Saying Nothing
"Then he was talking about the fixtures. Two years ago we were playing a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays. And we didn't say anything" - Rafa Benitez, January 9 2008.
"I would like to ask the Premier League why is it that Liverpool always play the most fixtures away from home in an early kick-off, following an international break? We had more than the top clubs last season and we have four already to prepare for this season. It's going to be very difficult for us to win the Premier League because the other teams are so strong, but I want our supporters to know that despite the disadvantages we have, we will fight all the way" - Rafa Benitez, August 23 2007.
"We will analyse it and talk with the Premier League. We will see how to stop this situation, but if you play on Tuesday, for example, in an international break, it will be easier. In the Champions League, if you play on Wednesday, you must play on Sunday. In Spain it's like this. The television companies decide on early kick-offs on Saturday, so someone needs to talk to them as well. If you want your teams at the top of the Champions League, then protect them" - Rafa Benitez, September 17 2007.
And For Those That Missed It...
Said Rafa at the end of his ramble, which clocked in at just under five minutes and F365's transcript of which stretched to 1,002 words:
"I would rather not talk too much about this, though, when we have an important game ahead."
In The Cold
From The BBC Website's ever reliable Gossip Column:
'Argentina manager Diego Maradona set off a fire alarm at the Radisson Edwardian hotel in Manchester at 1700 GMT on Sunday by puffing on a Havana cigar. The alert led to 200 guests being evacuated, among them the Chelsea squad ahead of their trip to Manchester United. (The Sun)'
We know it didn't exactly look like they'd shown up, but we're pretty sure Chelsea were halfway through a tanning at 1700 GMT on Sunday.
New Paper, New Leaf
Exciting times at The Daily Mail, as this morning they unveil their big (in more ways than one) new signing Martin Samuel as their new Chief Sports Writer.
Setting aside for a second his question 'Where, for instance, is Chelsea's equivalent of Jonny Evans...? (well, Don Fabio seems to rate Michael Mancienne, even if you don't old bean), it seems that, with a new gig, Martin has cruelly cast aside those he previously held up high.
Regular readers of both Mediawatch and Samuel's old journal The Times will know that Fat Frank was the apple of Martin's eye. From The Times on May 1, 2008 (and this is just a sample):
'What a player. What a man. What an absolute diamond of a footballer. The critics, the haters, they cannot touch Frank Lampard now. Not after last night. Not after that penalty. He won, they lost. He stood tall, they skulked in the background.'
However, the following is from Samuel's opening offering for the Mail this morning:
'Where are the players that are coming through, where are the thrusting rivals for Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba or Deco, men whose days in the sun are surely numbered?'
Oh Martin - what has he done to wrong you so?
Outstanding
Mediawatch has suffered along with everyone else during the recent cold snap but at least the fog over Manchester provided a ray of relief as it prevented the BBC from frittering away more of the licence fee on flying Andrew Cole south to the capital in order to provide his insight on recent developments.
In a remarkable act of persistence, the Beeb instead served up Cole from their Manchester studio - a decision that they may have come to regret after Cole spent most of the interview playing with his earpiece and confirming he knew as little as the average punter dragged off the streets and invited to speak to the nation.
"What's the inside word at Manchester United? Have you had a word with your neighbour Rio Ferdinand?" enquired presenter Manish Bhasin in a gentle opening that should have got the ball moving swiftly.
Err, not quite.
"No, I've not," responded the man with two names.
Having then imparted the sage observation that Chelsea's trip to Old Trafford should be considered "an important game" and made the errant prediction that "Rio should play", an undeterred Bhasin seized on Cole's remark that "United aren't playing as well as they can do" to ask, "So why aren't they playing to their potential?"
"Who knows?" responded a helpful Cole.
Not one for giving up, Bhasin changed tack and switched focus to the week's talking point. "You know all about the mind games involved in these big games, what did you think of Rafa's outburst?" he probed.
Cole's response can only be described as the best of the week:
"When I sat down and listened to it I was really surprised. It looks like something has really wrangled (sic) with him."
You don't say.
Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow
Soon to make a transfer to The Times, one of Patrick Barclay's final farewell gifts to The Sunday Telegraph was a column this weekend that proved there are few pundits in the trade who can match his prescience.
Headlined as 'Michael Carrick holds the key to Manchester United superiority', Barclay's offering continued to include such assurances as 'We can look forward to seeing today how his subtlety can be effective in a hectic midfield' and 'Carrick can expect to be central in every sense, for midfield is the area to watch'.
The name of Ryan Giggs, who took Carrick's place for the match with Chelsea, did not receive a mention.
Prediction Of The Weekend
As headlined by The Daily Mirror:
'Didier Drogba can save Chelsea - By Mark Lawrenson'
A Change In Tune
"For me, the Ivory Coast striker is the key to Chelsea's season" - Lawro, January 10.
'KEY MAN: Goalkeeper Petr Cech' - Extract from the Chelsea section of Lawro's team-by-team preview, BBC Website, August 12.
Lawrenson's description of 'the performances of the £24million striker over the rest of this season as more crucial to the club than the ever-dependable John Terry' marked a change in tune in a more respect. As recently as three weeks ago during a commentary stint on BBC Radio Five Live, Lawro responded to the question of what Chelsea were missing without Drogba with the emphatic answer: "Nothing".
A Transfer Update
"I stress we are not promoting the sale of Barry Ferguson and to say we are a selling club is ridiculous. I repeat: I have no intention of promoting the sale of anyone else" - Rangers chairman David Murray, January 8.
"I realise this is a sensitive issue but I'm not going to be made the scapegoat here. Martin Bain (Rangers chief executive) asked me to find possible buyers for Barry Ferguson and a number of other players.
"Martin was simply doing his job, a job he's very good at. It's the kind of thing that goes on at every club in Britain at this time of year. It only came about because I phoned him to discuss the situation with one of the young players there, Jordan McMillan.
"When we'd finished talking about that he asked me to see what I could do about finding clubs for Barry and a few others. Had I not made the call about Jordan we'd probably never have talked about anything else. But I will not be the only agent who has had this discussion with Rangers. I know for a fact that I'm not" - Ferguson's agent Willie McKay, January 12.
Slight Difference Of Opinion
'Roy Hodgson has refused to rule out a shock move to become Norway's new boss..."No one has been in touch but it's a job that would interest me if I was free. At the moment I'm contracted to Fulham, so if they're looking for someone now I think my situation would rule me out. I enjoy my job here at Fulham but you can never be certain what tomorrow brings."' - The Sun, January 10.
'Fulham boss Roy Hodgson last night turned his back on Norway saying he wants to stay at Craven Cottage for the rest of his career..."Norway is a job that could interest me if I was free to take it. But I'm contracted to Fulham. They have treated me very well and I have never entertained thoughts of breaking my contract with them. I fully intend to stay with Fulham and hopefully they will be as happy with me as I am with them. I once made the mistake of breaking a contract with a very good club, FC Copenhagen, to go to Italy and I wouldn't do so again."' - The Daily Mirror, January 10.
Least Accurate Quote Of The Day
"The years have been kind to Rod" - An 'onlooker' at Rod Stewart's 64th birthday party must have been 'onlooking' at someone else.
'Chance For Some Free Vol-Au-Vonts' Story Of The Day
'A bride from Eastern Europe who is marrying in London is advertising for "decent" guests to fill her side of the church. The Ukrainian woman's family are all at home, and only her parents can be at the ceremony. So the woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, has posted a free ad on classifieds website Gumtree looking for 30 people to sit with her. She also wants volunteers to be bridesmaids, groomsmen and ushers. The woman says in the advertisement: "I'm having a large mixed wedding of about 150 people. My partner has loads of family around to invite to the wedding. Unfortunately for me, my family are all in Ukraine so they all can't make it. Only my mum and dad will be there." Volunteers have to send a photograph and write about themselves, but in return they get invited to the reception' - The BBC Website.
Thanks very much to today's Mediawatch spotter Gareth Friel. If you spot something that belongs on this page, mail theeditor@football365.com.
