Odd one out - Rodney Marsh, Craig Conway or Kimbo?

There have been a few comments on here about Craig Conway’s ability to fall over at the briefest of contact from an opponent, but the problem has been endemic in the game for years. Now players are actively encouraged by clubs to “go to ground” if it seems an option.

I can remember as long ago as September 1969 with QPR coming to town, the Echo was full of, “don’t go near Rodney Marsh in the penalty area, as he will go over”. A great player, but to my mind, the provider of the thin end of the wedge.

Now, for a winger like Conway, he will often be receiving the ball wide and tight to the touchline or maybe near the goal line. Because of the geography of a football pitch, he will therefore have far fewer options on where he can go and the direction of the pass he can make than, say, a central midfielder, for whom the park opens up in all directions. Taking a dive in a tight spot will therefore be more of an option.

Conversely on Saturday, Kimbo was clattered in midfield, but, instead of going down, rode the foul and looked to play on before being taken out by a second Watford “challenge”. A refreshing attitude, but sadly not seen often enough nowadays…….

but i I await red614s verdict upon this,

Noone is equally willing to 'take a dive' when it suits him.

Bellamy seems more able to stay on his feet unless genuinely clattered.

Diving to win a free-kick/penalty has been around for years, albeit to a lesser extent. It wasn't always 'Johnny Foreigner' either.

Feigning injury is one of the things that really winds me up even more though.

I'm staying out of this

thought u may

G-ster wrote:Noone is equally willing to 'take a dive' when it suits him.

Bellamy seems more able to stay on his feet unless genuinely clattered.

Diving to win a free-kick/penalty has been around for years, albeit to a lesser extent. It wasn't always 'Johnny Foreigner' either.

Feigning injury is one of the things that really winds me up even more though.

Exactly my point! We are going back 44 years to Rodney Marsh, one of the most talented footballers England has ever produced, but he made diving an artform.........

Didn't Francis Lee make self-tripping in the penalty area something of a dark art too?

Arkay v2.0 wrote:Didn't Francis Lee make self-tripping in the penalty area something of a dark art too?

I was just thinking about one of the TV commentators in the 80s or 90s referring to someone who won a dubious penalty, as having done so "Franny Lee style".

G-ster wrote:

Arkay v2.0 wrote:Didn't Francis Lee make self-tripping in the penalty area something of a dark art too?

I was just thinking about one of the TV commentators in the 80s or 90s referring to someone who won a dubious penalty, as having done so "Franny Lee style".

I think Francis Lee just enjoyed taking penalties. I wouldn't have wanted to get in the way of one of them.....

What about Rudy.... he falls over if someone farts too hard in the bogs at the back of the Canton...

Valley Trash wrote:What about Rudy.... he falls over if someone farts too hard in the bogs at the back of the Canton...

Sorry, that was me.

I remember it well (QPR'69). Marsh's reputation as a diver was immense. So immense that one would wonder why the referees weren't aware of it for another year or more. Sure enough, first opportunity he had he dived with all the grace of a diver diving into water and got himself a penalty.

I've been told Franny Lee was an outrageous diver and that Kevin Keegan wasn't arrived to park his perm in the grass. They must have pre-empted Johnny F's influence.

Craig Conway is the odd one out, because the other two are footballers...

Red614 wrote:Craig Conway is the odd one out, because the other two are footballers...

Ah Red, you never disappoint........