Liverpool Echo from Liverpool, Merseyside, England • 51

Football Echo, Saturday, June 5, 1999 5 th the column that bites back Write to: Smithy, Liverpool Echo, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, 69 3EB Not very Christian! United should face over European title WHAT right has Mane Terry Christian to slag off Liverpool FC, saying it was a lot easier in the 70s and 80s to win the European Cup? He said you got easy teams up to the late rounds but he never mentioned they were actually all champions of their country and not second-placed teams like Manchester United, who now gain entry. We all know Manchester United are the team of the 905, like it or not. But Liverpool obviously were in the 70s and 80s. But seeing people like Terry Christian you can see why there is, and probably always will be, some hatred between the two clubs. Alan Pick, Groat Sankey I JUST had to write to your column after Just watching Granada (MUTV) report on the "homecoming" (Man Utd) "biggest ever" homecoming, by the way.

Tom, before all the paranoid Bluenoses start giving me loads about their "other I just have to state that since 1996 and that joke of a final, I have resigned myself not to get so irate at the mention of Man Utd. I hate the Bluenoses more. In the 1990 and probably the next decade, Man Utd are going to be the top team. So I thought 'why worry about They win something nearly every season. With hating EFC more, by the time the end of season comes (and we're not going to win anything), we finish above them every time.

It's great I recommend it to all Redmen. Back to my point. On this programme the "homecoming" Terry Christian was on and I reckon Granada now owe me a new telly! He stated that it was easier to win the "Champions" Cup when we won it four times. Tom, correct me if I'm wrong, the facts records but didn't you have to win the league to qualify for the Cup then? Imagine how many more times we would have won it finishing second to Villa, Forest etc. Even the Blue boys might have had a chance when they finished runners-up to us.

One last thing, Tom. After all the celebrating that United did, did anyone remind them that they are now on a par with Nottingham Forest. who also won two "CHAMPIONS" Cups. Anthony Coughlin, Meghull FAIR TACKLE I ASSURE you that when Liverpool won the European Cup it was harder. Back then, once you wen beaten you wore out and as you say, at least you had to win your league to qualify for the competition.

I acknowledge United have done brilliantly to win the but I agree the press coverage has gone overboard. When we won in Rome in 1977, only the local papers, Nice the ECHO were interested. play -up as Keane. Beckham etc. not once every five games but every match.

Like many fans who have written to you recently. I now feel it is the right time to introduce the excellent Mimi Traore and Steven Gerrard to the first team. With the signing of Hyppia. Smicer. Westerveld and continual good form of Heggem and Jamie Carragher, we now might be able to bury the leaky defence tag once and for all, as it now appears Houllier is assembling the basis of a strong team.

Finally may I. on behalf of It's up to Reds to catch LET me start by congratulating Manchester United on this season's great success (though it breaks my heart). Now that they have set the standard, it is up to Liverpool to start the long process of catching them up. Firstly the fans have to get right behind the manager and the team in the same way we did against Manchester United, allowing the players to play with confidence not once a season but every game. Secondly, the senior players like Redknapp, Berger, Owen, Ince and Robbie Fowler must Alex Ferguson the United boss deserves credit play with the same commitment Kopites: send Condolences to Steve McManaman and ire his family and wish him all lflt Fergie glry the hest in Spain.

Tom Keegan, Aigb Time to re ec urth FAIR TACKLE WELL done to Man Utd. I FAIR TACKLE don't mind admitting that WHEN we were a success at Umpool, we used to score I'm jealous they we as good in the 80th minute not the egthl a team as they are. That loads me to say that had Fergie been a manager I oarlshdY think It's time years ago, would certainly not haw won half the for some fresh lams at LA'- grhe has. eipool, and it's up to HouliZ said that, Ferguson like Bob Paisley deserves kr to give Own a chance praise for fully exploiting today's situation to his own whso he the dm hl achrantage. rigid.

AS 'Man Mania' sweeps the country, perhaps it is heresy to note that they beat Bayern Munich in what has come to be known as This is time added on at the end of the match to compensate for time allegedly lost through injuries etc. It is usually indicated by the Man manager tanding on the touchline, pointing at his watch. Surely this phenomenon has happened too many times to be a coincidence. 0 Hunt, Bebington Wasted enenjy CAN someone explain to me why most Bluenoses are closet Manchester United fans? They possess an attitude that if they celebrate a Manc victory such as the European Cup win. it will somehow annoy Reds fans.

The last thing I would dream of doing. like the majority of Liverpool fans, is showing Everton fans newspapers with photos of Manchester United's amazing treble. If they were to put this much energy behind their own club, Just maybe Everton would not be in their present state. Paul Donaldson, Crosby. FAIR TACKLE I THINK there is a problem on Merseyside that never used to exist when I was playing.

At one time we were all Scousers together, now it's gone beyond that There is a younger Everton (and Unstpool) fan now that is hateful and bitter of their Mersey rivals. FootbaN is so intenss that supporting your team has a nsgative side to it. Allocated BEFORE GWI CANAKI COSU NAVA 1114006 LAKCAROTE TUMILFf MDIONCA MANN ALGAIM MAIONCA COIMISIUNA t.tnißEcT DiMi-ence Deproses from Uverpoolortochoutar ram .1:114 444 1 4 4141 4 Further offers onTsietext pup LW Ova ard dery milYs. Bead on 2 adults shirrs 0151 707 2229 DIRECT IS- ISwaiMI.ONSTIMIUMWMIL le lUD meirmi lagll VlSl 486 ees6 II HOLIDAYS "I II 7 4 Ending with that "11l bit of extra help TOM. can you possibly throw some light on to why now in the Premiership and European games the majority of matches are played 92.

93. 94, 95 minutes when there are no trainers (or physios) on the pitch? Take this season. Manchester United have won six matches and drawn all "after including the FA Cup. I remember the old First Division years ago when trainers came on to attend to players but the games nearly always finished on 90 minutes. I personally reckon substitutes coming on and stoppages are all part of the limited time and all games should finish on 90 minutes.

D. Mclntyre, Norris Omen BOUNCE BALL AT least the Ivies of football today are aimed at giving fans 90 minutes of football action. What confuses me is how the referees calculate how many minutes to add on. It would hs, if they published their reasons for 'extra' time one minute for time-wasting, five for an injury stoppage and so on. 'i 4 pi I 1 4 1 -410 4.