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發表於 2007-5-3 13:18:35
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Newcastle perfect for Big Sam's next adventure
The reasons for Sam Allardyce's unexpected departure from Bolton Wanderers can probably be tracked back to his failure to emerge as a serious candidate for the England job last summer.
Though Allardyce was interviewed by the powerbrokers at Soho Square few believed they would have the backbone to give such a character the chance to lead the national side.
That the man chosen to lead the England team has predictably turned out to be a monumental failure must irk Allardyce even more. Bar a fortuitous run to the UEFA Cup final, Steve McClaren's achievements in management were negligible compared to a man who transformed a club of similar size to Middlesbrough on a fraction of the budget.
If Allardyce is to be considered in the future he must prove himself at another club, showing that he is no one-trick pony.
He probably looked at Alan Curbishley's extended stay at Charlton and decided not to fall into the same trap of comfort and familiarity.
Added to that, he still has to break free from the shackles of Panorama's clumsy hatchet job/ investigation into alleged bungs which did nothing more than throw around lazy innuendo and suggestion. But mud sticks and despite expected exoneration from the Quest Report sadly for Sam it is unlikely to stop some believing there is no smoke without fire.
So where next for Allardyce? Fulham, Manchester City and Newcastle United are the suggested destinations so far, but it is a list which will surely grow. And Allardyce must choose his next challenge wisely.
There was never a hope of taking Bolton onto the 'next level', partly due to the financial constraints imposed by chairman Phil Gartside and the attraction of playing for a club the size of Bolton for the world's top players.
Granted, the purse-strings were loosened last summer when Allardyce was allowed to first chase Andy Johnson and then sign Nicolas Anelka. But other than that he has been forced to scratch around for budget gems such as Iranian international Andranik Teymourian.
Bolton, of course, find themselves at a crossroads. In promoting Sammy Lee they are placing a great deal of faith in a man who has never managed a team, let alone one which stands fifth in the Premiership and in need of results to avoid a late slump out of the UEFA Cup places.
Lee had been Allardyce's right-hand man for less than two years after replacing the management-bound Phil Brown in June 2005. Lee left Sven Goran Eriksson's coaching staff to head for Lancashire and he also spent 11 years in the backroom staff at Liverpool.
The transition from coach to manager is rarely successful. Charlton can testify to that only too readily after their disastrous flirtation with former FA development officer Les Reed who, you may recall, was the man who fielded all the media's tactical questions during Kevin Keegan's inglorious England reign. That in itself should tell its own story.
Much of Allardyce's success was based on his mastery in the transfer market, a skill which Lee is going to have to learn from scratch and learn fast. Equally, much will depend on the club's ability to hold on to their better players.
When Allardyce does resurface, it's likely he will covet the likes of Kevin Nolan - an industrious midfielder who earned the captain's armband - as well as Anelka, Tal Ben Haim and Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Allardyce is never going to be in the running for a job at one of the top four clubs. While he is respected he doesn't quite possess the X-Factor that Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea would look for.
While Fulham understandably have been linked with the 52-year-old a move to Craven Cottage would be no more than a sideways step, perhaps even a backwards step. Fulham's best finish in their history is ninth - a position which Bolton have grown to consider mediocre under Allardyce. Added to that, Mohamed Fayed has long since locked up the vault to his millions as far as football is concerned.
It also remains far from certain Fulham will be a Premiership club next season, and even if they do avoid the drop the signs are there for a desperate struggle in 2007/08.
Far more interesting are the stories connecting the former Limerick, Blackpool and Notts County boss with Manchester City and Newcastle United. While both clubs still have managers of their own neither Stuart Pearce nor Glenn Roeder can claim to be in a comfortable position.
Pearce, manager of a City side which has not scored at home since New Year's Day and entertains champions-elect United in the Manchester derby on Saturday, was reportedly just a couple of matches from the sack earlier this season before he managed to get enough points together to keep the wolves from the door.
But with City ripe for a takeover and an increasing number of investors showing their hand it's uncertain whether the new owners will want the former England international at the helm.
However, former Primer Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra has reportedly moved into pole position and he is believed to be supportive of Pearce.
Allardyce's link to City has come largely from his supposed-association with Ray Ranson's bid to take charge at the City of Manchester Stadium - though sources close to Ranson have distanced him from Allardyce. Nevertheless, Rason's bid expected to be dismissed in favour of Shinawatra's.
In City, Allardyce would join a club capable of pushing on, but only with the right investment and support from the board. City have had a loyal fanbase but their 47,726 capacity stadium has often had swathes of empty seats - they average under 40,000 which is understandable considering the brand of football on show. Even the perpetually disgraced Joey Barton has stated he would not pay to watch City play.
With a warchest from a new owner and the right management, in time City could push into the top five and follow Everton and Tottenham in challenging the status quo for a place in the Champions League. But there are many ifs and buts.
Allardyce's link to City was certainly not universal across the newspapers in England, with many opting to punt Allardyce as the natural successor to Roeder at Newcastle.
After being promoted from caretaker, Roeder has never looked comfortable in a role which has traditionally, in recent times at least, gone to high profile managers. Roeder is not in the same league as Kevin Keegan, Sir Bobby Robson and Graeme Souness.
Newcastle have always been one of the truly untapped clubs, almost always selling out their 52,387-capacity home. Souness was alone afforded £52million to spend on fresh blood, and Roeder forked out £15million on just two players last summer. Most Premiership bosses could only dream of such a kitty.
What may count against Allardyce is his decision to snub the job when Newcastle came calling prior to the appointment of Souness. Chairman Freddy Shepherd is known to be a man who does not taken rejection well and Allardyce will have to convince him it was done with the best intentions.
Newcastle, however, are going to have to swallow their pride if they want a manager who is truly capable of changing things at St James' Park. The club as a whole will need an overhaul and Allardyce has already proved he can shake things up from top to bottom. Newcastle are a club in which failure and underachievement go hand-in-hand.
They seem some way from earning another shot at Champions League football after qualifying for the tournament in back-to-back seasons under Sir Bobby.
However, the task on the pitch at St James' is perhaps less intensive that an Man City. Whereas City have a squad which is full of holes, made worse by the fact Barton now seems certain to be on his way in the summer, Newcastle at least have some quality players.
In Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins they have one of the best strikeforces in the division, while midfield talent including Emre, Damien Duff, Kieron Dyer, Nolberto Solano, Scott Parker and James Milner will give most teams a problem when employed in the correct system.
It makes it all the more galling that Newcastle are still on just 42 points with 36 games played.
Newcastle's Achilles heel has often been at the back and while it may come as a surprise to learn they have a better defensive record than Bolton this term.
The Newcastle squad needs investment and astute management. Magpies fans have come to know only too well that one without the other does not necessarily work. Allardyce should fit the bill perfectly.
Expectation levels at St James' will clearly be greatly inflated from what Allardyce is used to. Controlling the emotions of a rabid supporter base is one skill he may have to learn.
Though no-one will admit as much, football club boards are always more likely to pull the trigger quickly should a quality manager be on the market. While it would still be a surprise if Roeder was ousted in the summer, a poor start to next season and it won't take long for the P45 to land on Roeder's desk.
Shepherd has a track record of sacking managers before the end of August. Sir Bobby, Ruud Gullit and Kenny Dalglish were all given the boot just a couple of weeks into the season and only a stirring beginning to 2007/08 is likely to save Roeder from the same fate.
It seems a good bet that Allardyce will be in place before the transfer window closes in less that four months' time.
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