Steve Bruce is ready to face up to Sam Allardyce
Oct 18 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
STEVE Bruce will look to outwit a manager who thinks he is the English equivalent of Jose Mourinho tonight, but also one he considers to be one of his best friends in the game.
Sam Allardyce is football management’s Marmite – you either love him or you hate him – and while Sunderland manager Bruce is not convinced by his football science and direct brand of football, he is full of respect for what he has achieved in the game.
He said: “I think if you look at what he’s done at Bolton, it was fantastic. He obviously had a tough time up here (at Newcastle) for whatever reason. What he’s done at Blackburn, again on a budget that’s severely restricted, he finished 10th last year, is a remarkable achievement.
“Year in, year out he gets the best out of what he’s got and that’s surely the art of a good manager – to get the best out of what you’ve got and to get results whichever way you see fit.
“I think a lot of hype has been said about the way they play. They’re difficult to play against.
“But if you’re a manager of Bolton or Blackburn – no disrespect – you’ve got to do something to make sure your club stays in the Premier League. That he’s proved a master of.”
And what of Allardyce’s recent comments about how he would be better suited to the manager’s job at Manchester United or Real Madrid than Blackburn? “It must have been a bit tongue in cheek – I sincerely hope so,” laughed Bruce.
“I can’t see Casillas kicking it up to the penalty spot, can you? I think he was trying to get over the point that you have to deal with what you’ve got.”
Sunderland have been brilliant at home again so far this season, but it is away games at places like Blackburn that have caused them problems in the past.
Bruce added: “One day I’m going to get the stats of what everybody else has done over the last year because even Man U haven’t won away from home yet (this season). It’s becoming difficult.
“We’ve got to improve on it. Since I’ve been here we’ve done particularly well at home, and our away form last season cost us getting in the top ten. We were fifth from bottom away from home in terms of points taken. If we had been average, that might have meant a top-ten finish.
“This year it was the bread and butter one at West Brom where we put on our worst performance. We have to change that mindset.
“The last two games away from home have been terrific. I hope we do it again and play the way we can.”
