Angry fans

Our football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

He casts his eye over your comments and gives his own critical analysis of the

goings on throughout the world of football. You may agrewith him or then again

you may not.

This week: When will referees offer players protection; Wenger’s

conspiracy theories; Pulis on defending Shawcross; The pot calling the kettle

black; Bridge left himself down; Terry and Cole’s misdemeanours; Tevez shows

that jetlag is no exuse; Capello has a decision to make on Terry’s form;

Credit to Portsmouth fans; Portsmouth have questions to answer; Vidic should have

seen red.

The Letter of the Week goes to Peter Allen, Kildare. Get in touch

with your postal address and our magnificent prize will be winging its way to

you before you know it.

WHEN are referees going to offer players protection

from over zealous opponents? We have now witnessed yet another Arsenal player

horrifically injured due to the myth circulating football that Arsenal don’t

like it put up to them. What rubbish. I’m sick of hearing our players are

too soft. The fact is they win far more games than they lose regardless of these

tactics. Perhaps opponents are under the false impression that the chance of taking

something from the game increases playing like this, when actually what’s

more likely is an Arsenal treatment room as full as the Mercy A&E on Saturday

night. If Arsenal lose this title it will be down to losing players to injury

after injury for trying to play the game the way we all want to watch regardless

of which colours you wear.

Paul Hayes, Cork,by email

OUR SHOUT:

Whatever happened to the old complaint that football had become too soft, that

the tackle is dying out and that "soon, you won't be allowed any contact

whatsover"? The injury to Ramsey was simply the result of two players flying

into a challenge to win the ball and one of them coming out of it horribly. Nothing

to do with Arsenal's purity, Stoke's physicality or anything else. Just a moment

in a still physical sport which, sadly, had an awful outcome.

x

More in this section

Sport

Newsletter

Sign up to our daily sports bulletin, delivered straight to your inbox at 5pm. Subscribers also receive an exclusive email from our sports desk editors every Friday evening looking forward to the weekend's sporting action.

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited