Saturday, Nov 12
PREMIER LEAGUE players in England earn about 17 times the amount of their counterparts in Scotland, according to calculations in a report today.
I don’t put this down to Scottish thrift but it does emphasise a whole world of difference in appeal.
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While the English PL flourishes to such a degree that home-bred players are becoming a bit of a rarity, in Scotland it seems all too easy to make the first team.
There was more than a hint of the differing status of our nations in last night’s Wembley international.
Sunday, Nov 13
WHEN Bosnian captain Edin Dzeko yanks down Kyriakos Papadopoulos’ shorts in today’s World Cup qualifier, it struck me that the Greek’s underwear looked a little grubby.
If ever proof was needed that men in combat are wont to lose their senses, and trousers, it is here in slow motion slapstick.
There was a time when a schoolboy doing this kind of thing, probably at rugger, would have received six of the best — on his backside.
Boringly, former Man City striker Dzeko is only sent off and so is Papadopoulos. The result was a score drawer.
Monday, Nov 14
SAMIR NASRI says Man City boss Pep Guardiola banned his players from having sex after midnight, even before a morning off from training.
George Best must be turning in his grave. How on earth could Guardiola enforce it — post one of his staff at the end of the bed?
Has the Spaniard any evidence to suggest that players are affected in training?
Wobbly at the knees, daydreaming or worn out, that kind of thing. They should be so lucky!
I’d think the opposite is more likely. City wives and girlfriends could march on the Etihad demanding their late-night rights, I suppose.
Tuesday, Nov 15
NO sign of Daniel Sturridge against Spain tonight — and he might wonder whether his future in England’s starting XI hasn’t been damaged by scorer Jamie Vardy.
I think Sturridge is a wonderful player but even I could recognise Vardy’s value on the counter-attack.
Maybe Gareth Southgate might favour Vardy in many circumstances, just like Jurgen Klopp prefers others at Liverpool.
Sturridge must keep believing class will tell.
Wednesday, Nov 16
GARETH SOUTHGATE’S trial lasted four matches and I wonder whether any other international manager has ever had to go through such a public interview.
FA chairman Greg Clarke has now increased the selection panel with yet another ‘expert’, Graeme Le Saux. Just to be sure.
Southgate has been careful not to assume he will get the job, while many hint he’ll earn £1million less than Sam Allardyce’s deal.
Serve them right if he said ‘No’.
Thursday, Nov 17
WEST HAM’S ex-chairman Eggert Magnusson is quoted as saying the London Stadium should be knocked down and rebuilt.
Magnusson wrote to the club denying he made some of the comments but, tellingly I think, doesn’t say which.
Are we supposed to listen to a man who demanded fresh, peeled fruit on his desk every day and had two cars run on the club?
Sorry, I nearly forgot, when he left we were over £100m in debt.
Friday, Nov 18
I WOULD be lying if I said Daniel Levy was a great friend. However, I respect the way his Spurs team plays and Saturday’s match promises to be a humdinger.
I am told season-ticket prices will double at Tottenham’s rebuilt ground, while at the London Stadium ours have hardly changed. We have 10,000 under-16s paying £99 and 8,000 adults paying £289.
I wonder if Levy has plans to do something like this?
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