Trash

To avoid doubt, this is a visual metaphor for The Daily Mirror

Back after a day off yesterday.  Had a brief scan and it didn't look like I missed anything major - or even minor, really - today's not much different.

One story I would have had yesterday is the quotes from Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre on our alleged interest in him (alleged by him that is).  Today The Mail seem to take him at his word and say we'll open talks with Celtic next month.  The Herald tell a different story, with quotes from his agent:

CELTIC have had no approach from Manchester United for Emilio Izaguirre.

Senior figures at the club were baffled by weekend comments from the Honduran left-back claiming that Sir Alex Ferguson, the Old Trafford manager, had spoken to Parkhead directors about him and expected to have further discussions next month. ...

“Emilio fully intends to fulfil the contract that binds him to Celtic. Any alleged sale to an English club is not a reality,” said Marco Tulio Suazo, the Honduran’s agent.

The Mail and The Mirror both report that we're interested in Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona, with The Mirror going so far to say we've put a bid in.  The Mirror piece has to be the worst article I've seen for a while, and given the rubbish The Mirror print that's saying something.  First they tell us Barca can't sell to us because they don't want to sell him to a Champions League rival but further down they tell us that Barca want to give him to Arsenal as part of a deal for Fabregas.  Arsenal are still in The Champions League aren't they?  They also say that the reason they won't sell to us is because we won't put a buy-back clause in the contract.  Not the Champions League thing then, it's the buy back clause... make your mind up.  They then finish the article by randomly slagging off Bolton, claiming it would be "bizarre" if he were to sign for them.  Was the sports editor off last night, or did this piece of trash get past him.

More trash in The Mirror - they appear to have had a reporter following Wayne Rooney around Glastonbury all day.  Brilliant, if only Rooney had punched him.

Finally, also in The Mirror,  a few quotes from Sir Alex which they got from some League Managers Association podcast:

“At United, Giggs, Neville and Scholes. Even Phil (Neville) and Nicky Butt, guys who were the spirit of the club. They have remained part of what I see is Manchester United.

“And all the players I’ve had here have played a part in that.

“But when I see something happening I have to act. In the case of Nicky Butt and Phil Neville I had to release them because I was getting to the stage where I was terrified of talking to them. Telling them they were not playing a game.

“And it wasn’t fair to them. They were good players. Players that played a big part in the resurrection of Manchester United, no doubt about that.

“So when the time came for me to let them go, I knew it was cutting strings. Loyal strings. And I didn’t enjoy it.

“But my job is to manage Manchester United. My job is to produce results. I’m not any different from anybody else. I need results here. I’ll not be regarded here – and the club will not be regarded – in the same way if I was unsuccessful.