Gary Lineker has taken to Twitter to react after Leeds United replaced Javi Gracia with Sam Allardyce.
The Whites have taken one final throw of the dice in a bid to preserve their Premier League status, as they sit outside of the relegation zone on nothing but goal difference with four games remaining.
Allardyce will take over at Elland Road on a short contract until the end of the campaign, and it is his first job since leaving West Brom back in May 2021.
After hearing the news, Lineker posted a 14-word reaction on Twitter.
What’s the story?
Well, the BBC Match of the Day host paid a reference to an ongoing joke people make in the football world whenever a side finds themselves in danger of relegation – give the reins to Allardyce.
The 68-year-old had never been relegated in his career before suffering the drop in his last role at West Brom, so he is widely known as a safe pair of hands when it comes to relegation battles.
After hearing that Leeds had appointed Allardyce, Lineker tweeted: “Leeds have literally given it to big Sam until the end of the season.”
It really is one last – desperate – attempt from Leeds to preserve their Premier League status.
Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth clearly saw Andrea Radrizzani and Angus Kinnear lose all hope in Gracia, as well as Victor Orta, who was dismissed from his role as Director of Football on Tuesday.
The Spaniard oversaw three wins from his 12 games in charge after replacing Jesse Marsch.
Sam Allardyce has a tough start at Leeds United
If anybody can keep Leeds in the Premier League, it is Allardyce.
However, the Englishman has an incredibly difficult start to life as Gracia’s replacement, as a trip to Manchester City awaits him in his first game on Saturday.
Things don’t get much easier after that either – Leeds then have to play Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham.
It will take a Herculean effort for Allardyce to keeps Leeds up, but he certainly has the experience and knowhow to pull it off.
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