We caught up with Bet9ja Ambassador Victor Ikpeba, to get his thoughts on Big Sam’s Leeds United appointment and the English Premier League relegation battle.
VI: Sam Allardyce returned to management after a two year absence, replacing Javi Gracia as Leeds United manager. Big Sam only has four matches to save Leeds, who are currently outside the bottom three on goal difference. It doesn’t get much tougher either, as the 68-year-old takes charge of his side for the first time away to Manchester City.
Desperation
This is a very desperate move for Leeds. Will these players buy into his philosophy? They were used to attacking football under Marcelo Bielsa which didn’t change after he was sacked last year. Big Sam’s style of football is very defensive and maybe they will be too defensive.
He couldn’t save West Brom two years ago and there are no guarantees that he will save Leeds. Of course, they need to be more solid at the back after conceding 18 goals in their last five matches but it will be very difficult against City who score goals for fun and have record-breaker Erling Haaland. He will be looking to add to his 35 league goals against a team his father used to play for.
Anything can happen in football but I’m not sure this will work out well. It’s a very risky move for Leeds. Time will tell if he will be able to keep them up but we will find out a bit more when they face City on Saturday.
Who Will Go Down?
Southampton are all but down, six points behind with just four games to play. In terms of the other two teams to join them, it will be between Everton, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, Leeds and West Ham.
Every match is crucial and we will find out who has the character and belief to escape. Drawing games will not be enough, only wins will do for these teams.
Everton played well against Leicester but only got a point. It’s tough because for me, Leicester, Everton and Forest all look dead and buried but only a maximum two of them will go down. So it’s going to be very intriguing to see.
Bet on the games involving the teams down the bottom of the Premier League, at Bet9ja.
