Will Danny make Eddie happy?

£15million for Stewart Downing! It’s times like January’s transfer window frenzy when
you thank your lucky stars that rugby union ignored football’s lead, promoting a carousel
of money-changing activity rooted with the morality of a game of tiddlywinks at Alcatraz.

From one nervous bunch to another, a West Ham United supporter might want to engage
in a ten-minute moan with a London Wasp fan down at the local boozer this week.

Danny Cipriani or Craig Bellamy, James Haskell or Matthew Upson, players get targeted.
So what? It happens all the time.

It’s the means that concerns us.

 
Tapping up is common in football. If it were a profession then Alex Ferguson would
be held in similar regard as he is behind the trench-coat.

Subtle nudging to unsettle players, whether using the tabloids or a private call to
an agent, it’s bound to get a young man thinking.

The rumour mill is rife down at Wasps’ Acton training ground with Cipriani and Haskell
the top billing.

He may have mastered the international arena but it seems loveable Aussie, Eddie Jones
is not adverse to the cute nature of domestic management.

The affection and canny complimenting of Cipriani from the Saracens boss strikes startling
comparisons with Fergie’s intelligent pursuit of Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand.

Cipriani (and more importantly his agent) is itching to get those carat-golden paws
on £350,000 a year and Jones knows it.

We already know Cipriani has a big ego. You only have to look at his stunning beau
Kelly Brook and his taste for being photographed in public.

Jones has been extremely clever in massaging Cipriani’s confidence, especially at
a time when the 21-year-old is playing well below his extravagant best.

England link up again in a couple of weeks. Perhaps Steve Borthwick will pass on a
message or two? It’s legal isn’t it?

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