Big Sam happy with striker options

11 December 2009 12:14
Rovers, who may lose Franco Di Santo in the New Year when his loan from Chelsea comes to an end, have been linked with moves for both Ruud van Nistelrooy of Real Madrid and Stoke's James Beattie.[LNB]Allardyce admitted he had considered making an approach for Holland international van Nistelrooy in the summer but said talk he might try to sign the former Manchester United striker after Christmas was just speculation.[LNB]"It's paper talk," Allardyce said. "There was an interest in the summer when Roque (Santa Cruz) had left, but Ruud is still on a long-term rehab programme from his injury, so it's probably come from there."[LNB]Stoke striker Beattie is reported to be seeking a transfer after an alleged bust-up with manager Tony Pulis last weekend.[LNB]Allardyce is known for his ability to bring the best out of controversial players, but when asked about Beattie, he said: "James Beattie hasn't got a chequered past at all. I don't think he's ever got himself into any trouble.[LNB]"There's been a little bit of a scuffle at Stoke, but it's blown over now. It will all be done and dusted.[LNB]"We would only go into the area of a transfer on the frontline if one of our strikers ends up leaving in that January window."[LNB]Allardyce said he was satisfied with the striking options currently at his disposal and was hopeful Chelsea would agree to extend Di Santo's stay at Ewood Park to the end of the season.[LNB]"I've got four at the moment so I'm not in the market for any other strikers," said Allardyce. "We are only waiting for Chelsea to make a decision on Franco as to whether there's a possibility he can stay or not.[LNB]"It is in their capable hands and hopefully they will be kind enough to allow us to keep him.[LNB]"I've got Niko (Kalinic), Jason (Roberts), Franco and Benni (McCarthy) so four is enough."[LNB]Allardyce, meanwhile, believes there is nothing wrong with a "dressing room scuffle".[LNB]Manager conduct has come under the spotlight this week after allegations that both Stoke boss Tony Pulis and his QPR counterpart Jim Magilton were involved in physical confrontations with players.[LNB]Magilton, who denies any wrongdoing, has been suspended by QPR while Pulis insists Stoke have moved on after his reported bust-up with James Beattie, but Allardyce feels confrontation is inevitable in the emotional cauldron of a dressing room.[LNB]"What's wrong with a scuffle in the dressing room? I don't know what's wrong with it," he said. "We have this politically correct world that we live in today which means that if we do the wrong things in the wrong areas, we are supposed to be lambasted for it, or banned for life or something.[LNB]"It's an emotional game - if you have a scuffle, you have a scuffle and you deal with it and you get on with it.[LNB]"But obviously as managers nowadays we can't be seen to be doing those things because we'll get heavily criticised for it.[LNB]"Sometimes it is a bit difficult to keep your cool when things have not gone quite right, or perhaps you think a player has let you down, or he says something at the wrong time in the wrong area when emotions are high.[LNB]"It happens to us all in football because it is a highly emotional game. If we take the emotion out of it, we've got no game."[LNB][LNB] Hull v Blackburn 1st Goalscorer: Roberts, J. 13/2  

Source: Team_Talk