BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

No residual guilt for me in going for Manc double

Sepp Blatter has caused a right storm over the last couple of days by suggesting that all disputes, no matter how serious, can be settled by a humble handshake.

It was intriguing to see that Nigel de Jong has taken a leaf out of Blatter's book and requested a meeting with Hatem Ben Arfa after Manchester City's clash with Newcastle on Saturday.

Arfa has been out for over a year following a horror tackle from de Jong, and the Dutchman will no doubt be looking forward to ridding himself of all lingering guilt if he can secure a trusty handshake.

Central to Blatter's ramblings seems to be that everything will be OK after the final whistle, and maybe that's where John Terry went wrong when Wayne Bridge publicly rejected his outstretched right hand before City played Chelsea a couple of years ago.

The clash between City and Newcastle headlines the welcome return of a full program of domestic action after the lull of the international break - and while Newcastle will make things difficult for City - I'll still be sticking to the tried and tested formula of placing both Manchester clubs in a hefty double.