Thomson Mouse

Interesting take on derby matches from a footballers perspective The Secret Footballer: You do get a buzz when beer bottles hit the bus The intensity of some derby matches has to be experienced to be believed as the fans' passion get to the players Liverpool vs Manchester United Manchester United's Patrice Evra can expect a hostile reception from Liverpool fans at their FA Cup tie following his altercation with Luis Suárez, which led to an eight-match ban for the Uruguayan. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/EPA This weekend sees the latest instalment of the bitter rivalry that is Liverpool and Manchester United. On the off-chance that tensions between the two clubs were not already at an all-time high on the back of United's record 19th league title last season, the flashpoint provided at Anfield three months ago by Luis Suárez and Patrice Evra will ensure a particularly explosive atmosphere this time round. Rivalry in football is nothing new, of course, but it could be argued that in the modern game the animosity has grown as the stakes have become higher. Having played in matches of this nature, I've come to the conclusion that the best thing for all concerned is the sound of the final whistle. In the run up to a grudge match the sense of anticipation around the town or city is inescapable. During the buildup to one of these fixtures, I can recall almost every person I met greeting me with the words: "Make sure you win on Saturday." People say this to me anyway, but in the runup to this particular game it felt like more of a threat, such was the animosity between the two sets of fans. The players feel the tension, too. Both teams that day were represented by a handful of local players and they were extremely anxious to win this game. To these players, the occasion warranted enthusiastic head-slapping of their fellow pros. I tried to ask one of our players what the game meant to him but he simply responded: "You wouldn't understand, mate. Just make sure we win." I haven't encountered that level of hostility from a player towards another team before, and on match day there was no way to reach him. He was almost in a trance. For the most part these games are not particularly enjoyable to play in. The tempo is dictated by the crowd, as are many of the decisions made by the players on the pitch. I have seen very controlled footballers become an extension of the more vociferous fans by going around sliding into opponents unnecessarily and running for passes that they know they're never going to reach. You can almost feel the confidence in a player's technical game drain away because nobody wants to be the person that underhits a pass or misses a gilt-edged chance. Towards the end of one of these matches an opposition player turned to me and said: "Tell the ref that'll do, it's 1-1, blow the whistle and everyone's happy." I felt the same way – avoiding defeat brings a huge sense of relief. The hatred I experienced between two bitter sets of fans can perhaps best be summed up by the last five minutes of one game I was involved in against our fiercest rivals. Losing and desperate for a goal, we began to take chances by committing as many men forward as possible in the hope of salvation. Eventually we mustered a shot that ended up in the stand, among our own supporters, for a goal-kick. The ball, however, did not come back. More than anything else that went on in that derby, the fact that not one of our fans could bring themselves to throw the ball back to the rival goalkeeper, even though we were losing and running out of time, speaks volumes for the hatred that they have for a team that they were desperate to beat. Unless you have experienced that level of hatred it is difficult to understand the mentality behind it. At least that's what I tell myself, because I really don't understand. No surprise, then, that these games see a high number of yellow cards and their fair share of reds, too. Even the sublime football on show in the clásico matches in Spain is marred by the controversy of off-the-ball elbows and cynical challenges. There is no accounting for what too much adrenaline can do to a player but the same is true of the fans. I can remember our team bus crawling its way through the streets before one away game behind a police escort as the home fans' derogatory chants were punctured intermittently by the loud bangs of bottles and beer cans clattering against the side of the bus. It hadn't previously occurred to me as to why the bus company had sent its "infinity touring model" instead of the "luxury cruiser" (by the way, "luxury" is an overused word in the world of coach transportation). But it certainly gets the blood pumping; it's actually quite a buzz to be sat on a bus while it's being hit from all sides with various missiles. You really feel as if you're going into the lion's den and people are depending on you. During one of these games a particularly vicious off-the-ball incident sparked a brawl in the dugouts that, to this day, years after it happened, remains a very touchy subject whenever the coaches and managers meet. This is perhaps an example of a rivalry that exists because of some bad blood and not because of any long-standing historical ties. Even so, both sets of fans, and players for that matter, embraced it wholeheartedly. For a long time I thought it was a clever PR stunt to fill the stadium for one more game; stranger things have happened. If Evra does appear for United on Saturday he can be guaranteed of a pretty intimidating reception. There is one ground that I am routinely booed at because a newspaper made up a story that I refused to sign for them, although I'm not going to try to pretend I've been through what Evra is likely to experience. It is, though, very difficult to play when your every touch is booed. The opposition players also quickly realise that they can get a round of applause for trying to take one of your legs off. Whatever happens at Anfield, for 90 minutes at least, Patrice Evra will walk alone. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jan/27/the-secret-footballer-derby-matches

Are you about 10?

such as? "poor poor manager" ah Just add anything from atb Every comment you've made on this thread deserves that tbh

It's only right midfield where he even had a decision, no? Aye, and he played the most defensive minded player there, a player with no ability to play pass and move football. We were sent out to play a game of hoofball, unacceptable at home to a team as poor as Wolves IMO. and this is what every f***er predicted as well before the game, horseshit man still we're 6th eh? everyone shut up - what happens when we're not 6th anymore? Well not quite, but there's a fair bit of OTT on here

such as? "poor poor manager" ah Just add anything from atb

such as? "poor poor manager"

Said it about 5 times now

Some right bullshit in this thread. Fucking unbelievable

Aye it must be the football first stream as its the same one as I'm watching in oz on Fox sports. Just done it again haha

Were you on the pitch?! Aye because you can only see things if you're stood on the pitch. That's how it happened though, the only thing I can't remember is who he threw it at.

Nope, I was there and he took it between his between his index finger and thumb, at arms length as if it were a dirty rag and thew it to another player. Talking to people in the away end on the day, that action turned a lot of people against Dyer and made the refusing to play incident a lot worse than it was. I seem to remember Dyer, Bellamy, Jenas and I think Bramble behaving like right little bastards towards the end of SBR reign. For me, they were a siginficant reason he was sacked, so I hope Dyer really does feel bad about it.

I've met the guy several times, since I first got to know him in '91. He was a cunt then and still is one now. He's met Carroll due to his involvement in arranging the talk-ins etc, he knows its unlikely that Carroll will have saved his number, that's why he added his name. Still the same attention seeking cunt. Cunt.

Genius

Looked like the little scouse tramp had a go at Ba as well on the way off. Ba rubbed his head and the tramp turned with an angry face and the first letter to come out of his mouth was definitely a 'f'. Maybe Ba had rubbed some of his new hair off?

I remember him when he was working under Oliver, he was a tit then. Used to call him mini-Lee (as in mini-me) about that on another forum, he complained to the admin and tried to get me banned. Spoke to him on the phone about his support of Shepherd at the time, he just whined about me abusing him on the forum. His reporting and the way he acts are very similar to Oliver.

Trevor Francis was one of the comentators over here in Oz on fox sports, it probably would have been the same feed for your football first highlights. There was plenty of Villa dominated, let Newcastle back in the games, Villa should have won etc etc, then the stats came up. Complete opposite. Wankers.

John Pilger John Pilger wouldn't live in Adelaide

Acted like a cock throwing the cards down, clearly not intelligent enough to talk his way out. Could imagine him acting like a prick when out on the town.

Thought it was a bit pathetic of .com to try and protect the photograph they've got.

Why? It's been obvious to most for months and months that this is what the plan is. Barton is just saying it, nothing wrong with that. It really hasn't. There's no way the club is actively planning to sell Tiote and Krul. Obviously if Chelsea come in with a £40m bid we will probably sell, but the vast majority of clubs are in that position. I am worried about the contracts of the likes of Colo and Jonas though, as they must be on more than we're offering to new players. You and a few others must be living on a different planet if you think that's not the case. It's become quite clear that ANY player has a price on his head and it won't have to be a large amount (as shown by the Enrique departure). Ashley is happy to keep us in the PL while recovering of much money as possible. Barton probably has a better idea of what's happening than us, it's worth listening TBH

Barton or Enrique? Barton Eh, and how did you come to that conclusion by reading that tweet? Serious question btw. (Considering it would be the real Enrique) Assuming it was Enrique, it sounds like something that would result from a 'I can't wait to get to another club' conversation. Just my take on it.

It is. Didn't Enrique close his account down? Whoops. Don't know, thought it had been confirmed as real??? And Dave, innit is nearly as bad as using marquee signing or vibrant.

Barton or Enrique? Barton

J_Enrique3 José Enrique @Joey7Barton ha, congratulation on move. I say it would happen! Obviously been saying different things to colleagues than he has to us fans

J_Enrique3 José Enrique @Joey7Barton ha, congratulation on move. I say it would happen!