Mediawatch: Ricardo Rodriguez to Arsenal?
Date published: Wednesday 25th January 2017 8:15
Transfer tales
Sky Sports is a huge organisation with a network of journalists who have sources at clubs, including players and managers, so they should be on top of the transfer window. They know what’s happening and what isn’t happening, or at least have access to those who do.
Which all makes feature pieces such as ‘Which January transfers could happen?’ really, really weird. Especially when they are based solely on Football Whispers’ algorithm.
Mediawatch could go on all day, but we’re far too busy moaning about not having a website. Instead, we’ll leave you with this nugget:
According to their feature, Arsenal are three times more likely to sign Ricardo Rodriguez in January than Burnley are to sign Robert Snodgrass. That’s despite Sky Sports themselves revealing that an offer for Snodgrass has been accepted.
Our sources can exclusively reveal that Football Whispers is a pile of….
The revolution starts here
Liverpool have a chance to reach the League Cup final on Wednesday evening, so it’s no surprise that The Sun’s Merseyside man Phil Thomas is championing the importance of the competition.
Anyone else think Thomas might be protesting a little too much when he says:
‘Fergie’s United revolution only really kicked into gear when they beat Nottingham Forest in the 1992 final before ending their 26-year title drought.’
Manchester United won the FA Cup in 1990, the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991 and the UEFA Super Cup that same year. But it was definitely that League Cup a year later that started the revolution.
Getting the old band back together, with David Moyes.
‘Steven Pienaar: Sunderland sign South African midfielder’ – BBC Sport, August 20.
‘Sunderland sign former Everton striker Victor Anichebe on deal until the end of the season’ – Daily Mirror, September 2.
‘Sunderland’s David Moyes believes Jack Rodwell will respond to his tough love’ – Newcastle Chronicle, January 17.
‘Sunderland transfer news: Everton duo Phil Jagielka and James McCarthy linked’ – Newcastle Chronicle, January 18.
‘Joleon Lescott reunites with David Moyes after signing for Sunderland’ – Guardian, January 23.
‘Sunderland boss Moyes keen to reunite with Everton duo Oviedo and Gibson’ – Daily Mail, January 24.
Anyone got James McFadden’s number?
Right of reply
It’s not a usual source of Mediawatch material, but in the last edition of Private Eye they suggested that former Leicester striker Alan Smith had lost his gig at the Daily Telegraph because Leicester City had gone a bit sh*t after winning the Premier League title.
Cue a superb reply from Smith in the new edition:
‘Sir,
You claim in edition 1435 (Street of Shame, p8) that I was ditched by the Telegraph because I had outlived my usefulness now my old club Leicester City is struggling again after winning the league.
I have to point out, however, that of the 20 years I wrote for the paper, Leicester had been pretty crap for the first 19, barring a successful spell in the late 90s. How I survived all those fallow years must therefore be classed a mystery.
Despite this small oversight, I remain a loyal subscriber to the Eye.
Up the Foxes!
Alan Smith.’
Mediawatch’s opinion that Smith is the goodest of all the ex-footballer good eggs has not been swayed.
Read on to find out more!
Mediawatch is saddened to report that clickbait culture has gone so far that footballers are now talking in that style. Here’s Nottingham Forest’s Ben Osborn discussing his winner against Brentford:
“The other lads were asking to take the free-kick – I had to be strong and say I wanted it.
“They didn’t know what was coming next.”
Shameless.
Worst thing ever… no really
‘Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez text message conversation revealed! [HILARIOUS SPOOF]’ – Daily Star.
– Deliberately misspelling ‘Coquelin’ as ‘Cockelin’? Yes.
– Mocking Ozil’s eyes? Yes.
– Mocking the accents of foreigners? Yes.
– All the emojis you can eat? Yes.
Make it stop.
Slight difference of opinion
At 8am on Wednesday, The Daily Mirror’s transfer live blog headlined on the claim that Liverpool are in discussions over a deal for Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho.
It might have been worth having a word with Mirror Group employee James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo yesterday.
@BrazilBoysLFC Yes, if you want me to. It's rubbish
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) January 24, 2017
Just talk to each other.
News just in…
‘It’s Jozze Mourinho’ – Daily Star.
Yes that’s right, the Star have spoken to sources and discovered that human being Jose Mourinho does in fact sleep. Wait until they found out he breathes just like us too.
Has Charles Sale had a pop at Gary Neville today: A regular feature
Yes. Yes he has.
The glorious return of acewatch
‘Spotted: Forgotten Chelsea ace pictured at team dinner following return to club’ – Metro.
It’s Kenedy, and Mediawatch can’t fathom why it’s newsworthy that he’s out for dinner with his Chelsea teammates given that his loan spell ended six weeks ago.
The glorious… erm, start of iconwatch
‘Better than Lampard & Zola: Chelsea icon claims Hazard will become club’s greatest EVER’ – Metro.
Erm, Joe Cole is not a Chelsea icon, guys.
Recommended reading of the day
Ed Aarons on Ousmane Dembele’s transfer.
Michael Cox on the “big man” role.
Adam Bate with Peter Hyballa.
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