Alan Green criticised by BBC colleagues for being unable to pronounce name of Real Madrid star Marcelo on Radio 5 Live

  • Alan Green was slammed by colleagues for being unable to pronounce 'Marcelo'
  • It is now looking increasingly likely Amanda Staveley and Co will buy Newcastle
  • Gareth Southgate has followed Roy Hodgson in agreeing a deal with Hublot
  • Fulham have opted to ditch their Moneyball approach to transfers 

Broadcaster Alan Green was slammed on social media and criticised by Match of the Day colleagues during a blundering return to the BBC on Wednesday evening.

Green, who has been working as the in-house TV commentator for Atlanta United in the USA's Major League Soccer, was given the showcase Tottenham v Real Madrid Champions League match for his comeback on Radio 5 Live.

But Green caused immediate upset by wrongly pronouncing the name of Real Madrid's Marcelo, arguably the world's best-known left back, calling him 'Mar-chelo' rather than 'Mar-selo'.

BBC broadcaster Alan Green was criticised by colleagues for his pronunciation of Marcelo

BBC broadcaster Alan Green was criticised by colleagues for his pronunciation of Marcelo

Among those to be hugely unimpressed were Match of the Day mainstay Steve Wilson, who tweeted — obviously referring to Green — 'You'd have thought after more than 10 years playing for Brazil and Real Madrid everyone would know how to say Marcelo's name.'


The BBC made no comment.

 

It is looking like Amanda Staveley's PCP Partners are in pole position to buy Newcastle United — possibly before Christmas — with no rival bidder having emerged. 

The mooted Chinese interest is more likely to be connected with the Staveley bid and involves interests in eGaming, which is a massive business in the Far East. 

Staveley is still to agree terms with Mike Ashley, who wants £400million — around £100m more than PCP's valuation.

Mike Ashley looks set to sell Newcastle to Amanda Staveley's PCP Partners after no rival bids

Mike Ashley looks set to sell Newcastle to Amanda Staveley's PCP Partners after no rival bids

 

The official Lions DVD of the drawn rugby series in New Zealand is a sadly sanitised and corporate look at the tour. 

There is little off-field footage in Lions Uncovered and no mention of the New Zealand media's hounding of head coach Warren Gatland, of which he writes in his book about the campaign. 

Certainly it doesn't compare with the film of the 1997 tour of South Africa, Living With Lions, which is acknowledged as one of the great sporting documentaries.

The official Lions DVD lacks detail and doesn't show the media's hounding of Warren Gatland

The official Lions DVD lacks detail and doesn't show the media's hounding of Warren Gatland

 

Gareth Southgate has followed the example of former England manager Roy Hodgson in agreeing a personal watch deal with Hublot. 

He was sporting a £10,000 Big Bang design at his press conference yesterday. At least Hublot know Southgate can't do worse than Hodgson at tournaments. 

Meanwhile, Southgate revealed he'd had a half-hour chat with former England rugby coach Stuart Lancaster about the disappointment for bosses when losing their jobs means they don't have the opportunity to try things differently — which Lancaster said he would have done. 

But surely he doesn't believe he should have been kept on after his England side failed to get out of their group at a home World Cup.

Gareth Southgate has followed the example of Roy Hodgson by agreeing a deal with Hublot

Gareth Southgate has followed the example of Roy Hodgson by agreeing a deal with Hublot

 

Fulham ditch Moneyball

Serious staff tensions which prompted the departure of data analyst Craig Kline from struggling Championship club Fulham are also likely to end the club's Moneyball strategy.

Kline's long list of unproven allegations against club personnel saw him call the police to the training ground. 

He also had the power of veto over transfers — much to the angst of manager Slavisa Jokanovic, who saw proposed targets turned down for statistical reasons.

There was also major upset between Kline and the manager over Moneyball-based signings not being selected.

Such was the disruption that American Kline would have been shown the door a lot earlier but for his close friendship since university with vice-chairman Tony Khan, the son of owner Shahid.

After recent events at Fulham it seems the club's Moneyball based approach will be dropped

After recent events at Fulham it seems the club's Moneyball based approach will be dropped

 

Popular MCC chief executive Derek Brewer had his leaving party in the Lord's Long Room at the end of last week with the guests including a contingent from his beloved Fulham Football Club. 

But it caused surprise that difficult MCC chairman Gerald Corbett, for whom it's understood Brewer didn't want to continue working, not only came to the bash but made a speech.