Premier League winners and losers: Arsenal and United play game of the season
By Ty Finch
Winner: Sam Allardyce
While I certainly wasn’t the only one making the push for Everton to hire Big Sam, it did happen and I’ll take 100 percent of the credit for Everton’s recent results. That’s how it works. Don’t question it; embrace it.
Allardyce wasn’t officially “in charge” of Everton’s 4-0 dismantling of West Ham in midweek, but he did engineer the 2-0 win over Huddersfield on Saturday. Since the announcement, Big Sam has overseen six goals for his new side and allowed none. If he continues this trajectory, Everton would end up with 87 points and likely find themselves in a Champions League spot.
Realistically, Everton can be assured that they won’t be in a relegation battle at the end of the season, and can focus on gaining ground on their Europa League competition. They are now only seven points away from Burnley. After the real, albeit brief, scare from being two points from the bottom three, the Toffees are resuming their fight for European competition.
The Sam Allardyce hire might have been reactionary from Everton, but it may have been necessary. Everton had spent too much money to play as poorly as they were. Even if the appointment is just a short-term fix, supporters can be freed of disaster scenarios. If Everton truly want to challenge for Champions League spots in the future, Big Sam probably isn’t the manager to do so.
However, this is an opportunity to show people he’s more than a relegation avoider. He has the most talent he’s ever had as a manager (sans the England position) and freedom in the upcoming transfer market. If there were any chance to prove that he’s more than a relegation battle specialist, now is the time.