Opportunity Knocked.

I just don't understand what some people want!

There are not many better football managers than Sam Allardyce, or so he says. He had obviously persuaded Farhad Moshiri, who surprised everyone when he announced in 2017 at Everton’s AGM that he had decided to give Sam Allardyce the most important job at the club after reading the former England manager’s autobiography.

'Big Sam' as he was known had known success in the lower divisions starting on the managerial road at Limerick and Notts County and then with Bolton Wanderers where he practised a modern, technology and statistics centred approach to tactics and coaching, and was being praised for his organisational and man-management skills. Behind the scenes he had also instigated sweeping changes inspired by his time in the USA with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and his curiosity regarding American football’s use of technology. Prozone was a young but growing sports analysis firm used initially by a young Steve McClaren at Derby County before bringing it with him to Manchester United. Allardyce also began to consult Prozone while at Bolton. The use of such technology was rare in English football at the time and very few managers used it to supplement their strategy, as Allardyce did. He developed a system of play based around what he called “the fantastic four”.

Allardyce also at Bolton managed to confound tradition with his approach to the transfer market where he brought in the likes of Fernando Hierro, Okocha, Djorkaeff, Iván Campo and even managed to get the best out of El-Hadji Diouf.

With the pragmatic use of dieticians and detailed statistical analysis of his players' performances he was confident in his ability. In September 2010 he stated, "I'm not suited to Bolton or Blackburn, I would be more suited to Internazionale or Real Madrid. It wouldn't be a problem to me to go and manage those clubs because I would win the Double or the League every time. Give me Manchester United or Chelsea and I would do the same, it wouldn't be a problem. It's not where I'm suited to, it's just where I've been for most of the time. It's not a problem to take me into the higher reaches of the Champions League or Premier League and would make my job a lot easier in winning it."

It was in 2016 he was given his wish when he was appointed England Team manager.
However he left his post by mutual agreement with the Football Association after one match and 67 days in charge.
It followed a newspaper investigation claiming he offered advice on how to "get around" rules on player transfers. Sam Allardyce said "on reflection, it was a silly thing to do" and "entrapment has won".
It appeared he had blown his big chance until he was appointed manager of Everton in September 2017 following a 4-0 home win against West Ham. Surely this would be his best opportunity at club level to put paid to all those misconceptions of his 'long ball' style game. Early results saw the team inching to safety but with a style that was heavily criticised by the Goodison faithful. He took sole responsibility for any victory but in defeat put the players 'out to dry' and was arrogant in not responding to the fans stating it was only a minority of supporters.Once safety was assured Allardyce had months to implement the improvement in style, performance and results the fans wanted while showing he was the right man for Everton in the long term.

He failed miserably on all counts.