“Steve will be a positive addition to our goalkeeping stable”, Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce said. “You could probably blame us the first time not them, but I think this time it’s more them than us”.
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The first man to manage both Sunderland and Newcastle, Allardyce plotted a 3-0 win over the Black Cats’ arch rivals in the Tyne-Wear derby in his second game at the helm in October. “Me saying Ayew is definitely somebody I want means Swansea can say I’ve upset this player by saying I want him”.
The 40-year-old is keen to move into coaching and has been working at Middlesbrough’s Academy, combining it with regular work as a radio pundit.
The German could hardly have suffered a more harrowing introduction to life in the Premier League, but having watched his new signing score in a behind-closed-doors training game with Sheffield United this week, Allardyce is confident he boasts the mental resolve needed to bounce back.
Allardyce believes he has a potential star of the future on his hands in the England Under-21 global, but Pickford will have to bide his time as he attempts to establish himself as the club’s number one goalkeeper.
“If you’re spending £10m or £15m in this country, it’s not really seen as a big number in football anymore”, he said.
Towards the end of Allardyce’s tenure at West Ham, The Independent reported Eddie Howe had been a candidate to replace him at Upton Park.
And when asked whether he felt Howe would guide Cherries to safety, Allardyce said: “He has done a fantastic job”. In the end he turned out to be an outstanding player.
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The 30-year-old striker, who has joined the club on loan from Trabzonspor for the rest of the season, has received his global clearance in time to face the Cherries. “I don’t like anybody taking my money off me”.
