After another mediocre season, Newcastle United seemed to have finally realized that only a manager with good credits to his name can finally resolve this club to its glory days. Keeping that in mind, Sam Allardyce has been confirmed as the new manager of the Magpies for a term of three years. 
Sam has left Bolton Wanderers after a term of nearly eight years and his departure came on a high as Bolton celebrated their European qualification. For the record, Newcastle finished a poor 13 points behind Bolton in the English Premier League and have nowhere been near a trophy for the last few years. Actually the last time they won a piece of silverware was nearly 40 years ago when they won the Inter Cities Fairs cup in 1969. The ex-Bolton boss has been linked with his new club many times in the past, but when he finally resigned his previous post in April, followed by Glenn Roeder’s resignation in May, Newcastle acted swiftly to gain his signature.
Whenever a deal is done, it only happens if it benefits both the parties. Newcastle of course think that Sam is the man who can deliver them if not the silverware then atleast a higher standing than their current 13th , maybe a European slot. But what Allardyce thinks he can benefit with his stint at the club is actually unexpected? As it is well known, the Magpies coaching job is one of the toughest one in England with the heavy weight of expectations its fans have from the club’s representatives on the football pitch. Sir Bobby Robson, Graeme Souness & Ruud Gullit, to name a few, have all tasted humiliation at St.James’s Park. Sam himself says that winning silverware is his ambition at Newcastle and the reason behind his move but comparing not only the fitness of the players at his old & new club and their current positions, anyone would bet on Bolton having a better chance to be able to do that.
But that was when Sam Allardyce was there. That’s the transformation he has brought onto Bolton Wanderers. His scientific approach first freed the players of all niggles they carried, as Bolton players became one of the fittest in the premiership. Next up was the tightening of the defense and of course the physical aspect of the game introduced in their style of football. Ask Arsenal if you want proof as Bolton became their bogey team in the past few seasons, beating them three out of four times in the last two. Arsene Wenger would no doubt vouch that when it comes to playing a physical game of football, even the other big teams would confirm that coupled with the physical aspect of the game, their long ball tactics also prove quite a handful. So much so, that the Reebok Stadium became an impregnable fortress for visiting teams under Sam.
But now at the cusp of European history, Sam has left Bolton. He wants to be successful at his new club and wishes to win atleast one trophy or qualify for Europe in is present contractual term of three years. Tall order by any standards. Given the current state of affairs at St.James’s Park, to even talk of winning silverware is blasphemy. There is unrest among the players and every one knows it. Obafemi Martins, their leading scorer this season, didn’t play the last league match against Wartford and that has set many tongues wagging. Albert Luque and Emre are already believed to be heading away in the summer after both endured a horrible season in their professional careers. Players speak of throwing team mates out of the team openly by questioning their commitments, Nicky Butt’s outbursts the prime example. And not to mention, the Newcastle defense is so pathetic that most of the times it appears an open goal. Add to that the evergreen injury list and Sam ought to know that he has his plate full. 
But the biggest challenge he faces is in persuading Michael Owen to stay at the club. And he himself has admitted that as his prime target. The Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has made it known that he wants Owen to show some loyalty to the club which has stood by him in times of injury and provided him an exit during desperation at Real Madrid. But everybody knows that Owen wants to win the medals every great player aims for, the Premier League & the Champions League, and even though the new manager might talk about trophies et al, the England striker knows his best chances to do so lies elsewhere.
Sam Allardyce has probably taken the most difficult job in the English football second probably only to coaching the national team. If Owen stays and so does Martins, and he is able to sort out the defense, plus resolve the injuries, he might just deliver the goods. He just might.
Via: BBC Sport
Via: Google Images
Via: BBC Sport
