Former Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers defender Aaron Mokoena is unsurprised by Everton’s revival under his former boss Sam Allardyce. The Toffees endured a torrid start to the 2017/18 Premier League campaign under former boss Ronald Koeman despite a heavy spending spree in the summer.
They however turned to ‘Big Sam’ in late November after their poor form continued unabated and that marked a sharp turn in form. With the former Bolton Wanderers manager merely seated in the stands, Everton recorded their biggest win of the season on November 29 when they thrashed West Ham 4-0 at the Goodison Park.
They have since gone five games unbeaten under Allardyce, winning four of those matches.
“One thing about Big Sam is; He’s a man-manager! He knows how to get the best out of players,” the former South Africa captain told www.aclsports.com “He can turn a player with no confidence to be the best player. So, he knows how to get the best. I’m not surprised (with what he is doing at Everton) because he has the experience and it shows especially when he has enough resources and confidence from the board.”
Sam Allardyce has the enviable record of having never relegated with any Premier League club as a manager. He has helped modest clubs like Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Crystal Palace to wriggle their ways out of the pawns of relegation in times past.
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Mokoena was part of Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers side in 2008/09 season when Big Sam took over from Paul Ince in December 2008 before steering the club to safety by the end of the season. Mokoena knows truly well that Allardyce is one for the middle-table clubs.
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Mokoena scoring for Big Sam’s Blackburn
“He is a manager who knows how to manage should I say, teams who are middle-table,” avers Mokoena. “You’re Everton, you’re Blackburn, you’re Bolton, you’re West Ham and he could get the best out of players. I’m not surprised that he is doing well and I hope that he will keep doing well for Everton because I believe Everton deserve to stay in the league and deserve to do well,” he added.
Allardyce’s sternest test yet as Everton boss comes on Saturday when the Toffeees host reigning league champions Chelsea at the Goodison Park in the lunch time kick-off.
