There’s a scene in Mad Men which has become quite a well-known meme now. The main character, Don Draper, is in the lift with another character. This other character says a shady comment to Draper, to which he replies with “I don’t think about you at all.”
I mention this because I’m sure this is how Rafael Benitez is with the likes of Sam Allardyce, throwing their opinions all over the place like they actually have some meaning.
Allardyce, who spent six miserable months at Everton, decided to continue his end-of-season drivel, presumably because he’s had no luck acquiring that Sky Sports job he publicly asked for just minutes after he’d sent West Brom down.
With Rafa Benitez now officially the new Toffees boss until 2024, here’s what Big Sam’s had to say – questioning why they’d want the Spaniard when his style of play is ‘exactly’ like his own:
“I have to say that if you call me a defensive-minded coach, Rafa is exactly the same as I am.
“He bases his performances on clean sheets and building from there and has done throughout his career.
“So, if they are talking about open, expansive football, I do not think that will be the case if they are employing someone like Rafa.
“It will come eventually depending on what players they let go and bring in. Everton have been desperate for success since Farhad Moshiri took over. He’s put a huge amount of money in that has built the club’s expectations so high – it’s difficult for the players there to live up to that.
“I think it is now six managers in seven years at Everton. That needs some stability in terms of the manager staying in place for a few years to get it right.”
The very idea that Sam Allardyce is anything like Benitez is laughable. Whilst Allardyce lingers around relegation-threatened teams and hopes for a big pay-off, Rafa is well-known for developing clubs into solid units that become potent in attack when worked upon. Allardyce’s comments imply that Rafa’s teams do not play exciting football, and by extension don’t score many goals, which is just wrong.
If you were to look through all of Benitez’s tenures, you will see that he has managed team upon team who have had no shortage of goals.
Even during his time with us, under a stringent Ashley regime, you could see the attacking improvement start to shine through with Rondon, Perez and Almiron.
Allardyce’s delusion of where he stands in the football world is laughable and I’m sure he’ll find himself either taking advantage of a desperate bottom-three club or on something awful like Talksport, soon enough!
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That’s strange. A lot of Everton fans seem worried that Allardyce’s comments on Rafa are pretty accurate.
Clive Thomas(Quote)
Evertonians are basically Merseyside Mackems, very strange deranged bunch with huge King Edwards on each shoulder.
Newcastle should appoint Shola as Manager.
Ian Cusack(Quote)
Did big Sam Not get caught get offered a Bribe years ago?Some neck he has commenting on anyone.He is only good at bringing down clubs to the championship then run.As he thinks he is too good for the championship.
Jonboy(Quote)
“I mention this because I’m sure this is how Rafael Benitez is with the likes of Sam Allardyce, throwing their opinions all over the place like they actually have some meaning.”
Are you familiar with the concept of irony?
Jonny Dawson throwing around his opinion on Sam Allardyce, about Sam Allardyce throwing round his opinions?
That’s funny.
Then there’s the classic “If you were to look through all of Benitez’s tenures, you will see that he has managed team upon team who have had no shortage of goals.”
Are you even a Newcastle supporter? Rafa managed Toon games where we had ZERO attempts on goal, and for 90% of the rest we had less than a handful of efforts on target.
Talk about throwing opinions around as if they have meaning.
BykerBill(Quote)