Why did he do it?
The question isn’t : Should Cesc Fabregas have been sent off for that tackle?
It’s : Why did he do it?
While I was in Scotland, ANR readers were writing in and sending me links.
Even today, Jason writes : Tackles
Myles,
Have you seen Karl Henry’s tackle on Arshavin from the Wolves game?
The media are so selective. His was the worst tackle of the night and it wasn’t even mentioned. I’m sure its on youtube or arseblog, have a look.
Wednesday was a big Premier League night with eight games, so the Match of the Day producer has to show us Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Aston Villa, plus four other games. Plus the goals from Tuesday’s two games.
Time is a big factor and TV producers have to make choices. Visuals and verbals have to be succinct on live terrestrial TV. It’s not a dedicated sports channel. Another Karl Henry late tackle was not exactly news on a night when Joey Barton punched Gamst Pederson in the chest. The programme has to show that punch and Hansen and Lee Dixon have to talk about it.
At one point Lineker said, “The producer’s screaming at me, says we’re talking too much.”
TV is talking heads and the BBC pay Alan Hansen £1m a year, so they have to let Hansen talk to justify the million. Over the last 20 years I’ve often thought, “Too much studio, show us more of the game!”
Did Fabregas do it because he was frustrated that Arsenal were not 3-0 up?
If you look at the replay carefully, it was a sloppy pass by Rosicky which wrong-footed Fabregas and went to Stephen Ward, who pushed the ball wide, so that he could chase it and clear downfield. Ward was always favourite to get that ball and that’s why Fabregas put his left arm across Wards body, as you do. It’s a minor, momentary obstruction, an instinctive part of the professional game, and it might slow Ward down by half a yard.
Despite that, Fabregas was never getting there first and Ward hit the ball up the line. Fabregas arrived a fraction late and his studs hit Ward’s outstretched left leg half way up his shin. OK, that’s what shin-pads are for.
Wenger said Cesc told him it was completely accidental and Mick McCarthy said he admired Fabregas for coming into the dressing room to apologise.
Myself, I thought it was red card. Fabregas, a top player with exceptional timing, knows exactly where his feet are and exactly where they are going to be. He knew he was never getting there but he didn’t pull out. Lee Dixon and Hansen both said he should have been sent off.
I’m sure the status of Cesc Fabregas kept him on the pitch.
Mark Halsey has reffed the lad many times and is well aware that he’s one of football’s good guys and one of the game’s finest players. He’s Arsenal captain and a World Cup winner and if Halsey sends Fabregas off it’s big news and the player will miss the next three games. So Halsey takes his time, thinks about it, and gives Fabregas a yellow card. Wenger, among others, is a very relieved man.
Is Fabregas frustrated that he’s still at Arsenal? Well, 2010 has been schizophrenic for him.
A winner with Spain, an also-ran with Arsenal, he wanted a move to Barcelona. He had a meeting with Wenger at the end of last season and afterwards said : It’s the greatest conversation I’ve ever had with anybody in my whole life. He told me to go and enjoy the World Cup and he’ll sort it out.
So Fabregas went to South Africa and won the World Cup and came back and Wenger said, “Sorry, son – Barcelona can’t afford you.”
Does he feel he’s been turned over by a clever manager? Or is he just the victim of circumstances? Hard to say. But if Fabregas didn’t believe this squad were winners last season, why would he believe they’re winners now?
On Saturday, August 21, when Arsenal played Blackpool in their first home game, Fabregas wrote his captain’s programme notes. He said three things: I don’t want to talk about the summer, I’m here for this season, I’ll do my best.
Most official club material has to be bland in the controlled corporate world of Arseneland. But Fabregas himself is not bland. He’s honest and measured.
However, a footballer’s body language tells you more than his programme notes. That was an angry tackle and I don’t think Fabregas was angry with any Wolves players. Stephen Ward had four stitches in his shin but is expected to play against Bolton today. He said : I knew it wasn’t broken.
A massive title fight tonight? If you say so.
Audley Harrison doesn’t like fighting but has a big punch, while David Haye is more like a proper heavyweight boxer.
The BBC executive who signed up Harrison for his first pro fights had to be somebody who knows nothing about boxing. I watched a couple of those “fights” and they were an insult to BBC licence fee payers, an insult to boxing, and an insult to sport in general.
That’s why I hope Haye wins