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As someone who spent many happy (and unhappy) years travelling up and down motorways watching football, I must say the Sid the Cynic's experiences aren't exactly the same as mine.

Pre-Hillsborough there were any number of grounds where the access/egress for visiting fans was dangerous. The away end at White Hart Lane (Park Lane ?) was frightening at times - just one slowly moving mass of crushed and breathless humanity. The old St. Andrews, St. James' Park, even the exits from the old Clock End at the dump that was Highbury was a Health and Safety hazard ; and any number were serious accidents or incidents waiting to happen. I could list a lot more. The history of tragic incidents at football grounds over the years bears witness to this.

Perhaps the Taylor report (as often from people who know little of the pursuit they investigate) went from one extreme to the other as most grounds nowadays can safely and happily cater for some standing areas.

But to say the Hillsborough tragedy was as a direct result of drunken Liverpool fans and to absolve an idiotically and chaotically run police operation is a cruel distortion of events and I believe, simply wrong. And I'm a lifelong United supporter, with no obvious bias.

The words 'footballer' and 'think' are not ones which naturally sit comfortably together.

I totally agree JJ, a thinking footballer capable of lucid conversation.......a pundits nightmare come true. Innit, gotterbee, knarr wot are mean like. The boy wud be sumfink speshull wunnunt he? Well wodjer exspec for ?xx,000 a week.

If I had to choose between a player talking smooth on telly and passing tackling intelligent running off the ball turning up for training drugs tests and matches , not a difficult choice. One area I agree on . Wages however are unsustainable , even with the price of a season ticket a disgrace .

Illinoisblue...are you the Galemeister in disguise???

Yep, sure am!

Drop us a line, would ya?

I hear there's been comings and goings (well, goings anyway!) at the Freebournes House of fun.

Why are they all called 'sey' as well, giggsey, scholsey, wisey, ronaldosey.

Lizardsey.

Cos they're all fucking pikeys and all share the same middle name of Swaley.
Total fucking pike name.

A quick study will tell you that the best players are usually those who actually think about what they're doing, both on and off the field. How thick do you have to be not to realise the potential consequences of missing a drugs test?
Zidane, Cruyff, Pele, even Lineker.....natural talent linked to a bit of savvy, and a credit to the game off the pitch, too.

Hello mate!! So you couldn't quit the forum then...me neither, it's like crack cocaine!! Not that I'd know of course. Are you still on the "Redmail" address? If so I'll drop you a line or two tomorrow mate. Hope you are doing well in the windy city.