Wednesday 2 July 2008

Mail says Jo done deal!

This has just popped up on my Newsnow feed: a Daily Mail piece saying Jo is a done deal.

Jo completed his £18million move to Manchester City yesterday [Tuesday] and prepared to launch a new Eastlands era against part-timers from the Faroe Islands.

The Brazil front-runner will be unveiled today [Wednesday] after City finally received clearance to sign him from CSKA Moscow for £7m upfront, with the rest in instalments.


There are two possible explanations for this.

Either this is the result of the Daily Mail being tipped off by someone inside MCFC that the deal is done, and getting the news out there first. The Mail has a good record with getting City stories right (infinitely better than the Manchester Evening News, whose journalism involves newsnow, google and bad writing), although their City scoops tend to be Ian Ladyman. This piece is by John Edwards. So it's possible.

Or, the Mail think that it's possible Jo will be unveiled Wednesday (let's face it, it is) and have tried to jump the gun on this one. By disguising prediction as inevitability, and hoping that they may be subsequently proved right, they hope to be seen as prophetic tomorrow. And if it doesn't happen, they hope the short memories of Daily Mail readers will get them off the hook.

I've spent the last month desperately refreshing mcfc.co.uk for hope of a signing being announced. And I'm now in the position of relying on the good faith and honesty of the Daily Mail for salvation.

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