Sam Allardyce is a pragmatic man, he has made his career in the game as a sensible centre-back and he has continued his rise to the top by talking endless amounts of sense. He values the common sensical approach to the game as he values his data sheets and his ice-fridge. He has sensibly started building from the back, he talks a good game and he understands the motivational and communicative needs of the players, after all he has proper coaching badges - he even brings a glint to the eye of the FA when the England job is mulled. So as Toon supports we are just beginning to ask ourselves how and why he continues to mis-read the teams needs on the pitch away from home?
Phil Dowd of Stoke-on-Trent will take charge of our game at the Madejski Stadium against Reading this afternoon. Last season he took charge of 2 of our games, defeats at Chelsea and Fulham.
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