Tuesday Gossip

Tue 18 Oct 2011, 9:27AM
Posted by David Clayton

It’s funny watching how stories begin at source.



Yesterday’s Villarreal Press conference spawned a number of headlines in today’s media round-up and seeing and listening clever journalists sniff a story can be a fascinating process.

A good headline will draw people in, right? That's what it's really all about.

The moment a few eyes rolled back white like a shark about to attack its prey was when the question was asked to Roberto Mancini about a contract extension and whether negotiations were under way or not?

When the Blues boss responded ‘no’, a few fins popped out of the water – that’s not to say the questions asked aren’t valid because these guys have back pages to write, but a smart journalist can lead their quarry into deeper waters with a carefully staged Q&A.

Mancini, perhaps sensing where things were going added how happy he was at City and that he wants to stay here for several more years and continue the fine work he started just under two years ago.



<BLOCKQUOTE>


Tim Rich in The Independent notes how the City fans have backed the boss unequivocally when any problems have arisen and more than ever of late.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
David Anderson follows the thread in his feature ‘City can be best in the world’ and there is more of the same liberally sprinkled around the sports pages of the tabloids, as you’d expect.

However, regardless of the lion’s share of Mancini leads, we can’t end today’s round-up without picking up on Martin Blackburn’s headline in The Sun, ‘Killarreal’, just in case anyone had forgotten we have a crucial Champions League match this evening.

Focusing on Mancini’s praise of David Silva, he writes: “Silva, 25, has been in sparkling form for both club and country so far this season – and turned in a master class for Spain against Scotland last week.

“His boss Mancini believes the pint-sized star will soon be mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi and says he would not look out of place at Barcelona.”

Shhh... don’t tell everyone Roberto!

And besides, most City fans would probably suggest Lionel Messi will soon be mentioned in the same breath as David Silva…