SAM ALLARDYCE’S tag as an old-fashioned, defensive, long-ball merchant needs a radical overhaul.
Wayne Rooney reveals the new Everton boss wants his team to play the beautiful game beautifully.
Rooney also claims Allardyce does not get enough credit for his modern coaching techniques and man-management skills.
The former England chief works his players hard on the training ground — with each star’s mileage monitored by computer.
But he puts just as much importance on the amount of rest each person gets so they do not suffer from burnout.
Big Sam, 63, has been in charge only 18 days. But the results mean the Merseysiders go into tomorrow’s Goodison clash with rock-bottom Swansea on a four-game unbeaten run under the new boss. Rooney said: “Especially nowadays there is a lot of science that goes into football and trying to get the best out of you as a player and also as a team.
“As a player the training sessions are all calculated, the recovery sessions are all calculated to the point where we have two very tough sessions a week. “If you don’t hit the running they want, there is a live feed of how much you have run so you do extra running to get to that.
“Rest days are just as important as training days so he has that balance right and over the last couple of weeks that has shown in the team.” Rooney, 32, also revealed Allardyce was getting upset with his side going long-ball during Wednesday night’s 1-0 victory at Newcastle.
He said: “I think he is underestimated in that he wants you to play football, he doesn’t just want you booting the ball.
“He had you organised with a good balance defensively but he wants you to play football when you get the ball.
“Against Newcastle, we went long a few times and you could see on the touchline he was trying to get us playing out from the back.
“There are things behind the scenes he doesn’t get credit for, the work he does is incredible, the small margins that can make you better.
“He has got them nailed on and he gives the players the best opportunity to get the best out of themselves.” Under-23s boss David Unsworth was put in temporary charge after Dutchman Ronald Koeman’s dismissal in the wake of a 5-2 home drubbing by Arsenal which left the Merseysiders in the relegation zone.
Former Toffees defender Unsworth insisted he wanted the job full-time.
But Roo admits he knew another change was needed after the 5-1 home defeat by Atalanta in the Europa League.
He said: “We conceded three goals in six or seven minutes against Atalanta and then, in the game after, we lost 4-1 to Southampton.
“You couldn’t identify that with Everton Football Club. That was when we knew we were in a relegation battle and that a new manager was needed.” Rooney is also looking forward to a happy new year for team-mate Ross Barkley.
The injury-jinxed midfielder was recovering from a groin op when he suffered an horrific hamstring tear in training in August.
Barkley, 24, hopes to finally be fit in January but is out of contract in the summer and Everton could bid to cash in rather than lose him on a free.
Rooney added: “Ross is a fantastic player — really talented — and under Sam, with the players we have in the squad now, it can help him.
“I feel Everton have a better balance in the squad which will give him a bit more freedom than he has had.
“He is trying to get back fit now and if we can get him back playing, he is a massive player for us.”
From The Sun
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