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Mortis Advanced Member
United Kingdom
7,493 posts Joined: May, 2004
341 hardcore releases
Posted - 2008/02/24 : 08:43:10
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his initial comments that Birmingham captain Martin Taylor "should never play football again" were "excessive".
Wenger claimed the third-minute tackle which broke Eduardo's leg and earned Taylor a red card was "horrendous".
But later on Saturday Wenger said: "I feel that my comments about Martin Taylor were excessive. I said what I did in the heat of the moment.
"It was a highly emotional afternoon and we were all shocked by the injury."
Eduardo, 24, remained lying on the pitch for seven minutes as medical staff attended to him before he was stretchered off and taken to hospital.
He underwent surgery later on Saturday and will miss the rest of the season, with Wenger fearing a "much longer" absence.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish sprang to the defence of Taylor.
"Martin's not a dirty player. He's distraught over Eduardo's injury," he said.
"I've seen the challenge and, yes, the studs land on Eduardo's ankle. In slow motion these tackles always look bad but he's not a malicious player - Eduardo was just too quick for him," he explained.
"The referee's done his job, it's a sending off, but Taylor's not a malicious player."
Birmingham released a statement later on Saturday saying the club were "saddened that such a fantastic game of football has been marred by a serious injury".
It added: "Martin Taylor is adamant there was no malicious intent in the tackle and he is deeply upset by the extent of Eduardo's injury.
"Having reviewed the incident, this (no malicious intent) is clearly the case. The club and Martin Taylor would like to send their very best wishes to the player for a speedy recovery."
The seriousness of the injury was apparent as both sets of players and medical staff looked shocked while Eduardo was treated on the pitch.
The Brazilian-born striker now looks certain to miss out on Croatia's participation at Euro 2008 in June.
"It was a massive shock for the team. They've seen what kind of state he was in," Wenger added.
"He's a fantastic guy and to see him in such pain and the shape of his leg was very difficult for the players.
"We hope he comes back quickly but the minimum is his season is over and we are scared that it is much longer."
Earlier, an angry Wenger had claimed his team were targeted by opponents.
"It goes with the idea that to stop Arsenal you have to kick Arsenal and that kind of thing was waiting to happen," he said.
But Wigan boss Steve Bruce, who signed Taylor from Blackburn when he was Blues boss in February 2004, said his former player would never intentionally hurt anyone.
"Martin Taylor is the biggest, gentlest man," said Bruce. "There will be nobody more upset and sickened than him, there is not a bad bone in his body.
"He would never, ever do anything malicious. He has mis-timed the tackle, and I've seen it. Some would say it is not even a yellow card."
Source bbc.co.uk
Have to say that it's possibly one of the worst injuries I've ever seen.
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whittle1 Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,191 posts Joined: Jan, 2005
25 hardcore releases
Posted - 2008/02/24 : 14:11:08
Horrible injury, wish the gooner all the best.
Gotta say tho, i have seen worse. An incident where the players leg was stretched out full (reaching for the ball) and his foot was 180 degrees from where it should have been. Hard to describe, but it was in the prem, just under 10 years ago, i forget the name of the player.
SPOOX Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2,644 posts Joined: Jul, 2006
Posted - 2008/02/24 : 15:42:42
quote:Originally posted by wong:
reminds me of that david busst injury ......
That was a nasty injury yesterday but as said he should be out for the season. The David Busst injury was the worst i've ever seen. Finished his career too.
SixFeet Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2,285 posts Joined: Jan, 2005
Posted - 2008/02/25 : 11:41:42
Can see the bone sticking out of his sock.
2 different ways of your leg to break but stays in place and when it breaks and it is completely displaced called a compund fracture. First one requires non surgery, the second requires surgery to put the bone back in place.
Does stink abit of McLeish telling the team to get physical and Taylor taking it OTT with how early it was. Could very well be a career threatener although Larrsson had the same and came back better than ever.
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Posted - 2008/02/24 : 08:43:10
Posted - 2008/02/24 : 13:03:23
