Sam Allardyce managed to complete the “things the new England manager must say in his opening press conference” list yesterday, discussing topics from the style of football he will employ to calling for a Premier League winter break.

Allardyce was installed in the hot seat last Friday, replacing Roy Hodgson after England’s embarrassing exit to Iceland at the European Championships.

Supporters of the national team were bemused to the say the least when Allardyce emerged as the favourite to take over the national team. But his feelings towards a winter break will go some way to winning the sceptics on side.

“I’ve been an advocate of a mid-season break for about 10 years,” Allardyce said.

“The demand physically and mentally on the players is enormous.

“A break would help the players and would help the national team. January and February is always the most difficult period.”

The biggest negative surrounding Allardyce has been his style of play and it wouldn’t be an England manager unveiling if questions were not answered regarding the way the new man in charge will out set his team.

“I think that choosing styles or systems depends on the players available and then who we’re playing,” answered Allardyce.

“My coaching technique is to try and give the players the opportunity to win a football match wherever they are playing, be it home or away. And to make them aware of the opposition, which may change the style of how we play.”

New managers often select a group of talented youngsters to give themselves more time at the helm, while playing up their potential.

But Allardyce said that his players need to perform now, calling on them to “stand up and be counted.”

“We have got to say it’s not potential any more, it has to be reality now. These young players have had a lot of experience.

“Even though some of that experience has been pretty bitter it can be a great help to make sure they don’t feel like that again.”