Tauntology

It’s always more difficult to write effectively when you aren’t quite sure what words mean – or worse still, when you think you know, but you’re mistaken.

According to the back page of the News of the World, published on 28th January, “Wayne Rooney rammed Arsene Wenger’s taunts down his throat with a brilliant late double.”

There’s no doubt whatsoever that Rooney’s dramatic late goals in the F.A. Cup game at Old Trafford broke Portsmouth’s brave resistance, but the rest is nonsense. Tabloid journalism at its very worst.

To begin with, very few people know exactly what Arsene Wenger said to his players at half time at the Emirates because very few people were there and those who were present are unlikely to talk freely about what is said by the manager in the privacy of the home dressing room.

Secondly, and more seriously, there appears to be a grave misunderstanding of the word “taunts”. Used properly, the word implies a deliberate act of mocking, deriding or insulting. Over the years, there have been many exchanges between Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex, but contempt is hardly the Arsenal manager’s style – and in any case it is well known that while the two men are not friends, a considerable mutual respect exists between them.

It is quite possible that Arsene suggested to his players that Manchester United, with almost half a team over the age of 30, may be more vulnerable in the closing phase of the game, and he is perfectly entitled to do so – but if he did, it was done in a restricted area and no doubt without so much as a suspicion of ‘taunting’. And it is irresponsible, or just plain stupid, to suggest otherwise.

There is one final point that may have escaped the intelligence of the News of the World’s reporter. Wayne Rooney’s two goals, brilliant as they were, do not refute the suggestion that United might tire in the latter stages. If anything, they may reinforce it, since Rooney was a sub and sitting on the bench is not exhausting physically.