New England manager Sam Allardyce offered a robust defence of his suitability for the role and declared himself tough enough to overcome the demands of the job during his official unveiling.
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Ten years on, he is convinced the extra decade in management will prove beneficial in a job successive managers have found comes with elevated expectations and intense media scrutiny.
Those previous disappointments have been followed by rumours of divides within the camp but “Big Sam” has earned a reputation over the years for being able to bond players together.
“We have 24 England teams from the U15s upwards, so what is really important is for the senior manager to work with the development coaches and have a look at the pipeline of players we have coming through the system. And to make them aware of the opposition, which may change the style of how we play”.
“I’m going to go and join up with the players today at Rotherham, introduce myself and meet the staff. I will travel with them to France tomorrow”.
“For me, with my experience, I think it’s the right time”, he said as his appointment was confirmed by the Football Association after discussing his severance from Sunderland. “It’s not just about qualifying, but going as far as we can”.
The past Everton and Manchester United boss, 53, expect duty at the Stadium of Light after Sam Allardyce left to control English senior men in England as a coach. I hope when we get there (Russia 2018) I can answer that question better then.
Allardyce, who guided Sunderland to Premier League safety last season having taken over with them in a desperate position, has never won a major trophy and acknowledged the England job as the “biggest challenge” of his managerial career.
“I won’t suggest it’s rock bottom”, he said of player morale in the wake of Euro 2016.
Allardyce has often been associated as a manager that plays a direct style of football but wants his players to show flexibility under his tutelage.
“I knew Ellis [Short] had been interested in me in the past; I hoped he would come back again and he certainly did”.
“The game of football is to be enjoyed”.
As Sportsmail revealed last week, Allardyce wanted Lee, with whom he enjoyed a successful spell in charge of Bolton, to be his principal assistant and the ex-Newcastle boss has got his wish.
“A break would help the players and would help the national team”.
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“I have been an advocate of that for 10 years or more”. The demand on players is enormous.
