12 games, for elbowing Peter Clarke against Oldham. Just thought i'd throw it in like. Doesn't seem to have had a mention yet
I posted this on our board earlier - 'It is very sad. Even sadder considering the way Calvin has played this season. It does seem totally out of character. What's worse is now this is going to be what he will be remembered for, comments from other fans calling him thug and a coward are very upsetting. But I suppose without knowing his normal character its only understandable. If any of us saw another player doing this we would rightly condemn it and be disgusted. Its hard to comprehend what he did really'. Still in shock. Imagine your most calm player doing something like this and how you'd feel about it. In total shock. Just glad Clarke wasn't seriously injured.
Usually the biggest nutters "appear" calm. Would suggest the mans true colours have been seen. That was, along with Chris Morgan, one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen by a professional footballer. Should be shunned by the profession and never play again. Trying to kill an opponent is beyond forgiveness.
A very strange thing really. Andrew has a reputation for being calm and level headed. Seems completely out of character. If you were his employer unless he could provide some pretty convincing mitigating circumstances you would be looking to terminate his employment.
I would imagine every Dale fan is sickened to see it. Difficult to imagine how he has much of a future in the game after that.
He may as well have punched him. Probably wouldn't have been punished as much and badly thought of. Wasn't like it was a sly elbow in a challenge. He could maybe have claimed the opponent did or said something to him and he saw red. To run 2 yard and blatantly elbow someone just seems odd.
Anyone remember Andy Johnson's elbow on George Santos before he played for us? Pretty much destroyed one half of Santos' face. Then a year later Santos come on as a sub in what became known as the battle of Bramall Lane and promptly did the worse tackle I've ever seen on Johnson (who'd moved from Forest to WBA by then). There's footage of the tackle but can't find one of the elbow but it was shocking.
Seriously the bloke is a gentle giant, he does all the Dale in the community stuff going to schools and such. 12 year career so far and not even a red card to his name - he gets booted and roughed up every week without ever reacting - until this? Totally baffling. God knows what Clarke did/said to get him to retaliate like he did? Haven't a clue really. Hopefully some more comes out this week and we'll be wiser to the reasons.
Just heard an old interview with him, comes across as softly spoken and very articulate. No excuses for what he did but one can only assume he was quite seriously provoked. Has he made any comment yet?
Honestly don't know how you can stick up for him. His punishment is weak because he should be getting a criminal record and a court appearance like people would doing that away from a football pitch which wrongly allows you to get away with more. If that was one of our players doing that i'd want him instantly put on the transfer list, no second chances. Think of all the children watching his actions who might not think it's OK to do that or just abit of a laugh.
Sudden onset of a health or mental health issue? There are lots of conditions that can cause sudden illogical and irrational behaviour. It did just look like thuggery to me though, so unless it was proven otherwise I'd say it was just a nasty thuggish act.
Don't think he is to be fair, just pointing out it is out of character. We'd do the same if, say, Bobby Hassell had done something similar. Not that he would have of course.
Gentle giant? He nearly took the blokes head off!! His previous reputation means nothing when he's done something like that. He's a thug and should be doing time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk