Sam Allardyce has now said something that should anger Leeds fans – Our View

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Sam Allardyce held his pre-match press conference this morning as Leeds prepare to take on West Ham this Sunday.

The 68-year-old discussed a range of topics as Leeds get set for a game they simply have to win.

During the press conference, Sam Allardyce spoke about Georginio Rutter, and his comments should, quite simply, anger Leeds fans.

What’s the story?

Well – as quoted by Phil Hay of The Athletic – Allardyce said: “As a youngster and in the situation we’re in, it’s a next-season scenario for him. When you’re young and you come to the Premier League for the first time, you’ve got to settle in. Next season would be the big test for him. The Premier League demands much more than ability.”

So, to put it simply, Victor Orta spent a club-record £35.5m sum on a player who isn’t ready to make an impact this season, to save Leeds from relegation… this season.

Why on Earth did the Spaniard not spend that sum on a proper No.9 who was ready to come in and make an immediate impact?

Rutter has made just one Premier League start since his January move from TSG Hoffenheim, and we feel sorry for the talented France Under-21 international. He has been put in a hugely uncomfortable situation by Orta.

To give an example, a move for someone like Danny Ings – who signed for West Ham in a £15m deal during the January window – would have been a far more sensible decision.

The England international has scored 70 Premier League goals throughout his career, and would have cost less than half of what Leeds ended up paying for Rutter – who has impressed Tyler Adams in training.

Leeds should have hired Allardyce sooner

Putting aside the Rutter debacle for a moment, Leeds have put a lot of pressure on Allardyce to save them from relegation – in our view, he should have been hired sooner.

The clashes against Fulham, Leicester and Bournemouth which preceded Allardyce’s arrival at Elland Road were invaluable opportunities to pick up the points needed to move away from the relegation zone.

Instead, Leeds opted to wait, and then asked the old England boss to get points against the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham, a much tougher run of games.

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, those in the boardroom at Elland Road have overseen a truly chaotic campaign – to say the very least.