Source: Team_Talk
Immature gaffer Rafa must man up
For goodness sake, just grow up Rafa.[LNB]As the Anfield staff cleared the chairs away from Sunday's press conference after Liverpool's feisty win over Blackburn, they must have found a few toys on the floor that needed putting back in the pram.[LNB]Let me just state, before Reds fans go for my throat, that I was desperate for Liverpool to win the title last season, simply to see a new team crowned Kings of England having watched Chelsea and Manchester United occupy the throne for the last six years.[LNB]I have previously gone on record as stating my belief that Liverpool will never win the title under Benitez, whose approach is far too defensive for my liking, but I was urging them to get over the finishing in 2008-09, only to see them fall four points short.[LNB]The Spaniard has had an uneasy relationship with the press ever since moving to these shores, and he hardly endeared himself to neutral fans and hacks at the weekend with his incredibly immature spat with Sam Allardyce.[LNB]The two men have had a running feud over the last few years, and both are quite objectionable characters - but Benitez's childish outburst on Sunday left me lost for words.[LNB]To say his quotes were sarcastic is a disservice to the lowest form of wit.[LNB]We all know Rovers, and Big Sam teams in general, play a robust style of play - but anyone who witnessed the recent goalless draw between Liverpool and Manchester City at Eastlands is probably trying to still recover from the trauma of watching such a dire, scrappy game.[LNB]Benitez said of Allardyce's style: "I think it is a model for all the managers around the world, their style of football, his behaviour. [LNB]"It is the perfect model for all the kids and I'm sure all parents will enjoy this model and encourage their kids to be the same. [LNB]"The style of football, I think, Barcelona are thinking of copying."[LNB]Hilarious Rafa, in fact Jongleurs are on the blower.[LNB]Allardyce, obviously, saw things differently and said of his pre-match criticism of Benitez: "It was only because Liverpool have a go at me and because I am entitled to respond when I get criticised by Rafa Benitez. [LNB]"If you don't understand that over the last few years you must be deluded. [LNB]"Not this time but many other times I have been criticised personally by the manager - all I said was they got six bookings at Manchester City away so they are digging games out now rather than the flowing football they played last year."[LNB]As far as I can see, the Rovers gaffer made a fair point - Liverpool are grinding out results and just about keeping themselves in the race for fourth spot, rather than sweeping all before them.[LNB]And Benitez is solely to blame for this season's slump in form and swagger, which led to an early departure from the FA Cup and Champions League, two competitions in which he has previously thrived.[LNB]His unsuccessful and very public chase of Gareth Barry pushed classy playmaker Xabi Alonso, the key player and heartbeat behind last season's drive for the title, towards the Anfield exit door - and boy have they missed him as neither Lucas nor Alberto Aquilani are fit to lace his boots.[LNB]I know this is going to provoke a fierce backlash from Reds fans, as I defended Tony Mowbray to the hilt - no matter what - when he was in charge of West Brom, despite his infuriating stubbornness in press conferences.[LNB]Now that he is no longer in The Hawthorns hot-seat, I can understand how his pig-headedness is quite annoying, something I was unable to see wearing my Albion hat and blue and white-striped glasses.[LNB]So just take that on board, and try to view Benitez's comments through a neutral's eyes, before you all vent your spleen in my direction.[LNB][LNB] Barclays Prem To Be in Top 4 Win Outright: Liverpool 13/8
