Sam Allardyce facing French Revolution as sidelined France stars and wantaway goalkeeper Steve Mandanda form part of Crystal Palace’s problem
The Eagles' first-choice stopper has admitted he wants to return to Ligue 1 to play for former side Marseille just months after joining relegation fight
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SAM ALLARDYCE is facing a French Revolution as his tricolour Crystal Palace players wave the white flag.
The Eagles boss has hit out at a selection of his under-performing players this week, claiming they are either incapable or uninterested in following his orders.
And it is believed to be the French contingent that has riled the former England boss, with first-choice goalkeeper Steve Mandanda already angling for a move to Marseille.
Allardyce inherited Mandanda, on-loan Loic Remy, Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Flamini when he took over from Alan Pardew.
But, although the names look top class on paper, they have underperformed and won just one Premier League game since Allardyce took over on December 23.
Before the Middlesbrough clash, Allardyce took aim at some of his stars, saying: “My experience and my qualifications are far greater than theirs.
“They can talk about tactics and systems, that’s fine, but they’re players, they’re paid to play.
“I’m the manager, and the system and tactics are my expertise, not theirs.
“When I set those out, they have to put them into practice. Stay focused, stay within the game-plan.
“I keep asking the players to listen, to learn, and go out and practise in training and take that practice on to the pitch on the Saturday.
“Where I am struggling is the players keeping the message and staying with the game plan.
"If they do that, they’ll have a better chance of a result.
“But the loss of focus has been a problem because we’ve gone chasing games when we’ve gone a goal down.
“Instead of playing our way back into the match, we’ve opened ourselves up more.
"They’ve chosen the wrong tactic and made it easier to score against them than before. We have to cut that out.”
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Remy, Cabaye and Flamini were all benched for the last game against Stoke, with Mandanda ruled out through injury.
Cabaye, who is on big money after joining from PSG, was hauled off early in his four starts before that, in defeats against Sunderland, Bournemouth, Everton and Arsenal.
Chelsea striker Remy has only started one top-flight game this season and it ended after a goalless hour against Everton, before the Toffees nicked a late winner.
Mandanda was a regular before his knee injury in December – although he has been enjoying some boxing training – but he wants to follow Dimitri Payet back to Marseille.
He said: “Quite simply, everyone knows the attachment I have for Marseille.
"It would be a great pleasure to return, because my feeling for the club is enormous.
"If I have to return to France it will be with Marseille and nobody else."
Three-time FA Cup winner, Flamini, has started just two league games under Allardyce and been benched six times.