It’s about standing up and being counted even though some of those experiences have been bitter.
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“Potential is a word I don’t like to use too much”.
Allardyce has been touched by the reaction he has received since taking over having missed out on the job to Steve McClaren back in 2006.
England have to qualify for that first and that is something that Sam has to fix first.
Allardyce was in confident mood when addressing the media, believing that he is the best man for the job.
“I have been an advocate of that for the last ten years”. I think I’ve got the experience to pass on and challenge not only the England team but also myself.
“I think [managing] five Premier League clubs has given me a huge amount of experience and nobody else in the Premier League clubs”.
“Man management is my biggest asset, to help the players enjoy themselves and be better than they already are”.
“It’s very hard with the national team in England”.
“I think the bonding of the team is exceptionally important”. I have enjoyed my life in the game, this job is the pinnacle and I want to enjoy this the most.
There was a lot to get to grips with, but we thought we’d try and read between the lines of some of his best quotes.
61-year-old Allardyce signed Sunderland in October and helped the club avoid relegation from the Premier League.
“I’m going to leave that until I meet all the players and get all the staff together”, Allardyce said.
I have to thank everybody at Sunderland for the opportunity.
Allardyce, a vastly experienced coach at club level with Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham, has earned a reputation as a shrewd tactician but primarily as a great motivator. “I’d describe my style as pragmatic”.
“I think choosing styles of systems depends on the players available and who we are playing”.
“So they are bound to want to protect their players and that is what I have to try and overcome with a little bit of give and take, hopefully”.
“We worked on Jermain Defoe as a player who could not play up front on his own – that was it across the board”. He said: “I have managed some world class players”.
He added: “There’s no lack of passion I don’t see a lack of passion anywhere from the players who play for England”. The fans were absolutely magnificent for me at that particular time and I thank them all for that.
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Scholes won 66 caps for England before a somewhat premature global retirement in 2004 and he feels the same problems that hindered the so-called “golden generation” during his own playing days are also harming the embattled squad Allardyce will inherit.
