Mediawatch

Beatt It
James Beattie, November 8, 2008: "My long-term future is here and I would be happy to finish my career at this club. I've no plans to go anywhere. I came here to get us back in the Premier League - and hopefully this season that's what we'll do."

James Beattie: January 13, 2009: "I'm delighted to have signed for Stoke City."


Bizarre Headline Of The Day
On the back page of the Daily Mail: 'The Best Players In The World (and Xavi)'.

That's three times La Liga, Champions League and Euro 2008 champion Xavi. Yep, he's rubbish.


Cat Out Of Bag
According to The Sun: 'ARSENE WENGER is fuming with Nicklas Bendtner even though the Dane grabbed a late winner against Bolton. Arsenal boss Wenger was steaming after learning Bendtner gave Bolton the Gunners team three hours before kick-off on Saturday.'

So with William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Cesc Fabregas, Eduardo, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott all injured, Bendtner revealed to Bolton that remaining fit centre-backs Johan Djourou and Kolo Toure would feature and the remaining four senior midfielders would play ahead of untested substitutes Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Amaury Bischoff. Oh and that Wenger would opt for Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor ahead of a man who had not scored a Premier League goal since September.

With that kind of inside information, no wonder Bolton almost snatched a 0-0 draw.


Yellow Peril
"I did everything I could not to get yellow cards but then I got another one," says Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

For the record, Fellaini has committed 67 fouls - more even than perennial record fouler Kevin Davies - in 17 Premier League games this season.


More From Martin
Say what you like about Mr Martin Samuel - and we do - you can't accuse him of not earning his money.

As well as his treatise on the United v Chelsea game on Monday in the Daily Mail, he offered another fulsome column about the fiscal woes currently sweeping the world.

'Michael Ballack earns £121,000 per week playing for Chelsea, which many see as excessive. He is 32 and his contract expires at the end of this season. So, if Roman Abramovich needs to cut costs in times of recession and does not think Ballack is value for money, he can let him go in June and it will cost him...Nothing...

'This is what separates football from the rest. Each season, perhaps a third of the most expensive employees can be released without cost. This is every managing director's dream.'

Quite so. Far be it for Mediawatch to suggest that this idea occured to the top brass at The Times, but here are two stories from The Guardian:

'Sunday Telegraph football columnist Patrick Barclay is leaving the paper to join the Times...It is understood that Barclay's Times salary will be in the region of £100,000 to £150,000' - December 5, 2008.

'The Daily Mail has hired chief football correspondent Martin Samuel from the Times...industry sources have told MediaGuardian.co.uk that he will be paid a salary in excess of £400,000' - September 17, 2008.


Exclusively Yours
Quite how Alan Nixon is claiming an exclusive in the Daily Mirror on Tuesday with the news that Hugo Rodallega has received a work permit to join Wigan is way beyond Mediawatch. We read it on the PA newswire at 3.15pm on Monday afternoon.


Pseud's Corner
Robin Bairner on Goal.com: 'The beauty of this goal was the speed and grace with which it was achieved, and which is next to impossible to convey in mere words. Gourcuff's play was as much a natural phenomenon and was as beautiful as the Northern Lights, as he sparkled and shone on an evening that would have the French media salivating 'Zidanesque!' come full time.'

A good goal, we grant you...but really?


Dead In The Water
"The situation is that we had some talks with Kris and his advisers and we were miles apart. And, as a result of that, the talks were concluded and there wasn't any agreement in place. We felt we had made a good offer and they're entitled to ask what they want and we respect that, but that's it dead as far as I'm concerned" - Alex McLeish on the Kris Boyd deal, January 8.

"Boyd doesn't even travel to check out Birmingham and meet us face-to-face. I'm disappointed at this but not half as much as at his agent's demands. On hearing them, all the blood drains from my face and ends up in my feet, while my stomach lurches in shock. There's not another club in the Championship, and even some in the Premier League, who could offer what we have" - Karren Brady on the Kris Boyd deal, January 9.

"I'm aware that they have talked to Karren again so it's not dead until it's dead, if you know what I mean" - Alex McLeish on the Kris Boyd deal, January 11.


F**king Mental Non-Football Story Of The Day
'A Texas death row inmate with a history of mental problems pulled out his only good eye and told authorities he ate it. Andre Thomas, 25, was arrested for the fatal stabbings of his estranged wife, their young son and her 13-month-old daughter in March 2004. Their hearts also had been ripped out. He was convicted and condemned for the infant's death. While in the Grayson County Jail in Sherman, Thomas plucked out his right eye before his trial later in 2004. A judge subsequently ruled he was competent to stand trial. A death-row officer at the Polunsky Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice found Thomas in his cell with blood on his face and took him to the infirmary. "Thomas said he pulled out his eye and subsequently ingested it," agency spokesman Jason Clark said Friday' - AP.


Quote Of The Day
"Bellamy was ranting and raving but not making a lot of sense" - a Toon 'insider' on an alleged clash between Craig Bellamy and Shay Given.

Rumour Of The Day
'Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's disdain for the FA has been deepened yet further by learning that the man responsible for handing Patrice Evra a four-game ban recently is an Arsenal season-ticket holder' - The Daily Mail.

Thanks to today's Mediawatch spotter Duncan West. If you see anything that belongs on this page, mail us at theeditor@football365.com