We reguarly remind people that the British game is physical and arguably that's what makes it so watchable.
Each culture has a different approach and our climate in the UK supports tackling on the floor, get down, get dirty & hit him hard!!!
When I played my style of tackling was similar to Vincent Company, I deemed myself to be a ball winner and was a physical player. Chat in the club / pub now when we muse over the past they say I was a dirty.
My theory was it's early in the game and I'll make my mark, if I get the ball, I'll get the man and a slice of the opponent with a questionable tackle was worth a risk but nowadays not accepted.
Tough tacklers or thugish behaviour put these few into either category R. Keane, P. Vieira, V. Jones, Mascherano, Gerard, Vidic, Rooney, Gattuso, Rattin, Stiles, Mackay, Bremner, Hunter(bite yer legs), (chopper) Harris.