FA Cup Yawn

[IainR]

That you see in any game up and down the country week in week out.

I've had players walk on the pitch and say to me they'll break my legs, then first challenge crack. How is that not pre meditated? I don't mind, I see it as part of the game. Saying that I've done the same. Most players will have walked on a pitch knowing who they want a crack at.

Look at Balls challenge last month?

Ian Wrights on Schmeichel following many games of bickering? How was that not premeditated.. The FA banned keane for 8 games for making money out of the challenge and going on a pitch to injur an opponent. The former maybe, but the second is very very common.

I could name 10 challenges which were as bad if not worse, yet Keanes is still spoken about because it's him.

What Haaland did is rarely seen. I can't think of many examples of a player laughing at a player who is lay thinking their career may be over? I can't think of many players goading opposition players so openly in the papers 'Roys scared of me', type headlines. Every game, he did the same. He got the response he wanted, he knew that would happen. Anyway Haaland played on after that challenge, even a court of law ruled the challenge did not end his career.

[TheHeathens]

I always thought that the basis of the hatred was that during the industrial revolution Liverpool provided the (mostly Irish) labour, the toil, the blood, the sweat and the tears that built the infrastructure of the north west, whilst the spivs in Manchester simply creamed off the profits.

And built on money raised from the slave trade. Liverpool was Britain's number 1 slave port, and 64 petitions for slavery were presented by Liverpool merchants whilst the rest of the country were petitioning against it. Penny Lane (as in the Beatles) was even named after a slave trader (James Penny) who spoke in favour of the slave trade in parliament.

In fact, Liverpool actually apologised for their role in the slave trade and they are opening up a Slavery Museum in August this year, so at least they are finally admitting it now!

Admittedly this is a scouse-centric view but one that's more plausible than Liverpudlian opposition to slave labour antagonising the virtuous Mancs.

Why is it more plausible? One word - Peterloo. Mancunians have always been known as more radical reformists than their Scouse brethren. (You only need to look at the response of the respective supporters to being taken over by Americans for a modern day example!).

In relation to the Manchester Ship Canal, I think if you research it properly then you'll find that it was a reaction to the commercial monopoly of the Liverpool ports (like slavery, very profitable for them). Liverpool's exorbitant road tolls and harbour dues were killing trade in Manchester and it was said at the time that it was cheaper to transport the goods double the distance to Hull rather than Liverpool.

[TheHeathens]

(You only need to look at the response of the respective supporters to being taken over by Americans for a modern day example!).

http://www.redissue.co.uk/news/loadn...TMNW&id=339221

http://www.redissue.co.uk/news/loadn...TMNW&id=339220

[Richard Head]

I should also add that you don't pick your club, you are born into it. I was born in Manchester into a United family, when I grew up Liverpool were the team, but you have no say, you get given your shirt and you stick. Some of us are just lucky :-)

I was lucky too. Born and lived all my life in Lancaster but always been a Morecambe fan. There is even a rivalry here with Morecambe hated by Lancaster City fans (the few of them that are left that is)

On the slavery note a little known fact is that Lancaster was the 4th largest port involved in the slave trade behind Liverpool, London and Bristol.

[crowhill]

The Heathens and I would just like to wish Liverpool every success in Athens tonight as Liverpool carry the torch for English football. Good luck Liverpool.

[Feet in the Cowclaps]

After that match-fixing scandal, Milan shouldn't even be in the competition anyway.

[TheHeathens]

The Heathens and I would just like to wish Liverpool every success in Athens tonight as Liverpool carry the torch for English football. Good luck Liverpool.

TheHeathens is Rossoneri for tonight

[IainR]

Ahh I don't go with that.

Milan have been one of the best teams in Europe this season. I've not seen Man U so well beaten this year. Even the games we've lost (Chelsea, Arsenal x 2), havebeen close games, but that was't. They deserve to be there. As much as it hurts me to say so are Liverpool.

I do think its no coincidence that both teams in the final have had no meaningful games in the league since March, and so were able to rest and concentrate on the CL. It does worry me that teams so far off being the best in the or own countries can be the best in Europe. But I can't see how we can get past that and still have the top 4 in Europe. The only obviosu way is to reduce the PL to 18 clubs, but that won't happen due to the format of the league.

Lets face it we'd rather see Milan Liverpool, than TNS V Aberdeen or Derry.

[Gravymuncher]

I thought it's more down to the way the teams play being better suited to European Football, though obviously being able to fully focus must have helped.

If the competitions are so different in the way they're played and what is required to win, it makes sense that the best at one might not be the best at the other.

[TheHeathens]