THAT was supposed to be Fergie? Gosh, for authenticity they'll need to build statues of Big Sam and Oliver Holt felating him.
I wasn't there. I don't know what was said. I am not a telepath, I can't define what people actually thought and verify them. I can though tell you something that happened to me. I was online chatting to a long time friend, a Danish guy and fellow Chelsea fan in my Chelsea matchday chat room. I'm part Norwegian so we have some Viking banter as Norse and Dane have this ancient rivalry. We were talking about the second World war, and even now I not sure how, he believed that somewhere in our conversation I had accused his father of being a Nazi collaborator, my own Grandfather being a resistance fighter in Norway. I know I didn't say any such thing and didn't at first see how he could of thought that. Then after carefully re-reading what I'd said about collaborators I could see that it could be misconstrued if one had a certain mindset. I of course assumed everybody thought pretty much the same way. Eric though didn't. He told me exactly what he thought of me then he refused to speak to me and even left the chat room entirely vowing never to come back. I of course apologized profusely without much effect. I then explained in detail what I actually meant and what I believed he thought I was inferring and why. Even though I strongly believed I had done nothing wrong, I did not take umbrage, but felt it was up to me to make amends. I did do and Eric now laughs and jokes every matchday in the chat room with the rest of us and me. The thing is my slip and his anger were confined to a football chat room and not to the world via TV and paper media. I did not report him for threats and he did not try and sue me for slander. From what I can see the Clattenberg/Mikel thing has been resolved as well as could be expected and sensibly. There are still those with their own agenda trying to get mileage from it. To my eyes those groups lose my respect and understanding by pursuing a course of action detrimental to their cause. Clattenberg has to be the understanding strong one and Mikel gets fined because we expect footballers to take things on the chin and rise above abuse and set an example and resolve things out of the limelight. See offence is only taken. It is up to a person to be offended. Someone may use any words against you and yours, but you alone make the decision how to react, not them. If though you see you have caused offence with your words there is a burden on you to explain them or burn your bridges. Don't expect the person who felt offended to come around on their own.
And that response perfectly sums up why your club is so despised. While you're at it, you might want to update your signature comment.....
