Bit of an understatement there, Gary.

Manchester Utd star justifies professional footballers’ inflated remuneration packages

Those who watched last week’s episode of Mock The Week may have noticed David Mitchell’s angry diatribe on the concept of a society that gives footballers hugely disproportionate salaries for doing a job that essentially “doesn’t matter”. It’s a puzzling sentiment from someone who has carved out a career in professional comedy, but The Spoiler can see the validity of his point: in a logical world, nurses, teachers and scientists would all bring home more bacon than those who endlessly strive to become the best at kicking a spherical piece of leather around a field.

When posed with the question of whether £100,000+-a-week salaries are justified, Gary Neville has defended men of his ilk:

“Others earn billions selling rights and 75,000 come to watch us every week.

“There’s a product there that people love. Fans are crucial but without the player you have nothing.”

Even though he has shown dogged loyalty to his club, Neville continued by suggesting the likes of Ashley Cole and Emmanuel Adebayor are perfectly entitled to leave their employer if another employer offers even bigger piles of money:

Also appearing on a computer near you…

Before you peruse today’s links, check out the world’s longest basketball shot

The fans’ reaction to Sol Campbell’s Notts County walkout
[Betfair Football]

This week’s Football Drama update
[Interestment]

The top five bizarre Sol Campbell moments
[Off The Post]

Gary Neville’s passion is an example to us all, says Harry Redknapp
[Daily Mail]

Sheikh Mansour is now the sole owner of Manchester City
[MCFC]

Arsenal/Fulham/WestHam/Tottenham/Sunderland/etc target Marouane Chamakh will not be sold in January
[EatSleepSport]

England/Andorra, World Cup Qualifier, 8.15pm, ITV1

The Three Lions are ever-so-slight 1/200 favourites to make it seven wins out of seven in the World Cup qualifiers against an Andorra side who have never won away from home. This is how The Spoiler would line up.

We disagree with the idea of playing Gary Neville ahead of Glen Johnson, who is a yellow card away from suspension. Fabio Capello wants everyone available to face Croatia at home but we feel having players ruled out for the game after that away to Ukraine could prove just as dangerous.

The biggest talking point is who will partner Frank Lampard in midfield with Gareth Barry suspended and Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Scott

Welsh midfielder may not think much of C-Ron

Keen to create a divide between Cristiano Ronaldo and his current employer, Spanish paper Marca are stirring things up extracting some insinuations from an interview with teammate Ryan Giggs.

The Welshman was asked to pick his Manchester Utd dream team, and he proceeded to wax lyrical about the likes of Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney. As you can see from his selection below, however, there is a distinct absence of any lothario Portuguese wingers:

The Giggs Manchester Utd dream team

Schmeichel or Van der Sar (he doesn’t distinguish between them as both are super brill)
Gary Neville
Jaap Stam
Rio Ferdinand
Dennis Irwin
David Beckham
Paul Scholes
Roy Keane
Ryan Giggs
Eric Cantona
Wayne Rooney

The Spoiler is concerned that the old guard has shown an apparent lack of appreciation for Ronaldo, but perhaps a little more concerned that Giggsy chose to pick himself in his own dream team…

Defender gives thieves assistance in locating his home

Last summer, we told you pesky builders had cursed the swimming pool in Gary Neville’s £7m mansion by burying Liverpool memorabilia underneath it.

In order to redress the balance towards his beloved Manchester Utd, the right back has planted an 18ftx10ft shrubbery dedication. Neighbours have dismissed the design as “self indulgent”, but they should be glad they don’t live next to the other Neville brother, who has a very tacky unique approach to appointing his homes.

[The Mirror]

Also appearing on a computer near you…

Manchester Utd’s post-Carling Cup celebrations were WILD!
[101GG]

Hiddink’s addiction: Chelsea boss is hooked on the challenge of winning the league
[Daily Mail]

A sex photo scandal is unfolding in Germany
[Dirty Tackle]

Beckham’s Milan talks are at “a critical stage”
[The Telegraph]

Interestment’s football eleven #1
[Interestment]

Stating the obvious: Gary Neville says Manchester Utd’s quintuple quest will be “very difficult”
[Sky Sports]

The Gisele Bündchen video of the day
[SI Hot Clicks]

Also appearing on a computer near you…

Win a date with WAG Nicola McLean (NSFW)
[Zoo]

Everton are after Djibril Cisse
[FansFC]

Interesting things
[Interestment]

Mourinho wants Tevez
[The Telegraph]

Brits ‘09: Abigail Clancy v Cheryl Cole
[Kickette]

Arshavin doesn’t trust English hairdressers
[Dirty Tackle]

Cristiano Ronaldo handed a bill for the tunnel he destroyed in his Ferrari
[Off The Post]

Gary Neville is the latest old man to get a contract extension at Old Trafford
[Sky Sports]