Premier League: Has West Brom become favourites to stay in the top flight?
On Wednesday afternoon West Brom announced the sacking of Slaven Bilic and the appointment of the saviour Sam Allardyce to lead them to safety.
A draw to Manchester City was not good enough to save Slaven Bilic from getting the axe at the Hawthorns. Although, the club made it clear the City result will hold no bearings on their decision to let go of him and welcome “Big Sam” back to the big leagues.
Adding to the change in management at West Brom, it is being reported that Allardyce will receive a huge bonus if he managers to keep the relegated-threatened club afloat in England’s top flight.
"Sam Allardyce is in line for a £2million bonus if he keeps West Brom in the Premier League as he returned to management following Slaven Bilic’s sacking.The former England manager has agreed a deal at the Hawthorns until at least the end of the season. There is an option for the contract to be extended by a further 12 months if he manages to steer the club to safety. (Via: dailymail.co.uk)"
West Brom sits 19th in the EPL standings on seven points. They have one win (one more than Sheffield United), four draws, and eight losses after 13 games. No timing is good to see a manager sacked but this was the best timing for Sam to step in and take over from Bilic.
They have now become firm favourites to stay up
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The Englishman who enjoys a good challenge has been in this position several times before and has succeeded in saving his club from demotion several times before.
Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace are clubs who enjoyed the celebrations of Allardyce’s resolute at staying in the Premier League. These clubs were stuck in 19th, 19th, and 17th at the respective times he took over, and he managed to save them all.
Even his last stint was a success but ended in the typical heartache for Sam after he was sacked in 2018. This was at Everton, he took over while they were in 13th place following a poor start to life under Ronald Koeman, a manager who is onto bigger and better things since then.
Sam Allardyce did his job for him but couldn’t last another season at the club with the Toffees appointing Marco Silva after his departure. But now Big Sam is back and excited about this challenge as he missed the football scene.
Hopefully, he and his righthand man Sammy Lee learnt some new tricks and can apply it to the Baggies’ game.
"I hope I succeed like I have succeeded at other clubs in the past."
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) December 17, 2020
New head coach Sam Allardyce on returning to the Black Country, @premierleague survival and Sunday's derby with Aston Villa 💬
What to expect if things haven’t changed?
What to expect when you have Allardyce back in the game? A number of boring 90 minutes of football!
The game sucked dry of attacking beauty and for opponents such as Manchester City and Liverpool to have 99% ball possession only to lose 1-0 to Sam with his team owning 1% of the ball.
He will collect a lot of points, singles mostly. But there will be that odd surprise he pulls off, where he will take all the spoils home. His first up is against his old club Aston Villa in the heated derby.
This will be followed by a trip to Anfield (a place he was the last manager to win a game at back in 2017 while manager of Crystal Palace), home fixtures against Leeds United and Arsenal, and then a visit to Wolves – as his next five Premier League fixture.