Match Thread City v Doncaster Rovers Saturday 30 July 2022 @ 3.00pm

He hasn't said anything in that link about the tackle.

 

Rightfully so imo. Although it was a poor tackle and should have been a red it was an accident and he actually got the ball, the lads a young lad and doesn’t need to be getting abused for it. Hughes will understand these freak injuries happen in football and will act professionally and not stick the knife in.

 

You might be right. I'm still surprised he hasn't made any comment but it says a lot about the dignity of the guy that he doesn't want to inflame the situation.

 

Why would Hughes put his opinion in the public domain? He is rightly keeping his own council on this.
He does right not to dive in and leave himself open to being ripped to shred’s on social media and in the press.

 

I’ve not commented on the game until now, but looking back there was a fair bit to go through.

The positives first, even against 11 I thought we looked well organised and controlled the game throughout. Our passing was good in the main, it was rare we did what we have often done in recent years and randomly and regularly kicked the ball out of play. Although they weren’t challenged much I thought the defence looked well organised and played out of the back. The keeper looks assured to me and he’s impressed me more than most, absolutely fantastic save for their only shot on target in the second half when he could have been a bit rusty from having little to do all game he was constantly alert to any danger. We also created enough to win but didn’t if that made sense. We got into great areas but we’re wasteful, but hit the post and Smallwoods volley, Walkers shot that hit the side netting and Platt’s free header were all great opportunities sadly wasted.

The negatives were the slow build up, I want us to play possession football but it does need to be done with more purpose and more decisiveness. The amount of times the full backs either failed to over lap or did only to take ages and allow the defence to set themselves was poor and of that was sharper I think we’d have created more clear cut opportunities. Those chances we did get as I’ve mentioned above, the players made them look harder opportunities than they were except for the Smallwood free kick which was a good effort.

All in all the game reminded me of the 0-0 we had first game of the season against Port Vale, frustrating but foundations set. Seasons aren’t won and lost on the first game although it is 2 points dropped, when we played Exeter first game of last season we were the Doncaster and got away with one hopefully we continue to dominate games and get more clinical. I think we’ll be slow starters while the final third play gels, but I’m confident we’ll get there.

Terrible news about Osadebe, wish him all the best on a speedy recovery.

 

Maybe he will, there’s nothing wrong with taking time to evaluate. If he’d have apologised straight away all it would have done is fuel the fire and no doubt he’d just receive loads of abuse for it. Not really the most constructive thing to do.

 

I don’t think it will happen though Rod. He will have been given legal advice already, one assumes, if they are thinking of potential consequences?

 

I agree, could be taken as an admission of liability...

 

Accidents happen of course, was it deliberate, only Ravenhill will know that? Accident or not, it was absolutely wreckless with no thought of the consequences.

 

Don’t think there will be any question of legal action here and he may have apologised privately. Without doubt he should have been sent of for a dangerous tackle with the usual suspension.

 

And without Vernham we don’t have that kind of player in the whole squad.

 

He’s a young lad over excited playing in front of 19000 fans where his dad once played.
Should have been a red card though.
His career progress might dip though as his confidence will be shot and I doubt he’ll ever make another tackle like that again because of what happened.

 

The thing that will be going through legal minds would be proving intent, or degree of recklessness? How did they prove intent or wreckless specifically by Gray on Watson?
You suggest yourself it was dangerous…which is in itself reckless. One can’t have it both ways?

 

We have plenty of injured players

 

He could absolutely, by doing so it would prove my point, he’s been given advice to word it as such..

It’s a sad state of affairs, that gives slight potential for ending someone’s career. That’s where Donny will be really worried perhaps?

Clearly there are no winners in this episode, just losers!

 

You are setting a very dangerous precedent if you look to take legal action in this instance. The only reason there was action in the Gordon Watson tackle was because the video showed clear intent to injure a fellow player with his action. That cannot be proven on Saturday when in fairness the Doncaster player was favourite to win the ball. City will have player insurance for these sort of incidents, I guess it's upto the insurance company to ask whether they think it's worth pursuing a claim against the other party. My view, it was a football incident, no more no less. Unfortunate by every so often a player does suffer a serious injury, it's the nature of contact sport