Okay I just don't get this guy, how the HELL did he get a job as a sports writer and more to the fact how did he get it at the Daily Mail?

His opinion is valid, non-knee jerky, considered, well balanced, informed, sensible and above all else usually spot on.

So again I ask, how does he get a job in a profession that normally requires you to be a bias, bitter, arrogant little runt?

Today's article is titled: A football man who arrived at the right decision on Terry.

I can't copy & paste the article as my phone has the board on simple mode and even if I try to post a link with the tags I'm not sure it'll work. One paragraph I especially like this:

"So when required to choose one senior presence in the heart of his defence at the European Championship, he simply asked: who do I want in my back four against France, who is the best centre half in the country? And the answer came back: John Terry."

Go and read the whole article when you get the chance. I really don't understand how this guy is a football writer.

Thanks for that, Gem! I never read the Daily Mail, so if you hadn't pointed it out I'd have missed it. As you say, it's a contradiction in terms! A Daily Mail sports writer who tells it like it is!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/euro2012/article-2145426/Roy-Hodgson-right-decision-John-Terry--Martin-Samuel.html

His Kenny/Pool article today is also great.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2145523/Kenny-Dalglish-sacked-Liverpool-failure--Martin-Samuel.html?ITO=1490

Law of averages. Even at an abhorrent rag like the Daily Fail, somebody's bound to have some sense.

He`s the sports writing ying to people like Martin Lipton and Patrick collins`s yang.

He is at the Daily Mail for the money, Gem, and is the first to admit as much. Quite simply, the best in the business amongst the current crop of football writers, putting the likes of Lipton and Collins to shame.

He has had an anti-German agenda for years though which has, football wise at least, always put me off him.

Tbh I quite like the Daily Mail though ......

Tbh I quite like the Daily Mail though ......

Oh dear...sometimes honesty is not the best policy, Zippy!

Oh dear...sometimes honesty is not the best policy, Zippy!

Well the sun/star/mirror are low brow crap, the times is too dry, the guardian is for beardy lentil eating cardigan wearers and the express is a division 2 version of the mail so it doesn't leave me much choice !

Newspapers lol, just lol.

Haha couldn't agree with Zippy more regarding the Guardian! As for Mr Samuel, he has written plenty of unsubstantiated anti Chelsea articles in the past so I am not won over just yet. I think a lot of it is just him (albeit correctly in this instance) going against the grain for a reaction. Facts are though that JT on form is still the best centre back England have. His organisation, talk and commitment are surpassed by none.

martin samuel has always stuck up for JT to be fair

3 great articles - the best around by a country mile!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2134718/Chelsea-victory-Barcelona-triumph-sheer--Martin-Samuel.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2135156/Chelseas-defeat-Barcelona-triumph--Martin-Samuel.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2134120/Barcelona-v-Chelsea-Beauty-needs-beast--Martin-Samuel.html

I always liked Martin Samuel when he was at The Times and was very disappointed that he moved to the Mail. However, he clearly left for a bigger salary and who can blame him.

Regarding his occasional anti-Chelsea articles, he's a West Ham fan so I have no beef with him if he is sometimes critical of the way our club is run. He's by far the best footballl journo.

I'm a huge fan of Jonathan Wilson who writes for the guardian, he's awesome.

I'm a huge fan of Jonathan Wilson who writes for the guardian, he's awesome.

Perhaps you and I can stroke each other's beards as we munch our lentils.

my beard is a little on the long side actually, growing it out for extra wisdom during exams...

brb going to buy some lentils

So again I ask, how does he get a job in a profession that normally requires you to be a bias, bitter, arrogant little runt?

We're not all that bad!

Well well look who has returned!!

Hi

Who`s this alan fella? We once had an Alan on here who wrote match reports, very good they were. Deserted us years ago though if I remember rightly.......

Welcome back Alan.

Edited May 17, 201214 yr by dkw

He`s the sports writing ying to people like Martin Lipton and Patrick collins`s yang.

Exactly. Its not that Samuel is pro-CFC, he is just impartal and refuses to go with the crowd on almost everything.

I love the fact that he sees sport as a seperate matter entirely from morality or fame when most other sportswriters can tell the difference anymore.

another top piece from him tonight/today...this time on the legend that is didier drogba

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2146013/Didier-Drogba-The-Chelsea-striker-unplayable.html

He also ripped into Bartno yesterday

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2145979/Joey-Bartons-intellectual-hes-thug.html?ITO=1490

FAO anyone who likes him, you can subscribe to his rss feed via this url:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/columnist-1020688/martin-samuel.rss

That piece about Barton is excellent...particularly Samuels scathing assessment of that MP...funny and brilliant