Big Sam Saves Sunderland!
Allardyce; once again, has saved a Premier League side from relegation, this time, he has done it with Sunderland.
Bolton and the Early Days
It all started at the turn of the millennium and Allardyce’s appointment with the club where he made over 180 appearances and scored more than 20 goals as a centre back.
Bolton Wanderers.
When Sam joined them, he inherited a talented squad, especially for a Division One side. In his first season they enjoyed good runs in both domestic cup competitions, but missed out narrowly on promotion from the league, suffering a defeat in the Play-Offs.
The following season, Allardyce once again guided Bolton Wanderers to the Play-Offs, this time with much more success – they were reinstated to the Premier League after a three year absence.
What happens next, is what made Sam Allardyce’s managerial career. He ensured their survival and consolidated their position in England’s top tier of professional football. More than that, he took Bolton into Europe, he helped them secure top six finishes. They competed with the countries elite, because he bought smartly and they played an infamously brutal style of ‘long-ball’, (according to the media and punditry), สมัครufabetเว็บแม่ football – reminiscent of the Crazy Gang in its ferocity.
He has always been labelled as a ‘long ball specialist’ – however his style is more heavily influenced by his love for Sports Science and statistical analysis than it is hopeful hoofs.
He wrote in his autobiography: “when they hit a 50-yard ball it was a cultural pass; when we did it, it was a hopeful hoof”.
Many of his players from his Bolton days cited his man management skills as one of the main reasons for the team’s success. Kevin Davies highlighted this several times throughout his career.
Newcastle, Blackburn and the move to West Ham
Almost half a decade later – after short spells at Newcastle and Blackburn – where Allardyce did nothing visibly wrong, (he left both clubs in the same, if not stronger positions), but was ousted in favour of Kevin Keegan and Steve Kean respectively