Is football really a contact sport like it used to be? Do challenges really still fly in? Bear in mind players can now get sent off for intent, whether they win the ball or not. It is possible to be sent off for tackling someone too hard. What the refs have been told to do is stop blowing up when there is minimal contact. Tough tackling has long gone.Quote:
Originally Posted by laddo
I disagree with a couple of points there. Not sure of your age but the pitches in Souness's day were not that far behind those today (certainly the top three divisions) apart from the winter months (?) and had very little to do with the physical side of the game. Them days, you wanted the ball... you went for it!! That's the way the game was played. It's no bad thing that the Hunter, Smith, Souness, Keane, Bremneresque break yer leg tackles have been irradicated from the game but tackles don't go in thick and fast today (although you are spot on with regard to rolling around) ffs it's a contact game!! When was the last time you saw a full on defensive sliding tackle that hasn't been called a foul? That is the point he was ineffectively trying to make. I don't think for one minute that he was being dismissive of womens football it's just that people take offence so easily (and without thought, the same way such comments are made). I think his comment was a general comment aimed at official bodies that are steadily removing all contact from the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by laddo
Two different issues here.
(1) Was his comment ***ist? I suppose so, if taken literally. Don't think any offence was intended. Like has been said, he was just referring to the physicality of the game.
(2) Football is evolving so that this physicality is diminishing. We might not like it, but it's probably necessary. Perhaps heading will be against the rules in a few years time.
I'm being slightly misquoted here.
It's not as much as a contact sport as it was for sure, but it's way OTT to claim it isn't contact sport. I'm sure Ronaldo would disagree after that 'proper' challenge he received on Saturday. It's just annoying when a great fair challenge see Dier on Ramos wrongly is punished due to what they see as excessive force and speed.
I agree it's certainly ain't a bad thing, I'd say it's a very good thing that the leg-breaking tackles of yesteryear have all but gone.
Agree tackles don't go in as thick (often) as past decades that blatantly clear to me. The two feet off the ground, and sliding lunges are vastly reduced.
But the game is far faster nowadays, you only have to watch games from the 80s and before to see a big difference. The players are IMO stronger, quicker and that should come as no surprise due to the advance in technology, strength and conditioning, diet etc. It's inevitable.
As for Souness' totally agree that's how I interpreted it too.
Its subjective but I can't agree regarding the pitches, some absolute shockers in 70s and 80s
Agree with that.
The game always was, and is, subjective and long may it be so.
The standard and professionalism of women's football has improved immensely over the past 20 years or so, and the recent Euros victory has taken it to another level. The women's game doesn't need stupid, over-sensitive (and I believe insincere) reactions from self-publicists like Eniola Aluko to raise it's profile, in fact her remarks are more likely to undermine progress. Women's football is achieving ever higher levels of recognition on merit, because of the increasing quality of the product and the entertainment.
Two women offended about what (they interpreted wrongly) a man said about a game of mens football. Ok. Think most people understand what he was getting at in the context the comments were made.
The irony is the Women’s game is played far more like the ‘man’s game’ he was referring to!
Anyone remember Souness deliberately taking Martin O'Neill out at ML? 'Hard man' or thug? Take your pick. Same with Keane who shamelessly admits he went out to injure someone.
Can't stand Souness as a pundit and whatever he claims he meant, his words were ill-judged imo.
I think the outrage is silly, obviously, and I also thought the presenter made Carney visibly uncomfortable when trying to cram in some awkward flattery about how her hard tackling was somehow comparable in the context of Souness / a feisty London derby.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigFatPie