TV And Outside Influences

The phone calls go something like this:

'Hi H. Red-nosed Knight here. Listen, we've not had you much this season, so I've not been able to get any favours done'

' Yeah, shame that Knight, I enjoy games at your place'

' Me, too. I understand you've got the big one at Eastlands?'

'Well, they call it the Etihad these days'

'Yeah whatever, daft name for a stadium if you ask me. I need that team from London out of the race. Not bothered if City win. We'll take care of Arsenal.'

' How can I help?'

'Well, there's bound to be some dodgy incident but if there is don't send any City players off, we need them all on to make sure they win. If there's any problems give them a pen. If there's something that needs action say you didn't see it and let the FA deal with it. Got a man on the inside there. We managed to wangle getting Kompany red carded in the Cup match, but they've not lost in the league so I need them short-handed for a while, especially up front.'

' Leave it with me Knight, I'll see what I can do, but you might need some more help'.

' Well I've got talk rubbish in my pocket and as you know Agent Nev is now the voice of the airwaves so no problem there either'.

'Looks like you've got all bases covered then, mate. Take care, mate'

It could happen couldn't it?

As the English football world is scared to death of City with their spending power taking control of the game, every little thing is getting more and more scrutinised and every little advantage that can be given to other Clubs is being provided.

It is astonishing that the FA looks at these things in isolation. Whatever the feelings are about Balotelli, Parker gave the referee five chances to go into his pocket and he only needed to do it twice. If he had, then Parker would have been off the field and the rest would have been history.

I suspect that this will galvanise City even further and rather than weaken City it will make them even more determined. Dzeko gets his chance to play four matches running now, subject to injury, and it provides a great platform for him to get his scoring boots back on.

As 'Arry prepares for a life on bread and water and Fergie sticks his oar in anywhere and everywhere, we even now have Smalling, whoever he is saying City will crumble.

Let's wait and see eh?

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