Graham Poll has labelled Fernando Torres a diver after an alleged incident against Bolton last weekend. Is he right or wrong?
In his interview, Poll stated:
"There are question marks over the way that Liverpool’s Fernando Torres went to ground after a tackle from Zat Knight when Liverpool were trailing 1-0 to Bolton.
“I can see no reason for him to fall in the way that he did. Would he have gone down like that if Liverpool had not been losing 1-0?”

In his interview, Poll stated:
"There are question marks over the way that Liverpool’s Fernando Torres went to ground after a tackle from Zat Knight when Liverpool were trailing 1-0 to Bolton.
“I can see no reason for him to fall in the way that he did. Would he have gone down like that if Liverpool had not been losing 1-0?”
I don't think it was a dive; it looks like his foot gave way or he twisted it in some way then went down.
ReplyDeletehe didn't even appeal for a penalty..zat knight was over reacting...
ReplyDeleteTorres is def not a diver, he is fouled alot by defenders because they worry about his pace
ReplyDeleteDid he even appeal for a penalty? He went down because he lost his balance after a solid tackle, not once did he raise his arms in suggestion of a penalty or appeal for one. Graham Poll is just a pathetic failed ref who couldn't spot a penalty from 2 inches away.
ReplyDeleteWhat does Poll think of the lumps Torres gets kicked out of him in every game. It happend in every game last season and in the games so far this season. When he complains about this treatment and the lack of free kicks he's branded a moaner or is branded a diver.
ReplyDeleteTorres never looked to the ref and was looked bemused whe confronted, while still on the floor by Knight and the other defender.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone listen to Poll he always thought the game was about him and remember this is the ref who gave two yellow cards to the same player in the same game but never sent them off.
torres will never dive ,he goes down coz of a hard tackle or may tuggigng his shirt
ReplyDeleteNando is my favourite player in the world, my favourite player since Fowler. Problem is, diving is easy. If you can get an easy penalty, why not take it? Its only a booking if you get caught, the same punishment for a slightly mistimed tackle. Until the powers that be really start cracking down on it, it'll always happen.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah we have players that dive occassionally, Fernando included. I wouldnt label him a serial diver like Rooney or Dropba, but he does do it and so does Stevie (who is worse than Nando). We're not the worst culprits by any means, but we do it. Incidentally, no I dont think in this case it was a dive.
Torres is not a diver, but of course this was a dive. A Very poor one at that. Poll is correct about this one. Either we see a fish out of water or Torres diving.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jamie, for someone who condemns diving so vehemently, you sure have some red-tainted goggles on you. Maybe you don't hate Liverpool that much... :)
This coming from the guy who gave three yellow cards to the same player. Poll has no credibility so shouldn't comment on any matters relating to football
ReplyDeleteBruce - you have posted a few abusive messages this morning, all of which have been deleted. I did ban you from posting, but after this post, which is fine, I've unbanned you. You're welcome on this site, but if you feel the need to start slagging me or the site off again, I'll just ban you again. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Graham would have given him 3 yellow cards before sending him off :-D
ReplyDeleteMaybe Graham would have given him 3 yellow cards before sending him off :-D
ReplyDeleteGraham Poll only ever seemed to do favours for Man Utd, and someone who has cheated as much as this referee should perhaps keep his mouth shut.
ReplyDeleteTest
ReplyDeleteit was just a heavy tackle and he was running at pace which means h had to go to ground so he didnt twist his ankle. However the two idiot defenders aggrevated the incident blowing it all out of proportion. Should accusing someone of diving also warrant a yellow card?
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!!!! PEOPLE THESE DAYS! >:o
ReplyDeleteJeepers lads, I don't know if you're watching the same clip - it was a definite dive. Watch his right foot as it lands just as the tackle happens. Both of his feet are in the air a split-second after the defenders toe tips the ball. And his head flails back and his hands go up in the air, not as much as Drogba or Klinsmann, but they are definitely flailing on purpose.
ReplyDeleteI love Torres, and his willingness to chase everything, but this was a...let's say...'dramatic' fall. Graham Poll is spot-on; no need for Nando to go down. Sorry, but I cannot tell a lie.
I've seen a few of our players dive: Torres, Gerrard, Alonso :( , Mascherano, Riera, even Skrtel. The ones whom I've never seen dive are Kuyt and Benayoun.
Players of all sport do what they can to gain an advantage. The fact is unless you make a meal out of it the ref will probably miss it. Ask Arshavan.
ReplyDeleteIf it gained them an advantage, Rugby players would fall like faires to.
I finally figured it out. You see Knight's left hand after the tackle touch Nando's shirt? That's the exact moment he decides to scream like he's being pulled and falls bending backwards as if he couldn't go any longer. If that's not a dive, I don't know what it is.
ReplyDeleteHe sees the defender touch the ball, knows he spoiled the chance, feel a slight touch on the shirt, falls bending backwards and screaming like he's being pulled. It's instinct. A diving instinct.
Notice again that I don't consider Torres a diver at all... but he was quite upset during the match, with the ref and bolton's defenders, and lacked his better judgement there.
Torres didn't ask for a penalty. When the players started to accuse him of diving he told the defenders and the ref it was a good tackle. I think he just lost his balance. Even though he went down he wasn't asking for a penalty. I think he just lost his balance.
ReplyDeleteI saw that tackle, it was an unbelievable tackle to deny Torres a goal scoring chance.