Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

No - before Drogba arrived, it seems that the game had its cheats but no worse than anywhere else. Then it's like he came along and raised the bar for cheating. Then players who came from leagues where diving was prevalent (Spain, Italy etc) realised they could get away with it more, instead of abiding by our slightly-less respected rules.

He just comes across as a nasty, arrogant piece of work anyway. His outburst at the camera on Sky Sports and his subsequent forced apology didn't surprise me one bit.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Leeds were pretty dirty as well.

---------- Post added at 14:53 ---------- Previous post was at 14:49 ----------

Rooney has had outbursts on camera. Only difference is Drogba's outburst was somewhat understandable given the context.

England has long had cheats and dirty players. In fact for so long that's all we really had whereas players with technical ability were rare and had to cope with everyone else trying to kick them out of the game. A entire league of Stoke Citys. I think it's somewhat of a myth that we like to spread that we were above cheating or foul play. I don't think it's worse now. It's different now because we play a faster more nimble game so people falling to ground is more common and it's considerably easier to foul someone.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

You don’t like the man fair enough but to blame him for the escalation of the cheating and diving culture? Come on. Why not blame Robert Pires? He was in the league 4 years before Drogba.

Yes he can be a tool on the pitch but so what he is entertaining. Plus I have a lot of respect for what he does off the pitch.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I watched the rooney incident yesterday on tv, that he got banned for two games. That was nasty, and i still wonder how he only got two game ban. The authorities are too soft.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

In fairness just about the whole of the Arsenal team in the early-to-mid 2000s were known for their cheating.

But Drogba was the complete package - a cheat AND an arrogant, nasty player. He set the standard.

In other news Arsenal have had a £3 million bid for Joe Allen turned down. OK we may be new to the Premiership but £3m for him is disrespectful. Next Wenger will be bidding £20m for Messi.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Thought this was interesting. Surprised Villa have the 2nd highest Wages V Turnover percentage. Man Utd have the lowest.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2012/05/8.gif

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...ebt?intcmp=239

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Joey Barton gets another 8 match ban and a £75,000 fine so that's him banned for 12 matches total..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18183661

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

That's nearly a third of the season, he can't expect to be paid during that time and QPR can't expect to of load him anytime soon either

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

gutted. ha!

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

now what will Joey do with the time off this time thats 3 months roughly :)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

The Sun is going to reveal a player at Arsenal or Spurs will be signing a new contract but it isn't RVP. I suspect it's Bale or Modric.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Bale I'd bet on...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yeah make sense. The Times reported this morning that he was going to stay.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

lame

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Update: Official confirmation of Romain Amalfitano's transfer to United appeared from SJP on Wednesday afternoon. He'll become a Magpie on July 1st when his current contract with Reims expires and a four year deal has been agreed. Squad number is tbc.

expect 2 or 3 more transfers in the coming days too.

guy reckons the squad will look like this next season.

Debuchy, Mbiwa Colo, Santon
Ben Arfa, Tiote, Cabaye, Amalfitano
Cisse, De Jong/Dost