MOYES IS THE BOY!
81% of supporters in Echo poll back former Manchester United boss for SAFC hotseat Why he’s the right man to take Sunderland forward after Big Sam leaves for England
Sunderland fans have given David Moyes the seal of approval after the former Manchester United manager emerged as the clear favourite to replace Sam Allardyce.
Black Cats supporters are still coming to terms with the imminent loss of Allardyce, who was expected to be appointed England manager today.
However, they appear happy at the expected appointment of Moyes, with 81% of more than 1,700 voters in an Echo online poll saying he was the right man for the job.
Allardyce took over at the Stadium of Light last October, and kept the club in the Premier League against the odds, winning hero status on the terraces.
However, it appears he has managed his last game for Sunderland, and although supporters are sorry to see him go, many feel the club would be in safe hands under Moyes, who managed Everton between 2002 and 2013.
Tommy Smith, from Sunderland, said: “You can’t blame Sam for leaving. It’s one of those things.
“He wants to be England manager, and good luck to him.
“He did really well for us, but hopefully we’ll get a good manager to replace him.
“David Moyes is a good manager, and I think he’d be a good appointment for Sunderland.
“Hopefully we’ll do what Leicester did last year, and we’ll be top of the league next season!”
Moyes lasted less than a season at Man United after being chosen as the successor to legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
He also had an unsuccessful spell in Spain with Real Sociedad, but the bookmakers’ favourite for the Sunderland job would be a good appointment on Wearside, according to supporter Bob Laidler, from Silksworth.
He said: “There are not many good managers about who we could possibly go for.
“Moyes is available, and let’s hope he can do for us a similar job to what he did at Everton if he gets the job. They are similarly sized clubs.
“I think he was let down at Manchester United and their players were against him. He never had a chance there.”
Lifelong Sunderland fan Peter Warren, from Southwick, is less convinced Moyes is the right man to take the hotseat.
He said: “I’m just a bit disappointed with Sam going, but he had no choice, really.
“It would have been better for us if he stayed, but he has been after the England job so long, and you can’t stand in his way. Good luck to him.
“I’m not quite sure about David Moyes, because he has been sacked with his last two clubs.
“He did OK at Everton, but they were a steady ship.
“He’s a steady manager, but will he be able to handle the pressure at the Stadium of Light? We’ll have to wait to find out.”
Edward Jolley, 65, from Chapel Garth, said he was “devastated” by Allardyce’s expected exit – and also hit out at the FA for taking their time to appoint him as Roy Hodgson’s successor.
He said: “I’m devastated about it, because Sam has done a good job and I think it would have been better for Sunderland if he stayed.
“Let’s hope we can get someone who will do a good job and get us back up again.
“The FA have really mucked about. You know what they’re like – they’re idiots.
“I think David Moyes would be good. I think we’ve got to give him a chance, and everything should be OK.”
Kenneth Young, 76, from Castletown, was of a similar thinking.
He said: “I think it’s a crying shame that Sam is leaving, but a man has to look after his own interests. He’ll be better paid there, and if any man deserves something like this, it’s him. He’ll be a big miss at Sunderland.”
On Allardyce’s potential successor, Mr Young added: “I don’t think Moyes got a chance at Man United.
“They got rid of him quickly, and he could be a good successor. Let’s hope he is.”