'Love Me' Allardyce Can Learn A Lot For Houghton!

Last updated : 23 September 2010 By Footy Mad - Editor

He never was, and never will be, the man for Newcastle United FC.

I have never known a man LOVE HIMSELF the way Big Sam does, and his comments this week about being "good enough to manage Manchester United, Real Madrid or Inter Milan" was no surprise.

Allardyce has shrugged off criticism coming from outside, but the sad fact is ... HE REALLY BELIEVES HE IS THAT GOOD!

Rovers’ poor performance in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Fulham drew some inevitable criticism from the stands, and it got even worse last night when Aston Villa knocked Allardyce out of the Carling Cup.

The Blackburn fans can see through him ... and this is the beginning of the end for Fat Boy at Ewood Park.

Allardyce: “The stick has been more about me than about the players.

“It has created a bit of hysteria. We haven’t quite been together for two years but have made massive strides, massive progress.

“Now we have built an expectation of our own fans that 10th is the target and that is a hard thing to go for.

"We've gone in front in six games out of seven and haven't been able to hold onto things."

The fans are gunning for him - just the they did at St James' Park.

On the other hand, Chris Hughton has ACHIEVED something at St James' Park ... which Big Sam never even came close to in his short time at the club.

And the main reason is NOT the financial situation Sam found himself in - quite the opposite - Sam got money, Hughton has seen very little of it.

The reason is Hughton's ability to say the right things, back his players throughout the tough times, and have everyone in the squad BELIEVE in him.

He doesn't rant and rave, he goes about things in a sensible manner, and I've spoke to many of the players and they genuinely LOVE the man.

How different that is to Sam - because nobody will ever love him as much as he loves himself!

It's early days in Hughton's career, but I knew Sir Bobby Robson (to a certain degree), and I can see similarities.

Sir Bobby took time to settle into management. He made his debut as a manager in January 1968 at his former club Fulham, against Macclesfield Town, in the third round of the FA Cup.

Fulham were struggling with 16 points from 24 games. Despite the acquisition of the young Malcolm Macdonald, Robson could not save the club from relegation to the Second Division, and he left them in November, with the club sitting eighth in the Second Division. 

He moved on to Ipswich Town in 1969 and it was there that he established his reputation as a successful manager, but only after four mediocre seasons.

Hughton has had one full season - won the Championship title - and who knows what lies ahead?

You know something - give him a couple of years - and we could be struggling to hang onto him!