Ramsey: It’s easy to see why it happens. It’s not so easy to forgive.
142 guns March 1st, 2010
It’s easy to see how it happens. You step on to the field, brimming with adrenaline, with the last words of your managers team talk still ringing in your ears.
“Alright lads, listen close. When you go in, go in hard. This foreign lot, they don’t like it up ‘em.”
It’s the 65th minute and the game is tightly poised at 1-1. The ball breaks in midfield, and you stride on to it - a rare opportunity to relieve increasing pressure on your goal. A poor touch carries the ball away, and you’re faced with a choice: admit you’ve conceded possession, or make a lunge for it. You plump for the latter. After all, “they don’t like it up ‘em”.
Your manager is right. They don’t like it ‘up em. Nor raking the back of ‘em, nor stamping down on top of ‘em, nor, as yesterday, swinging recklessly through a planted limb. They don’t like it when their legs are snapped and left in a twisted, mangled mess.
Call him soft, but when this happens, Aaron Ramsey doesn’t like it:
Eduardo didn’t much care for it either, nor Abou Diaby before him. Rough ‘em up a bit, leave that foot in a second longer, apply an ounce more force in your tackle. Those Arsenal boys, they won’t like it. If something should go wrong - well, it’s hardly the aggressor’s fault, is it? The media will round to remind the Arsenal manager that, “it’s a contact sport after all, Arsene. He’s just a good old-fashioned, big-hearted, tough-tackling sort of lad”.
“He’s not that sort of player,” they’ll say. “He lives with his mum and does charity work. He’s never even been sent off. There was no malice in the tackle.”
Perhaps not. But none of that, not one part of it, makes Ryan Shawcross innocent.
Arseblogger struck upon a superb analogy yesterday when he pointed out that whist the law distinguishes between a pre-meditated hit-and-run and reckless driving, both remain crimes. The law distinguishes between manslaughter and murder. Shawcross might not have intended to break Ramsey’s leg, but irresponsible and negligent conduct means he did.
A tackle can be a beautiful thing. There is as much technique in dispossession as a drag-back. I would never want to see a game bereft of that art, but what Shawcross did was different. He threw himself in to a situation where his chances of winning the ball were negligible, and his chances of taking out Ramsey significant. Whatever his pleas about respecting his “fellow professionals”, he didn’t consider the odds enough to show concern for Ramsey’s well-being. For him, there were no consequences.
The sad thing is how true that is - relatively, there are no consequences. Another area where Common Law has the edge over Football Law is the idea of proportionate punishment. Ramsey will probably miss a year due to his injuries - Shawcross will miss three games. I’m sure his remorseful tears will have dried up by then. Ramsey will have to live with his physical and emotional scars for a good while longer.
It’s tempting to ask the press to stop perpetuating the idea that the way to beat Arsenal is with unbridled brutality. Unfortunately, the media are merely a reflection of our culture: one fascinated by the triumph of underdogs. If Stoke’s cloggers are to overcome Arsenal’s artisans, uninhibited physical force is bound to be their principal weapon - and the people of England will then come together to celebrate it. And we wonder why we don’t produce enough technical footballers.
Attitudes won’t change. There are too many people in the game who regard our players with something approaching xenophobia; too many idiots like Stan Collymore dictating the media agenda; too many managers pulling the same old dirty tricks. Instead, the only way to stop this from happening is to show that it doesn’t work.
Two years ago, when Martin Taylor’s stamp crumpled Eduardo’s left leg like an expendable plastic cup, our title chances collapsed in a similarly horrific manner. After rallying to lead 2-1, a mistake by Gael Clichy saw us concede a stoppage time penalty that pegged us back to a costly draw. After the game, a tearful William Gallas launched a Taylor-esque attack on the advertising hoardings. He and the fans knew that the title would escape us. Our belief, among other things, had been crushed.
Yesterday could not have felt more different. When Ramsey reached out his arm to call for the physio, his team-mates responded just as they did two years ago. For some of them, the experience was new - Thomas Vermaelen’s reaction was one of a player who’d not yet witnessed such a horrifying injury. For others, it was painfully familiar - Clichy himself seemed distraught, whilst on the sidelines Eduardo’s expressionless face masked what must have been traumatic memories. For ten minutes, there was barely a tackle in the game, as both sides came to terms with what they’d witnessed.
But then, something happened that Pulis, the press, and others hadn’t reckoned on: we fought back. Not with high tackles or raised elbows, but with a ruthless efficiency befitting of this talented squad. Stoke were down to ten men, and we exploited it. No tantrums from our captain, but an ice-cool penalty and two assists for the superb Cesc Fabregas. An injured Gallas was notable by his absence - in his place, Sol Campbell, a titan of a man, bellowing instructions and pumping his fists as the winning goals went in.
At the end, Cesc called the players in to a huddle - a sign of indomitable spirit not seen since The Invincibles. Ours is the title challenge that won’t die, and with ten games to go, the message now is simple: do it for Ramsey.
Get well soon, Aaron.
-
Stoke 1 - 3 Arsenal (Pugh 8, Bendtner 32, Fabregas 90 (pen), Vermaelen 90)
60 Comments Add your own
1. GoonerGaz | March 1st, 2010 at 12:23 am
Fantastic article mate, absolutely spot on! Especially about the ‘recklessness’ anology. Being a Welsh Gooner, I was gutted for Aaron - Happy St Davids Day son, get well soon!
2. 'holic | March 1st, 2010 at 12:26 am
Every
word.
3. 3Stacks | March 1st, 2010 at 12:40 am
Well balanced article and more to the core of the matter.On the other hand the poor refereeing and media acting as if Shawcoss is an angel when he previously broke Francis Jeffers ankle in 2007
4. Sameer Kotecha | March 1st, 2010 at 12:42 am
Two days on and im still feeling the emotion of the game. From the shock of the injury, the anger at the challenge, the jubilation of the victory.
Its an injustice that the punishment is so far from that which the crime deserved. Be sure that if this had happened to Rooney, heads would be served upon rusty pikes.
Great to see that the team are taking this horrible incident, and channeling their angst in a positive manner. 1 full week they will give their all in training and destroy burnley. Expect a cricket score
A phrase thats been batted around by many gooners, but its 100% accurate, i really have never been prouder to support the Arsenal.
5. sebjob | March 1st, 2010 at 12:52 am
good economy of words; balanced, reflected and well written
6. Wayno Gooner64 | March 1st, 2010 at 12:56 am
Top article, to add insult to injury that twat Shawcross is training with England at Arsenal’s training camp make’s me sick to the stomach.
7. Gregor | March 1st, 2010 at 12:57 am
Thanks GS for a great post, you are absolutely spot on. You mention that there are no consequences for an action of this sort. I had a bit of a brainstorm, and I’m sure I’m not the first to have such an idea, but here goes anyways: We can all agree that actions on the pitch that result in a straight red card are normally fairly violent ones, whether it be bad tackles or fights or whatever. A three game ban seems rather soft in my opinion, so lets increase the automatic ban to five games. Also, lets add in monetary fines to both club and player, at least equal to what the offending player would have earned during those five games (basically a suspended salary for the offender). Those fines should definitely not go to the FA, rather they should go to the club offended against (or maybe to the referee’s association to help hire and train better match officials). And finally, if the red card offense results in injury, then the resulting ban and fines should be increased to either 19 games, or the length of time the stricken player is out, whichever is less.
Just an idea, but there need to be consequences for these types of actions, and a 3 game ban isn’t much of a consequence.
8. The Law | March 1st, 2010 at 1:13 am
In the BBC article about the Blackeye Rovers - Liverpool match, Fat Sam’s boys committed 25 fouls and got 5 bookings. Fairly regular card showing from the ref then.
When Arsenal played Stoke in the FA Cup, Stoke committed 20 fouls and got 0 cards, Arsenal committed 8 fouls and got 0 cards. In Saturday’s game, Stoke committed 14 fouls and got 1 card - the red for Shawcross, which (if you believe Rory Delap) was only shown by the ref after he saw that Aaron’s leg was broken. Arsenal committed 8 fouls and got 1 card - the yellow Song got when he was fouled by Delap.
Clearly, therefore, it took a sickening result of a tackle on us for the ref to get a card out.
Is it just me, or does this seem abnormal in any way?
9. Navin | March 1st, 2010 at 1:16 am
Good article.
With bad tackles and even worse injuries occuring more often, why not change the ban? if the injured player is out for 10months, the attacker should be banned for 10 months too !!! that would be fair. in 3 games’ time, shawcross will be back and will celebrate with his teammates when they score while ramsey will be in a cast for a few months. He may never be the same player.
remember alf haaland? his career was ended by a stupid reckless hateful roy keane who went on to win more accolades with MU and is still in football.
10. llaker | March 1st, 2010 at 1:18 am
Brilliant article. Really spot on. I do feel bad for Shawcross, as I don’t think any player would ever wish something as horrific as that upon an opponent.
However, onto Arsenal. The character, spirit and refusal to lay down and die was there for all to see. I have had many proud moments as an Arsenal fan, but none quite so memorable as that.
As you state so well, “Ours is the title challenge that won’t die.”
I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been quietly confident about this run in and this end of season flourish for quite some time, but now I’m even more aware of what has to be done. Bring the title home.
Not for the fans, not for the club, not for Wenger, not for anyone save for Aaron Ramsey.
Get well soon Aaron.
11. pooner | March 1st, 2010 at 1:22 am
Only Arsenal blogs are even mentioning the culture behind these repeated incidents. That cosy little boy’s club on MOTD did the usual ‘Shawcross is a lovely lad’ act and left it at that, Sky after the game were awful, as Arseblogger mentioned, and nowhere else has this been mentioned.
Everyone just wants to move on and forget this ever happened. Nothing will change, as you can’t solve a problem if you refuse to exist one exists. I find it hard to believe that this is the last injury to an Arsenal player of this kind we will see, and how depressing is that?
12. Zigzag | March 1st, 2010 at 1:30 am
Spot on. I’m a peaceful man but my blood boiled and I watched a repeat of Eduardo’s shock horror injury.
I just want to ask: Is there something we all could do about it? Hope we win the league but perhaps there is something else we can do as fans. This’ got to END!!!
13. jay | March 1st, 2010 at 2:01 am
Great Article,
There must be something that we can do? I know i sound a bit violent by the anger of seeing this… but maybe we should always make sure that SKy or the BBC have the hardest time when they come to the Emirates. Lets them hear it and see it with banners all over the place.
It is true that if this was Rooney , they would have cried murder. Remember how they use to bash Viera or Petit when they played hard! But they never broke any bones…. If we let them hear that millions of gooners have enough maybe… jut maybe.
I saw on another blog a suggestion of bombarding the FA with mail and email so that somebody get their heads out of their arses and start doing what they are paid for….
Even in Rugby this doesn’t happen….
14. Ashburton_Grove | March 1st, 2010 at 2:53 am
I can’t agree more with what you’ve written. This is a different Arsenal team. It has risen from the ashes of Birmingham little under two seasons ago and now is much more mentally mature in its outlook.
You could see the players would not take a draw or defeat following what happened to Ramsey. They were prepared to take their chances going forward and make sure that although physically not down to ten men, they were not mentally down to ten men.
They put the injury and what they had seen to one side and went for it after regaining their rytham.
It was telling that for the third goal it was Vermaelen who was there in the centre of their box to put the ball in the back of the net. He’d certainly been shocked by what he’d seen, but wouldn’t let that stop him and Cesc and the other nine warriors dragging this team to victory.
Now for the title.
15. KLV | March 1st, 2010 at 3:31 am
Great post. Same for Arseblogger’s.
I wrote a reply to one of the Stoke’s bloggers who really pissed me off because he tried to distract us all away from the crime, by decriminalising the criminal, and by saying what a great boy he is, and worse, by comparing how Cesc “insulted” Pulis by showing a sshhhing sign.
This is the British society these days. Gone are the days of British gentleman conduct, of fair play, of respecting the rules and respecting each other. Criminals are now victims, and victims are perpetrators. That is the standard of your society and your gutter press.
Sure the criminal meant no malice. same defence employed by a hit and run criminal. Lucky for Shawcross, it happened on a pitch, but with so many millions of witnesses, still there is no crime committed, otherwise Ramsey could and should sue his pants off and make sure he pays for the rest of his life.
I share the same sentiment with Arseblogger’s comments. It is the coaches and managers who must share some responsibility as they are the ones who shout instructions into the ears of their players to get rough with Arsenal. And these players who don’t have much in the space between their ears obviously listened and acted accordingly.
We must spread this message to others about managers being responsible, because to date, managers like Pulis and others before them, come out like angels.
I wish Ramsey well. I am confident he will recover, given how Eduardo and Diaby have recovered. But each case is different, and it depends on how clean is the break.
So how now for Arsenal? In the match, you can see that even before the injury, we have matched Stoke in the physical game. Stoke was stunned, and Pulis became desperate. They knew the chances of us winning was better than theirs. What was originally a bullying game for them at our expense is now turning out to be an embarassment to the home team. Song, Canpbell, Vermaelen and Ramsey all matched them well.
After the injury, I was glad to see how we stood up to them and fought for a win. This will not be a Birmingham. We got them by the scruff of their necks and outplayed them. We were hungrier and angrier. Most important of all, we have a different Captain. The rest of the games now would depend on how angry we are. Don’t let up. Chelsea is crumbling with injuries, suspensions and a tough schedule. MU relies too much on Rooney. They too have a tough schedule. We are only 3 points away despite being beaten four times by them.
16. Rocka | March 1st, 2010 at 3:43 am
Great article, except I don’t want to believe that “attitudes won’t change”.
They have to change, or this sh*t will go on. The more people that make noise about it, the more chance there will be a shift in attitudes.
Arseblog said it (I think)… there is a direct correlation to the attitude that “Arsenal don’t like it up them” and the fact that we have suffered these injuries. Pulis would have mentioned this in his pre-match talk to his players. They take that as a cue to make forceful challenges, and look what happens.
Pulis wouldn’t mention this when playing other teams.
The FA needs to take responsibility, debate the issue, and hopefully come up with stronger penalties. Deterrance through stiffer penalties is a start, and maybe that will “change attitudes”.
Or will they be like most other footballing bodies and do sweet FA.
17. hec | March 1st, 2010 at 3:52 am
Cast your mind back 49 games undefeated , playing manu , they kick Arsenal off the park that day , they have no referee protection , result end of the Invincibles , and then the story around is , kick Arsenal and you can beat them , its the fault of the people that supposed to protect players , the REFEREES they are a disgrace , they think its OK to let Arsenal get kicked.
18. charlie | March 1st, 2010 at 4:07 am
brillant blog
19. Till1die | March 1st, 2010 at 5:09 am
Great blog right there.lets show our love for ramsey by dropping our well-wishes on the official arsenal site
20. ASNLthruNthru | March 1st, 2010 at 5:19 am
Great article.Roy of the Rovers stuff for real!!
Ramsey will bounce back to become a Legend at Arsenal.
Stoke will return to their rightful place in the “Second Division”.
Let’s lift those Trophies in May.
21. Omololu | March 1st, 2010 at 6:00 am
Brilliant guyz. I agree wt d banner messages… Get wel soo aaron remembr u r a fabregas in d makin…
22. Dj | March 1st, 2010 at 6:27 am
Strongly agree with Jay, KLV and hec.
23. BrisArse | March 1st, 2010 at 6:34 am
The comment from ‘The Law’ got me thinking - it would be interesting to see a matrix table showing fouls conceded, fouls won, yellow cards and red cards for each game played in the EPL.
My gut feel is that a pattern would be pretty clear in that the thugs in the EPL sharpen their studs (as it were) when they play The Arsenal and to a lesser extent anyone else who ‘doesn’t like it up ‘em’.
Get well soon Aaron. Go The Arsenal.
24. sid | March 1st, 2010 at 7:37 am
fuck offf
25. ClockEndRider | March 1st, 2010 at 8:02 am
There are 2 ways to get the biased media to listen. Firstly hit them in the only area which their proprietors care about - the wallet. There is absolutely no reason to buy a newspaper. News is free on the web so why put money into the pockets of serial scumbags like Murdoch, the Daily Mail and Mirror? Ask yourselves the question - how much worse would your life be if you didn’t buy a paper in the morning? You could read a book on the way to work. Listen to some music. Chat to the person next to you. There is nothing to be gained and everything to be won.
But this is not enough. I remember at the end of the 91 season when quite ridiculously we had been docked two points by the FA for some handbags at Old Trafford, that we made our feelings known to the stuffed shirts of the FA while they had to smile through the pain presenting the trophy to our captain. They definitely knew that day where they could stick their effing two points. The same has to be done to the press. We know where they sit. We see them on concourses and enetering and leaving the ground. In a non physical way they need to understand that we will not tolerate their underhand tiresome biased ways any longer. That just because a manager is English or even British, this does not exempt them from having questions asked about their approach to the game and the lack of technique they employ. That there might be a link between an approach which eschews technique and skill and focuses almost entitely on fitness and physical strength. That this might be very closely correlated to 40 odd years of, let’s face it, abject performances of the national team at international tournaments. On the occasions when we’ve qualified.
If the media can’t be trusted to do this themselves because it might ruffle a few feathers, then they need a few of their own feathers ruffled. Let’s get to it.
26. ikon | March 1st, 2010 at 8:21 am
Excellently put article.
I sent a mail to skysports loathing their motd discussion on the injury, with Alan Shearer being the dumbest person I have ever heard speak.
The tackle was one feet above the ground, yes no studs up but at a speed where it could not have done much worse than it did.
The so called teams with guts and spirit dont even carry the technique to tackling, forget about playing football and scoring goals.
27. iceman | March 1st, 2010 at 8:46 am
Well said mate!
For Ramsey!!!!
28. john | March 1st, 2010 at 8:58 am
LOL, You’re an idiot Gunnerblog. Not a clue about the game because you have NEVER played it.
Stop moaning Arsenal fans your pathetic.
Get well soon Aaron
29. ikon | March 1st, 2010 at 9:10 am
John
If you are a stoke fan i wish your club goes down the drain just like Pompey and carries dumb headed fools like you along with it.
30. fourstar | March 1st, 2010 at 9:13 am
We’re not moaning, john. Read the comments properly.
We’re merely pointing out that teams who cannot live with superior skill and speed will resort to unreasonable force to try to counteract that. And unless the consequences of getting it wrong are explained to the players, tragic events like Saturday’s will continue to occur.
I actually don’t believe Shawcross is inherently dangerous (despite his previous with Jeffers/Adebayor/Ronaldo) but the reason he was so shocked is that his manager had not fully explained what might happen if he took that ‘commitment’ too far.
Get well soon, Aaron. This title’s for you…
31. ikon | March 1st, 2010 at 9:23 am
Stoke players carry the tiniest brains in the premier league.
Fuck all they did for the first 20 minutes or so was to play the ball by the byline, to earn a magic delap throw. Then they had a sudden realisation that they were playing footie, and started playing and were mostly confined in their own little hole.
Then half time and it was quite obvious Tony Pulis had these words to say “We are Stoke and we play by our traditions, Delap is our tradition”
Then the farce started again, and when we started to look that we might nick it, on comes Shawcross with his little idea “Anything for a place in the Englad squad” twirling in his mind, and just took apart Rambo’s leg with one of the most horrendous tackle I have ever seen.
Alan “dumbass” Shearer said it was clumsy. The prick!
Shawcross just aimed to swipe the turf clean of any legs.
The northern monkeys are what Stoke really are.
Sorry Gilberto cant be as sober as your post.
32. sucka99 | March 1st, 2010 at 10:45 am
your last few paragraphs remind me of the giant “FUCK YOU STOKE” I yelled after Vermalen’s goal went in. Hopefully in 3 months time I’ll expand that to include the other 18 teams’ managers as well. They can all go die in a fire. Fergie and Allardyce first.
33. Prashant | March 1st, 2010 at 11:51 am
I was dead impressed with the lads after the injury happened. Clichy who was magnificient throughout the game showed great maturity, Sol and Vermaelen’s fist pumping and Cesc’s coolness. That finger on the lip after he fouled a Stoke player was fantastic stuff.
Alan Shearer is a tool - him and that Hansen should really hang their head in shame. There is blood on their hands.
34. barnetboy | March 1st, 2010 at 12:01 pm
My thoughts and sympathies are with Aaron Ramsey, and I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.
A number of points:
1) The referee played on until he noticed everyone stopped - this makes the red card purely a reaction to campbell and fabregas making sure shawcross got sent off.
2) It wasn’t that bad a tackle - no studs showing, eyes on the ball etc. I’ve seen a lot worse
3) If Ramsay had committed to the challenge, rather than puling out of it at the last minute, there is a greater chance this terrible ACCIDENT would not have happened. Perhaps the reason these ‘coincidences’ keep happening is that Arsenal players are not committed enough to the challenge…
4) The only players making sure Ramsay was ok? Glen Wheelan of Stoke and Nicklas Bendtner, the hated one. Where were Fabregas and Campbell? Well, Campbell was, it seemed having such a tantrum that I expected him to disappear to Portsmouth again, and Captain Fab was much more interested in making sure Shawcross got his marching orders. One can hardly talk of team spirit if it takes a member of the opposition side to take care of an injured team-mate whilst the senior players jump up and down at the official.
5) I find the dangerous driving analogy a little hard to swallow. Football tackles, be they bad or otherwise, are as analogous to dangerous driving as they are to intensive farming, tiddlywinks and the moon - the difference being, I’m not going to twist what any of these things actually are to fit my argument.
Look, I feel sorry for Ramsey and Arsenal FC - but this doesn’t just happen to them. Baros, Carragher and Cisse all got horrific leg injuries for Liverpool between 03-05. It happens in football, it happens in rugby, it happens in basketball; badmington; curling; it probably happens in chess. There is no conspiracy however much the professor professes that one exists. It was an accident which left some horrible consequences - but thats all. It wasn’t a criminal offence, it wasn’t a targeted attack, it was a tackle. Just a tackle…
35. Ibrahim | March 1st, 2010 at 12:01 pm
I’m happy with the mature response of almost all Arsenal fans and some responses of the neutrals. This should be the moment when this problem becomes well addressed. Players are clearly told to get at Arsenal by roughing them up. They announce that frankly in the media and more importantly they are proud of doing it.
Margins between hard/fair and hard/dangerous is not small. Chelsea is a very good example, players such as Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and John Terry, they out-muscled their opponents and, in doing so, out-played them, too. Competing with their athleticism, which then lead to domination in technical areas. This is a part of adequate football.
The other, more beautiful part, is what Arsenal do; winning by out-passing the opponent. This was the reason to make me a proud fan of Arsenal. I’m an overseas fan, born and raised in baghdad and lives in Holland since 11 years. I was attracted few years ago to the best league in the world and in no time I was a crazy about the fascinating football of arsenal.
No body should be allowed to compensate for his technical inferiority through rough tackling. The media has created a climate which legitimizes rough tactics as a way of beating us. this gives also explanation to arsenals (always) long injury list. Wenger moaning about that, but was always dismissed.
As a foreigner I’m very aware what the media can create in the mind of people .. and even I’m coming from iraq, which tells enough about what I had seen, I was very emotional and almost crying for what happened to Ramsey. The media does not kill people now, fortunately. The media kills football. Pure football should be protected … Arsenal should be protected.
36. koma | March 1st, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Great,
The spirit of Arsenal wil rise higher n higher,RAMSY ur de light.
Soon we will see u back.
Your nt alone de Arsenal spirit will b wit u.
Let FA tolerate this but in de WC they will pay de price,de WORLD is watching;GRAHAM POLL was a thorn in aflesh 4 arsenal,bt de standard at de WC had shown him de exit door
37. DT | March 1st, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Last paragraph brought a lump to my throat.
Excellent blogage today, GS
38. Pozdny | March 1st, 2010 at 2:13 pm
There’s only ONE Aaron Ramsey!
39. Arsenalsaddo | March 1st, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Well said indeed - and well written. That’s an excellent post. Who is ever going to put a stop to this recklessness in English football and the crummy, ignorant, shortsighted attitudes that perpetuate it? Is it worth trying to orchestrate some kind of campaign addressed to the FA?
40. UpUrArse | March 1st, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Excellent post. So gutted for Aaron, he has the making of a world-class midfielder, I hope this event doesn’t destroy that possibilty!!!
41. TonyM | March 1st, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Those last 2 paragraphs gave me goosebumps. excellent stuff. i’m 28years old and i had tears in my eyes when it happened. i cant explain the pride i felt when they won it. some character!
i’m devastated this happened again. Ramsey has the potential to be the best midfielder in the league. hope so much he makes recovers and fulfills that potential
42. John | March 1st, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Amazing article, the best I have ever read on an arsenal blog-gave me goosebumps because I could feel your anger. And you have a right to be angry, that was a horrific challenge and it will undoubtedly scar ramseys career since he is so young.
43. mark | March 1st, 2010 at 5:30 pm
barnetboy you fail to realise at the age of just 22 it is the second time SHAWCROSS has broken an opponents leg (jeffers two years ago )he must just be really really unlucky
44. tfg | March 1st, 2010 at 7:46 pm
I have read some dreadful rubbish since this happened - again.
I commented on thr Arses and would echo those sentiments here, for the above: well considered and meaningful article.
Well said, sir!
45. DAF | March 1st, 2010 at 8:02 pm
barnetboy (yeah, right!): The point here is this…teams like Arsenal (but mostly Arsenal because they are younger, more talented and currently smaller) get kicked around by the lesser teams.
How many times have you heard pundits say “If you try to play football against Arsenal, they’ll murder you”? Exactly.
Teams of lesser ability are continually encouraged by a) their managers and b) the great British public and c) the media to play HARD, LOOSE and RECKLESS against teams like Arsenal because that’s the only way they can stop them.
You point out similar injuries to Liverpool players over the years. Thanks for proving our collective point!
It’s no coincidence that Arsenal haven’t suffered these injuries against the top teams like Liverpool - those teams know how to play football (and sadly, have developed a skill of beating us - but without resorting to reckless tackles.)
It wasn’t “just a tackle”. The national team you support will never win anything if they continue to believe - like you - that it was.
Good luck with the Eurpoa Cup btw.
46. GunnerX | March 1st, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Mate, you’re bang on money, a fantastic and well written piece.
47. GunnerX | March 1st, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Its weird how it can be seen as just a tackle, Its also very unusual for players to leave the game in an ambulance with their leg snapped in two, buy hey ho, it was just a tackle.
48. Artful Gooner | March 1st, 2010 at 9:07 pm
ABSOLUTLEY brilliant article, man arsenal bloggers seem to be on top form this week, keep it up. get well soon aaron.
OOH TO BE A GOONER!
49. Jerry | March 1st, 2010 at 9:13 pm
WORD
50. Harshal D | March 1st, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Excellent article! Spot On!
51. roosht | March 1st, 2010 at 9:44 pm
great article ..
i still feel physically sick thinking not only of that tackle, but what it has done to a nice, level-headed, supremely talented young lad ..
funny how the “leg-breakers” always seem to fit the same profile .. sadly the football pitch gives them a protected space to commit assault and get away with little more than a slap on the wrist
yet the FA / media will isolate this incident and do nothing about it .. too busy protecting scumbags like terry
52. drgooner | March 1st, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Great read. Thanks.
I have found it hard to assess the tackle. I could not make my mind up watching the replays and then reading everyone’s (mixed) opinions.
But one thing is certain: reporters that say that the tackle was “hard but fair”, “not mailcious”, “not even a foul” (!!!), “a good 50-50″ etc. are self-conflicting. They do not know what they are talking about. Ill explain:
Shawcross went to kick the ball as hard as he could (and i do think he genuinely went for the ball). But it was a 50-50 challenge. That means that 50% of times he will get the ball outside the stadium, but the other 50% of times his opponent will get it first and there is going to be damage. In no other life situation would those kind of risks be taken: it would be deemed unethical.
So for everyone out there claiming that it was a fair 50-50 challenge, let him do it every game and he might end 10-15 careers per season.
53. Perry Groves | March 1st, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Barnetboy (AKA idiot), Ramsey didn’t have to commit to the “tackle” because he’d already played the ball. I take it you don’t quite get the point of this game…
54. Simmo | March 1st, 2010 at 11:42 pm
What an article. 10/10 mate. I hope Arsene gave a speech in the same vein as that to the boys. It sent a shiver down my spine.
55. luke | March 1st, 2010 at 11:43 pm
That was spot on, we aren’t all crazy. We’re thinking the same thing but all those losers outside just think we’re moaning. Come on lads, for Ramsey.
56. barnetboy | March 1st, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Perry, you touch the ball down over the line and then kick it over the posts for an extra two points… Yeah pretty sure thats right…
57. ramseyistheking | March 2nd, 2010 at 3:53 am
Well, you are absolutely spot on! If anyone would have analysed the video clearly in slow mo, you can see that shawX is totally whacking the “ball” which wasn’t there in the end like a goalie. And yes, at the opponent’s half. He didn’t have to tackle this way at all! Pure recklessness. No malice doesnt’ make it no wrongdoing. It’s tantamount to violent conduct i suppose. Poor lad, he has to learn how to tackle.
58. ikon | March 2nd, 2010 at 6:42 am
1) The referee played on until he noticed everyone stopped - this makes the red card purely a reaction to campbell and fabregas making sure shawcross got sent off.
What weed makes you think it wasnt a red card?
–
2) It wasn’t that bad a tackle - no studs showing, eyes on the ball etc. I’ve seen a lot worse
Wasn’t a bad tackle? What height was the foot of Shawcross at the time of impact. I can have my eyes on the ball and still knock your balls out, does it make the tackles any less horrendous? If his eyes were on the ball, and did not have any idea that he had very little chance of getting the ball, then he is a dumbfuck who has been brought to play the game just because he is a committed, “talks to his mum” guy.
even I have seena a lot worse, and that does not take anything away from this tackle.
Shut your fucking gob.
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3) If Ramsay had committed to the challenge, rather than puling out of it at the last minute, there is a greater chance this terrible ACCIDENT would not have happened. Perhaps the reason these ‘coincidences’ keep happening is that Arsenal players are not committed enough to the challenge…
For your puny brain I might give you the definition of tackle. Tackle is made by someone who doesnt have the ball. Ramsey won the ball and got swept off the floor.
Fuck you for calling this an accident and co incidence, and your reasoning is as sound as a fifth grader I might add.
—————————————–
4) The only players making sure Ramsay was ok? Glen Wheelan of Stoke and Nicklas Bendtner, the hated one. Where were Fabregas and Campbell? Well, Campbell was, it seemed having such a tantrum that I expected him to disappear to Portsmouth again, and Captain Fab was much more interested in making sure Shawcross got his marching orders. One can hardly talk of team spirit if it takes a member of the opposition side to take care of an injured team-mate whilst the senior players jump up and down at the official.
Where was Fabregas?? You fool!! Its almost impossible not to make a case in front of the referee and the linesman when this sort of thing happens twice. Fabregas was disturbed, frustrated at the sillyness which took away one year of a young man just starting out his career.
Talking about team spirit after a broken leg just shows how much you football as it is known in other parts of world. Someone says football to you and the next word in your mind is “stick it up to them”, your fist pumping and adrenaline just shoots up prematurely, applies to you and the team you support, you dumbo!
5) I find the dangerous driving analogy a little hard to swallow. Football tackles, be they bad or otherwise, are as analogous to dangerous driving as they are to intensive farming, tiddlywinks and the moon - the difference being, I’m not going to twist what any of these things actually are to fit my argument.
59. ikon | March 2nd, 2010 at 6:45 am
5) I find the dangerous driving analogy a little hard to swallow. Football tackles, be they bad or otherwise, are as analogous to dangerous driving as they are to intensive farming, tiddlywinks and the moon - the difference being, I’m not going to twist what any of these things actually are to fit my argument.
OF course you find it hard to swallow. You go back and read the previous 4 points written by you and you would find them hard to swallow. Its a drivers responsibility to use his lights, brakes and brain not to run over someone, and similarly its the fucking tiny brain sized defender’s responsibility to make use of whatever he has to make proper decisions, and if he is confused as to where he should run and whether he should run or slide, he should just stay put, and tell guys like you to stop peeing all over the blogosphere.
60. Stefan | March 2nd, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Very well written article! You’re an excellent writer!
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