The Football Thread 2011/12

[Zellery]

Kean, better than AVB.

[tomvek]

Thanks for the PM, shall get MOTD downloaded and watch it in bed

Really want to see the Tottenham/Newcastle match, plus Henry's final appearance for Arsenal in the PL before he heads back to America

[Harry Ola]

This is the Editorial in the Observer.

The lords of misrule could not have arranged it better: in his first full game following an eight-match ban for racially abusing an opponent, Liverpool striker Luis Suárez found himself facing that very opponent, Manchester United's Patrice Evra. The rivalry between the two most successful clubs in English football history was ratcheted up another notch by United last year overtaking Liverpool's long-standing record of 18 league titles. And yesterday, Suárez's pre-match refusal to shake Evra's hand took none of the tension out of the fixture; instead, it ensured that the current issues surrounding race, the punishment of racial abuse and its aftermath, remain under intense scrutiny. Yesterday, it also emerged that Manchester City defender Micah Richards closed down his twitter account following racist abuse.

Football has done as much as any industry to address racism, yet the contrasting post-match reactions of the teams' managers, Kenny Dalglish and Sir Alex Ferguson, demonstrated a profound difference of opinion about the importance of how we deal with these situations. In those interviews, Dalglish appeared blinkered, determined only to defend his player and protect Liverpool Football Club. Ferguson, by contrast, cut a statesmanlike figure, understanding that here there is something at stake that extends far beyond mere football.

Kenny Dalglish proved the depth of his humanity with his extraordinary efforts to comfort and counsel the grieving families of the Hillsborough disaster; he does not have to demonstrate that he is a decent man. His stance throughout the Suárez case has not, however, seemed to engage with the gravity of the situation and its wider ramifications.

Football gets no better than when the heat of competition is at its greatest. The game is nothing without passion and rivalry; we are all too aware of the dangers of it becoming a sanitised, corporate sport. But we must also recognise when the wider social good comes into play and when club must not be put before country.

[Skippy]

Tottenham Stunning football at times

[Jez_humphrey]

What I saw was Evra shake everybody else's hand and then move his hand significantly lower when it came to Suarez, as if he was going to reject the shake himself. ONly when Suarez beat him to it did he get annoyed.

ANd amazingly comical scenes after 45 seconds when Evra and Ferdinand raced towards Suarez only for Suarez to stop and dodge them both leaving a EvRio pile up. Woopsie!

this

[Mockmaster]

Thanks for the PM, shall get MOTD downloaded and watch it in bed

Really want to see the Tottenham/Newcastle match

Don't worry if you miss MOTD chief, a DVD is in the works

[Mafro]

When is the African Cup of Nations final?

[Saint of Killers]

What I saw was Evra shake everybody else's hand and then move his hand significantly lower when it came to Suarez, as if he was going to reject the shake himself. ONly when Suarez beat him to it did he get annoyed.

Suarez was behind Henderson. Henderson and Evra had a quite a vigorous handshake, that could explain why Evra's hand was that much lower.

And before someone has a go at me saying ah but your just saying because he's your player blah blah blah take a look at my previous posts on the matter.

[Minto]

John Barnes spoke very well about yesterdays debacle on sly sports this morning. Well in Digger.

He was on the panel for ESPN as well yesterday.

[Zellery]

Lineker has been forced off of Twitter by Liverpool fans apparently.

Just saw this nugget on Lineker's page from a fan not too happy with MotD.

Matty Davies @MattyDavies12

@GaryLineker_ tell Hansen he's the one who's let our club down and he's let kenny down who's his mate. We gave him the life he has. #traitor

[Saint of Killers]

lolwut?! Nah he definitely moves it lower when he sees who is coming. Such a weird day!

Let's say he does. Fact is Evra's hand is still there, it's not fully withdrawn, and more importantly Suarez knows what his manager has said, that it's time to move on and that there will be a handshake, yet all that goes out of the window because Evra's hand is a little lower than it should be? It may all have been an empty gesture but surely what's more important is that he doesn't make his manager and club look like numpties, which he has ended up doing.

Ramsey scores v Utd, Bin Laden dies. Ramsey v Spurs, Steve Jobs dies. Ramsey v Marseille, Gaddafi dies. Ramsey v Sunderland, Whitney dies.

That is strawberry floating crazy.

[gamerforever]

Really hope Harry stays at Spurs until the end of the season at least, which will give us time to scout for a replacement. For me, only Mourinho or Hiddink will do.

Harry has done so much for Spurs. From being bottom of the table to the best team in London in 3-4 years the guy is a true genius. He would win the title for us within 2 seasons if he stayed I reckon...

[Saint of Killers]

Lower being almost by his side is quite the difference. What if Suarez saw this and then didn't shake because of it.

That is not anywhere near by his side. But I'll even give you that: let's say it is. And yet Suarez still knows how much his club have backed him in all this and he knows his manager is expecting him to shake hands, surely it was now his turn back them up and all that entailed was to reach back and clasp hands.

Nothing more to say on it I hope

Really hope Harry stays at Spurs until the end of the season at least, which will give us time to scout for a replacement. For me, only Mourinho or Hiddink will do.

Harry has done so much for Spurs. From being bottom of the table to the best team in London in 3-4 years the guy is a true genius. He would win the title for us within 2 seasons if he stayed I reckon...

Wish I could be there to witness Levy playing hardball with the F.A.

I almost feel sorry for them.

...

[Saint of Killers]

And Rooney had another "gooseberry fool" game.

[Corazon de Leon]

Kean, better than AVB.

Unbelievably true, for the last eight games.

[gamerforever]

Acting like children. Evra looked hesitant and expected suarez to come straight to him rather than meet half way. Anyway the media have made things worse, as usual.

[Mafro]

Acting like children. Evra looked hesitant and expected suarez to come straight to him rather than meet half way. Anyway the media have made things worse, as usual.

If anyone has made anything worse, it's "King" Kenny's ludicrous comments after the match.

[Saint of Killers]

No not at all, but I'll take that shift in subject as an acceptance of my point.

Feel free to do so but it's pointless carrying on when your definition of side is, well, wrong (just like your thoughts on Rooney which is why I went back to that).

[Preezy]

[Cuttooth]

SoK was of the opinion that Evra might have pulled his hand away at first, so no, it's not that.