No one having a strop about Alan Davies? Oh good, I'm proud of you all

[solidgoldbrass]

Because, honestly, what a load of old cock.

Linky?

I am sure someone will object, SGB. I don't see anything wrong with what AD said. Do Liverpool refuse to play on the anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster? www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17676392 and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heysel_Stadium_disaster

Liverpool can't refuse to play on that date forever. It's 23 years now. They need to get over it. The city has a reputation for being "addicted to grief" and stuff like this really doesn't do anything to dissuade that.

I think he's been a complete arse as he's really saying that one day's difference to the gap between fixtures for Chelsea is an important factor (something which Chelsea themselves do not seem to be saying btw). But as he's was commenting on an Arsenal site, then I suppose he would want to talk down the clubs near tat team in the premiership.

I think it's a good decision: a Liverpool derby is a touchy fixture on a normal day. Adding the angle of preventing one of the old adversaries from making its annual act of remembrance would have been unfortunate.

Question: is the way these stupid, inflammatory comments have been reported going to make it more or less likely that fans will agree (as they might otherwise have done) to let this particular commemorative event quietly drop?

(Juventus do still mark the anniversary of Heysal, btw. But their choice of commemoration is different, and does not seem to be like the 30,000+ gatherings at Anfield).

I did t realise Liverpool wouldn't play I that date. It was a tragedy, but so was the Bradford fire and the Munich air crash. It's only Liverpool that seem to have this need to be perpetual victims.

The issue for Chelsea is more that TV dictates we play the fixture at something like 6pm as that's when they can fit it in the schedules. A Sunday evening kick off is pretty crap and I'm surprised the police are ok with that given the potential for the fans (of both teams) to spend all day in the pub on a non working day!

That is the main Chelsea complaint. An afternoon kick off wouldn't have been such an issue.

He's an arsehole. Not so much what he said but the way he said it. Obviously needs the publicity.
He also called Spurs fans vermin.

I have no problem with what he said.

Should Londoners not go to work on 7/7 ?

Life goes on....

Re the vermin comments, there has always been rivalry between Spurs and Arsenal.
On Matt Lucas' show the other evening, he (Gooner) pretended to spit after saying Spurs.

KenDoddsDadsDog
"He also called Spurs fans vermin."

He didn't, He called the people that run spurs vermin.

Oooooh so sorry .

I agree with him.

Why should they refuse to play on that date?

Do I refuse to go to work on the date my grandad died? no.
Would anyone get away with that in real life?
"sorry, my dad died on that day so i'm not coming to work"
it would be honoured for a couple of years, maybe even on special anniversaries, but not every year.

He's not wrong. He might have said it in the wrong tone (or wrote it!), but that doesn't mean that they're right.

I agree with him too.

I had no idea they did refuse to play until this came about?
I kind of understand the FA cup semi as it was that game that they didn't get to play at Hillsbrough. But on the other hand probably more of a tribute to play and win?

I agree with him too. ALl the threats are ridiculous and a bit sinister

I think he has a point.

Obviously it was a tragedy but life has to go on.

As the partner of a diehard LFC fan I do think Alan Davies has a point although he didn't make that point in a very diplomatic way by the sound of it. LFC should play on the 15th April if required. Maybe not at Anfield though as there is a shrine to the victims of Hillsborough there and the family, friends and survivors should be able to go to the shrine on 15th April each year to pay their respects if they wish to. Might be hard to do that on a match day at Anfield. Could they not hold a 2 minute silence before the match, either on the pitch or in their dressing room?

The death threats aimed at AD are disgusting. Honestly, I know people get passionate about their football but it is just a game ffs. It isn't worth dying/killing anyone over. AD expressed an opinion. This is a diplomatic country, we thankfully don't live in a country that kill people for their beliefs.

Liverpool have every right, as a team, to not play on that date if that is what they wish to (not) do.

what they don't have a right to do is dictate that any competition/fixture be moved to accommodate them.

if they feel so very strongly about it, they could always forfeit the match - principles are all very well, but if you would not stick to them if it brought about discomfort/something you do not want then they are not very strong principles, are they?

Agree completely with FrothingBerserker - Liverpool should not have to play on that date if they do not want to, but it is very unfair of them to expect other teams and their fans to suffer the inconvenience and disadvantage of having their fixtures rearranged.

The Hillsborough disaster killed 96 people and is very much on the minds of Liverpool people at the moment with the whole parliamentary enquiry and the release of the sealed documents. People have to remember that it is not just Liverpool playing but also Everton who are the other Liverpool side, both sets of fans and teams remember the 96 an 15th April and will until it is proven what really happened.
Death threats are out of order as AD is just ignorant.
People need to realise that it is not just about the deaths it is also about the disgusting lies and way Liverpool fans where treated at the time and ever since.

I could understand them maybe not wanting to play at Hillsborough football stadium on that date, but elsewhere should not be a problem.

They could, if other teams agreed, maybe have a minutes silence at the start of the match falling on the anniversary - but then honour their lost fans by playing on the anniversary. I doubt the fans who died would have actually wanted them to not play.

I don't think you get this in any other city in the UK (I may be wrong)

Some Liverpudlians seem almost to revel in death and mourning. I don't if its because its a city with a lot of Irish families in and perhaps they have strongly Catholic/religious/traditional family-orientated roots?

I found it plain weird though, when I lived there. There would be shrines set up at the scene of traffic accidents where someone had died, and they would be maintained for years. It often seemed to be young men who had died and the relatives would hang football tops and scarves all over railings, fences and lampposts. I even saw a pair of boxing gloves once! It's most odd.

If you look at the obituaries in the Liverpool Echo there are as many as 15-20 for the same person. It'll be family, friends, next door neighbours, the guys from the pub, all leaving separate notices.

I think they enjoy all the keening and wailing a little bit to be honest. Its all part of the tradition.

That said, obviously I have every sympathy for the families of those killed at Heysal, or on the roads or whatever else. It's the professional grief I don't get.