I suspect that were it a Tory MP that had lambasted people for various things and then shown to have behaved equally poorly you might not be as charitable. In fact the word ‘hypocrite’ might have been included in your response. And just to reiterate I’m not condoning anything that happened to the lad.

Nobody is saying it does, but he’s dragged a few names into the mix that on the face of it seem less guilty of racism than he is. He must have known about these historic Tweets in much the same way as he thinks Joe Root must have heard racist language: it also says something about the climate that existed back then, which it now appears he was a part of. Do you not think his credibility has been damaged a bit here?

What do they say about “let those without sin cast the first stone”?…… https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59338118

Marc Almond - The Days of Pearly Spencer

Steve Clarke has always been a highly respected coach. Ask Gullitt, Zola, Mourinho, Kenny etc. Also, what he did at Killie was miraculous.

True, but he’s not really pointing the finger at Root, he’s more suggesting that he must have been aware of some of the language being used at the time but at the risk of repeating myself only Joe Root himself can answer that. Azeem didn’t - as far as I know - mention Joe Root at all in any previous statement or evidence (unlike the other names on the list), and was only responding to the statement that Root himself made. The fact that he describes Root as a “good man” also puts him above the other names who have been directly accused of racism. I’m certainly not suggesting there isn’t an awful problem here and the lad has clearly suffered, but it’s a bit of a leap to drag the current England captain and superstar into this and lump him in with all the players and ex players that have been cited as acting in a racist manner just because he plays very occasionally for Yorkshire and may or may not have heard things.

I think that joke would have worked better 12 months ago mate but they aren’t doing too badly at the minute and of course held us to a 0-0 not that long ago 😂

I believe a lot of this sort of language went on at Blackburn Council in the 80s Gav, including by many former colleagues (and friends) of mine. But I can 100% guarantee that I never heard one person use the ‘p’ word (which was much more prevalent back then as well). Sometimes when people know they shouldn’t talk or act in a certain way, they are careful about who they include in that sort of thing. I don’t think it’s all that naive to suggest that players were a bit more circumspect in the company of one of the superstars of the game, which Joe Root has been almost from the beginning of his career.

Otis Redding - Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) I’ll get my coat……

I didn’t realise that. Nothing on Root from him then?

Nobody can just assume that Root heard anything. If he says he didn’t then surely he deserves the benefit of the doubt? What Azeem said was along the lines of “that kind of language was so normalised that even a good man like Joe didn’t challenge it”. That doesn’t mean he heard anything. Only Joe Root would know that. An earlier poster (I think it was @AllRoverAsia) was prepared to give the same benefit of the doubt to Michael Vaughan, who has been directly accused by three players of Asian descent of using racist language, so I think we do need to be careful in respect of Root. How often he would even have been in and around YCCC given his England career is questionable in itself. As another poster above has said, I would like to hear what the likes of Rashid and Ali have to say.

Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames - Get Away

I think it’s really important that they speak up now, one way or another.

Gav I think we need to be careful about bandying Joe Root’s name about in relation to this issue. The lad explicitly said that Root had not made any racist remarks and any speculation that “he must have turned a blind eye” must be tempered with Azeem’s own words “Even a good man like Joe didn’t challenge it”. A massive ‘not guilty’ as far as the England captain is concerned. I’m not convinced the former England captain is quite so innocent though. Edit: And I don’t quite know what to make of Bumble’s comments. “Well, a clubhouse is the lifeblood of a club, and Asian players don't go in there" doesn’t sound particularly racist and in the East Lancs Cricket Club thread on this very forum a few of us have offered similar theories as to the demise of that club. It’s a simple fact and I would need to know the context within which he said it before lumping him in with the Gary Ballances of this world. I guess what I’m saying is I don’t particularly care for the blunderbuss approach that seems to be being taken here.

My mate’s lad is at the Hibs academy. I’ll see what I can find out.

If you like harmonies, you’ll love this:

Radiohead - You and Whose Army?

Electric Light Orchestra - Mr Blue Sky

To be fair nor would he have been substituted on the hour mark after scoring three and four in consecutive games!

Do you not think that the Greaves of this world would have had a few ‘free hits’ as well? I remember England dicking Turkey 8 or 9 nil away not that long ago (Robson era maybe?). I do agree about the prequalifying though.

Neil Diamond - Forever in Blue Jeans

Neil Young - Heart of Gold

The Rezillos - Top of the Pops

The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again?