Tevez right, but let's not add fuel to the fire

Today's press has been choc-a-block with tales of Carlos Tevez' choice words for a certain Goat-feeder from across town. It's all much ado about nothing, two grown men sending hand signals in eachother's direction during battle, and whilst both should probably know better ahead of a second high-tension local derby, it's refreshing seeing someone telling Fergie's 'sock sucker' (assuming he's not struggling with soft esses, of course) what most think of him.

What is absolutely beyond all doubt is that Carlos is right about Neville. Were it any other footballer with almost a century of England caps i think people would have sympathy, but the elder Brother Grimm has perfected the art of being a petty, gobby not-right for years, to the extent that a comedic hatred of his club's biggest rivals is the only thing that's stopped even his own fans losing interest as his career stutters to an uneventful halt.

Even as a City fan i think i'd be able to doff my hat to his achievements in the game were he not a complete and utter shithawk. He was, in his prime, a very good full-back, both for United and England, and he'll leave the game a very rich man with at least eight league title medals and six-hundred or so appearances for the best club side in the country over the last two decades. When he retires he should be applauded by fans of any club, yet he'll fall over the finishing line as he eyes a Bobby Charlton-like role in the future, being wheeled out of a dusty cupboard twice a year to talk about the good old days.

Carlito's description of Spokesman Nev couldn't have been more accurate. He's always had that air of the teacher's pet about him, the union man, there to make sure rules are adhered to and never bent. Most annoying, however, isn't his MUFCOK shtick, more so that the lad obviously hasn't got anything resembling a sense of f*cking humour. Even Phyllis, as much as he's similarly of the red gospel, can laugh at himself, even crack a joke now and then, with old Gary everything seems such serious business.

In my opinion, more people need to get stuck in to Gary Neville. He's a man who ought to be wound up, disrespected, belittled, but it's always advisable to do so when there's not such an immediate chance for comeuppance. On Wednesday we make the short trip to Old Trafford, and though turning the first leg round was encouraging, it will still take a sterling effort to progress having allowed them a precious away goal.

I can understand Tevez' frustration. He's rightfully still annoyed about being pissed about by them lot last summer. He's doing his talking on the pitch by notching goals every week, and whilst i've no problem with him showing them what they've missed out on, i think it would be a better idea to knock them out first, then we can mouth off all we want. The wrong result on Wednesday and we'll be looking to be living up to the 'noisy neighbours' tag Ferguson alluded to earlier in the season.

Don't get me wrong, i love anyone having a pop at United, but none of us are naive enough to ever completely write them off, as much as their team is in obvious decline, and these sort of clashes only add to the pressure on us to go there and get a result. I do think we can get a draw, or at least score, but we're stoking the fires, giving them added motivation, and cliche though it is, Taggart's only got to stick these cuttings on the dressing room wall and his motivational pre-match talk is done for him.

Added to this clash, Garry Cook has today been quoted ensuring people we're on our way to being the world's greatest/biggest club. Again, bad timing. On Sunday we play Scunthorpe away, and whilst we should see them off without worry he, and us by proxy, are again at risk of looking like fools should we suffer an unexpected result. I'm a big fan of Garry's, but there's absolutely no doubt that his best work has been done behind the scenes and his very worst in front of a microphone.

With the financial backing available to the degree it is we should go on to be a major force in English and hopefully European football. We're making huge progress on and off the field, but we're being a bit too vocal about it, in my opinion. Ideally we'd gain friends during our ascent, but it's probably not possible, especially judging by the reputations of other successful clubs. It's one thing unsettling the established set, but we should do it in the right way.

I just wish we'd button it a little, get on with the football and if it must happen, and ideally it wouldn't, then give the verbals afterwards. With Tevez there's history, and Neville fired the first broadside, but just sit on it, do the business, then have your say. With Cook, well, maybe we should try winning something or even getting to a major final before declaring ourselves the new best thing since sliced bread.