The Toon winger was simply praising Kevin Keegan for getting the players knocked into shape, but Sam's dummy came flying out of the pram.
Damien Duff Ruffles A Few Feathers!
Allardyce suggests "fitness is a mental thing".
Yes Sam ... I have mentally convinced myself I'm fit ... but wor lass still calls me a fat bastard! So what am I doing wrong?
Allardyce: "There wasn't anything wrong with match fitness when I was there.
"That's a bit of an excuse. Sometimes fitness is a mental thing.
"The fear factor can drain an awful lot out of players so that may be the problem at the moment.
"There is also a lack of confidence and it can boil down to that, not a lack of match fitness.
"They have experienced and talented players but they must get a result pretty soon.
"They have Birmingham and Fulham in the next few games and they could be the big matches - the turning point for Kevin and the team.
"I would like to come back (to management), if I had my way, in the summer.
"But we'll have to wait and see what turns up."