News

West Bromwich Albion: Joseph Masi drops Sam Allardyce claim with relegation looming

|
Image for West Bromwich Albion: Joseph Masi drops Sam Allardyce claim with relegation looming

Journalist Joseph Masi thinks that it might be easier for West Bromwich Albion to keep hold of Sam Allardyce heading into next season.

The Baggies currently sit eight points adrift of safety in the Premier League, and with the lowest goal difference and leakiest defence in the division, it is looking very unlikely that they will be able to claw themselves back and make a real run at survival.

That means attention is turning towards who could possibly be the man to bring them back up next season if and when they go down, and speaking on the latest edition of Baggies Broadcast, Masi claimed that given the way the former England boss operates, it would just be too much work to change regimes over the summer.

He said: “With the greatest respect to Sam – and I think he would admit this – you haven’t got a blueprint when you hire him. You buy into Sam Allardyce, basically; you become ‘Sam Allardyce United’. You buy into his way, you play his way, and then when the next man comes in, they’ve basically got not a blank slate, but they’ve got almost undo his work, maybe, to do their work.

“And that’s obviously very hard to do. And I think that’s why a lot of managers fail when they follow managers like him. So I do think [for] short-term success, keep Allardyce, because I think he’ll make the team really competitive next year.”

Do you think with more time Allardyce could have kept West Brom in the Premier League?

No, he is finished

No, he is finished

Yes, he could have

Yes, he could have

TIF Thoughts on Joseph Masi’s comments about Sam Allardyce’s future…

One thing to note on Masi’s comments, is that Allardyce’s contract doesn’t run out until the summer of 2022, so his future lies with the club and whether or not they want to get rid of him, it’s not as if it’s certain that they’ll part ways come the end of the campaign.

Allardyce’s track record shows that he is a man who works either at the top of the Championship, or near the bottom of the Premier League, and with him you are always in with a chance of Premier League football next season, although this season may be a bit too far for him.

With him under contract for next season, it makes sense to at least give him that campaign to try and get the club back to the top flight, because with him you know you have a chance, rather than take a risk on someone who you may not be so sure about.

Share this article

Freelance sports journalist & broadcaster.