by Nick Webster , FOXSports.com

Updated: August 22, 2001, 1:58 PM EST

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When you're talking of meat pies, images of 350lb lineman immediately spring to mind, but don't dare mention the subject to Aston Villa's David Ginola. The dashing French winger has taken umbrage over comments by his loveable boss John Gregory, that the 'Gaelic Wonder' has been spending more time working on his derby (derby kelly = belly in cockney rhyming slang) than getting into shape for the coming season. Oo la la cried David and no it wasn't because shampoo had got in his eyes. His sensitive feelings had been hurt to such an extent that he rushed of to PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor to resolve the matter. With Anglo-French relations about to sink into the English channel none other than the Prime Ministers wife, Cherie Blair, stepped in on behalf of David. Cherie being an expert in employment law has spoken to Taylor about the legal ramifications of Gregory's slur. When we called Gregory to confirm this he was too busy to talk stating that he was just about to order pizza for the entire first team.

On the subject of Anglo-French relations, things have gotten out of hand at Liverpool involving two Scousers (Liverpudlians) and another Frenchman. This isn't the three musketeers by the way. In a training ground bust-up, young Robbie Fowler, no stranger to controversy, had an exchange of words with Gerard Houllier's number two, old big nose himself, Phil Thompson. The two men, both Anfield legends went beak to beak. In the resulting fall out, Gerard dropped Robbie from the squad until he repented and said he was sorry. Robbie though is as stubborn as they come. It wasn't until he realized Monsieur Houllier is even more hard headed than he is, that he backed down and groveled at Phil's feet for forgiveness. So now they've kissed and made up, for the moment.

Finally Spud (Leicester boss Peter Taylor) must be feeling like a relation to his namesake Graham Taylor (ex Watford boss) aka 'Turnip Head' after his sides five nil mashing by Prem new boys Bolton. Spud, who has taken the art of thoughtfully scratching his chin to a new level will soon be scratching around for a new job if his lads get roasted again. With the chips down the Leicester faithful were not best pleased and their anger boiled over with chants of Taylor is a 'French Fry'. Supposedly the 'French Fry' is now on his way to Cherie Blair!. Next week the soap opera continues, so stay tuned. Cheers and get the beers in.