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Some bloke called Rafa Benitez has been nominated Premier League Manager of The Month

3 years ago
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There was always the very real prospect of this season proving very painful for Newcastle United fans where Rafa Benitez was concerned.

Everton fans just maybe accepting that the Spaniard’s appointment really isn’t the worst thing that has ever happened to any football fanbase ever, anywhere in the World.

Well, the season is less than three weeks old and despite being allowed the smallest transfer kitty of all 20 Premier League clubs, Rafa Benitez has already been nominated for a Premier League manager of the month award.

Rafa Benitez up against Nuno Espirito Santo, David Moyes and Thomas Tuchel for the August award (details below, including how to vote).

I have a feeling Nuno will edge it after three wins in three.

However, Everton fans forced to acknowledge that just maybe Rafa Benitez isn’t the most boring manager they have ever seen either, with nine goals in four games already. Into the third round of the League Cup thanks to beating Huddersfield away, whilst in the Premier League beating Southampton at home 3-1, winning at Brighton 2-0, plus an excellent entertaining 2-2 draw away at Leeds.

Steve Bruce was unavailable for comment but sources say he still felt he should have been a contender for this month’s manager of the month award, having managed a 2-2 draw at home to relegation rivals Southampton and losing to both Villa and West Ham, conceding eight goals already in three games. Whilst as Steve Bruce says, Newcastle also ‘didn’t lose on the night’ against Burnley in the League Cup, despite losing (on penalties) on the night…

If winning this August 2021 award, Rafa Benitez would go joint sixth in the all time winners list, with eight Premier League manager of the month awards.

Official Premier League announcement:

Four men have been nominated for August 2021’s Barclays Manager of the Month award, and you can help to select the winner.

Rafael Benitez, Nuno Espirito Santo, David Moyes and Thomas Tuchel are shortlisted for the first monthly accolade of 2021/22. You can vote HERE until 12:00 BST on Monday 6 September.

The public vote will then be combined with those of a panel of football experts to decide the winner.

Barclays Manager of the Month nominees
Rafael Benitez (EVE)
P3 W2 D1 L0 GD+4

The Spaniard has enjoyed an unbeaten start as Everton manager, with his side coming from behind to win 3-1 against Southampton before drawing 2-2 at Leeds United and then triumphing 2-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Nuno Espirito Santo (TOT)
P3 W3 D0 L0 GD+3

Nuno’s first month as Tottenham Hotspur head coach was faultless. He steered Spurs to a hat-trick of 1-0 wins, including victories over champions Manchester City and his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

David Moyes (WHU)
P3 W2 D1 L0 GD+5

Moyes’ West Ham United secured seven points from three matches including a 4-1 success over Leicester City. No team scored more than their 10 goals in August.

Thomas Tuchel (CHE)
P3 W2 D1 L0 GD+5

Tuchel guided Chelsea to successive derby wins and clean sheets against Crystal Palace and Arsenal, before the Blues earned a 1-1 draw at Liverpool despite playing 45 minutes with 10 men.

Managers with most Premier League Manager of the month awards:

27 Alex Ferguson

15 Arsene Wenger

10 David Moyes

9 Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp

8 Martin O’Neill, Harry Redknapp,

7 Rafa Benitez

6 Sam Allardyce, Sir Bobby Robson

5 Kevin Keegan, Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti

Most Premier League Manager of the month awards by club:

28 Man Utd

22 Liverpool

19 Man City

16 Chelsea

15 Newcastle United

15 Arsenal

Quite amazing really that now only four clubs have won more Premier League manager of the month awards than Newcastle United.

All of the other clubs in the top six most MOTM award winners have won the Premier League title and indeed Arsenal spent something like 20 seasons in a row in the top four under Arsene Wenger.

Chelsea with a similar profile to Arsenal and yet they have won only one more PL MOTM award than Newcastle United.

Newcastle bosses to have won Premier League Manager of the month awards:

6 Sir Bobby Robson

Feb 2000, Aug 2000, Dec 2001, Feb 2002, Jan 2003, Oct 2003

5 Kevin Keegan

Nov 1993, Aug 1994, Feb 1995, Aug 1995, Sept 1995

2 Alan Pardew

Nov 2013, Nov 2014

1 Rafa Benitez

Nov 2018

1 Steve Bruce

April 2021

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