Paul Merson delivers verdict on Big Sam at West Brom
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes Sam Allardyce has 'nothing left to prove' after he announced he'll leave West Brom at the end of the season.
Big Sam took over at The Hawthorns mid-season hoping to guide the club to safety this term.
However, for the first time in his career, he failed to avoid relegation, and it eventually led to him not continuing at the club.
He said it's because the club saw him as someone there for the long term, while he did not want that kind of responsibility.
However, Merson saw it slightly differently. In his Daily Star column, he wrote, "Maybe at his age, he was worried players would leave and didn’t fancy having to rebuild nicking players from here, there and everywhere.
"Sam Allardyce has proved again he is one of the most underrated managers. They have become very competitive and much harder to beat under him.
"I think people will remember the job he’s done there when we get to next Christmas, and another struggling team will come in for him. That’s what he’s got to rely on really. But he’s got nothing to prove to anyone."
Best one to replace him?
At the current point in time, former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is the favourite to replace him.
He built a solid side at Bramall Lane that got promoted and enjoyed a first-half finish in their first season back into the Premier League.
The other managers linked are Frank Lampard, David Wagner, Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Cooper.
One could make a case for each of the aforementioned managers but it remains to be seen which one is eventually handed the job.
It's important that the new manager doesn't see this as a temporary role where he can get us back up and not build a side that can stay in the top flight for a while.
We deserve to be a Premier League mainstay and need a manager that believes so too.
In other West Brom news, 'Done a great job' - Paul Merson names Big Sam replacement who would get Baggies promoted