Football Notebook

Roy Keane blamed Manchester United's problems on the "Rolex watch culture" among Old Trafford's superstars.

Was he aiming his jibe at David Beckham? It's not that simple, because Becks is a wristwatch nut. True, Posh did get them "matching gold Rolexes" but - and Keane might have missed this fashion newsflash - Rolexes are just so pass?, chez Beckham.

Since the Rolex, he's had a Christian Dior watch, a Frank Mueller one and a chunky white gold handmade Italian Panerai timepiece with a crocodile-skin strap (and if product placement does actually work, then so be it).

Beckham even chose to give teammate and best man Gary Neville a Cartier Tank watch, which will come in very handy when he learns to tell the time. It's also rumoured that Mickey Mouse has a Phil Neville watch.

When Notebook rang Rolex to see what they made of being blamed for the collapse of the United empire, they were impressively unfazed. "Really . . . Mr Keane said that?" a spokesman commented. "We hadn't actually heard those remarks."

The Newcastle striker and his wife were reportedly banned from the Tesco store in Kingston Park, Newcastle, following a "trolley rage" incident.

One customer recalled: "Cort's wife was shouting 'Don't you know who I am?' It was like something out of a Christmas pantomime." Northumbria police said: "They were warned about abusive language."

Any more shop-and-tell stories, just keep 'em coming.

You can email us at notebook@standard.co.uk