BottledDog Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Neil Farrington - Taking Issue So farewell then to a transfer window about as transparent as the glass on a convent shower cubicle. Goodbye to a month of misinformation, broken promises, rumours, half-truths - and worse. And hello, at Newcastle at least, to spin-doctoring straight from the Alistair Campbell guide to talking up bad news. If it wasn't for the likes of Roy Keane - resourceful and ruthless in equal measure these past few weeks - why should we bother with the mid-season window at all? Judging from Aston Villa, its main purpose is for someone to get ripped off. But with messrs Boumsong and Ricketts coming up our way for silly money in Januarys past, let's not get too smug at seeing the Hammers pay Lucas Neill 70 grand a week and £7.5 million for Matthew Upson. Not when Newcastle and, albeit to a lesser extent, Middlesbrough flattered to deceive last month. Judging from the Magpies, the purpose of the transfer window is to confuse, infuriate and disappoint. How can a January begin with talk of buying Darren Bent, Peter Crouch (right) and Gareth Bale, and end with excuses for the failure to sign any striker and any left-back - even on loan? What's going on when a manager reflects on his efforts to buy "five or six" players one minute, then his most trusted journalist reports that United have "no transfer kitty" the next? How come said manager resists bringing any old "body" to the club, then insists a nobody - and Albert Luque, now below Academy kids in Newcastle's pecking order, is certainly that - does not leave? Does that manager expect us to believe him when he now says he is happy with a squad he never tired of telling us he was busting a gut to strengthen significantly in January? And why did he go from stating that Oguchi Onyewu (right) was "not a player I am trying to sign" to signing him in less than five days? The answer to the final question, given that Glenn Roeder is no liar, must be that he simply changed his mind. The worry is that panic changed it for him. But those other mysteries hint at miscommunication at best, and rifts at worst, between key figures at St James's Park. An unhappily recurring theme, it seems, and one from which Roeder's side will do well to divert us these next few months. Very well, given the enduring, inexcusable absence of a decent left-back and God forbidding injury to Obafemi Martins. For out of the murk, smoke and mirrors of a month of intrigue but too few incomers at St James's, one thing emerges crystal clear . . . Football wise, Newcastle are not nearly stronger enough now than they were on New Year's Eve. When it comes to playing the blame game, however, few clubs do it better. > source icNewcastle Quite a heavy swipe at the club, but it pretty much hits the mark. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garth Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Yeah! have to agree that analogy, I hope Roeder and Co sit up and take note!. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveItIfWeBeatU Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I see Neil Farrington has taken the gloves off and is telling it like it is. From his match report in the Sunday Sun on ICNewcastle: - "Steve Carr, who should not be in the side at right-back let alone filling in on the opposite flank, invited Brian McBride to put Fulham home and dry 17 minutes from time. Titus Bramble's enduring ability to ruin a decent display with a single aberration should have earned him a red card moments earlier." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I didn't think Farrington had it in him, he even has a little go at Oliver "What's going on when a manager reflects on his efforts to buy "five or six" players one minute, then his most trusted journalist reports that United have "no transfer kitty" the next?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottledDog Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I didn't think Farrington had it in him, he even has a little go at Oliver "What's going on when a manager reflects on his efforts to buy "five or six" players one minute, then his most trusted journalist reports that United have "no transfer kitty" the next?" Yup, couldn't help but sit up and have a laugh at that, well played Farrington. I hope Oliver get's the urge to have a go back in his next comedy column. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hibbits left foot Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Put simply the article exposes Roeder as the mendacioius yes man he always was, good for you Farrington! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooneyToonArmy Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 quite spot on by Farrington. Hopefully he can apply the same for his transfer rumour exclusives that turn out to be woefully inaccurate Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raconteur Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Was just wondering if someone could explain to a non-local some of the background about this reporter and his publication... I know enoguh to recognise the "most trusted reporter" as the much-despised Anal Oliver - does this Neil Farrington character write for a published paper or is icNewcastle an online-only thing? (I notice LoveItIfWeBeatU mentioned his match report that someone reproduced after the match, which was cutting to say the least) What I'm wondering is whether this sort of article will have any impact on the mandarins of St James' Park? I don't know enough to point fingers directly, but to paraphrase the Bard "something is rotten on the River Tyne" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nufc_geordie Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 ICNewcastle is the online version of the Evening Chronicle, Journal, Sunday Sun etc (the local papers). Oliver writes for the Cghronicle, Farrington writes in the Sunday Sun in the written press. All articles posted in the papers are normally put on the online version on icnewcastle.com. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raconteur Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 ICNewcastle is the online version of the Evening Chronicle, Journal, Sunday Sun etc (the local papers). Oliver writes for the Cghronicle, Farrington writes in the Sunday Sun in the written press. All articles posted in the papers are normally put on the online version on icnewcastle.com. Cheers for that So that particular piece appeared in print as well as electronically? I only ask because I feel to have an impact a story needs to be printed on paper... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkhead Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 so there are people who tell it like it is.. i was under the impression that local media is never critical on the manager or the chairman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nufc_geordie Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Yes that story was in print as well as electronically! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggs Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 "oh where are those knights in shining armour to free our club from the shackles of evil". oops got a bit carried away there but hopefully someone will come along and rid us of the tyrannt to let our club move in the right direction again .COME ON FAT FRED SPEAK TO THE FANS RE ASSURE US YOUR PLANS FOR OUR CLUB. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now