Bonkers old week in FFT world, what with the transfer deadline and Keegan leaving and Keegan coming back and Keegan leaving and Curbishley leaving and some blokes from Abu Dhabi arriving. WeâÂÂve barely had time to speak. But we have had time to listen. Because thatâÂÂs what we do.
Big noises coming out of the north-east this week, many of them expletive. While a cartoon of the baying mob outside ShearerâÂÂs Bar, sorry, St Jamesâ Park would have a big speech bubble full of angry exclamation marks, the thought bubble coming from the boardroom would be all question marks â about how to resolve a situation theyâÂÂd all blundered into together.
Kevin Keegan had made clear his belief in the rehabilitation of Joey Barton by playing him at Arsenal. When the board tried to flog young Joe â not in a cat-oâÂÂ-nine-tails way, in a get-orf-moy-laahnd way â instead of concentrating on hiring some nice new players, King Kev blew his rapidly greying top.
"If you go, I go. If you don't, I might go anyway"
Anger begat argument begat if-he-goes-I-go begat fair-enough-then. At which point, contracts were studied, and to everyoneâÂÂs embarrassment it was realised that however the marriage was dissolved, it would end in compensation one way or another, KK having agreed to pay a seven-figure sum if he walked away (again).
Hence the confusion over whether he jumped or was pushed, and the ongoing âÂÂdiscussionsâ which werenâÂÂt so much âÂÂCan we make it work?â as âÂÂHow do we get out of this with the most possible dignity?â This being Newcastle United, donâÂÂt expect too much of it. Pity poor Gus Poyet if he comes to Toon; itâÂÂs to be hoped the fans donâÂÂt vent upon him their righteous anger over the whole sorry mess.
As one era ends with an entire squad transfer-listed on deadline day, as NewcastleâÂÂs effectively were on Monday, so another one starts with an entire squad of January transfer targets at the northâÂÂs other great comedy club, Man City. The new owners were quick to point out who was on their post-Christmas list, naming LiverpoolâÂÂs Torres, ArsenalâÂÂs Fabregas and â most deliciously for fans and journos alike â Manchester UnitedâÂÂs Ronaldo. Which begs the question why they didnâÂÂt irk the entire Fab Four by targeting a glamorous young Chelsea player, like⦠erm⦠ah.
City did of course put in a phone call to London, with an amusingly newsworthy attempt to âÂÂhijackâ Man UnitedâÂÂs painfully drawn-out signing of Dimitar Berbatov. As it was, the hijack happened at Manchester Airport, with the Bulgarian bundled into a strange car (Sir AlexâÂÂs) and driven off to a distant quayside building (Old Trafford, via Carrington and an unusually long medical) without the permission of his parent (club).
Little Dimitar tries to blend into the background
Still, while many in N17 and beyond hoped Spurs would brassneck it out and refuse to allow the player to join United, there are contented murmurs from the Tottenham board. They may have lost a striker, but that wasnâÂÂt unexpected; whatâÂÂs pleasing for them is that theyâÂÂve emerged on the moral high ground, forced to sell by a sulking player in cahoots with a rule-bending buying club. And they got the money they wanted â which will probably, despite the squeals of the Sevilla suits, end up in Iberia in January.
City, of course, forced UnitedâÂÂs hand by having their own Berbatov bid accepted. This ended up weakening a key rival for a European slot, but it appears to have been made with genuine intent. It was only later that the bids began to resemble a drunk teenager on Championship Manager, with our personal favourite being the attempt to lure the larger Ronaldo to Eastlands.
On to the international break, and folk have been queuing up to have a pop at Fabio Capello. Proof that this isnâÂÂt only the English way came in our video interview of Ruud GullitâÂÂs damning-with-faint-praise précis of FabioâÂÂs functional football, while Martin Peters exclusively told us that weâÂÂre no nearer knowing CapelloâÂÂs best team than we were nine months ago â and arguably, neither is he.
What we do know is that England didnâÂÂt practise any offensive set-pieces AT ALL before the Czech friendly. It didnâÂÂt seem to do the team any harm on the night, considering the Three Lions roared loudest from dead-ball situations, and we think itâÂÂs all part of FabioâÂÂs masterplan. See, the game against Croatia might be so tight that it comes down to one goal. And if that goal comes for England from a set-piece that the Croats are completely unable to prepare for, who laughs last? ItâÂÂs only a theory, butâ¦
Tight-lipped Capello: "Don't tell him, Pike!"
We do know some things for certain, though. Want some knowledge to impress your football friends? Right: tomorrow, Spain could equal the Germansâ record unbeaten run in World Cup qualification. They havenâÂÂt lost in 35 qualifiers since 1993, when they were done by Denmark. Still, they shouldnâÂÂt get too cocky: however easily they qualify, just like England, they always bottle it when they get to the finals. DonâÂÂt they?
Also, Henrik Larsson might win his 100th cap for Sweden tomorrow in Albania, which would make him the fifth Swedish centurion (behind bonkers goalie Thomas Ravelli, Sheffield Wednesday stalwart Roland Nilsson, the authentically-named Bjorn Nordqvist and Niclas Alexandersson â who played for Wednesday, Everton and West Ham without anybody noticing). And which country has the most centurions? The USA, with 11 of 'em.
Right, Jedi, you have your information. At the risk of enraging the Government by encouraging drinking, get yourself down the pub and tell your mates you know something they donâÂÂt. And hope they havenâÂÂt read this blog tooâ¦
