Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce has been talking to the Evening Chronicle about why David Rozehnal was left out of the side last Sunday against Everton.
We had thought that it was because David’s wife had just given birth to a baby boy, but apparently that wasn’t the only reason David was left out of the team.
David Rozehnal – wife gave birth to their first child, a boy, last week – congratulations!
Big Sam explained to the Evening Chronicle his decision to drop defender David Rozehnal to the bench, for Sunday’s win over Everton.
“David’s had a great joy in his life last week, with his wife giving birth to a son,”
“Unfortunately, from his point of view, it’ll be a huge disappointment that he was on the bench.”
“He’s a terrific lad, who’s done even better than I had expected already by playing a number of Premier League games one after the other.”
Big Sam now feels that Rozehnal – who is off with the Czech Republic team during the international break, will be better off for the experience.
Sam went on:
“My job is to allow some time to sit down, reflect and learn.” “A little bit of a rest is sometimes the best thing to do.”“And I felt that was the right thing to do based on our performance at Manchester City.”
Seems like Sam wasn’t fully satisfied with David’s play at Manchester City, but Rozehnal has played really well for the side this season and seems to have settled down well at the club. But Sam knows what he’s doing, so a rest it is for David.
There’s one thing that’s becoming very clear – and that’s competition for the central defense positions will be fierce this season. We have Cacapa, Faye, Rozehnal and Taylor all fighting it out for the 2 starting positions. But that’s the sign of a strong squad isn’t it?
Comments always welcome.
29 comments so far
Hammy
Oct 11, 2007 at 7:54 PM
Comment #1Hey, looks like I’m blogging all by my lonesome tonight…….
Looks like BSA is adopting a treat em mean keep em keen approach.
In the past this would have backfired big time with players going off in the huff and handing in transfer requests etc.
These players look different though and I expect them to bounce back with a grim determination……sends a message to a few of the below par players too,
no one place is safe, and this should bode well for future performances.
Roz will be all the better for this…..I hope he enjoys his new arrival.
Ed Harrison
Oct 11, 2007 at 7:56 PM
Comment #2Hammy – one thing I noticed when Emre scored on Sunday – Roz was absolutely ecstatic – it was really good to see. The boys all have real spirit.
Bill F
Oct 11, 2007 at 8:13 PM
Comment #3I think the big difference is that Sam treats them more like adults and is firm but fair. Also they are aware that a many quality players in the squad now and no one is an automatic choice. I’d be very surprised if he is not back in the team for the Spurs game. Poor Steve has gone way down the pecking order at the moment but his time will come.
toonfan1
Oct 11, 2007 at 8:17 PM
Comment #4i think that is the key to success- team spirit. i dont think we’ve had good team spirit since the robson days. souness and roeder both failed miserably but allardyce seems to be different: making sure there is good spirit and i think this will be the key to us going forward this season. people like dyer, bellamy, bowyer etc all held us back in that context as they where so big headed in they way they acted at newcastle espically dyer but now at the club, it seems that we have a team of no big headed players but they are focused in the job in hand so full marks to allardyce so far, may it long continue.
Hammy
Oct 11, 2007 at 8:29 PM
Comment #5Yes Bill, some dodgy grammar, I know it’s difficult sometimes thinking and writing at the same time, anyway what we should do is get some beers in and have some blogging under the influence…save going to the pub!
Tripp
Oct 11, 2007 at 8:42 PM
Comment #6It’s great having so many good options in defense for once. Even better once the lads in the back have solidifies their working relationships and get a sense for each other’s positioning/play. Now we’ve just gotta kick the Spurs while they’re down (that’ll be a good feeling).
Bill F
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:01 PM
Comment #7Er, I do!!
valle
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:04 PM
Comment #8ED:… I know this has nothing to do with the headline BUT… In preseason it was said that Sammy was going for a big backroom staff like he had at Bolton and he was linked with several of his old staff, some months pass and suddenly you read in the papers that Sam has a large backroom team… My question is, who did he hire what are their roles and so on, it seems like it went over our heads (i read Newcasrtle news 3-4 times a day, every day) if u can top it with some background info that would be great. Im thinking of exciting roles such as performance coach and scientific coach in particular, but also his use of eastern type medical experts and so on.
Bill F
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:06 PM
Comment #9Just off to watch Heroes (recorded it last night). Hiro would be a good guy to have in the team. Even Carr might be able to catch players with his help. 🙂
Hammy
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:13 PM
Comment #10O.k Bill, I think you should put the cans away now……
AlexW
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:18 PM
Comment #11competion is big at the moment? we are all forgeting edmilson is due to sign in january……maybe for the first time EVER we will have too many top central defenders? yet we have still conceded 7 goals in the past 3 games 😛
Hammy
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:18 PM
Comment #12Hey Valle don’t tempt me…….Marion Jones is the the New Performance enhancing coach, Leonard Nimoy is our new Scientific coach and FOO KING COONT is our new Eastern specialist……
sorry.
Lull
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:30 PM
Comment #13lol… OK Hammy, I think you should too… (put the cans away,i mean)
valle
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:35 PM
Comment #14Hammy… Sounds like a champ team right there mate 😉
Graham
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:37 PM
Comment #15Away from light entertainment (isn’t the cheerleader on heroes georgeous?) I felt sorry for Roz on Sunday. But I feel that Taylor let him down against Man City – he seemed to go awol at times – maybe he was trying to cover at right back for Beye who also got lost at times.
I think Rozehnal will be in with Faye for the Tottenham game – for a 3-0 win
Lull
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:39 PM
Comment #16Btw, good approach by Big Sam. Give time to players (especially who are new to premiership) to rest, reflect on their performance, learned from their mistake, then put them back in. Nice….
Hammy
Oct 11, 2007 at 9:48 PM
Comment #17Cheers for the banter boys, I’m gan for an early neet…..
I think I’ll watch Sky Sports news in bed and see which bonnie lass is presenting tonight, maybe when there is no blog worthy subjects we can have a poll on the female sky sports news presenters………hmmmnn sweeeet.
Nighty night. zzzzzzzzzzzz
Bill F
Oct 11, 2007 at 10:23 PM
Comment #18Hammy sorry to have missed your comment to Valle before you had your cup of cocoa. rolf
valle
Oct 11, 2007 at 10:47 PM
Comment #19Bill F… No worries, I bet its served by FOO KING COONT as we speak 😉
Bill F
Oct 11, 2007 at 11:54 PM
Comment #20Valle, Naah he only does take away. Incidently I don’t know if you missed an earlier blog today when we were talking about the possibility of Speed joining us. Seems we have 5 or 6 coaches in total which I would have thought was a little on the light side. On a more serious note as a practitioner of Eastern healing techniques, if Sam is reading this, for a season ticket and reasonable expenses i would be happy to travel up the A1 on a regular basis to help out. 🙂
leo
Oct 12, 2007 at 12:32 AM
Comment #21haha.
that georgina on sky sports news, such a babe!!!
Craig Allen
Oct 12, 2007 at 6:43 AM
Comment #22Some more rubbish: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article331459.ece
Craig Allen
Oct 12, 2007 at 9:23 AM
Comment #23Hey guys, is there any truth in this? Or is it a molehill blown out of proportion
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Newcastle-Sunderland-and-Everton-fans.3368981.jp
and was joey involved?
lol
Toon Chicken
Oct 12, 2007 at 9:35 AM
Comment #24Seems like much ado about nothing to me, Craig.
More importantly though, what you doing reading the Scumderland Echo? 🙁 😉
Craig Allen
Oct 12, 2007 at 9:47 AM
Comment #25I got the story as part of the google feeds I subscribe to – saw the headline and just had to click to see what it was about – the other one I got was a stab at Lake District outing as opposed to manure in dubai.
Toon Chicken
Oct 12, 2007 at 9:53 AM
Comment #26Yeah, funny choice of location that for us – but I suppose the accused, I mean Joey Barton, isn’t allowed out of the country at the moment, is he?
Reminds me of an old joke that…
What do you say to a scouser in a suit?
“Would the defendant please rise.”
haha
IanG
Oct 12, 2007 at 9:59 AM
Comment #27Whether the rumour is true or not I have to admire Manchester City’s ambition – certainly plenty of available funds were made available in the summer for Sven and it appears they were spent wisely by the Swede. I only hope that Ashley has the same ambition as Thaksin Shinawatra when it comes down to investment and he doesn’t let Owen slip away from the club.
Bill F
Oct 12, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Comment #28What would be funny is if it was the Sunderland fans V the Everton ones with our lot trying to be peacemakers. As for other item it’s funny but whenever I hear the name Owen mentionet I jus…………. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Andy C
Oct 12, 2007 at 10:51 PM
Comment #29I think as long as Cacapa is playin he will bring the best out of the men next to him. That guy is a legend. As long as he stays fit i think we’ll do very well this season. give him the captains armband, his communication is awesome.