Quotes
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Sport without Spin
Fantasy Football: Moyes to Villa
There was a fairly sensible column from David Maddock in the Mirror this week explaining the fairly obvious logic that suggests David Moyes won’t be departing Everton for the vacant hotseat at Villa Park anytime soon:
Why David Moyes won’t leave Everton for Aston Villa
[...] The Goodison manager is unlikely to turn his back on the Blues, even [...]
A tale of two columns
Much has been written in the last week about Pakistan’s cricketers which overshadowed a terrific fightback from England in a thrilling Fourth Test at Lord’s. Some people wrote two columns about it, like Jonathan Agnew. It’s obviously a very emotive topic and the last week has been a very emotional time for Pakistan and for [...]
The imagi-merry-go-round
Top rumour-mongering from the Mirror as the possible transfers of Mark Schwarzer and Shay Given continue to not really move along very much at all, and need a fresh injection of angle:
Schwarzer sale to spark keeper merry-go-round
Arsene Wenger wants to tie up a £2.5m deal for Mark Schwarzer in time for the visit of Blackpool on Saturday.
And [...]
Sorry seems to be the hardest word: The Sun/Wayne Rooney
Every time you open the pages of The Sun and consider the possible truth behind a transfer rumour, every time you read a story therein attacking ‘overpaid millionaires’ for their extravagant lifestyles, every time you consider handing a newsagent a few of your hard-earned pennies to pick up a copy of the paper at all, [...]
Poor foundations for a rumour - the club website’s profile pages
Mesut Ozil could be going to Manchester United. The Daily Mail have evidence. Not evidence like quotes or press releases or even a hush-hush tip-off from someone loosely connected with Old Trafford, but this:
Manchester United to confirm Mesut Ozil? Club website adds German star to their squad
Mesut Ozil apparently looks all set to join Manchester [...]
A not especially disconcerting or evidence-based addiction
Horror story about footballers to shake you to the core this morning in the Daily Star:
FOOTBALL stars are so addicted to video games they are wrecking their performances, it was claimed.
… and probably not checked.
They stay up into the early hours playing the night before important matches.
And sports psychotherapist Steve Pope says Manchester United, Chelsea, Spurs and [...]
Geoff Shreeves asks the question that didn’t need asking
High quality questioning from Sky Sports’ reporter at pitchside in the wake of the Community Shield. With man-of-the-match and reluctant talker Paul Scholes in front of him, Geoff Shreeves took the opportunity to ask the question that everyone knew the answer to:
Yet again you personally put in a terrific performance in front of a watching [...]
On Sky Sports News and journalism
We couldn’t help but be amused that the following two stories appeared within 24 hours of one another. On the one hand, the Independent write a most complimentary piece about the 24 hour rolling news channel Sky Sports News. Above all, what comes across is the desire to be taken seriously as a journalistic outfit:
The executive [...]
Balotelli’s confusing wage demands
The world can be a strange, troubling place when you’re 19. At least the sweet sweet feeling of being a top level footballer can make up for that (assuming you’re Mario Balotelli). And money. Yeah, money. Lots of it.
But exactly how much is lots? You see, for people who don’t seem to have any idea at [...]
The anonymous £34m man
Some decidely average reporting of the fairly simple story that former Barcelona player Gai Assulin has been on trial at Manchester City and may sign for them. The Mirror doesn’t think that’s interesting enough in its own right, though:
Manchester City set to land Barcelona midfielder
Big-spending Manchester City are ready to snap up £34million-rated Barcelona kid Gai [...]