Blackburn ‘off their heads’ for axing Allardyce

ALEX FERGUSON has branded the Blackburn owners as “off their heads” for getting rid of Sam Allardyce.

Manchester United entertain Rovers at Old Trafford today knowing victory will see them end 2011 at the Premier League summit, whilst at the same time consigning their opponents to the foot of the table.

It hardly seems credible that just 14 months ago, Blackburn were safe in mid-table, even if they were about to suffer a 7-1 mauling at United’s hands.

Within weeks, Allardyce was gone, part of Venky’s attempts to reshape the club.

Before long, chairman John Williams had left as well, creating a power vacuum that still has not been filled.

So, whilst Ferguson has been fully supportive of Allardyce’s replacement Steve Kean, who has come in for so much abuse from his own fans, he cannot comprehend why Venky’s acted as they did.

“For anyone to sack Sam Allardyce, you would think they were off their head,” said Ferguson.

“He is such an influential and big personality. He was perfect for Blackburn.

“He is an outstanding manager. You can see that with the job he is doing at West Ham.

“Why did they do it? I couldn’t possibly give you an answer.

“But a lot of experience went out of the door when they did.”

And that was compounded by Williams’ exit in February after 14 years with the Ewood Park outfit.

“John Williams was very experienced in the job,” said Ferguson.

“He was a Blackburn man. He looked after the Jack Walker Trust and was responsible for the running of the club. That was a loss as well.”

So, whilst United are hardly at strength ahead of tomorrow’s game, they are in a much healthier state than Blackburn.

Ferguson might he sifting through his injury list to work out who to play in defence and midfield, where the shortages are at their most acute.

He will bring back Spain Under-21 keeper David de Gea, even though deputy Anders Lindegaard has just kept clean sheets against Fulham and Wigan, taking his overall tally to six on the trot.

It proves what confidence the United boss has in the two players signed to compensate for Edwin van der Sar’s retirement, and suggests the trials that accompanied Peter Schmeichel’s exit in 1999 will be avoided this time around.

“We are very lucky. We have got two good young goalkeepers with good ability and who work really hard at their training,” said Ferguson.

“They are both very professional. That is the key to it.

“If they are professional they understand, particularly Anders, who is dealing with a younger keeper in De Gea.

“He has been terrific so it has been easy to manage.”

Less straightforward are the problems at the back, which may require Michael Carrick to partner Patrice Evra tomorrow, and midfield, where Tom Cleverley and Anderson are long-term absentees.

The defensive consolation is that Chris Smalling does not have glandular fever, as had been reported, and Ferguson believes he could shake off tonsillitis in time to either face Newcastle next Wednesday, or Manchester City in the FA Cup third round at the Etihad Stadium on January 8.

Further forward, Anderson has at least started training again after two months out with a knee injury.

However, Ferguson can offer no date for the return of Cleverley, who has appeared just twice since the beginning of September.

Although the 21-year-old boasts just seven senior appearances, including the Community Shield, he did enough to earn a call-up to Fabio Capello’s England squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Bulgaria and Wales.

And Ferguson has no doubt Cleverley could make a massive difference to United’s season as a whole when he eventually recovers from an ankle injury.

“Tom Cleverley is a big loss,” he said.

“Potentially, he is the best midfield player in Britain. He has great promise.”