The party pooper

Zola: Bit like Jose and us at Anfield a couple of years ago.

Which was very nice.

Hillsborough verdict; fans unlawfully killed.

The idea that it's taken 27 years to come to the conclusion that 96 people were unlawfully killed when they went to watch a football match is incredible. Hopefully it's closure or the first step towards closure for the families.

The idea that it's taken 27 years to come to the conclusion that 96 people were unlawfully killed when they went to watch a football match is incredible. Hopefully it's closure or the first step towards closure for the families.

It will be interesting to see what happens next. Who was complicit? I'd be very surprised if the government of day didn't know in part of the cover up.

Squires' latest strip: http://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2016/apr/26/david-squires-on-english-clubs-in-semi-finals 

Bit soft on city tbh.

Only watched the 1st half, so didn't see the alli incident. Surprised more hasn't been made of kyle walker kicking rondon. If Rondon had gone down it had to be a straight red. If Costa had done that, it wouldve been shown on sky sports for a fortnight!

Made up spurs have blown it. Not massively fond of Leicester after guppy denied us a title in 99, but they have deserved it, and I'm pleased for claudio.

Theres an article on the guardian saying Ali's fighting spirit will do him good. If Costa had done that no doubt the article would be calling for him to be banned half a season

Theres an article on the guardian saying Ali's fighting spirit will do him good. If Costa had done that no doubt the article would be calling for him to be banned half a season

 

Indeed. I read that article earlier today, the Barney Ronay one, right? Costa would be treated very differently by the press, as we well know...

I actually [largely] agreed with that Ronay article. I think Alli is a superb youngster and has done brilliantly well to make such an impact on a Tottenham side already full of young English talent. Ronay made the point that he is a player who can make mistakes but not consequently allow his head to drop, which I agree with, and also which I think is a crucial quality in a young player. I don't remember him saying that his combativeness will help him in the future although to be fair I read the article before I left for work and thus don't remember it verbatim.

 

Regarding the Costa comparison:

- Alli will almost certainly get a three-match ban for his swipe.

- Costa has never received longer than a three-match ban from the FA.

- Costa has a history of this sort of thing, so you would expect the general reaction to be somewhat less patient than to Alli, who doesn't (as far as I am aware).

- The footballing press are largely idiots anyway; I can't say I care whatsoever about what the vast majority of them think.

- Even if Alli doesn't get a ban, you would expect the FA, above anyone else, to mollycoddle young, English talent, particularly before a major international tournament which he will undoubtedly play a part in. (Whether that is wrong or right)

 

 

Also, to conclude my litany of what will undoubtedly be unpopular opinions:

 

I don't particularly care for David Squires or political/satirical cartoons in general (although I will concede that he has his moments - I like that he seems to have genuinely used tin foil to illustrate van Gaal's jacket).

Watching this, it does make you feel sick...just emphasises what a total fcuk up it was that day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/features/uk-england-36103823/36103823

A very upsetting read http://cnn.it/1Sx9uvs

Just hope the families of the victims can have some closure now

Ridiculously out of context and I feel bad for posting it amongst the real story at the moment but a good article on Ozil in the Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3558719/After-three-seasons-Arsenal-Mesut-Ozil-shown-simply-not-suited-Premier-League.html

I agree his technical ability is sometimes beautiful to watch but then so is Oscar's. That Milner assist stat is interesting.

Tony Pulis is such a PL legend.

Sometimes there are images so great that they touch me profoundly and make me appreciate the beauty of this world.

The image of Suarez crying back in 2014 is one of them.

Watching this, it does make you feel sick...just emphasises what a total fcuk up it was that day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/features/uk-england-36103823/36103823

A very upsetting read http://cnn.it/1Sx9uvs

Just hope the families of the victims can have some closure now

Not sure if this is widely known. Steven Gerrard's cousin Jon Paul Gilhooley, who was a year older than Steven and considered a more promising football player at the time, was the youngest person to die at Hillsborough (age 10). Another uncle of theirs had a ticket and took Jon Paul that day instead of Steven.

I can't help but be cynical that if the victims' families didn't have Gerrard and his family throwing their weight behind the quest for truth, and Steven attending some of the hearings, that the incompetence and cover up would have never been exposed. Even with the Gerrard/Gilhooley family's pressure it still took over 20 years for the truth to come out.

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by offside

Watching this, it does make you feel sick...just emphasises what a total fcuk up it was that day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/features/uk-england-36103823/36103823

 

 

I think anyone who attended matches in the 70s and 80s will realise but for the 'good grace of god' that could so easily have been any of us. Crushes both inside and outside the grounds were common and the authorities treated all fans with disdain. Hopefuly those affected will now have closure for their loved ones.

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by charierre

Watching this, it does make you feel sick...just emphasises what a total fcuk up it was that day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/features/uk-england-36103823/36103823

 

This link has over 30 minutes of closed-circuit footage from the day that was shown at the inquest, scroll down to: Watch: Inquest shown video of how disaster developed.

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/hillsborough-inquests-what-learn-events-8355789

 

Horrible to see it develop, an overcrowded terrace still going through the motions of football support, cheering on whilst the starting lineup was announced, whilst the disaster was beginning to unfold.

 

No Ronaldo for Real tonight! Replaced in the starting XI by Lucas Vasquez rather than James Rodriguez or Isco as well...

 

This could be very interesting indeed.

 

 

 

On another note I just found out that Zieler (the Hannover keeper) used to play for Man Utd's youth team - I have absolutely no recollection of that.

Oh that's right, Champions League tonight. But The Godfather is also on, a film I love...

Does anyone know who is replacing Pep at Bayern ?

Does anyone know who is replacing Pep at Bayern ?

 

Ancelotti, it was announced a couple of months ago.

 

 

Clichy nicking the ball so well he assumed it must be a foul there, hilarious stuff.

Ancelotti, it was announced a couple of months ago.

 

Wow I completely forgot about that. Interesting

Fernandinho has improved so much this season, we could really do with a player like him in our midfield. I think he's been overlooked somewhat as a result of City's recent struggles.

 

Navas with a predictably poor cross.

Back to football talk after a depressing days reading...city fans not making much noise as normal

Navas is dreadful, does almost nothing every game.