Tackling

[Barry the bird boggler]

Anyone mourning the loss of proper tackling and the more physical side of the game over the last 20 years or so thanks to FIFA' s fiddling about.

While I would agree that bad tackles should be punished I feel the actual art of proper tackling is now a lost cause with referees forced to punish players for what can be decent well timed tackles that win the ball first. Consequently you get more "bodies behind the ball" and harrying of players and bad tackles as players don't have the confidence to be able to defend strongly or know how to tackle properly.

I vote we start a bring back the tackle campaign! You never know it might happen in 30 years time (just after Safe Standing is allowed).

[cmonurz]

I agree with the sentiment, but I think the game is safer for the elimination of some of the leg-breaking challenges of thirty years ago (the actual injury stats are irrelevant to me).

What I would like to see is a reduction in the number of fouls given for simple physical contact. It is a contact sport, simply being put of your stride by a physical challenge for the ball is not to have been 'fouled', but referees, particularly in CL games, are far too quick to penalise players making genuine and fair challenges for the ball.

[Ferris]

Swap RB with B - which changes the 2nd man press, then swap RB with A which puts A as tackle. That should sort it out.