VERSATILE ALLARDYCE SHOWING UP STUBBORN WENGERWest Ham United boss Sam Allardyce celebrated his 60th birthday looking down on Arsene Wenger and Arsenal. Many of us were convinced Allardyce would be on his way at the start of the season. The demands for free-flowing football, the appointment of Teddy Sheringham and the signings of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho. Big Sam surely wouldn't compromise his approach? But he has - and West Ham are flying because of his willingness to take on-board outside recommendations. Can we say the same of Wenger? Where's the David Sullivan-type at Arsenal? Would anyone inside London Colney dare suggest a different way of working to the Frenchman? Eleven points behind the leaders, it's looking like another season of 'what could've been' for Gooners.

DAZZLER TADIC KOEMAN COUPDusan Tadic has been threatening to produce a performance as he did against Sunderland. Until Saturday, he'd flashed in and out of games, promising so much, but not quite putting it together for the full 90. In Southampton's 8-0 rout, he was superb. Tadic joined the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Cesc Fabregas in producing a record-equaling six assists in a game. Still 25, Tadic looks a super talent and a great move by Ronald Koeman. Beyond the humiliating scoreline, even worse for Sunderland's players was it was played out in front of a sold-out away end. The longest trip for Black Cats fans and the players down tools. How do you come back from that?

MOURINHO DESERVES RECOGNITION FOR CHELSEA STYLEAnd Chelsea continue to stroll on. Both goals at Crystal Palace were beauties - and Jose Mourinho deserves greater recognition for the football his team are playing. With Nemanja Matic the lynchpin, Cesc Fabregas, Oscar and Eden Hazard are playing some great stuff across midfield and Cesc's goal at Selhurst Park, which was a genuine 'team' effort, typified the football Mourinho's side is now producing. Those claims about the Special One not having it within him to produce the brand of football Roman Abramovich is demanding have long been forgotten - even though it was still getting an airing in the lead up to the season kickoff. Cesc, just Sunday, declared he's loving the style of game Chelsea are playing. A Barcelona graduate - and a Wenger disciple - singing the praise of Mourinho's tactics? Wonders never cease!

BALOTELLI SCREAMING OUT FOR STRIKE-PARTNERWould still like to see Brendan Rodgers pair Mario Balotelli with another striker at Liverpool. The Italian is copping pelters in the aftermath of his howler at QPR, but he's still being played out of position by Rodgers. As we've stated previously, Balotelli played the best football of his fledgling career at AC Milan alongside Stephan El Shaarawy. The Italian is working hard and it was good of Rodgers to praise him publicly after having a pop before the international breakup. But we won't see what the No45 can genuinely offer the Reds until Rodgers plays two up top.

BIG CHANCE FOR ARSENAL STARLET JEBBExciting to see Jack Jebb sign for Stevenage Borough this week. There's a lot of buzz around the Arsenal midfielder, who turned 19 last month. No longer eligible for the U18s, nor the UEFA Youth League, Jebb has struggled to break into the U21s this season. Likened to Jack Wilshere at London Colney, he was fast-tracked as a student into the club's academy. A couple of years on, now Jebb has the chance at first team football, initially for a month, in League Two with Stevenage. A good decision by Arsenal and Jebb's camp.

BOOTHROYD SILENCES MOANERSSo where are the moaners now? When Aidy Boothroyd was named new England U20 coach in March, it was immediately followed by derision from the usual suspects questioning his appointment. His last job had been with Northampton Town, which was bottom of the Football League at the time. But having launched the careers of the likes of Ben Foster, Adam Johnson and Gabby Agbonlahor at Watford, Boothroyd, still only 43, was backed by FA chief Dan Ashworth - and that faith appears justified after last week's results. Boothroyd's team, playing some good stuff, won the Four Nations Tournament in Holland, beating Germany (1-0) and the hosts (3-2) along the way.

SUNDERLAND SOS FOR VETERAN REVEILLEREAnthony Reveillere is keen to sign with Sunderland. It's just a matter of Gus Poyet convincing the club's money-men to find room in the budget to deal him in. Now 34, Reveillere has been training with Sunderland for the past week and both he and Poyet and want to see the deal done. After ten years with Lyon, he has been a gun for hire over the past 12 months, playing on a short-term deal for Napoli last season before popping up on Wearside. Poyet has concerns at right-back and feels Reveillere will provide a solution. It's a U-turn, however, from Poyet, who only last month rejected the prospect of dipping into the free agency market before January.