Sam Allardyce is usually criticised for his tactical method as a supervisor, although former Bolton Wanderers left-back Robbie Elliott highlights how these unfavourable labels could not be farther from the reality.
Elliott joined Bolton in 1997, turning into the membership’s document signing after shifting from Newcastle United in a £2.5m deal. With the prospect of extra common first group soccer and Bolton beginning the 1997/98 season at their brand-new Reebok Stadium, optimism surrounded Elliott as he moved away from his boyhood facet.
That proved short-lived, nonetheless. Simply half-hour into his debut – and the first-ever sport on the Reebok – Elliott broke his leg in two locations. He did not make one other look for the remainder of the season, with Bolton relegated on objective distinction regardless of having picked up the supposedly magic 40 factors.
“It was a extremely troublesome one to swallow,” Elliott tells FourFourTwo. “And it was compounded by us getting relegated on objective distinction on the finish of the marketing campaign.
“However I all the time attempt to see the constructive in issues. When it was confirmed I’d be out for a very long time, I went again to school to check sports activities science. I didn’t need to attain the tip of my profession, at 33 or 34, and assume, ‘Crap, what do I do now?’ So, I bought a level and was prepared for the following chapter when my enjoying profession ended.
“With the ability to deal with these research helped me to remain upbeat in a tricky interval.”
Happily, that harm did not rule Elliott out of a profession enjoying within the sport. He made his return in October 1998, serving to Bolton attain the 1999 play-off last on the finish of the season, which they misplaced to Watford as they narrowly missed out on a right away return to the Premier League.
Sam Allardyce hailed as ‘artistic’ by Elliott
Elliott quickly had new administration to impress, too, with Colin Todd resigning seven video games into the 1999/00 marketing campaign following the sale of Per Frandsen to Blackburn. That noticed Sam Allardyce take over at Bolton, with the Englishman main them to 3 semi-finals in 2000. However whereas all three led to defeat, Elliott highlights the misconceptions folks have of Allardyce.
“Sam will get a foul rap as a little bit of a dinosaur, however that couldn’t be farther from the reality,’ Elliott says. “He was means forward of the curve on so many issues. We had been one of many first golf equipment to make use of Prozone and in-depth analytics. He was very artistic.
“The season earlier than we went up [in 2000/01], we reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the League Cup and the play-offs, earlier than falling simply quick in all three. That was crushing. It speaks volumes about Sam’s motivation that we had been galvanised to go once more and do even higher the following yr. I cherished enjoying for Sam.”
However whereas Bolton had been getting ready for his or her return to the Premier League in 2001, Elliott as an alternative determined to return to Newcastle on a free switch, following the expiry of his contract.
“It was [a tricky decision], as we had simply achieved one thing good at Bolton,” Elliott provides. “Nevertheless it was Newcastle – my membership.
“I most likely would’ve stated no to anybody else, however to not Newcastle, particularly with Sir Bobby Robson in cost. He had that aura about him – and regardless of the way you had been enjoying, whether or not you had been match or out of shape, he would all the time ask you ways you had been, how your loved ones members had been and the way issues at residence had been. He had everybody’s full respect.
“He was a improbable supervisor but additionally a real gentleman, and I cherished him a lot. I used to be thrilled to be again.”
