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I've just finished reading Tony Evans' piece response to the Anfield/ Pier Head incidents.
There are so many unfair and unrealistic comments on Joe Anderson's response (15 by my count) that I've decided to list them here.
There are so many unfair and unrealistic comments on Joe Anderson's response (15 by my count) that I've decided to list them here.
1) "Politicians love to be proved right. Anderson must be feeling pretty smug".
This is an obnoxious thing to say about a mayor clearly concerned with public health during a national crisis. Think about the R rate, and the death toll, and reconsider whether this is appropriate.
This is an obnoxious thing to say about a mayor clearly concerned with public health during a national crisis. Think about the R rate, and the death toll, and reconsider whether this is appropriate.
2) "It was hard to comprehend the mayor of a city that's suffered so much from the dehumanisation of football fans could glibly make such sweeping assumptions".
It's vital for Evans to link Anderson's comments to wider demonisation of football fans. There is no link. It's false.
It's vital for Evans to link Anderson's comments to wider demonisation of football fans. There is no link. It's false.
3) "He is only correct in a world without nuance".
Judge for yourself.
Anderson: "There’s not many people who would respect what we were saying and stay away from the ground. A lot of people would come to celebrate so I think it’s a non-starter".
Judge for yourself.
Anderson: "There’s not many people who would respect what we were saying and stay away from the ground. A lot of people would come to celebrate so I think it’s a non-starter".
4) "No one had realised when Anderson spoke that public-safety boundaries were malleable".
Of course they had! I can only assume Evans is unaware how busy the parks in Liverpool were at this point, how many people were having parties etc. You can't blame that one on Cummings.
Of course they had! I can only assume Evans is unaware how busy the parks in Liverpool were at this point, how many people were having parties etc. You can't blame that one on Cummings.
5) "The mayor was right but at the wrong time".
Is there a 'wrong time' for a mayor to warn against potentially dangerous activity during a public health crisis?
This reads like a criticism of Anderson for being too cautious which, in context, is surely a good thing?
Is there a 'wrong time' for a mayor to warn against potentially dangerous activity during a public health crisis?
This reads like a criticism of Anderson for being too cautious which, in context, is surely a good thing?
6) "Eight weeks ago there was no danger of mass, football-related revelry".
Simply incorrect. Pre-lockdown matches at PSG and Valencia made clear the danger, as did the general business of the parks etc. There was clear risk that Evans simply missed.
Simply incorrect. Pre-lockdown matches at PSG and Valencia made clear the danger, as did the general business of the parks etc. There was clear risk that Evans simply missed.
7) "Two months ago Anderson created an avoidable controversy".
No. Anderson made a warned about potential danger, and then many LFC-supporting writers misjudged some of the club's fanbase and had a go at him for it. Call it a 'controversy' if you like, but you created it.
No. Anderson made a warned about potential danger, and then many LFC-supporting writers misjudged some of the club's fanbase and had a go at him for it. Call it a 'controversy' if you like, but you created it.
8) "This was the week Merseyside needed leadership. Where was the mayor?"
Replace 'Merseyside' with 'Liverpool fans', and 'mayor' with 'the club', and you have the right question. As is, this is criticising a mayor for not speaking up after you've criticised him for speaking up.
Replace 'Merseyside' with 'Liverpool fans', and 'mayor' with 'the club', and you have the right question. As is, this is criticising a mayor for not speaking up after you've criticised him for speaking up.
9) "If Anderson’s warning had been sounded earlier this week, it would have been timely".
Timely?! I'd lean towards 'late' myself. Mayors only raising legitimate concerns the week of an event is not an approach to civic planning I'd expect anyone to take seriously.
Timely?! I'd lean towards 'late' myself. Mayors only raising legitimate concerns the week of an event is not an approach to civic planning I'd expect anyone to take seriously.
10) "Why did Anderson appear to show no leadership at all when it mattered?"
Anderson showed leadership *before* it really mattered, which is good, right? Planning, foresight etc. He didn't just react to events as they happened like the club, Klopp, all the journalists etc did.
Anderson showed leadership *before* it really mattered, which is good, right? Planning, foresight etc. He didn't just react to events as they happened like the club, Klopp, all the journalists etc did.
11) "It’s likely that if he had, not a single journalist or fans’ advocate would have demurred".
Huge, if true. But of course naĂŻve again if not. This would have been out of character for LFC journalists and club advocates, as the reaction to the original comments would suggest.
Huge, if true. But of course naĂŻve again if not. This would have been out of character for LFC journalists and club advocates, as the reaction to the original comments would suggest.
12) "It seemed that Anderson misinterpreted the conditions in April and did not have a grip on events this week".
Again, Anderson interpreted the conditions in April correctly, Evans did not. So that's pretty cheeky. The second bit is fair, but I'd look at the police response.
Again, Anderson interpreted the conditions in April correctly, Evans did not. So that's pretty cheeky. The second bit is fair, but I'd look at the police response.
13) "In hindsight, Anderson’s prediction in April was premature and deserved to be called out as hyperbole".
Evans was late on the risk this posed, and the use of "premature" here reflects that. Hindsight has proven Anderson's instincts correct, and his detractors' wrong.
Evans was late on the risk this posed, and the use of "premature" here reflects that. Hindsight has proven Anderson's instincts correct, and his detractors' wrong.
14) "In June it would have been appropriate to bring his concerns to public attention and act upon them".
Again, we see the strange 'only warn us the week of the event'-type suggestion. It's imperative for authority figures to raise public health concerns asap. That's obvious.
Again, we see the strange 'only warn us the week of the event'-type suggestion. It's imperative for authority figures to raise public health concerns asap. That's obvious.
15) "In the end Mayor Anderson turned out to have all the resonance of an empty drum".
This was a good opportunity for Liverpool writers, Evans included, to reflect on their own role in the mayor's lack of "resonance" over this issue. An opportunity completely missed here.
This was a good opportunity for Liverpool writers, Evans included, to reflect on their own role in the mayor's lack of "resonance" over this issue. An opportunity completely missed here.
