The Tom Werner paradox

It has come to this writer’s attention that a superb example of the ability to be very clever and not so very clever in the space of two or three sentences has emerged at Liverpool today.

The rarely seen phenomenon came from the mouth of Liverpool co-owner Tom Werner and appeared in the pages (both real pages and webpages to the benefit of this website) of the Daily Mirror today.

First of all, the very clever bit. In a cunningly sly foxy way, Werner has managed to both speak and not speak about a potential transfer target for the Anfield club over the summer. Well played sir.

The quote goes as follows; “We never talk publicly about our transfer targets, however, any team would be lucky to have Clint Dempsey playing on their squad” which, to this writer’s mind, would seem to suggest that this Clint Dempsey fellow may well be on Liverpool’s radar but that’s just putting 2 and 2 together which can sometimes end badly.

Not onto the not so clever bit and it isn’t the fact that in the space of that sentence above, Werner has contradicted himself; contradicted himself in no fewer than 22 words indeed. And no, the not so clever bit isn’t the use of American phrase “playing on their squad” which rather doesn’t work in English English as opposed to American English.

Nope, the not so clever bit refers to the bit in story that states Werner indicated further funds will be available to Kenny Dalglish to strengthen his squad this summer (but not Clint Dempsey remember) which is not so clever as throwing money at it hasn’t really worked under Dalglish thus far it must be said.

Dan Whiteway

For more Football Blogs and opinion from football fans around the world

Comments

[tom w]

tw@t

[Richard]

I wonder what you babbling about...gee