Redknapp said he was serious about boycotting the media. “The FA want it both ways,” he said. “They want us to talk about the game, but not talk about it. I could just come out and refuse to talk about anything. Unfortunately I have to go and speak to the press afterwards and if I get asked a question I give an honest answer. Do they want me to tell a load of lies?”

He has a point here, to a certain extent.  If all prem managers stonewalled any controversial questions along the lines of "no comment", then the media would soon be putting pressure on FA to be more lenient.

If the Premiership is a soap opera, the managers need to play their part in the melodrama.