Sam Allardyce seems to be getting the credit he deserves at last with another excellent result for West Ham last weekend.

I have played against Allardyce’s teams many times and knocking the ball long has always been one of their options but by no means the only one.

When his Bolton team were at their best, the games against them were some of the hardest of the season.

Those sides that included Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff could play football as well.

What Allardyce has always done is make the best of what he has at his disposal. As a result he keeps his clubs in the Premier League. He has always been receptive to changes in football, too, and introducing innovations.

I have no doubt that if he was at one of the big clubs, he would be just as comfortable coaching them to play good football.