Danny Murphy wrong to criticise managers, says LMA

11 October 2010 12:31
Murphy, speaking at the Leaders in Football conference, highlighted Blackburn, Stoke City and Wolves as three teams whose players were "pumped up". [LNB]Today's LMA statement has denied its members are encouraging violent tackles, and said Murphy was wrong to speak out. [LNB]Premier League Transfer Talk"It is inappropriate for individuals to direct criticism at certain managers who are honest, professional and continue to achieve success on the field with their clubs," read the statement. [LNB]"The accomplishments of the managers mentioned should be applauded rather than publicly judged. Professional football managers certainly do not incite their players to go out and cause injury to fellow professionals. [LNB]"Two of the three clubs mentioned have yet to receive a red card in the Barclays Premier League this season."[LNB]The LMA believes pointed out that the speed of the game and the fact players are stronger and quicker makes the impact of mistimed tackles is far greater than in the past. [LNB]"Mistimed tackles by fractions of a second will happen and with that will be a potential risk of impact or injury but in no way does it follow that the actions are either deliberate or encouraged," added the LMA, who said managers' support staff would not back a manager who encouraged violent or reckless play in any direct or indirect way, and that if they did so it would quickly leak out. [LNB]Murphy's remarks at the Leaders in Football conference followed serious injuries suffered by Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa and his Fulham team-mate Bobby Zamora. [LNB]"Your manager dictates what your players do and how you behave," said Murphy. "You get managers who are sending their teams out to stop other teams playing, which is happening more and more - the Stokes, Blackburns, Wolves. [LNB]"They can say it's effective and they have got to win games but the fact is the managers are sending out their players so pumped up there is inevitably going to be problems. Every ship has a captain and that's the manager who is in charge."[LNB]Murphy said there should be tougher sanctions for dangerous tackles - especially for repeat offenders. [LNB]He added: "The pace in which some players go into tackles now is ridiculous. There's no brains involved in the players who are doing that." [LNB]

Source: Telegraph