The Sam Allardyce Dilemma

Sam Allardyce taking the England job is a Sunderland fan’s worst nightmare.

After such a positive end to last season, the red and white faithful dared to look up the table, look forward and dream of a season without a relegation battle. Under Big Sam, that is possible, he can bring the stability that the Black Cats have craved since promotion in 2007. Sunderland fans aren’t expecting miracles but would be more than satisfied with a season of mid table mediocracy, sad for a club their size but this is their current position.

However, the sacking of Roy Hodgson has got a lot of Sunderland fans worried, their optimistic outlook for the season ahead has now turned to anxiousness.

Of course the FA are going to want to interview Allardyce for the England vacancy, they’d be mad not to. Allardyce is perfect for England and at times, doesn’t the get credit he deserves with some describing him as a “footballing dinosaur”. The Bolton legend has never been relegated from the Premier League in his managerial career, and he deserves huge praise for that.

Though Allardyce is hugely credited by Sunderland fans, they love the bones of him and show this week in, week out, Allardyce didn’t have that at West Ham and he knows he’s appreciated on Wearside. Surely he’d be daft to throw that away? He can really take Sunderland forward, him and red and white army are meant for each other. His victory dance as Sunderland secured Premier League safety against Everton will be remembered on Wearside for years to come.

Now, the England vacancy may bring the Sunderland and Allardyce love story to an abrupt end. It’s no secret that England is dream job, he speaks about managing his national side with such passion through his autobiography. It was clear that he was distraught when he was overlooked for the position in favour of Steve McClaren (looking back, we’re pretty distraught about that one). He’s going to want a shot at it before he retires, and he deserves it. He’s an excellent manager who arguably deserves this big break.

Dream job or not, I think Big Sam would be mad to walkaway from Sunderland and take the England job. I may have my red and white tinted glasses on here, but Big Sam can really build something at Sunderland, he can take the club forward and leave a legacy behind. However, doing something with the current English national side is going to take nothing short of a miracle.

England’s failure at the Euros was partly down to Hodgson’s dire tactics, but also massively down to the players and the fact we’re 100 lightyears behind other countries. If you look at most national teams, they have a few world beaters to build their team around, Bale and Ramsey for Wales, Ronaldo for Portugal, but England lack players of real standout quality. There’s no denying that the likes of Rooney, Kane and Alli are outstanding but they’re miles away from their rivals. Doing something with England in a major tournament is a huge ask, and as disappointing as it is, the three lions won’t do anything major for a number of years yet.

For me, to build himself as a manager, and make a football club great again, Sam Allardyce should take Sunderland forward. Its what the club deserves, and he deserves to be recognised as a hero. If he remains at Sunderland and makes the signings he wants, I have no doubts that he will stop the rot at the Stadium of Light and give the Sunderland faithful a lot more happy Saturday afternoons. In the top flight, where they belong.

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