I’m a big man. I can stand up and admit that I was wrong about something and I think this may be one of the occasions.

I was wrong about ‘Big Sam.’

It turns out he’s brilliant. Since their dubious tactics for the goal they scored against us at the weekend I’ve heard some people ‘dissing (I believe that’s what the kids say – I heard it on “Being N-Dubs”) ‘Big Sam’ and his style of football. They are wrong too. Let me show you why.

He recently said he should become the next England gaffer. I agree. If I was head of the FA, and someday I’m sure I will be, I’d give it to him in an instant. He knows how to play effective, if not attractive, football. He kept Bolton up in the Premiership for ages and is doing the same with Blackburn too. OK Newcastle wasn’t his finest hour, but that was a sinking ship anyway… For too long England have tried to play champagne passing football and failed. We’re not good enough. Get ‘Big Sam’ in who can make the most of what he’s got. I guarantee we wouldn’t have had that showing in South Africa had ‘Big Sam’ been the gaffer…

Big Sam, truely one of the great thinkers of our time

This season ‘Big Sam’ has really come into his own in my opinion recently is because of his comments and press conferences. Until recently he’s been a yes man to SAF, agreeing with him about stoppage times, referees and until the summer Rafa. Let us ignore his massive hierocracy about his beef with Wenger discussing referees when The Big Man is at it all the time himself too. But now he’s become his own man, stepped out of SAF shadows and is really taking it up a level. This weekend alone he’s come out to say he’d be wicked if he were Real Madrid manager. I would love to see the ‘Big Sam’ revolution in Spain.

Future King of the world, 'Big Sam'

“I’m not suited to Bolton or Blackburn, I would be more suited to Internazionale or Real Madrid, it wouldn’t be a problem to me to go and manage those clubs because I would win the Double or the league every time. Give me Manchester United or Chelsea and I would do the same, it wouldn’t be a problem. It’s not where I’m suited to, it’s just where I’ve been for most of the time. It’s not a problem to take me into the higher reaches of the Champions League or Premier League and would make my job a lot easier in winning it.”

Pedro wouldn’t know what had hit him when he breezed in and they splashed the cash on Jason Roberts, Michael Rickets and Mark Bunn. But what question could have brought such an answer from him? “Do you think Mark Hughes is more suited to Fulham?” was the question which prompted ‘Big Sam’ telling us he’d be king of the world were it not for a poor media image of him being portrayed. Even Gatesy in his most egotistical and self centered moments would struggle to do this. And that takes some doing. Well done you, ‘Big Sam’!

And there was his little squabbles with Rafa. They amused me and helped me soften to The Big Man. But now he’s lost his sparring partner and misses him.

“I am gutted that Rafa Benitez has gone. He hated me and I used to love winding him up.”

Now that’s something else admire. I think we’d get along like a house on fire winding people up and putting the (footballing) world to rights over a pint of mild down Wetherspoons.

But he’s not arrogant. No Siree Bob. ‘Big Sam’ passes on some advice that we can all use to better ourselves, and shows he could well be one of our times great thinkers

“John McGrath, my old coach at Preston, used to say, ‘The arrogant man doesn’t learn because he thinks he knows it all.’ John is dead now, God rest his soul, tremendous advice.”

I’ll admit it. I was wrong. Sorry.  ‘Big Sam’, even though I may not agree with your style of football (such as sending a forward out to clatter the keeper so somebody else can head the ball into an empty net) but you are indeed a national treasure and an asset to the Premier League.