Damien

Players should learn to tackle.

There are so few defenders who can cleanly win a ball by timing their tackle and doing so whilst maintaining control of their body. The reason Spearing's challenge so was bad was the same reason Shawcross' tackle on Ramsey was bad, neither were intended nor malicious, but were desperate lunges for the ball in which they throw themselves at the challenge and lose control. When they do this they are gambling on the tackle being successful and they are gambling on the the risk of injury to their fellow players. This is why these tackles are deserving of red cards.

Again it's a consequence of our approach to the game. It's the prioritisation of strength and speed over technical ability. We like defenders who use their strength to push players off the ball, ones who clatter a opposition player and win the ball. Even as we get over this bias in our midfield and attacking players, slowing trying to improve technical ability in these areas, we remain stuck with this 'big, hard man' view of a British centre back. Yet the best defenders are the ones who read the game and can intercept a pass, can funnel opposition players away from danger areas without touching them, and who only make a sliding tackle when they can dispossess a player with minimum contact. Timing and anticipation. This doesn't look as dramatic as completely clattering a player and emerging with blood on your fact like a true warrior.

There is a reason Association Football broke away to form a separate path from rugby.