The Diving Team has a new member
I can honestly say I used to be a fan. Even though he was on the opposing team and seemed to crush my beloved Chelsea, in any game that had a peice of hardware on the line, I did not care. He is a good player and can crush a ball from 40 yards out. His goal in last year's FA Cup final to put it into extra-time was unbelievable. But I think that was the last honest moment in his body.
Since then Stephen Gerrard has sunk down to the lowest levels. In the run up to the World Cup he was shown to have dove at the slightest touch to win England a Penalty. He then dove in the World Cup adding his name to the list with C. Ronaldo, who has been on the list for a while, or the rest of the Portugese team. But Now he has brought it to the EPL. Liverpool down one-nil against new-boys Sheffield United were lucky to come away with a point after Stevie G. fell to the ground in the penalty area.
Now this is not a complaint against the referee, or any referee, cause who can really keep up that quickly with the ball that is played from behind midfield up to lightening fast player. The center referee sees Gerrard lifts his leg as if he is clipped and assumes it is so, cause hey its Stevie G and he dont dive. The assistant referee is on the side the player slide in from, so the back of the defender is what the AR is seeing.
But in the end this is what we get. A world class player sinking to new lows. We can only hope that at the end of the year we see him on his ass:
3 comments:
i agree re gerard's actions in the game last week, although i don't recall him being a notable diver in the world cup.
now he is playing just like drogba, robben and the other chelsea boys.
The only way diving will stop or become less attractive to players is for the leagues to penalize the players after games based on review of game film. Most high level games are televised and recorded and many teams tape their games for later review. Leagues should get these recordings and look at them, especially where there may be some suspicion regarding diving or other foul simulation (e,g., Henry's hand-to-face action in the WC (?) game that led to a free kick and goal -- he was not struck in the face, but clearly sold the call). Large fines or game suspensions may do the trick.
i think that the ar is right on here. i have this same opinion since germany- post game video and large sanctions on cheats (perhaps on managers and clubs too if their players are always diving- although that could lead to a lifetime ban for Mourinho and most italian coaches) are a must to rid the game of this plague.
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