Those were the days.....

Talk about Martin Taylor's tackle on Eduardo brought out some interesting points from Mick McCarthy at this morning's press conference.

McCarthy, who expressed sympathy for both in the wake of last week's events and the furore which followed, explored the idea of how the game has changed since his time as a player.
"It's in no way as physical now," he insisted.

"There are a lot of tarts now playing the game who fall over at the drop of a hat and that includes defenders as well.

"It really irks me when I see it.

"I feel for referees, because I get it when I referee games between our lads in training.

"They start quizzing my decisions and appealing for everything and I just tell them that as long as it says Mick McCarthy, manager, above my door then it's my game so they can clear off and stop annoying me.

"I was at the Hearts/Rangers game in midweek and there was an incident where a player went over looking for a free kick, which clearly wasn't a free kick.

"The referee dismissed it and the team ended up conceding a goal.

"Now if that could happen every time a player did a dive or feigned something it would be proper justice."

What McCarthy didn't quite think was justice was another incident he then recounted from his own career.

"One of our players got booked and as usual I went across to remonstrate with the perpetrator," he said.

"But then our chap looked up at me and winked and said he was trying to get the other lad booked.

"I just lifted our bloke up and told him to get on with it which he wasn't happy with and we ended up arguing.

"A few minutes later I swung a right hook at someone and hit them and got sent off.

"Interestingly enough their player who I'd tried to save from a booking before came running over and told his team-mate to stay down because I was going off.

"I'm not sure that's quite justice to be fair!"

I was trying to find the above incident on YouTube but it seems to have disappeared.

Maybe that's belated justice after all!