Back in it, but at a Cost
Hi all, you know i’ve been racking my brain since Saturday trying to put it all into words. 3 points away to Stoke is no mean feat, especially with the extra pressure of playing late and already knowing that Chelsea lost 
, plus knowing Manure weren’t playing a league game it must have given the team an extra incentive to really stand up and be counted in this title challenge. Also considering it was one of the more difficult of the games we’ve got left to play, along with the scum and Money City, 3 points is excellent.
I don’t really want to go into the what ifs in terms of would we still have won if the tackle hadn’t happened, I thought we looked a little flat to be honest, but there’s no doubt in my eyes that the tackle really got our players tails up. For me though, the main difference and the key reason why we are going to win the league this year, was in the form of two/three players, firstly our outstanding captain who almost single-handedly dragged us across the line for the win. Cesc was truly amazing, he recovered and got back into the game the fastest, leading by example, check, scored a wonderful penalty, check, and even gave some back to one of the Stokies (where he should have been booked, he was late and came in from behind but whatever) and then gave Pulis the *sshhhhh*, check. The other players who pushed us over the line were the Verminator, my god he’s living up to that nickname isn’t he?! and Super Sol, in those 5 or so minutes after the tackle where nobody really wanted the ball and wasn’t sure what to do Sol and TV were uber solid at the back, with every Stoke attack you could see in the faces, ‘you aren’t f*****g scoring against us’. And with that solidity at the back we had a firm enough footing to push on and take the game to Stoke, sure they were a man down but so were we, unfortunately quite literally.
GET WELL SOON RAMSEY!!!
So, the tackle, it was reckless, stupid, unnecessary and bloody immature. He lost the ball on the half way line because he’s got such a poor touch so he lunged in in anger. Doesn’t sound to bad just reading it like that but I’m sure you’ve all seen it and well, it’s a terrible tackle, I’ve heard/read loads of *pundits* (and I use that term loosely) saying it wasn’t that bad a tackle, it wasn’t two footed, it wasn’t from behind, it wasn’t blah blah blah, see you next Tuesdays all of them. Rory bloody Delap said the ref shouldn’t have sent Shawcross off and only did send him of because of the injury! Now just imagine for a second that you were in Ramseys shoes, lying there leg in pieces, not to mention possibly his career, and the bloke who did that to you doesn’t even get sent off!! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a better example of adding insult to injury!!
I’ve also has enough of the, he isn’t that kind of player, rubbish, there’s proof all over the show that he his, his challenge on barn door last season when he wasn’t even on the pitch and what he did to our beloved franny jeffers, it’s all adding up to prove that these, he isn’t that kind of player, pundits (once again very loosely) are complete morons. I think what they are trying to say is, he’s not that kind of bloke, but you can’t deny he is this kind of player, rash, heavy footed and handed, all or nothing, commited and can’t tackle to save his life. I liked Stoke, they beat us fair and square at the Britannia the last couple of times we played them there but it’s obvious Pulis has said something on the lines off, arsenal don’t like it up ‘em, and so is influencing the way they play against us negatively, come out and play against like you play every game! Try to win fair and square as I already mentioned, play some football and enjoy it. Sure you could get embaressed but then you just put your hands up and say, well, they were better than us. My god my 5-a-side team have recently just been battered 15-2, 10-3 and 9-2, we were well and truly embaressed but none of us went in like Shawcross did, I know it’s not the same, it’s not just a game to them it’s there career and all that but they’ve still got to get there priorities right.
I wish the Arsenal played in Spain, when was the last time a tackle like that happened in la liga?! They don’t allow it full stop, it’s a far more technical game than in England where we play some sort of primitive caveman football, throw ball in box, kick ball high, head ball, it’s ridiculous. Things need to change but whilst we’ve still got those folks in the FA and FIFA doing there thing, does anyone need an iPod by the way , it isn’t gonna happen anytime soon.
Anyway I’ll shut up and let you good people get on with your day, remember all comments are welcome, don’t like it tell us why . See you soonish .
Come on Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 4, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Re: Delap’s comments…
In 2006, Rory Delap broke his tibia and fibula in a collision with Sunderland’s Robbie Elliott. So I’d imagine Delap knows exactly how Ramsey felt. Incidentally, Elliott wasn’t sent off, nor was he vilified by anyone at Stoke or the Stoke fans, all of whom were devastated by the injury but understood that sometimes, horrific things can happen accidentally, and that blaming other people involved does not make anything better.
(Pulis’ comments at the time: “It was an horrendous injury and we are absolutely devastated for the lad. The performance was smashing and some great things happened out there, but my thoughts and those of the team are with Rory. Two people have just gone in for a challenge. Elliott is a seasoned pro and would know Rory, so I’m sure the last thing he would want to do is break his leg.”)
As for Ramsey’s injury, I genuinely don’t believe that Shawcross did much wrong, which I think is backed up by the fact that the referee didn’t stop play until he saw Ramsey’s injury. Cards should be given for the incident itself, not the resulting injury, although I understand why the referee did give the red card upon seeing the broken leg. Shawcross went in hard and fast, but so did Ramsey. Ramsey got there milliseconds early, and Shawcross collided with Ramsey’s awkwardly-planted leg. It’s the kind of challenge you see several times a match with no repercussions whatsoever, and the injury is caused by the position Ramsey’s leg lands in, the speed at which both players are moving, and the size and weight discrepancy between the two.
Like I said, I can understand why the red card was given, considering the severity of the injury, the anger of the Arsenal players and the fact that Shawcross seemed to be in shock.
Also, how you can be proud of Fabregas because he “gave some back” is astounding. Dangerous play is dangerous play, and Fabregas was at it all game, including a dangerous foul on Shawcross from behind early in the game. If Arsenal want protecting, they should be prepared for other teams to be protected from them, too.
http://i46.tinypic.com/240wso6.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/2vjc5ch.jpg
Would that be allowed in Spain?
Also, I notice that you, like so many Arsenal fans, completely fail to mention that, in the aftermath of the injury, whilst most of the players on the pitch were (understandably) too shocked to do anything, and whilst Fabregas and Campbell were shouting at Shawcross, the referee and the linesman, the only person who stayed with Ramsey until he was stretchered off, the only person who talked to him, calmed him down, held his hand and stopped him from looking at his injury – was Stoke’s Glenn Whelan. No-one can be condemned for not doing what he did, but he should be praised, because I’m sure that what Ramsey remembers most from those few minutes lying on the pitch – apart from the pain, obviously – is the kindness of an opposition player.
Part of what makes football so exciting – for me, at least – is the variation, the different styles, the different ideologies. If Arsenal aren’t ready to face opposition that don’t play the game the way they think it will be played, then they won’t be happy playing anywhere, including Spain.
The most important thing in all this, of course, is to wish Aaron Ramsey a swift and smooth recovery. I hope that he comes back to football without his game being affected (like Larsson, who many people thought played better when he came back from a similar injury). Ramsey’s a real talent and I can’t wait to see him play again.
And good luck with the rest of the season.