http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3121237,00.htmlEr vel kanskje bedre å sette sin lit til at de uttalelsene ovenfor muligens kunne vært en tanke fikset på. Her kommer han derimot med mange kloke ord rundt situasjonen rundt Newcastle.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3121237,00.htmlSam Allardyce insists he wasn't given enough time at Newcastle United and says patience is needed if Kevin Keegan is to turn the club's fortunes around.
Allardyce was shown the door at St James' Park after half a season in charge, but his successor Keegan is yet to win a match and has only picked up two points from his first four Premier League games.
Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Aston Villa left Newcastle fans looking nervously over their shoulders at the relegation zone, but Allardyce insists the job must be regarded as a long-term project.
And he feels Keegan will be given more time than he was because he was put in place by the club's new owner Mike Ashley.
He told Goals On Sunday: "I think every job in the Premier League has massive expectation and is a massive job to take on.
"But the reality is you must be given time to do any job and there is no reality now in the Premier League; it's all about expectation.
"The fans are impatient, the media is impatient and Kevin will need the time that I didn't get to turn things around at such a great club.
"I think he'll get a longer honeymoon period than I did because he's Mike's choice. He made it clear that I wasn't his choice when I left, so I think Kevin will get time because he's the owner's first choice.
"Hopefully he will give him the backing and the money he needs to turn such a big club around.
"Allardyce was surprised results didn't improve more quickly under Keegan because he felt the team were playing reasonably well towards the end of his own spell in charge, but he insists the new manager has a good squad to work with.
Reaction
He continued: "I think everybody expected to see an initial reaction when you change the manager. Generally the results change in your favour when you do that.
"In the last few games of my time we were so close to winning matches that we lost. It was a hair's breadth and that's the difference between keeping your job and losing your job.
"Kevin has got to find out about his players, but he's got some good players and he's got to knit them together. He's got to keep the confidence there.
"He's got the African Nations Cup players back so he's got a bigger squad to choose from as four of those players were away.
"But he's had some tough fixtures through this month and they haven't picked up any of the wins that they expected."
Expectation
Allardyce also explained too much expectation is heaped on Newcastle's players by the club's fervent fanbase and the local media.
He feels the demands of playing in front of the Toon Army are too much for some players and insists strong personalities are needed to play at St James' Park.
He continued: "I think the club in its entirety asks for too much of its players on the field. The big problem for the players is playing at Newcastle United and the demand from the fans and the media that goes with it.
"When they get on your back it can destroy your confidence. They're great when you're winning and it's a fantastic atmosphere and a wonderful, wonderful stadium to be in.
"But when it's not going too well and that turns, players find it fearful and they get very apprehensive.
"So you need big players to play there, who can accept that responsibility and the pressure that comes with playing for Newcastle United as in the past it's destroyed one or two and they've left."
Cool and calm
However, he insisted striker Michael Owen is well equipped to cope with the pressure placed upon him because of his experiences early in his career.
Owen has come under the spotlight after he was left out of Fabio Capello's England team last week, but Allardyce backed him to get back to his best if he can stay clear of the injury problems that have plagued his Newcastle career.
"Michael Owen is fine," Allardyce added.
"He handles that pressure no problem. He's cool and calm and he knows his ability.
"He's grown up with the pressure because he played for England at a young age and he played for Liverpool.
"Coming to Newcastle, the pressure isn't quite as great. The problem is when players come from smaller clubs and haven't experienced the pressure that comes from 52,000 very passionate fans that are with you when you win, but are sometimes against you when you lose
"Michael's problem is staying fit and getting back to how we know he can play - that's the biggest demand for Michael now. If he can do that then he'll start putting the goals in the back of the net.
"Unfortunately for him and for Newcastle, during his time there the injuries he's had mean he has only played about 30 games in two-and-a-half years.
"If he stays fit and he start scoring - as he did against Aston Villa on Saturday - then he'll get back to his normal self."
