Re: The Football Chat Thread : Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:07 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

The root cause is the continuing ambiguity over the rules regarding standing. Like most clubs City seem to turn a blind eye to it in certain parts of the ground most of the time, but every now and then decide to have a purge. The stewards seem to pick on one bloke who they think wont make a fuss and order him to sit down. That bloke takes offense at seemingly being the only person asked to sit down when there are about 5,000 others stood up and it all kicks off. The clubs need to finally address the issue of "safe standing" or actually have a policy that is clear and consistent.

Just seen the footage for the first time, no surprise that they chose to make an example of an older bloke in amongst the few hundred when plenty more might have been a bit more challenging for them.

The last government had no intention of allowing a proper debate on the issue of safe standing and I doubt this one will either, this issue will drag on and on and I fear it might take something major happening in a stadium before a proper debate and solution is allowed.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:15 pm  

I've just watched that video, shocking. Most grounds do something like that though, pick on someone who looks like they can't defend themselves.

Me and my mate got picked on as 15 year olds at Leeds United for standing, everyone behind and in front of us was stood, but only we got picked on. They soon left us alone though after others started to stick up for us!

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:59 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Evra wouldn't have reported banter. No idea if its true.

Apparently Gordon Taylor has offered to "mediate". How does that work in a situation like this? Either there was or there wasnt racial abuse, there's no half way house or compromise solution.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:28 am  

Cibaman wrote:

Apparently Gordon Taylor has offered to "mediate". How does that work in a situation like this? Either there was or there wasnt racial abuse, there's no half way house or compromise solution.

It doesn't make sense to me. No player would stand there and be called a 'n***er' 10 times by an opposition player and take it, it just wouldn't happen. Evra was obviously wound up, but that's the sort of stuff that would incite violence on a football field, or at least force action during the game.

Also, I don't think Suarez and Liverpool would have staunchly denied it if the grounds to prove it were so strong. They will have studied tape, will have been legally advised and I don't believe that the club - and the player - would take such a stance with something like racism. Footballing things, things like appealing red cards, yeah, I'd get it, but something that's politically incorrect and extremely controversial, I think the club would have 'kept their heads down' if Suarez was even remotely guilty.

I could be wrong, I just think it's one of those things that clubs separate loyalties with and generally won't defend unless entirely convinced. Still, it should be interesting to see the end result, I hope it's something of nothing because I've generally thought racism of that sort was well out of the British game, even if the two players involved aren't British.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:27 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

Apparently Gordon Taylor has offered to "mediate". How does that work in a situation like this? Either there was or there wasnt racial abuse, there's no half way house or compromise solution.

If Suarez is 100% certain of His reactions to Evra after Suarez made contact with Evra's knee then He should sue Evra for slander. Lets see if Evra wants to go to court on this and see if Suarez will say fair enough lets go to court. This issue is not to be pushed under the carpet and forgotten. Evra has made very serious allegations on a fellow Pro.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:00 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

Trying to put a positive spin on it, he's a body, which is what Everton are desparately short of....Also, Moyes knows him, and similarly, he knows the club, so there is no settling in period....

On the reserve side, he has a dodgy knee and is probably a shadow of the player he was in his first spell (when he couldn't get a regular place!!).

Overall, beggars can't be choosers, and, let's be fair, we've made a bloomin' mug out of Birmingham over him....£2mil bought, sold for 5mil, bought back for free!!...

His Premier League record of 20 goals in 191 games says a lot.

If he's been brough in to play upfront I'd rather Vellios got more game time and if he's going to play wide left I'd rather see Drenthe used. Awful, awful signing. It's a bit like the Pistone episode of a few years back.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:16 pm  

Dan_FC wrote:

His Premier League record of 20 goals in 191 games says a lot.

If he's been brough in to play upfront I'd rather Vellios got more game time and if he's going to play wide left I'd rather see Drenthe used. Awful, awful signing. It's a bit like the Pistone episode of a few years back.

I'm going to sound like a McFadden fan here and a supporter of this move, but let's face it, he never really got a consistant run at Everton the first time round, mainly through a combination of his own frustrating form, injuries and Moyes's preference for players who run around like headless chickens over 'flair' players.

I think if all the squad is fit then McFadden (rightly) doesn't get a game, but he becomes a useful asset if injuries strike....I'd prefer McFadden in a starting line-up than having Vellios over-played, which is something you have to be careful about with promising, young players.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:44 pm  

How is the City winner not offside?? Surely the guy in the middle attacking the ball and forcing a defender to stick a leg out is interfering in play??

The offside rule needs changing back to what it was. Between the keeper and defender....offside.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:51 pm  

Just heard Liverpool have lost 1-0 in Scotland. Still, there's no easy games in Europe.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:51 pm  

Conroy wrote:

How is the City winner not offside?? Surely the guy in the middle attacking the ball and forcing a defender to stick a leg out is interfering in play??

The offside rule needs changing back to what it was. Between the keeper and defender....offside.

EDIT - so he's slightly on, but I stand by my point