Famous Last Words - Big Sam holds his hands up

By Boris Mellor
July 3 2006

In what seems an age ago I asked could Brazil afford to drop Ronaldo? To my mind his performances were awful. But I must admit fearing I might have to eat my own words, as he went on to score the most goals ever in World Cup finals overall.

 But I would argue that those goals were no indicator of his true form – poor. Indeed once he came up against a top rate team his goal scoring dried up. Anyway Brazil are out, and Ronaldo will not “continue to improve”, so I am in the clear. Thanks Les Bleus.

 However someone who should eat their own words is Sam Allardyce, who about ten days ago crowed on BBC that he hoped that England would get to play Germany as they have a “dodgy keeper”.

 

I wonder if Big Sam has reflected on this yet?  I doubt it – after all he thinks he would make a good England manager – so not a lot of introspection there then. Although no doubt Sam was hoping to try out his tactic of defenders standing on the keepers toes at corners. Of course the mere fact that World Cup referees would not stand for such tactics hasn’t occurred to Big Sam.

 

Anyway, treading on toes, or not, the dodgy keeper theory is looking dodgy to say the list. Of course there are games to be played, and errors can happen, but the dodgy keeper is looking like the keeper of the tournament with his two penalty saves. Ricardo also saved penalties.

 

Now Sam here is a question for you: How many penalties did the England keeper save? Speak up Sam I can’t hear you? Of course Sam will be admitting in public he got it wrong. Just as the Guardian will for saying at the start of the World Cup that France were too old to make a serious attempt at winning it. Or all those who insisted that Brazil were the favourites, or England fans who said Hargreaves was the worst player in the squad. And of course Sven thought Rooney was going to win the cup single-handedly.  No doubt the list of famous last words is endless; just add your favourites on the message board below this.