It Doesn't Have to be Intentional

Everytime someone complains (usually the great Arsene Wenger, and quite rightly) about unfair, violent tackling and over the top physical play, the response usually is, "So he wants us to stop tackling? That's ridiculous!" Or, "So he's suggesting that players go out to intentionally injure their fellow professionals? That's ridiculous!"

B0th responses are strawman arguments. They create this ridiculous argument out of thin air (a strawman), something that has nothing to do with what was originally said, and is easy to knock down. And then, they laugh at it and smash it to bits.

No one's ever said that tackling needs to stop. Every time Wenger criticizes bad tackles, he mentions that he likes the physical battles and the "commitment" in English football. He understands that this is part of the game.

No one's ever said players intentionally try to injure other players. It doesn't have to be intentional. If you drive recklessly on the road, you might not be trying to hurt yourself and others, but there is a good chance that you will. When managers send their players out with instructions to kick and foul and the opposition players, there is a good chance that you will injure them, sometimes badly.

The player doesn't have to be an axe murderer either. If he's going out there sliding in studs up with two legs then he's bound to hurt someone. Maybe Shawcross et al aren't bad people. Maybe they are just stupid. Maybe they don't understand how dangerous their actions are. Either way, they are unfit to play the beautiful game until they change.

I'm glad Danny Murphy has spoken out. I hope more players do. And I hope mindless pundits, managers, and players don't get away with these pathetic excuses.