Madeley: Insiders concerned at Big Sam’s lack of appetite for West Brom rebuild
The chances of West Brom achieving Premier League survival grow bleaker by the day and so do Sam Allardyce’s chances of remaining at the club.
After Sunday’s dull stalemate with Newcastle United Albion remain eight points off Brighton who occupy 17th, and they have now been joined on 26 points by Fulham after the Cottagers beat Liverpool to put some distance between them and the Baggies.
Relegation looks inevitable but of less assurance is who will be tasked with leading Albion back to the promised land of the Premier League.
Allardyce’s last stint in the second-tier of English football ended in success after he guided West Ham to play-off glory in 2012 and he is likely to be firmly in the conversation, according to West Brom reporter Steve Madeley.
However, writing for The Athletic, Madeley hinted at crippling doubts: “He [Allardyce] would be the favourite to lead Albion’s bid for promotion from the Championship next season. But with a summer break clause understood to have been inserted into the deal, both parties will inevitably take stock if and when Albion’s probable fate is confirmed.
“There are those inside the club who have privately raised questions about Allardyce’s appetite, at the age of 66, for a season in the Championship; a division where he last managed a decade ago.”
Big Sam not the man
He may have inspired a mini-run of results that has seen us lose just once in our last five games but Big Sam is not the man to lead us in the long or medium term.
His appointment was something we grovelingly accepted due to his Premier League fire-fighting abilities that have kept struggling clubs like Crystal Palace and Sunderland from sliding into the second-tier.
But we do not want to witness his style of football for any longer than necessary.
If he falls to achieve what he was brought in for then he has to go.
There are plenty of good managers that would be willing to take the job as we will still possess a very good Championship squad if the inevitable happens.
Someone young and energetic with fresh ideas would be welcomed as we try and move away from Big Sam’s archaic style of play.
A parting of ways would be best all around and we are not surprised to hear reports of a lack of hunger in Allardyce as it has been evident from our displays under him.
He lacks fight and the team are a mirror image.
In other West Brom news, Ally McCoist delivers a scathing review of Albion v Newcastle.
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