Moyes was on the Short list time and again
PAUL HETHERINGTON
Derby boss Pearson was Big Sam’s assistant at Newcastle eight years ago and is also a former FA coach, who was in charge of the England Under-21s team for the first match at the new Wembley Stadium.
Pearson, who kick-started the Leicester success story when he was in charge there, is convinced Allardyce is the man to give England a new identity.
He said of his former boss: “England need someone with the strength of character to deal with the negativity.
“Very few are equipped to do it but Sam is certainly one.
“You could argue that he could have had this job earlier in his career but I think this time is particularly right for him – and England.
“He’s had big jobs before but never one of the really big ones – and I say that without bring disrespectful to any of the clubs he has managed. And you can’t get a bigger job than being the national team manager in this country.
“His title should be manager – not head coach – because this is a job that needs managing.
“For me, it’s clear the national side needs a change of direction. If you look at Euro 2016, the success stories were Iceland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“What did they all have? They had togetherness and a clear identity.
“When it comes to tournaments, we are looking for someone to deliver something which has proved to be elusive for far too long.
“Sam has the strength of personality to find that missing ingredient.
“The thing he and England need most, of course, is good results. But from what I know of him, he’ll deliver on that front too.
“There is a lot of rubbish spoken about style of play SAM ALLARDYCE revealed yesterday that his first target as England manager is to restore the confidence of the players after their Euro 2016 humiliation.
England crashed out of the tournament in France after losing to minnows Iceland in the Round of 16.
And Big Sam said: “My first task is to help the players regain their confidence after the Euros.”
He goes into the job after achieving his “ultimate goal” by becoming manager of England.
A beaming Allardyce said: “I’ve reached the top of the tree – the top of the ladder.
“There is no job bigger than this one.” and win percentages, which don’t take into account the context in which you have to manage.
“You have to work with what you’ve got and get the best out of the players you have.
“Sam does that and with England, he’ll have the best players in the country to work with.”
Pearson says Allardyce got a rough deal when they worked at Newcastle. The new But he added: “It was a very nervous wait before getting the call that I had got the job and that I had succeeded in being selected to be the way forward for English football.
“And I feel it is the right time for me because I have the right experience. This has been my ultimate goal and I kept striving for it.”
Allardyce also told FATV: “My first game at Wembley is going to be very special. I’m very proud and so are my family.”
His first match as England boss will be on September 1, at Wembley, with the Czech Republic mentioned as potential opponents.
PAUL HETHERINGTON Derby boss said: “Having worked with Sam, I know what he brings to the job.
“To start with, he’s thorough professional sense.
“He also brings passion and while he cracks the whip when that needs doing, he also has a lighter side and has fun and gets the players laughing.
“That’s good for team spirit and that togetherness I was talking about.” in a SUNDERLAND yesterday appointed David Moyes – at the SIXTH time of asking.
The former Everton and Manchester United boss succeeded new England manager Sam Allardyce on a four-year contract.
And Sunderland’s owner-chairman Ellis Short revealed he had tried to appoint Moyes, 53, on FIVE previous occasions.
But it is sixth time lucky for the Black Cats and Short (below) said: “David was by far and away my first choice.
“He is a man whose football pedigree speaks for itself and is someone I’ve admired for a long time.
“I have spoken with him on many occasions and I have always been hugely impressed.
“He was my number one managerial target for the last five appointments but his desire to honour existing contracts meant that we were not able to bring him to Sunderland previously.
“To be able to welcome him as our manager is fantastic news for the club.
“With a manager of David’s calibre, we can start looking upwards, rather than downwards.”
Moyes, therefore, was wanted by Short before the appointments of Martin O’Neill, Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet, Dick Advocaat and Allardyce.
His last job was in Spain PAUL HETHERINGTON with Real Sociedad and he said yesterday: “I have taken over a big British club with a great support and I’m looking forward to working in the Premier League again.
“I look forward to continuing the good work done by Sam.
“I am delighted to have joined Sunderland.
“I am relishing the challenge and excited by the opportunity.”
Moyes turned down the Aston Villa job this summer and felt he would have to wait until the end of the year for a Premier League opportunity. But Allardyce’s appointment by England has given him a return to the stage he wanted. The Moyes era begins with a Premier League opener at Man City on August 13 with North East rivals Middlesbrough heading to the Stadium of Light eight days later. NEW ERA FOR CATS: See RESULT! Front Page