Your flippant retort does you no credit Bryan. Just because it happened before your life began should not permit you to trivialise the deaths of so many innocent civilians. You appear to be deliberately missing the point of my comparison. It's all very nearly past living memory (as one day Hillsborough will also be) but it's incredible that you don't think that there were no greater miscarriages of justice in the war? Banonkers indeed.

And your point is? btw why would I want a spade AFTER I've dug a hole your majesty?

Whoever said I was supposedly intelligent? Anyway I might not have made it totally clear MB but (and not wanting to decry in any way the loss of servicemens lives) if you read it again you should find that I was actually meaning the far greater loss of innocent civilian lives due to constant German bombing of the city of Liverpool. You harp on about justice! Well what justified that eh? Justice is not obligatory, loads of injustices occur every day all over the world. Whatever, its all forgotten now and the Germans are our respected partners within the eu. Anyway what do you want to happen MB? Do you think that nailing some (probably guilt ridden) Police chief to the mast and doling out millions in compensation will bring anybody back to life? Cos I dont. I dont think that it's justice that you really want or care about, its really vengeance isn't it? Like the innocent children / teenagers / men and women blown to smithereens in their homes time heals all wounds if it's allowed to and it's about time the Hillsborough tragedy was laid to rest.

Sh1t happens and on that day at Hillsborough it happened big style. But.... 1. There is not a tabloid worth taking seriously anyway. Their only tactic is to attempt to satiate society's ever increasing need for sensational headlines. Sometimes, as in this case, this goes too far. Cynic as I am I guess that in private tabloid wine bar circles the only perceived sin would be that it was a hugely costly editing decision by Kelvin McKenzie. Dont just attempt to discourage people buying the Sun but discourage people buying ALL tabloids! They all ###### in the same pot ffs and if the front pages were missing nobody would know which one they were reading. How many scousers boycott Talk Sport? 2. Blame has been laid at a variety of places but one thing is for sure Hillsborough was not the fault of the Sun newspaper! Imo the useless rag that it is is being turned into a scapegoat in some eyes. I would think that some of todays less informed (bothered?) teenagers might just be of the opinion that the Sun had some blame for the disaster attached to it. 3. This may be contentious but Hillsborough is a recent event but how many of Liverpools finest were killed by German bombs during WW2? Do as many people visit the war memorials to weep as visit the Anfield shrine to do so? Is it just me or does anybody else fel that this is all a bit like crocodile tears when considering how many Liverpudlians currently own German cars but refuse to buy the Sun? Finally if the Hillsborough Justice campaign want to maintain a lasting legacy should they not pay less attention to the past (no one can turn the clock back now can they?) but more to the present and to the future by throwing their weight into making sure that the Taylor report.... which was necessitated by the disasters at Heyshall, Hillsborough and Bradford.... is adhered to and that the current (and increasing) stupidity of fans standing throughout football matches is discouraged in the strongest possible fashion. The authorities at all grounds are struggling to uphold the rules and deter increasing incidents of this so maybe the responsibility should be accepted by the fans that rem the hard lessons of the 80's and want to make sure that such incidents never happen again.

But surely so is Tony Blair and the rest of his New Labour party are'nt they?

Impressive. You noticed this how? Chatting with the staff and/or players, or perhaps you were actually in the dressing room during the last few games? Jesus H Christ Tchocky! I have supported Flitty's role on the pitch as long as he has been here, every team needs a basic grafter / growler / getter and giver..... call it what you want, Flitty's heart has always been in this role and he has carried it out admirably over the years to the extent that other so called 'hard men' will go nowhere near him in a true 50/50 situation. Not Keane, not Butt, not Gerrard not even Graveson.... no one! The memory of Phil Nevilles shocked expression and scream in the opening credits of last years TV Premiership progrmme after a typical Flitty hard but fair challenge will live forever in my memory. BUT it's obvious to a blind man on a galloping horse that Flitty has never commanded the respect from his team mates that a 'proper' captain should. Sure he'll put a foot in front of a runaway train for the blue and white cause but whether he is the butt of some humour regarding his IQ within the squad, or whether he is just happy to be 'one of the lads' I dont know.........but he simply never ever impressed me as being of true captain material or as a natural leader of men. Now IF it is true that this issue came as a complete shock to him and that GS had never conveyed his intent to Flitty or his agent to replace him with Ferguson at anytime since Fergusons arrival (and I find it difficult to believe that neither GF or his agent would not have asked that question last summer either during Flitty's contract negotiations or subsequently) then I am somewhat dissapointed in GS, and my respect for him will fall also.

Cant see that happening now that they've signed Duff!

Tide and time wait for no man SAR. Sometimes you need to be cruel to be kind. Flitty's been a good servant and I've stuck up for him and praised him frequently (just ask Rev) but his time at Ewood is coming to a close. As I said before GS only intended to offer him a one year deal last summer but Flitty's agent managed to ratchet it up to a two year deal. All last season GF appeared sluggish caused imo by being at least half a stone overweight, what kind of responsiblity on his part is that? We need a replacement 'getter and giver/ enforcer' and if we have any dosh left then imo Tomas Graveson is the man..... although I fear that unless a few players depart that Matteo will be the last summer signing. The Prem is a tough environment that punishes sentimentality. Let me ask you a question SAR, if you were GS and the only way to sign a better / younger player that you wanted to improve the team both immediately and over a longer term was to part company with a fast fading star and release up some dosh for wages what would you do?

John Howarth's good for all that ....as long as you dont need any information from incidents in extra time. or Jim Mk2 might remember something from that era..... but nobody would believe him knowing how journalistic licence always distorts the truth.

Mboard is fine but that figure of 2500 is somewhat misleading. Many of those 2500 dont ever post and only about 360 have posted over100 times.

Me! Loved it! The portugese ponce has obviously been pumping iron recently cos (like most body builders the motivation is vanity) he has been whipping his shirt off at every opportunity to show how manly he is. Then he cries like a baby cos they got beaten. Andy Townsend shares my view about how to nullify his skills "dont ever watch him...... just watch the ball" It does work.

Why do you read the tabloids ? Tris......why ask rhetorical questions?

It wont do him any harm. Most footballers would benefit from regular doses of reality. Life is not always a bowl of cherries is it? Who knows, if it indeed happens then in the fullness of time it might just turn Smith into the better player.

Take a chance on not just relegation but actually ceasing to exist!? That is crass stupidity Roverdrake and a fine example of the 'go for bust' attitude of a numpty. On the back of last seasons disastrous home record we have sold in th region of just 10000 season tickets to date! So what do you think the bank manager will say if we ask to borrow 4m for one half-assed player with little or no sell on value? However I am prepared to take it all back if I find out that you are a self made man with a personal fortune with something in excess of the current valuation of the Chelsea squad. As for Souey the low season ticket sales will determine his future rather than last years disappointing results. If he has acted to remedy his obvious weak points and we get off to a flyer (and I'm not counting on that from the first 6 games) then OK, BUT if we are near the bottom come Nov then imo he might just be shown the door. I can assure you that he does not enjoy total support in the boardroom.

We may be doing Jim a disservice. He might indeed have apologised or admitted guilt / inaccuracy / defeat etc to many of his errant postings but like all press apologies it'll be hidden on some obscure page with a font size of 2 or less.

Mind if I save that quote for future use FLB?

Going further still......... "Meanwhile, MPs have tabled a motion in the House of Commons criticising the quality of refereeing in Euro 2004. It does not specifically mention Mr Meier, but few will be in any doubt that the MPs had him in mind when they demanded the football authorities take action to stop referees ruining more games. The motion was tabled by Scottish Labour MP Bill Tynan (Hamilton South) and has been supported by five other backbenchers. They congratulated England on their "fine performance'' in the championships and praised the Portuguese hosts. But they noted: "Concerns have been raised about the quality of refereeing decisions during a number of matches,'' and called on UEFA and FIFA to "address these concerns so that no further matches are ruined for fans by dubious decisions''. Have they really nowt better to do?

from AOL news..... "Swiss ref Urs Meier, who controversially disallowed Sol Campbell's winning goal at the end of the England-Portugal quarter-final, has been given police protection and gone into hiding in his homeland". I wonder if he's gone into hiding in his car!

Lineker said: “The most disturbing thing about the defeat by Portugal was how we proved we have no plan B. Where's Linekar been for the past 2 years? That was a point I made after the WC exit at the hands of a weak 10 man Brazil. I fell out with Ericsson's lack of tactical ability then. The FA will undoubtedly end up sacking him and having to pay his 4m per year contract up that they foolishley allowed him to dictate to them. Yet another disservice done to English football by Abromovich and Kenyon.

"Now Listen Stevie, No ard feelings like, but if you go to Chelsea you'll be goin to your mums funeral on crutches before the season starts! Know warri mean lar?" Stevies face and his general demeanour in the press and media coverage hardly backs up your finely honed reporters intuition on this subject does it Jim?

That would be a valid comparison if, firstly, Duff was a Blackburn lad like Gerarrd was a Liverpool fan and a local lad. Secondly, if Rovers could offer the same kind of competitive football as Chelsea did at the time. Liverpool can offer Stevie Champions League football just like Chelsea. Rovers couldn't offer that to Duff a year ago...which is why it isn't a fair comparison. As for Duff himself... he made us £17 million. It isn't his fault if we didn't spend it as well as we could. The guy made us a fortune. It's then up to us to use it appropriately. Dont take the bait FLB. It's just another wind up.

Sorry to be pedantic but his refusal meant we had to look elsewhere for a striker to spearhead our promotion challenge (Don Mackay was manager when we bid for Lineker) and so we actually had to make do with David Speedie instead. You are quite correct FLB. I bow to your superior pedantry.

Maybe thats what Linekar should have done circa 14 years ago! Pity really cos Linekars refusal to take Jack Walkers revolution seriously meant that we had to make do with Shearer instead!

Gerrard has been no stranger to groin strains either. He missed the World Cup for that reason remember.

Come on John. You should have seen enough football to realise that Terry was motionless and looking away from the keeper whilst the keeper was scrambling about trying to shove him out of the way to get to the ball (which by the way he had no chance of reaching before Sol C). You are epitomising the quote from Shanks by Dr Rich "The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they do not know the game."