SAM Allardyce admitted today that he would have to think twice about accepting the England manager's job if he was ever offered it.

The Wanderers boss, who turned down the chance to succeed Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle and has been tipped to manage the national side one day, says the media pressure Sven Goran Eriksson and his players have been under this week would put him off answering his country's call.

"You would ultimately love to manage your country, if you felt you could cope with the pressures that go along with it," he said. "But, having read what I've read this week and seen what's happened to Sven and what's happened to David James, it would put you off more than put you on."

Press reaction to England's 2-2 draw in Austria last Saturday went beyond the pale for Eriksson and his players with goalkeeper James bearing the brunt of tabloid excesses after the howler that cost England a victory. After Wednesday's 2-1 win in Poland, the players refused to speak to the media -- a controversial decision Allardyce applauded.

"It was an instant reaction to the criticism," he said. "It was a decision they took in the emotion after a fantastic performance when the adrenaline was pumping. They said 'stuff you' and rightly so.

"It had the desired effect around the country, not with the media but with the punters who saw the players stand up for themselves. They've shown they were upset and weren't prepared to have that stuff thrown at them.

"I think it was pretty good what they did, as long as it's just a short, sharp hit. They've made a stand, now let's get back to reality."

While Allardyce himself has an excellent relationship with the media, he has nothing but sympathy for the men in hot seat. He cites the respective experiences of Eriksson and one of his predecessors. Glenn Hoddle, who both had the misfortune to be eliminated from major tournaments by controversial decisions -- each, coincidentally, involving Sol Campbell disallowed "goals".

"It's all about expectation," the Reebok boss said. "I listened to the debate on Sky the other night with great interest. Because the players wouldn't speak to the media, they started talking about the European Championships (this summer) and said how disappointing they were.

"But they (England) were only one second away from getting into the semi-final and it was only because of the referee that they didn't.

"You can say whatever you like, I was there. I saw that goal go in and get disallowed, I saw us lose it in extra-time and saw grown men crying.

"It took me back to Glenn Hoddle and the Argentina game (World Cup 1998). Would he still not be the England coach if Sol Campbell's 'goal' had stood? Beating Argentina with 10 men, he (Hoddle) could have gone down as arguably one of the greatest coaches in history. And this one (against Portugal) was even less of a foul! It was plain for anybody to see.

"All of a sudden, in one split second Sven Goran Eriksson has had a disappointing European Championships, he's a bad coach, the players are rubbish and Beckham's finished!

"Take the reverse and it would would have been the best team England has ever had. They'd have got to the semi-final, probably got to the final and may have won it (if Greece could win it, anybody could).

"The media heightens and builds things way above what is reasonable. You can understand the pressure they are under to sell their newspapers but it's difficult for us to live with."