Sam Allardyce is favourite to become Crystal Palace's next manager, following Alan Pardew's sacking - and the former England boss appears to be an ideal fit for the south London club.
While Palace recorded the worst points-per-game record in England in 2016 under Pardew, Allardyce - searching for a way back into __football following his one-game spell with the national team - appears to have the credentials to lift the club out of its rut.
After all, last season he masterminded Sunderland's escape from the drop zone. Along with that experience, here are three other reasons why Allardyce could be a smart appointment by fourth-bottom Palace…
TRANSFER WINDOW WORK
With just over a week to go until the January transfer window opens, Crystal Palace's owners may feel their best chance of success is to reinvigorate their struggling squad. And Allardyce has a proven track record of bringing in decisive mid-season signings.
While he demonstrated his ability to convince ageing but high-quality players to join him at Bolton earlier in his career, his transfer business last January with Sunderland was also key. Centre-back Lamine Kone and central midfielder Jan Kirchhoff started all but one Premier League game from February 2, playing a key role in Sunderland's improved defensive record in the second half of the season, while attacking midfielder Wahbi Khazri was also an immediate first-choice and scored in hugely important wins over Manchester United and Chelsea.
Crystal Palace broke their club transfer record to sign £27m Christian Benteke in the summer, while Andros Townsend (£13m) and James Tomkins (£10m) were also expensive recruits. If the money men are prepared to invest again, Allardyce has shown he is a responsible pair of hands when it comes to signing form-changing figures.
DEFENSIVE ORGANISER
Former defender Allardyce has shown a consistent ability to organise, structure and strengthen teams' backlines upon arrival at new clubs. His work at Sunderland is a case in point - and will make impressive reading for Crystal Palace's decision makers.
Sunderland's defence before and under Allardyce 2015/16
| Manager | Games played | Goals conceded | Goals conceded per game | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advocaat | 8 | 18 | 2.25 | 0 |
| Allardcye | 30 | 44 | 1.47 | 7 |
In the final eight Premier League games of Dick Advocaat's reign, Sunderland shipped 18 goals and failed to keep any clean sheets. In the following 30 fixtures under Allardyce they conceded just 44 times and shutout the opposition on seven occasions. That's a shift from conceding 2.25 goals per game on average to 1.47.
Crystal Palace - Defence v Attack
| Total | Premier League rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Goals For | 28 | 6th |
| Goals conceded | 32 | 18th |
Only Swansea City and Hull City - both in the relegation zone - have conceded more goals in the Premier League then Crystal Palace this season. In contrast, only five teams have scored more. It's tempting to think that an Allardyce-inspired tightening at the back could quickly propel the south Londoners up the table.
SUITS THE STYLE
Another reason Allardyce seems a good fit for Palace is that the players and style of play at Selhurst Park already fits his direct formula.
Before he joined Sunderland, Allardyce's West Ham were top among Premier League clubs in 2014/15 for crosses from open play and headed shots. Only West Brom scored more headed goals.
The numbers are similar at Palace. Only Southampton have made more crosses this season, while they are top for headed shots and headed goals.
Similarities between Allardyce's West Ham and Palace
| Open-play crosses | Headed shots | Headed goals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Ham 14/15 | 726 (PL rank: 1st) | 110 (1st) | 15 (2nd) |
| Crystal Palace 16/17 | 297 (2nd) | 50 (1st) | 9 (T1st) |
Allardyce's style didn't make him a popular manager at Newcastle or West Ham but at Palace he would have a squad suited and schooled in playing his way.
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