Steve Bull claims West Brom must keep hold of Big Sam to inspire Premier League return
Steve Bull says West Brom should keep hold of Sam Allardyce to inspire them to Championship success next season if Premier League relegation is confirmed.
Big Sam was appointed as Albion manager in December to arrest an alarming slump in form that had seen them lose five of their last seven games under Slaven Bilic.
However he has had little to no effect with just a couple of victories picked up in his 17 game reign thus far.
Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Wolves hero Bull has backed Big Sam to remain in the Albion hot-seat next season.
He said: “Whether you put Wenger, Mourinho or Arteta in there, they’ll be pulling their hair out, because it’s a tough job. They’re going through a transformation, but are banging their heads against a brick wall at the moment.
“Big Sam is known for keeping teams in the Premier League, and I know Wolves fans won’t like this, but I wanted them to stay up because I love the derbies. But Sam’s got a task on his hands, but I don’t think he’s going to get out of it.
“But I would keep him next year to get them out of the Championship.”
Big Baggies decision
We don’t envy the decision the Baggies board will have to make at the end of the season, or sooner if they really are planning ahead.
On the one hand Big Sam’s record is pretty dismal on the whole – two wins in over three months is a disgrace, especially considering our FA Cup exit to League One side Blackpool in January.
But context is also important here.
We were going nowhere fast under Bilic and instant relegation looked likely even before the halfway stage. Aside from loanee Conor Gallagher, his summer signings were a shambles.
Meanwhile Big Sam has inspired a turnaround of sorts recently with just two defeats in our last six including three clean sheets.
That is no mean feat considering we have the leakiest defence in the Premier League and his mid-season arrivals have also hit the ground running.
In particular Okay Yokuslu has been a revelation and it shows Big Sam’s wisdom in the transfer market.
With a whole summer to plan and recruit who knows the stars he could pluck from obscurity?
Much will depends on our final nine games, though.
A few more wins and the job could still be his but a dismal end of season return will surely hammer the final nails into his Albion coffin.
In other West Brom news, Albion ace handed international snub.
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