Why Big Sam was England's only choice?

By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88

Sunderland continue their preparations for the 2016/2017 Premier League season on Wednesday night with a pre-season friendly away to Hartlepool United. However, they will now be parting with manager Sam Allardyce.

Sam Allardyce has just landed the biggest job of his managerial career

That is because Allardyce (pictured) has just landed the biggest job of his career – manager of the England national team. He will be confirmed on Thursday morning as Roy Hodgson’s successor, three weeks after the Three Lions’ dismal EURO 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland.

Allardyce’s first competitive game will be a 2018 World Cup qualifier on September 4 against Slovakia in Bratislava. Interviewed for the vacancy last week, he ensures the FA has selected a domestic manager again rather than go down the foreign route.

Here are the reasons why ‘Big Sam’ as he is affectionally known, is the only choice to succeed Hodgson?

Passion and pride

It was clear at the European Championships this summer and for quite some time now that most England players don’t carry the passion and pride that is required to wear the shirt and give everything for their country.

Names shouldn’t be mentioned but the players to select their country should show pride and commitment and do it on the field of play rather than mention it in the press. Certainly, England’s teams of 1990 and 1996 had plenty of this in abundance. You don’t have to be the greatest in terms of skill and pedigree but it is essential to give it all on the field when representing your country.

Under Sam Allardyce, English players will simply not be allowed to lax. If they do, they won’t be called up into the squad anymore. He won’t take anything less than 100 per cent. Anyone who might have cruised into the team under previous regimes won’t have it as easy nowadays.

Allardyce’s teams have always had this demand from the manager. Any missing talent can be made up for hard teamwork and spirit in the game and this is why he has a proven track record in the Premier League.

The identity of playing for the national side has been lost now for some time and the underachievement has to stop. Since the near-miss of the semi-final at EURO 96, only the 2002 World Cup finals can be considered as a qualified success in major tournament performance from England. Then, it was only a more talented Brazilian side at the time that ended England’s challenge.

He won’t have lots of time but that is the prime goal going forwards.

Looking at the long-term

For too many years now, the England national team has been taken for granted. You can see why trust has broken down between the supporters and the FA. Wembley Stadium struggles to be filled for major internationals. In fact, NFL matches are likely to draw bigger crowds. This must be a concern.

England has to look at a long-term strategy. The trouble is I don’t think they know what the long-term strategy plan is. In 2013, former FA chief executive Greg Dyke said the ambition was to win the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar. On recent evidence, that looks a million miles away.

England’s next major finals will hopefully be the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Slovakia and Scotland will pose the biggest obstacles in qualification and the writing will be on the wall for Allardyce if they don’t make it to Russia.

The next World Cup though has to be seen as a stepping stone, not one where expectations get ridiculously high. The next European Championships in 2020 has to be seen as the prime goal going forwards. Portugal proved at EURO 2016 that team unity and spirit can win prizes at international level. It is time to look at the next generation.

Wayne Rooney has to remain part of that vision and should continue as captain too but it is time to look to the future. The likes of Jack Butland, Marcus Rashford, Aaron Cresswell and John Stones must be used regularly going forwards. Allardyce needs to give youth a chance from the outset of his role. To his credit, Hodgson tried to do this but he didn’t utilise his options correctly. Allardyce does need time to stamp his authority on the team and therefore, 2018 must be used as part of the plan going forwards – not where prizes need to be won. That’s the realism.

Was there anyone else?

The FA only interviewed Allardyce and Hull City manager Steve Bruce, although the Daily Telegraph did report on Wednesday a “mysterious third-party” was considered.

Was that the USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann? Or possibly the ex-Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini? Unless the FA tell the world, we are unlikely to find this out.

People have given Allardyce stick over the years and I think it is generally unfair. He hasn’t won any major silverware in his management career but which English managers in the game today have?

Apart from a nightmare six-month spell at Newcastle United in 2007/2008, Allardyce has always taken a job and left the club in a better place. He took Bolton Wanderers from the middle of the First Division into European qualification, bringing in maverick players like Fernando Hierro, Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff along the way.

When he succeeded Paul Ince at Blackburn Rovers in December 2008, the Lancastrians were second-bottom in the Premier League. He steered them away from relegation, then took them back into mid-table comforts, making them difficult to beat too. When he was surprisingly axed two years later, Blackburn went on a downhill spiral that has continued ever since.

He guided West Ham United back into the Premier League and stabilised them as a top-flight club again when they needed it most. Last season, he took Sunderland back from the brink and leaves them in a far better position than they were when he succeeded Dick Advocaat last October.

So he doesn’t always play the most entertaining football on the planet but the game is a results-driven business and that’s what England need the most. Pretty football is fine and the ideal approach but if it doesn’t win games or prizes, it counts for little. Just ask Kevin Keegan and Brendan Rodgers. This is why Tony Pulis has had Premier League success. Sure, the football is dire to watch as a neutral but you know Pulis’ sides will always survive because they have enough defensive steel and a bit of quality to grind out results.

Bruce has done good things in his career, getting promoted three times and taking Hull City to an FA Cup final in 2014. He has been relegated three times though also in his managerial life and therefore, his track record is not as strong as that of Allardyce.

Eddie Howe has great potential but needs more time at AFC Bournemouth to develop his managerial class. Alan Pardew has too much baggage and Glenn Hoddle would simply be a step backwards. He had his time in the 1990s. Going back to him was not the answer.

As you can see, options were thin on the ground. The FA might have annoyed Sunderland and Hull City but they’ve made their choice. Sam Allardyce is the next manager of the Three Lions.

He deserves his chance and he was the most viable contender for the post. It could be a disaster or a roaring success. Either way, I wish him the best and it had to be a domestic manager. He’s the best out there at the moment.