Spot the difference. Oh wait, it’s impossible
Martin Taylor, an old fashioned centre back, broke the leg of Arsenal striker Eduardo in February 2008 with a mistimed challenge. Taylor, who had also played for Blackburn Rovers and a host of lower league sides, played at the time for unfancied Birmingham City. He was regarded as a solid professional but was not deemed to have an England career. The tackle on the Croatian, which resulted in Taylor’s first red card, caused Arsene Wenger to call him to be banned for life and the player subsequently recieved death threats. He played only one more game that season under Alex McLeish and was transferred to Watford two years later.
Ryan Shawcross is also an old fashioned centre back, similar in style to Martin Taylor. He currently plays for unfasionable side, Stoke City, renowned for their direct style of play, similar in a sense to Birmingham a few years back. In recent seasons, Shawcross has been mooted as a transfer target for several big clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool. His performances at the heart of defence have led to him to be named the Stoke team captain at the age of just 22 and have caused Fabio Capello to watch him on numeous occasions with a view to picking him for the England squad.
Up until Saturday afternoon, Shawcross had never been red carded and was not regarded as a dirty player. In the second half of a match against Arsenal, he mistimed a tackle, broke the leg of midfielder Aaron Ramsey and was sent off. After the game, manager Wenger condemned the tackle as ‘horrendous’ but did not single out Shawcross for blame and did not mention any ban for life.
The difference between Taylor’s and Shawcross’s tackle? Nothing. The difference between the reactions? Everything. The horrible fact is that Martin Taylor was not an up and coming England centre back, who had honed his skills under the careful eye of the English games finest manager at its premier club. He did not cry as he left the pitch and was not called up for an England friendly just hours after the tackle. His crime was not being Ryan Shawcross.
God, us football folk are a fickle and hypocritical bunch.
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