scouseblue

Fantastic banner & the least he deserves

From todays papers .Some United fans kept behind after the match were, sadly, heard singing their songs about "murderers" and "victims", taken as a slur about Hillsborough. According to reports they were responding to a couple of Liverpool supporters making aeroplane gestures as a taunt about the Munich air crash. That dismal exchange happened in an otherwise empty ground, however, and during a fractious game supporters were tetchy rather than hostile However, some time after the final whistle, when most of the Liverpool fans had left, a couple of home supporters ran across the main stand to the far corner, where the visiting contingent remained on police orders, and started making aeroplane signals. It was an obvious reference to the Munich air disaster in 1958, in which eight United players were amongst 21 people who lost their lives. United fans responded immediately by chanting “Always the Victims” and “Murderers” in a reminder of the Merseyside club’s own recent tragedies - Hillsborough and Heysel. . Fans of all clubs misbehave and personally I'm uncomfortable with the idea that some are beyond criticism whereas others are pilloried

Got to say I'm really disappointed by the first half performance

I think losing the contract with sky for his fighters has hit him and his business isnt looking too rosy without a tv deal but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt mate as maybe I'm just cynical. I've watched hatton live a lot and liked him as a fighter & an entertainer but he was a shadow of himself when he was pretty much 'humiliated' by manny & I realise that's a very strong word. Ricky's response was going a massive bender and treating his body in the manner that had led to the shape he was in that night. it's been spoken of at length the damage his ballooning and cutting weight almost certainly did and now he's had 3 years out nearly all of it at that weight and 'developed' alcohol & cocaine problems as well as depression. If Ricky was in his prime I'd be pretty confident of how it'd go but by no stretch of anyone's imagination is he in his prime or even close to it, as you say we'll learn more (maybe) from his fight depending on the quality of the opponent but without a pretty dramatic showing I'll be backing khan I'd think .

I think that's the 'money' fight for both of them as khan needs to get his career on track as Ricky obviously wants the money and profile a fight like that would bring. Hatton has had 3 years out and as has been discussed at length a lifestyle that has almost certainly taken its toll and let's not kid ourselves he looked anything but his best against manny , we might learn more with his comeback fight but I think khan would almost certainly have way too much for him.

Isn't that the strength of football and human beings generally ? Its possible to sympathise with the loss and be outraged by the behaviour of the authorities in its 23 year aftermath but it doesn't mean a bond is created other than a bond of general human decency.

Duran did mate although he was a bit special and he also moved up the weights whereas hatton kept cutting weights before fights and that's where the 'strain' is for me more than anything, there have been p,entry of fighters come back sharp but plenty s shadow of their former selves, I agree totally that we've no idea what kind of hatton will come back into the ring and depending of the quality of his opponent we at not know much after his first fight back. I used to love watching hatton but by the end I felt I could see the damage he'd done to himself so I'd hate to see him come back and undo a lot of his reputation.

Yeah absolutely I think he'll be serious and a few have changed sports Curtis woodhouse , sonny b Williams who is NZ heavyweight champ (after not even a half a dozen fights though) and Anthony mundine who looks about the 'best' fighting at a decent level. I wouldn't imagine Fred will ever get to the level of titles but we'll probably get a few fights of entertainment until somebody knocks him spark out

I think Freddie used to box a bit as a kid , he's apparently been trainng for about a year , sparring since may , not drunk since July until the fight , lost 20 kgs down to a 100 kilos and he used boxing as the basis of his cardio throughout his career however stepping in the ring for a pro fight is a different equation. You'd imagine him to have a big dig but to be a bit chinny, it'll be interesting and I think he's taking it seriously but you'd think it'd be 'entertainment' rather than 'boxing'. On khan there is a lot of hate out there but despite his recent record given hattons absence , lifestyle and age I'd be backing khan I'd think but that's without watching how sharp or not Ricky looks on comeback

For me Ricky was the poster boy for how not to behave or live between fights and his 'lifestyle' and the relatively massive weight gains he experienced puts a huge strain on him physically which I think you could see towards the end & that ages fighters significantly . Now Ricky has had a few years out at that level and added cocaine (if it wasn't already there) & sadly depression to the equation and personally I'd much rather he left it. The toll his physical condition between fights has had on him means he's almost certainly a 'lot older' than his years so I hope it works out but I'd rather he didn't do it

Even as an Evertonian I can appreciate that mate. our whole city suffered this was the days prior to cheap foreign air travel so most clubs had a strong local fanbase but that did mean a lot of Evertonians suffered loss as well. I had many friends there and a cousin who suffered a serious brain injury from which he's never recovered and the grief and pain killed his mother my auntie years before her time

I've said before in threads I'm an 'Evertonian' that follows rangers and I have huge respect for that club and despite my post above about Hillsborough would often make disparaging comments about Liverpool although clearly not the disaster as frankly something's transcend rivalry but if anybody at Goodison wore a shirt mocking the 96 in that manner they'd do well to get out of the ground without serious injury or worse. The shame of that picture isn't just on the animal wearing it but on ANYBODY associated with that club that doesn't challenge it as vehemently as possible. That although not a huge surprise is a absolute disgrace and frankly shameful behaviour. I take your point mate I do but the way things 'unfold' are bound to effect your reaction & lies and deception cause anger and pain. On the point of legal action the families priority at the moment isn't compensation but criminal charges.

The fight that's been fought, the constant complaining and raising the profile , the vigils and campaigns were for yesterday (well for a start). Unlike (to my knowledge) any major disaster a serious campaign of disinformation and what frankly appears to be a conspiracy began with hours of the tragedy. If 164 statements had been changed over the Ibrox disaster to protect the police and remove almost every reference to commendable behaviour from the fans , if ambulances had remained outside as police formed lines with dogs in 'anticipation ' of disorder as up to almost half people who perhaps could have been saved lost their lives, if the police & politicians briefed media outlets with wholly inaccurate accounts (LIES) to 'smear' the fans , if blood alcohol levels were tested on all victims including a 10 year old were carried out , if Police criminal record checks were carried out on victims (for no discernible reason other than further smears ?) and if, if , if then maybe the reaction would be different. A whole load of people screamed, shouted, mocked & pointed the finger at Liverpool fans for not 'moving on' and to me yesterday shows exactly why and that they were absolutely justified in doing it, the current south Yorkshire chief constable believes (and im paraphrasing ) it may be the biggest 'cover up' in British history . it's genuinely shocking and I'd recommend as many football fans as possible read the report or at least it's 'summary' as there but for the grace of god go football fans from all over the country

It's not on that clip (I don't think) but he also said if anyone tried to come round to take his medals 'they'd get a right hander'.

Top quote from a top man

Just said exactly the same , thought I'd misheard him to be honest

Liverpool it's 'the fields of Anfield Road'

Spot on mate I know lads of both religions that support either club , it's just never been an issue as far as I'm aware . Although they seem obsessed with their closeness to Cektic in recent years whilst Everton (in my opinion ) have got closer to rangers , to be fair Celtic & Liverpool are a match made in heaven in my opinion .

Those who were there fellas take a bow A truly amazing attendance for a club playing (hopefully not for long ) at that level and everyone associated with a Proud and Glorious club should be very very proud , gives yourselves a round of applause

I'm an Evertonian but I follow Rangers whether via TV , radio or whatever and try and get up at least once a season to watch them I signed up here coz every fucker was putting the boot in and I wanted you lads to know a lot of footy fans thought what was happening was a disgrace. I think you can only ever 'support' one club but you can follow another especially if they are in different countries . As for you lads who've named Everton get ready for a rep and those that have put Liverpool

Have a look at about 28 secs

I'll always be honest I'm an Evertonian first and foremost but I have a lot of love for rangers , so it's good to read that. I'm conflicted on Naismith and tried not to post too much on it in case you fellas think I'm taking the piss , obviously I want him to be a success at my club but the press conference in particular was more that a bit distasteful in my opinion.

Totally understand the reaction but regardless of that i hope we do organise a 'friendly' , at te earliest it'd be next season but I hope it happens

The manager has been a bit critical of it , back in the god old bad old days Everton were renowned for pitch invasions , like you say they don't happen too much anymore but Evertonians are usually waiting for the slightest opportunity to turn back the clock.