Kanu Miss It?
‘EVEN with the less than erudite mouths of Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand in the United team, can Wayne Rooney really be the clubs newest spokesman?
| What a Nwankwo! |
Its hard to believe, yet there he is, open-mouthed on all the back pages doing a passable impression of Uniteds unofficial shop steward Gary Neville as he tells the world that, despite evidence to the contrary, United are brilliant and can win it all.
Well, if they keep getting penalties like the one that saw them take a decisive lead against Newcastle yesterday, then the title is well within their tumbling grasp.
But a penalty still needs to be scored. Indeed, such are the vagaries of a footballing life that, as Nwankwo Kanu can attest, even a tap-in is no gimme.
Just in case anyone hasnt seen his wayward effort on goal – or has seen it and cant believe what theyve seen – the Guardian has a series of five shots which show how West Broms Nigerian striker contrived to miss an open goal from two yards out.
It proved costly, as West Brom lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough, so marking Bryan Robsons triumphant return to The Hawthorns with a defeat.
But while Kanus name is added to one of those TV montages of The Top Ten Misses of All Time, the Mail is of the opinion that the Premiership could all be over by Christmas.
The paper says the outcome of Chelseas away match at Arsenal on December 12 will decide the direction of the title, with half the season left to play.
While this is interesting news for a resurgent Manchester United, its pretty heartening for the sporting world beyond the gilded frame of the Premier League.
Sports like rugby league, coverage of which – such is the dominance of football in the papers can be found in the Express closer to a story on franchising a business than the back page proper.
And the news should be afforded more prominence, given that Great Britain have finally defeated the mighty Australians 24-12 – their first win over the world champions in three years.
Going into the game, no less than six of the GB squad had been on intravenous drips in a bid to rid the camp of a rampant flu virus.
Now restored to health, the team will be up for a repeat performance of this victory in the final of the Tri-Nations tournament, a contest which had included New Zealand.
And who knows, if they win, the rugby league players might make it to the back page unless Rooney wants to say something else or put his hair in a bun…’
Posted: 15th, November 2004 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
