Tale of the Tabs – Sunday 21st July

The Sunday Mirror

Newcastle in hot pursuit?

Continuing with the Newcastle theme, the paper bases its main transfer story by thinking of as many strikers as possible and then suggesting that they are all on the radar of Joe Kinnear. Bafetimbi Gomis, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Darren Bent, Loic Remy, Oscar Cardozo, Mirandinha and Geoff from Byker Grove are the names mentioned.

Again, Papiss Cisse is on the way out, although no mention of Zenit this time with Rubin Kazan, Anzhi, Dortmund and “several French clubs” all mentioned. This article makes me think that a) Papiss Cisse’s agent has been a busy bee and b) The ‘several French clubs’ don’t include PSG or Monaco. I am always slightly amazed when papers use this type of mass generalisation. Do they think that we won’t have heard of the clubs in question? Can they not be bothered to write them down? Or (most likely) have they just made it up to fill copy? Whatever the answer, it shows at best journalistic laziness and at worst a disdain for the reader.

The other main transfer story focuses on the players that seems to be sneaking under the radar this summer – Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas. May I take this opportunity first of all to thank Mr. Stretford for the story during the week about Wayne being “angered and confused” about his ‘treatment’. Purely marvellous comedy and theatre all around.

Wait a minute…it was serious?!

OK Wayne, let me spell it out for you. United want to sell you because van Persie is far better than you and so is Kagawa for that matter. Back to the Sunday Mirror story, Rooney will cost £30m, as will Fabregas. Lots of smiles expected if that all goes through, but not I imagine in North London…

The Daily Star on Sunday

It will surprise very few that the main stories again revolve around Messrs Fabregas and Rooney. Surprise, surprise, United are very keen to sign one and not so keen to keep the other. Onto more interesting news and fresh from missing out on Christian Beneteke, Spurs are after Roberto Soldado and Loic Remy, while Man City fancy Pepe to add some calmness and control to their defence. Indeed, both clubs are meant to be after Eduardo Salvio of Benfica as well.

Amusingly, Michael Carrick was the subject of enquiries from Arsenal and Galatasaray and Ashley Williams still finds himself linked with an improbable £12m move to Arsenal. Good work by his agent in keeping that story alive. Someone at the paper obviously read The Sunday Mirror last week, as they have lifted the Frank De Boer quote on a move to Liverpool for Christian Eriksen word for word – they even have the cheek to call it an exclusive as well! Shame on you Carl Eldridge!!

To summarise this week -, Rooney/Fabregas,going/staying …no-one has a clue in reality, but why let that get in the way of publishing anything??!