Response from: Jay

Ben, Ben is that you?

Response from: daryl (aka Ben)

How did you know? I've had a lot of free time on my hands since "the incident" so I've been blogging to fill the days. See you in October!

Response from: Mike

Reasonable points but he does have a history of wild and foolish foul play. I would hate to see another's career ended ( and the financial implications of that for player and team) just because some loonie on the field decides to let loose. There is an element of sportsmanship that is being diminished and it will take some leadership to get it back. Part of that leadership must be to send a clear message that foolishness like inexcusable foul play, diving, and other thngs that take away from the beauty of the game will have penalties greater than any advantage they may give the player or team. And that means lengthy suspensions.

Response from: fan

You what?? Attacking someone's head with a raised elbow at that pace is not "unnecessarily aggressive and mostly indefensible" it is a premeditated vicious assault. My love for the game is less because of it. The game is less because of it. If the 'just wait until people get bored and look away' approach is adopted with this then I think the game is permanently damaged by it.

Response from: daryl

It's harsh to call it premeditated. It definitely wasn't an accident(!) but it's not as if Thatcher drew up blueprints in the dressing room beforehand. He just lost his head on the way in and made a nasty challenge. Part of my argument is that it's wrong to treat bad Premiership challenges as if they were high street assaults, because the players are in a necessarily competitive environment. Not that that excuses Thatcher's behaviour, but it's what distinguishes his crime from someone running up to you on the high street and smashing an elbow in your face.

Response from: fan123

omg, are you stupid?? look at the foul!!!!!!!!!!! it was a stupid stupid stupid tackle, could have killed the guy!