Richarlison encouraged by Silva to stay on his feet

They should sit him down and show him the 1966 games Brazil played at Goodison Park. How Bulgaria kicked any player that moved. What Pele and his team mates had to put up with. Apart from the fact that the most famous footballer in history played at Goodison Park and he was Brazilian, the 1966 Brazil team were full of great players.

It's a bit sad really that you have to work with a player to keep him vertical. I'd laugh but the present situation makes it a bit difficult.

He could be a very good player and he's still young, so hopefully he'll take all this on board.

He could start at Southampton and only fall over if he really is tripped up or seriously pushed. The decisions have gone against him because of his propensity to fall down and stay down.

Well, at least when he falls, he falls well. I'm always concerned he's going to hurt himself hitting the ground. But he's practically a judo master at it. Or maybe a jedi master.

But anyway, it's gotta stop.

The dieing Swan routine can work against you, Ricky, and get tiresome to look at. .

1966 aside, as it was 53 years ago (may want to double-check that as I didn't use a calculator) and really can't be compared to the game today, the problem is simply that when you flop around 15 times, the one time you ARE genuinely fouled, you've already trained the refs to pay you no mind. This will cost us set pieces, penalties, and potentially even goals. If it hasn't already.

The more he does it, the more he gets ignored. And on and on. Not all that different than a toddler throwing a tantrum. Difference being the toddler eventually learns.

I sure hope someone told him in far more explicit, direct terms than what's quoted above. Time to put on the big boy pants, Richy.

Mr Silva should, in the dressing rooms, take him out of sight of the other players and shout at the top of his voice, "CUT IT OUT YOU LOOK SO STUPID!", and then walk back like nothing has happened so he knows how everyone else feels.

Totally agree with previous comments, that going to ground too easily is having the opposite effect, instead of being awarded a foul or free kick, even when genuine, is being overlooked by officials, and could be costing us 'potential' much needed points.

Alan J, " Silva shout at the top of his voice " come on, throw his Teddy Bear at him maybe, bit such an act of leadership and control, I don't believe he is capable of displaying.

It's seems Richy is becoming Everton's answer to Neymar. Unfortunately it's not the talented, game breaking Neymar, but the theatrical, roll around the pitch, laughable Neymar.

Wise up!

He's a big lad and I think he should be able to plough through the tackles like Lukaku could, then defenders would be more scared of him. Right now, it looks like they reckon they can foul him with impunity...

Totally agree with all above – but why has it taken Silva so long to "drop" the frickin' hint? Especially agree with Richard's last sentence at #8.

He is embarrassing, and his reputation means we fail to get genuine decisions. Moyes would have nipped it in the bud straight away.

Richard @8, I agree totally with your last point, Richarlison can be and is fouled with impunity – you just have to witness the very late action on Sunday, no foul and no red card!

I also wonder why his team mates can't get through to him that he needs to stay on his feet. I thought he was getting better towards the end of last season. Maybe his time away with Brazil has set him back?

I think it's important that Silva points out to the fans that he's addressing these things. We saw that he also adapted our zonal marking last season when it clearly didn't work, and despite trying it out again this season it appears that we were man-to-man at set-pieces against Spurs.

These little things give me hope that our manager can learn and improve himself. I think I'm still one of the minority few that aren't calling for his head!

I would like to play the devil's advocate and contend that, since he is a very talented player, he is targeted by the opposition. Now, if he were playing in the team ‘whose name we shall not take', would he be getting better protection from the refs? You bet he would.

It is a vicious cycle – if the opposition know that, every time a particular player has contact, that player is going to fall and the ref is going to blow the whistle, they tend to stand off that player, making him look very good (think Messi, Salah, etc) and he becomes a more dangerous player and the reputation grows and grows.

Now, I am not saying that Richarlison is Messi or Salah class, but he is playing for unfashionable Everton, and we all know how the system favours the Big Clubs. So, yes, he does need to man-up, and make that extra effort to perform in spite of opposition rough-house tactics. I would also expect the club to stand up for their players more and call out the blatantly wrong decisions, like what Spurs and Pochettino did to successfully overturn the red card on a leg-breaking incident.

Gerry (9). It may be that it has "taken so long", because this week a reporter in "The Times" has written an article about Richarlison's propensity for falling over.

My fear is that, far from winning us free-kicks and penalties, the Times article is more likely to get Richarlison a red card for simulation in the penalty area, a la Niasse's in the week the offence was first introduced.

We, as ever, were the very first club to suffer under that rule – and it has largely been ignored ever since.

After the Gomes / Son red card fiasco, no doubt the authorities will think this is a good time to resurrect the "simulation" red card punishment and the Times article has set Richarlison up for it, very nicely.

It certainly won't happen to Mane, across the way, of course, despite what Guardiola said and everyone else thinks.

If Richarlison got fouled, then got straight back up and carried on no matter how bad the tackle was, he'd cut a far more intimidating threat to defenders. Defenders used to stand off Ferguson because of that element of doubt and intimidation. Richarlison has 10 times the skill and pace of Ferguson and could use it to his advantage.

I remember watching something about Stuart Pearce. He got taken out thigh high, stood up, brushed himself off and carried on. The player that took him out was still on the floor. Pearce had already won the psychological battle. If Richarlison could get into the heads of defenders, he'd be a monster.

Hugh (14). I doubt it took the reporter in The Times to bring this statement from Silva about Richarlison, as Gerry (9) says ‘Why has it taken so long' referring to Silva's statement.

Everton fans have been deploring the ridiculous diving of the Brazilian since became here. If he listens and starts staying on his feet, he will be a better player from it, Everton can benefit from it, and I can sit down and relax without jumping up and screaming at the idiotic nonsense I've got to watch from the man-child.

Be a bleedin' man, for God's sake, you are more than embarrassing.

He needs to clear his head and quick. I've said on other posts, this ain't helping the cause at all. Think back to Andy Johnson, and we got sweet fuck-all in decisions, and his speciality was a latter-day rendition of Franny Lee.

Times have changed but, in the context of crap referees now whom it seems rely on replays rather make a decision on the spot, in our current plight, every player must work and play hard and fair to win every game.

Sunday's game was, even by Atkinson's standards, one of his worst ever. He shouldn't have any games until 2020.

Ajay @13 is spot on, Richarlison needs to man up for the next few months at least. Refs are reluctant to give us anything and his reputation for going down at a puff of wind won't help us (or him).

The worst diver I have ever seen in an Everton shirt.

To be fair to Richarlison, in the Spurs game he was wiped out by Sanchez twice and got neither decision. Had that been Salah, you can bet it would have been different.

That said, taking it down a notch would serve him well in general.

Am I the only one that thought the incident with Sanchez was not a penalty?

It's bad enough he dives but then he lies there with a puss on him, leaving the Blues a man down.

We need a Zlatan. Someone who, first thing, the sun says "Good morning" to.

I think Silva put it to him the best possible way: "You're talented, no need to dive."

No need to give him alibis as in how to protected (or not) our players when compared to other teams.

Will he listen? I doubt it.

I agree with Ajay.

The lad has bags of talent and should try to stay on his feet more.

If and when he moves on to a Champions League team, he can get his diving repertoire back out and earn some penalties but, whilst he is playing for us, he will have to learn that we don't get soft decisions.

And across the park sippin on his morning coffee and reading TW as he does every morning before training , a certain Mr J Klopp holds his belly and laughs out loud,,

"ha ha Evatan you fools" "You, of course just teach him to do it mush better, thzan come out in front of dze press and say Dive ? I don't know what you mean "

Thats what REAL winners do ;)

Classic clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__G4RrlGmVk

Ajay #13 – spot on.

Hugh #14 – couldn't agree more about Mane.
Jer #25 – witty and probably very true! I have long suspected that, far from discouraging their players from going to ground, they actively encourage and probably practice it!

Duncan @12 that's a really excellent point that many, including myself, may have overlooked. I think Silva has made more adjustments in the past 3 league games (lineups, formation, the aforementioned zonal marking)) than his first 46 combined. Obviously he lurks TW and is reading our comments 😁

Richarlison is still very young, and I really feel he is the sort of player who needs perhaps and old, wise head playing up there with him and both "protecting " him and sort of "wisening him up".

A while ago, Diego Costa was routed as a potential loanee: Costa's use of the Dark Arts of centre-forward play would be absolutely perfect playing with Richy. Every time Richarlison gets clattered, Diego would be in the referee's face and also warning the defender he is going to get it back.

At the moment, Richarlison sits on his arse waiting for the ref to give a foul (often to no avail) and his team mates look to the sky in bemusement? His frustration grows visibly.

It's no coincidence that the player was linked to Atletico Madrid as his all action, harrying style fits the manager's requirements, and I have little doubt that he would be more successful in La Liga as the referees over there appear to me to be protecting the attacking player in situations where the defender comes in from the side, or behind to attack the ball with the attacker's back to goal.

Silva's talk with him was right, but for me, Richarlison is being asked to take a lot of responsibility, you can see the lad is trying so hard, but we lack a beast in the CF position – a Costa, Suarez, Cavani or a Shearer if you like? He will continue to be isolated until Everton sign an experienced talisman-type centre forward. I think young Moise Kean would benefit in a similar way.

With any luck, we'll see a response on Saturday, and help us to a win.

I really think there should be a retrospective analysis of every match (I mean, I would like to think refs sit down and review their matches anyway). Retrospectively hand out yellow and red cards based on the hard evidence of watching the TV replay, when a panel can agree on a decision being absolutely clear.

That wouldn't affect the result of the match, but if players were getting retrospective bans for diving, bad tackles, unsporting behaviour etc. then it would surely curb behaviour for future matches.

Why should he stay on his feet if he's been clattered?

He shouldn't have to go the extra mile to get a "fair" decision from the ref.

It was penalty and a red card on Sunday, but we got fuck all as usual.

Keep falling over, lad, maybe one of our team will start getting in the ref's face (I bagsy Delph) and start getting the free-kicks and penalties we actually deserve.

The cunts across the park have made a career out of it, we need to wise up and simply start to do it better.

Adapt and overcome.

I was always taught – Get fouled, get back up and snarl at your adversary and make sure he knows that he's going to get some payback!

These days, its fast becoming a non-contact sport.

Tony J Williams # 32

We need to ask Man City if we can borrow Arteta to show him how to do it properly.

Arteta could feel the contact and pick the perfect moment to go down and always look like a genuine victim without the all screaming and rolling around.

He made the opposition's bigger players look like thugs.

Rob Marsh, Arteta knew how to position himself to take a foul. He seemed to invite the foul. The opponent knew it would be a foul and would do it, Arteta would want the foul and so invites it. He also knew how to take the foul without getting injured. For someone who was fouled so often (didn't he lead the charts over a number of seasons as the most fouled player?) he rarely got injured. He had this sixth sense about when the opponent would dive in and so never seemed vulnerable to a big whack.

Arteta also took the free-kicks though, He was already thinking about the free-kick on the way down, and by the time the ref blew the whistle he was back up ready to take it so no one else would.

And yeah, I absolutely loved Mikel Arteta, such a joy to watch, not just how good he was, but how he played the game, and his attitude in general. I always thought he was a player who summed Everton up. Skilful, hardworking and prepared to battle.

Steve Ferns # 35

Totally agree with you.

Seamus probably is the biggest bargain the club has ever had, but we paid very little for Arteta £2m? (it's nothing!) and in my books he's right up there with Seamus.

How he never played for Spain?

The diving doesn't bother me so much as the playing dead. We seem to play about 15 minutes of every game with 10 men, cos Richarlison is lying on the ground clutching his head, knee, bollocks, teddybear.

I don't think he's that bad a diver to be fair. Not compared to the likes of Son and Salah. But he needs to get up quicker.

Sterling used to catch a lot of flak for falling over so much. He's changed and now gets lots of calls. I think Richcarlson will change as well.

Sunday‘s display by Ritchie was embarrassing. I think he is our most fouled player and one of our most physical. He'll be okay.

Good for Silva as well. Talking about it in the papers will reinforce his message.

Liam 33... your name doesn't sound South Korean, but it does sound like you learned to play football in the same place as Mr Son (not Daniel Son).

Remember that one about Dalglish never got invited to Shankly's funeral, in case he dived in the box.

I really think Silva should have dealt with this in private a long time ago.(Remember he had him at Watford.)

Now it's all over the media that Silva is speaking to Richarlison about his diving. Could you imagine Klopp doing this?

This sheep of an excuse for a manager needs to go.

The belly flops work a treat for Salah and Mane. Fart on them and they fall over.

I wish he would stop diving for all the reasons cited above but also because it is just boring. It distracts from the flow of the game and frankly he an atrocious actor. Stay in your feet Richie your good enough.

Rob (#36) the reason Mikky A never played for Spain were threefold; Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets.

Don # 44

All excellent players and Arteta was in that class, just not given his chance.

He should stay on his feet more but it was a penalty against Spurs, Sanchez never touched the ball, as Tim and the boys said in the studio.

What galls me, Richarlison has never been cautioned, for allegedly diving, it has been discussed at today's press conference, to the media. Mane dived last Saturday, and got a yellow card yet again, as Pep mentioned, no more about it in the media. Klopp has been quiet, and all the focus is about our man... seriously, guys?

Arteta played for Everton so he lacked the profile back home. he was closer to the Spain side when he played for Arsenal, and that was after I thought he had become reduced as a player as a result of that horrific knee injury. He lost that zip of acceleration and went from the matador who just to dance around tackles to a player who kept the team ticking over.

Oh you also left Cesc Fabregas and David Silva off the list. Spain had an abundance of riches. There was also the likes of the lad Senna from Villareal and I'm sure Real Madrid had a couple who got in the Spain side ahead of him.

In a nutshell, Richarlison is diving and he's also being fouled.

He's probably not the most talented diver in the prem amongst a great many, but it's really this bout of final death throws he acts out every time he's fouled that's giving him and us problems more that anything else.

Silva said he's trying to keep him on his feet, if he's fouled then he's fouled! Silva should never have said this publicly and dealt with it in house.

If at the start they'd have gotten a grip on his amateur dramatics he'd be winning his fare share of fouls legally or illegally now.

46 Christy. Klopp has not been quiet. I saw a headline in the Guardian that read something like “Klopp: Mane not a diver” in response to Guardiola. Mane has got a lot more attention than Ritchie because the City-Liverpool game is coming up.

I think talking about it in the media is a very smart play. It tells the ref that there's a pretty good chance that when Ritchie goes down a foul is merited.

Of course it will take time for him to improve his rep but some games with good behavior following the news story will help.

It's been tiresome for some time but is now beyond embarrassing.

Surely, Silva should have sorted this out over 12 months ago?

He didn't and it's now costing us points.

When you look at Richarlisons overall game, a game SIlva was also aware of at Watford why the fuck is he only deciding to work on this now?

I don't care how hard you get hit. If you can stay on your feet, then do. Don't go down crying like a 5 year old. Your a man for god's sake.

Silva's comments are ridiculous! Yes we all feel frustrated at Richarlison's diving and I want Silva to give him a kick up the arse privately. But this public statement just says, ‘Yes, Richarlison is a diver'. If even his manager thinks he is then he must be. Watch us get completely fucked over by referees (more so) in the coming weeks. I can see nothing to be gained from this approach and everything to lose.

Ben 54, if he said nothing at all then you'd have given Marco Silva a bit of praise for it I assume? Sounds unlikely.

I wouldn't praise him for not saying something? That's a strange vortex you've trapped me in.

You may have taken me for a Silva hater who will use anything to beat him with. I'm not, and in fact still hope that he comes good.

I maintain my point that this is naive at best and completely reckless at worst. Does nobody remember the damage Andy Johnson's reputation sufferered, and the subsequent lack of decisions that went for him, after Wenger waxed lyrical about him?

Well, in my opinion, his own manager has just done exactly the same thing.

Fair point Ben - I was just being my usual wind-up-merchant self! I agree with you, but feel that Silva currently needs to show a large section of fans that he's trying to sort out the things that get on our tits... this being one of many!

Duncan, I think you're right. That this is probably a PR thing. Silva would have had words with Richarlison long ago. You'd hope so anyway. I don't know how you could fail to mention it when he's lying on the floor (uninjured) and play goes on around him.

Don't worry about Richarlison though. He's got that paternal relationship with Silva and I doubt that will be affected. It's also been a criticism that Silva picks Richarlison no matter what.

Ben@54: I would a agree with you if Silva had said that Richie dives, but he didn't say that. He simply said he should aim to stand up more in the face of strong defenders, at the same time saying it is difficult to deal with the defending in the PL.

Many managers in the PL seem to encourage forwards to go down at the least hint of contact, which is not only wrong but counter productive if you get nothing for it from the ref. Silva seems to be going against that policy, which is good.

Makes me laugh all this talk of he needs to learn off a hardman.
We have DUNCAN FERGUSON for gods sake.
The way things have gone recently I think Marco must read TW as everything that gets 20+ posts on here Marco seems to adopt. Play Iwobi down the middle, Drop Morgan and Seamus, Tell Richy to stay on his feet, get yourself a taxi, …..well maybe not the last one.

Tony J Williams # 32

Agree, the lad really can't win. Can't buy a foul for 'diving' like all the other c**ts and certainly can't get one legitimately. On top of that the idiotic statement by Silva now has him really stuffed. First of all a lack of PR after last weeks game and now a terrible lack of judgement by the manager.
Richarlison is a young lad trying to please (by hook or by crook) and deserves the fans to get behind him.
Lets do our own PR and get behind him and the rest of the team !!!!

In a country where street urchins survive on their wits, where young kids play soccer on the streets, often without shoes, where you would have to fight to stay alive and not show any sign of weakness that could be used against you. Brazil is to me the epitome of a tough, hard place to eke out an existence and especially with the footballing talent that abounds and its pride in its soccer past it would seem to be an honour and matter of pride to be counted as a Brazilian International

Then they roll out a gifted player who Everton fork out mega bucks for and the bugger can't stay upright. The slightest touch and he's falling around and making a mockery of himself and our once great club.

It's said that Silva took him under his wing, at Watford and now at Everton, nothing wrong with that...but there comes a time when all little boys have to grow up, stand on their own feet and be counted. In my day a swift clip around the ear 'ole did the trick, perhaps our Man Managing Manager Marco should try pushing his foot up Richarlison's arse, with a quick clip around the lug 'ole. It may not keep him upright for 90 minutes but knowing that the threat of a repeat boot up the backside may remind him that this is Premier League football and not dancing on ice.!!

Brazil is renowned for its nuts, hard nuts as well. We appear to have one with a soft centre! A bloody disgrace.

Robert,
When we all had polio and/or rickets. You could leave your front door open (cuz u ad f##k all worth nicking) and policemen helped old ladies across the rd.
Only pulling your leg.
Richy is being told to dive!! No player does it without being told ffs.

Came across these interesting stats,

Richarlison was fouled 2. 5 times per 90 minutes last season, but he also lost possession 6. 7 times per 90, and many of those moments involved him going to ground and not getting a call.

In the Tottenham game he was fouled once,

Jerome, presumably the stats you quote refer to fouls for which free-kicks were actually awarded? In which case they don't add anything to the debate.

Richarlison is not as good as he thinks he is. He's been watching Neymar too much but has about a 1/4 of his talent at best.

He runs like he's stuck in treacle, and falls over when there's anything stronger than a light breeze, it's embarrassing. The only positive is that he can finish - generally when he doesn't have time to think about it.

Jason @63. Never had polio or rickets thank God. We did have cockroaches though, used to see them all the time when we used to shelter under the stairs with mum as the German bombers passed overhead on their way to bomb Liverpool.

Perhaps that gives you some idea of my age and the ethics and morals we were taught and brought up with in those days long ago. The only diving came from Stuka and Kamkase Zero fighters, never from our own footballers.

IF as you say our dearly beloved Richy (as you call him) is being TOLD to dive, then whoever is doing the TELLING is not telling him to do it the right way. Take a look at those twats across the park – they have perfected that ancient art!

Or perhaps he should join the La Quebrada Cliff Divers in Acapulco, Mexico – he's from that part of the world or thereabouts and, so long as he doesn't bump his head on a few rocks on the way down, he should manage a round of applause instead of the boos and jibes of his home supporters.

James 66,

'The only positive is that he can finish – generally when he doesn't have time to think about it.'

Sounds like that other one we had with a brilliant IQ – the one that fucked off to Chelsea from his boyhood club (at a reduced price).

Robert - yep, we have a rich history of footballers with the brains of a rocking horse.

Steve #65,

They were fouls that resulted in free-kicks. But, when looked at in the context of losing possession and going to ground, they reflect the reality that we are all familiar with as regards Richarlison. He is more likely to go to ground than to try to retrieve possession.

This, in a nutshell, is what the problem is.

Nope, Jerome.

'In a nutshell', there is no correlation between the stats you offer and the claim you now make.

Richarlison's willingness to go to ground is frustrating, but he is not alone in the Premier League, is he? He's just not very good at it.

We have never been a club to condone diving, but apart from Burnley's manager, we seem to be out on a limb. I'm not excusing it. As a sports player myself, I hate cheating. I don't understand how players can run out onto the pitch with armbands saying 'Respect,' and then cheat each other. The players or clubs on the receiving end of the cheating are always so aggrieved, and yet they continue to do it to each other.

Football is not becoming a non-contact sport, it already is. It seems that, if a player falls on the ground, it must be a foul. Pundits on the TV saying things like 'There was contact,' and then excuse the player for going down for the foul or condoning a penalty, because 'there was contact'... ??!!

As I see it, going down for the foul in many cases, actually takes advantage away, unless a penalty is given. When the foul is given by the ref, it gives the opportunity for the team who committed the foul to get back and organized to defend. It actually gives them the advantage. Had the attacking player stayed on their feet, they may well have gone on to score. It's no accident that Rooney is one of the all-time record-holders for goals, as he rarely went down if he could stay on his feet, which often then resulted in a goal.

Diving is for cheats who oftentimes are rewarded with a penalty which wins the 3 points. Mane is a prime example. Vardy is super sly at leaving his foot in when he goes past defenders and makes it look like the defender fouled him. Martial is another who has made it into an art form. I could go on and name many more, but you get my point.

For me, the solution is simple. A new rule should be introduced. If a player is found to have duped the ref by diving, the team should be docked a point. I know VAR should have sorted this, but it hasn't to date. If a penalty is awarded by the ref and after the game is found to be the wrong decision and the player did actually dive, dock them 3 points. Don't punish the player. That just gives advantages to the top teams who have better quality squads and can replace a player with like for like quality. Dock them a point or 3 and the whole ethos would change. Managers and coaches would be advocating VERY strongly – STAY on your feet if you can.

I agree with all those on here that say that Richarlison needs to stay strong and stop the rolling around. But, so do all the other players, who are actually much better at duping the refs than he clearly is.

Rant over!!!

Jay# I disagree.

Richarlison is trying to claim more fouls than he is actually fouled. His effort would be better exspended in retrieving lost possession. rather than going to ground like a dying Swan.

It would make him a better player and team member, and he might get more fouls awarded , rather than missing out because of current perceptions of him.

In the Tottenham game he was definitely fouled by Sanchez and a penalty should have been given , but it was not given because of preconcieved perceptions.

In Britain, the pioneer of diving was Francis Lee of Man City in the late 60s and early 70s. It was quite funny watching him go to ground, it always looked like someone doing a belly flop in Norris Green baths. It was bloody annoying though when he won a free kick through these shenanigans. Although I can't actually remember him getting a penalty through it.

Compared to him, the majority of today's divers are masters of the art, and would put Laurence Olivier to shame as actors. Richie is an exception, and strikes me as a modern-day Francis Lee, a sort of old style retro diver. In that sense, I don't know why he bothers, he's just wasting his time, like Francis Lee, and would be better putting his obvious footballing talents to better use, either that or just frequenting Norris Green baths (if it hadn't been demolished).

No again Jerome.

You continue to assume a correlation between the data you originally presented and the claim you make which you haven't proved.

Your false assumption appears to be ('appears' because you are implying it, not stating it categorically) is that EVERY time he loses possession he goes to ground and makes no attempt to retrieve the ball.

That is clearly not the case as:

1) he is often dispossessed fairly and he doesn't 'milk it'

2) not every dispossession sees him writhing on the ground

3) he is FREQUENTLY seen tracking back and working hard to regain the ball.

Indeed, haven't recent stats shown him to have the highest tackle completions if not of the entire team then certainly amongst the midfield and forward players.

I have seen him track back 30-40-50 yards to assist in recovering the ball, even tracking back across the width of the park at times.

For your claims to hold any water you need to offer evidence showing both how many times per game he goes to ground and STAYS on the ground looking to get the ref's call when he could either avoid going down or recover quickly enough to challenge and regain possession for his team.

Good luck with that research.

Jay, spot on, Richie gets justified stick for going to ground, but that stick is often well over the top.

As an aside, regarding his footballing ability, I believe he is the best header of a ball in the Premier League. I haven't got any stats to back that up, but some of his heading has reminds me of Joe Royle.

Ah, Franny Lee, Stan. Him, Ralph Coates, Terry Hennessey, Kenny Hibbert and many others. Unfit, unattractive and glorious. 1970s gods. Entirely fitting that Francis made his fortune running a toilet roll business.

Tony, that's the thing, in the 1970s they fooled nobody, apart from occasionally the referee. They were regarded as annoying comedy figures rather than gods, except when they cheated a decision against you, in which case they were simply cheating twats.

Karen @73 I think you may have missed the point.

It's not so much that Richarlison is "cheating" or "diving," because honestly I don't think he is, and I don't think most here think he is either.

It's the falling down and then STAYING down, holding his head usually, and carrying on like he was shot. No issues with him trying, just maybe not 10+ times per game, and ditch the histrionic play-acting.

Mark, I think that's right. Not staying on his feet isn't the point. Marco should be telling him to get up faster. Once he's down and it's obvious nothing's gained from it, he needs to spring to his feet pronto. Surely there must be some training that Finch Farm could gear towards that.

It is getting to epidemic proportions nowadays and referees are responsible if they went over and told the player to get up you soft shite then book them we might get somewhere. The England game last night one of the Kossovans was going down every time anyone was near him and got a free kick every time the refs are the problem it is a contact sport for christs sake. Cheats shouldn't prosper if the RS had their suspect goals disallowed they'd be below us.