TOMORROW
managers, Carlo, Sir Alex, Guus, was brilliant.
“That kind of thing is brilliant for young managers. Sir Alex has always been good like that; when I was at Derby and lost my job I contacted Sir Alex and went to see him in his office and spent a couple of hours with him.
“We’ve kept in contact since and have a really good relationship, Carlo, Guus, they are all brilliant with me.
“They all sent a message after the West Brom result, it was nice.”
Even nicer would be messages after a win on Monday as Clement and Swansea look to bounce back from a chastening defeat to champions-elect Manchester City on Wednesday.
And though he remains upbeat about his side slowly finding form and his belief in a far-stronger second-half to the season, Clement said the dinner meeting was a reminder that results remain the most important thing of all.
With Allardyce having quickly put aside criticism of his Everton appointment with 10 points from the four games since his arrival, Clement said: “When those four managers went up on the stage and spoke about their experiences in managing for more than 1,000 games, you listen to what they have to say.
“But it was Tony Pulis who captured it perfectly when he said that as a manager you just have to win. That’s it. That’s how you are judged and measured. Everyone is just trying to win.”
Having upset Allardyce already, Clement will hope he manages that once more with one of those reaffirming victories. LEON Britton hopes Gylfi Sigurdsson will get a warm reception from the travelling Swansea City support when the Iceland international faces his former club for the first time tomorrow, writes ANDREW GWILYM.
Sigurdsson will be in the royal blue of Everton at Goodison Park on Monday night, rather than the white of Swansea after sealing a £45million move to the Toffees in August.
The 28-year-olds’s move was one of the central sagas of the summer transfer window, with the protracted discussions over the deal continuing for over a month from the moment the player refused to go on the Swans’ pre-season tour of America.
The manner of his departure did not sit well with sections of the Swansea fanbase, but player-assis- it tant coach Britton is sure his displays for the Welsh club will still see fondly remembered in SA1, particularly the nine goals and 13 assists he contributed in dragging them to safety last term.
“I am sure he will get a good reception from our fans up there, I can’t see why he wouldn’t, to be honest.
“He had two spells with this club where he was brilliant,” said Britton.
“Last season when the club was in trouble he was one of the players who really stepped up in those crucial moments.
“The football club got a lot of money for him, and maybe Gylfi felt it was the right opportunity. From my point of view you remember the great things he achieved here, as I am sure the fans will too. He is right up there with the best players I have played with, his technical ability and work ethic were second to none.
“Not just in games or training, but he would stay out and put the extra hours in on free-kicks and set-piece delivery so it was no surprise to see him be so successful.
“He is dedicated to his football and was a joy to play alongside.”
Sigurdsson has not had the start to life on Merseyside he would have wanted, he has often found himself playing away from his favoured number 10 role, operating on the left of the three behind a central striker for the most part.
“It’s difficult for a new player when a side is struggling, but class if permanent and I am sure once everything settles down under the new manager he is going to have a big role to play there,” said Britton.