5 players who will benefit during Sam Allardyce's reign as England Manager
Since England’s disastrous campaign of Euro 2016, there have been calls for wholesale changes to ensure the failure of its national side doesn’t continue. The FA’s latest appointment, Sam Allardyce will be seen as a steadying force and will allow a mixture of youth and experience to blend together.
His tactics allow a more direct style of play and his understanding of the game of football and man management skills should bring out the best in most of the players. As England’s first match in their World Cup qualifying campaign is set to kick off this coming Sunday, we analyse how 5 key players should benefit from this new style of management.
#1 Wayne Rooney
With Man United’s all-time top scorer now getting a more advanced and regular place in the first team thanks to Jose Mourinho, he has started the season on the front foot. Now is, therefore, the right time for the England Manager to reassure the striker that he is very much a part of his plans. This is something Allardyce has moved quickly on and has confirmed that he will remain the England Captain.
This should help settle Rooney into a more natural position in the England team. This will also provide a chance to simplify his game, allowing him to play more instinctively - as it’s his preferred position - and leave the ball playing to others in the team while he focusses on getting goals and providing assists.
Also Read: Wayne Rooney says 2018 World Cup could be his last tournament with England
With him being captain this should provide the less experienced players in the squad a focal point while the new manager is bedding in and getting others to adapt to his style of play. This decision may not be for the long term, but with this move, Allardyce has ensured that stability is already in place during the early days of his reign.
Mentally, Rooney will be in a comfortable place at the moment. Man United remaining unbeaten so far in the league and picked again as Captain for the England squad. But Allardyce has to ensure that his mental state is ready for a tough qualifying campaign that starts against Slovakia and that he is able to switch between England and Manchester in order to get the best out of him.