Predictions make fools of the best of us.
Even Jamie Carragher, one of the most respected football pundits around, can get it spectacularly wrong. Back in 2013, the former Liverpool defender made a bet with his Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville that Tottenham Hotspur’s new signing Paulinho would score 15 goals in his debut season.
The forfeit being that Carragher has to wear a Neville Manchester United shirt for a day. Well done Paulinho, how will Carragher be ever show his face in Liverpool again?
(Why Neville wait until now to call for the forfeit we’re not sure. Carragher must’ve thought he was getting away with it.)
Paulinho won’t make it past the six goals he managed in two uninspiring season, as a move to Guangzhou in China looks on the cards.
Twitter @Carra23 needs to wear a G.Nev united shirt for the day! He's lost a bet that Paulinho wouldn't score 15 PL goals in a season!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) June 26, 2015
True to his word though, Carragher isn’t backing out of the bet, and still managed to take the p*** out of Neville.
@GNev2 Send me one I don't want to take the framed one down off the bedroom wall. 15 in the season not just prem!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) June 26, 2015
We’re not buying the “15 in the season” argument from Carragher. Paulinho scored 20 goals in 86 appearances for Corinthians, a rate of roughly one in four.
To replicate that in the Premier League and Europa League, arguably more competitive competitions, Paulinho would’ve needed 60 games at least.
He only managed 46 games over two years, and is now off to China. Neville wasn’t having any of Carragher’s argument either.
It will be with you next week. He's not scored 15 in his life!! https://t.co/NXrQMQVxyN
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) June 26, 2015
Paulinho moved to Spurs from Corinthians in Brazil for £17 million, and the club are now, somehow, managing get £12 million for him.
But should Carragher offer to go “double or quits” for Paulinho to score 15 goals in his first season in China?
A clip In honor of Paulinho likely leaving Spurs for Chinese side Guangzhou and recouping all money spent. https://t.co/nuKgUlDkU5
— SportsYapper (@SportsYapper) June 25, 2015
No, definitely not.
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