Bad memories....

It certainly doesn't look like an accident. The guy is looking right at his foot as it snaps that poor chap's lower leg.

Why does he have toes up near his ankle?

Little magic spray and some 'tussin will clear that right up.

@She Blinded Me With Violence:

"You broke your leg? Just rub some of that 'tussin into it."

Rub some dirt on it.

It certainly was no accident. I think it's pretty clear that Martin Taylor and Alex McLeish should be banned for a year starting after Eduardo makes it back onto a pitch. And I'm talking a ban that includes not being able to enter a stadium. I'm hoping Arsenal sues Birmingham due to this most likely costing the Gunners the EPL. They're down to two strikers if you don't count Walcott. And those two forwards fought each other in a match not too long ago.

Here is a pic of the **** smiling after he did it. [www.index.hr]

Let that tussin get to the bone, boy.

walk it off!

Windex works wonders.

@Nationalcoholic:

Run out of 'tussin? Put some water in the jar, shake it up...more 'tussin!

@Henry Porter:

Follow the money. I'm sure it goes back to Sir Alex.

@UkraineNotWeak:

Thats lame

Walk it off, nancy.

Thats a tough one to take if you're a Gunners fan, but you need to ask how the defense gave up a penalty to an undermaned side.

Seeing how everyone has the injury covered--anyone make a 'tussin joke yet?--I'm going kvetch about the pentalty.

BULLSHIT. Clichy got all ball before there was any contact.

Whether Taylor intended to end Eduardo's career or not, physically bullying Arsenal was clearly McLeish's strategy (hey it worked in the first match). So, I hope McLeish gets assraped by the Chupacabras. Seems about fair.

@preciousroy:

I agree that it's tu-ssin to be making jokes about an injury like that.

@Henry Porter: Thanks, and no thanks, for the link. I was willing to believe it was not intentional before that pic. He seemed way to chuffed at himself after the foul. I hope he rots in football purgatory.

What's the difference between closers and roundups?

Holy shit. Andrei Zyuzin sighting in Los Angeles.

@1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes:

I think it's an "apartment/flat" thing.

@Gourmet Spud: Would you also be against an "Oh, Snap!" tag for this post?

@umlaut75: He already plays for Birmingham City.

It will be interesting to see what type of action the league takes on this one. There will be howls of protests no matter which way they go. Taylor does seem awfully smug looking at what he's just done.

@She Blinded Me With Violence:

Can't say at the moment - it's still ti-bia determined.

Joe Theismann says that's not so bad, you always have TV ahead of you.

How much of a share will Taylor get if ManUre get the title? At least they should let him be a fluffer at the celebration orgy.

Seriously, though... it's a fucking shame. It could be a career ender for Eduardo and it was just a senseless challenge. A total lack of respect for your opponent--just a big dumbfuck making a gutless play. And that grin on his face in that photo... that's disgraceful.

As a Gunner I am pissed off beyond belief, but I must admit that it's the sort of challenge I could see a Senderos, Crouch or Scholes make just as easily. Players making dangerous plays who have no business lunging at another's feet when they cannot tackle to save their effing life.

@preciousroy:
I don't think it was a penalty either... but you can't make that mistake in your own box and not expect the call. The game should have been 4-1 at that point, anyway.

Get a balm on that...
/Jackie Childs

@francois_leroux_speedskater:

Ron Santo agrees.

@francois_leroux_speedskater: As a Redskins/Gunners fan, he was the first person I thought of this morning when I saw the injury.

Problem is, Eduardo is a young guy and is a Brazilian-Croatian. Hard to see him hawking Isotoners or the like. Best possible wishes for his recovery.

Arsenal fans can cry all they want about conspiracy theories and this being the reason they'll lose the EPL (talk about self-defeating), but if you were really pinning your hopes on Eduardo to keep you in first you obviously must not think much about how important Van Persie was to the first team.

As for Taylor, it was a bad tackle, but honestly there are challenges as reckless every weekend that go unnoticed because they don't result in severe injury. Punish the intent, not the result. 4 games would be reasonable.

I broke my leg in the exact same place. Naturally, this happened when I slipped on some ice while black-out drunk. Thank god I had enough sense to call 911 on my cell phone (yes, I was walking home from the bars by myself - smart move). Now I have a metal rod in my shin.

Not quite as admirable as what happened to this guy. Better story though.

@Its The Beer Talking:

I broke my right fibula and shattered my left ankle in a car accident, and am full of more metal than Ozzfest.

I cannot wait for Hirshey's column to appear. How much of a bounty does he put on the BC managager, the player, & the City of Birmingham, herself? I think we're talking luftwaffe action, here. The Blitz...

@silvermedal: I mean this in the nicest possible way, but go fuck yourself

While in real time (one angle, far away from behind Eduardo) it didn't look that harsh, in every picture to surface since it looks fucking vicious. Four games would be limp wristed slap.

And yes, Eduardo is that important to the Gunners' title chances because as dangerous as RvP's left foot is, it can't do shit when it's on the sidline for 1/2 the season for the second consecutive season. And the drop from da Silva to Bendtner or Walcott is pretty pronounced.

@kbarham: I feel bad for the guy, even though I don't follow the overseas footballing...because at least Lawrence Taylor jumped up and felt bad, unlike the mad giggler staring at him writing there.

And as a Pirates fan (one of two left on the earth) the first guy I thought of was Jason Kendall.

Anyone: this isn't ice hockey. We don't have contingencies for players to be banned/suspended until injuries have healed. It was gruesome, unfortunate, reckless, abhorrent, yes yes yes. He was red-carded, he'll be further censured upon review by the FA, and he'll miss some matches.

Matt Taylor wasn't looking to do all that he did. Hard, awfully-timed tackle, but not one intended to end a career.

And banning McLeish? Come fucking on. Is there a strategy in the tactics book that says "yes, injure their 3rd-choice striker"?

And yes, the penalty was bollocks, but the real story today was Torres' wonderful hat-trick. C'mon, let's focus on the positives, people.

its one thing to poke fun of a Isiah Thomas or Mike Vick for being an idiot... but there is nothing funny about this...

This kid's career is very probably over - in one of the cruelest ways possible. When Prothro broke his leg (a mere 15 yards in front of me)... it was sickening... Not because it happened (that is sport)... but because you knew that a great athlete had been reduced basically to a cripple. And Prothro still hasn't recovered fully from it.

Alan Smith was a bit more fortunate with his break in the clash against Riise... but that was because he dislocated his ankle and the compound fracture occurred. But this is completely different break... its Prothro-esque but coupled with the force of a 200+ lbs. man.

His career is done - and its really sad too because he's only 24 years old. And if its anything like Neil Parry with possible infection - well then...

Martin Taylor should never play again. Period. End of story.

Regardless, not something that the MMQ's here should be making fun of.

just realized that i named dropped a lot. Prothro - Alabama football...

Alan Smith - Man Utd at the time...

JA Riise - Liverpool...

Neil Parry - San Jose State football.

@francois_leroux_speedskater: Hey, is the injury also responsible for Theeeesman's, uh, slowness of the mind?

Man, I hate to make light of this, but in the pic abov, Cesc has the pricelessiest "Oh shit!" face.

Torres is filthy, glad to see him in fine form again after the injury. I'm still bummed he got transferred from Atletico right before I went to Spain last year. I would have loved to see him play live.

@spinachdip: I don't think that's making light. Injury aside, the photogs did some amazing work in the fotos here: The look on Cesc's face right as Taylor's foot is poised for impact, the broken ankle as Eduardo goes to the ground, and the self-satisfied look of Taylor as he looks at Eduardo down.

They are all pretty great shots.

I always wanted an extra ankle!

@LingeringBursitis:
Torres' hat trick was incredible (the second goal was sick, I think the ball traveled 20 yds without making one full revolution)...

But pardon us Gooners while we "piss and moan" a bit, it would be nice to think we never have to see something like this happen to a Torres, Drogba, Ronaldo or Rooney because after looking at this post at Unprofessional Foul (WARNING NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH). I cannot see him ever playing again-- and it looked deliberate.

I hope that [insert your favorite team's player here] never gets tagged like that... ever. Because it fucking sucks thinking about this... title aspirations aside.

And it looks like Wenger is apologizing for his tone:

[news.bbc.co.uk]

My Alan Smith avatar is now going into hiding.

That picture is really, really, disgusting. More disgusting to me than the pictures I've seen of Smith's ankle.

Djibril Cisse can relate...

+ Watch video

all time awful leg injuries

1) Shaun Livingston
2) Theismann
3) Eduardo

@Jibby:

I would put Jason Kendall on that list.

Good thing soccer is just a wussy sport without any contact. when will people in the U.S. get that?

Moises Alou thinks that guy is a pussy. Just piss on it!

@MikeHass:
Let's not forget the Mariner Moose