Redknapp keen to add fuel to the fire

Harry Redknapp has been all over the press today in his condemnation of Joey Barton, saying much along the lines of "'ere, he meant to do him you know", even managing to link the incident in the same breath as Ben Thatchers elbow on him:

"Barton deliberately did Pedro. He deserved a red card and
anyone who says it's an accident needs their heads looking at. Pedro was running
the game before he got hurt and I'm annoyed because Pedro is a good player and a
good professional who doesn't go around kicking anyone. But now he's copped it
twice against City. He's the one suffering here."

Redknapp for me is pretty much a rent-a-quote type of guy, more than happy to play things out in the press (note his 'interest' in Distin after the game, an argument that it is tapping up?) and seems to have an opinion on anything and everything - much the opposite of son Jamie, who has yet to offer anything remotely insightful on Sky.

Stuart Pearce, quite rightly, has come out strongly in support of Barton today and talk of a 'witch-hunt' is not far wrong when excerpts such as this in The Mirror are being published:

"It's odd he should drag his heels when somebody else's are
available.
There are those who believe the tackle was accidental. They also
believe in fairies, Father Christmas and the cheque's in the post".

Chris Bailey wrote a good piece in todays MEN which echoed a litle of what I was suggesting yesterday in that Barton has become the latest 'pantomime villain' for the press, and The Guardian also back this up, touching on the issue of the disappointment the City board feel over this.

The disappointing thing about Redknapp's comments are that he is accusing a player of doing something when he has no knowledge of whether he intended to hurt Mendes or not. To suggest a player deliberately set out to 'do' another player are comments are of an inciting and inflammatory nature, and imagine his reaction if Stuart Pearce had come out after the game and accused Mendes of acting up? Incidentally, Mendes is unlikely to miss any further action.

Stuart Pearce has provided a measured, eloquent response on the subject, saying:

“I think reputations are created around people, sometimes
justly and sometimes unjustly.
“I have to stand in front of the Press after
every single match and answer questions on all kinds of scenarios and quite
often it is clear that some of them have got together to explore an angle of
attack whether that be about a bit of talent, a diving incident, a foul or a
great save.
“There is normally one thing. At Portsmouth it was Joey, but
after reviewing the incident, the semi-nastiness and people trying to put words
into my mouth was unfounded. That disappointed me a great deal.”

Yet the press are only to happy to jump all over 'Arry's opinion and run along with it, regardless of the consequences it causes.

p.s. Still no footage of Barton's offensive gesture to be found.

St. Pedro of Mendes - We pray for you

We are sad to announce that just 1 week after the tragedy in Italy, football faces it darkest day yet, Pedro Mendes who announced that he had considered quitting the game after the Ben Thatcher incident earlier in the year he himself of course has never even contemplated a foul let alone made contact with someone in a contact sport, has what his own doctors described as a
'Bad Cut' he was said to be in 'some agony' .

All football in England has been cancelled and there are serious doubts whether it can recover from this horrific 'sporting collision' .
Joey Barton will be summarily executed at dawn for failing to spot that Pedro Mendes had stopped in full flight and whilst watching the game completely ignored the fact that he was about to stand on the stretcher fetish Portsmouth Midfielder. Harry Redknapp may or may not have commented to several media sources (does he ever keep a thought to himself) that shooting was too good for Barton and they should follow pol pots example and use a hammer and nail.

February 10th has been renamed Mendes day and all football fans are been encouraged to buy a stretcher pin badge in aid of the fallen hero, Bob Geldof may or may not be holding a mega concert as wembleys first ever gig.

On the positive side the best doctors money can buy are currently jetting in from the USA to apply a revolutionary technique called 'applying an elastoplast' .

The nation crosses it fingers.

Portsmouth Preview

Fratton Park 5.15pm Saturday - live on one of Sky's rip-off packages.

The first meeting of the two clubs since the infamous 'Pedro Mendes' incident which lifted the art of dirty cheating foreigners too a new high. Not only did poor Ben Thatcher get booked for the incident , Mendes even took up a hospital bed in a vain attempt to disguise his play acting.

Portsmouth will go into the game odds on favourites despite there recent poor form, in fact a quick look at the form guide combined with City been priced as high as 3-1 to the win the game , would have anybody who hasn't seen city in the last couple of games scratching there heads.

On the injury front it looks like Nicky Weaver will not shake off his hip injury, allowing Andreas Issakson to start and do his talking on the pitch in his bid to become city's number one. Dabo also looks unlikely to figure which may give Hamman a chance, to be fair to Didi he did show some flashes against Reading of the player we knew he could be. A big game for him if he starts.

The big question is who will Pearce go with upfront in a bid to end a scoring drought that is nearly at FIVE HOURS.

Talking of goals a chance for city to meet up with 'old friend' Andy Cole if he figures, from the stuff that I have seen written about him , he hasn't carried his excellent form from City to Portsmouth.

Match Prediction

0-1 , The pressure will mount on Pearce.