As for my statements about Klinsmann, they were carefully worded so as not to cause offence to some overly sensitive Lilywhites (:P), but I stand by them, and I’m sure Costacurta has yet to forgive the cheating so-and-so for his 1994 European Cup semi-final antics!

The defence rests;-)

Whilst its easy to single out Chelsea on the third point (big team, big coverage and Drogba’s recent slips of the tongue plus perhaps the most disgaceful single dive I’ve ever seen on a British pitch outside of Robbie Earnshaw at Windsor Park), it has to be (and generally is) accepted that its not only Chelsea players doing this.

Van Niistelrooy was rightly vilified for his air-born antics, Diouf’s falling over habit is almost as nasty as his spitting, the warnings of diving doom were sounded for Klinsman’s arrival over a decade ago (thankfully he wasn’t as bad in the Premiership as previous high-profile sprawls would suggest).

What has to be understood is that diving should not be “just part of the game”. Diving/simulation should be treated as seriously as foul-play, even if it has to be done retrospectively, as it is potentially just as key to the outcome of a game (wrongly awarded penalties, sendings-off etc). If you can be “done” for violent conduct after the event and you can have cards rescinded later on, why can’t you be “done” for simulation?

This is not a Chelsea witch-hunt, this is a cheats witch-hunt which must be carried out for the good of the game. INTEGRITY

I support Spurs by the way, nothing to hide there and I’m glad to say we don’t really have any players at the minute who are more partial to lying on the ground than staying on their own two feet. I know Ginola was accused of it many times but I usually found him to take more than his fair share of over the top challenges as well and stay on his feet.

Squiddy, I won’t hear a word against Gary Lineker, the man is a saint and those shirts he wears on Match of the Day with the top few buttons undone are in no way inappropriate viewing for blokes on a Saturday night (note to Lineker: it’s Match of the Day, not the bloody Tom Jones show, button your f***ing shirt up). Also, I’m not English so how does that make me a hypocrite? If I was a professional player who dived on the pitch and then wrote this post I would be a bit of a hypocrite, I advise a trip to http://www.dictionary.com.

If it makes you all feel better I’ll start a list of other team’s players who in my opinion go to ground too easily, feel free to add your own:

Michael Owen
Emile Heskey
“Lily” Savage
Robert Pires
Cristiano Ronaldo
Luis Garcia
Kevin Davies

Not paranoid so much as pissed off by the ‘Chelsea players this’ and ‘Chelsea players that’ mentality which is affecting journos and bloggers alike.

I think Cole has cleaned up his act this season, which rather makes a lie of those claims that Mourinho encourages his players to dive. In my opinion Drogba goes down very easily sometimes, when at other times it appears that he could hold off the whole opposing team and still remain on his feet.

To single him out in a press witch-hunt is disgusting, though. If articles such as yours were more balanced, I wouldn’t even have replied.

Geoff Hurst and Roger Hunt: 1966 World Cup Final. CHEATS
Every supporter of England in the 1966 Cup Final. Apologists for cheats.
Michael Owen for England v Argentina, diving for a penalty. CHEAT
(Saint) Gary Lineker openly admits to diving twice against Cameroon for penalties in the World Cup. CHEAT.
Francis Lee. A career entirely composed of cheating for England and Man City.

I’m trying to find the announcement that they are giving up their International caps and win bonuses, but I can’t find one. CHEATS.

That’s the trouble with English players, especially when they’ve played for England, teaching the world how to cheat and profit from it. A nation of cheats, clearly.

But no, so we’re now informed. It only began this season in West London. Funny that.

This article has won my “hypocrite of the day” award. Congratulations.

Any arguments about the two players I’ve mentioned being renowned divers? Didn’t think so hence their inclusion.