We have reached the season-defining time of the year that Sam Allardyce has been alluding to for a few weeks.
At regular intervals he has made it clear that he won’t be discussing end of season objectives until the end of this month.
Tuesday night and the third round of the FA cup beckons with the pressure mounting on him and the team with every successive game.
In different circumstances, with injuries and the African Nations Cup intervening, this might have been the perfect game for Mauro Zarate to take the pressure off himself and Allardyce.
With the alternative being Kevin Nolan for a game which calls for us to play with as much flair and adventure as possible after looking shy in front of goal lately, how brave would it be for manager and Argentinan striker to put their antagonism towards each other aside.
Ego is a highly destructive force and the stupid war of words which broke out between the pair has not done them or the club any good at all.
With three games yielding one point, the top scorer again injured, along we are told with the guy on who has proved himself the heartbeat of things this season – Alex Song – things don’t look great for the trip to Goodison Park. .
Chiek Kouyate has joined the Senegal squad and there are persistent rumours that Song himself will get a late call up for Cameroon.
Brave decisions are called for so and this one only needs a handshake and an arm around the shoulder. Live up to the nickname Mr Allardyce – truly be BIG SAM!.
The board of directors are still looking for a decent FA Cup run after the disappointment of the early departure from the Capital One Cup. In part an end of season contract for the manager undoubtedly rests on an FA Cup run.
So from everybody’s point of view this is something of a must win game. We really can’t be slipping out of the two domestic cups at the first hurdle and there’s absolutely nothing lost in telling Zarate: “Go on my son – prove me wrong!”
I don’t expect it to happen and I’m certainly not holding my breath but I am convinced that given such a chance, Zarate would shine like never before.
It could be a managerial masterstroke and if it doesn’t come off Sam Allardyce has lost absolutely nothing!
Be bold …be BIG Sam!
Less than no chance at all.
Excellent article.I too believe Allardyce will revert to type.Ego and an inflexible mind set define his character.
He should stick him in vrs everton and be done with it. Reid too. Cup tie him the bugger.
Yeah zarates a diva. Reid can bugger off an all. We don’t no foreign divas holding our club to ransom. Big Sam can prove he’s a big man by binning the pair of them.
Allardyce isn’t good enough to make a good decision.here is not brave enough.
In your eyes Ruggers every decision he makes is a wrong one so its hard to take your comment seriously.
I have to say it’s Zarates decision making i question over this you would think he would choose to see out january at a club fighting for a top 4 spot with Sakho out rather than joining a relegation scrap with the hoops or palace. If he still wasn’t getting the breaks he could do the old deadline move.
It would be good to see but unlikely also he would then be cup tied to potential buyers… There are some good players waiting on the benches upfront Vaz Te is a goal threat, he is after all a forward and scored a few goals when playing in his preferred position but then Sam put him back wide left… Carlton could have one of those days and bang in a couple… Enner Valencia also is due a goal, Ravel is the ideal player to upset their defence with a bit of a pace but I don’t think we will see him in claret and blue again or even purple and gold as that is the kit they will be wearing. In midfield I hope we will see Poyet start again. At a guess the 11 that might play will be Adrian, Cresswell, Reid, Collins, Demel, Jarvis, Noble, O Brien, Downing, Nolan, Cole. Maybe Vaz Te or Poyet instead of Downing/Noble but who knows ,unless we play our best team I think that as always we will leave Goodison disappointed, I don’t know how many times in the last 30+ years I have watched Everton teams who on paper we should beat score ridiculous goals against us, if it isn’t a Sheedy or Baines unstoppable free kick, it’s an outrageous Osman scissor kick, I would be surprised if they were not luckier against us than any other team in the division. We live in hope though that this is the season that we change history, COYI !!!