Football Focus

[Keef]

Careful ratty mate, you just might start sounding a bit bitter! ;-)

[ratty]

heh heh - not bitter I think, just keen to expose him for the runt that he is! ;)

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

There's a picture in today's Guardian online sports section which makes him look just like Taggart.

[Sandperson]

matthew123 Wrote:

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> I see Alex Ferguson has come out with more hostile

> nonsense, this time saying it's a terrible black

> mark against the FA for banning Evra for 4 matches

> after he'd punched an overweight groundsman in the

> head back in May at Stamford Bridge. Let us not

> forget that to try and get themselves off the hook

> United's propaganda machine at first suggested the

> groundsman had racially abused Evra, that in

> itself is below the belt and should have been

> dealt with by the FA.

>

> I can't think of a bigger hypocrite in this

> country than Alex Ferguson, he'd make a politician

> blush.

Blimey, you seem to know more about this than anyone I have read or heard talking about the incident. I haven't seen any proof against the racial abuse. The ban is a disgrace. The fine maybe ok, but to lose a player for four games for an incident after the end of the game where a member of the opposition staff is obviously culpable is a terrible decision The normal FA response....total BS as is your post :))

[Keef]

I'm honestly not sure of this, but did Barton receive a ban because of his off pitch antics? I have a feeling he did, in which case it's not so unfair. 4 matches seems harsh though, considering there were obviously more than one person being naughty. It's like bus drivers and cyclists all over again ;-)

[Sandperson]

Argh, Keef, I knew you'd bring that up! :))

Just reading back over some of the press of the incident their was denial of a racist element to the incident according to some papers. I guess I just don't read the right papers. I still say that if it had been two players then fair enough but the fact that it was a groundsman makes it a slightly different story. That's why a fine would be fair but a game ban (or 4) is out of order! There is no equivalent punishment for Chelsea because it's not a member of playing staff and the fact they were fined shows that there was some guilt on their part too.

[Keef]

Hmmm, I suppose having been 2 down, we should be pleased with a draw, but definitely a missed opportunity! Looks like we'll be in second by the end of tomorrow unless West Ham pull off a great result, but can't see it on current form...

[Keef]

Well done spurs, that's a good result for the pool! Now if West Ham wouldn't mind beating Chelsea tomorrow, we're all laughing! :-S

[????]

....and if Kylie wouldn't mind popping round mine for a massage......

[Kells]

Keef what happened?! We tried our best for you, but it will have to stop at West Ham beating Chelsea. Be good to see Kylie in Dulwich though ;-)

[Sandperson]

Damn and double damn.

[Annasfield]

Bollocks, bollocks, bollocks!!

Must need my head read. Just got back from Liverpool and all that for a solitary point! (6)

[Ladygooner]

But four goals Anna! It must have felt like a win after being 2 down?

[Annasfield]

Nope - all happened in the first half, so the second half was VERY frustrating.

I have sent an offer of my services to massage Torres' thighs for four hours for every day. It will be a hard task, but hopefully it will get him on the road to recovery a lot quicker and the opportunity to equal his goal scoring record from last season.

Your gaff next MissG - should be an interesting one. You going, your thoughts?

[matthew123]

Sandperson Wrote:

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

>

> Blimey, you seem to know more about this than

> anyone I have read or heard talking about the

> incident. I haven't seen any proof against the

> racial abuse.

Sorry, I forgot with United the FA have to prove that United's weak accusations are not correct. Wrong. United have to provide the proof and they failed.

> The ban is a disgrace. The fine

> maybe ok, but to lose a player for four games for

> an incident after the end of the game where a

> member of the opposition staff is obviously

> culpable is a terrible decision The normal FA

> response....total BS as is your post :))

How is the groundsman "obviously culpable"? Do you mean calm and collected Patrice Evra, who has been booked more times this season than the snarling Wayne Rooney or the cheating Ronaldo, was so provoked out of his usual mild mannered self that the groundsman is obviously guilty of some heinous, yet unproven, crime?

Obviously there are two sides to the story. Chelsea claim the ground staff, after United refused to warm down on a different part of the pitch, had said ?you?re just a f***ing idiot?. Whereas star witness Carlos Tevez, recently seen speaking through an interpreter on Sky Sports (whilst team mate Mascherano managed to speak English), backed up the race card claim that it was actually, ?you?re just a f***ing immigrant?. I don't know which side of the story is more creditable...

"The ban is a disgrace" - no it is not a disgrace. How can you justify an athlete punching an overweight groundsman in the head? At end of same match Rio Ferdinand kicked a woman steward before returning to the dressing room - that is the disgrace, Rio not getting a ban. As for the fine is "maybe ok" that just confirms that you know he was guilty.

I really don't know what your argument is, although I sense you think United should be treated differently to other clubs?

[Keef]

Well done and thank you hammers! Worked hard for it, shame they couldn't have buried that chance in stoppage time.

[????]

:-$:-S:)):X:'(:-S::o>:D<

That'l' do...now where's Kylie?

[Sandperson]

I think you prove my point somewhere in your rant Matthew. You say "How is the groundsman "obviously culpable"?" then you say "As for the fine is "maybe ok" that just confirms that you know he was guilty." So that then, by your logic, proves that the groundsman was in the wrong because he too, or at least the club he works for, was fined. I think that something went on. I am sure that both parties were in the wrong, grown men fighting must mean that something was wrong but I think a ban from playing is an inappropriate punishment. As I said I think a fine for both clubs would have been a fairer conclusion.

Obvioulsy Tevez is a liar and can't speak English, which seems to be important to you for some reason. You don't like Ronaldo, suprise, suprise, join the queue. Rio kicked the female steward by accident. I am sure you think it was malicious and I am sure there's nothing I can say to persuade you that he isn't a drug taking, thuggish dolt. He apologised immediately and I think he even sent the woman in question a gift (signed shirt or something).

Out of interest who do you follow? You obviously feel persecuted. I love the way that people like you take the opportunity to use any story involving the biggest club in the world to slag all the teams players. As far as I was concerned and the other United fans I speak to (all from Surrey of course) a punishment was deserved and I said that, I just don't understand how a playing ban is relevent.

[Annasfield]

Nice to see you're still so passionate about United, Sandperson. When were you last at Old Trafford? ;-)

Anyhoo, back to the original reason I decided to post in this thread. Great that Mickey Owen is back in form - wonder if he'll still be at St James' park after the transfer window closes.

[matthew123]

>> "Obvioulsy Tevez is a liar and can't speak English, which seems to be important to you for some reason."

In this context it is very important he cannot speak English, as how could the FA rely on any Tevez testimony as to what was said in English by Chelsea groundsman.

Of course Rio was not being malicious, and neither was it malicious when he tried lunging at the Referee on final whistle. Rio just lost control of his temper. Suppose JT and Drogba had not restrained Rio do you think a quick apology and sending Ref a crate of lagers would have sufficed to escape punishment? Of course not and neither does kicking steward even if he meant to kick dressing room door off its hinges which in itself would bring a misconduct charge.

Evra is a role model and just fining him the equivalent of half a week's wages is nothing. Robbie Fowler was once given a 4 game ban for directing his rear end at Graeme Le Saux at a free kick. You can argue about that if you want but at end of day the FA have not persecuted United, all they have done is hand out justice.

[Ladygooner]

Annasfield - yes I will be going next Sunday. Not brave enough to make a prediction - just hope we get the 3 points:))

[Sandperson]

You know me Anna, I don't leave the confines of my front room to watch football. It's bad enough they have to play outside but the Prawn sarnies aren't as good as they were in Keane's day.:'(

[Annasfield]

Nice one Ladygooner - I may see you there.

Sandperson - have you ever been?

[Sandperson]

Oh, sorry, I assumed you were joking. I have been lots and lots of times. Most noteable occasions being a 1-0 loss to Liverpool mid-week after an 87th minute Danny Murphy goal. The loss to Coventry in last years Carling Cup. The 2-2 draw against a superb Bayer Leverkusen side (including Ballack) in the Champions league. And (I'm not sure if this counts) a glorious day at Villa Park when our captain was sent off, a penalty was saved and a Giggs scored one of the best goals in football history. I'm afrid I am not as lucky as you with your team. 75000 sell out most weeks and it's difficult for me to get tickets. I rely on my membership to get me mid-week tickets and friends with spare season tickets (that doesn't happen very often).

I am sure this makes me less of a fan.

[mockney piers]

Anna, You know I think you're great, but this "i'm a better fan cos I go to Anfield a lot" attitude is a bit grating.

It doesn't make you a better fan it just shows that you're young and single without dependents.

I too struggle to get tickets for west ham games, and frankly I'm rarely inclined to pay the prices charged to watch egos swan around, thinking only of their Mercedes SLKs. I have in short, fallen out of love with the premiership, you'll find me at Upton Park more regularly whenever we're relegated frankly.

For the most part I now make it to Champion Hill far far more. I'm not a brilliant fan though, more of an enthusiastic blow-in really.