Taylor and that tackle
Had anyone seen the pale, dazed look on Martin Taylor's face after the Arsenal game, then they would have realised exactly what sort of person he is.
Taylor was walking round the tunnel areas in a state of shock as the full extent of Eduardo's injury sunk in.
A genial, intelligent man, Taylor might be 6ft 4in but isn't your typical, cynical clogger of a centre-half.
He has been booked only six times in 234 career appearances and sent-off once before, nine years ago.
This is the man who Graeme Souness once remarked was ideal son-in-law material.
Standing in the press area by the entrance to the tunnel at the corner of the Railway End and Main Stand on Saturday evening, you could tell Taylor's mind was whirring.
Understandably, he didn't want to speak - he was hardly in the right frame of mind - but he did apologise to Eduardo and went to see him in hospital.
Since, Taylor has been demonised in many quarters. He is public enemy number one in Croatia.
This morning, Croatian television crews and cameramen turned up at Wast Hills, amongst other media, as Blues closed ranks around Taylor.
After training, as Taylor turned right in his car down Redhill Road towards home, they chased after him on foot trying to get a comment, cameras and microphones thrust at his windows.
You have to say that Arsene Wenger's comments immediately after the 2-2 draw fanned the flames unnecessarily.
As I understand it, Wenger was offered the chance to see replays of the tackle before going live on television for his post-match interview but declined.
That made it all the worse Wenger called for Taylor to be banned from football.
It was a bad tackle, no doubt. Taylor lunged in with his right foot but Eduardo had been too quick for him.
Unfortunately, his momentum carried him through and Taylor studs planted onto Eduardo's left shin and down to the ankle, snapping bone, as Eduardo continued to veer away.
It was mis-timed with no malice aforethought.
My sympathy goes to Eduardo, I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.
Referee Mike Dean, according to sources, told Blues people afterwards that he had to send Taylor off because Eduardo's leg had been broken.
Taylor was far from happy on learning of Wenger's outburst and sought him.
He again apologised for the injury, stressed there was no intent, but stood his ground over the tackle as he made a genuine attempt to win the ball.
Wenger lost a lot of respect on Saturday. And what of his 'retraction'? It was nothing of the sort. He has continued to hang Taylor out to dry.
His myopic view of Arsenal does them no favours, and it clearly has passed down to his players. Witness William Gallas, whose madcap antics carried on in the tunnel, and Cesc Fabregas's 'trash talking'.
Eduardo's reasoned and philosophical thoughts on what happened stands in stark contrast.
Just what effect all this will have on Taylor is of concern. He is a bright, deep-thinker who won't just be able to brush it off.
If Taylor didn't care or was an ignorant, different kind of person, then it wouldn't be a problem.
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Colin Tattum
Mail man Colin Tattum’s view of what’s going on at Birmingham City FC.
Taylor should retire from the game, because he just can't play it properly.
He should try kick boxing. Or better still sky-diving where the only person he cn hurt is himself. With the way he does things the clumsy ox would jump from a plane his chute not open and land on some poor innocent by-stander breaking every bone their body while he just dusts himeslf off.
Wow, Matt, good job you weren't around when Charles Darwin was alive.
Matt, you truly are an idiot of the highest proportions; either demonstrating a lack of understanding of the game through plain ignorance; or through sheer spite as a vile/gunners fan.
Either way, pal, you're wrong.
Every single neutral pundit BAR NONE has exonerated Taylor from any allegations that he deliberately tried to harm Eduardo.
Get back to poking frogs with sticks, you berk.
While i have a cetain amount of sympathy for Eduardo,the tackle as Tatts points out was merely mis-timed.
Every Saturday a player from some league or other makes a conscious decision to go out and purposely injure an opponent ,a certain former Man Utd captain currently managing a Premiership club infamously carried a grudge from a previous encounter and ended an opponents career.
I ask the worlds media who have disgracefully jumped on the Arsene Wenger bandwagon would you have been reporting on this story if it was a player from the Bristol Rovers v Tranmere game?? I think not !!!!
While i have sympathy for Eduardo he will still retire a wealthy man,unlike the working class man who gets a career ending injury in his chosen proffesion but will still try to pay his way to support his chosen team.Every Saturday someone ,somewhere breaks his leg in football it one of the hazards of the job and 99.9% of them are mis-timed tackles just like Tiny's.