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It's a case of R.E.S.P.E.C.T - RIP today on Fleet Street.

The papers are all over the massive disciplinary inconsistencies that have rendered the FA's relations-boosting initiative between officials and clubs irrelevant, with The Sun accusing them of "sticking two fingers up at their own Respect campaign".

Not only that, but the inability of anyone in a position of power to deal with either Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand's berating of referee Mike Riley or the Chelsea fan who threw a bottle at United's coach has been denounced as "a statement of no intent". By the way, GS is well aware that the arm in the picture belongs to Patrice Evra, so keep your comments to yourself, ok?

With all the added furore over the 'phantom' goal scored by Reading against Watford, the credibility of the boys of Soho Square has certainly taken a few major hits in the last few days.

But there is no need to kick a governing body when it's down, and the attempt to manufacture more scandal from Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Nolan's comments is wholly unnecessary.

Nolan said after his side lost 3-1 at home to Arsenal: "I have never seen anybody as quick as Theo Walcott in my life. I said to (team-mate) Jlloyd Samuel 'Give him a little kick and see if he comes back at you'!"

While this has been dressed up as some kind of flagrant disregard of the spirit of the game, is there anything really wrong with it? Every winger for every club is expected to take a few knocks in a game, and if a "little kick" happens then the defender concedes a free-kick in a dangerous area. GS isn't pining for the days of Ron 'Chopper' Harris, Norman 'Bite ya legs' Hunter et al, but these things happen in what is - for now at least - a contact sport.

The Daily Telegraph also gets in on the act of FA-bashing, rather astutely pointing out that while 16 managers have been charged with improper conduct this season - included top-flight duo David Moyes and Phil Brown - the only player to be levelled with the same charge this season is 'Psycho' Sun Jihai (not an official nickname).

It seems as though Rio would have to kick a water bottle, rather than a female bystander, before he actually receives an FA rap.

The Daily Express, Star and Mirror all began their stories on a Nigerian consortium's prospective takeover of Newcastle United with almost word-for-word intros, stating that Mike Ashley has been offered an escape route - Out of Africa.

References to films that were made before any of Arsenal's Carling Cup team were born notwithstanding, the Mirror goes on to reveal that the Nigerians will have to raise another £50 million on top of the £350 million they have already raised if they are to meet Toon owner Ashley's asking price, and that their top target would be Everton striker Yakubu.

It's worth bearing in mind at this point that ADUG bought Manchester City for somewhere in the region of £210 million.

Of that amount, former owner Thaksin Shinawatra will trouser £50 million, according to the Daily Mail. He will remain part of the club as honorary president, which is more than enough reason for him to stay in the UK and not return to face the music in Thailand. To think, things could hardly have worked out better for him if he had planned this all along. Which he didn't, obviously.

Back to matters arising from on the pitch now, and Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing deserves credit for insisting that he is still willing to take the next penalty for Boro, despite missing his last two.

His manager Gareth Southgate (insert unsympathetic penalty reference of your choice here) said: "He's a braver man than I. That he's ready to take another penalty shows you the type of character he is."

There is precedent here, of course. During his final season at Atletico Madrid, Fernando Torres missed an incredible five spot-kicks on the trot, and it hasn't done him any harm.

Finally comes the news that Derby County are so eager to get shot of midfielder Robbie Savage - who has been stripped of the Rams' captaincy and has only featured four times this season - that they are willing to pay part of his £28,000-a-week wage if another club will take him on loan.

Savage said when he joined the club in January that he knew he was preparing for life in the Championship and he was comfortable with that. For £28,000-a-week, GS would say he's nice and cosy on the Derby bench.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport