Sam Allardyce has admitted that West Brom must really beat Newcastle United this weekend to give themselves any chance at all of clawing their way to Premier League survival.
Sam Allardyce said “If we beat Newcastle, we’re only six points away from them,” Allardyce pointed out. “If we lose, we’re 12 points away. That would make it as big a task as anybody has achieved to try and stay in the Premier League with the amount of games that are left. It could still be done mathematically, but it would make life extremely difficult. That’s how big this one is.”
It isn’t exactly a happy camp at Newcastle currently. An angry disagreement between boss Bruce and winger Matt Ritchie was leaked to the press this week, an exchange that Bruce himself has since admitted to. Bruce, already under pressure after a poor sequence of results this season – they’ve won just two matches since they saw off Slaven Bilic’s Albion in the reverse fixture just before Christmas – will also be without a number of key players for the journey south to The Hawthorns, including top scorer Callum Wilson. Allardyce, though, believes that the entire incident has been blown out of all proportion and says that players shouldn’t be discouraged from venting their opinions.
Sam Allardyce said “It’s a disagreement – what’s wrong with it? I like disagreements. I like people to air their views and argue. It means they care,” he explained. “We should speak up for ourselves and not be subservient, if we feel like we’ve been wronged. If the player says it to you as the manager and feels that you’re wrong, why not speak up? Say what you feel, there’s nothing wrong with it. Then you sort it out, get on with it, it’s forgotten the next day – or should be. It’s a good thing having disagreements and digging each other out. This world is unfortunately getting far too pathetic as far as I’m concerned in terms of criticism or telling people that they’re not giving the right attitude, or a player telling a manager: I think you’re wrong. What’s wrong with it?”
Could it actually work in the Magpies’ favour in the long-term?
Sam Allardyce said “It should galvanise,” Allardyce added. “People always want to make too much fuss about it, because bad news is good news. They love writing about it, and reporting on it. I find it laughable, let’s put it that way.”
Allardyce could make a change or two to his side for the third Hawthorns outing in the space of eight days. Winger Robert Snodgrass made his comeback from injury as a substitute against Everton and is pushing for a start.
Albion were narrowly beaten by Everton on Thursday evening but all eyes quickly turn now to a bout with the beleaguered Magpies, who occupy the spot directly above the relegation zone. The gap currently stands at nine points between the two sides, with Fulham sandwiched in between, so it could be curtains for the Baggies if they fail to see off Steve Bruce’s men. Realistically, even a point isn’t much use.
