leeds in the top flight.
The former England boss has worked for several Premier League clubs over an illustrious career, including Bolton and West Ham, and has a reputation for swooping in to save clubs from the drop.
Although his last rescue attempt, when he arrived at West Brom midway through the 2020-21 season saw the club relegated to the Championship.
With the Whites in the relegation mire, ex-midfielder Lee Bowyer also emerged as a shock candidate to become their third manager this season.
Below, Sun Sport takes a look at where it’s gone wrong at Elland Road:
BOARDROOM
Owner Andrea Radrizzani has barely got a thing right since shooting Bambi — and that includes his pre- season prediction that another relegation scrap would be “impossible”.
If you are going to sack God-like Marcelo Bielsa, you had better have a good plan in place. But it has been a disaster, with American Jesse Marsch hired and fired before Javi Gracia was brought in.
Supporters are raging at the torching of Bielsa’s legacy.
FAN CONNECTION
The players were made to pick up litter under Bielsa to show appreciation to supporters.
Now the majority cannot even be bothered to acknowledge kids trying to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
Heads down, earphones on and hiding behind their phones, most went out of their way to ignore fans when leaving the team hotel before the 4-1 rout. The connection has gone.
RECRUITMENT
Director of football Victor Orta has wasted the Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha money.
They have spent £135million this season and it is hard to make a case for a success story, other than the injured Tyler Adams.
Crocked winger Luis Sinisterra is inconsistent, while Max Wober and Willy Gnonto have shown flashes. But a record £35m deal on unproven kid Georginio Rutter in January when desperate for goals . . . really?
Marc Roca and Weston McKennie are a terrible midfield pairing and then you have got Red Bull flops Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen.
Not one of them had any Prem experience — and it shows.
JAVI GRACIA
It is hardly a shock it has not worked out for the manager nobody really wanted.
Leeds butchered the search for a new boss after sacking Marsch in February, eventually landing on fifth-choice Gracia.
The Spaniard started well but has been a rabbit in headlights since the walls started caving in.
Leeds have let in a league-high 28 goals in 11 games since he took over, while tactics and selections have baffled.
ILLAN MESLIER
The young keeper looks shot and has to be dropped if Leeds are to stand any chance of staying up.
Meslier, 23, was woeful again on Sunday, adding another two howlers to his rapidly growing reel. He is in alarming decline and worse than when he started.
Leeds held emergency talks over Gracia’s job yesterdayRex
