OPINION
There are few, if any, managerial fire-fighters as effective or well-respected as Sam Allardyce.
The one-time (literally) England manager is still yet to be relegated from the Premier League, and he has built a career out of rescuing clubs in dire straits.
Which is why his latest comments on Newcastle United may be a little wide of the mark.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Big Sam suggested that current Toon boss was a much better fit for the job than he was, after being approached to take the helm for a second time on Tyneside.
He said: “Newcastle wasn’t for me.
“I was very chuffed that Mike [Ashley] considered me again but I felt that Brucey was a better fit than me and good luck to him.
“It is his dream move to manage his home town club and I wish him well. It was the only thing that came up this summer.”
In some respects, Allardyce might be correct.
Bruce is a local lad, and Big Sam’s first tenure in the north east didn’t exactly end harmoniously, but when it comes down to it, the Magpies could find themselves in a lot of trouble this season.
An unexpected win over Tottenham before the international break papered over a lot of cracks in a rocky start to Bruce’s reign, and there is still the very real threat of a relegation dog fight looming over St. James’ Park.
In that instance, there is nobody you would rather have in the dugout than Allardyce.
Aside from his stellar record for avoiding the drop, the 64-year-old has managed to get a tune out of some fairly lacklustre sides.
His average of 1.26 points per game at Crystal Palace, and 1.16 at Sunderland, as per Transfermarkt, is more impressive than it sounds, and come the end of the season, the Toon Army may well be hoping for a bit of that signature Allardyce grit.
Here’s hoping it doesn’t come to that.
