Big Sam: Football has 'gone soft'

Sam Allardyce has thanked Chelsea for paying Bolton the greatest compliment possible by copying their style of play for Wednesday’s Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

The Trotters boss has consistently been attacked for his team’s long-ball approach, with critics claiming it is a throwback to the Wimbledon days of 20 years ago.

With his side occupying sixth spot as they head into tomorrow’s Reebok Stadium match with Fulham, Allardyce could justifiably argue his tactics produce results.

Instead, he merely points a finger at Chelsea’s monumental midweek triumph, which left them on the verge of a semi-final berth for the second successive season.

“On Wednesday, Jose Mourinho decided to play direct off Didier Drogba because he didn’t think the two Bayern Munich central defenders would be able to cope with it – and he was right,” smiled Allardyce.

“It is lovely to see that, and Glen Johnson sending a throw-in 35 yards into the Bayern box.

“That is exactly the kind of thing we have been doing for the past five years. The only difference is when people are describing our tactics it is a long ball, when they talk about Chelsea, it is long passing.

“I truly believe football at the top end has gone soft. For me, there is no greater sight than seeing the look on defenders’ faces when they have been battered by Kevin Davies.

“The likes of Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell look around as if they are untouchable. That style of play upsets the big boys because they do not like the physical aspect of the game anymore.”

So effective is the combination of Bolton’s robust approach and Allardyce’s exceptional ability in the transfer market that the homespun Lancashire outfit are now regarded as established member of the Premiership elite.

Champions League combat next term remains an outside possibility and even if Bolton only remain in their current position, they will qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.

And though cash will always be tight, Allardyce has raised standards so high he can even whimsically talk about a possible approach for Michael Owen, whose Real Madrid future is again the subject of rampant discussion.

“If Michael Owen was available, he would be first on our list,” said Allardyce, who has made the summer arrival of a 20-goal striker a major priority.

“You wonder whether he would want to come and play for us and there would be an obvious problem with his wages and transfer fee.

“But Michael Owen is an England international and the best goalscorer we will have for a long time to come. It would be an achievement if were even to consider us.

“We already have two former Real Madrid players here in Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo, so you could never actually write off the fact we might get a third! To have any chance at all, we would have to qualify for Europe. After that, who knows?

“Regular first-team football is important for most players. Money becomes secondary when you are sitting on the bench every week or sat in the stand. Michael Owen is a matchwinner. If he is not getting that adrenalin rush often enough, he probably wants it back.”

With El-Hadji Diouf completing his three-match suspension and England Under-21 international Nicky Hunt back in training after a minor knee injury, Allardyce could stick with the side which performed so creditably at Liverpool last weekend before eventually falling to Igor Biscan’s late strike.

He is anticipating a far different contest tomorrow against a Fulham side looking to continue their push away from the drop zone.

“Fulham are a very resilient side, who will fight and battle to preserve their Premiership status,” said Allardyce. "I expect them to try to hit us on the break, which means we might have to be patient.

“We cannot afford to let our frustrations increase and over-commit because it will just play into their hands.

“In Tomasz Radzinski and Luis Boa Morte they have two very quick attackers and Andy Cole is likely to take any chance he is presented with.”