The National Anthem

The question on everybody's lips this morning: who precisely is bothered by Ryan Giggs and the rest of the Welsh contingent not singing the anthem?  Who, outside of The mail that is.  Yet even they use mealy-mouth passive language when mentioning it:

Giggs and fellow Welshmen Craig Bellamy and Joe Allen caused a row during their side's opening 1-1 draw against Senegal on Thursday by not singing God Save the Queen.

Did they "cause a row,"  or did the Daily Mail make an issue of it?  Let's just assume his goal scoring is good enough for The Mail.

The Sun have an odd juxtaposition in their reporting of the story:

Asked why he doesn’t sing, Giggs said: “It’s a personal thing.”

But Giggs insists he will have no problem shaking hands with Uruguay’s Luis Suarez after the race row with his Manchester United pal Patrice Evra.

Not sure I'm seeing the connection...

The Sun have some random comments from Sir Alex on qualifying from Champions League group stages:

“It’s fair to say we threw that one away. That won’t happen again next season.

“We’ll qualify from the group stages. I’ll make sure of it. European football is hugely important to us and we must compete for the biggest trophies.

“We need to make a statement — and show everybody last season was just a blip.”

And The Manchester Evening News have a piece on why the Glazers must back Sir Alex: 

And even after such a trophy-laden reign at Old Trafford, any retirement would surely be soured if his final years were spent looking up at Roberto Mancini’s side.

That would only be exacerbated by the knowledge that he had to take on the last great challenge of his career with one arm tied behind his back by those who control the purse strings above him.

That United managed to push last season’s Premier League title race to the final seconds took every ounce of Ferguson’s managerial expertise.

He was able to wring every last drop out of his squad to miss out on goal difference alone. And privately even he would accept that it would be too much to expect a repeat – especially against a City squad emboldened by success.

...

The all-Manchester battle for Arsenal’s want-away striker will serve as a perfect appetiser before both sides go head-to-head for the title again next season.

It would serve as a psychological boost to whoever wins his signature.

For Mancini it would be further confirmation of the growing power he craves at City.

For Ferguson it would be a sign that United are prepared to loosen the straightjacket to give him a fighting chance of ensuring his final years in management are spent leading the pack, rather than chasing it.

Always be wary of signing players for a "psychological boost" I say, sign them because they'll make us a better team.