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Sam Allardyce guided Bolton Wanderers to a level that few outside the club would ever have imagined. They were often branded as a long ball team and seemed to be an unfashionable footballing outfit. Each year 'Big Sam' improved the status of this northern club with his own brand of gritty determination, whilst bringing in players that on paper appeared to be cashing in on a last pay day before retirement. The boss knew better and convinced others quickly with his ability to get the best out of his player; each of whom would all sweat blood and tears for him.

Sam Allardyce has man management skills that far exceed most of the managers in the top flight of English football. He is from the same mold as the great managerial names of the past, who knew how to get the best out of every player under them. He worked on a shoe string budget throughout his time at Bolton and always delivered the goods to the fans. Big names who had played at the top level of world football came and went and always gave the gaffer their all.

The Bolton revolution went far beyond the football pitch as Allardyce introduced off field methods that few other English clubs had ever heard of. Many other clubs are still catching up to the methods he introduced. He was one of the first to realise the importance of sports psychologists, nutritionists and scientific testing for players. He knew that there were other ways to get the best out of his players. You only have to look at the number of players still playing well into their late thirties to understand the magnitude of the job he did. They were taught how to look after their bodies like never before and have enjoyed prolonged careers as a direct consequence.

It was not long before a move to the England managerial hot seat was mentioned and it takes a good manager to turn such a prestigious job down. There is no doubt that he will be England boss in the future, but Newcastle United need rebuilding first. If there is one man that can do that it is Sam Allardyce.

It will not happen overnight but it will happen. Before long Newcastle will be breaking into the elite group alongside Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. The players that he has attracted have already proved his intent and with the finances to back his ambition he will be breathing down the necks of the top four.

He has the brute strength of Viduka and Martins leading the line, with the blistering pace of a fit again Michael Owen; the fearsome bite of Alan Smith and Joey Barton in the middle of the park, and the creative genius of Emre and Milner from the wide positions. The defence may still need to be worked on, but Sam will not settle for anything less than total commitment from all his players. It would take a brave man to give the manager anything less.

Learn more about this author, Matthew P. Nicholson.
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