I keep reading that Arsene Wenger should leave while he keeps his dignity. I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but Dignity left ages ago, leaving the message, "Just couldn't stay. It's become too embarrassing. With love..."
Can the FA do anything? Will they? http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/crystal-palace-vs-arsenal/andros-townsend-dive-to-win-penalty.html
Yes, when I saw some highlights last night, the commentators [different ones to here] were saying 'penalty, but little contact'. Fact is, there's zero meaningful contact and Townsend has dived. He's dived so blatantly there should be a swimming pool under his feet. Funny thing was that even at full speed, first time, without prior knowledge, I was pretty much unconvinced, which just shows how clear it was, because my eyesight is nothing special. And yes, there should be retrospective action, but I doubt they will do anything.
No contact, starts going down, throws his right foot out as far as he can to touch the goalkeeper's stomach when he realises he better do something, face contorts in agony (he probably shouted in pain as well). That's actually really pissed me off.
What is more frustrating about that penalty, is that we don't even get nailed on penalties given, whilst other teams get decisions like that.
Said for years that clear cases of diving should be given 5 match bans with no appeal. That would soon put a stop to it.
I think I am in a minority on this. Only British fans are obsessed with diving, and foreign players/managers in the PL find it weird. Players make silly decisions, a yellow card is the right punishment. The ref got that one wrong but I can see why - the GK randomly crunched into his own defender so it looked like a big collision. Never mind.
I'm not sure diving is any more prevalent now than in the past. It may just be the incredible degree of TV coverage and scrutiny, which simply didn't exist 30 or 40 years ago. Having said that, I'd say referees effectively encourage diving. They don't give enough fouls when players stay on their feet and as a result players feel they need to hit the deck if they want the decision to go their way.
That might be fine if referees didn't occasionally book and subsequently red card players for diving when they haven't on either occasion. I put up a video the other day of Forestieri of Sheff Wed being booked several times for diving. Run the video back and each time it is so easily seen that he has been clearly fouled. He was sent off for one of the so-called dives. I'll put it up again. Note: no trailing foot left for tripping over. No anticipation of tackle. No 'looking for it' tactic, nothing.
Yes, then fine. But what can you do about refs who book or send off innocent players. That's where VARs will come in to make sure those disadvantages are undone immediately, or never get done in the first place.
They are pretty amazing. Look, I know nothing of Forestieri. I think someone mentioned him once as someone they'd like Saints to sign, but that's about it. So I have nno idea whether he's a serial diver who only gets the occasional errors against him, and he usually gets away with murder, I have no idea. However, having said all that, the above examples are so cut and dried wrong decisions it really makes you wonder. And that's to one player over some part of a season. And tbf, Forestieri looks a bit useful.
PFA shortlists announced. Kane & Lukaku up for both player and young player of the year. Other nominees are: Player of the year - Ibrahimovic, Sanchez, Hazard & Kante Young player of the year - Alli, Keane, Sane & Pickford
