Another Spat

AS A newspaper reporter involved in football you can rarely beat a story where one Premier League manager appears to be having a pop at another.

Last summer's spat between Martin O'Neill and Rafa Benitez was priceless.

And if you read some of this week's papers you'd have put your house on Villa's emanently quotable Irishman opening up a war of words with Mark Hughes of Manchester City.

But I think not.

In fact, although it was written as such, I think O'Neill and Hughes were in almost total agreement with each other over Manchester City's transfer funds.

Here is how the tale was reported: "MARK HUGHES has hit back at Martin O'Neill's claims that mega-rich Manchester City could "explode" the transfer market."

Hit back? More like: 'responded to questioning'.

Still I think that: "Mark Hughes agrees with Martin O'Neill that Manchester City could have a major impact on the transfer market in January" wouldn't have sold many papers.

"O'Neill," the article continued: "is worried Hughes will be able to outbid everyone next month and says City are offering twice as much as other clubs for players."

Again not so. O'Neill will already be aware of whether City have outbid him for players such as Roque Santa Cruz in terms of the personal terms on offer.

And I suspect he will be weeks down the line of Plan B.

The background to the story was this:

Last Tuesday, down at Bodymoor Heath, I asked Martin about his scouting network and how far his plans were advanced for January.

He brought Manchester City into the discussion by suggesting that they could, quite possibly, change one or two club's plans- particularly Chelsea's.

"I am only going on what everyone is reading, I have no inside track. But you get the impression: 'credit crunch? What credit crunch?'", he had said.

"If the rumours are true, that they are talking about paying twice as much for players, then that might change the whole dimensions of everything," he added.

And what did Hughes have to say in reply?

"Martin's comments are shaped by what he reads in the media", he said.

Well, isn't that exactly what O'Neill said he was doing?

Hughes continued: "The point I'm trying to make is that, OK, we may be able to spend money other teams can't, but what we may well do is stimulate the market and that could be a positive for others."

Errrrrm, again, isn't that exactly what O'Neill said?

Still, I've a lot of time for Hughes. Many years ago when he was a newly appointed manager of Wales he was made available for a telephone interview by the Welsh FA from their Cardiff headquarters.

He was polite, extremely well spoken and eager to devote his time to a Birmingham reporter questioning him on Mark Delaney's worth to Villa and to the national side.

I've never forgotten that.

Anyway, must move on.... I've got a story to file........

"Martin O'Neill today attacked Gary Megson's choice of pre-match sandwich......."