Source: TheGuardian
The Guardian view on England managers: football’s most thankless job | Editorial
‘Big Sam’ Allardyce looks set to take up the reins of one international sport’s bigger challengesAfter a shock result, a bitter exit and weeks of turmoil, finally the country has a new leader to guide us to a brighter future. Welcome (probably) Sam Allardyce, England manager and, for many, the epitome of an English manager. A master of the relegation battle, renowned for his robust, direct style, it’s easy to caricature “Big Sam”. So easy in fact that Mike Bassett: England Manager did the job in cinemas 15 years ago. Mr Allardyce reportedly impressed the FA with his sophisticated take on sport psychology and has a tactical nous sure to surprise, especially following Roy Hodgson. But he will now be in the spotlight like never before; seven acrimonious months at Newcastle is arguably his biggest job to date. He joked in 2012 that it was down to racism – “I won’t ever be going to a top-four club because I’m not called Allardici” – but his Englishness has surely bolstered the claim of a manager whose only honours are the Irish first division title, and the third division with Notts County in 1998. If the rumours are true that the FA’s first choice was his polar opposite, Arsène Wenger, it’s easy to feel that English football is in its usual state of chaos. Less a principled, English for England choice: rather, Mr Allardyce represents the best worst option for perhaps the most unappealing job in the game. Continue reading......read full article
