It’s club number 4744943rd for ex-West Ham and Everton boss, Sam Allardyce, who is tasked to once again get his fire gear out to try and prevent West Brom from an instant drop into the Championship.
From playing non-nonsense football inside your own final third to putting an emphasis on clean sheets, Allardyce’s blueprint for survival includes many things, including dipping into the transfer market.
There’s no doubt that the one-time England manager will target players with know-how, quality and experience next month and could they come from his former clubs in West Ham and Everton?
Here are six players from the London Stadium and Goodison Park, Allardyce should target in order to increase his chances of keeping West Brom with the elite.
Yannick Bolasie – Purchased for £25 million in 2016 from Crystal Palace (BBC Sport), the fact that Bolasie is not part of Everton’s 25-man squad today tells you everything you need to know about where his career on Merseyside is at.
But could his former Palace boss revive his stuttering career? It’s pretty clear that he will leave next month, but could his unpredictable flair provided some much-needed intent to this bleak West Brom attack?
Muhamed Besic – Another Everton player who isn’t part of Carlo Ancelotti’s plans, Besic perhaps suits the type of player Allardyce would look for when trying to survive relegation.
A combative midfielder by nature, Besic has that aggression in his game which would allow the Baggies to be more solid in the middle of the park, but not reckless like a certain Jake Livermore against Aston Villa.
Mark Noble – A stab in the dark and an unlikely purchase, even on loan, but Noble would be that calming yet highly-demanding influence Allardyce needs in the West Brom dressing room.
His leadership skills alone are worth the hassle to try and bring him on loan, but even though he is a back-up option at the London Stadium now, it would be a surprise to see David Moyes cut depth from his team and allow him to leave.
But you never know when you knock on the door, even with a one-club man.
Cenk Tosun – Allardyce signed the 29-year-old during his brief time on Merseyside and the target man hasn’t made much noise since.
Karlan Grant has struggled since moving to West Brom in the summer, whilst Charlie Austin is finding it difficult to earn starts, so firepower is needed.
Perhaps a step down is needed for Tosun and working with a manager he is familiar with and in tune can perhaps get the best out of one another.
Robert Snodgrass – Perhaps one of the more realistic signings. Snodgrass’ experience, never-say-die attitude, crossing ability, especially from set-pieces should get Allardyce out of his seat.
One of Allardyce’s key points in his blueprint towards survival is making set-piece situations count and Snodgrass’ wand of a left-foot would provide that. He’s not a regular under Moyes and a move across the Midlands might just work out for all three parties here.
Fabian Delph – From the midfield players selected, Delph is perhaps the better player and another individual who isn’t a regular at his club.
The former Manchester City man also has the leadership skills, aggression, combative nature to his game. But he has that added flair in terms of his ability to move the ball out of tight spaces and play that progressive pass.
In an inexperienced and struggling West Brom midfield, he would work wonders. But could Allardyce prize away the former Aston Villa man from Everton?
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