16 Sep 2015 10:26:16
Quite a bit of debate this morning as to whether Moreno's challenge on Shaw was reckless.

Listening to TalkSport this morning and the 'older' generation of players tended to lean towards the challenge being a 'good ol fashion' tackle, and that the lad got the ball so there was nothing wrong with it. To a degree, I can agree with this, however what has to be taken into consideration is the difference in the surface of the pitches in today's football. Today's pitches are designed to allow more give, and as such a players standing foot tends to sink into the ground a little more than in the past - which is great for protecting joints as it reduces impact shock, etc. but terrible when it means your foot is sunk into the pitch and a force is applied from the side of the leg. Today's rules MUST be applied in conjunction with today's playing conditions and as such, tackles such as Moreno's where the lad has gone in 'excessively' (in that his entire body weight has been thrown into the challenge) need to be recognized and subsequently punished.

WF Red Devil

{Ed001's Note - actually that's not true, surfaces tend to be firmer than the mudbaths of old.}

1.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 11:27:56
I think it was Herrera that got penalized for a similar tackle over the weekend.

2.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 11:13:55
Hi Ed,

Thanks for the reply. I was always under the impression that they were designed so the first two layers (top soil and grass surface) were 'softer' so any surface water can be drained better and as a result the top layer doesn't turn into a mud bath?

WF Red Devil

{Ed001's Note - not according to the older ex-pros I have spoken to mate, they all say they are harder now. Well other than when the pitches were frozen in the dead of Winter.}