well, then who the f**k in Football is??? I mean which Football player goes out to with the intention to break fellow professionals' legs. It isn't a football game played at the central jail (if you would) that there would be that kind of players. It is just that these players are dangerous and while the world has moved on from the early years of 20th century the game itself hasn't moved...well, not much in England.
On the contrary, the subject in question is exactly that kind of a guy...Ryan Shawcross has broken 2 legs and caused serious injury to others keeping them out for months (season in case of the former) all at just 22yrs of age. It may not be intentional but is clearly a sign of dangerous play so a 3 match ban for career threatening leg break, in all my wisdom, is not just.
That said, what amazes me is the British media..there have been more articles feeling sorry for Shawcross than for AR-16 (whose leg got broke into two). The apathy shown towards AR-16 just screams of bias and hypocrisy. It is utterly unbelievable hearing people coming out in support of the 'good lad' that is Shawcross, hoping that he comes out of the trauma that he has had to go through. Damn that 19 yr old super talented AR-16 for breaking his leg on Shawcross' boots!! Who cares whether AR-16 will be able to play again we just want Shawcross to come over this...huh!!!
It is so funny how blatantly biased most ex-players and football pundits are when they forget Shawcross' past record and try to pass it off as an unfortunate accident. Well, it is unfortunate but accident it is not- when a coach tells their players to compensate for their lack of obvious talent by kicking the opponents hard this is what is bound to happen. For me Shawcross is the product of coaches who think roughing up the opponents is fine, media who showcase this as grit, commitment and physicality, ex-players and pundits who just say anything that is in favour of the British style of play or players themselves. Somebody ask them if Italians, Spaniards and Brazilians are any less committed. However, there are sane and objective people (media and ex-players included)who can call a spade a spade and have rightly criticised the rash tackles that still prevail in the game and have asked for more action to be taken against offenders. Don't for a second think that i don't like the physical aspect of the game...it is a contact sport and we all love it for this but dangerous and reckless play has no place in any sport.
Wenger is rightly cross and agitated after seeing 3rd of his players being stretchered off the pitch with broken (and i mean snapped into two or more) and hanging legs (ankles) as results of reckless and dangerous tackles all within 4 years. As Wenger rightly said 'I don't believe in coincidences'..Sir, you don't have to because this is no coincidence. This is a result of the conventional wisdom spread around by the media about Arsenal 'not liking it rough'. After the incident the team gelled together like never before (in this season) and came out flying. AR-16 has Edu-9 and AD-2 to look up to in getting on and coming out of this injury.
All these media persons, these pundits, coaches etc. jumping to Shawcross' defence seem to miss the point here. Would all people still defend Shawcross if his tackle had left Rooney's leg hanging in mid air??? I think not.
