“I was confused” Everton bound New Coach after the sacking of Sean Dyche speaks of what Sam Allardyce did at Everton that baffled him

Wayne Rooney Shares, who seems to be the likely coach of Everton Baffling Tactical Decision by Sam Allardyce at Everton

Wayne Rooney recently shared an amusing anecdote from his second stint at Everton in the 2017/18 season. While appearing on Rio Ferdinand’s walk around Old Trafford for TNT Sports, the former England captain recalled a match against Pep Guardiola’s formidable Manchester City side that left him utterly confused.

Under then-manager Sam Allardyce, Everton had been playing a 4-3-3 formation. However, for the clash against City, Allardyce inexplicably switched to a 4-4-2, deploying Rooney and Morgan Schneiderlin as the central midfield pair. As the game progressed, Rooney found himself baffled by the tactical setup.

“I remember as the game’s going on, I was confused. There were players everywhere. Honestly,” Rooney laughed as he recounted the experience to Ferdinand and Gary Pallister[4].

Guardiola’s City team has been known to overwhelm opponents with their fluid, possession-based style of play. Many managers have tried unconventional tactics in an attempt to stifle the Spaniard’s side, often to no avail. The game Rooney referred to ended in a 3-1 defeat for Everton[3], highlighting the challenge of facing Guardiola’s men.

While Allardyce’s decision may have been an attempt to catch City off guard, it ultimately left Rooney and his teammates struggling to cope with the opposition’s superiority. The former Manchester United striker’s candid admission provides an intriguing insight into the tactical battles that occur at the highest level of the game.

Now embarking on his own managerial career, Rooney will undoubtedly draw upon such experiences as he looks to make his mark in the dugout. After a recent stint at Birmingham City, the 37-year-old is currently seeking his next opportunity in management[4].

As for Everton, they continue to navigate the challenges of competing in the Premier League under current boss Sean Dyche. The Toffees will be hoping to learn from past tactical missteps as they strive for success in the future.

Citations:
[1] https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/4/2/17188074/everton-manchester-city-tactical-analysis-sam-allardyce-wayne-rooney-morgan-schneiderlin-kill-me
[2] https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/wayne-rooney-kevin-de-bruyne-22458990
[3] https://www.premierleague.com/match/22656
[4] https://tbrfootball.com/wayne-rooney-shares-what-sam-allardyce-did-at-everton-which-left-him-absolutely-baffled/
[5] https://www.football365.com/news/todays-idea-wayne-rooney-at-right-back
[6] https://www.premierleague.com/match/22357
[7] https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/12/14/16776546/sam-allardyce-everton-tactics-turnaround-good-form-sigurdsson-lennon-schneiderlin-rooney
[8] https://www.toffeeweb.com/season/17-18/reports/Burnley%28h%29.php
[9] https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/1/17/14285600/everton-manchester-city-tactical-analysis-premier-league-2017-possession-pressing
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kcSMaNYZZU
[11] https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/02/wayne-rooney-compares-kevin-de-bruyne-man-utd-liverpool-legends-man-city-13071292/
[12] https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match//gameId/450803 [13] https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story//id/37344477/tactical-trends-2013-14-premier-league-season
[14] https://therepublikofmancunia.com/in-depth-look-at-uniteds-formations/
[15] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rMF-W2xQrY
[16] https://mobile.footballghana.com/talking-tactics-guardiola-outwits-mourinho-chelsea-face-midseason-collapse-allardyces-everton-get-lucky
[17] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km_9ntw05pw
[18] https://www.toffeeweb.com/season/17-18/comment/fanscomment/36129.html
[19] https://www.goal.com/en/news/man-city-de-bruyne-rooney-man-utd-liverpool-legends/1t0nn49fs6c4q1iswsinxzbylq
[20] https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/apr/02/premier-league-10-talking-points-from-the-weekend-action