Can Big Sam save Sunderland?

Sunderland have just appointed Sam Allardyce (aka, Big Sam) as their new manager following the departure of Dick Advocaat, he is their 10th Manager since 2007, when they were promoted back to the Premier League.  The managerial post at this club has been unstable and that has affected the performances of the club, as no manager (with the exception of Steve Bruce and Gus Poyet) really had the time to shape their squad as per their management philosophy.

Having narrowly escaped Relegation last season, the Black Cats remain winless after 8 Premier League matches, sitting ahead of local rivals on Goal Difference but 5 points from safety.  The question is, can Big Sam really save the club in one of the hottest managerial positions in the Premier League?

Firstly,  Big Sam’s record speaks for itself. He has twice led teams from the Championship to the Premier League, having done it with Bolton at the end of 2001, and West Ham United at the end of 2012 via the playoffs. He also has a lot of experience of the Premier League management, having been with a top-flight team for more than 12 seasons.

He has led Bolton to 4 consecutive, top 10 finishes which included 2 outings in Europe.  When in charge for a full season, his teams have always survived comfortably as was seen at West Ham United. However, if there is one big drawback, is Big Sam has always been accused of playing unattractive football as his teams tend to be more defensive and lack creativity. However, if it gets the results and saves a team from relegation? what’s there to complain.

The Sunderland Team that has been placed before him consist of a mix of veteran players such as Wes Brown, John O’shea and Sebastian Larsson, coupled with their hotheaded Captain, Lee Cattermole. They also have talented youngsters such as Fabio Borini, Jack Rodwell and Sebastian Coates. Their squad, however, is more on the ageing side and they sold Connor Wickham who might have really thrived in Big Sam’s formations.

The squad, while not a squad that really can break into the top half of the Premier League this term, is more than capable of surviving relegation (it seems Sunderland have a thing for making late season dashes for survival). Especially given the woes of neighbours Newcastle and the performances of Aston Villa and struggling form of teams such as West Brom, the battle to go down would include quite a few teams. The New boys to the Premier League in Bournemouth, Norwich and Watford are doing well, which would ensure a really tight relegation battle that we have witnessed in the Premier League over the last few seasons.

For Sunderland, they should comfortably avoid relegation with a final position of around 14th-12th, as Big Sam is a man who can really get the results when it matters. If there might be one hurdle initially for him, it’s the fans as he has managed Newcastle United in the past, and the rivalry between the clubs is intense.

However, it seems Sunderland may have finally appointed a manager who can bring much-needed stability to the club and allow them to try and break into the top half of the Premier League, if they can comfortably survive this season by overcoming a winless start to the Premier League