I agree with you about Mash Lee. But let me play the devil's advocate a moment. Mash's role in the team is to break up the opposition attacks to allow the defence to regroup. I think a large part of his mouthiness is to allow the defence time to get back into position behind him. I utterly dislike calling for bookings for other players, but I think that's just Mash's personality - he seems to have a sense of 'fair play' which makes him want to call the referees out if they're being inconsistent. I've seen footage of him chasing team mates about to lamp them if they've done a dirty tackle in training so I guess that's just how Mash is wired. His diving also seems to come when he's caught in possession. I think the role he plays is one where to be caught in possession is to risk conceding a goal so he makes the most of any contact in which he loses the ball. Lot of things I dislike about the game at the top level now, but I can see why it's done when winning margins are so small. All goes back to the philosophy of 'tactical fouling' introduced in Italy (by Sacchi...) to counteract the protection for attackers given by the new rulings on what constitutes foul play. Part of me thinks I'd rather see niggly stuff than players' careers being injured by heavy and legal tackles but I do miss the blood and guts tackling of players like Souness.
@Point/Counterpoint - I think you're missing the point about attitude though. Personal lives and going down under light contact etc aren't what I was meaning to infer. I was referring to work ethic during training, a willingness to play a role in the team and shoulder responsibility etc.
@Point/Counterpoint - I think you're missing the point about attitude though. Personal lives and going down under light contact etc aren't what I was meaning to infer. I was referring to work ethic during training, a willingness to play a role in the team and shoulder responsibility etc.
