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Sunderland Fan View: Moyes is the perfect fit after Big Sam

Sunderland blogger Graame Atkinson is happy the Black Cats have appointed David Moyes as he will not attempt huge changes and is used to working on a limited budget in the top flight

Sunderland Fan View: Moyes is the perfect fit after Big Sam

Finally, after what has seemed like a saga spanning eons of time, Sunderland have said farewell to Sam Allardyce, as he becomes the new England manager. Former Manchester United manager David Moyes has now officially been appointed as his successor at the Stadium of Light on a four-year contract.

It’s a shrewd choice by Sunderland owner Ellis Short and it is understood that the 53-year-old has been on his radar over the course of the last five Black Cats’ appointments. Moyes was at the helm of Real Sociedad when SAFC last sought to bring him to the club, but he decided to remain with the La Liga side, ironically allowing Allardyce a clear run at the Sunderland hot seat.

Yes, in Moyes, the Black Cats have astutely plumped for a candidate with experience of excelling on a limited transfer budget and crucially also likely to build upon a blueprint left behind by Big Sam rather than abandon it entirely.

There were other names linked to the job, such as Roberto Martinez and Eddie Howe. However, you sense with the former, in particular, that Sunderland would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater and another entirely new footballing methodology would have been adopted on Wearside.

No, at a time when a lack of consistency has been a hindrance to progression a further fundamental change to the brand of football at Sunderland would not have helped matters at this stage in proceedings. Indeed Gus Poyet previously tried to build the Black Cats in his image engendering passing, possession based football. Whilst the Uruguayan gave it a good shot, ultimately he failed.

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It was Allardyce that eventually returned Sunderland to a style which better suited the personnel and importantly ended up getting results when it mattered. However, whilst clearly not identical in approach, from those names available, Moyes certainly represents the closest fit to that of the departing Allardyce.

So, now the former Everton manager has his hand on the Sunderland tiller and to help the Black Cats avoid further choppy waters, he must address some of the lingering challenges that Allardyce has left behind. Namely, trying to assemble a squad capable of staving off yet another relegation battle.

Thanks to the FA, Sunderland have been left with little time in the transfer market to address the transfer window and Moyes will now quickly have to assess which areas he feels needs strengthening within his squad. Thankfully for him and Sunderland supporters this shouldn’t be too difficult a task as frankly its blindingly obvious - a right back, another striker who can complement Jermain Defoe, an attacking central midfielder, a wide player and ideally another centre back.

Most Sunderland supporters would, I’m sure, want to wish Big Sam well as he embarks on the role he has hankered after for some time. However, for the Black Cats there is no time for lingering sentiment and David Moyes will understand that better than anyone.