Vive La Toon!

The late great Douglas Adams once wrote a short story where the entire world goes on strike for a day. Economies around the world crash, starvation sets in everywhere. Except that is for France, where they are used to it.

Which brings me to strikers in more ways than one, the news that Sochaux forward Modibo Maiga is willing to go on strike if he is not allowed to join Newcastle (which is something I have often felt like trying but was always a bit worried no-one would actually notice).

Now it’s not that I have anything against players desperate to join the Toon, hell its one of my main requirements, but you do somewhat worry about the lack of commitment to their current employers, and wonder if one good season at Newcastle, will see him on strike to join somewhere else.

Last season when Ben Afra did it, first I was amused, then strangely bewildered, when he turned up at Newcastle because it seemed no-one had actually invited him. And then finally relieved when we signed him, because unlike Maiga, I had actually seen him play and realised he was an exceptional talent.

Now perhaps Maiga is also an exceptional talent, my knowledge of French football is shaky at best, and even with the misgivings over his loyalty we should be signing players that want to come, I personally have had enough of parasites like Owen to last me a lifetime.

And maybe it’s merely a French thing.

NB. I realise he is not actually French, but he has been there long enough to pick up bad habits.