The Media and Ryan Shawcross

I'm actually a big fan of Ryan Shawcross, not least because he has been a constant on my Fantasy league team for about One and a half years, and I did feel really sorry for him as he left the pitch after the unfortunate incident of the Ramsey leg break. Also because he is one of the figures that have symbolised the meteoric surge Stoke have made in the last two years.

But I must say I am extremely disgusted at what the Ramsey injury incident has become as it has been covered by the media and many bloggers as the "Shawcross appeal show."

Now I know Shawcross is not a dirty player, and I don't think anyone is saying he is; I also don't think the tackle was malicious too, I don't think anyone is saying that either, so why dwell on it? I go around looking for postmatch news and views hoping to see people talk about "Has Shawcross gone over to see Ramsey or contacted him?" or "Is there a problem with the English game?" or something constructive.

Instead I see everybody from the media, to bloggers, to the so-called ex-players pouring out the same dribble that "Shawcross is not a dirty player; the tackle was not malicious" and "So and so has gotten behind Shawcross."

There is arguably the best young talent in the country lying somewhere with a broken leg, the fact this has happened to Arsenal THREE TIMES in four years, and most importantly that there was as a matter of fact a worse tackle than the Shawcross tackle this weekend (Ridgwell of Birmingham on a Wigan player at the corner flag) and was not even carded.

The reason the "Shawcross victim story" (although no one is really victimising him) is the biggest on the agenda is simply because he is a 'prospective' precious England international.

I wonder what would have happened if Wayne Rooney were to be the one who broke his leg (God forbid). Maybe we would be talking about the issues that really mattered.