| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" 09:57 - Apr 21 with 3045 views | SouperJim |
Admittedly I don't watch a vast amount of premier league football that doesn't involve us, but I'm still utterly bemused as to how that is deemed a red card offence and according to VAR "endangering the safety of an opposition player".
No part of Davis' boot makes contact with anything other than the back of Saka's boot. It's a bit naughty, yes, but I've seen countless comparable challenges in the 30 years I've been watching Town and I don't remember ever seeing a straight red for that kind of tackle before. If it was higher or with more force or with deliberate intent, then yes.
Not trying to change anyone's mind, just genuinely interested as to why that challenge was punished in the way it was. Doesn't make sense to me and I'm just seeing repeated references to it being far worse than the replays show it actually was. |  |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:02 - Apr 21 with 1743 views | TheBoyBlue |
I do see what you mean and I have to admit to that being my view of it, but even McKenna said it was a red. |  |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:05 - Apr 21 with 1723 views | SouperJim |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:02 - Apr 21 by TheBoyBlue |
I do see what you mean and I have to admit to that being my view of it, but even McKenna said it was a red. |
Clearly it is a challenge deemed far more severe at this level than I would say it is, I'm not debating that. I'm just a bit confused as to why. In the EFL that's a booking and you might even get away with it altogether if the ref is weak. | |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:07 - Apr 21 with 1707 views | Mullet |
What was a tackle 30 years ago is now often a booking. The laws and enforcement is totally different in 2025.
I thought it was a red once the replay was shown. Davis was nowhere near the ball and got it all wrong. He knew it too. |  |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:12 - Apr 21 with 1675 views | Guthrum |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:07 - Apr 21 by Mullet |
What was a tackle 30 years ago is now often a booking. The laws and enforcement is totally different in 2025.
I thought it was a red once the replay was shown. Davis was nowhere near the ball and got it all wrong. He knew it too. |
I thought Arteta's summary was quite accurate - no malicious intent, but could have been quite nasty. |  |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:25 - Apr 21 with 1604 views | norfsufblue |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:12 - Apr 21 by Guthrum |
I thought Arteta's summary was quite accurate - no malicious intent, but could have been quite nasty. |
Perhaps its time to re-examine whether yhete is something between a yellow and a red as i now admit the challenge probably was... watched the NHL last night and the sin bin works great in hockey, could it be adapted to football?... i dont know, it doesn't take too long to sort appropriate sanctions inthat sport but with the way football has introduced VAR im pretty certin they'd manage to overcomplicate it to n° ! |  | | |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:27 - Apr 21 with 1592 views | OldFart71 |
Let's face it football has become a non contact sport. Started by the Italians where rolling around like you have been physically assaulted and has crept into every League in the World. With VAR and slow mow highlighting every aspect of a challenge. That's no excuse for Leifs tackle though. He was late on Saka and caught him on the back of the leg above his boot. He has been exposed hugely this season and maybe if his role is bombing forward then the set up of the team has to be more robust in front of him with a midfielder covering in behind when he goes forward. | | | |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:32 - Apr 21 with 1571 views | SouperJim |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:27 - Apr 21 by OldFart71 |
Let's face it football has become a non contact sport. Started by the Italians where rolling around like you have been physically assaulted and has crept into every League in the World. With VAR and slow mow highlighting every aspect of a challenge. That's no excuse for Leifs tackle though. He was late on Saka and caught him on the back of the leg above his boot. He has been exposed hugely this season and maybe if his role is bombing forward then the set up of the team has to be more robust in front of him with a midfielder covering in behind when he goes forward. |
Watch the highlights, unless there's an angle I've not seen, it seems highly debatable whether Leif even touched his sock. The way the challenge is being described and what the replays show do not match. | |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:45 - Apr 21 with 1514 views | Ryorry |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:32 - Apr 21 by SouperJim |
Watch the highlights, unless there's an angle I've not seen, it seems highly debatable whether Leif even touched his sock. The way the challenge is being described and what the replays show do not match. |
Have seen replays numerous times, looked like the highest Leif went was where a short sock top would normally be, which is why it was called an injury to Saka’s Achilles and not his calf? |  |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:53 - Apr 21 with 1466 views | textbackup |
For me it’s nasty, unnecessary, pointless.
It’s a stamp/drag down on Sakas standing leg, when winning the ball is nowhere near achievable.
It’s one of those tackles that is just plain stupid and naive (especially with VAR in the game now)
If that’s against us, and the player isn’t sent off there would be tears on here about the PL being corrupt. |  |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:00 - Apr 21 with 1435 views | Scuzzer |
Agreed. How commentators screamed high or raking down the back I just don't see. Yes a pointless or needless effort to make a challenge but surely only worthy of a yellow. I think Saka jumping so high and rolling around did it for Davis...but that's par for the course in the Plastic League. |  |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:08 - Apr 21 with 1406 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
I think the truth is that is now going to be a red card. It was very late as well. However the idea of "high up the back of the calf" is ridiculous. It was on his heel and possibly as high as the ankle. It did contact with the studs as well if that makes any difference.
What will be interesting is the next time there is a very similar foul in the Premier League whether it is viewed as a straight red and whether VAR gets involved if the ref doesn't give it. |  |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:12 - Apr 21 with 1391 views | SouperJim |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:00 - Apr 21 by Scuzzer |
Agreed. How commentators screamed high or raking down the back I just don't see. Yes a pointless or needless effort to make a challenge but surely only worthy of a yellow. I think Saka jumping so high and rolling around did it for Davis...but that's par for the course in the Plastic League. |
The bit that confuses me most is even Town fans now seem to have bought into the narrative, rather than rely on their own eyes. | |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:12 - Apr 21 with 1385 views | SouperJim |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 10:45 - Apr 21 by Ryorry |
Have seen replays numerous times, looked like the highest Leif went was where a short sock top would normally be, which is why it was called an injury to Saka’s Achilles and not his calf? |
It's not even that high for me. It's on his boot. | |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:19 - Apr 21 with 1334 views | mellowblue |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:13 - Apr 21 by SouperJim |
A fair assessment |
If it was Fred Bloggs, average footballer for Everton, rather than golden boy Saka, there would have been little comment or fuss. And probably would have been a yellow. It is borderline yellow/red to me. | | | |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:19 - Apr 21 with 1335 views | textbackup |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:08 - Apr 21 by SouperJim |
The best screenshot from the moment of contact I can manage.
Stupid, unnecessary challenge? Yes.
Stamp or rake down the back of his calf? I just don't see it.
High up the back of his calf, as Phil put in his match report? Never in a million years. [Post edited 21 Apr 11:09]
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Saw this one on Twitter, and it’s much worse than the one you posted.
It’s above his boot, so Achilles area, standing foot. Anyone that’s played football and has had one land there will know you are jumping up if that’s hitting you there. [Post edited 21 Apr 11:21]
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:21 - Apr 21 with 1325 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:16 - Apr 21 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I think the other factors are it being late and through the back of the player. On top of that is the 6 foot leap and triple salko Saka performed on contact. Plus the fact they showed him icing it on the bench after he had played on after and he made sure to limp a bit after the match. Is Saka's season over? I very much doubt it! I would love to hear Terry Butcher's views! |
Agreed - but was it even that late? As the 5th frame shows, the ball is still at Saka's boot at the point Leif makes contact with Saka's heel. | | | |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:22 - Apr 21 with 1308 views | textbackup |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:21 - Apr 21 by SuffolkPunchFC |
Agreed - but was it even that late? As the 5th frame shows, the ball is still at Saka's boot at the point Leif makes contact with Saka's heel. |
Was it even that late?! He’s not even tackled the foot that had the ball, Saka passed with his left, and Leif stabs at the right 😂 [Post edited 21 Apr 11:23]
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:22 - Apr 21 with 1310 views | SouperJim |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:16 - Apr 21 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I think the other factors are it being late and through the back of the player. On top of that is the 6 foot leap and triple salko Saka performed on contact. Plus the fact they showed him icing it on the bench after he had played on after and he made sure to limp a bit after the match. Is Saka's season over? I very much doubt it! I would love to hear Terry Butcher's views! |
Saka's reaction and subsequent evidence of not actually being harmed in any way just shows what we already knew, when it comes to the dark arts which seem to be an unfortunate necessity in this division, we are a long long way behind.
Saka deserved the reaction he got from our fans and it also seemed to affect him as he then missed two sitters infront of the north stand.
Those Town fans repeating the narrative that it was a horror stamp on his calf and we should be ashamed of giving him pelters after, are part of the problem for me. Be on the inside p!ssing out folks. | |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:26 - Apr 21 with 1279 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:19 - Apr 21 by textbackup |
Saw this one on Twitter, and it’s much worse than the one you posted.
It’s above his boot, so Achilles area, standing foot. Anyone that’s played football and has had one land there will know you are jumping up if that’s hitting you there. [Post edited 21 Apr 11:21]
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Hard to tell much from that, the image is so poor quality - It makes it look as if Saka's right foot is pointing backwards. Still shows it very low though, and not 'high on the calf raking down the back'. | | | |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:27 - Apr 21 with 1273 views | textbackup |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:26 - Apr 21 by SuffolkPunchFC |
Hard to tell much from that, the image is so poor quality - It makes it look as if Saka's right foot is pointing backwards. Still shows it very low though, and not 'high on the calf raking down the back'. |
It’s above his boot. Hitting the Achilles is worse than hitting his calf. | |
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| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:28 - Apr 21 with 1264 views | SouperJim |
| Even Phil is at it - "high up the back of his calf" on 11:19 - Apr 21 by textbackup |
Saw this one on Twitter, and it’s much worse than the one you posted.
It’s above his boot, so Achilles area, standing foot. Anyone that’s played football and has had one land there will know you are jumping up if that’s hitting you there. [Post edited 21 Apr 11:21]
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I think that screenshot is misleading, that's after the contact. Having watched it in motion numerous times, I stand by the statement that Leif's boot only makes contact with the back of Saka's.
We're probably splitting hairs and I don't doubt he felt the contact. But I also think Arsenal knew what they were doing to influence the officials. Saka came off because the crowd got in his head and he was fluffing relatively easy chances. He's not injured. | |
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