I'm a big fan of Elmo. He was great for us last year, and it's clear that those Sunderland fans who didn't reckon he was up to PL standard were wrong, because he's been good this year. He crosses as often and as effectively as most other wide players in the league and his work rate is great. He seems to have a genuine feel for the club, too. However, this diving is ****ing embarrassing. Is there owt we can do to let him know we don't like it? Do you reckon it's something that Brucie doesn't like and says something about? It's rapidly ruining my opinion of him.
There's a big difference between berating a player for diving and berating a player for making a mistake. As well you know, you screeching girl.
Wembley Stadium. 89th minute. 0-0. Elmo runs into the box. The ball is pushed a little too far and will run out of play. A tackle goes in. Elmo goes down. The refs whistle moves towards his lips. Are you saying to me that you'd actually want to look at a replay before screaming for a pen?
Ahh but what if from the refs angle it looks 50/50 ernie and he thinks nah he's got history for diving and doesnt give it. But it really was a pen. Boy who cried wolf etc
There's a difference between making the most of a situation and blatantly diving. At times Elmo has crossed the line.
A mistake most pros are guilty of committing. They anticipate the challenge and begin their fall but the contact never comes and they just look bloody stupid. Human error but hardly worth disgusting insults towards our own players such as "embarrassing" etc....
I can think of two occasions where he's dived this season and quite obviously. It's not really an issue; we moan about not winning penalties all the time and yet we rarely have players going down in opposition boxes. If I'm watching a game and I see our player dive, I won't try and defend it and say it's a free kick, and even if we get something from it, I'll still acknowledge it as a dive. But it really doesn't bother me. Not enough to moan about it anyway.
I know what you mean (i'm ignoring the other comments in the thread). He's been quality this season, although did have a poor month before Christmas. But quite a few of our players do dive (Boyd) and I despise diving. However, every club does it and we're not good enough and nobody will care if we take the moral high ground. I quite like the fact our team seem like an honest bunch of hardworking players who don't chat crap to the media but the diving does ruin my case a bit when I'm gloating to friends who support other teams. Case in point, 2 minutes ago I saw a replay of Glen Johnson diving in Palace's box. No punishment (no penalty either) but if everyone else does it, why not us? Hopefully the FA will stop it asap by using retrospective punishments, it'd be so easy!
Unfortunately its become part of the "win at all costs" part of the ame along with the hand waving "show him a card ref" and the "hands behind our backs shout at the ref" pressure.
Spot-on. It's such a shame that thick ****ers in the olden days couldn't work out how to "anticipate the challenge", instead, taking the impact and genuinely hurting themselves like big ponces...
Did he do one at Villa? I heard about the one at Fulham but haven't seen it. Apart from that, and the Boyd one I haven't seen a City player dive all season. I hate diving so it's two too many, but I really don't think we're anywhere near one of the worst teams for it. The fact we hardly ever get penalties or even free kicks near the goal demonstrates that.
