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As much as the FA officials have confidently maintained their stand on there being no limitation with regards to the potential candidates’ nationality, the fact that Sam Allardyce is set to be named the next England boss from amongst a number of better managers, chiefly Jurgen Klinsmann and Arsene Wenger, does go on to show the same-old antediluvian mentality and the lazy-old approach by the English FA at a time when they really should have worked their hearts out to find the “best” possible replacement for Roy Hodgson.
But that’s not to suggest that Sam Allardyce is the worst appointment in the world or that he would prove out to be another failed attempt to finally abandon the “Biennial English Managerial Farewell”.
Empty as his trophy cabinet may be, you cannot question Allardyce’s ability, which is far superior to any other English manager who is presently active. In fact, one might argue he is the best there is on a few fronts than anyone else who is currently available across the world.
For the past few years, “Big Sam” has had a bit of a reputation as a relegation specialist who can only work well with smaller, more pressure-deprived clubs which is utter fallacy.
To be fair to Allardyce, it’s not easy by any stretch of imagination to bring the best out of the limited resources you have, something that the current Sunderland boss has been doing successfully for a long-long time even with some largely below-par players.
Sunderland, for example, were limping on their way through to the relegation before Allardyce’s appointment, but looked a totally different outlet once he took over the reins.
In a way, his time at The Stadium of Lights presents a detailed lowdown on what Allardyce is all about: Man management, resourcefulness, planning, pragmatism and a no-messing around approach to the game. You might not like the way he does it, but have to admire what he does, i.e., get the most out of his players to eventually get the desired results by laying down the rules to them. That way, he commands respect while encouraging more definitiveness as well.
England’s struggles have exactly been of the very description. They have consistently underachieved even with all of the talent that has been at the national team’s disposal because of the unmanaged egos, a lack of vision and direction.
Under the perspicacious Allardyce, England might not play the catchy brand of tippy-tappy Football, but the results might improve at major tournaments which is what matters at the end of the day. Years have passed trying to do well with style, so it’s surely worth the risk trying to deviate from what has been tried and failed at for once, since it might just work.
Portugal and Leicester City certainly didn’t do it with flair, after all.
