Gary Neville says the Sunderland job is Sam Allardyce’s toughest task to date.
The former Newcastle and West Ham manager joined the club earlier this month, and after the club’s defeat to West Brom last weekend, he’s up against it already.
Allardyce takes his side into the Wear-Tyne derby this upcoming weekend with Sunderland sitting bottom of the league without a single win so far this campaign.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Neville gave his thoughts on the task facing the Black Cats.
They’ve gone to a man (Allardyce) who keeps teams up, who has been in this situation many times before. I suppose it would be opportunistic to say this was his toughest, because you always say that when it’s the one you are talking about, but this would be his toughest challenge.
On players, Neville says ‘Big Sam’ will want some of his ‘own’ players around him.
He’ll want to get a few of his own bodies in, people (who) he can trust, who are reliable around Christmas and January time when the window opens.
The fact of the matter is, Sunderland need points – and fast. A quarter of the way into the season sitting on 3 points is nailed on relegation form.
