IT’S HARD MANUEL LABOUR WITH PELLEGRINI UNDER COSH
With a team of goal creators behind him and better-than-ever speed stats, don’t expect Jamie’s goals to dry up any time soon
MANUEL PELLEGRINI is under pressure for the first time at West Ham.
Fans are turning on the Chilean after six games without a win and a string of substandard displays – capped by Saturday’s home defeat to Newcastle.
Pellegrini (right) came to the club in May 2018 on £10million a year. He has been given freedom
Month for October. The star polled 40 per cent of votes to see off Wolves’ Adama Traore, Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, Manchester City’s David Silva and Foxes teammate Ricardo Pereira.
And the former non-league front-runner expects plenty more chances to add to his goal tally with Youri Tielemans, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Ayoze Perez playing behind him.
Those goal-makers have an average age of less than 23.
Vardy said: “The creativity and attacking talent we have got is unbelievable. If it is not Youri setting you up, it is probably Maddison or Barnes or Ayoze.
“The attacking threat we have got is great and can only benefit us as a squad when they are all so young as well.”
Vardy turns 33 in January but Rodgers revealed earlier this campaign that his speed stats in pre-season showed he is quicker than ever.
His goal at Selhurst Park was his fifth in three outings after also scoring against Burnley and to make signings and is in the second year of a three-year deal at the London Stadium.
The club remain supportive but the initial positivity of bringing in the man who lifted the title with Manchester City has evaporated.
Concerns have been expressed over Pellegrini’s tactics and team selection policy.
Chief among them is his faith
Southampton, where he smashed a hat-trick. It leaves Vardy on course to better his haul of 24 in Leicester’s titlewinning campaign.
The forward also needs just 10 more goals to reach triple figures in the Premier League, remarkable consistency for a player who only entered the top flight in 2014 and is not at a so-called big club. Asked about leading in reserve keeper Roberto, who has stood in for the injured Lukasz Fabianski.
Roberto was signed on a free transfer to replace Liverpoolbound Adrian. In his five Premier League games, the Hammers have shipped 10 goals and have dropped to 13th in the table.
During that poor run Pellegrini has failed to get the best out of wide men Andriy Yarmolenko
Leicester City .......................... Chelsea ............................. Man City ................................. Arsenal .. Man City ............................ Tottenham .................................. Liverpool ..................................... Norwich City ............................ Man Utd ............................ Liverpool ............................ AFC Bournemouth .............. the charts this term, Vardy said: “I am delighted to be there but there is still a long way to go and a lot of matches to play.”
His return to form has coincided with Rodgers’ arrival in February in place of Claude Puel, with whom the striker clashed over tactics.
The Frenchman’s style of a slow build-up of possession play failed to utilise Vardy’s pace and movement.
Rodgers said: “Jamie’s playing more central. The other guys, it’s their job to create the opportunities.
“I’ve asked him to stay on the last line.
“He’s not having to press the whole back four.
“He will do that all day for you if you asked him, but it’s now much more synchronised, shorter bursts of pressing.” and Felipe Anderson. The 66-year-old manager has also come under fire for picking veteran right-back Pablo Zabaleta against Newcastle ahead of the younger, faster Ryan Fredericks.
With a trip to Burnley at the weekend, the heat is now on Pellegrini to get £45m clubrecord signing Sebastien Haller firing again – and to stop the rot.
Mick McCarthy quit as Republic of Ireland manager.
2004: Frenchman Jacques Santini resigned as Tottenham manager due to personal reasons.
2006: Australia won the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time, beating holders West Indies by eight wickets in a rain-affected final in Mumbai. (Ricky
Ponting, right)
2007: Wigan sacked manager Chris Hutchings after just six months in charge. 2009: The New York Yankees won their 27th World Series, beating the Philadelphia Phillies to secure a 4-2 series success. 2012: Craig Levein was relieved of his duties as Scotland manager, with Billy Stark taking temporary charge. 2013: Martin O’Neill was announced as Republic of Ireland’s new manager, with Roy Keane as his assistant. 2013: Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill agreed a two-year extension to his contract.