New Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce says he had some doubts about the job but the challenge ahead pushed him to accept. The 60-year-old boss replaces Dick Advocaat after the Dutchman left the club 19th in the Premier League table with just three points after eight games. "It is in my blood. The challenge is something I need. It is almost an addiction," said Allardyce. "Waking up and coming in here, it's not work really."
Allardyce is the 13th manager that Sunderland had in the last 13 years, so the numbers might indicate it's a risky job. "It is a big challenge," he said. "Even at this early stage of the season it is clear we are in trouble. The fact that we have 30 games will be as important as anything else because it may take the vast majority of them to get safe. It can take such a long time to catch up. My job is hopefully not to get into that panic and fear zone where there are a few games left and if you don't win, you get relegated. I have some time now to try and sort that out as quickly as I can."
Allardyce knows the club very well, he played for the Black Cats in 1980-1981 and then was on the coaching staff under manager Peter Reid in 1996. "I want to be more successful than I have been in the past, that's for sure, and I want to stay a bit longer," said Allardyce. "I didn't stay very long as a player, I didn't stay very long with Reidy because I got the Notts County job and I didn't stay very long at Newcastle, so I hope I stay a lot longer than that."
Sunderland are 3.00 at Bet365 to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.
GREGJO
8 years ago
Sunderland are a very weak team. They have simply not enough quality to avoid the relegation. Yeah, they have Defoe, but he's not young. Sam Allardyce is a very tactical one. But to be honest: it's not about challenge. He wanted to stay in the Premier League only. If he gets a better job he'll accept that immediately I'm...
Sunderland are a very weak team. They have simply not enough quality to avoid the relegation. Yeah, they have Defoe, but he's not young. Sam Allardyce is a very tactical one. But to be honest: it's not about challenge. He wanted to stay in the Premier League only. If he gets a better job he'll accept that immediately I'm sure. He got this chance and decided to join to the Black Cats.
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Johnajax 8 years ago
Of course that he had doubts about this job, everybody will because that is one hard job and in my opinion impossible to do. Today Sunderland lost again against WBA but they didn't play bad and that can be bright side of today's game. I respect Sam Allardyce as manager but I think that he can't save Sunderland from relegation.
Of course that he had doubts about this job, everybody will because that is one hard job and in my opinion impossible to do. Today Sunderland lost again against WBA but they didn't play bad and that can be bright side of today's game. I respect Sam Allardyce as manager but I think that he can't save Sunderland from relegation.
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Alexa Alexa 8 years ago
Sam Allardyce is a true legend of Premier League.He is well known for his ability to save team from relegation or to promote it to the Premier League.I am sure he will bring something new in Sunderland.It is important thing that he has played for the Black Cats,so he feels the club and the fans.
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h34dhunt3r
8 years ago
Sam Allardyce is without a doubt one of the best english-based managers outthere. We all do remmember wonders he did with Bolton, considering he didnt have a team to survive one season in Premier League, but he managed to did that. Eventho he did that with Bolton, Sunderland is probably the weakest team in this years Premier...
Sam Allardyce is without a doubt one of the best english-based managers outthere. We all do remmember wonders he did with Bolton, considering he didnt have a team to survive one season in Premier League, but he managed to did that. Eventho he did that with Bolton, Sunderland is probably the weakest team in this years Premier League, and only a miracle could save them. Is that miracle Sam Allardyce? We shall see but I highly doubt it.
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nik92 8 years ago
Allardyce is the 13th manager that Sunderland had in the last 13 years?!?! Wow. So what is this? No one is so good for Sunderland? What do you expect from the coach? magic? to win the Premier League? Come on people, find coach for more than a year. Then might come to the results, this will certainly not.
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sharpe
8 years ago
This season will be very tough for Sunderland with that relegation battle but if there is a right man for the job this no doubtfully is The Big Sam. Sunderland avoids relegation in every of the last 2 or 3 seasons in the last weeks of these seasons and probably the team will have to fight till the end this season too. But...
This season will be very tough for Sunderland with that relegation battle but if there is a right man for the job this no doubtfully is The Big Sam. Sunderland avoids relegation in every of the last 2 or 3 seasons in the last weeks of these seasons and probably the team will have to fight till the end this season too. But when someone like Allardyce is at the manager position they have to believe that they have a good chance to avoid it once again.
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