Guardian’s Daniel Taylor doesn’t deserve to write about Manchester United
In the past I’ve been quite critical of journalists and bloggers but I’ve come to realise that everyone needs to make a living, and just because I disagree with someone’s opinion doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re talking crap.
What I still can’t stand though, is complete fabrication. That is, pulling stuff from so far up your ass that you have to first shove your own head up your ass to look for it.
My blogger friends tell me pictures say a thousand words, so I’ll let the picture up top explain this practice (if you’re reading this in your feed reader, the picture is also at the bottom of this page. You’re welcome.).
Let’s take a look at today’s prime candidate for chief asshat: Guardian blogger Daniel Taylor.
Some of our Soccerlens readers will remember that I’ve taken issue with the Guardian many times over their reporting - it started with an article from Rob Smyth on Manchester United’s ‘failings’ before the start of last season (which lead to a frank email conversation and an amicable acquaintance - he’s a Manchester United fan after all) and continued deep into this past summer when Guardian bloggers (Daniel Taylor topping the list) ran NewsNow and their readers ragged with fabricated rumours. For me there’s a limit to what you can claim as truth - citing unverified rumours is one thing, pushing them as the truth is quite another (and creating stuff up is just … you know … stupid).
Today, Daniel Taylor wrote an article titled: “Ferguson fears £17m recruit is a year off pace“. He’s talking about Manchester United’s new signing, Anderson, and has this to say in the second paragraph:
Sir Alex Ferguson had angry words with the entire team after Wednesday’s Carling Cup defeat at home to Coventry City, but he was particularly aggrieved about Anderson’s ineffectual display and is concerned at how the new arrival is struggling to make a favourable impression.
Later on in the article we learn that Ferguson has said no such thing - rather, Daniel Taylor believes he must have said it, because he thinks that because Anderson didn’t score, he didn’t play well. And because he’s Daniel Taylor, Fergie must think the same thing. Duh…
“Ferguson is entitled to be dismayed that his expensive recruit has been unable to make a positive impact in his first four months at Old Trafford.”
Usually, I’d let such bollocks pass - I’ve seen too much of this from Daniel Taylor and the Guardian to be bothered anymore - but today’s piece stuck with me, because at the time of reading, the Guardian article was #2 on the on Top Stories list in the general Football News category for NewsNow. The #3 article? A Sky Sports piece detailing an interview with Sir Alex Ferguson talking about his young Manchester United stars. Let’s see what he has to say about…Anderson, shall we?
“Pique was excellent on Wednesday. He was our best player along with Anderson. We’ll probably keep Simpson as he can play both full-back positions.
But I’m maybe looking at the rest going on loan as they need to play football.”
Words cannot describe the amusement I felt when reading these two articles, one after the other. For someone who writes as much about Manchester United, and especially someone who’s paid a lot of money by the Guardian to give his expert views on football, surely you could be relied upon to base your words on some sort of truth? I mean…come on!
There are only two possible explanations at this point. One, Daniel Taylor is a psychic with an inside track to what Sir Alex thinks, and therefore Fergie is lying. Two, Daniel Taylor pulled this one out of his ass and has shamed his ancestors (Guardian are shameless, I’m sure they don’t mind this one too much, if at all).
You be the judge of which one is the right explanation. From my end, I’ll just show the photo again:
- The Observer apologises to Chelsea manager Avram Grant for “making up false news”
- Comparing Carling Cup Squads - Arsenal vs Chelsea vs Liverpool vs Manchester United
- Call for Writers
- Write for Soccerlens
- Premier League Headlines: Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and more
Discussion - 14 Responses
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He is a bit of a tit isn’t he, Oliver Holt is another one, in fact I think I dislike him more.
Good article.
I read that Guardian article aswell today and I couldn’t agree more that it was complete rubbish.
I saw the game on Wednesday, and I must say Anderson was clearly our best player, and I just could not believe the criticism he was taking after the game.
The Guardian journalist must have thought just because he wasn’t involved at the goal end of things, that he was rubbish. Did he even watch the game? I have my doubts.
Anderson played in a deep midfield role. His passing and vision was excellent, and his energy level was high. He tracked back and intercepted many a Coventry attack too, playing almost like a defensive midfielder at times.
It was an excellent work rate and excellent performance from the boy. Afterall, it was only his first full game for us, so for that journalist to say Sir Alex was furious with him due to his performaces thus far, is complete and utter rubbish.
He isn’t the only journalist to have slated him in todays papers by the way. Check out the stories in some of the so called ‘more respected’ ones for more of the same.
They just loves to get the knives out early when Fergie spends a few quid.
Check the article out in the Independent today too entitled:
“Ferguson troubled by failure of youth”
More slating of Anderson.
Totally clueless.
Anyone that knows football knows he played very well Wednesday.
I know what you mean Ahmed.
He has real Egg on his face now
Do any of you know that Daniel Taylor has written a book on Fergie, entitled “This is the one, Sir Alex Ferguson: The uncut story of a football genius”?
He’s usually decent at covering us.
Oliver Holt’s the main the prick to top all prick hacks, his stuff is written with and accepted as authority by shed loads of footy fans. As for this daniel Taylor gig, maybe you should strike up an email converstaion with him and expose his crappyness? See if he responds mate, the shameless moron’ll most likely not bother but it’s gotta be worth a punt.
actually, if you read his coverage consistently, you’ll realise that he’s not.
KoZ - what’s his email address? Couldn’t find it on the site.
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I used to read the Guardian on the regular basis but not anymore!
The paper’s sport section is more like a Man City/Arsenal fanzine and definitely ABU. Danny Taylor is a big Forest (boy have they fell off the edge of the world) and England fan with serial loser Stuart Pearce being a drinking buddy of his. Danny is a toffee nosed wanker from a tiny inbred village called Sibthorpe on the Notts /Lincs border but Danny has since moved to Didsbury. Danny hates United (especially Fergie) with a vengeance and is often found trying to dig up the dirt on the Reds and trying to make everything seem negative even if they win in style. His new book is just an extension of his Guardian column and there’s money to be made hating United.
The real problem though is the Guardian who own the MEN and Channel M. It’s strange that a Manchester Newspaper does not want this city to be on the map or want money brought in from outside (Fans from all over the world spending money on Hotels and bars etc) and contributing to the local economy. The message is simple Don’t buy the Guardian or Manchester Evening news or watch Channel M until they change their ways.
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Anderson has been outstanding for United this season. He has a great engine, is prodigiously two footed, reads the game well, is a tenacious tackler, always tracks back and has a tremendous amount of skill on the ball. Daniel Taylor, where are you?
At the moment, the London press are having a love affair with Arsenal - they like Wenger but hate Fergie. Too many have experienced the withering lash of the Scotsman’s tongue. (Well, in fairness, you couldn’t really imagine Wenger calling the press “fucking idiots” and terminating a press conference, could you?).
The London press love Fabregas (he’s young well educated and supposedly urbane - he comes from good middle class Catalonian stock), but dislike Ronaldo (he’s the notorious “winker” and “diver”); and they keep on about this fabulous “young” Arsenal team - who have won nothing, yet - while failing to acknowledge that the United team (which has won something) is just as young, getting younger and is certainly as good as Arsenal(See Soccerlens Forum: “Who has the better young team: Arsenal or Man Utd?”).
Guys, rightly or wrongly, most of the London press dislike Manchester United and Ferguson. So, United and their players will just have to continue proving them wrong on the pitch.