Football Focus

[red devil]

QI... Quintessential Idiot

LFC should be given the option not to play a match on the anniversary of Hillsborough...

[Otta]

'Many disagree but I feel that the Liverpool v Everton semi-final could be played on Apr 15. Apologies to those upset by that suggestion.

'I said the Hillsborough disaster was the worst event in modern peacetime history. I was on a terrace listening to a radio as it happened.

'I agree that there must be a full inquiry into Hillsborough but not playing on the 15th doesn't change anything. It's not fair on Chelsea.'

I think he's entitled to that opinion to be honest. Surely a huge match at Wembley against Everton of all people, would have been a great chance to really pay respects? I'm no Chelsea fan, but they have a right to be a bit hacked off over it.

[red devil]

Of course he's entitled to his opinion, and he's also entitled to receive all the flak he's getting too.

LFC have taken the view that by not playing a game of football on the anniversary of Hilsborough, that is a mark of respect...football is secondary. There will still be a show of respect at the Everton game.

Chelsea are used to playing games Sunday and Wednesday, plus it's a home game, no travel...I'm surprised they've shown such insensitivity over the issue.

[Undisputedtruth]

Ladygooner Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Meanwhile - back to the football. Blackburn v

> Liverpool very entertaining match - it will be

> interesting to see the 3rd place goalie in action

> again at Wembley on Sat. Must give Everton a lot

> of hope!

Everton are on form and they played a weaken team when they played Liverpool last. I sincerely hope Everton don't take the game for granted. If they can keep Gerrard quiet then they should go through.

[Alan Medic]

I'd be pee'd off if I was a Chelsea fan given old Real and Barca managed to have their game rearranged due to European commitments. On the other hand the fixture kicking off at 6pm is all about the audience and thus money, so perhaps Chelsea of all teams should understand. They were built on money. It's not that many years ago they had less than 10,000 at the Bridge for a match.

[Otta]

Of course he's entitled to his opinion, and he's also entitled to receive all the flak he's getting too.

Flak, yes. Death threats from stupid scrotes, Hell No! Especially people who were not born, or just little kids in 1989, who have no connection whatsoever to anyone who lost their life that day.

[Parkdrive]

Otta Wrote:

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> Of course he's entitled to his opinion, and he's

> also entitled to receive all the flak he's getting

> too.

>

> Flak, yes. Death threats from stupid scrotes, Hell

> No! Especially people who were not born, or just

> little kids in 1989, who have no connection

> whatsoever to anyone who lost their life that day.

I think some of the insults have been deporable and I hope those responsible are brought before the courts, especially those making death threats. Also these people claim they want justice for the 96!!! Does a lynch mob understand the concept of justice? Wankers one and all.

[Razors]

Forcing CFC to play on sunday at that time is bad. Dont think it has 2do with LFC or TV but more to do with CFC haters in positon of authority, all wanting CFC to fail, and doing their best to make it happen. Do you really think that this would have happend if it had been MUFC, I think not.

Medic-theres only 1 team built on money now-look North, stop living in the past.

[Parkdrive]

CFC haters in positions of authority!!!!! My god a delusional paranoid man if ever there was one!!!

[Razors]

Tiddly om pom pom!

Gerrard has always been a poor 2nd to Lamps, and he is unfortunately being harrassd by criminal scousers.

Newcastle on a fluke run.

Feel sorry for Kenny but Carol a joke despite scoring othr day,at least Torres works for the team.

Will Fergie retire at end of season-i dont think so.

Begrudgingly i do like wengers ethic.

MCFC-Flash in pan and wont last as you cannot buy titles as CFC fans know-you work hard and earn them.

Up the Blues!

[Undisputedtruth]

The race for the premiership is getting interesting again. The question is whether City can sort out their away form as Utd is bound to drop more points.

[Parkdrive]

So you can't buy titles eh? CSKA Fulham must be the exception that proves the rule. As for Gerrard being a poor 2nd to Lampard, I think you'll find its other way round, Stevie G is a legend whereas as Lampard is/was mediocre.

[ratty]

Chelsea and Utd have both bought a few titles in their time. Blackburn did it too back in the day. In fact the only way you can get titles is by buying them! This is why no one else wins anything!

Premiership football is a total bore tbh!

[red devil]

Otta and PD:

I'm surprised you give so much credence to a few internet trolls, you're always going to get those type of comments, we even get trolls on here. They don't reflect the views of the average fan or the campaign groups.

Let's return to the issue in hand...

do you think LFC are entitled as a mark of respect to not play a game of football on the anniversary of Hillsborough?

[Annette Curtain]

64 points

*bead of sweat runs down temple*

(tu)(tu)(tu)

[red devil]

I thought Utd were complacent last night, but well played Wigan.

I expect both Utd and Citeh to drop more points.

We missed Scholes, and I don't think there's any coincidence that since he came back we've won 34 points out of 36 (before last night's game). Fortunately there are no more midweek games, so Scholes should play in all the remaining games, but it's something Fergie needs to address this summer.

[El Pibe]

I have to say this not playing thing is a bit weird.

I would have thought it'd be more respectful to those who died following their beloved team to get out there and try and win the FA Cup.

Time was that death or tragedy was quietly, and personally marked by those involved. This rather ghoulish/cultish trend of memorialising whole days (the 14 million dead of WWI get a minute for goodness sake) seems to have started with 9/11.

I reckon Alan Davies has a very relevant point when he said those giving him death threats weren't even alive when the Hillsborough tragedy occured.

[Otta]

Let's return to the issue in hand...

do you think LFC are entitled as a mark of

respect to not play a game of football on the

anniversary of Hillsborough?

In a word, no.

Liverpool have every right to request that they don't play that day, but no club should be able to dictate these things, as that could give unfair advantage.

As others have said, there are plenty of other tragic disasters in football history, yet other clubs don't EXPECT to not play on anniversaries. Hillsborough is different because of all the cover up, and the quest for truth, which keeps it alive, helped by fans' slightly twisted desire to share in the grief in order to feel like part of something, even though they had no link at the time.

If Hillsborough didn't have the cover up, then it would have been put to bed, and it would be remembered like any other tragedy in which people lost their lives.

Please don't take that as disrespectful of the dead, and the families seeking the truth. I hope eventually they get it, and find some peace. Only then can the whole thing be put to bed, and remembered with respect.

Sorry if that is offensive to anyone, but that is my opinion.

[Otta]

Cross post with EP, but similar point.

[Parkdrive]

Without wanting or wishing to be provocative, do Juventus fans honour May 29 1985 in the same way Liverpool does with the Hillsborough disaster? It was just as moving as it was caused as a result of hooligan elements in the crowd. This my opinion, and like I said, my observation, and as much of a waste of life as Hillsborough.

[El Pibe]

What Otta said and hats off to the admission that "fans' slightly twisted desire to share in the grief in order to feel like part of something, even though they had no link at the time" is indeed a more disturbing facet of all of this.

In fact it's thematically similar to the time a young Irish chap I spoke to in peaceable Wexford, who'd only ever really known prosperity and stability, telling me he hated The English? though he actually liked all the English people he'd met.

When asked to justify that position he looked at me as if I was a thicky and said simply 'Cromwell'.

Sometimes people need to learn to let go; the alternative is just not healthy.

*not to mention hardly evidence of a Otta's alleged siege mentality.

[red devil]

Good post Otta...why didn't you say that in the first place ;-)

I don't agree that you had to be alive at the time of a disaster in order to understand what happened and/or to feel grief. I was born after Munich, but that event still affects me as a Utd supporter.

[Atticus]

Otta, I find your categorising of a mass of peoples' mentality as twisted, very offensive. This whole 'scousers' as professional mourners etc tag is starting to stick and it fucks me off. there are some who might be guilty of this but certainly not the majority, have some perspective ffs. In fact, you have been very patronising to scousers on the forum in the past, it smacks of I typical... I lived there for a few years and thus am qualified to make outrageous assumptions about the place and its people.

[El Pibe]

I'm not sure they're really thought of as professional mourners, they do seem to have a reputation for being overly sensitive and quick to take offence though.

[Atticus]

perpetuated by the likes of Otta.