Big Sam admits to nerves in his first game as manager
S A M ALLARDYCE confesses that despite being a manager in nearly 600 matches, the nerves will kick in as the minutes tick down to his first game as England manager.
The Allardyce era kicks off in Trnava this evening with a World Cup qualifier against Slovakia and Big Sam admits he has butterflies.
No England manager has lost their first game in charge since Alf Ramsey in 1963.
“I think there’ll be nerves,” he says. “In every new job you’re nervous.
“You hope your players do your talking for you when they go over the white line and deliver what we all want, which is victory.
“So, yes, I’ll be nervous before the game but then it leaves me, and the focus on the match comes in and I begin to think about how I can influence the game.”
Allardyce broke from tradition and announced his line-up almost 48 hours before the game.
“Historically the team’s never been kept a secret so why do so,” he argues.
“The lads can go to bed knowing if they’re playing and I can get them ready and work on it tactically.
“I don’t know about previous managers but I’ve always tried to name my teams as early as possible.”
Slovakia, ranked 24th in the world, have lost just once in 14 home matches and held Roy Hodgson’s England to a 0-0 draw 11 weeks ago in the group stage of the European Championship in France.
Despite another tournament failure, England have now won their last 12 qualifying matches.
Allardyce added: “I’ve given you the starting XI but I’m not going to give you the shape of the team as well.
“The players are flexible enough and I have the elite players of country.
“Most are experienced international footballers and they know what’s needed and hopefully they can change the way they play over 90 minutes if it’s necessary to get the victory.
“Looking at how Slovakia play at home the balance of our team has to be strong enough defensively against them but also keep enough creativity to score.
“The game will be very tight. There’s probably one goal in it and we need some defensive solidarity as well as being creative in possession.
“I want to see players grab the shirt and achieve levels they’ve achieved before.
“Those players who have the shirt now will hopefully take their chance and make it difficult for me to change the team.”
Skipper Wayne Rooney will make his 116th appearance and move clear of David Beckham to become England’s most capped outfield player, just nine behind Peter Shilton in the overall caps list.
Rooney, who this week announced that he will retire from international football after the World Cup Finals in Russia, said: “It’s always an honour to represent your country and to do it the second most number of times is great but it’s about the team and trying to get the points.
“I’m sure that in the future I’ll look back at it but now I’m only concerned about this game.
“It’s a tough game but we’ve prepared well and need to take those preparations into the game.”
Allardyce has named eight of the players who started the embarrassing Euro 2016 defeat by Iceland.
John Stones, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana will replace Chris Smalling, Dele Alli and Daniel Sturridge.
Joe Hart, who made a deadlineday loan move to Torino from Manchester City, keeps his place in goal despite not making a League appearance this season because of injury.
Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw, who missed most of last season after breaking his leg, withdrew from the squad as a precaution and didn’t travel to Slovakia.