Lionel Messi

[Eastside Urchin]

Watched the copa america tie last night between Argentina and columbia.Lionel Messi goes down like a sack of spuds to win a penalty,this is only 3 weeks after he punched the ball in the net to score what could of been a valuable goal for barcelona.

There is no doubt in my mind that this kid will possibly be tthe greatest footballer ever but does he really have to continually cheat to win games as it seems to be pretty much every week he is diving around for his team.

Imaging this at the next world cup,its quater final time again v england and he punches the ball in the net like maradona in 86 and once again gets away with it with the referee and linesman "choosing" not to see it once again.

Do we continue to play the game,Hope one of our players slaps the little tyke or walk off the field refusing to play on.

I for one would like the players to refuse to carry on the game as i feel this is the only way FIFA will ever combat this situation and to get players to stop cheating.

FIFA Should of sorted out this situation more than 20 years ago but it has got worse and is rife in every single league in the world.Every team has players that do it now although i do feel that the english players (minus ashley cole and a few lesser names) are less guilty than our friends from foreign shors.

What do you think?

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

I say set Zidane on him, seems his punishment gets noticed!

[Eastside Urchin]

And he kissed Tevez's face.

Only good thing was that when he won the penalty,hernan crespo then done appeared to pull his hamstring taking it and now misses the rest of the tournament

[Nutchutney]

Sadly cheating is a facet of the game that will never truly be eradicated. When Fifa/Uefa/The FA etc hand down edicts to referees about diving etc, the players just get more cunning.

Players like Drogba have reduced the amount of swan diving that they do but the feigning of injury and the playing for penalties will still continue.

At the highest level of the game, the difference between success and failure is huge especially financially and that is why we will always have players resorting to cheating.

 

[Greg_Dyke]

Fifa and Uefa and the Fa all need to get tough on the cheats....the worst thing is, if it continues for much longer, children starting to play at U11, U12 age groups will be copying this, and adopting the habits of their Premiership heroes as normal and acceptable behaviour

 

However, the Players Union must take the boldest step and look at its own members.

[Eastside Urchin]

There is plenty they could do.If a player rolls around on the floor for 30 seconds feigning injury and then gets up and runs normally he is therefore cheating,if you are injured you don't get up and run like a champion racehorse.Ban them for 3 games.

When people start missing finals regularly it will soon stop them.

Use video evidence to ban cheats after games.These rules would be simple to use and would stamp it out.

[Eastside Urchin]

sorry to dissapoint you greg but children of 11-12 are already copying this,they have done for ages.And some younger as well

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Originally Posted By: Nutchutney

Sadly cheating is a facet of the game that will never truly be eradicated. When Fifa/Uefa/The FA etc hand down edicts to referees about diving etc, the players just get more cunning.
Players like Drogba have reduced the amount of swan diving that they do but the feigning of injury and the playing for penalties will still continue.
At the highest level of the game, the difference between success and failure is huge especially financially and that is why we will always have players resorting to cheating.

Did you copy that straight out of a book or is that really your opinion mr Brooking?

[Mr Happy]

I always thought Easty was a closet Wet Spam fan!

[Richard Macey]

Originally Posted By: urchin_mentalist

There is no doubt in my mind that this kid will possibly be the greatest footballer ever

[Bridge]

Shame that not one of the mentioned players above will ever play for the @rse!!!

 

[Nutchutney]

Originally Posted By: Westie

Originally Posted By: Nutchutney

Sadly cheating is a facet of the game that will never truly be eradicated. When Fifa/Uefa/The FA etc hand down edicts to referees about diving etc, the players just get more cunning.
Players like Drogba have reduced the amount of swan diving that they do but the feigning of injury and the playing for penalties will still continue.
At the highest level of the game, the difference between success and failure is huge especially financially and that is why we will always have players resorting to cheating.

Did you copy that straight out of a book or is that really your opinion mr Brooking?

My own opinions, actually.

[Eastside Urchin]

ok,so sorry messi is not one of the most talented players you will ever see.Come on spuddy,think you need to watch more football.Messi has more talent in his little finger than anything you will ever see on your england trips.Thats what makes it so sad that a player that good has to cheat.

 

 

No offence Spuddy but if you have seen better than messi playing for anyone in england then let mclaren know!!!

[Eastside Urchin]

Nice try bridge,but we are not a team for superstars.We only make them then let them go.

[Eastside Urchin]

btw bridge,i am loving your missus doing the splits!!!

[coupwotcoup]

I seem to recollect one Robert Pires going down in the Pompey box in installments a few years back. He perfected the 'clip ones own ankle with the trailing leg' technique (aka cheating).

[and1inthetree]

if he had not, arsenal would have lost that game and would not have been the invincibles.

 

they're all dirty cheats, but redknapps face was worth it on this occasion.

 

what about michael owen vs argentina? little shthead.

[coupwotcoup]

Ha ha..the jury is still out on the Michael Owen incident...However, did you turn your back on the TV when Shearer banged home the penalty, in disgust? I don't think so...

[and1inthetree]

well there you go. it's all relative. um is incensed because messi is a dirty little argie.

 

you take issue with pires, presumably because he's a cheating little frog.

 

but the jury is out on lickle michael owen, bless his cottons and wow, didn't shearer used to take a penalty well.

[coupwotcoup]

...I think Messi is quality actually. Shame he and many others have to resort to such 'low' tactics to gain an advantage.

I only mentioned Pires (one of many) because of UM's Ar$e bent, and that incident sprung to mind.

Also, je t'aime les Francaise...je suis un fangeur...

Shearer's spot kicks were..err spot on?