The only thing that still concerns me is: why didn't the match referee do anything about it at the time? Is it permissable within the context of the match to racially abuse players? Is it something that only gets punished retrospectively?

Without evidence? You obviously don't know much about what happened. The referee reported it too. I don't actually know what you're talking about, but you're actually complaining about some random foul right? Pretty sure some of our fouls got ignored too. And frankly, we get screwed by refs on fouls all the time. As for that other guy who said our players are girls- do you care to explain what is girly about combatting racism? Some of the bravest people who ever lived were brave precisely for doing that.

Completely contradicting views on the style of game we can expect from you two. Have either of you watched Nancy this season?

This is pretty ridiculous. Our opponents play in red and blue stripes, so we're not going to wear our blue and white home kit, but our almost purely red away kit?! What's wrong with Basel's own away kit? Doesn't that come into play first?

Because Benni was racially abused. It's nothing to do with him that a section of our fans sing that rubbish. The only argument that could be put forward is that the section of our fans doing it ought to be punished too- which I would agree with. It's like saying we shouldn't punish a murderer, because there are other murderers who don't get punished. Glad to hear the guy has a 5 match ban, I doubt very much that Benni was making it up.

I reckon you'd be happier with a win and losing 20 quid than drawing, getting a mere point, and the lowest cash return (I'm assuming the odds for a draw aren't as good as for a WH win). So a draw it shall be.

That's the final team? Assuming it is. I don't understand for the life of me why Pedersen hasn't been dropped to the bench at the least for Peter. I take it that it's Bentley in the centre and Neill on the right wing. Would seem more sensible to switch Neill and Emo, if not for the fact I'm scared witless of it spoiling Emo's form. Good to see McEveley back, I'd heard he was injured.

Conversely, if you don't want to hear discussions about it, don't read them

You make some valid points Phil. Although I think you've perhaps taken the wrong line in terms of the solution and cause. I don't blame liberalism alone- the poor (largely blacks) weren't exactly aided by the conservative agenda of flooding the ghettos with crack cocaine. In fact they were starting to become very disciplined, spiritually rich people in many ways before that. However, they have certainly been betrayed by politicians- of all kinds though, not simply liberals. Although I agree that national service would be a great way of disciplining the youth in this country, I'd have great objections to them having to go to war for any purpose other than strict self defence of this country. Not the 'pre-emptive' defence of raping another country and killing hundreds of thousands.

I'm the moron but you're the one not using your brain? Hmmm Sorry Pleasure but I've got no faith in your 'inside info' anymore. If you were right about MGP, I consider it coincidental.

No no, he's right. We are a mere 9 places above them. Which is only just under half the league. And it's a crappy 7 point lead too. They've got 5 points in total, so they're clearly breathing down our necks. Pillock. Same goes for Cottee. I hope we smash them now (not that I didn't before), but unfortunately I can see it written in the stars also. I also think having a bet might be a good idea, as it will make me feel better later. Not only did we get the draw, but Bellamy scored second instead! Fate hates you.

No, pretty sure it'll be above 10,000. In the 12,000 region, surely.

Haha! Well I did almost add 'and they really should be', but I decided against it

I was going to quote favourite bits, but then I realised there were too many. Love the Portsmouth review, the bits about the penalties, the Henchoz comment, the Rooney bit...pretty much the vast majority. People in the library with me here at Keele must have wondered why I was laughing at a big block of text with scary foreign words like 'Blackburn' in it.

This is probably because he doesn't play for us anymore. Pleasure has his 'sources'. Otherwise known as the creative region of his brain.

Benni has absolutely no reason to pretend that this guy racially abused him. As for the closet racists, the ones pretending they're not racist that know deep down they are, you disgust me. Don't try to compare this to abuse of fat people. Fat people have never been rounded up and enslaved. They've suffered some abuse, but never on the same scale. Fat people are fat almost without exception because they eat too much and/or don't exercise enough. Black people are black because they were born to black parents. And plenty of other reasons that there is no cause to go into, because anybody who thinks this isn't despicable needs their head examined, or perhaps even blasted off.

Look, I didn't see the game, but you appear to be the only person that thinks we actually played badly. From all the unbiased reports too. And the stats back up the suggestion that we outplayed them. Moreover we had a goal disallowed which- apparently- shouldn't have been. Almost all of your points seem very flawed- Benni '6 goals' McCarthy is more like a midfielder? Hmm. Mr 4th highest ranked striker in the actim index? It isn't like we just had possession, look at the stats. Clearances off the line THREE times. Bolton are just the luckiest scum in existence, and that's what they got, lucky. I absolutely abhor them. Only Man United can compete in the hate stakes for me.

If I can just say, I hate Bolton with a burning passion, and I hope we knock the gits off their pedestals. And I hope their allocation is full so that as many of them can see it as possible.

To be fair, that one's clearly just a joke. The thing about stupid comments out of context is they can be jokes rather than idiocy- and I bet a few of the things in this thread are like that.

Everton's away section is terrible. I've been in with the home fans once (When Sutty scored inside about 16 seconds), and that was ok. It's disgraceful what they make the away lot sit in though.

Mark Hughes does generally seem bright, but I saw a brief clip of him on some interview where he was asked a very basic mathematical question (I can't remember what it was, but it was extremely basic, something like 18 plus 8), and he cocked it up completely.

Perhaps he was dropped because he's about to come out of the U21s so they wanted to try somebody else out? Personally though I'd figure that's even more reason to keep playing him, so he can show his international calibre to steve.

A certain Mr 'Somewhat Suspicious Connections to Rangers' Souness might have had something to do with that though.

So do I

As much as I would like to see the captaincy stripped from Neill for his completely unnecessary outbursts (For god's sake, why did he have to spout off about it now? If he's trying to force a move it would have been easier to do it in January anyway, without unsettling the team spirit and deriding the club's standing with him still having to play for months yet), I really don't think Hughes will take it from him. It would make it too obvious that it was only given to try to keep him, but furthermore it would risk increased disharmony in the squad, as Neill would probably have a right good moan about it to his team mates. However, if I were one of his team mates I'd be having words about now! And in conclusion- what a jackass. Oh, and there'll certainly be no dropping of Lucas, that would achieve nothing and be an overreaction.