View: West Brom have drawn the short straw as Dyche gives Big Sam a lesson in defence
Sam Allardyce and Sean Dyche are both referenced as ‘old-school’ managers but the fortunes of both could not be any different with West Brom firmly in the mire.
Since replacing Slaven Bilic as Albion boss in December Big Sam has endured a wretched time of it, winning just once in 12 matches.
In that time Dyche has picked up seven victories as Burnley boss with five of them coming in the Premier League.
After a slow start they are now 14 points ahead of West Brom going into their crunch clash at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Under a tight budget, Dyche has masterminded the Lancashire side to two promotions and if they retain their status this year their next campaign will be their fifth successive season in the top division.
Meanwhile Albion look set to uphold their ‘yo-yo’ tag with relegation on the horizon.
Dyche’s comments on Big Sam make for interesting reading.
As reported by Sky Sports, he backs Big Sam as he attempts to mend his ailing Albion side, saying: “Sam’s well versed in it, way more than me, he knows the challenge, he knows the group, he knows what he wants to do I’m sure but it’s getting everyone else to know that.
“He’s done it many times before so there’s an undoubted knowledge base there.
“But they’ll be fighting, everyone’s fighting at the moment we are ourselves for different reasons.”
Big Sam might be used to relegation battles but a lot changes in a short space of time in modern football and the early signs are that the Baggies boss is struggling to get to grips with what is now required.
Under his stewardship Albion have shipped 29 Premier League goals in 11 games – that is just one less than Dyche’s Burnley have conceded in 24 this season.
How we could do with someone like Dyche in charge at The Hawthorns.
He might not play the most attractive football but he certainly knows how to set up a team and organise his players.
Those were traits so closely associated with Big Sam but he has lost the Midas touch and is dragging West Brom down kicking and screaming into the Championship.
Albion must dispense with his services at the end of the season and look for their own Dyche to add some stability to a club that has seen managers come and go with the same regularity as players.
Dyche and Burnley have laid down the blueprint and it is one that we must follow.
In other West Brom news, Big Sam details his Albion summer intentions.
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