Sam Allardyce’s loss proves to be United gain

Oct 3 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

ZURAB Khizanishvili has been forced to drop down a division in order to play first team football at Newcastle United. He explained to Chief Sports Writer Luke Edwards why it is the perfect solution.

IT is not often a footballer gets the chance to thank a football manager for not rating him as a player, but Zurab Khizanishvili has nothing but kind words when it comes to describing Sam Allardyce.

While the professional relationship between manager and player may have been strained, ruptured by contrasting presumptions about how the game should be played, Khizanishvili has plenty of time for the Blackburn Rovers boss as a person.

After all, had it not been for Allardyce’s view that the Georgian international lacks the physical power and mental discipline to fit into his strict defensive system, Khizanishvili would never have had the chance to follow in the footsteps of one of his country’s most famous sons.

Newcastle United’s fall from grace has been spectacular in recent years, but the Magpies’ aura remains in Georgia thanks to Temuri Ketsbaia’s colourful spell at St James’s Park.

Blackburn may be the Premier League club, but stepping down a division still feels like a step forward for Khizanishvili, who is already hinting he wants to turn a three-month loan move from Blackburn into a permanent switch when the transfer window re-opens in January.

“Maybe my style did not suit Sam Allardyce,” said Khizanishvili, who has made a positive impression at both right back and centre-back in his two games for United. “I know Sam likes different players.

“I knew from his time at Bolton, where he was a long time, he likes more athletic players, bigger than me, stronger than me. Not necessarily more intelligent players, but more physical, stronger players. That is his choice.

“I prefer playing football from the back. That is my opinion, that is the way I like to play, the way I have always played, the way I was brought up. Every previous manager has said to me ‘we like to play football.’ You can’t play the long ball, every game, every minute, you have to decide on the pitch.”

The majority of United fans would wholeheartedly agree with those sentiments.