They had 3 key players out of an already threadbare and weaker squad than ours in the 4-0. We had Sakho out and everyone else available. It was miraculous he got them in that situation. He certainly wouldn't have been anywhere near as sh1t as Frank and we'd be ok.

That's a good assessment, and whilst I'm sure the original poster was simply summarising what we know to be a caution-first approach from Allardyce when he described it as 'lets draw every game', we certainly shouldn't forget the value of getting the basics right.

At the same time, the spirit and slightly more positive attitude Roy has installed does compare favourably to the Allardyce approach.

I know its still early, but I feel I prefer having Hodgson to Allardyce. They both talk fairly straight in press conferences, but Roy seems less inclined to moan about the ref, to talk up his own achievements, or to develop mates in the media. More to the point though, its far more enjoyable watching the team under Roy, who seems to be able to work spirit and desire into the teams play, as well as the importance of shape and discipline. Allardyce did far more of the latter than the former.

Witness also how Allardyce talked openly about having to address the psychology of the players, who he quickly (and very publicly) diagnosed as being 'scared of playing at home'. Hodgson on the other hand just said they would need to keep on working hard in training, as that, rather than high-level sports science and suchlike, would give us the best chance of getting results. Sam made our awful home form seem like a complex thing so that he, and only he, could be seen to fix it (even though he didn't really), whilst Roy may have actually fixed it through the unglamorous, player-led mantra of hard work. Its a small point, but illustrative of the distinction between the two I think. With Sam it sometimes feels like its all about Sam, whereas with Roy its nearly always all about the players.

I've no complaints about the work Allardyce did for us of course, but I wouldn't swap him for Roy now if I was offered.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (13 Dec 2017 1.47pm)

Thats a big difference I've noticed between Allardyce and Hodgson. last night Hodgson made two late subs who both scored, not once did he try to take credit for that, and instead heaped praise on the players. I really like the way he talks to press and always refers as 'we' and 'us', it took Allardyce, Pardew and Pullis a while to get to that point, Roy was doing it in his first presser

Roy Hodgson is a man of unimpeachable integrity, a man of erudition and man of real dignity - a gentleman straight and true.

He is also a highly experienced and capable football manager and well respected in the game.He really is a 'Gloucester Old Spot' of hams and we are privileged to have him as our manager.