In a transfer window devoid of any real excitement - bar Wolves’ capture of Geoffrey Mujangi Bia of course - the spat between Carlos Tevez and Gary Neville has been a real blessing for sportswriters in the national press.

But some observers have not enjoyed the very public row between the two former team-mates that has festered in recent days. Tevez struck the latest blow when accusing Neville, somewhat bizarrely, of being a “sock-sucker” - careful - in an interview in his native Argentina.

Neville had of course angered the Manchester City striker when claiming United were right not to buy him in the summer - an assessment that Tevez undermined when scoring twice against his former club in the Carling Cup in midweek, his celebrations, directed at Neville, drawing the finger from the United defender.

There is no real point denying that the whole episode is pretty hilarious, but the Independent’s James Lawton, always a prominent moral crusader with an axe to grind, is none too happy:

"Manchester United and Manchester City have to act against their reputations being so cheapened by the puerile behaviour of Gary Neville and Carlos Tevez. It is their problem and one that in the current climate in the city requires a swift response.

"If the Football Association decides to respond to the provocation which so inflamed the equally brainless fringes of the supporters of both clubs they should be representing a second wave of discipline aimed at enforcing general standards of behaviour among players operating in the world's best-paid football league."

Lawton continues with a particularly pointed appraisal of Neville, who has previous in this regard.

"In Neville's case the problem is plainly terminal. A brilliant career – one which persuaded Sir Bobby Charlton, for whom Wednesday's pettiness was particularly appalling, to select him as the right-back of United's post-war years – has long been sullied by mindless acts of provocation, especially against Liverpool supporters.

"Perhaps with the decline of his powers, Neville feels some kind of extra need to make his presence felt. He should know the desire has never been more counter-productive. Rabble-rousing is a poor substitute for leadership. Some may say he wears his Manchester United heart on his sleeve but in the case of someone who should by now have acquired some of the statesmanship of his club-mate Ryan Giggs, the result is a dishevelled substitute for genuine passion."