Who do you believe?
Thu May 14 08:52AM
It's a straight choice as to who you want to believe - Alex Ferguson or Kia Joorabchian. The Manchester United boss claimed, following the striker's game-changing appearance off the bench in the 2-1 win at Wigan, that the club has offered Carlos Tevez (yes, him again) a permanent deal, a statement the player's people describe as "categorically untrue".
The press are all over it, with The Sun asking "Deal or no deal?", the Daily Star heralding the dawn of the apocalyptic sounding "Tev War", while there are other more wordy leads in most of the other papers.
It's not that often you get an apology from Alex Ferguson, so we should embrace one when it comes along.
Fergie said on the subject of Tevez: "I'm sorry I have to keep on going on about this, it has never changed."
This page would like to echo those sentiments. Riffing on the same topic two days running is usually best avoided, especially considering this situation could last well into the summer.
Ferguson went on to say: "(The fact) we're not negotiating with a football club is the problem - we'll see."
He has a point. Dealing with an agency, rather than a club, means they can afford to drive a harder bargain. There is no relationship to maintain, MSI will not be coming to United, cap in hand, in two seasons' time because they need to loan a decent full-back to help them avoid relegation.
All they have to worry about is securing the biggest possible deal, most of which will convert into pure profit, taking tens of millions of pounds out of circulation from within the football economy.
One thing that makes this case unique is that, unlike most interminable transfer sagas, the sympathy regarding this one is very much with the player.
Everybody loves Tevez - he's The Little Argie That Could. He's the sort of footballer that we all believe we would be if we ever made it, strong and skilful but with an endless drive that would show everyone just how much you appreciate your privileged position.
In truth, however, most of us would be staggering out of Boujis with our overpriced jeans falling down before you could say 'signing-on fee'.
- - -
One moniker Tevez is all too often saddled with is that of being an 'unsung hero'. If so, he is certainly the most sung about ED can remember.
Just like earlier in the season when Jimmy Bullard was a) still at Fulham and b) still a footballer, the midfielder was hailed as the most underrated player for so long that he became the most overrated in the league.
Tevez delivers consistent gut-busting effort, that's for sure, but the real unsung hero in the current United team is Michael Carrick, who can't even hog the attention when he scores the late winner that has surely sealed his team the title.
Overlooked for all the awards and still with just a handful of international caps to his name, Carrick is the most recent case of a technically supreme Englishman who does not get the credit he deserves.
Perhaps, next season, he should start charging into opponents more and spraying needless 50-yard passes all over the place, just to get some recognition.
- - -
"It's a very humbling honour and a great surprise to be recognised with this award. I've enjoyed this season immensely, and to receive this award is a great bonus," said London Irish centre Seilala Mapusua as he collected his Guinness Premiership players' player of the year award.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard said something similar when he found out he had scooped the Football Writers' Association footballer of the year gong.
Actually, why are they known as gongs? And why are they always scooped? Thoughts please.
Anyway, Gerrard won this award ahead of his PFA-award winning counterpart Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney, who didn't even get a look-in for the prize voted for by his peers.
One conclusion that could be drawn from the recipients of those two awards is that the current professionals are more likely to vote for players who make their job more difficult (Vidic, Ferdinand, Van der Sar as well as Gerrard) while the journalists have rewarded people who make their job easy.
Perhaps it's worth noting that the FWA's own website hasn't been fully updated, with the awards page still displaying Cristiano Ronaldo's mug from last year. Lazy hacks.
- - -
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I have been here for two years and we've had five managers. I would say to whoever is in charge, keep Alan for as long as he needs. When I had problems with my Achilles, I worked hard to get back, but Joe Kinnear didn't look like he wanted to use me." - things will be awkward for Mark Viduka if, by some miracle, Joe Kinnear does come back to manage at St James' Park.
FOREIGN VIEW: Spanish state broadcaster TVE did not broadcast the national anthem before the Copa del Rey final live, because of fears that the Athletic Bilbao fans of the Basque region and Barcelona's Catalan fans would whistle over the top. Their fears proved to have foundation, and they showed a delayed version with the whistling edited out. That's what happens when you have an anthem with no words.
COMING UP: No one likes them, but they don't care, and one of them could be playing Championship football next season - Follow LIVE comments of Leeds United v Millwall here tonight as they play out their League One play-off semi-final second leg.
Before that, not only can you keep up to date with the latest stage of the Giro d'Italia, but everybody's' favourite bovine bat-and-ball correspondent Cow Corner will be bringing you live coverage of the second Test between England and West Indies.
Stevenaanderton the battle of the screen refreshing has been a @#$%e.....
From archiejefferies on Thu May 14 08:53AM3rd
From marcus_norfolk on Thu May 14 08:56AMBut ultimatly the quick draw refreshing the microsoft mouse in my office was victorious........... WHAT HAVE I BECOME!!!.........................................
..............From archiejefferies on Thu May 14 08:58AMSteve not first??
The crown has been taken away...
And ya..I believe in Angel..
Something good in everything I see...I have a dream about my team..
They shall win everything..
If you see the wonder of the RED DEVILS..
You can face the future..
You will never fail..
I believe in Fergusson..
Something good in every one in team...
From rock.bratt on Thu May 14 09:00AMWherez Lamps in all this "gong" thing? I4m a Utd fan but hez surely been one of the top 3 this season!!! By the way, CR7 is still the leading scorer, still champion, still a winger. Take a second, think about it!!
From yawboakye86 on Thu May 14 09:06AMThe gong originated in north east china. It was a delicious and rare ice cream dessert of which the flavours were so wonderous it had been said to leave tasters in rapture for up to 8 years. It was sanctioned by emperor ling sang XVII that only the great and talented should be allowed the taste of such a dessert, and even then after deliberation from ones peers, only one scoop would be apportioned.
I hope that clears that up.
From archiejefferies on Thu May 14 09:06AMkeep tevez and buy ribery,and since ronaldo wants to go to r.madrid he can go.
From chefm26 on Thu May 14 09:09AMGLORY GLORY MAN UTD
GLORY GLORY MAN UTD
GLORY GLORY MAN UTD
AND THE REDS KEEP MARCHING ON ON ON!
From rilez on Thu May 14 09:12AMOh no Steve ur 1st crown has been taken, I thought thats what you got out of bed for.
ManPOO should do all they can to keep Tevez, I'd rather have him than Van der sar.
From jay8my on Thu May 14 09:17AMEverybody loves Tevez - he's The Little Argie That Could. He's the sort of footballer that we all believe would be if we ever made it, strong and skilful but with an endless drive that would show everyone just how much you appreciate your privileged position.
In truth, however, most of us would be staggering out of Boujis with our overpriced jeans falling down before you could say 'signing-on fee'.
Now thats good work boys, very funny
From andy_lycett on Thu May 14 09:17AMWhy not,
Glory, Glory Man.United.
Unlucky bindippers.
You'll
Never
Win
Again !!! hahaha !!!
From nikyates on Thu May 14 09:20AMI believe Fergie. We know what the agents are after and want. More money, more money more money.....so saying its untrue, causing unrest, touting his name around, mentioning other clubs is all in aid of getting the best deal for them. I think Tevez is happy, I think Fergie wants him and the players want him.
From kristinajonsson76 on Thu May 14 09:20AMNo wonder archiejefferies won the 1st prize. Look at comment #8, Archiejefferies IS Stephen anderton.
From jay8my on Thu May 14 09:21AMyou have to believe fergie everytime, this is now the 2nd extremely important goal tevez has scored in a week, do you really think fergie wants to get rid of him???
NO WAY
From atyl1972 on Thu May 14 09:21AMArchie, after considering all the other possible explanations for the words 'gong' and 'scoop' I think yours is by far the best. See what getting up early to make the first post does for you??? ;)
From danny_saks on Thu May 14 09:21AMhe won't pay 32ml thats the sticking point , and that fella whose name is un-pronouncable won't accept less, I don't know how this situation arises where some bloke owns you in this way.......someone care to explain??
From chrisw7892000 on Thu May 14 09:22AMWhat happened to the thumbs up/down? Surely this shows that Yahoo ARE taking advertising revenues from the playstation/sex sites?
From twomjc on Thu May 14 09:24AMI don't think he will pay £32m either. But he might if CRon is indeed off to Real for £71m (yesterdays transfer gossip). What say the Man Utd fans about that?
From danny_saks on Thu May 14 09:25AMMost of them will say good riddance Danny even though he has kept them in it
From annieh97 on Thu May 14 09:31AMArchie nice avatar did Jay show you how to style your hair?
From annieh97 on Thu May 14 09:32AM24 Thumbs down
From annieh97 on Thu May 14 09:34AMBear with me on this one. ROB STYLES.
Obviously decided Ronaldo dives 1/2 the time so if he doesn't give any decisions for him he can't be made to look daft.
Vidic and (Insert any striker) will back in/climb over each other roughly equally so again no need to give any decisions.
If Vidic elbows (Insert any striker) in the face and the striker decides not to elbow Vidic back then that is the strikers own missed opportunity.
Surely not making any decisions isn't letting the game flow its just copping out??From andy_lycett on Thu May 14 09:34AM22 Thumbs up
From annieh97 on Thu May 14 09:35AMWhy do man u keep teasing the rest of us. First it was at Spurs, a 2-0 lead, your thinking surely they shoud drop some points now. 2-5 later...
Then there was last night.
You've got to hand it to them but you've also got to hate them with every fibre of your being.From archiejefferies on Thu May 14 09:35AM18-lol
From andy_lycett on Thu May 14 09:37AM26 & 27 - Thumbs up!
From danny_saks on Thu May 14 09:37AM31 big Thumbs up
From annieh97 on Thu May 14 09:38AM34 - LOL Archie. I think I love you! ;)
From danny_saks on Thu May 14 09:41AMAnnie, My mum helped, she's a dear like that.
From archiejefferies on Thu May 14 09:41AMNice it looks like you have had a root perm for that extra bounce and body and yes Archie you are worth it too!!
From annieh97 on Thu May 14 09:44AM
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