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The Page That Is Ashamed Of That Effort
Symbolism
Mediawatch notes that Fabio Capello was at the Spurs v Chelski game last night, and we were reminded of some comments made by Don Fabio at an England fans' forum last month:
"I think it is very important to choose the captain for the World Cup qualification games, but I have to know not only the player but the man as well. He must be a symbol of the England team.
"To be that symbol he must be a good player, a good man and he has to represent the England team, always, in every situation."
Now, who was the chap in blue leading the Chelski players in bullying Mike Riley after the Cashley Cole 'tackle'.....?
Slight Difference Of Opinion
'Ashley Cole was given a yellow card for a late tackle on Alan Hutton' - Chelsea Official Website.
'Ashley Cole was yellow carded just before half-time for a high challenge on Alan Hutton that looked worse with every replay - red was widely anticipated but referee Mr Riley took the yellow option' - The Tottenham Hotspur Official Website.
Big, Big Games
We all thought we would miss Jose Mourinho when he left Chelski last year.
His arrogance, his outlandish statements and his lovely coat - where would our entertainment come from? This half-frog, half-human installed in his stead? Surely not.
How wrong we were.
After the shenanigans at Spurs last night, Grant stepped up and spouted forth:
"Every game in which we drop points is a big game. If we won would it have been a big game? We lost against Barnsley and it became a big game. Every game we drop points is a big game.
"If we'd lost other games, we wouldn't be in this position. Every game we win is a normal game. Every time we drop points is a big game."
Well Avram, you great paranoid toad you, it's probably because every time you drop points it's in a big game.
This season, Chelsea have only won one game against any other side in the top eight of the Premier League. Until you actually start, you know, winning big games, then this 'myth' is going to hang around like a bad smell.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T
"I didn't see it but the referee was very close and I saw everybody jump on him, including the Tottenham bench. I know when we are doing this everybody says we are not behaving right. We have a lot of respect for referees" - Avram Grant, March 19 2008.
"I don't blame the players for questioning the referee as the decision was unfair. They did it in the right way going to the referee. For 30 seconds they said something and then the game continued. What's wrong with this? They didn't do anything wrong" - Avram Grant, November 30 2007.
Learning Their Lesson
Also, presumably this is the same Chelsea who were fined £40,000 for their 'conduct towards referee Andre Marriner' in the game against Derby on November 24 last year.
And the same Chelsea who were fined £30,000 for their 'conduct of Chelsea players towards referee Mike Dean' in the game against Manchester United on September 23 last year.
And not forgetting the suspended £5,000 fine given to assistant Steve Clark for 'abusive and/or insulting words towards the match officials' in the same game.
Interesting way of showing respect.
Level Pegging
"United will definitely be worried about us, as we're the form side" - John-Arne Riise from The Sun.
Liverpool form from the last eight games: Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 1.
United form from the last eight games: Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 1.
Small Fry
"The first three years the manager has been here we have been to three finals so hopefully there will be another one this season in Moscow" - Jamie Carragher from Sky Sports.com.
Next time a player says they take the Carling Cup seriously, ignore them.
Least Surprising Sentence Of The Day
'It is understood that the transfer of Aliou Cissé from Birmingham to Portsmouth in 2004, handled by Willie McKay, the agent, is allegedly at the centre of the visit to St Andrew's carried out by the City of London Police' - The Times
Brown-Noser Of The Day
"I enjoyed the whole England set-up under Mr Capello and I had no problem with the rules he imposed. There's nothing wrong with a bit of discipline. If the boss tells you you have to do this and do that, eat together at certain times and there's a discipline, I will follow it. I like it. I think it's good. It will make us more of a group together" - David Bentley in The Sun.
Rumour Of The Day
'Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was blasted last night after it was revealed that he WAS in strife-torn Zimbabwe to strike business deals' - The Sun.
Runner-Up
'Councillors in Esher, Surrey, were angered when John Terry turned up for lunch in a High Street pizza restaurant. He parked in a disabled bay, choosing to pay a £60 fine, when locals say there was a 50p-an-hour car park around the corner' - The Times.
Forum Thread Of The Day
Toys You Wanted As A Kid But Never Got
Least Surprising Headline Of The Day
'Keane Goes Mental' - The Daily Mirror.
Headline Of The Day
'Sears Has Got Lottee Like Cottee' - The Sun. Yes, it's awful but yes, we liked it.
Worst Headline Of The Day
'Rocked Blues Are Robbied In 8-Goal Thriller' - The Daily Mirror.
Runner-Up
'I Fear Deal Is All Oba' - The Sun.
Non-Football Story Of The Day
'Older British holidaymakers are causing the sort of trouble normally associated with the younger generation, the Foreign Office has said. Over-55s are endangering their health by drinking too much alcohol and trying out dangerous sports such as bungee jumping on overseas trips, it warns. Excessive drinking has led to abusive behaviour from some fifty-somethings, according to the Foreign Office' - The BBC Website.
Thanks to today's Mediawatch spotters...oh, that would be nobody then. If you spot something that belongs on this page, mail theeditor@football365.com, putting 'Mediawatch' in the subject field.
