New gaffer is model man-manager Jermain can fire the Lions back to glory
and he told them if they trusted him and followed his plan they would get out of trouble.
“You only need to look at how he masterminded that survival campaign to see his talent and ability at managing players and pressure situations.”
Getting England stars to believe in themselves in tournament football is the biggest challenge facing Allardyce.
But Reid added: “Managing England isn’t rocket science. I’ve spoken to Sam a couple of times in the last few days and he knows that. It’s the mental side that needs addressing as much as anything.
“England have shown against France and Germany that they can win friendly games and play without fear. England won in Berlin to use Defoe, who scored twice against Hartlepool in Big Sam’s last match in charge of Sunderland last week.
Former Tottenham star Defoe said: “I want to score in every game I play because that is the form I want to take into the season. There is no better feeling than when the ball hits the back of the net.”
Defoe made the last of his 55 England appearances in November 2013 in a friendly against Chile and has scored 19 goals for the Three Lions.
His move to MLS side FC Toronto in 2014 only lasted 11 months but former England boss Hodgson interpreted the switch as the end of Defoe’s international career and did not pick him again.
Priority
Meanwhile, 61-year-old Allardyce has revealed his immediate priority is to restore confidence among his stars after the Euro 2016 debacle – and use the hurt to motivate them to succeed at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
He said: “First and foremost for me it’s about regaining the confidence they lost after the Euros.
“It’s about putting that away, putting it to bed.
“We have always been good at qualifying for tournaments particularly at the Euros last time when we went through a whole qualifying campaign not losing.
“So let’s get started again and start delivering. Let’s learn form the experience in the Euros. It was a bitter one as we all know but the players should keep hold of that inner drive and hold it. We will go into the World Cup qualifiers and when we go to a tournament next time we will be better prepared mentally to succeed.” And he is already looking forward to his first game in charge. He said: “That first Wembley game will be something very special. “The immediate plan is to get among the staff in all earlier this year but Sam will have to try and get them to do it when it matters in a tournament. That is the key.”
Few in football know Big Sam better than Reid, who says he never doubted Allardyce would make it as a manager.
“I remember when I was at Manchester City we played a friendly against Limerick when Sam was the manager,” Reid said.
“I’ll never forget he was selling raffle tickets to raise money for the club – he was prepared to get his hands dirty and he has never lost that work ethic as a manager.”
When it comes to tactics and a game plan, Reid believes Big Sam won’t just have a Plan A when he takes charge of England.
“Sam has great tactical knowledge,” he said. “He will set down a way he wants to areas and plan the very best way forward.”
Allardyce, who believes he has been awarded the England job at the right time in his own career, has identified his man-management ability as his key asset.
He said: “It’s a privileged position to have now got to the top of the tree, the top of the ladder.
“No job could be bigger than this for me and it’s the right time for me.
“I am at the right age, I have the right experience and hopefully I can pass on my knowledge and experience to the team and the staff who work behind the team to try and get a very happy camp that can become very successful.”
And he also offered disenchanted England fans an olive branch.
He said: “There is nothing wrong with the England fans. They have supported the team through thick and thin. You can’t expect any fan to cheer if the team isn’t performing to the level that they should be.
“The criticism at international level is greater, but the praise is far greater as well. We have to accept that.” play and he will go into matches with a definite game plan. And if that’s not working he will have a plan B and C, too.
“He will play to our strengths and will do things the opposition don’t like. Sam has been saddled with a certain way of playing but that’s unfair.
“I noticed against Iceland France went a few goals ahead by playing direct or long diagonal balls over the Iceland defence.
“There’s nothing wrong with playing direct at times. England were crying out for that against Iceland but instead we played in front of them – and played into their hands.
“We didn’t even do the basics right against Iceland – but I am certain Sam will drill that into them and we will see a different England for the better in the future.”