The Lie Machine Grinds on – McCarry on sledging

The ground
By Boris Mellor
April 20 2005

In today’ Guardian Kevin McCarra uses alleged quotes from Lauren to build his sermon of the day around for today's match with Chelsea. He states

"Arsenal's full-back Lauren goes to Stamford Bridge this evening with the aftertaste in his mouth of bitter words about the supposedly boring style with which Jose Mourinho's team have prevailed."

Further on in the article he goes on to say that

"Such a statistic encourages people such as Lauren to think that Arsenal can occupy the moral high ground even if they have been ejected from the top of the table."

No doubt many Arsenal fans may feel like that, whether they believe it or not, it’s all part of the wind up between rival fans. But this is not the issue here, when I first read the articles on Lauren’s alleged quotes my instincts told me it was false. However McCarra had no such qualms, the manure of the tabloids was spun into good coin. The attempt by the red tops to wind up tonight’s match against Chelsea into gladiatorial conflict is giving credibility in a respectable broadsheet. Of course if it does lead to a grudge match they will all hold their hands in horror, and sermonise some more.

However Lauren denies having said any such thing, as a visit to Arsenal.Com yesterday would have made clear even to the most blinkered pressman.

Lauren has stated:

"There are a number of pieces in today’s papers which use quotes from me talking about Chelsea, my opinion of them and their style of play," he said. "I haven’t spoken to anyone, some freelancer from Spain has conjured up the quotes in my name and it’s completely unacceptable. It is frustrating to see words printed in my name that haven't come from my mouth.

Why did I doubt Lauren said it? Because most footballers are professionals and appreciate the effort of their rivals. Fans rarely shake hands with opponents who have beaten them, players do.

Henry when asked about Chelsea always says they are good for football (I don’t agree, but that’s a professional view), why not quote that Mr McCarra? The answer is it doesn’t sell newspapers, but lies and rubbish in red tops does. Mind you at least they make the effort to concoct their own lies and rubbish.