John, a disgruntled hack of too many decades was sitting in the pub near Watford station waiting for his old mate Phil from a rival press publication. He angrily flicked through the papers and snorted in derision at the column inches the young and in his mind; naïve journalists fresh out of university were filling.
ââ¬ÅJordan screws a troupe of acrobatic dwarves!ââ¬Â he bellowed at no-one in particular as his voice reverberated off the stained walls. ââ¬ÅWho cares! Who the **** cares!ââ¬Â.
A slightly dishevelled chap sitting at the bar turned around and gave a toothless grin before slurping at his half of stout when the door opened and Phil strolled in. To say that Phil looked annoyed would be an understatement. He wore his anger like a neon sign and all around him were aware instantly that this fellow was not the type to invite in light hearted banter.
ââ¬ÅJohn you fackin cant! You want a beer or what!ââ¬Â Phil ground out aggressively between gritted teeth.
John lifted his glass in reply and returned his attention to the papers. ââ¬ÅBig Brother? Who the **** cares about Big Brother?ââ¬Â he continued in his self obsessed rant.
ââ¬Å**** emââ¬Â Phil grunted from the bar as he waited for the now hurried bartender to comply with his order.
ââ¬ÅYou ainââ¬â¢t even a celeb! Youââ¬â¢re just a thick bitchââ¬Â John resumed in his criticism of the journalistic standards and content of today.
ââ¬ÅAll a bunch of cantsââ¬Â Phil replied and slammed the beers on the table.
ââ¬ÅThe worlds gone insaneââ¬Â, John sighed as he sipped his new drink after raising it in Philââ¬â¢s direction.
The two hacks looked at each other wearily from across the table and sighed. They were resigned to their new assignment as the North Eastââ¬â¢s football correspondents,
ââ¬ÅStill. Look on the bright side.ââ¬Â Phil groaned. ââ¬ÅWe donââ¬â¢t have to live with them cants up North!ââ¬Â
ââ¬ÅSo. You want to pick a name from the hat first?ââ¬Â John intoned as he nodded his head in appreciation
ââ¬ÅSure. You pick the clubs after and then weââ¬â¢ll just make up a price.ââ¬Â
They had the two hats on the table and Phil placed his hand in it before picking out a scrap of paper.
ââ¬ÅJose Enriqueââ¬Â he stated.
John scribbled the name down before reaching into the other hat ââ¬ÅLiverpoolââ¬Â he declared and scribbled it down.
ââ¬ÅHmmmââ¬Â Phil wondered allowed. ââ¬ÅHow about ã12 million?ââ¬Â
ââ¬ÅWhatever.ââ¬Â John agreed and wrote the figure down before draining his pint. ââ¬ÅAnother one?ââ¬Â he offered to Phil who accepted as he placed his hand in the hat to pick another player.
ââ¬ÅMay as well. **** all else to do.ââ¬Â He read from the scrap of paper, ââ¬ÅJoey Bartonââ¬Â
ââ¬ÅJordan screws a troupe of acrobatic dwarves!ââ¬Â he bellowed at no-one in particular as his voice reverberated off the stained walls. ââ¬ÅWho cares! Who the **** cares!ââ¬Â.
A slightly dishevelled chap sitting at the bar turned around and gave a toothless grin before slurping at his half of stout when the door opened and Phil strolled in. To say that Phil looked annoyed would be an understatement. He wore his anger like a neon sign and all around him were aware instantly that this fellow was not the type to invite in light hearted banter.
ââ¬ÅJohn you fackin cant! You want a beer or what!ââ¬Â Phil ground out aggressively between gritted teeth.
John lifted his glass in reply and returned his attention to the papers. ââ¬ÅBig Brother? Who the **** cares about Big Brother?ââ¬Â he continued in his self obsessed rant.
ââ¬Å**** emââ¬Â Phil grunted from the bar as he waited for the now hurried bartender to comply with his order.
ââ¬ÅYou ainââ¬â¢t even a celeb! Youââ¬â¢re just a thick bitchââ¬Â John resumed in his criticism of the journalistic standards and content of today.
ââ¬ÅAll a bunch of cantsââ¬Â Phil replied and slammed the beers on the table.
ââ¬ÅThe worlds gone insaneââ¬Â, John sighed as he sipped his new drink after raising it in Philââ¬â¢s direction.
The two hacks looked at each other wearily from across the table and sighed. They were resigned to their new assignment as the North Eastââ¬â¢s football correspondents,
ââ¬ÅStill. Look on the bright side.ââ¬Â Phil groaned. ââ¬ÅWe donââ¬â¢t have to live with them cants up North!ââ¬Â
ââ¬ÅSo. You want to pick a name from the hat first?ââ¬Â John intoned as he nodded his head in appreciation
ââ¬ÅSure. You pick the clubs after and then weââ¬â¢ll just make up a price.ââ¬Â
They had the two hats on the table and Phil placed his hand in it before picking out a scrap of paper.
ââ¬ÅJose Enriqueââ¬Â he stated.
John scribbled the name down before reaching into the other hat ââ¬ÅLiverpoolââ¬Â he declared and scribbled it down.
ââ¬ÅHmmmââ¬Â Phil wondered allowed. ââ¬ÅHow about ã12 million?ââ¬Â
ââ¬ÅWhatever.ââ¬Â John agreed and wrote the figure down before draining his pint. ââ¬ÅAnother one?ââ¬Â he offered to Phil who accepted as he placed his hand in the hat to pick another player.
ââ¬ÅMay as well. **** all else to do.ââ¬Â He read from the scrap of paper, ââ¬ÅJoey Bartonââ¬Â