Fans deserve more than just safety-first approach
Everton’s Sam Allardyce and Claude Puel at Leicester could be on the way out despite taking their respective sides up the table – as supporters demand style, along with results
Along with clauses such as a rent-free house, four weeks’ holiday and a fixed annual salary of £675, Sir Matt Busby’s first contract as Manchester United manager contained a requirement to “use all proper means in his power to further the quality of play of the teams and the attractiveness of the football”.
The contract, dated Nov 1, 1946, is for sale at auction and while most modern-day managers will nod with approval at Busby’s negotiating skills – a written addendum in the three-page document shows he was able to bump up the salary to £1,000 a year – they will no doubt balk at the demand to play attractive football.
Yet it is becoming a growing issue in the Premier League, where discontent laps at several clubs but, most of all, at two of those in no danger of relegation: Everton and Leicester City. Instead of breathing a sigh of relief, after their struggles earlier in this campaign, their supporters are venting their anger.
On Saturday both Sam Allardyce and Claude Puel felt that unhappiness in no uncertain terms. Allardyce might feel aggrieved that, despite being
1-0 up – before winning 2-0 – away to Huddersfield Town, the Evertonians were again chanting for him to go elsewhere; or choicer words to that effect. The goals, the result, made little difference to the mood.
They do not want him or his style of football.
At Selhurst Park, Puel was
is hardly ideal preparation for the under-17s coach Steve Cooper and it remains to be seen whether the six or seven players expected to be drawn from the two clubs will join up with his squad.
Clubs are not obliged to release players for this Uefa tournament because it is not part of the Fifa-approved international calendar. Manchester United, for example, are not expected to allow
promising midfielder Mason Greenwood to go. That is entirely within their rights and the Football Association cannot make him attend.
Then there is the Under-19 European Championship from July 16-29 in Finland. Already, a lot of the young players who would be selected as part of the squad are expected to be part of their clubs’ pre-season tours and will not be
released. With senior players having time off after the World Cup, managers will argue that they need the youngsters.
The FA has hugely improved its relationship with the clubs in recent years and that has brought unprecedented success.
But there may be concerns with these two tournaments that England are not being given the best chance to succeed again.