By Myles Palmer
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AGENTS work closely with tabloid reporters.
Once upon a time reporters got stories from players, but now they get them from agents.
Agents make money by moving players around.
So their agenda is destabilisation, and hacks join in because it makes a good story
So July is always hell for managers, and that includes Arsene Wenger, the manager of the most stable club in England, and the most stable squad in England.
Arsene says its impossible to deny every story that comes out in the papers.
He’s said it before and he said it again on Sunday
He wants to focus on his games, and preparation for games. He said, “We have to concentrate on what we do. That is to prepare, practice and play.
“In England we are the world champions of rumours. If they organise a world championship of rumours, we have a great chance of winning.”
Arsene added, “I have said it 100 times, there is nothing to talk about. He will not go to Real Madrid. If that was true it would have happened a long time ago.”
If Arsene says, “He will not go to Real Madrid,” that is good enough for me.
OVERALL, I’M BORED with the Vieira saga.
When I heard that he was staying for one more year, I could have phoned friends with the news.
But I didn’t phone anybody.
I was sick of talking about it.
In fact, when I heard Vieira was staying, I was disappointed.
And I’ve since talked to a few people who share that view.
The phrase I hear most is, “I’m sick of it.”
25th July 2004.