anyone else sick of San Jose's diving? Donovan, Graziani and Derosario fall down anytime someone breathes on them.
Graziani is the absolute worst! He falls down faster than most leaves do, and then he'll get up and walk away swinging his hair. Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!
Anyone remember one of the Burn's games last year, when Graziani faked an injury and went off to the side, then came right back on and scored a goal?
Graziani dove in the penalty area against the Sounders in the US Open Cup this year and got a penalty called against us. We were up 3-2 at the time with less than 15 minutes to go. I like Graziani. But I think he deserves some stick for his diving. What are some chants that opposing supporters have for him? - Paul
Yes I do--although, to give him credit--it was a pretty finish. One touch, off the outside of his left foot. It was so good I forgave him.
I don't mind the diving done by many players throughout the league, even though most of the time there doing just to get a call. BUt what I do mind and can't stand is when many players fall and roll around like they've been shot or something. Case in point, Faria last night against Dallas, was fouled right outside the box and started rolling around like four times. My girlfriend who was watching the game with me and knows sh$$ about soccer said it seemed so fake. Not only does it seem so fake it makes them look like wusses. Thats what I can't stand.
When Donovan falls, he reminds me of a rag doll. I think two players that should leave this league (for the better) is Graziani and Diallo. Both play the game always looking for the easy way. I get sick to my stomach when I watch them. It degrades the game.
The diving doesn't bother me that much. If the refs are stupid enough to call it, so be it. It's the rolling around looking like wusses what bothers me the most. Get up and play. I played on plenty of injuries, and never once did I roll around no matter how much pain I was in.
I once broke my ankle while playing in the first half of a game. Yup, broke in half. It hurt, but I finished the game playing (which was about another 50 minutes). It totally screwed up my ankle and my ankle will never completely heal, but I didn't roll around in pain. The people who dive and cry, and then the refs that call the dives, make the game harder to watch. That's why a lot of people haven't jumped on the soccer bandwagon is the US, because they think the fake "Oh my God, I'm in so much pain and now I've ruined my career which has ruined my life!" dive, roll, and wince is pathetic. I agree. Refs need to be on top of that more, especially if players with a reputation (a la: Graziani) are playing.
I played on a pulled and sore hamstrings many times. I'm paying for it now because they are very tight and hurt alot. They are even sore after I ref a game. I also played on a broken finger, but that doesn't really matter in soccer. Not once did I ever roll over and cry. I got up, limped, and kept playing. Soccer bashers love that aspect of the game because it makes the game look bad. I also can't stand players turning to the ref and waiting for the call. You can't stop playing if the whistle is not blown. I see it more in the international game then in the MLS. They are not going to change the style of play for the USA's benefit.
you pansies make me sick. I once got shot in the first half of a match and then had my head severed at halftime while protecting innocent children from a street gang. I not only finished the match but I also had sex with most of your girlfriends before going to the hospital. pussies.
Oh yeah, and I think the play-acting stuff is what seperates somebody like Graziani from somebody like Twellman. Twellman actually goes down quite a bit, but he doesn't fake the injury, he just gets right back up if nobody calls it.