Football Focus

[Annasfield]

Just for reference

Liverpool request not to play on the 15th April for various reasons. The main one being that the management and players all attend a memorial service which is also attended by the grieving families and survivors from that terrible day.

It's ironic that Davies is an Arsenal fan whose team isnt impacted by our request not to play on the 15th. His comments were a cheap shot at the City. It's basically fuck all to do with him.

[Undisputedtruth]

Ladygooner Wrote:

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> Meanwhile - back to the football again! Does

> anyone think Man City still have a chance of the

> Premiership?

Yep, as long as City can win all of their three remaining away games, it's possible. They have a fabulous home record so they should beat Utd. Utd are playing three teams, that have beaten City, in their remaining five games. I'd expect Utd to beat McLeish's Aston Villa but struggle in their following four games. Plus Utd will come under greater scrutiny due to recent questionable refereeing decisions. Plenty of twists and turns until the end of season.

[Parkdrive]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> Just for reference

>

> Liverpool request not to play on the 15th April

> for various reasons. The main one being that the

> management and players all attend a memorial

> service which is also attended by the grieving

> families and survivors from that terrible day.

>

>

> It's ironic that Davies is an Arsenal fan whose

> team isnt impacted by our request not to play on

> the 15th. His comments were a cheap shot at the

> City. It's basically @#$%& all to do with him.

Maybe, but the death threats and insults he's received from those claiming to be seeking justice for the 96, while demonstrating the mentality of a lynch mob, THAT'S ironic and worrying. I wonder how many of these people bothered to actually listen to what he had to say, or is it just jumping on the band wagon? My moneys on the latter.

[red devil]

What's worrying PD is that you give so much legtimacy to a handful of internet trolls, who in no way reflect the views and aims of the decent LFC fans and campaign groups.

Davies was entitled to ask the question why LFC don't play on the 15th, but not in the crass, insensitive way that he did. He was playing up to his audience, trying to be funny...he wasn't.

[Annasfield]

Absolutely Parkdrive - the comments are abhorrent but are from mindless idiots who have a voice on the Internet. I'm not judging all Arsenal fans based on Davies' comments so I suggest you afford us the same courtesy.

[Parkdrive]

red devil Wrote:

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> What's worrying PD is that you give so much

> legtimacy to a handful of internet trolls, who in

> no way reflect the views and aims of the decent

> LFC fans and campaign groups.

> Davies was entitled to ask the question why LFC

> don't play on the 15th, but not in the crass,

> insensitive way that he did. He was playing up to

> his audience, trying to be funny...he wasn't.

They claim to represent LFC, that is worrying!! I've not said he was funny at any point, but I do find the whole reaction way over the top. Since the tragedy at Bradford, I've not once seen the same high profile clamour to mark THAT tragedy. No doubt I'll get lambasted for that view as well.

[Atticus]

Otts, El Pibe etal.

I sent Otta's post through to a gd friend yesterday to get his opinion. The disclaimer I should add is that he is most passionate yet level-headed football fan that I know. I don't wish to stir up this argument again. Just think he expresses himself a lot more succinctly and diplomatically than I.

I never read forums, or message boards or listen to radio phone ins so I never get to see this type of stuff.

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My feeling is that LFC are entirely justified in saying that the club doesn?t play on April 15

th. Especially when the game in question is an FA Cup semi final. I understand that this position throws up many logistical problems for other teams but the main issue with this weekend?s fixtures is simply that the FA have made the greedy and illogical decision to play FA Cup semi finals at Wembley.

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Otherwise we could have played at lunch time at OT, Chelsea and Spurs could have played at tea time in London and there would be no problem.

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I must admit though I find it really annoying when things like this happen. The more the country gets annoyed with things like LFC ?refusing to play on a certain day? the more it deflects from the only important issue which is the campaign for justice.

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There should be a dialogue about this stuff. Alan Davies is completely allowed to say he feels that LFC refusing to play on the 15

th gives them an advantage. That is his opinion and I don?t really care what he thinks.

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As for the thread below. This bit in particular is pretty offensive I think

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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.?I assume whoever wrote this also thinks Remembrance Day is a twisted desire to share in the grief. Unless he was actually involved in the Wars of course.

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[Huguenot]

Ha ha, Atticus.

You sent it to a mate having taken offence, and as a mate he supported you. He's a good mate.

It's about time Liverpool and their fans moved on. The world is unfair, why Liverpool think they're something special I have no idea.

It's arrogant, presumptuous and vain.

That's not to take anything from the grief and the pain of those involved, but frankly there's a lot fewer of those than the ones making a noise.

You can present this view as harsh and unfeeling if you like, but it doesn't take a great deal of imagination for Liverpool fans to realise that talking about 'me me me' all the time isn't going to win you any friends.

[StraferJack]

Consfusing formatting aside, if you have a friend who compares remembering WW1 (and the ramifications through history) to a single, tragic day in football history, and you think they are the most level-headed person you know.... well....

[Atticus]

Your being flippant SJ, he wasn't comparing tradjedies, was he? He was making a point about the need for relecrion and remerberance. Huguenot, yes I have friends and yea I talk with them. I will be sure to remind to move on, can't think why we didn't come up with that solution sooner.

[????]

Personally I do feel quite emotional about hillsboro'

Beacuse

a) I was on the terraces at UP that day (playing Southampton) as the news unfolded at firs we were all just thinking "trouble, so what" and gradually the events unfolded and the news got worse until the enormity dawned, I remember it vividly

b) In the Cup that year at QPR we had 1000s of extra fans arriving late many with moody tickets (I AM TO BE CLEAR NOT SAYING THAT THIS WAS WAS HAPPENED AT HILLSBORO!) and the crush got worse and worse until we all spilled out onto the pitch (no fences) and the game was stopped for at least 20 minutes and fans had to sit round the edge of the pitch, but if there'd been fences. When Hillsboro happened I thought that could have been West Ham at QPR

3) the general previous 20 years of tribal idiocy at football was the reason that the fences were there, many younger fans had been involved in that idiocy however 'ligh heartedly' and hasd some res[onsibilty

[StraferJack]

I think remembering and reflecting are good things

I also support the ongoing investigations into what happened that day

I just don't also equate any of that with refusing to play on that date. Play the game. Play it with special arm bands and send a message to a wider public. I'm not really saying "move on" so much as do everything you feel you need to do... But play the match as well

[Otta]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> I think remembering and reflecting are good

> things

>

> I also support the ongoing investigations into

> what happened that day

>

> I just don't also equate any of that with refusing

> to play on that date. Play the game. Play it with

> special arm bands and send a message to a wider

> public. I'm not really saying "move on" so much

> as do everything you feel you need to do... But

> play the match as well

Basically all of that.

Perhaps my wording was a bit harsh yesterday, although I still basically stand by it.

Comparing Hillsborough to Remembrance Day? Really crap comparison.

[Atticus]

Refer you to my comments re. comparison, earlier. It wasn't crap, it was about the need to remember. The crux here is that I don't agree with your statement, sweeping, patronising, stereotypical as it was (in my perception). I found it offensive, you and others on the forum consider my reaction as atypical of a defensive mentality that is typical of Liverpool people. Your argument pertains a massive stereotype, you think it doesn't, never the twain shall meet. Let the sun shine on Wembley tomorrow.

[Razors]

It's going to be a bit of a let down on Sunday for the few spurs fans when Harry loses the FA semi before leaving to manage England.

I wouldn't bother to send any 'leaving' card to him as he won't be able to read it!

Btw i think LFC & their fans will carry on with the anniversary thing and will change if and when they feel they're ready. This may be influenced by media and public perception but you cannot tell an individual or a collective how to grieve/mourn/remember/commemorate. When the time is right for those concerned. .

[Undisputedtruth]

Should be a good weekend of cup football. Both games will be tight.

[Otta]

Pretty nervous about Liverpool's chances today. Form book out the window (thank God!), just hoping they show pride, and that Stevie G turns up!

[Otta]

Was concerned about q couple of the starting line up. I wasn't concerned about Carra & Agger. Error.

[Otta]

Phew!!! Thought Liverpool were very good in the second half, and deserved to win. Very unlucky to Everton though, having taken the lead after a Liverpool error, to then have one of their own!

[????]

I reckon Liverpool will win the Cup after all the trauma this season

[????]

...and as they'll be playing Chelsea or Spurs I bloody well hope they do :))

[Otta]

I certainly hope so. Would be nice to see Chelsea and Spurs cupless, and outside of the top 4 (go Newcastle!!!).

[Razors]

A racist and a clown scored for the reds!

CFC v LFC final so lets hope LFC dont cheat like they have done in champs league agnst CFC in past with non existant goals etc!

[Otta]

Yeah, cos Chelsea never would have claimed that goal.

As for the racist remark, glass houses and all that.

[Alan Medic]

I hope Spurs win the cup as over the season they have played the best football.