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The 8 best lines from Sam Allardyce’s first press conference as England manager

The 8 best lines from Sam Allardyce’s first press conference as England manager

It’s official: Sam Allardyce is the new England boss, and there’s nothing we can do about it.

Of course, if ‘Big Sam’ can halt the depressing run of Three Lions failures then none of us will want to do anything to change things. But that’s the big question: can he?

This was inevitably the undercurrent of every question fired at Allardyce as he addressed the media on Monday morning, doing so for the first time in charge of his country.

Here are our eight favourite lines, ranging from key issues in need of tackling to just some responses delivered as only Allardyce can.

1) “Poisoned chalice? Not for me. I’m hardened. Bring it on, lads!” - Allardyce doesn’t believe the England hotseat is cursed.

2) “It is far too early to make any predictions and will not make any decisions until I meet the players and coaching staff.” - Sam refused to confirm that Wayne Rooney will remain England captain - let the speculation begin!

3) "There is no lack of passion. I don’t see a lack of passion anywhere. The fact they didn’t perform to their best was not because of that.” - England fans will disagree, but Allardyce has his own theories on why they disappoint.

4) "I fit the chair, I hope I do anyway…” - He was referring to being up to the job, but it didn’t prevent a few snickers on social media (and in the room) relating to his ‘Big Sam’ moniker. Who knows - perhaps Allardyce was having a subtle joke?

5) “Man management is my biggest asset. One - to help the players enjoy themselves and two - to make them better than they already are.” - An admirable stance, if it wasn’t just a tad David Brent.

6) “I have managed some world class players. Fernando Hierro, Youri Djorkaeff, Jay-Jay Okocha, Gary Speed, Nicolas Anelka and Michael Owen.” - Allardyce rejects the belief he is under-qualified for the job, though it was disappointing that he left out Michael Ricketts and El-Hadji Diouf.

7) “This will be my greatest challenge for me in my long career.” The new national chief was adamant that it would even overtake the narrow Championship victory in February 2012 he called ‘the best win of my managerial career’.

8) "I wouldn’t suggest we are at rock bottom. People see me as being able to turn a club around very quickly and that comes around by taking West Ham up, keeping Blackburn and Sunderland up but I consider myself to have much more than that label.” - Sam wouldn’t consider losing to rank pre-tournament outsiders Iceland in such a dismal fashion as ‘rock bottom’.