Football Focus

[Emerson Crane]

I hear the outrageous challenge by Evans neccessated 20 odd stitches for the guy on the wrong end of a sickening challenge. Strange no Mancs mentione it eh? Especially after all the Nanny crap they put on here.

[matthew123]

Not seen the incident but this would be a great opportunity for Ferguson to gain a bit of credibility rather than brushing it under carpet like he did with the Rooney challenge at Wigan. Not saying Evans is also a thug, as have not seen what happened, but United seem very quick judging others (as does Wenger tbf). Anyway hope this latest victim can recover as quickly as Nani.

[Sandperson]

Erm, didn't Evans get sent off? I'm not sure the complaints were about the severity of the injury to Nani but the fact that Carragher made a dangerous challenge and went unpunished. That was certainly the angle I came at it from.

Good stirring thought Atila.

[Sandperson]

Having just seen a video of the tackle I'd say it was a certain red but both players went for a 50/50 ball and both had studs showing Evans a lot more so though and so deserved the red. I think the injury is just one of those unfortunate things, it could have been either player and it looks like Holden is out for six months with a knee injury which is a damn shame for the bloke.

[Emerson Crane]

Unfortunate????? Do me a favour!!! When the Nanny incident occured Mancs wanted Carragher hung. When a Manc is the guilty party its a 50/50 ball and an unfortunate incident. Same old same old.

[Sandperson]

As I said. Nice try Atila.

[matthew123]

Sandperson as I've not seen it yet (and I don't think I want to either) how would you compare this with the Carragher and Rafael tackles from the Anfield match few weeks ago.. and to put it into real perspective the Aaron Ramsey last season?

[Sandperson]

It's a nasty challenge. Evans should have gone, straight red. I would say the Carragher challenge was only slightly worse in that he tackled the standing leg and you could say the Evans tackle was a bit more 50/50. I've got a link I can PM you if you like. It's not that bad to look at, certainly not in the league of the Ramsey challenge (which I've looked at again and still think was nasty but bad luck he got his leg broken). It's much more of a 50/50 ball to be won and Evans goes in with both feet off the ground.

[Sandperson]

I'd say the Rafael challenge wasn't quite as bad.

[brum]

How can it be that in this enlightened age there is only ONE professional footballer IN THE WORLD who is open about his homosexuality? A brave chap playing in the lower leagues of the Swedish league.

I love the game, but I'm shocked at how homophobia is still be so prevalent. The game really needs to take a good look at itself.

[matthew123]

Not sure he is a professional footballer, seems to be more he is the son ex-Liverpool player Glenn Hysen rather than this had rocked the 4th tier of Swedish football

[matthew123]

I think in general football fans would be more interested in a player coming out and admitting he was indeed a diving little cheat than hearing something which in my mind is tomorrow's fish & chip paper

Homophobia is not confined to just football, in the same way brawling and racism is not confined to just Millwall..

[Emerson Crane]

I'll probably be accused by Sandperson of stirring, but this p[roves that there are those in the media that share my views.

Nani's got a lot to learn

By Oliver Holt 23/03/2011

Jonny Evans' tackle on Stuart Holden was not a deliberate attempt to injure an opponent but it still took a lot of class for the Bolton midfielder to be so gracious about the fact that it has put him out of the game for six months.

What a shame that Nani couldn't show the same class when Jamie Carragher apologised to him for the tackle that opened a gash in his leg. He was out for a couple of weeks.

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/holt/2011/03/23/nani-s-got-a-lot-to-learn-115875-23009810/#ixzz1HQqn5PQi

Go Camping for 95p! Vouchers collectable in the Daily and Sunday Mirror until 11th August . Click here for more information

[Jah Lush]

Yeah I saw that in the Daily Mirror today and thought about posting it myself but I think we've already said more than enough on that subject.

[Emerson Crane]

Fair enough Jah, but I'm glad its not just me that agrees with Holt.

[Atticus]

Is this shite still going? Pls let's move on.

No football to talk about this week, ok, will England beat Sri Lanka? Wrong thread etc

[Jah Lush]

Will England Beat Wales? - Close call but we should do (on paper). Maybe not on grass.

How will Glenn Johnson cope with the threat of Gareth Bale?

Should John Terry have got the England captaincy back? - I think so. Though Fabio Capello handled it very poorly. Ferdinand is always injured. Gerrard is also out at the moment. There could also have been a shout for Frank Lampard but he doesn't even captain Chelsea. Say what you like about John Terry and I'm sure he has plenty of detractors but he is a born leader on the pitch and just the sort of bloke you'd want alongside you in the trenches. Just don't leave him alone with your other half.

Should Rooney on current form still be considered first choice striker? What pairing would you play up front? Or would you play one up front or go 4-3-3. I'd quite like to see Rooney, Defoe and Andy Carroll all play together. That'd give the Welsh defenders plenty to think about.

Discuss.

[Emerson Crane]

Well with Bale now out injured, Johnson should have an easier task. Terry should never been given the armband, I would have always had Gerrard as my captain, he is much as much a born leader but more so.

Rooney shouldn't be in the side on current form, but thats another story. What about Darren Bent, his goal scoring record is second to none. How come he hasn't been given more playing time? Carroll is preferable to Crouch, and will hopefully mean Crouchs days as an England player are numbered.

[Jah Lush]

Good point. I think Bent deserves another chance but his current form is not up to much and Crouch has a better goal scoring record for England than anyone else in the current squad (22 in 42), a lot of those coming off the bench admittedly and perhaps that's where he can still be best utilized from. But Carroll is definitely the future.

I also would have had Steve Gerrard as my first choice England captain before Terry was originally picked but with them both currently unavailable Terry would seem the obvious choice despite his previous indiscretions off the pitch.

With Gareth Bale now out of the reckoning for Saturday's match that really must give England a huge boost. I fancy our chances much more now. We really should win this one now.

[Emerson Crane]

We really should win this one. - Lets hope thats not famous last words Jah. On paper this shouldn't pose a problem for England, but they should not be complacent. Going into the fixture as if Wales are just there to make up the numbers would be a suicidal approach.

[Jah Lush]

Indeed. They shouldn't be taken lightly, they have some very good players, Ledley, Ramsey and Bellamy are all top quality. They'll be fired up for this one despite losing all three of their previous matches. A potential banana skin for England.

[Emerson Crane]

Shame Bale's not fit, that would have made things very interesting.

[matthew123]

Sad to say it but England should win with something to spare.. Bale or no Bale (you'd swear Wales had lost Lionel Messi!!!)

Having said all that England are quite capable of playing like a pub football team as they did for much of the World Cup... so perhaps, just maybe, Wales can beat England (which I think would be for the first time since about 1984) but it's going to be a tough task.

[Emerson Crane]

Not sure about the wisdom of making Ramsey the captian of Wales.

[Jah Lush]

Wasn't he captain of their Under-21's? They've a nucleus of a some very good young players who will be in their squads for years to come. I know he's only 20 but he's a got a very mature head on his young shoulders and I think it is quite a forward thinking move.