PAUL Robinson has leapt to the defence of Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce by claiming he has the ability to manage at the very highest level.
The Rovers goalkeeper revealed his anger at Danny Murphy’s derogatory comments about the club late last week and has now branded any suggestion of Allardyce’s methods being ‘brainless’ as completely untrue.
Ahead of this evening’s Ewood Park visit of Sunderland, Robinson has revealed how much of an impact Allardyce has had at Rovers as he nears his two-year anniversary, insisting he has ‘turned us around’.
He said: “You look at the statistics and you look at the results since the manager came in.
"When the manager came in we were adrift at the bottom of the league.
"Look what he has done for this club and how he turned the club around.
“To describe a manager of his calibre and of his record as brainless is unfounded and the statistics back that up.
“It is disappointing people think of Sam Allardyce in that way because he is a top, top class manager.
"When he said tongue in cheek about being able to manage Real Madrid, he actually would be able to manage at a top level.
“He is a great, great man manager. He knows exactly how to treat players, he is very scientifically involved in the game and you see his record at the clubs he has been at.
“Maybe he wasn’t given enough time at Newcastle but look at what he has done at Bolton and look what he has done here on a very, very limited budget.”
Rovers are looking for their first home league win since the opening day of the season tonight, after defeat to Arsenal and a draw with Fulham, saw them unable to build on an impressive victory over Everton.
Since their disappointing 1-0 defeat at Stoke City though a fortnight ago, Rovers have been hit by Fulham midfielder Murphy’s criticisms but Robinson has no doubt Allardyce is taking the club forward.
He said: “In footballing circles you are aware of what a good manager Sam Allardyce is even before you meet him.
"You know the staff he has around him, the scientific approach he brings with him. He is a thinker.
“He is an old fashioned manager with a modern way of thinking. It really, really works.
"He speaks to you, he is a man manager. He knows how to deal with players, he is honest with you and tells exactly how it is and what he wants from you.
“Likewise if you don’t do it, he tells you. He has evolved as the game has evolved.
"He doesn’t shut any ideas out. He is open to everything.
"He will try a few things and if they don’t work we won’t do them again.
“He is very open minded, very adaptive and open to new ways of thinking.
"Quite often he is the one who brings things in.”
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