Fat Sam sticks the knife in again...

[Foxy]

From the Times - Link here

Under normal circumstances, when a player is seriously injured during a match, colleagues of the assailant mount a spirited defence. It was out of character, they say. No harm was intended. He is not that type of guy. It is hard to make that case for Chris Morgan, of Sheffield United.

Morgan left Iain Hume, of Barnsley, with massive head injuries and fighting for his life and the trouble is, he is exactly that type of guy. Not one who aspires to this outcome, but one who is prepared to risk it. Anybody who lands an elbow on the head of an opponent does and Morgan appeared to know exactly what he was doing when he struck Hume during the Coca-Cola Championship match at Oakwell on November 8.

He was not jumping for the ball, so there is no question of using his arms for propulsion or to attain height, and his glance sideways shows that he was very much aware of Hume’s position, so he cannot claim to have been ignorant of the potential consequence of his action. Indeed, his feet were planted on the floor, to secure balance. Some blows to the head result from a momentary lack of control; by contrast, it was rare to see a defender so settled in his stance.

As for character, Morgan has been sent off 12 times in 11 seasons and was the player who, on December 30, 2006, bravely punched Robin van Persie, of Arsenal, in the ribs on his blind side and, after video evidence was used, was banned for three matches. As this was a day when Arsenal lost to a battling side from the North, commentators preferred to concentrate on the flaws in Arsène Wenger’s team rather than some of the methods employed by Sheffield United. Indeed, the refusal of Arsenal’s players to shake hands at the end gained more publicity than Morgan’s behaviour. What softies, eh? Can’t even take an off-the-ball punch.

Morgan’s manager that day was Neil Warnock, now with Crystal Palace, who was one of the few to speak on his behalf after the Hume incident. As Warnock was once quoted admitting that he was not adverse to shouting to his players to break an opponent’s leg — “I must have said that a hundred times, you say things like that in the heat of the moment, you don’t mean it and my players take it with a pinch of salt” — he may wish to consider whether the example of his management played any small part in subsequent events. Don’t bet on it, though. Even so, what happens next will be fascinating because Hume is considering legal action and that is something they really do know about at Bramall Lane.

Leaving aside Hume’s personal case, if Barnsley are aware of the precedents set by the recent rulings of Lord Griffiths on behalf of Sheffield United in the Carlos Tévez affair, interesting times lay ahead. Barnsley would do well to make a note of the league position on the day Morgan elbowed Hume, for a start. One of the principles Griffiths established is that a club are not responsible for their final league position, so were Barnsley to drop below seventeenth in the Championship, they could put forward a claim stating that this was a direct result of Morgan’s action on behalf of Sheffield United.

Again, using Griffiths’s judgment for the FA tribunal, they could then attempt to play an imaginary campaign, with Hume in the team, working out how many points he would have been worth had he not been incapacitated by Morgan, before making a petition for loss of earnings.

Hume had four goals in 15 league games this season before his injury and was Barnsley’s joint leading goalscorer. The Sheffield United players suing West Ham United for compensation, including Morgan, may also provide an interesting precedent, too, if it is established that another club owed them a duty of care. That could then make Sheffield United, via Morgan, responsible for the individual misfortune of Barnsley players, even those who had not been left with an 18-inch scar from life-saving surgery.

The FA will decide this week whether Morgan’s actions require a further charge and Hume’s advisers will take advice before coming to a decision on legal proceedings. The early prognosis suggests that the striker will not play again this season, so Barnsley will have to be patient if they also want their day in court.

It would be nice to think that, from all sides, common sense will prevail; but as far as football and the law are concerned, common sense got the elbow long ago.

Oh and further on, does his bit for defending his beloved Sir Trev...

Sir Trevor Brooking’s criticism of coaching in the Football League and his dissatisfaction at the handling of funds around grassroots football in England drew an angry response from Lord Mawhinney, chairman of the Football League, who stopped just short of demanding his dismissal. “Trevor was a fantastic footballer, but none of us must assume that because we are very good in one job, we are very good in all jobs,” he said.

Wise words there. And Mawhinney would know, having previously been assistant professor of radiation research at Iowa University, a lecturer at Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in Manchester, MP for Peterborough, MP for North West Cambridgeshire, Junior Minister for Northern Ireland, Minister for Northern Ireland, Health Minister, Secretary of State for Transport, Chairman of the Conservative Party, Minister without Portfolio, Shadow Home Secretary and a member of the General Synod.

Even now, he manages to combine his Football League duties with being a member of the House of Lords, on the board of the FA, joint deputy chairman of the England World Cup bid board, chairman of Malone Consultancy Limited, a non-executive director of Evans Easyspace and honorary president of the Peterborough Association for the Blind, the Peterborough Male Voice Choir and North West Cambridgeshire Conservative Association, plus a trustee of the Professional Footballers’ Association Centenary Trust Fund and chairman of More Than Gold, a Christian charity with links to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Indeed, are we not lucky to have in our presence a man who knows so much about radiation, medicine, Northern Ireland, health, transport, politics, policing, national security, matters of citizenship, immigration, organised religion, football, global diplomacy, North West Cambridgeshire, property development, visual disability and male vocal harmonising? And from his statement we can assume that he was and is very good at all of these jobs; because he certainly will.

 

[derrywan]

odious hack.

 

[TonyAgana]

Everyday I hate him more and more.

I read a full page article in The Sunday Mirror on the Morgan/Hume incident subtitled "Hume breaks his silence" in which there's talk of legal action, disgusting challenges and whatever else. But actually isolate the bits in inverted commas (ie direct quotes) and there's fuck all. Just his brother (a bank advisor) on how Morgan should be banned for life. I dare say I'd be saying the same if a player had fractured my brother's skull but he's hardly the voice of reasoned judgement, is he?

Back to Fat Sam. What a twat.

 

[gregblade]

Its just getting ridiculous now, this prick holds the biggest grudge over our entire club possible.
Im seriously thinking of writing a letter back to him infact im off to look if any West Ham players have caused serious injury.....does Lee Bowyer still play for West Ham does anyone? I think hes probably a good starting point.......

 

[Foxy]

Its just getting ridiculous now, this prick holds the biggest grudge over our entire club possible.
Im seriously thinking of writing a letter back to him infact im off to look if any West Ham players have caused serious injury.....does Lee Bowyer still play for West Ham does anyone? I think hes probably a good starting point.......

I think Mr Ashton has caused a few injuries in his career too Be sure to copy us in to any correspondence

 

[gregblade]

So far, theres Bowyer. Who as a youth player failed a drug test, he was then accused of racial incident at a Mcdonalds before later been accused of causing severe injuries to an asian man in Leeds in 2000 (he was later aquitted, but I think we all know the truth....)

Then Mr Lucas Neill. Who I believe to be there current club captain. His "hard man" image was confirmed true when, while playing for Blackburn, he broke the leg of Jamie Carragher after leaving his foot in during a tackle. Gerard Houllier was furious and confirmed that it took both Neill and Souness (the then Blackburn manager) more than 48 hours to get in touch with Liverpool to issue and apology.

Also, lets not forget West Ham's current strike force......the adorable Mr Craig Bellamy. He's had more transfers than hot dinners, and this is no doubt down to him causing trouble at nearly every club he's been to, but the one that springs to mind was when he was given the nickname "The Nutter with a Putter" after attacking team mate Jon Arne Riise with a golf club, while away at a training camp with Liverpool football club.

They are just 3 players in the current team who are notorious "thugs". I've not even got started on there past players i.e. Billy Bonds and Julien Dicks (both voted into their hall of fame by there fans and both dirty players.....) im going to keep digging......if anyone (especially older members of the forum...silverfox? Dingledog?) can remember any dirty West Ham players feel free to point me in the right direction.......

 

[Vistoma]

Everyday I hate him more and more.

I read a full page article in The Sunday Mirror on the Morgan/Hume incident subtitled "Hume breaks his silence" in which there's talk of legal action, disgusting challenges and whatever else. But actually isolate the bits in inverted commas (ie direct quotes) and there's fuck all. Just his brother (a bank advisor) on how Morgan should be banned for life. I dare say I'd be saying the same if a player had fractured my brother's skull but he's hardly the voice of reasoned judgement, is he?

Back to Fat Sam. What a twat.

Couldn't agree more, do his employers know he is using his position to voice a personal grievance against SUFC he cannot possible know if the blow was intentional....

Back to your "people in glass houses" theme

I well remember Hartson kicking teammate Berkovic in the head and also here is a piece about the wonderful other bubble bloweres he cares so much about

Could West Ham United's season get any worse? The simple answer is yes. On Sunday large groups of
supporters were filmed chanting racist and anti-semitic slogans at half-time of the club's 4-3
defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that its football unit is
investigating a complaint made by the Community Security Trust, an organisation that protects
Britain's Jewish community from anti-semitism. Among the chants heard was one stating: "I'd rather
be a Paki than a Jew". Clips of the chants had been posted on the YouTube website by a member
going by the username of "cockneymatt88". The trust noted that the number in the username might
have been a neo-Nazi reference, the 88 being the eighth letter of the alphabet twice over,
standing for "Heil Hitler".

This was last season by the way, so was the Van Persie incident old fatty refers to

 

[beightonblade]

Fat Twat...........................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[gregblade]

What do you guys think so far? Any bits to add? or points to make???.................

Dear Mr Samuel,
I am writing to you in response to your article in “The Times” newspaper which I believe was printed in the paper on the 17th November 2008. The article in question is that relating to the current Iain Hume v Chris Morgan incident.

As you can most probably guess I am a fan of Sheffield United, a fan who is becoming somewhat tired of your bias writings against my beloved club. No doubt, that now you are aware that I am a Sheffield United fan you will stop reading this letter and dismiss it, never the less I shall continue.

In your article you question the character of our club captain, Chris Morgan, drawing attention to his 12 red cards and his involvement with Robin Van Persie in 2006. Now I can only assume that you have never actually met Chris Morgan, and if you have, it clearly wasn’t for a reasonable amount of time. Now I am not trying to justify Morgan’s actions that lead to the unfortunate injury to Iain Hume and I feel a red card would have been merited, and I said so while at the match. However your article is based solely on the ongoing battle between West Ham United and Sheffield United, and you are simply taking this opportunity to try and “get one over” on Sheffield United.
Morgan does carry a reputation as a hard player, but this does not mean he is a thug. He his hard, but fair, and it is unfortunate, that on this occasion a player has finished up in hospital, with a serious head injury.

I would like to draw reference to the implied sarcasm of your comment “What softies eh? Cant even take an off-the-ball punch”. Now I am unsure of whether this sarcasm is aimed at Northern people in general, or maybe just people from Sheffield, or Sheffield United more specifically. But never the less, I find it ironic, coming from a man who supports a club (West Ham) who currently employ the likes of Lee Bowyer, Craig Bellamy and Lucas Neil.

Are you not forgetting that Lee Bowyer, a player who while in Charlton’s Youth Team failed a drug test, who a few years later was accused of a racial incident in a McDonalds restaurant in London, and who then in 2000 was accused of attacking an Asian man in Leeds City Centre. Not to mention his on field bust up while at Newcastle, in which he throws several punches at then team mate Kieron Dyer, who ironically also plays for West Ham.
Then Lucas Neil, a player who, while at Blackburn Rovers broke the leg of Jamie Carragher in a match against Liverpool? And also Craig Bellamy, who while at Liverpool attacked his own team mate with a golf club, earning him the nick name “The Nutter with the Putter”
Let’s also not forget some of those past West Ham greats, Julian Dicks for example? Booked an astonishing 112 times in his career to accompany his 9 sending offs. Banned for stamping on an opponent, sent off for elbowing an opponent and who as publically stated that he would win at all costs…….yet despite his appalling behaviour and character he was voted into the West Ham Hall of Fame.

I have thought back to March 2001 and am unaware of you writing any similar article regarding the challenge of Andy Johnson on Sheffield United’s Georges Santos. In case you are unaware, during a match on 10th March 2001 between Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, the then Forest midfielder swung and elbow in the face of Georges Santos. Santos was left with a double fracture to the cheekbone and broken jaw. If, you did in deed write such an article and are able to forward a copy to me, I would be much appreciative to read your views on Andy Johnson. Taking into account that this game was not a premiership game, nor did it involve a London club, I very much doubt you will have taken the time to actually write about the incident, but then again, Barnsley v Sheffield United was not a premiership game, nor did it involve a London club, and yet rest assured Mr Samuel decides on this occasion to write an article. (This sarcasm thing is quite easy…..).

You also draw reference to comments from Barnsley FC who have threatened legal action and again make a slight sarcastic remark against Sheffield United and the fact that they are currently in a court battle with West Ham. Should Barnsley FC decide to take legal action, which I very much doubt, it will be interesting to see if the courts do make reference to the current on goings with West Ham, but considering that the comparisons are weak at best, I very much doubt this being the case.

I look forward to reading your future articles with much anticipation and hope to see you re-appear on Sky Sport’s Sunday Supplement in the very near future. ( I think I am getting the hang of this sarcasm lark…..)

Yours Sincerely
Greg Barraclough.


Thoughts???

 

[Linz]

Thoughts???

Very good, you know that he won't read it though

He went on a while back about everything kicking off at Reading... I published my response on our site then.

HERE's what I said.

 

[Kev Gee]

Great letter!

Mr Samuel really is beginning to wind me up now. How his employers stand by & publish this drivel is astonishing!

 

[shorehamview]

Nice letter Greg.
It's a shame that Martin Samuel will probably chuck it straight in the bin. I feel that Fatty Lumpkin has indeed got it in for us, especially as his beloved West Ham have been exposed for the lying cheaters we all know them to be.
How he can defend a club with players of a similar disposition to Freddy Kreuger I don't know.

 

[Vistoma]

Get it sent, but do ask him for a reply

 

[eviltoasters]

Its amazing just how much Samual hates in isn't it! I used to buy the times on a monday for the footy pull out but i stopped because im sick to death of reading his constant attacks on us, it seems that everytime he writes an article he has to mention us, and he cannot go a week without attacking us in some way. It does amuse me really, that he cannot seem to let it go, though my West Ham supporting mates love it!

 

[dingledog]

Good one Greg, get it sent

 

[ls17blade]

I wouldn't give the tosser the satisfaction of knowing it's wound you up.

 

[shorehamview]

Every time Martin Samuel writes an article he manages to wind up Blades. On the other hand, every time I write an article I manage to annoy half the world. I've upset a few more now, just because I called Maradona a cocaine hoover, a cheat and a short-arsed coke head. Some people are really touchy, and when it comes to pissing folk off Martin Samuel is a rank amateur.

 

[derrywan]

SV you are the pissing-off don. and a disgrace. Obviously. Everybody says so on the internet so it is true.

 

[BexleyBlade]

Just after reading your article Linz, I recall a trip to the Emirates Stadium in 2006. I seem to remember a certain Alan Wright being treated for an open wound to his head and yet conveniently this act went unpunished for those poor little pretty boys. In the same game, however, Rob Hulse sees a fine overhead kick resulting in a perfectly good goal disallowed for a 'high-foot'.

Boot to the head and visible injury is fine, but it is imperative in the modern game we must accept that attempting to score is not permitted Mr Hulse.

 

[Gazza1984]

Thoughts???

Brilliant letter,

I would have added when Morgan got smacked in the eye by Lee McCulloch and Morgan just said it was part of the game

How people easily forget