tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7277350758852152791.post4209790898882084777..comments2023-10-28T03:06:34.625-07:00Comments on Football Speak: ‘Tackling’ the problems of the beautful game.Blueninehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13322346276644218525noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7277350758852152791.post-43014029644557677492010-10-22T04:27:59.779-07:002010-10-22T04:27:59.779-07:00Really poor article on many fronts.
1. Your entir...Really poor article on many fronts.<br /><br />1. Your entire premise is moot because nobody AT ALL want to ban tackling. It's outrageous that it gets painted that way. The fact of the matter is that the top sides tackle better and win the ball more.<br /><br />2.You say Stoke & co merely play to their strengths. If being overphysical is their strength, it's because their managers want that to be so. West Brom & Blackpool have won many fans and points this season not by kicking people but by playing good football.<br /><br />3. The real issue is that referees, pundits and the culture of English football allows players to get away with murder on the football pitch. Classic example is Ryan Shawcross in 2008 who put in a ghastly tackle on Adebayor while they were both off the pitch and the ball was long gone. When Wenger complained about the referee doing nothing about it, he was ridiculed in the media and his team called weak. I'm pretty sure Adebayor would deck Shawcross in a fair fight so it's not about physicality but thiggishness. No surprise that the next time Arsenal went away to Stoke, Shawcross puts in a challenge that broke Ramsey's leg.<br />4. Wenger has never claimed his players don't get in bad tackles. He only says, punish bad tackles. I don't see why or how any true fan can argue against that. Bad tackles are against the laws and the spirit of the game. Many of the tackles that go unpunished at Premier League level would lead to brawls at Sunday league level. These are the laws of the game. Enforce them.<br /><br />5. Saying that players can be injured by clean tackles so we shouldn't worry about bad tackles is ridiculous. It's like saying we shouldn't worry about murders because people die in their sleep. <br /><br />6. The worst possible thing you can say to a bad or dirty tackler is that it's acceptable. By doing so you only encourage these players. I remember Kyle Henry moaning after he made a nasty from behind tackle on Rosicky last season, claiming the game had become pusssified. Then he roughed up Barton & was still defending himself. Then he broke Zamora's foot and he was still defending himself. All until that horror tackle on the Wigan player. Somebody should have told him much earlier that his approach is wrong.Ole Gunnernoreply@blogger.com