You see, Rafa and Sam have history. The last time they met in 2010, this is what Rafa said about Big Sam and his style of play - he wasn't holding back on the sarcasm. "I think it is a model for all the managers around the world, their style of football, his behaviour, and I'm sure all parents will enjoy this model and encourage their kids to be the same. The style of football, I think, Barcelona are thinking of copying."This came a year after Big Sam took big offence at a supposedly dismissive gesture made by Benitez following Liverpool's second goal against Blackburn in 2009. However, it all started way back in 2004 when Benitez' first ever defeat in the Premier League was inflicted by Sam's Bolton. Afterwards, Rafa complained that the result was turned by a challenge which ended Sami Hyypia's game and left him with a broken nose: "He's good in the air, and all the game the ball was in the air". Does Big Sam care? I think not. Here's Sam on Rafa in 2009: "Our relationship is on the bad side of average; he doesn't like me. We always used to batter Liverpool at the Reebok, but you can't help him whingeing and moaning can you? He loves it. I've managed to psyche out a few managers in my time, but nobody has ever psyched me out. I don't give a damn what they say before, during or after a game. " should be fun !!
Big Sam was right as usual !!!!!!! Rafa is a whingeing Minnie, with about as much grace as a bucket of sick.
Fat Sam's number of clubs points to his failure as a PL manager. Btw Rafa's record at LFC was. P W D L GF GA Pts Av %W [TABLE] [TR] [TD]Rafa Benitez[/TD] [TD]228[/TD] [TD]126[/TD] [TD]55[/TD] [TD]47[/TD] [TD]371[/TD] [TD]183[/TD] [TD]433[/TD] [TD]1.90[/TD] [TD]55.26[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
PMK---Its early days yet, and I believe our recent demise has more to do with missing key players than managerial incompetence! We should in truth leave judgement on him until he has had a fair run with a full strength squad! Sam Allardyce is a man who has learned along the way and is making his mark without a big kitty to fall back on! He will achieve more than his resources can fairly expect!
