''As soon as I saw Thatcher running into the corner, I knew what was coming. I would have bet my life on it.'' - Harry Redknapp, August 2006.
What was coming for Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes hit him like a train, with the Manchester City full-back launching a vicious elbow into his head. It has been documented as one of the most infamous incidents in Premier League history, with Thatcher's forearm blow having resulted in the Portuguese being knocked out cold. Thatcher's three year stint at Eastlands could be summed up by the Man City v Portsmouth clash in August 2006, which resulted in the infamous collision. A goalless affair, the match resembled that of Thatcher's career in that it wasn't going to be talked about with much gusto in ten years, with the only incident worth remembering being the horrific tackle. Thatcher was subsequently suspended by the club for six matches, fined six weeks' wages, and banned for eight matches by the FA. The truth is that Thatcher was not a nasty or vindictive player, and served a purpose during his three years at the club, but the horrific blow which sent his sporting colleague into convulsions gained the player such a notoriety, that City will wish it hadn't happened on their watch.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
