Topic: Glen Johnson "Evra made it clear he didn't REALLY want to shake Suarez hand."

[A_T]

Good interview. Would have been perfect if Glen could have told how Luis often calls him "negro" in training and such and it never bothers him because he's just being friendly

[JessePinkman]

Wont be a popular choice, particularly with me being new and all, but Johnson is a fucking bellend. What's he bringing this up for now?

It's sloppy from him, he should have switched off when the journo asked him. More excuses for the armchair fans to sullers our name, bet they think it's magic he's come out with this.

Not saying he's wrong, just that he should've let it lie. Dick.

[HarryLabrador]

Glenn did what our captain should have done a long time ago...

Our captain is white. I know what you're trying to say, but in this situation, our captain's opinion would have counted for nothing.

[Mackeroo]

Well in Glen for saying in public what we've known all along. Thankfully he spoke his mind and didn't get stitched which no doubt was the point of the whole interview.

[Mackeroo]

Wont be a popular choice, particularly with me being new and all, but Johnson is a fucking bellend. What's he bringing this up for now?

It's sloppy from him, he should have switched off when the journo asked him. More excuses for the armchair fans to sullers our name, bet they think it's magic he's come out with this.

Not saying he's wrong, just that he should've let it lie. Dick.

Your 2nd post is abusing our players. I'll stick my neck out and say you won't last long here.

[Zlenpasha]

Hate seeing this story make a return but it was always going to happen.
Glenjo gave excellent responses and it is downright sad that people will now probably label him a deluded black racist firestarter instead of simply doing what they should have done all along - reconsider the facts of this case.

[love:the:game]

Saw this as soon as I loaded up RAWK and thought - FFS what now?! Either it's an old thread that didn't need to be bumped, or it was an old article that didn't need to be published.

Having read it, although I have a lot of respect for Johnson for coming out and saying all that - it is the truth and you should never regret saying it, but part of me thinks it might've been better to lay it lie. If you want to say all of that about the handshake then do it at the time - a boxer throws his punches in the 12 rounds, no point coming out fighting after it's all over. I do however appreciate if he had come out and said all that after 'handshake gate' then the shitstorm surrounding him would've been of gigantuous proportions - and clearly things stay with him (e.g. the Passport, Toilet Seat, Twitter sagas). It's a classic damned if you do, damned if you don't - which is why we've all wanted to move on from this.

The reporter does acknowledge...

There is no attempt to antagonise Manchester United or indeed Evra. It ought to be stated here that — in this interview — he was merely asked some questions and he answered them candidly.

Maybe after so long he should've been more reserved with his candour.

[Max999]

Wont be a popular choice, particularly with me being new and all, but Johnson is a fucking bellend. What's he bringing this up for now?

It's sloppy from him, he should have switched off when the journo asked him. More excuses for the armchair fans to sullers our name, bet they think it's magic he's come out with this.

Not saying he's wrong, just that he should've let it lie. Dick.

I'd just like to point out that it was an interview and he was asked a question which he replied to, he didn't bring it up.

[shanks hankie]

Fair play to Glen but the question will be put to LFC as it's been put to me by fans of other clubs in work- why did Luis apologise then? Cause you know that's what is going to be asked.

[G a r y]

Absolutely brilliant to read. Brilliant

[JessePinkman]

Your 2nd post is abusing our players. I'll stick my neck out and say you won't last long here.

He deserves to be criticised for bringing this back in to the public domain when the furore had died down.  If the mods want to ban me for that, so be it.

If this place is solely to fawn over them, it's not for me. If we can have some constructive debate, ill do fine.

[CognacBut]

Wont be a popular choice, particularly with me being new and all, but Johnson is a fucking bellend. What's he bringing this up for now?

It's sloppy from him, he should have switched off when the journo asked him. More excuses for the armchair fans to sullers our name, bet they think it's magic he's come out with this.

Not saying he's wrong, just that he should've let it lie. Dick.

So he's a bellend for sticking up in support of his team mate and friend, you should try it sometime.

[Rhi]

Glenn did what our captain should have done a long time ago...

Oh for the love of God...

It's a good interview from Glen, and I suppose he handles it as well as he could have. But I really wish we could move on from this. It's doing no-one any good.

[Mackeroo]

He deserves to be criticised for bringing this back in to the public domain when the furore had died down.  If the mods want to ban me for that, so be it.

If this place is solely to fawn over them, it's not for me. If we can have some constructive debate, ill do fine.

You can make your point without calling him a fucking bellend and a dick.

[Hazell]

If this place is solely to fawn over them, it's not for me. If we can have some constructive debate, ill do fine.

It's not constructive when you refer to one of our players as a 'fucking bellend' and a 'dick'.

[rob1408]

Wont be a popular choice, particularly with me being new and all, but Johnson is a fucking bellend. What's he bringing this up for now?

It's sloppy from him, he should have switched off when the journo asked him. More excuses for the armchair fans to sullers our name, bet they think it's magic he's come out with this.

Not saying he's wrong, just that he should've let it lie. Dick.

Fuck off with calling our own players 'dick'.  Absolutely shite post, well done.

[steveeastend]

My respect for Ladyman has gone up a notch as well.

What did Torres say?

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

OK folks stop prodding the newbie.

He does have a point about not stirring the pot on this...  though perhaps more difficult given that he was specifically asked on it and he is being targetted by the press on this for obvious reasons.

Mr Pink, no problem with having a different view, but a little bit of respect in terms of your language for the current players would be very helpful.  Thanks

[Gerrvindh]

Johnson responds to McGrath's tweet.

Glen Johnson ‏ @glen_johnson 
Please tell me why im seeing a lollipop man at a set of traffic lights?!?!? #Really!!!

[paz22]

Luis' brother, footballer Paolo Suárez, said today to Ovación (from Uruguay):

"It was hard, really. There were all kind of comments, but we as a family always stayed calm. We know what our roots are and how we were raised. Our friends know how we are and we have afro-descendant friends since we were young... We never had a single problem. We are not racists. Evra has damaged a young player's image with a great future, but he will not be able to sustain this because those who know Luis, those who know us since we were young know we don't discriminate anyone, and that we never had prejudices. He took advantage of Luis' moment, of a situation that happened on the pitch, nothing else", Paolo said, still upset for everything his brother had to go through.

http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/120308/futinter-629190/futbolinternacional/paolo-el-hermano-de-luis-rompe-el-silencio-no-somos-racistas-/

[HarryLabrador]

He deserves to be criticised for bringing this back in to the public domain when the furore had died down.  If the mods want to ban me for that, so be it.

If this place is solely to fawn over them, it's not for me. If we can have some constructive debate, ill do fine.

The furore has not died down. Suarez gets booed everytime he touches the ball. Much as I detest that paper, I am very happy this interview took place, as it's about time something is finally written with views from our side of the fence.

[shanks hankie]

As i said, Glen was brave here but i think he would have been better to keep mum on this. His stance is great but he's under-mined by the fact that Luis apologised for not shaking his hand. The press are going to be all over this. Again. And it won't be spun in a positive Liverpool way, that's for sure.

[Andy @ Allerton]

Good that from Johnson.

I'd rather ever single player in the club refused to speak to every single media source and the manager just said to the media 'No Comment' after ever questions. Fucking hate them. Absolute fucking bastards all. And fuck England. Hope they get twatted out of the Euros with 2 games gone. Fucking cockney southern shithouses.

[JessePinkman]

OK folks stop prodding the newbie.

He does have a point about not stirring the pot on this...  though perhaps more difficult given that he was specifically asked on it and he is being targetted by the press on this for obvious reasons.

Mr Pink, no problem with having a different view, but a little bit of respect in terms of your language for the current players would be very helpful.  Thanks

Fair enough pal, It was a bellendish thing to do :p

[Lean Dewtas]

Wonder if Yernited will respond or just keep quiet and let us carry on making twats out of ourselves?

Yeah, well done Glen. Boss that.

[koptician]

As i said, Glen was brave here but i think he would have been better to keep mum on this. His stance is great but he's under-mined by the fact that Luis apologised for not shaking his hand. The press are going to be all over this. Again. And it won't be spun in a positive Liverpool way, that's for sure.

WHY we apologised?  We were FORCED to, any stupid idiot can see that.  In life sometimes it's easier to let something go even if you are in the right, is that so goddamn difficult to understand?!  Honestly! 

[Andy @ Allerton]

Wonder if Yernited will respond or just keep quiet and let us carry on making twats out of ourselves?

Yeah, well done Glen. Boss that.

Making twats out of ourselves? By commenting on something that's been visible to the entire world - anyone that would care to notice - on TV recordings since the day it happened?

Only one person doing what you suggest there mate.

[Andy @ Allerton]

Whats baffling to me is ( to the best of my knowledge) the press/rugby union bosses/the police) haven't gone after that rugby player for making that racist insult at glen on twitter, yet they really went after luis (the press/fa did) shouldn't this guy be being hit with a ban or whatever as well since theres proof ( the guy posting on twitter) that hes made this slur against glen as opposed to it bein one mans word against another?

What the rugby player said was more racist than anything else that's been said (With the exception of McGrath) should be banned and fined the racist blert.

[The Jackal]

Paul McGrath ‏ @Paulmcgrath5 It saddens me that Glen Johnson has called me a racist, but he is entitled to his opinion #football

McGrath missing the point. If he read the article he'd see that Glen wasn't calling him a racist, he was saying that the way McGrath singled him out was racist. Glen was pointing out the hypocrisy of it all. McGrath obviously not able to understand the subtelty of that point.

[Stussy]

Glen has cojones of steel. He'll be abused ceaselessly now, and be the subject of slander and character assassinations.

[Mackeroo]

McGrath missing the point. If he read the article he'd see that Glen wasn't calling him a racist, he was saying that the way McGrath singled him out was racist. Glen was pointing out the hypocrisy of it all. McGrath obviously not able to understand the subtelty of that point.

I stopped following him on twitter ages ago. He spouted unimformed bollocks over the whole saga due to his inability to spot the subtle nuances of the situation.

[Joga]

Love the way it's labelled EXCLUSIVE!!!!111 despite being on every news website known to man.

[McGarnagle]

I have no problem with Glen answering questions he was asked, especially when he answers them that well, well in Glen... I can see where people are coming from with the "don't fucking drag it up again Glen" angle though! When I read the thread title, that was my imediate thought, but after reading the full article I have to say fair play to the lad! Maybe a lot of the people who posted this opinion didn't read the full article or merely skimmed over it - I suggest you go back and give it a full read... While I would have liked to have heard Glen's opinion a long time ago, better late than never as they say

As for the people saying Ladyman has gone up in their estimation, can someone tell me is it him who would have chosen the headline? It's a good article, one that finally lets us get our view across without any manc agenda spin from the journo, but the headline is utter pants!!!

"Glen Johnson exclusive: Evra made it clear he didn't REALLY want to shake Suarez's hand"

That's not what the article is about at all! That's just one small part of it... Could have went with something along the lines of "Johnson has his say on Suarez", but no, they have to go for the one that stirs the pot! Wankers... The article contains a disclimer, if you will, saying that Glen didn't bring this up! He was merely asked the questions and he gave the answers, no manc/evra wind up intended, but i'm sure this finer detail will get skimmed over as the headline would suggest

As for the Irish Daily Mail's take on this... I saw the front pages of all the papers on the news this morning, that's right, the FRONT pages! Taking up a quarter of the Irish Daily Mail:

"McGrath is a racist, says star in bizarre attack"

Fucking Manc bastards!     

[aggerdoo]

anyone saying "oh we shold have just let it lie" can sod off imo. anyone that goes to the game now hears suarez getting boo'd by away fans and hears them singing daft songs about racism. this isn't blowing over as we'd hoped so good on glen for saying it how it is. he's gone way up in my estimations for speaking on behalf of the club on this. thought he was just shy to say anything about it but he's proved me wrong so good for glen

[The Jackal]

I stopped following him on twitter ages ago. He spouted unimformed bollocks over the whole saga due to his inability to spot the subtle nuances of the situation.

I don't follow him either - just saw that tweet quoted in here by Trada.

[Lean Dewtas]

Making twats out of ourselves? By commenting on something that's been visible to the entire world - anyone that would care to notice - on TV recordings since the day it happened?

Only one person doing what you suggest there mate.

Hang on - who did 'the entire world' condemn after that incident? Who did Standard Chartered blame? Who did 99% of pundits blame? (Even our ex players).

It was only a section of our support that commented that it was Evra's fault. Yeah, we commented on an event that was there for all to see. Sadly, we (well, some of us) chose the wrong stance.

Incredible that people are still backing Luis' actions and now this ridiculous and brainless interview from Johnson. Again, he just should've said "No comment" or "We love Luis, he's no racist - that's that."

We been battered everywhere, from everyone on this - we've handled it poorly. Only the most tunnel visioned can still say otherwise. I just want it to drop now and concentrate on going after 4th place.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

anyone saying "oh we shold have just let it lie" can sod off imo. anyone that goes to the game now hears suarez getting boo'd by away fans and hears them singing daft songs about racism. this isn't blowing over as we'd hoped so good on glen for saying it how it is. he's gone way up in my estimations for speaking on behalf of the club on this. thought he was just shy to say anything about it but he's proved me wrong so good for glen

It is blowing over in the media that is what matters.  Fans will always sing songs about opposition players and that will continue for as long as he plays for Liverpool.  I do wonder if some of you have ever been to a game.

[subroc]

McGrath missing the point. If he read the article he'd see that Glen wasn't calling him a racist, he was saying that the way McGrath singled him out was racist. Glen was pointing out the hypocrisy of it all. McGrath obviously not able to understand the subtelty of that point.

That's why this whole thing is PC-generated rubbish. A form of self-righteous sanctimonious moralism without any real morals at all. A way to despise others legitimately and to lok down one's snooty nose at them for being beneath contempt.

[shanks hankie]

WHY we apologised?  We were FORCED to, any stupid idiot can see that.  In life sometimes it's easier to let something go even if you are in the right, is that so goddamn difficult to understand?!  Honestly! 

Honestly, don't be a condescending prick. My point was Glen's stance was undermined by the fact that there are public apologies issued by people at our club, which state that Luis refused to shake Evra's hand. Other football fans, the general public, whoever aren't going to go "Ah, you see, Standard Chartered,/FSG forced Luis/the King/Ayres into this apology in order to move on, so it's a hollow apology" They are going to go "but Suarez has already apologised so what the fuck is Johnson on about?" And this in my opinion doesn't help. And you can do as many o noo faces as you want.

[CorKopite]

What the rugby player said was more racist than anything else that's been said (With the exception of McGrath) should be banned and fined the racist blert.

Which rugby player is he on about Andy, and what did he say? Didn't see it.