Great set of results for us so far with spuds and Chelsea soccerers dropping points
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Was just thinking about the amount of blatant cheating or unsportsmanlike conduct that is so prevalent in the prfessional game.
Players diving, feigning injuries, time wasting, appealing fir every throw/corner, arguing when they commit blatant fouls or the ball goes off them out of play. For me it is getting beyond ridiculous and is definitely off putting.
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I couldnât agree more. But I blame the authorities more than the players. There are rules in place to deal with all of these things but the refs donât apply them (well not consistently anyway). 
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Itâs not that the refâs donât apply them, it is the media critizising them when they do.
3-4 years back, they brought in the law that diving was to be a yellow card, and it literally lasted 2 games before the media started moaning about it and the refs got scared to continue on with it.
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It would take some balls to get it back, but I would love to see it. However atm the refs are part of the problem as they are ill educated in the nuances of what is or isnât a foul as they have never played the game and arenât coached properly to recognise foul play
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Also they said they were going to go hard on foul play from corners, I think Atkinson was the only one to enforce it, several penalty kicks later it was changed, the authorities are a joke
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Again, that falls back onto the media complaining about the refs actually reffing the game rather than âletting it flowâ.
The other one that gives me the shits is âfeeling contact in the boxâ that managers sprout in post match interviews. I would love a journalist or pundit just once, give a copy of the rules to a manager when they say this and ask them to point out where the rule about contact in the box is a penalty
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Footballâs reputation for these shenanigans amongst those who donât follow it is very low indeed, especially in places where it is not the dominant code.
It is a real shame.
It would be thoroughly refreshing if there were journalists who decided to just actually start challenging prominent figures on their claims and holding them to truth.
Sadly actual journalism died a long time ago.
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The commentator on a French game was moaning for a whole 5 mins about a pen, itâs the rules and he just got tiresome in the end.
Aye, look at who Franceâs back ups are. That, more than Loris being a top class keeper, is the main reason he has been such a mainstay of such a successful side. This isnt a case of Neuer keeping Ter Stegen out of the side. Itâs a case of having to pick him because your next best options are the guy who cannot get a game at West Ham because of Fabianski, and someone who a few years back (in the peak of his career) couldnt get a game at Palace because of Wayne Hennesy.
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50% chance to end up in the Top4 now.
Brighton away and Chelsea - opponents wonât get easier.
Hopefully we will have some more players available after the FA Cup.
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For the first time in many a years, might need to find something else to do when weâre on.
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Yup, Iâm gonna end up smashing things otherwise
12 days until Brighton.
Virgil, Hendo, Milly, Bobby should be back.
Gakpo will be available.
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Keita Jones and Matip will have found new tweaks by then though.
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Elliott will have found new ways to cough up the ball by then
Brighton win, Bournemouth win.
All I care about this evening.
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Donât care to be honest.
Oh but you would come the end of the season should Everton narrowly escape relegation by 2 points and Utd pip us to 4th by a point.
You say you donâtâŚbut really you do.