For me Jurgen Klinsmann, he had the added bonus of rollering the pitch at the same time.He started a trend that others ,particularly at Spurs followed. Richalison and Dive Dive Gordon would fit right in at Tottenham

David Dunn

Kevin Ball hardly touched him

Ashley Barnes

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:22 am

For me Jurgen Klinsmann, he had the added bonus of rollering the pitch at the same time.He started a trend that others ,particularly at Spurs followed. Richalison and Dive Dive Gordon would fit right in at Tottenham

Back in the day Franny Lee was notorious for it. You can hardly blame Klinsmann for it.

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:41 am

Ashley Barnes

Top shout.

Straight from the Andy Cooke school of "back into the defender, back into the defender, back into the defender then fall over and look at the referee with disgust at how the defender has treated you."

Won us a fair few important breathers and yards.


Worst was Papadopoulos

Personally think any diver should be banned from any competitive sport. Not funny, and definitely not welcome!

Any player who feels contact, “has a right to go down”. Players should be brought down.

Never saw him myself but my dad used to tell me about how Brian Pilkington was a master of diving and conning the ref to win us dodgy free kicks. He said we had quite a few divers in that early 60s team but I guess to some extent that kind of "professionalism" is all part of the winning mentality

It used to really wind me up seeing Ted McMinn diving……. until he signed for us of course, then I loved it!

Tommy Hutchinson

Saw him win a penalty against Wigan by tapping his own back heel with his other foot and going down.

Sadly we still lost that game, though I used that trick myself a few times in my playing days and it worked wonderwel

Harry Kane by far the best diver because he constantly gets away with it. At least 3 times a match minimum. Anyone even breathes on him he’s on the deck clutching his shins. It’s embarrassing to watch.

Robert Pires or Daniel James

Spurs share it around a bit. They must nominate their "designated diver" before every game.

They'll have to train Richarlison to reign it in a bit when it's not his day.

Franny Lee was one of the original divers in the box . It’s the “ all over the pitch “ cheating which has infected the game in the last 5/10 yrs which is appalling imo . Harry Kane is truly shocking in his cheating , to think a role model, world class ability and Eng captain has to fall over constantly is nothing short of embarrassing.

Anthony Gordon, Jamie Vardy, Mo Salah

McGinn at Villa is an expert.

Richarlison.

No one better than Harry Potts I'm told and Jimmy McIlroy once told an audience at the Turf that he would go down if he thought he could get a penalty.

Anthony Gordon is too raw at the moment to be considered a great diver. He goes down a lot, I'll give him that but still makes it too obvious and picks up a few 'simulation' bookings. He's got time though, so hopefully he gets there.

Mo Salah and Harry Kane are the current kings. Although Ashley Barnes is a good shout in general play, which is real dedication to the art as he'll never even get the glory of a penalty 40 yards from goal, backing into a defender.

jackmiggins wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:46 am

Personally think any diver should be banned from any competitive sport. Not funny, and definitely not welcome!

Agree, though Tom Daley might think differently!

Grealish- can’t be touched without diving

Shouldn't it be worst cheating divers. They are a scourge on the game.

Richarlason, see Everton are shipping him out before he gets banned for flare throwing, and we ask why he wasn't banned straight away

Ashley Barnes - how much possession has he won over the years sticking his butt out and falling over. (Ahem) Genius level gamesmanship...!

Raheem Sterling, master craftsman.

To$$er.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGqz-e-spyg

Dimitrious Papadopolous was a God tier diver. Was always good for a pen in the final 10 mins if we needed a goal.

Way back in time Terry Paine of Southampton could have been an Olympic diver. He could be “fouled” on the half way line and still end up in the penalty area…he was once described as the fastest runner on elbows in football. Johnny Angus sorted him out though!

Some players are so bad at diving it's funny. Ian Moore was one I recall.

Mickey Thomas at United was the most annoying back in the day.

Arjen Robben liked to fall over a bit

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 3:48 pm

Arjen Robben liked to fall over a bit

I think lefty's always look like they are diving more than they really are because they can only stand on the one foot

AlargeClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 9:21 am

Franny Lee was one of the original divers in the box . It’s the “ all over the pitch “ cheating which has infected the game in the last 5/10 yrs which is appalling imo .

None better than Lee-One-Pen for conning the ref.

There are only three candidates in the Premier League. Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane and Manchester City

Was there not a player, from them lot down the road, who did the most atrocious dive when nobody was anywhere near him in a premiership match? Sorry can’t remember his name, never really bothered about that team

clive40golf wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 4:33 pm

Was there not a player, from them lot down the road, who did the most atrocious dive when nobody was anywhere near him in a premiership match? Sorry can’t remember his name, never really bothered about that team

Pedersen at Arsenal wasn't it ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgFWzts7aSI

That one ?

Morten Gamst Pedersen. That’s the cheating barstool.

UpTheClaretsFCBK wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 11:32 am

Dimitrious Papadopolous was a God tier diver. Was always good for a pen in the final 10 mins if we needed a goal.

He used to drive me mad, often the only thing on his mind; he used to dive instead of laying it off to a team mate in a good position and even rather than take a shot. It seemed to be all he had on his mind… get to the ball first, fell over and get a free kick. Couldn’t stand him.

Francis Lee has to be the GOAT

Isn’t it amazing that many current players are being mentioned. With technology now in use, it should be all but eradicated from the game.

It’s another thing in football that could be stopped if those in charge actually had any gumption, just like arguing with or surrounding the referee.

Instead the focus seems to be on ridiculously tight off side calls, biannual world cups and binning off throw ins.

As a youngster playing football (not to any great standard) diving never even entered my mind. I can’t say, from years of playing, that I can even recall an incident of diving in any game that I played in.

Michael Owen didn't need much asking as i recall.

Chris Haggerty, Burnley Sunday league

Going way back, Cliff Jones at Spurs comes to mind.

No 7 and the buck-toothed cannibal.

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 5:59 pm

Michael Owen didn't need much asking as i recall.

I think that's heavily compounded by his assertions that players "have the right to go down"

Nothing like a cheat that actually advocates for cheating.

Gordon at it again last night.
Horrible player.

Dider Drogba sticks in my mind as one of the worst for it. The one where he feigned having a fit on the pitch, is etched into my mind as one of the most despicable acts of cheating.

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:22 am

For me Jurgen Klinsmann, he had the added bonus of rollering the pitch at the same time.He started a trend that others ,particularly at Spurs followed. Richalison and Dive Dive Gordon would fit right in at Tottenham

Klinsmann for me too. However, if you are of a certain age, you will well remember the ‘great’ Leeds Utd side of the seventies cheating their way around the country. Half of them scything down opposition players, the other half feigning injury with a style and panache normally associated with hollywoods finest.

Francis Lee.
Brian Pilkington went down as if he had been shot
My Dad said Harry Potts was a past master at getting penalties.
Even the great Mac admitted to the odd drama queen moments

Ashley Young and anyone who plays for Man U

Harry and Son and anyone who plays for Spurs

Raheem Sterling and his former teammates at Citeh

Jamie Vardy and anyone who plays for Leicester

Zaha and Crystal Palace

I dislike divers even in our team. Why don’t they back themselves to score from open play?

I hope VK gave Zarroury a ticking off, but being from Citeh I doubt it

Did Zaroury dive or just stumble?