HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT THE ENGLISHMAN, THE SCOTSMAN AND THE NIGERIAN?

SOMETIMES, well most of the time, there is something reassuringly Scottish, miserable and phlegmatic about Davie Moyes.
It might be a cliche (more of those tricky buggers later), but I equate that sort of boss with success (Alex Ferguson, Strachan, Shankly etc...)

But now and again, the Blues' top man chills out and likes to regale us with the odd wise-crack.
It’s good to see him relaxed and with a smile on his grid, because sometimes he looks like the world is on his shoulders.
I read his comment after the Brann game, and it was clearly a light-hearted joke to bluenose Guardian writer Andy Hunter.
Speaking about The Yak’s hat-trick, he said: “He's only 25, albeit a Nigerian 25, and so if that is his age he's still got a good few years ahead of him.”
He added the equally comic, “The way he sent their two for a pie and a Bovril was terrific,” about the tardy Nigerian’s lovely turn before slotting home his second.
I chuckled when I read that on Friday morning and didn’t think twice about anybody possibly taking offence.
But it's all gone a bit Larry David and some knee-jerkers have tried to suggest Moyes was - at best using a lazy and tired old cliche about African players age, and - at worst being racist.
If anything, he’s only slightly guilty of the former, and it still made me laugh.
It’s like the tired, lazy cliche about African players going missing after the African Nations....isn’t it?
Ironically, during the tournament one of the writers here joked about one of our African contingent going AWOL afterwards and then lo and behold.
The lad here wasn’t being racist or snide either. It’s like saying Spanish or Italian players dive or play-act.
Or French players are too moody or temperamental.
The comment was limited strictly to Nigerian footballers and not a dig at Nigerians per se.
Either way, it meant Moyes having to clarify and explain himself after farcical ‘fury’ from NFA spokesman Ademola Olajire, who said: "His statement is insulting to the Nigerian nation and unbecoming of a Premier League manager.
“We don't take kindly to snide remarks about our players, or our nation and we have sent a strongly-worded complaint to the English FA.
“Seriously, we will go at any length to ensure he is brought to book to explain his comments.”
Seriously though, Ademola. Get a grip.
Moyes put it best, saying: “What I said has been taken totally out of context. I have never before been accused of being a racist, that idea is totally abhorrent to me.”
“Does anyone seriously believe that I would have made Yakubu the most expensive player in Everton's history if I had any concerns about his age?.”
Meanwhile, a note to Tom Hicks Jnr. You’re welcome in The Winslow or the Taxi club anytime and I’ll happily get the ale in too (quiet JC). Proper premium Kronenberg or Coors as well, none of that Carling extra cold.

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