Summary
Overview
A wide-ranging football discussion covering controversial topics including diving and gamesmanship, Manchester City's 115 charges, ticket price campaigns, Arsenal's title challenge, managerial pressure at Manchester United and Tottenham, and insider stories about refereeing and broadcasting.
Cheating and Gamesmanship in Football
The panel debates the ethics of diving, simulation, and bending the rules in football. Rory controversially states he has no issue with diving and wants his players to do whatever it takes to win, sparking heated discussion. The group distinguishes between being 'streetwise' (initiating contact when a defender commits) versus outright diving with no contact. Harry Kane is praised as a master of using his body cleverly to win fouls, while examples like Ashley Young and early-career Ronaldo are cited as problematic divers.
- Rory admits he likes when his players cheat, including diving to win penalties or handball on the line if not caught
- All agree players are cheats who ask for wrong decisions and try to influence referees constantly
- Distinction made between 'streetwise' play (letting keeper hit you) versus blatant diving with no contact
- Harry Kane identified as master of backing into defenders and initiating contact cleverly
- Diving now harder to get away with due to VAR and video review
" I like it when my players cheat. I want Chelsea players to go down in the box. If Didier Drogba was in a situation where he can perhaps initiate contact and fall great. If you can dive to win a penalty great. If you can handball it off the line and not get caught great. "
" I'm with you in that I think we're all cheats. On the football pitch, we're asking for decisions that we know are wrong. "
" I don't like cheating, but I like being streetwise on the pitch. I don't like someone just falling over and blatantly cheating. But I do like players who are street. "
Manchester United's Crisis and Ten Hag's Future
Erik ten Hag's alarming press conference comments suggest resignation rather than defiance, with him stating 'I sometimes hate my players' after they 'spoke really loud' with poor performances. The panel debates whether his charisma has bought him extra time despite horrendous results, and questions his treatment of talented players like Kobbie Mainoo. The decision to potentially sell Mainoo is seen as a breaking point that would signal the club has completely lost its way.
- Ten Hag's post-match comments felt like a resignation speech rather than showing fight
- Manager under huge pressure with big games against City and Chelsea approaching
- Paul Scholes suggests Ten Hag is too honest - saying what every manager thinks but shouldn't say out loud
- Kobbie Mainoo situation critical - if he's sold or not utilized, it signals Ten Hag isn't the right manager
- His charisma and looks may have kept him in job longer than results warrant
" I sometimes hate my players. I thought it was a resignation speech, to be honest. Maybe he's probably one of those guys that gets into trouble with the missus and he talks his way out of it very quickly. "
" If you can't see the values of Kobe Mainoo in a team and you can't get the best out of him, then you're probably not the guy for us. "
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